NCP Leaders' Meeting With Amit Shah Normal, Says Nirupam
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam has responded to several political and social issues in Maharashtra, including the meeting of six senior NCP leaders with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BMC's firecracker restrictions before Diwali, and the viral video of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's speech at Ramlila Maidan.
On the NCP leaders' meeting, Nirupam said that the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party is part of the National Democratic Alliance. He said it was natural for allied leaders to meet the Union Home Minister and present their concerns. According to him, the discussion could have included the political situation in Maharashtra or issues related to the central government. He said such interactions between allied party leaders and senior BJP figures are a routine part of coalition politics and should continue. He advised against drawing conclusions from who did or did not attend the meeting.
Nirupam then turned to the debate over bursting firecrackers during Diwali. He said celebrating the festival with lights and fireworks is a tradition that has existed for centuries. He also took aim at actor Dia Mirza for objecting to the celebrations, accusing her of meddling in religious matters. He questioned whether she had ever opposed the practice of people from her own community offering namaz on roads on Fridays. He said that while she was commenting on the faith of others, she had never interfered in the religious activities of other communities. Before raising questions about any religion, he argued, one must have the courage to address shortcomings within one's own.
On the BMC's rules, Nirupam said they had been framed following directions from the Bombay High Court. He stressed that Diwali should be celebrated and that people who want to burst crackers in keeping with tradition can do so within their premises and within the prescribed limits. Festivals and traditions should be observed, he said, but necessary boundaries must also be kept in mind.
Nirupam then turned his attention to Kharge. He reacted sharply to a viral video from the Ramlila Maidan rally in which Kharge repeatedly asks workers to be quiet and warns that he will speak for a full hour if they do not calm down. Nirupam said that if Congress workers were not interested in listening to their national president, the public would have little reason to pay attention to him. He described Kharge as a 'liability' for the party and said there was little enthusiasm within Congress for his speeches and ideas.
He also referred to Kharge's remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Patna, claiming that the Prime Minister's popularity had not suffered as a result. Nirupam further alleged that Congress was trying to improve Kharge's image, though he said the leader did not enjoy a good standing among common people and party workers. He concluded by questioning the impact of Kharge's oratory, saying his speeches lacked strength.