News Analysis India

Tag: Amit Shah

  • Amit Shah attacks Savarkar’s critics, says they should have some shame

    By PTI

    PORT BLAIR: “Veer” Savarkar’s patriotism and valour cannot be questioned, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Friday, as he hit back at those doubting the freedom fighter’s commitment to India and its freedom struggle, and asked them to have “some shame”.

    Shah’s comments came against the backdrop of a massive row over Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remark that V D Savarkar, a venerated Hindutva ideologue, had filed mercy petitions before the British at the advice of Mahatma Gandhi.

    “How can you doubt the life, the credentials of a man who was sentenced to two life imprisonments, made to sweat like a plodder bullock (kolhu ka bail) to extract oil at this prison.

    Have some shame,” he told a gathering after garlanding the portrait of Savarkar at the cellular prison here where hundreds of freedom fighters were incarcerated during India’s long freedom struggle.

    Shah said Savarkar had everything that he needed for a good life, but he chose the tough path, which indicated his unwavering commitment to the motherland.

    “There cannot be a greater pilgrimage than this cellular jail.

    This place is a ‘mahatirth’ where Savarkar experienced inhuman torture for 10 years but did not lose his courage, his bravery,” Shah said, addressing an event as part of 75 years of India’s Independence which the government is celebrating as “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”.

    The minister said the sobriquet “veer” was bestowed on Savarkar not by any government but by the people of the country in endorsement of his indomitable spirit and courage.

    “This title fondly given to him by 130 crore people of India cannot be snatched away,” he said.

    He said most people in today’s India were born after Independence and so did not get an opportunity to “die for the country”.

    “I urge the youth of today to live for this great nation,” he said.

    A big row had recently erupted after Rajnath Singh targeted the critics of Savarkar, saying the freedom fighter was being defamed over the mercy petitions.

    “Time and again, it was said that he filed mercy petitions before the British government seeking his release from jail. The truth is, he didn’t file mercy petitions to get himself released. It is a regular practice for a (jailed) person to file mercy petitions. It was Mahatma Gandhi who asked him to file mercy petitions,” Singh had said, drawing criticism from BJP’s opponents who called it an “attempt to rewrite history”.

    Shah, during his visit to the cellular jail, laid a wreath at a memorial to the martyrs of the freedom struggle.

    He appealed to people to visit the jail at least once and pay homage to the martyrs.

    He noted that West Bengal has made a “great and special contribution in the Independence struggle” as most of the freedom fighters that came to the cellular jail were from that state and Punjab.

    Enumerating the initiatives taken by the BJP-led government at the Centre for the development of the Union Territory, the home minister further said, “It is going to be 75 years of our Independence and under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has established itself in the world as a first-line democratic country.”

    The PM has created a “new culture where the foundation of a project is laid by his government and the inauguration is also done by his government,” he added.

  • Members of farmers’ body detained in Lucknow for trying to burn effigies of PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The Socialist Party (India) on Friday claimed some members of its farmers’ wing were detained by police after they gathered here to burn effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and MoS Home Ajay Mishra in the wake of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.

    The members of the Socialist Kisan Sabha also carried placards demanding the resignation of Mishra, whose son Ashish is alleged to have been in one of the cars that ploughed into farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3, leaving four of them dead.

    The Socialist Kisan Sabha is a constituent of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of over 40 farmer unions that is spearheading the stir against the Centre’s three agri laws.

    Last week, the SKM had called on all its constituents to burn effigies of Modi, Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and others on the occasion of Dussehra on October 15.

    General secretary of Socialist Party (India) Sandeep Pandey, who was also part of the gathering, told PTI, “We were not allowed to burn the effigies. The effigies were taken away from us along with the placards. We had reached the Shaheed Smarak, and as soon as we started climbing the stairs, we were stopped by the police.” Pandey said he and six workers of the Socialist Kisan Sabha were detained by the police.

    In a statement issued here earlier, the Socialist Kisan Sabha said, “On the call given by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha, effigies of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Ajay Mishra will be burnt on October 15, Friday, Dusshera day, at 2 pm at Shaheed Smarak, Lucknow to demand the resignation of Union Minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ for the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri.

    Besides the four farmers, a journalist and three BJP workers were killed in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. MoS Home Mishra’s son Ashish and five other people had been arrested in the case till Wednesday evening.

  • Surgical strikes sent a message: Amit Shah

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said in Goa that surgical strikes on Pakistan carried out by India two years ago sent a strong message to the world that no one can interfere with its borders.

    Shah was in Goa to oversee BJP’s preparations for next year’s Assembly polls. He said that under the BJP-led NDA rule, India gives a befitting reply to terrorist attacks which was not the case when the UPA was in power.

    After laying the foundation stone for the National Forensic Science University at Dharbandora village in South Goa, Shah addressed a gathering where he said during the UPA tenure, terrorists from across the border used to infiltrate into India and cause unrest.

    “Delhi would do nothing. But now, India under the leadership of Narendra Modi respond in the language terrorists understand,” said Shah, referring to the 2019 surgical strike in response to a terrorist attack on an Army base in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that through military action, India sent a message to the entire world that no one can interfere with its borders.

    Shah recalled the contribution of late BJP stalwart Manohar Parrikar as defence minister. “Parrikar and Prime Minister Modi will be remembered for years for introducing One Rank One Pension in all three wings of the armed forces,” the home minister said. He added that Parrikar’s contribution should never be forgotten.

  • By when will govt push China out of Indian territory: Congress asks Amit Shah

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday questioned Home Minister Amit Shah over Chinese incursions along the border and asked by when the government would push China out of Indian territory.

    Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that instead of fake chest thumping, Shah should take stock of the internal and external security threats as he has failed on these fronts.

    The remarks came after Shah in Panaji talked tough on Pakistan and said the surgical strikes carried out by India five years ago sent a strong message to the world that no one can interfere with its borders.

    “Amit Shah is first advised to utter the word China, of which the Modi government is scared, and then tell us by when will the government push China back from India’s territory.

    Let him give a deadline for reclaiming our 900 km of Indian territory which is illegally occupied by the Chinese by their brazen incursions,” Surjewala told reporters.

    He asked the home minister to tell the country when would he reclaim Depsang and Gogra Hotsprings and when he would give a befitting reply to China in Uttarakhand.

    Surjewala also asked how he will tackle the Chinese over its “brazen incursions” in Doklam plateau upto the Chicken’s neck that is the entry to seven eastern states.

    “Instead of fake chest thumping and statements to captive media friends, let him take stock of the growing and uncontrollable external and internal security threats.

    The truth is Amit Shah has failed at the wheel,” the Congress leader said.

    Shah at a function in Goa said that under the BJP-led NDA rule, India gives a befitting reply to terrorist attacks which was not the case when the Congress-headed UPA was in power.

  • Surgical strike sent strong message to world on terror: Amit Shah 

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Talking tough against Pakistan over terrorism, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said surgical strike carried out by India five years ago sent a strong message to the world that no one can interfere with its borders.

    He said under the BJP-led NDA rule, India gives a befitting reply to terrorist attacks which was not the case when the Congress-headed UPA was in power.

    Shah was addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for the National Forensic Science University at Dharbandora village in South Goa.

    During the UPA government, terrorists from across the border used to infiltrate into India and cause unrest, and Delhi would do nothing, but now, India responds in the same language which they (terrorists) understand, he said.

    Referring to the 2016 surgical strike, Shah said India, through the military action, sent across a strong message to the entire world that no one can interfere with its borders.

    India had conducted the surgical strike on September 29, 2016, across the Line of Control (LoC) as a response to a terrorist attack on an Army base in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

    Shah recalled the contribution of BJP stalwart late Manohar Parrikar as defence minister.

    Parrikar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be remembered for years for introducing One Rank One Pension (OROP) in the armed forces, the home minister said.

    “Parrikar will be remembered for introducing One Rank One Pension for all the three wings of the armed forces under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

  • BJP will win absolute majority in Goa assembly polls and form govt again: Amit Shah 

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday expressed confidence that the ruling BJP would win “absolute majority” in the Goa Assembly elections due in February next year and form the government in the state once again.

    He said the “double engine” of BJP governments – in Goa and at the Centre – would help in the development of the state.

    Addressing a function after laying the foundation stone for the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) at Dharbandora village in South Goa, he also said that chartered flights will start arriving in the tourism-dependent state from November 15.

    “BJP will form the next government in the state with absolute majority… There is still time for elections. But I am appealing to the people of Goa to make up their mind to elect the BJP government in the state under the leadership of Narendra Modi at the Centre,” Shah said.

    “This double engine government will help to continue the development of the state,” he added.

    The next year’s Assembly elections is going to be a multi-party affair as apart from the ruling BJP, opposition Congress, several regional forces, including the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC), Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Maharashtra’s ruling party Shiv Sena have decided to contest the polls for the 40-member House.

    In the 2017 Goa Assembly polls, Congress had emerged as the single largest party by winning 17 seats in the 40-member House. However, the BJP, which had bagged 13 seats, acted swiftly by joining hands with some regional parties and came to power.

    The Union Minister further said the prime minister has decided to allow chartered flights from November 15.

    “I am happy to announce that chartered tourists will start flying in the state after that,” he said.

    Hailing the Pramod Sawant-led Goa government for covering the entire eligible population in the state with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, he appealed to it to complete the process of second dose vaccination at the earliest.

  • Home Minister Amit Shah holds ‘tripartite’ talk on Gorkhas

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday chaired a ‘tripartite’ meeting to find a solution to problems related to the Gorkhas during which he assured a delegation of hill parties that the Centre was making constant efforts to resolve issues related to the region. 

    After the meeting which lasted for about two hours, the home ministry announced that the second round of talks will be held in November after the Diwali celebrations. It is believed that the long-standing demand of according Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to 11 communities of Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region was discussed in the meeting. 

    The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Tribal affairs secretary Anil Kumar Jha among others. Principal Resident Commissioner of Bengal Krishna Gupta represented the state. 

    Led by Darjeeling MP Raju Bisht, the Gorkha delegation comprised of  three MLAs Neeraj Zimba, BP Bajgain, Bishal Lama, GNLF’s  Mann Ghising, CPRM’s RB Rai, GoRaNiMo’s  Dawa Pakhrin, ABGL’s Pratap Khati and SuMuMo’s Bikash Rai. 

    “The Bengal government was specifically asked to send senior officials for the next round of talks. The all-round development and prosperity of the Darjeeling hills, Terrai and Dooars region is the top most priority of the Modi Government,” the MHA said.

  • NHRC chairman credits Home Minister Amit Shah for ‘new era in Jammu and Kashmir’

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: National Human Rights Commission chief and former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd) Arun Mishra on Tuesday heaped encomiums on Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his “untiring efforts” to foster peace in Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeastern states. “It is because of you (the home minister) that a new era has now begun in Jammu and Kashmir,” Justice Mishra said while addressing the 28th foundation day of NHRC.

    Incidentally, J&K has seen a worrying rise in incidents of violence, including a spate of civilian killings as well as that of security forces, over the past few days. Observing that it has become “a norm to accuse India of human rights violation at the behest of international forces,” Mishra said this should be opposed.  “India has the spirit of ‘Sarvadharma Sambhava’ (harmony of religions). Everyone has freedom to build a temple or mosque or a church. In many countries, such liberties are not there,” he said.

    His comments came against the backdrop of media reports on attacks on human rights defenders and India’s falling rank on global press freedom and democracy index.  The NHRC chairperson also spoke about political violence and the need to condemn it. A large number of people had lost their lives to political violence globally in the last century and it was unfortunate that this had “still not stopped”, he said.

    “Social service organisations and human rights defenders should strongly condemn political violence and terrorism as apathy on this issue engenders ‘fundamentalism and history will never forgive us for this,” he said, adding that “killers of innocent people cannot be glorified”. Calling such… terrorists ‘freedom fighters’ is inappropriate,” he asserted. 

    The retired judge said India had a democratic system where the media and cyberspace had been given freedom. “But no one has the freedom to destroy the prestige of the Republic’s fundamental pillar, the judiciary, through contemptuous behaviour, and neither should anyone be given this freedom,” the asserted. 

  • Modi government’s welfare policies protecting people’s human rights, says Amit Shah

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has been relentlessly working for the welfare of poor, backwards and deprived sections of society, thereby protecting their human rights, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Tuesday.

    Addressing the foundation day of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) here, Shah also appreciated the work being carried out by the rights body for creating awareness among people of the country about their human rights over the last 28 years of its existence.

    The home minister said a government with absolute majority was formed at the Centre for the first time in a long period in 2014 and since then it has been doing welfare work for the poor and deprived sections.

    He said that after the Narendra Modi government came to power, 10 crore families were given toilets, thereby protecting the human rights of the women, girls and all others.

    ALSO READ | ‘Selective interpretation’ of humans rights by some people denting image of India: PM Modi

    Four crore families were given electricity connections, which is helpful for the old and children alike, 13 crore families were provided clean cooking gas connections that has helped in saving women and others from various diseases, he said.

    Shah said the central government has built two crore houses for the poor while five crore more houses will be built soon.

    Seven crore people were given financial assistance by the central government directly to their bank accounts, which were opened for the first time.

    He said the Centre has launched an ambitious scheme to provide potable water to every household in the country and two crore families will be given clean water through pipes soon, thereby protecting their basic human rights.

    The home minister said the NHRC, since its inception, has disposed of 20 lakh cases and awarded Rs 205 crore compensation to scores of people for violation of human rights, which is commendable.

    The NHRC is a statutory body that was constituted on October 12, 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act for the promotion and protection of human rights.

    The NHRC takes cognisance of human rights violations, conducts enquiries and recommends compensation to victims from public authorities besides other remedial and legal measures against the erring public servants.

  • Amit Shah’s praise for Modi a joke, says tennis legend Martina Navratilova

    By Online Desk

    Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “democratic leader”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said even his critics will agree that the Union Cabinet has never functioned in such a democratic manner as it is functioning in the Modi government.

    This comment by the Home Miniter did not go down well with tennis legend Martina Navratilova. “And for my next joke…” she tweeted on Sunday night in reply to Shah’s eulogy of Modi as “India’s most democratic leader”. Along with the tweet, she added an emoticon for astonishment and another that resembles a clown.

    Below her tweet, she added another tweet about a report that said “Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not a ‘dictator’ but the most democratic leader the country has ever seen”….

    And for my next joke …