News Analysis India

Tag: Amit Shah

  • Congress seeks Amit Shah’s sacking, dubs him ‘weakest’ Home Minister 

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  The Congress sought the immediate removal of Amit Shah for Tuesday’s violence, saying that it was a “colossal” intelligence failure for which the Union home minister is directly responsible. Alleging that the violence during tractor parade was a conspiracy to malign farmers agitation, the party claimed Shah is the weakest home minister seen in the history of India in last 73 years. 

    For the second time in less than a year under Shah’s leadership, the Congress said, the national capital was pushed to the brink of unabated, unchecked and uncontrolled violence. On allegations by farmer unions that Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu incited the crowd to hoist Khalsa flag at Red Fort, the party said: “A BJP insider who was acting at the behest of Amit Shah as part of a pre-planned conspiracy to discredit the peaceful farmers’ agitation.”

    ​ALSO READ | Tractor parade violence: Amit Shah orders police to go hard on violators

    “If the over 60 day-long peaceful agitation by farmers was infiltrated by violent, anti-social elements as part of a conspiracy, why did the intelligence agencies and the Union home ministry not know about this. And if they did, then why didn’t they do anything to prevent the anarchy we all witnessed,” said Congress media in charge Randeep Surjewala.

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    Similarly, the CPI (M)  claimed that Tuesday’s violence was the handiwork of agent provocateurs with links to the BJP. “The Politburo of the CPI(M) calls upon the Central government to immediately announce the repeal of these laws and move towards this end in the forthcoming budget session of the Parliament,” it said.

  • Track violators at the earliest, Amit Shah to cops

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Union Home Minister Amit Shah ordered Delhi Police for the second time to track those involved in Tuesday’s violence at the earliest. In a meeting with officials that lasted over an hour, Shah took stock of the situation and discussed measures to be taken.

    Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Srivastava, Director of the Intelligence Bureau and senior security officials briefed Shah about the steps taken. “Police has been told to take action against everybody, including farmer leaders, who had a role in the violence,” a senior official said.

    Officials added that action is being planned against farmer leaders, who had promised a peaceful rally. On Tuesday too, Shah had reviewed the law and order situation following the violence that rocked Delhi.The Centre has deployed around 4,500 paramilitary troops to assist Delhi Police in maintaining law and order. RAF personnel have also been called into action and vigil has been intensified. 

  • Amit Shah must be sacked for allowing violence in Delhi during tractor parade: Congress

    The Congress also accused the Modi government of being part of a concerted conspiracy to malign the farmers #39; agitation by allowing some miscreants to enter the Red Fort complex.

  • Bengal polls: Mamata schedules emergency meeting on January 29 as Shah set to begin state visit

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has convened an emergency meeting with party MPs, MLAs and core committee members on January 29, the day Union Home minister will land in Kolkata for a two-day visit. 

    The CM’s meeting is politically significant amid speculations that more TMC legislators, including at least one former minister of her cabinet, might jump the ship to BJP in presence of Shah in a rally in Howrah district on January 31.

    Sources in the TMC said the CM took a strong stance about the rebellious party functionaries who are expressing their discontent publicly. “The party already expelled Baishali Dalmiya, the MLA from Bally in Howrah, and served a show-cause notice to Hooghly’s Uttarpara MLA Prabir Ghoshal for issuing anti-party statements. The CM is likely to deliver a message to the MLAs and other elected representatives in the backdrop of the recent exodus,” said a senior leader of the ruling party.

    Six TMC MLAs, including Suvendu Adhikari, one sitting MP, and 45 other district-level functionaries had joined the BJP at a rally in West Midnapore in presence of Shah in December. The functionaries of BJP’s Bengal chapter are claiming that Bengal is going to witness another round of large-scale defection from the TMC to the BJP in presence of the Union Home Minister in a rally scheduled to be held at Dumurjala stadium in Howrah.

    It is apparent that the TMC supremo has adopted a tough stance to deal with the party’s disgruntled leaders who are hinting at shifting sides. At a recent rally in Hooghly, the CM made it clear that the party’s door would remain shut for the turncoats if they wanted to come back.

    Shah’s two-day Bengal visit starting from January 30 has become the most discussed issue in the circuit of Bengal’s politics as the Matuas, the Dalit followers of a Hindu religious sect comprising refugees from Bangladesh, are expecting a deadline on the implementation of the contentious CAA from the Union Home minister. On January 30, Shah is scheduled to address a rally in Thakurnagar, Bongaon, where the headquarters of Matua Mahasangha is located.

    Riding the support of the Matuas and Hindu refugees, the BJP had made deep inroads in Bengal’s Dalit-dominated pockets by promising them citizenship by implementing the CAA in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

    Matuas are a deciding factor in at least 35 Assembly constituencies and other Dalit communities dominate in 20 seats in the state. Last month, Shantanu Thakur, the saffron camp’s Bongaon MP and a representative of Matuas, had said his community wanted Shah to announce the deadline of implementing the CAA.

    Measuring the discontent among the Matuas and Dalits, Mamata Banerjee has already addressed two rallies in Bongaon and Ranaghat, another Hindu refugee dominated pocket, and hit out at the BJP on the citizenship issue.

  • Tractor parade violence: Amit Shah orders police to go hard on violators 

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued directions to the Delhi Police to take strict action against those who indulged in violence on Tuesday during the farmers’ tractor rally.  In a two-hour meeting with senior officials from the home ministry, Intelligence Bureau and Delhi Police, Shah reviewed in detail the security situation in the national capital after violence broke out at farmers’ rally in several areas

    At the meeting in his residence, Shah also ordered additional paramilitary forces were deployed in Delhi. Around 15 additional companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed at the sites of violence such as ITO, Nangloi and Ghazipur, sources said. The 15 companies of Central Armed Police Forces include five companies of CRPF already deployed on Monday.

    Shah also asserted that law and order is restored as soon as possible, sources said, adding that he sought a detailed account of how things went out of control on Tuesday. Wielding sticks, clubs and holding the Tricolour and union flags, tens of thousands of farmers atop tractors broke barriers, clashed with police and entered the city from various points marching towards the Red Fort and hoisting the Nishan Sahib flag there on Republic Day.

    Prior to this spate of violence, hundreds of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and UP, have been camping peacefully at several Delhi border points, including Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, since November 28. They are seeking a complete repeal of the three central agriculture laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price for their crops.

    Officials said the home minister is keeping a close eye on the developments and is monitoring the situation. Among those who attended the meeting were Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Delhi Police Commissioner SN Shrivastava and the Intelligence Bureau director.

    Punjab, haryana on high alertHaryana and Punjab have sounded a high alert in the states and said anyone taking law into one’s hands will be dealt with strictly. Haryana DGP Manoj Yadava asked district police chiefs to be vigilant. Punjab CM Amarinder Singh asked DGP Dinkar Gupta to ensure that law and order is not deteriorated at any cost.

    kids stranded for 2 hrs at fortAround 200 artistes, including children, who were part of the R-Day parade, were rescued after they got stranded near Red Fort on Tuesday. They were rescued by police personnel after being stuck for almost two hours in the afternoon, provided refreshments and subsequently escorted away. 

  • Tractor rally: Home Secretary briefs Amit Shah on Delhi situation

    By PTI
    NE DELHI: Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Tuesday briefed Home Minister Amit Shah about the situation in Delhi where the farmers’ tractor rally against the agri laws turned violent, officials said.

    The meeting came after a large number of farmers with their tractors broke police barricades and entered central Delhi areas, including Red Fort and ITO.

    The home secretary met the home minister and apprised him about the prevailing situation in the national capital and the steps being taken by the Delhi Police to maintain peace, an official said.

    A few other officials were also present at the meeting.

    The Union Home Ministry has already ordered a temporary suspension of the internet in parts of Delhi.

    Wielding sticks and clubs and holding the tricolour and union flags, tens of thousands of farmers atop tractors broke barriers, clashed with police and entered the city from various points to lay siege to the Red Fort and climb the flagpole on Republic Day.

    Farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several Delhi border points, including Tikri, Singhu and Ghazipur, since November 28, demanding a complete repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price for their crops.

     

  • Shah plays infiltration card against Congress-AIUDF in poll-bound Assam

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Listing out the achievements of the BJP-led government in Assam, Home Minister Amit Shah pitched for another term to ‘safeguard’ the state’s interests. Shah on Sunday said the Congress- AIUDF combine would open ‘all gates’ to infiltrators if voted to power.

    Addressing his first political rally in the poll-bound state, Shah took a swipe at the Congress for calling the BJP communal by questioning its alliance with Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF, which draws support mainly from Muslims.

    At the Vijay Sankalp Samaroh, Shah asserted that an era of peace and development has been ushered in Assam by the BJP.

    Appealing to the people to vote for BJP, Shah said Assam has become ‘bullet-free and agitation free’ and the next BJP dispensation will make it ‘flood-free’, calling floods its biggest problem.

    Shah projected his party as the only alternative capable of safeguarding and promoting the regional culture.

    He also took a dig at the Assam Jatiya Parishad, a party floated by former AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi, which is tipped to ally with Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal, without naming them, saying they are in the poll arena to help the Congress by trying to cut into votes of the BJP.

    These two parties are stridently opposed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and have alleged the CAA is a ‘threat’ to Assam’s culture and identity.

    The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which has led mass agitations over the issue of regional identity in the past, has backed Assam Jatiya Parishad.

    Hitting out at the Congress, the Home Minister said the party had adopted the British Empire’s policy of ‘divide and rule’ by pitting different groups of people against one another, leading to bloodshed and loss of lives of thousands of youth.

  • Congress-AIUDF will open all gates to welcome infiltrators: Union Minister Amit Shah

    By PTI
    NALBARI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday alleged that if the Congress-AIUDF combine come to power in Assam they will open “all gates” to welcome infiltrators.

    Addressing a public rally here, Shah said the Congress rule in the state gave only bloodshed, in which thousands of youths lost their lives.

    “Can Congress and Badrudding Ajmal keep Assam free from infiltration? If they come to power, they will open all gates to welcome them, because it is their vote bank,” he said.

    Only the BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi can protect the state from infiltration from the neighbouring country, Shah said in his first election rally in poll-bound Assam.

    The Congress has formed Grand Alliance with AIUDF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) to fight the upcoming Assembly election, likely to be held in March-April.

    Attacking the Congress, Shah said,”Congress continued the British policy of divide and rule. They created a divide between Adivasis and non-Adivasis, Assamese people and hill peoples, Bodos and non-Bodos.

    “In 20 years there was only bloodshed and 10,000 Assamese youths were killed by bullets fired by the Congress.” Appealing to the people to vote for the BJP, Shah said if the party comes to power again, Assam will be “bullet-free, agitation-free and flood-free”.

    Shah also slammed the Congress for its constant criticism that the BJP is a communal front and said,”Congress alleges us to be communal, but it has allied with Muslim League in Kerala and AIUDF in Assam.

    “One thing is sure, Assam is not safe in the hands of Congress and AIUDF”.

  • PM Modi, BJP committed to fulfil clauses of Bodo Accord: Union Minister Amit Shah

    By PTI
    KOKRAJHAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the Bodoland Territorial Region Accord (BTR), inked a year ago, has initiated the process of ending insurgency in the northeast.

    Attacking the Congress, Shah said that the grand old party had signed many agreements with different militant outfits in the past, but failed to keep the promises it made.

    “I have come here to iterate that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are committed to fulfil all clauses of the BTR Accord, which will pave the way for peace and development in the region.

    It marks the beginning of the end of insurgency in the region,” Shah said.

    PM @NarendraModi ji initiated the process to end insurgency in the Northeast by signing the Bodo Peace Accord.This unprecedented crowd in Kokrajhar is a befitting reply to those who disturbed the peace in Assam by spreading venom in the name of Bodo and non-Bodo. pic.twitter.com/uUVMgQF4Tl
    — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 24, 2021

    Political rights, culture and language of all communities of Assam are secure under the BJP government, he said, during his address on the occasion of BTR Accord Day.

    “The prime minister was in Assam on Saturday, and he distributed land pattas (certificates) to more than one lakh indigenous people.

    The state government has already made Bodo the associate language of Assam.

    “Several measures have been taken to protect, preserve and promote the rich culture, language and heritage of all communities of the state,” the Union minister said.

    Only the BJP, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, can make Assam corruption-free, terrorism-free and pollution- free, Shah added.

    The BTR Accord, designed to usher in peace in the Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD), was signed on January 27 last year by the Centre, the Assam government, all four factions of the National Democratic Front of Boroland and the then Bodoland Territorial Council chief Hagrama Mohilary.

  • Bengal assembly elections 2021: Amit Shah, JP Nadda to lead BJP’s campaign in state

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda will carry out a joint campaign of the saffron outfit in West Bengal before the Assembly elections. The two will lead five ‘rath yatras’ across the state to boost the party’s chances in a desperate battle against Mamata Banerjee’s TMC.Still to project a face for the chief minister’s position, the two heavyweights will also welcome those jumping ship from TMC. 

    Since the BJP has not said yet who would be the party’s choice for the top spot in the state cabinet if they form the government, observers feel they will build the campaign in such a way that the focus stays on the star campaigners for the moment.

    ALSO READ | Let’s have a duel: Amit Shah slams COVID-19 vaccine critics in Assam event

    While Shah is likely to lead three rath yatras, Nadda will head two, sources said. They added that route details are being chalked out and the first of the yatras will be flagged off in a few days. 

    Like in the Bihar assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to join the campaigning in the last leg in the role of a finisher to help the party consolidate its support base and woo the fence-sitters.Shah, a former BJP chief himself, had missed much of the campaigning in Bihar. But he will be fully in action in West Bengal, with party leaders stressing that the political turf over there suits him better, like in Uttar Pradesh. 

    While the West Bengal unit of the BJP is led by Dilip Ghosh, the party appears not too keen on having him as a leading campaigner due to his limited mass appeal. The BJP will be banking on sub-regional satraps such as Suvendhu Adhikari to help Shah-Nadda attract crowds and send out a message to the voters that the saffron outfit can dislodge Mamata’s government.

    Ruled by the Left for over 30 years and for a decade by TMC, West Bengal is headed for a battle between BJP and TMC this time. The last few weeks have seen important members of the TMC switching over to BJP and party leaders are confident that this number will increase in the coming days.