News Analysis India

Tag: Amit Shah

  • Such things shouldn’t be stretched: Shah on Himanta’s Saddam remark against Rahul

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday sought to downplay the Saddam Hussein remark made against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by a BJP leader, saying such things should not be stretched.

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had on Tuesday claimed that Rahul Gandhi was looking like the former Iraqi dictator, drawing a sharp rebuke from the Congress which dubbed the remarks as “obnoxious and totally unacceptable”.

    Speaking at the Times Now Summit here, Shah said, “Such things should not be stretched. Whenever elections happen, then such things are spoken and people listen to it as well. People enjoy. After believing in this, voting doesn’t change. In elections such types of talks are done.”

    During a public rally in Ahmedabad, Sarma had said, “I just saw that his looks have also changed. I said in a TV interview a few days back that there is nothing wrong with his new look. But if you have to change the looks, at least make it like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel or even Jawaharlal Nehru will do. It is better if it looks like Gandhiji. But why is your face turning into Saddam Hussein?” 

    NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday sought to downplay the Saddam Hussein remark made against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by a BJP leader, saying such things should not be stretched.

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had on Tuesday claimed that Rahul Gandhi was looking like the former Iraqi dictator, drawing a sharp rebuke from the Congress which dubbed the remarks as “obnoxious and totally unacceptable”.

    Speaking at the Times Now Summit here, Shah said, “Such things should not be stretched. Whenever elections happen, then such things are spoken and people listen to it as well. People enjoy. After believing in this, voting doesn’t change. In elections such types of talks are done.”

    During a public rally in Ahmedabad, Sarma had said, “I just saw that his looks have also changed. I said in a TV interview a few days back that there is nothing wrong with his new look. But if you have to change the looks, at least make it like Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel or even Jawaharlal Nehru will do. It is better if it looks like Gandhiji. But why is your face turning into Saddam Hussein?” 

  • Gujarat polls: ‘Fake Mazars’ removed from Dwarka; BJP to continue ‘clean-up’, says Amit Shah

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: The Bharathiya Janata Party, (BJP), is leaving no stone unturned to continue its winning streak in the state.

    With the elections around the corner, the BJP – which earlier sought votes on the back of the “double engine model” in reference to the development works done by BJP’s central and state governments – is now trying to seek votes on the issue of Hinduism.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said BJP is doing work to remove specific community encroachment, which congress never did in the past due to vote bank politics.

    Amit Shah was addressing an election campaign rally in Gujarat’s Khambhat assembly constituency.

    Shah reminded the public about demolition work done by the BJP in Muslim areas saying “fake Mazars” (Muslim shrine/tomb) were removed from the residence of Lord Krishna’s Dwarka an island near Gujarat’s Okha.

    Shah said, “Be it Mazar or graves, shouldn’t encroachments be removed? Congress may not like it. But even if they don’t like it, BJP will continue the clean-up. There is no need to be afraid.”

    “Our CM Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi demolished the fake Mazars in Beyt Dwarka. They were all encroachments in the name of Mazars and they were cleared but Congress said we were polarising,” Shah added.

    Shah also reminded people about developments done by the BJP government at various pilgrimages, saying “For years, there was a Mazar in Pavagadh (pilgrimage in Central Gujarat). It is the BJP government that built a Kali temple atop the hill. Congress will never do such a thing. But we are not afraid of any vote bank. For the BJP government, the security of the country is more important than being in power.”

    “Don’t let Congress come to power or else communal riots will begin in the state again and you will face difficulties once again,” Shah Added.

    Talking about removing Article 370 in Kashmir, Shah said, “After so many years, PM Modi completed Sardar Patel’s dream of ‘Akhand Bharat’ and our Kashmir adorns the crown of Bharat Mata.”

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked about Muslim area demolition in an Assembly constituency where the Muslim population are a deciding factor.

    It is important to note that, on April 10, a clash erupted between the two communities during a Ram Navami procession in Shakarpur village of Khambhat town that resulted in the death of one person and also left six policemen injured.

    The BJP, which campaigned extensively across 83 seats in poll-bound Gujarat last week, held Sabhas on Tuesday, across 93 assembly constituencies that go into polls in the second phase of the state elections.

    The Elections for the 182-member State Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.ALSO READ | Congress left no stone unturned to insult Sardar Patel: Amit Shah

    AHMEDABAD: The Bharathiya Janata Party, (BJP), is leaving no stone unturned to continue its winning streak in the state.

    With the elections around the corner, the BJP – which earlier sought votes on the back of the “double engine model” in reference to the development works done by BJP’s central and state governments – is now trying to seek votes on the issue of Hinduism.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said BJP is doing work to remove specific community encroachment, which congress never did in the past due to vote bank politics.

    Amit Shah was addressing an election campaign rally in Gujarat’s Khambhat assembly constituency.

    Shah reminded the public about demolition work done by the BJP in Muslim areas saying “fake Mazars” (Muslim shrine/tomb) were removed from the residence of Lord Krishna’s Dwarka an island near Gujarat’s Okha.

    Shah said, “Be it Mazar or graves, shouldn’t encroachments be removed? Congress may not like it. But even if they don’t like it, BJP will continue the clean-up. There is no need to be afraid.”

    “Our CM Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi demolished the fake Mazars in Beyt Dwarka. They were all encroachments in the name of Mazars and they were cleared but Congress said we were polarising,” Shah added.

    Shah also reminded people about developments done by the BJP government at various pilgrimages, saying “For years, there was a Mazar in Pavagadh (pilgrimage in Central Gujarat). It is the BJP government that built a Kali temple atop the hill. Congress will never do such a thing. But we are not afraid of any vote bank. For the BJP government, the security of the country is more important than being in power.”

    “Don’t let Congress come to power or else communal riots will begin in the state again and you will face difficulties once again,” Shah Added.

    Talking about removing Article 370 in Kashmir, Shah said, “After so many years, PM Modi completed Sardar Patel’s dream of ‘Akhand Bharat’ and our Kashmir adorns the crown of Bharat Mata.”

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah talked about Muslim area demolition in an Assembly constituency where the Muslim population are a deciding factor.

    It is important to note that, on April 10, a clash erupted between the two communities during a Ram Navami procession in Shakarpur village of Khambhat town that resulted in the death of one person and also left six policemen injured.

    The BJP, which campaigned extensively across 83 seats in poll-bound Gujarat last week, held Sabhas on Tuesday, across 93 assembly constituencies that go into polls in the second phase of the state elections.

    The Elections for the 182-member State Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. The counting of votes will be taken up on December 8.ALSO READ | Congress left no stone unturned to insult Sardar Patel: Amit Shah

  • Gujarat polls | Congress left no stone unturned to insult Sardar Patel: Amit Shah

    By PTI

    KHAMBHAT: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that the Congress did everything possible to “insult” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and it has started praising him only now in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

    Even the last rites of the country’s first deputy prime minister were performed in an “unceremonious” way, the BJP leader said at an election rally at Khambhat in Gujarat’s Anand district.

    “I am surprised that the Congress now praises Sardar Patel. Since my childhood, I have never heard any Congress leader talking about Patel. Instead, they left no stone unturned to insult Patel, right from performing his last rites in an unceremonious manner to ensuring that no monument was built in his memory,” Shah said.

    Voting for Khambhat and 92 other seats will take place on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections.

    Shah further said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid a real tribute to Patel by constructing the Statue of Unity, Patel’s statue which is the world’s tallest monument.

    He also dared Congress candidate from Khambhat, Chirag Patel to produce any photograph where he is seen paying tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity.

    “No Congress leader dares to visit the Statue of Unity at Kevadia for fear of losing ticket,” he claimed.

    He also accused the Congress of opposing the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and the Triple Talaq prohibition law for its vote-bank politics.

    “If they support such causes, they fear they will lose those votes. I hope you understand which votes I am talking about. But their time is now over and PM Modi’s time has started. Rahul Baba (Gandhi), book a ticket to Ayodhya because a grand temple is going to be inaugurated on January 1, 2024,” said Shah.ALSO READ | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

    KHAMBHAT: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that the Congress did everything possible to “insult” Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and it has started praising him only now in view of the Gujarat Assembly elections.

    Even the last rites of the country’s first deputy prime minister were performed in an “unceremonious” way, the BJP leader said at an election rally at Khambhat in Gujarat’s Anand district.

    “I am surprised that the Congress now praises Sardar Patel. Since my childhood, I have never heard any Congress leader talking about Patel. Instead, they left no stone unturned to insult Patel, right from performing his last rites in an unceremonious manner to ensuring that no monument was built in his memory,” Shah said.

    Voting for Khambhat and 92 other seats will take place on December 5, in the second phase of the Assembly elections.

    Shah further said that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who paid a real tribute to Patel by constructing the Statue of Unity, Patel’s statue which is the world’s tallest monument.

    He also dared Congress candidate from Khambhat, Chirag Patel to produce any photograph where he is seen paying tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity.

    “No Congress leader dares to visit the Statue of Unity at Kevadia for fear of losing ticket,” he claimed.

    He also accused the Congress of opposing the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya and the Triple Talaq prohibition law for its vote-bank politics.

    “If they support such causes, they fear they will lose those votes. I hope you understand which votes I am talking about. But their time is now over and PM Modi’s time has started. Rahul Baba (Gandhi), book a ticket to Ayodhya because a grand temple is going to be inaugurated on January 1, 2024,” said Shah.ALSO READ | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

  • International community must fight shoulder to shoulder to defeat terrorism: Amit Shah

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that no country can defeat terrorism alone, Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the international community must continue to fight shoulder-to-shoulder against this increasingly complex and borderless threat.

    Addressing the concluding function of the 3rd ‘No Money for Terror’ Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing, he said some countries and their agencies have made terrorism their State policy.

    “In these terror havens, it’s necessary to shackle their unrestrained activities along with economic crackdown. All countries have to rise above their geo-political interests,” Shah said.

    He said some countries repeatedly support terrorists and those who harbour terrorism.

    “I believe that terrorism has no international boundaries, so all countries should think beyond politics and cooperate with each other,” Shah said.

    He called for transparency in intelligence sharing among the international community to defeat this “borderless threat” of terrorism.

    “Our first commitment should be cooperation with transparency.

    All countries, all organizations, must pledge complete transparency in sharing intelligence in a better and more effective manner,” he said.

    Citing action by India against an organisation promoting radicalisation among youths, the home minister said every country should identify and take stringent action against such organisations.

    He said we have to fight this war against terrorism and terrorist groups, in every geographical space, in every virtual space.

    “India has sensed the need for permanency of this unique initiative of NMFT, in order to sustain the continued global focus on countering the financing of terrorism.

    Time is ripe for a permanent Secretariat to be established,” he said, adding that a proposal has been made to set it up in India.

    He said the approach to fighting terrorism should be based on five pillars — comprehensive monitoring framework involving cooperation, coordination, and collaboration among all intelligence and investigative agencies, the strategy of “Trace, Target, and Terminate”, to be adopted from low-level economic offences to more organized economic crimes, strengthening and harmonizing the legal structures related to terror finance, robust mechanism against the misuse of next-generation technology and strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for asset recovery.

    NEW DELHI: Asserting that no country can defeat terrorism alone, Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the international community must continue to fight shoulder-to-shoulder against this increasingly complex and borderless threat.

    Addressing the concluding function of the 3rd ‘No Money for Terror’ Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing, he said some countries and their agencies have made terrorism their State policy.

    “In these terror havens, it’s necessary to shackle their unrestrained activities along with economic crackdown. All countries have to rise above their geo-political interests,” Shah said.

    He said some countries repeatedly support terrorists and those who harbour terrorism.

    “I believe that terrorism has no international boundaries, so all countries should think beyond politics and cooperate with each other,” Shah said.

    He called for transparency in intelligence sharing among the international community to defeat this “borderless threat” of terrorism.

    “Our first commitment should be cooperation with transparency.

    All countries, all organizations, must pledge complete transparency in sharing intelligence in a better and more effective manner,” he said.

    Citing action by India against an organisation promoting radicalisation among youths, the home minister said every country should identify and take stringent action against such organisations.

    He said we have to fight this war against terrorism and terrorist groups, in every geographical space, in every virtual space.

    “India has sensed the need for permanency of this unique initiative of NMFT, in order to sustain the continued global focus on countering the financing of terrorism.

    Time is ripe for a permanent Secretariat to be established,” he said, adding that a proposal has been made to set it up in India.

    He said the approach to fighting terrorism should be based on five pillars — comprehensive monitoring framework involving cooperation, coordination, and collaboration among all intelligence and investigative agencies, the strategy of “Trace, Target, and Terminate”, to be adopted from low-level economic offences to more organized economic crimes, strengthening and harmonizing the legal structures related to terror finance, robust mechanism against the misuse of next-generation technology and strengthening the legal and regulatory framework for asset recovery.

  • Legislative & intel steps curbed terror: Amit Shah

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Recognising that the “problem” of terror financing has become “widespread”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that strong legislative and technological and comprehensive monitoring frameworks and a mechanism for actionable intelligence sharing helped India crackdown on the phenomenon. 

    Chairing the first session of the third ‘No Money for Terror’ ministerial conference, Shah said that strengthening the investigation and police operations, the provision for confiscation of property, preventing the misuse of legal entities and new technologies and international cooperation and coordination had also helped thwart terror financing.

    Claiming that amending the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), enhancing the NIA’s powers and “giving a new direction to financial intelligence” had strengthened India’s fight against terrorism, Shah said these measures have contributed to the drastic reduction in incidents and economic losses. 

    Shah said while terrorism was, undoubtedly, the most serious threat to global peace and security, its financing was more dangerous as the ‘means and methods were nurtured by such funding. Besides, he said, the financing of terrorism weakens the economies of the world. The session’s theme was on ‘Global Trends in Terrorist Financing and Terrorism’.

    Pointing out that India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Shah said that no reason can justify taking innocent lives. Expressing his sympathy for terror attack victims across the world, Shah said no compromise could be made with this evil.

    Holding that India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism for several decades, Shah said that Indian security forces and civilians have had to deal with terrorist violence perpetrated and sustained in a coordinated manner. Even as the international community’s collective approach condemns terrorism in all its forms, the forms and manifestations of terrorism were continuously evolving due to technological revolution, Shah said.

    According to Shah, terrorists and terror groups understand the nuances of modern weapons and information technology, besides the dynamics of cyber and financial space which they use very well. This transformation of terrorism from “Dynamite to Metaverse” and “AK-47 to Virtual Assets”, Shah said, was definitely a matter of global concern and for which a common strategy needed to be formulated. However, Shah said that the terror threat “cannot and should not be linked to any religion, nationality or group”.Maintaining that India has made significant progress in fortifying the security architecture, besides the legal and financial systems”, Shah said terrorists were yet constantly finding new ways to carry out violence, radicalise the youth and raise funding.

    Disclosing that the ‘Dark Net’ was being used by terrorists to disseminate radical content by concealing their identities, the home minister said there was an increase in the use of virtual assets like cryptocurrency. There was a need to understand the patterns on such Dark Net activities and find solutions, he said. Emphasising that some countries were seeking to undermine and hinder India’s collective resolve to fight terror, Shah said that these states protect and shelter terrorists which was no less than promoting terrorism. He said that member states’ collective responsibility should ensure “such elements never succeed in their intentions”.

    Indicating that the regime change in Afghanistan in August 2021 had caused the “growing influence of Al Qaeda and ISIS” which have emerged as a significant challenge to regional security, Shah said that the “new equations have made the problem of terror financing more serious”.

    NEW DELHI:  Recognising that the “problem” of terror financing has become “widespread”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that strong legislative and technological and comprehensive monitoring frameworks and a mechanism for actionable intelligence sharing helped India crackdown on the phenomenon. 

    Chairing the first session of the third ‘No Money for Terror’ ministerial conference, Shah said that strengthening the investigation and police operations, the provision for confiscation of property, preventing the misuse of legal entities and new technologies and international cooperation and coordination had also helped thwart terror financing.

    Claiming that amending the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), enhancing the NIA’s powers and “giving a new direction to financial intelligence” had strengthened India’s fight against terrorism, Shah said these measures have contributed to the drastic reduction in incidents and economic losses. 

    Shah said while terrorism was, undoubtedly, the most serious threat to global peace and security, its financing was more dangerous as the ‘means and methods were nurtured by such funding. Besides, he said, the financing of terrorism weakens the economies of the world. The session’s theme was on ‘Global Trends in Terrorist Financing and Terrorism’.

    Pointing out that India condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Shah said that no reason can justify taking innocent lives. Expressing his sympathy for terror attack victims across the world, Shah said no compromise could be made with this evil.

    Holding that India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism for several decades, Shah said that Indian security forces and civilians have had to deal with terrorist violence perpetrated and sustained in a coordinated manner. Even as the international community’s collective approach condemns terrorism in all its forms, the forms and manifestations of terrorism were continuously evolving due to technological revolution, Shah said.

    According to Shah, terrorists and terror groups understand the nuances of modern weapons and information technology, besides the dynamics of cyber and financial space which they use very well. This transformation of terrorism from “Dynamite to Metaverse” and “AK-47 to Virtual Assets”, Shah said, was definitely a matter of global concern and for which a common strategy needed to be formulated. However, Shah said that the terror threat “cannot and should not be linked to any religion, nationality or group”.
    Maintaining that India has made significant progress in fortifying the security architecture, besides the legal and financial systems”, Shah said terrorists were yet constantly finding new ways to carry out violence, radicalise the youth and raise funding.

    Disclosing that the ‘Dark Net’ was being used by terrorists to disseminate radical content by concealing their identities, the home minister said there was an increase in the use of virtual assets like cryptocurrency. There was a need to understand the patterns on such Dark Net activities and find solutions, he said. Emphasising that some countries were seeking to undermine and hinder India’s collective resolve to fight terror, Shah said that these states protect and shelter terrorists which was no less than promoting terrorism. He said that member states’ collective responsibility should ensure “such elements never succeed in their intentions”.

    Indicating that the regime change in Afghanistan in August 2021 had caused the “growing influence of Al Qaeda and ISIS” which have emerged as a significant challenge to regional security, Shah said that the “new equations have made the problem of terror financing more serious”.

  • Economy fast-paced under PM Modi’s rule, says Amit Shah

    By PTI

    CHENNAI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the country witnessed fast-paced economic growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would achieve the USD 5-trillion economy goal by 2025.

    He said welfare schemes announced by the NDA government, including PM Awas Yojana for housing, and Swacch Bharat Abhiyan for the construction of toilets and free electricity were driving the growth.

    Shah was speaking during the 75th platinum jubilee celebrations of N Srinivasan-helmed The India Cements Ltd here.

    Hailing the contribution of the cement maker to the country, Shah said the development of the country was based on its infrastructure and robust infrastructure is based on the quality of the cement used.

    “India Cements has become one of the top cement companies in the country. It has also forayed into shipping, mining, infrastructure, sports and so on…” he said.

    Shah noted that the company produces 15.5 million tonnes of cement through its 10 manufacturing facilities across the country.

    “In the last eight years, the country has seen fast-paced economic growth. By 2025, India will become a USD 5-trillion economy, ” he said.

    To mark the occasion, Shah released a stamp to mark the 75th platinum jubilee celebrations of India Cements. Vice-chairman and managing director of the company N Srinivasan was present.

    Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Union Minister of State for Fisheries L Murugan, Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Bugganna Rajendranath Reddy and Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries Thangam Thennarasu were also present.

    CHENNAI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said the country witnessed fast-paced economic growth under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would achieve the USD 5-trillion economy goal by 2025.

    He said welfare schemes announced by the NDA government, including PM Awas Yojana for housing, and Swacch Bharat Abhiyan for the construction of toilets and free electricity were driving the growth.

    Shah was speaking during the 75th platinum jubilee celebrations of N Srinivasan-helmed The India Cements Ltd here.

    Hailing the contribution of the cement maker to the country, Shah said the development of the country was based on its infrastructure and robust infrastructure is based on the quality of the cement used.

    “India Cements has become one of the top cement companies in the country. It has also forayed into shipping, mining, infrastructure, sports and so on…” he said.

    Shah noted that the company produces 15.5 million tonnes of cement through its 10 manufacturing facilities across the country.

    “In the last eight years, the country has seen fast-paced economic growth. By 2025, India will become a USD 5-trillion economy, ” he said.

    To mark the occasion, Shah released a stamp to mark the 75th platinum jubilee celebrations of India Cements. Vice-chairman and managing director of the company N Srinivasan was present.

    Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Union Minister of State for Fisheries L Murugan, Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Bugganna Rajendranath Reddy and Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries Thangam Thennarasu were also present.

  • Gujarat assembly polls: Congress leader Himanshu Vyas joins BJP 

    By PTI

    GANDHINAGAR: Senior Congress leader Himanshu Vyas joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Saturday.

    BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah welcomed him into the party fold. The development came ahead of the next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat.

    Vyas, who held the post of secretary in the Congress, blamed the party leadership for his decision to quit, saying those who work for the party are ignored while sycophants get ahead.

    “The Congress leadership has failed in people’s eyes and also failed in communicating with party workers,” he told reporters.

    “The leadership is surrounded by people who do not allow true workers to approach the leadership,” he added.

    He had been sidelined in the Congress for the last two years, Vyas claimed.

    Vyas had fought election twice from Wadhwan Assembly seat in Surendranagar district of the state but lost both times.

    GANDHINAGAR: Senior Congress leader Himanshu Vyas joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Saturday.

    BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah welcomed him into the party fold. The development came ahead of the next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat.

    Vyas, who held the post of secretary in the Congress, blamed the party leadership for his decision to quit, saying those who work for the party are ignored while sycophants get ahead.

    “The Congress leadership has failed in people’s eyes and also failed in communicating with party workers,” he told reporters.

    “The leadership is surrounded by people who do not allow true workers to approach the leadership,” he added.

    He had been sidelined in the Congress for the last two years, Vyas claimed.

    Vyas had fought election twice from Wadhwan Assembly seat in Surendranagar district of the state but lost both times.

  • Amit Shah targets Congress with ‘ma-beta party’ barb in Himachal rally

    By PTI

    CHAMBA, HIMACHAL PRADESH: Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah launched an attack on Tuesday calling the Congress as “ma-beta” party both in Himachal Pradesh and in Delhi, wondering how can those facing a chargesheet provide a good government in the hill state.

    Shah also said that gone are the days of “raja-rani” and it is the “time of common people” in a democracy like India.

    Addressing a public rally here in favour of the BJP candidate in the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls and Bhattiyat MLA Bikram Singh Jaryal, Shah urged the voters to re-elect the saffron party to power in the state by breaking the tradition of not repeating a government.

    The Home Minister said he had heard the speeches of Congress leaders and they had nothing to say apart from banking on the tradition of alternative governments in the hill state.

    “Change this tradition of alternative governments and repeat the BJP in the state. Form a BJP government for the second time by breaking this tradition and we will ensure a drugs-free Himachal by putting an end to the business of narcotics here. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji has taken a pledge for a drugs-free India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” the home minister said to a roaring audience.

    “I have heard the speeches of Congress leaders. They have nothing to say except stressing on the ‘riwaz’ (tradition),” he said, coining a new slogan — “Ek bar BJP, bar bar BJP”.

    Accusing the Congress of trying to create divisions between upper and lower Himachal, Shah said, “But Rahul baba, upper Himachal and lower Himachal both belong to the BJP and so does every nook and corner of the state.”

    Alleging that the Congress was responsible for “scams” involving a total amount of Rs 12 lakh crore during its government at the Centre, the home minister said, “Still not satiated, they have now come to Himachal Pradesh. How can those facing a chargesheet give a good government in the state?”

    “There is democracy in the country and gone are the days of raja-rani. It is the time of common people. We have to elect a government that works for the development of the state,” he quipped.

    Noting that there is nothing in the name of development in the speeches of the Congress leaders, Shah said, “In Delhi, it is a ma-beta party and here too, it is a ma-beta party, where there is no place for youngsters. Youngsters have a place only in the BJP.”

    His remarks came in an apparent reference to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh in Himachal Pradesh.

    Stressing on Modi’s development plank and his fondness for Himachal Pradesh, he said the prime minister has worked here for years and that is why he is familiar with every corner of the state. Shah also recalled that the BJP has laid a web of roads in the state and that a medical college is coming up in Chamba.

    “When there is a double-engine government, it has its own strength. If anyone has benefitted the most during the Modi government, it is the 80 crore poor people of the country,” he said enumerating a number of central schemes.

    Shah alleged that during the previous UPA rule in the country, terrorists used to behead Indian soldiers every now and then but the Congress leaders would not even say a word as they feared losing their vote bank. “But now, it is the Modi government and not that of mauni baba Manmohan Singh,” he said, referring to the surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

    Shah also reminded people of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was Modi who made these things possible.

    “You will see a magnificent, sky-touching Ram temple after 2024 and you should book your tickets,” he said while also highlighting the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. “The Congress was trying to insult our heritage, our religious sites and icons, but Modiji, without worrying about vote banks, made these possible,” Shah said.

    The home minister paid homage to the jawans from Himachal Pradesh who laid down their lives for the nation and said the state sends the highest number of soldiers to the armed forces.

    Shah is scheduled to address a series of rallies in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh during his two-day tour of the hill state. Polling will be held in Himachal Pradesh on November 12 and the counting of votes taken up on December 8.

    The BJP is seeking re-election in the state, while the Congress is eyeing to wrest power from the saffron party, even as new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is looking to capture new political space.

    CHAMBA, HIMACHAL PRADESH: Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah launched an attack on Tuesday calling the Congress as “ma-beta” party both in Himachal Pradesh and in Delhi, wondering how can those facing a chargesheet provide a good government in the hill state.

    Shah also said that gone are the days of “raja-rani” and it is the “time of common people” in a democracy like India.

    Addressing a public rally here in favour of the BJP candidate in the November 12 Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls and Bhattiyat MLA Bikram Singh Jaryal, Shah urged the voters to re-elect the saffron party to power in the state by breaking the tradition of not repeating a government.

    The Home Minister said he had heard the speeches of Congress leaders and they had nothing to say apart from banking on the tradition of alternative governments in the hill state.

    “Change this tradition of alternative governments and repeat the BJP in the state. Form a BJP government for the second time by breaking this tradition and we will ensure a drugs-free Himachal by putting an end to the business of narcotics here. (Prime Minister Narendra) Modiji has taken a pledge for a drugs-free India in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav,” the home minister said to a roaring audience.

    “I have heard the speeches of Congress leaders. They have nothing to say except stressing on the ‘riwaz’ (tradition),” he said, coining a new slogan — “Ek bar BJP, bar bar BJP”.

    Accusing the Congress of trying to create divisions between upper and lower Himachal, Shah said, “But Rahul baba, upper Himachal and lower Himachal both belong to the BJP and so does every nook and corner of the state.”

    Alleging that the Congress was responsible for “scams” involving a total amount of Rs 12 lakh crore during its government at the Centre, the home minister said, “Still not satiated, they have now come to Himachal Pradesh. How can those facing a chargesheet give a good government in the state?”

    “There is democracy in the country and gone are the days of raja-rani. It is the time of common people. We have to elect a government that works for the development of the state,” he quipped.

    Noting that there is nothing in the name of development in the speeches of the Congress leaders, Shah said, “In Delhi, it is a ma-beta party and here too, it is a ma-beta party, where there is no place for youngsters. Youngsters have a place only in the BJP.”

    His remarks came in an apparent reference to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and Pratibha Singh and her son Vikramaditya Singh in Himachal Pradesh.

    Stressing on Modi’s development plank and his fondness for Himachal Pradesh, he said the prime minister has worked here for years and that is why he is familiar with every corner of the state. Shah also recalled that the BJP has laid a web of roads in the state and that a medical college is coming up in Chamba.

    “When there is a double-engine government, it has its own strength. If anyone has benefitted the most during the Modi government, it is the 80 crore poor people of the country,” he said enumerating a number of central schemes.

    Shah alleged that during the previous UPA rule in the country, terrorists used to behead Indian soldiers every now and then but the Congress leaders would not even say a word as they feared losing their vote bank. “But now, it is the Modi government and not that of mauni baba Manmohan Singh,” he said, referring to the surgical strikes inside Pakistan.

    Shah also reminded people of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was Modi who made these things possible.

    “You will see a magnificent, sky-touching Ram temple after 2024 and you should book your tickets,” he said while also highlighting the construction of the Kashi Vishwanath corridor in Varanasi. “The Congress was trying to insult our heritage, our religious sites and icons, but Modiji, without worrying about vote banks, made these possible,” Shah said.

    The home minister paid homage to the jawans from Himachal Pradesh who laid down their lives for the nation and said the state sends the highest number of soldiers to the armed forces.

    Shah is scheduled to address a series of rallies in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh during his two-day tour of the hill state. Polling will be held in Himachal Pradesh on November 12 and the counting of votes taken up on December 8.

    The BJP is seeking re-election in the state, while the Congress is eyeing to wrest power from the saffron party, even as new entrant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is looking to capture new political space.

  • Gujjars, Bakerwals join hands to oppose ST status to Paharis in J&K

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  With Home Minister Amit Shah announcing early this month that Pahari community in J&K would get ST reservation soon, the Gujjar and Bakerwal community leaders, who are opposing it, have formed a united front Gujjar Bakerwal Joint Action Committee (GBJAC) to fight for the rights of tribal and oppose any move of granting ST reservation to Paharis or any other creamy layers of the society. GBJAC chief spokesman Talib Hussain said various Gujjar and Bakerwal groups and student bodies have joined hands and formed the GBJAC to fight for their rights. The new united front would be led by Haji Mohammad Yousaf.

    Gujjar and Bakerwals with a population of over 2 million, he said, were notified as Schedule Tribe in the erstwhile J&K state in 1991 after a struggle of four decades. Opposing any move to grant ST status to the Pahari community, he said, “The ST status cannot be granted on the basis of language. It is granted on the basis of social stigma and backwardness.”

    The Paharis, he said, aren’t defined as an ethnic community by any sociological or anthropological research study. “Paharis are a group of different religious communities and castes within religions that came together for a common demand of ST status.”

    He said the GBJAC will strongly oppose any move to grant ST status to the creamy layers of the society.  “According to the Indian constitution, ST is equal to SC and today you are equating Brahims with the SCs.  Those who were landlords, tax collectors and rulers who proudly identified themselves as Rajas, use titles like Sardar and Raja are claiming to be socially isolated and stigmatized.

    Brahmins, who held the highest offices, controlled the economy and dwell in towns also complain of social discrimination. How on earth can they and other creamy layers of society be at par with Gujjar-Bakerwal people, who reside mostly on mountainous terrains and jungles sans basic amenities of life,” Talib said.

    Asserting that a group of religions with a complex caste structure cannot be designated as a tribe, he said it would be a historic blunder if upper castes are granted the ST status. 

    Last Pandit woman living in Shopian village leavesAs the administration tried to play down the latest ‘exodus’ of Kashmiri Pandits from Shopian village, the last Pandit woman living in the Choudhari Gund village in south Kashmir district also left for Jammu on Friday and with her leaving, all the 10 Pandit families, who had not migrated in 1990, in the hamlet have left the Valley, a Kashmiri Pandit group said. Kashmir Pandit Sangarsh Samiti president Sanjay Tickoo said that 55-year-old woman left Kashmir for Jammu today.  

    SRINAGAR:  With Home Minister Amit Shah announcing early this month that Pahari community in J&K would get ST reservation soon, the Gujjar and Bakerwal community leaders, who are opposing it, have formed a united front Gujjar Bakerwal Joint Action Committee (GBJAC) to fight for the rights of tribal and oppose any move of granting ST reservation to Paharis or any other creamy layers of the society. GBJAC chief spokesman Talib Hussain said various Gujjar and Bakerwal groups and student bodies have joined hands and formed the GBJAC to fight for their rights. The new united front would be led by Haji Mohammad Yousaf.

    Gujjar and Bakerwals with a population of over 2 million, he said, were notified as Schedule Tribe in the erstwhile J&K state in 1991 after a struggle of four decades. Opposing any move to grant ST status to the Pahari community, he said, “The ST status cannot be granted on the basis of language. It is granted on the basis of social stigma and backwardness.”

    The Paharis, he said, aren’t defined as an ethnic community by any sociological or anthropological research study. “Paharis are a group of different religious communities and castes within religions that came together for a common demand of ST status.”

    He said the GBJAC will strongly oppose any move to grant ST status to the creamy layers of the society.  “According to the Indian constitution, ST is equal to SC and today you are equating Brahims with the SCs.  Those who were landlords, tax collectors and rulers who proudly identified themselves as Rajas, use titles like Sardar and Raja are claiming to be socially isolated and stigmatized.

    Brahmins, who held the highest offices, controlled the economy and dwell in towns also complain of social discrimination. How on earth can they and other creamy layers of society be at par with Gujjar-Bakerwal people, who reside mostly on mountainous terrains and jungles sans basic amenities of life,” Talib said.

    Asserting that a group of religions with a complex caste structure cannot be designated as a tribe, he said it would be a historic blunder if upper castes are granted the ST status. 

    Last Pandit woman living in Shopian village leaves
    As the administration tried to play down the latest ‘exodus’ of Kashmiri Pandits from Shopian village, the last Pandit woman living in the Choudhari Gund village in south Kashmir district also left for Jammu on Friday and with her leaving, all the 10 Pandit families, who had not migrated in 1990, in the hamlet have left the Valley, a Kashmiri Pandit group said. Kashmir Pandit Sangarsh Samiti president Sanjay Tickoo said that 55-year-old woman left Kashmir for Jammu today.  

  • NIA footprint in all states by 2024

    By Express News Service

    FARIDABAD:  In what could have far-reaching consequences, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will open branches across all states by 2024 besides getting “extra-territorial rights”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Thursday.

    Inaugurating a twoday Chintan Shivir of home ministers on internal security, Shah said his ministry was in the process of amending the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The drafts will soon be placed in Parliament.

    Although Shah did not elaborate on the extra-territorial rights to the NIA, ministry sources said it will give the agency the power to investigate all types of cases across many domain areas within India. While the NIA, which was formed in 2008, at present has four hubs in as many metropolitan cities, the move to establish branches in all states will likely be opposed by non-BJPruled state governments.

    The expansion in the NIA’s powers, Shah said, also involves granting it the authority to confiscate a terrorist’s property. The last time it was granted enhanced powers was in 2019 when the NIA Act gave it the power to investigate the schedule of fences committed outside India, though subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.

    Under the Act, the Centre could direct the organisation to investigate such cases as if the offence has been committed in India. Besides, NIA officers have “all the powers, duties, privileges and liabilities which police officers have in connection with an investigation of offences”. Shah said his ministry intends to set targets for divisions handling cybercrime, drugs, internal security and border management for 2047.

    Nixing FCRA Claiming theFCRA licence of some NGOs was nixed since they were involved in religious conversions, Shah said they were “raising funds from foreign sources with impunity”

    FARIDABAD:  In what could have far-reaching consequences, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will open branches across all states by 2024 besides getting “extra-territorial rights”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Thursday.

    Inaugurating a twoday Chintan Shivir of home ministers on internal security, Shah said his ministry was in the process of amending the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The drafts will soon be placed in Parliament.

    Although Shah did not elaborate on the extra-territorial rights to the NIA, ministry sources said it will give the agency the power to investigate all types of cases across many domain areas within India. While the NIA, which was formed in 2008, at present has four hubs in as many metropolitan cities, the move to establish branches in all states will likely be opposed by non-BJPruled state governments.

    The expansion in the NIA’s powers, Shah said, also involves granting it the authority to confiscate a terrorist’s property. The last time it was granted enhanced powers was in 2019 when the NIA Act gave it the power to investigate the schedule of fences committed outside India, though subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.

    Under the Act, the Centre could direct the organisation to investigate such cases as if the offence has been committed in India. Besides, NIA officers have “all the powers, duties, privileges and liabilities which police officers have in connection with an investigation of offences”. Shah said his ministry intends to set targets for divisions handling cybercrime, drugs, internal security and border management for 2047.

    Nixing FCRA Claiming the
    FCRA licence of some NGOs was nixed since they were involved in religious conversions, Shah said they were “raising funds from foreign sources with impunity”