News Analysis India

Tag: Amit Shah

  • Modi-Shah to lead from the front and defend fortress Gujarat

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: After the announcement of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Gujarat’s is going to be announced soon. In such a situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state for 27 years, has a big challenge to save its fort.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have taken up the responsibility of retaining BJP’S power in Gujarat.

    A few hours after the Election Commission (EC) announced the Himachal elections on Friday, a meeting was held under the leadership of the PM at his residence. The BJP leaders of Gujarat and Himachal, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and state president C.R. Patil were present in the meeting, said sources.

    According to sources, this meeting was related to the Gujarat elections. A strategy to save the throne of Gujarat was prepared in this 5-hour-long meeting. It is believed that the BJP will compete in the Gujarat elections by keeping the face of the PM in front. At the same time, Amit Shah, along with J.P. Nadda, is busy preparing the complete outline of the plan. The gathering focused on several important aspects.

    Modi-Shah to announce schemes before the EC’s model code of conduct

    There is a possibility that the EC will announce the Gujarat elections after Diwali. In the remaining 10-12 days, Modi and Shah can give many big gifts to the state. The Defence Expo, which is going to be held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat from October 18 to October 22 will be inaugrated by the Prime Minister on October 19.

    The government is expecting to have signatures on more than 400 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investments above Rs 1.25 lakh crore in this expo. Apart from this, the foundation stone of many schemes and inaugurations will also be done around Diwali in Gujarat.

    To lessen the resentment of employees and farmers

    In Gujarat, many teachers, class IV government employees, health workers, farmers, forest guards and other organisations are angry with the government and were part of protests recently. They protested for an increase in their grade pay and the implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), among other demands.

    The Bhupendra Patel government has been successful in pacifying some of these, and has received instructions from the PM to dispose off the resentment still being seen in some organisations.

    Dealing with AAP’s promises and Congress’ silent propaganda

    The Gujarat Assembly elections are likely to be triangular this time. Apart from the BJP-Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also vigorously engaged in registering its presence in the state. Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convenor is making populist promises of providing free water, electricity as well as restoring old pension scheme of employees.

    In order to prevent the people from falling for these promises,the BJP has entrusted the central and state level leaders to go to the public and make them remember the development works of the government. Gujarat Gaurav Yatra is the beginning of the same.

    At the same time, the silence of the Congress also remains a matter of concern for the BJP. Recently, during a rally, Modi warned his workers of Congress’ silent campaign. He said that the “Congress was campaigning in villages and one should not get confused by them for not giving speeches or being seen in news”.

    To deal with this, the BJP has asked its workers to contact voters and conduct door to door campaigns. Amit Shah is also going to hold a meeting with the prominent leaders of Gujarat regarding this, said sources.

    There are 40-50 seats in Gujarat where the party seems weak in its own survey. A strategy is being prepared to bring these seats in its favour by holding more rallies with Modi and Shah. The party is also trying to strengthen its hold on the tribal seats. There are 27 seats reserved for tribals in the state. In the year 2017, the party could win only nine seats. Two seats went to the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and the remaining went to the Congress.

    Sources believe that CM Patel is not a leader with much mass base, hence the party has decided to go amongst the people with the face of Modi and the strategy of Shah.

    Gujarat has a total of 182 seats in the Assembly, out of which it is very important for any party to win 92 seats for a majority. In the 2017 elections, the BJP won 99 seats, while the Congress got 77.

    NEW DELHI: After the announcement of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Gujarat’s is going to be announced soon. In such a situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state for 27 years, has a big challenge to save its fort.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have taken up the responsibility of retaining BJP’S power in Gujarat.

    A few hours after the Election Commission (EC) announced the Himachal elections on Friday, a meeting was held under the leadership of the PM at his residence. The BJP leaders of Gujarat and Himachal, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and state president C.R. Patil were present in the meeting, said sources.

    According to sources, this meeting was related to the Gujarat elections. A strategy to save the throne of Gujarat was prepared in this 5-hour-long meeting. It is believed that the BJP will compete in the Gujarat elections by keeping the face of the PM in front. At the same time, Amit Shah, along with J.P. Nadda, is busy preparing the complete outline of the plan. The gathering focused on several important aspects.

    Modi-Shah to announce schemes before the EC’s model code of conduct

    There is a possibility that the EC will announce the Gujarat elections after Diwali. In the remaining 10-12 days, Modi and Shah can give many big gifts to the state. The Defence Expo, which is going to be held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat from October 18 to October 22 will be inaugrated by the Prime Minister on October 19.

    The government is expecting to have signatures on more than 400 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investments above Rs 1.25 lakh crore in this expo. Apart from this, the foundation stone of many schemes and inaugurations will also be done around Diwali in Gujarat.

    To lessen the resentment of employees and farmers

    In Gujarat, many teachers, class IV government employees, health workers, farmers, forest guards and other organisations are angry with the government and were part of protests recently. They protested for an increase in their grade pay and the implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), among other demands.

    The Bhupendra Patel government has been successful in pacifying some of these, and has received instructions from the PM to dispose off the resentment still being seen in some organisations.

    Dealing with AAP’s promises and Congress’ silent propaganda

    The Gujarat Assembly elections are likely to be triangular this time. Apart from the BJP-Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also vigorously engaged in registering its presence in the state. Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convenor is making populist promises of providing free water, electricity as well as restoring old pension scheme of employees.

    In order to prevent the people from falling for these promises,the BJP has entrusted the central and state level leaders to go to the public and make them remember the development works of the government. Gujarat Gaurav Yatra is the beginning of the same.

    At the same time, the silence of the Congress also remains a matter of concern for the BJP. Recently, during a rally, Modi warned his workers of Congress’ silent campaign. He said that the “Congress was campaigning in villages and one should not get confused by them for not giving speeches or being seen in news”.

    To deal with this, the BJP has asked its workers to contact voters and conduct door to door campaigns. Amit Shah is also going to hold a meeting with the prominent leaders of Gujarat regarding this, said sources.

    There are 40-50 seats in Gujarat where the party seems weak in its own survey. A strategy is being prepared to bring these seats in its favour by holding more rallies with Modi and Shah. The party is also trying to strengthen its hold on the tribal seats. There are 27 seats reserved for tribals in the state. In the year 2017, the party could win only nine seats. Two seats went to the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and the remaining went to the Congress.

    Sources believe that CM Patel is not a leader with much mass base, hence the party has decided to go amongst the people with the face of Modi and the strategy of Shah.

    Gujarat has a total of 182 seats in the Assembly, out of which it is very important for any party to win 92 seats for a majority. In the 2017 elections, the BJP won 99 seats, while the Congress got 77.

  • Kolkata Diary: BJP Bengal to invite Amit Shah for Diwali 

    Express News Service

    BJP Bengal to invite Amit Shah for Diwali BJP Bengal chapter is desperate to invite Union Home minister Amit Shah to the state during Diwali or Kali Puja this month. Having missed a political opportunity during Durga Puja, the state’s saffron camp is now working hard to bring Shah to Bengal during Diwali. Earlier, ahead of the Bengal’s biggest festival, the state chapter of the saffron camp failed to send a proposed schedule for Shah. A section of party leaders then mounted pressure on the state functionaries to bring Shah for the upcoming Diwali festival. But sources in the BJP said chances of Shah’s Bengal visit in Diwali are unlikely. 

    Ensure green and noiseless Diwali: HC A division bench of Calcutta High Court directed the police and state pollution control board along with union government organisations – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) – to jointly monitor to ensure only green fireworks are burst during the upcoming Diwali festival. The bench asked the pollution control board and the state to submit a report and fixed the next hearing date after the Court’s Puja vacation ends. The directive was issued in response to a PIL moved by Sabuj Mancha, an environment platform, in 2021. 

    Jadavpur alumni in US to raise funds for labs A group of former students of Jadavpur University (JU) in the US, who have been raising funds for the maintenance of the university’s laboratories, used the occasion of Durga Puja being held in the Bay Area in California to disseminate the message about the Global Jadavpur University Alumni Foundation (GJUAF). The foundation works as a platform to raise resources for the university. The foundation is aiming to raise 100,000 USD by November to support their alma matter which is facing acute fund crunch. Recently, JU’s V-C Suranjan Das had said the institute needs funds to overhaul its infrastructure.

    Pranab mondal Our correspondent in West [email protected]

    BJP Bengal to invite Amit Shah for Diwali 
    BJP Bengal chapter is desperate to invite Union Home minister Amit Shah to the state during Diwali or Kali Puja this month. Having missed a political opportunity during Durga Puja, the state’s saffron camp is now working hard to bring Shah to Bengal during Diwali. Earlier, ahead of the Bengal’s biggest festival, the state chapter of the saffron camp failed to send a proposed schedule for Shah. A section of party leaders then mounted pressure on the state functionaries to bring Shah for the upcoming Diwali festival. But sources in the BJP said chances of Shah’s Bengal visit in Diwali are unlikely. 

    Ensure green and noiseless Diwali: HC 
    A division bench of Calcutta High Court directed the police and state pollution control board along with union government organisations – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) – to jointly monitor to ensure only green fireworks are burst during the upcoming Diwali festival. The bench asked the pollution control board and the state to submit a report and fixed the next hearing date after the Court’s Puja vacation ends. The directive was issued in response to a PIL moved by Sabuj Mancha, an environment platform, in 2021. 

    Jadavpur alumni in US to raise funds for labs 
    A group of former students of Jadavpur University (JU) in the US, who have been raising funds for the maintenance of the university’s laboratories, used the occasion of Durga Puja being held in the Bay Area in California to disseminate the message about the Global Jadavpur University Alumni Foundation (GJUAF). The foundation works as a platform to raise resources for the university. The foundation is aiming to raise 100,000 USD by November to support their alma matter which is facing acute fund crunch. Recently, JU’s V-C Suranjan Das had said the institute needs funds to overhaul its infrastructure.

    Pranab mondal 
    Our correspondent in West Bengal
    [email protected]

  • BJP tall claims after Shah’s Baramulla visit; KCR behaving like a ‘Nizam,’ says Tarun Chug

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: After the successful rally of Home Minister Amit Shah in J&K’s terror hotbed Baramulla recently, the BJP appears exuberant, ready to project the state as the development hub of the country.

    In Telangana too, where Assembly polls are due soon, the party feels emboldened by its victories in two by-elections in 2020-21. 

    “Given the performance of CM K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR), there’s a perception that family rule is being promoted. The change of name of the ruling party from TRS to BRS means nothing on the ground,” says BJP national general secretary and in charge of J&K and Telangana Tarun Chug.

    On J&K, Chug claims the UT people are reposing trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and are drawn closer to the BJP. “We are determined to develop Kashmir as ‘El-Dorado’ of India where with peace prevails,” said Chug in an interview.

    “We are genuinely concerned about making Kashmir as a developed state,” he said. 

    Chug cited the Rs 58,470-crore development package that the Modi government released post abrogation of Article 370. 

    “The package involves execution of nearly 53 projects.” The youth were being encouraged to take up entrepreneurship and self-employment under various development schemes, he claimed.

    “The J&K administration has created 30,000 jobs and over 5.2 lakh opportunities for selfemployments of the youth, who now feel a part of the mains t r e a m o f g o ve r n m e n t schemes,” Chug said.

    Similarly, new industrial policy has opened up new avenues for businessmen to move towards J&K. 

    The massive dose of development funds for the UT gives an impression that the BJP is prepareing for elections. 

    “Let us see, time will tell (about when the polls are held). Our party is not solely focused on the polls. Our objective is the welfare of the state and making people aware of the negative role being played by Mehbooba Mufti and the Abdullahs.”

    On Telangana, Chug accused CM KCR of behaving like a ‘Nizam.’ All his schemes have failed. 

    “The violence unleashed on political opponents, particularly BJP, is shameful.” Chug says the core issues in Telangana are the electoral promises made by the ruling dispensation. The fact is that the KCR government has miserably failed to keep its promises, included its much-vaunted twobedroom houses for the poor,” he said. “The state government has also failed to provide unemployment doles of Rs 3,016 per month pending since November 2018. It has done nothing on its scheme for a one-time waiver of `1 lakh farm loan to farmers and providing three acres of land to SCs and two acres of land to the STs. 

    “KCR is one person who can’t keep his own house in order yet tries to rule the country,” said Chug. Taking a jibe at KCR’s party, Chug said: “TRS has become BRS and will eventually become the people-driven VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme).”

    NEW DELHI: After the successful rally of Home Minister Amit Shah in J&K’s terror hotbed Baramulla recently, the BJP appears exuberant, ready to project the state as the development hub of the country.

    In Telangana too, where Assembly polls are due soon, the party feels emboldened by its victories in two by-elections in 2020-21. 

    “Given the performance of CM K Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR), there’s a perception that family rule is being promoted. The change of name of the ruling party from TRS to BRS means nothing on the ground,” says BJP national general secretary and in charge of J&K and Telangana Tarun Chug.

    On J&K, Chug claims the UT people are reposing trust in the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and are drawn closer to the BJP. “We are determined to develop Kashmir as ‘El-Dorado’ 
    of India where with peace prevails,” said Chug in an interview.

    “We are genuinely concerned about making Kashmir as a developed state,” he said. 

    Chug cited the Rs 58,470-crore development package that the Modi government released post abrogation of Article 370. 

    “The package involves execution of nearly 53 projects.” The youth were being encouraged to take up entrepreneurship and self-employment under various development schemes, he claimed.

    “The J&K administration has created 30,000 jobs and over 5.2 lakh opportunities for selfemployments of the youth, who now feel a part of the mains t r e a m o f g o ve r n m e n t schemes,” Chug said.

    Similarly, new industrial policy has opened up new avenues for businessmen to move towards J&K. 

    The massive dose of development funds for the UT gives an impression that the BJP is prepareing for elections. 

    “Let us see, time will tell (about when the polls are held). Our party is not solely focused on the polls. Our objective is the welfare of the state and making people aware of the negative role being played by Mehbooba Mufti and the Abdullahs.”

    On Telangana, Chug accused CM KCR of behaving like a ‘Nizam.’ All his schemes have failed. 

    “The violence unleashed on political opponents, particularly BJP, is shameful.” Chug says the core issues in Telangana are the electoral promises made by the ruling dispensation. The fact is that the KCR government has miserably failed to keep its promises, included its much-vaunted twobedroom houses for the poor,” he said. “The state government has also failed to provide unemployment doles of Rs 3,016 per month pending since November 2018. It has done nothing on its scheme for a one-time waiver of `1 lakh farm loan to farmers and providing three acres of land to SCs and two acres of land to the STs. 

    “KCR is one person who can’t keep his own house in order yet tries to rule the country,” said Chug. Taking a jibe at KCR’s party, Chug said: “TRS has become BRS and will eventually 
    become the people-driven VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme).”

  • At Gujrat rally, Shah blames Nehru for Kashmir imbroglio

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD:  It seems former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru will reverberate as election issue in upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls. The ruling BJP is already targeting the main Opposition Congress for the country’s first Prime Minister’s role in keeping the Kashmir conflict alive. 

    On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing a gathering in Unnai, a tribal area in South Gujarat, held Nehru responsible for the Kashmir problem and congratulated PM Modi for solving it through abrogation of Article 370.

    Earlier on October 10, PM Modi during his visit to Gujarat had said without mentioning Nehru’s name that “Sardar Patel resolved issues of merger of erstwhile princely states, but Kashmir was handled by “one person” and that’s why Kashmir issue remained unresolved.” Modi also said that he was able to resolve the long-pending Kashmir issue as he is walking in the footsteps of Sardar Patel.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah was addressing a public gathering at Unnai Mata temple, a popular religious place in Vansda taluka of Navsari district. He flagged off two Gaurav Yatras at Unnai temple, one of which will travel to Ambaji temple in north Gujarat and then across the entire tribal belt of eastern Gujarat.

    Addressing the gathering, Shah Said, “Due to the mistake of Jawaharlal Nehru, the issue of Kashmir was not resolved and because of Article 370, Kashmir had a separate Constitution. PM Modi on 5 Aug 2019 removed Article 370 in one stroke and merged Kashmir with India forever.”

    He further elaborated about Kashmir and Article 370. “At the time of removal of Article 370 in J&K, SP, BSP, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were threatening that if it is repealed, ‘Koon Ki Nadia Bahe Jayengi’ (there will be bloodshed), but Modi acted in such a way that no one dared to lift even a single stone,” he said. 

    AHMEDABAD:  It seems former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru will reverberate as election issue in upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls. The ruling BJP is already targeting the main Opposition Congress for the country’s first Prime Minister’s role in keeping the Kashmir conflict alive. 

    On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while addressing a gathering in Unnai, a tribal area in South Gujarat, held Nehru responsible for the Kashmir problem and congratulated PM Modi for solving it through abrogation of Article 370.

    Earlier on October 10, PM Modi during his visit to Gujarat had said without mentioning Nehru’s name that “Sardar Patel resolved issues of merger of erstwhile princely states, but Kashmir was handled by “one person” and that’s why Kashmir issue remained unresolved.” Modi also said that he was able to resolve the long-pending Kashmir issue as he is walking in the footsteps of Sardar Patel.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah was addressing a public gathering at Unnai Mata temple, a popular religious place in Vansda taluka of Navsari district. He flagged off two Gaurav Yatras at Unnai temple, one of which will travel to Ambaji temple in north Gujarat and then across the entire tribal belt of eastern Gujarat.

    Addressing the gathering, Shah Said, “Due to the mistake of Jawaharlal Nehru, the issue of Kashmir was not resolved and because of Article 370, Kashmir had a separate Constitution. PM Modi on 5 Aug 2019 removed Article 370 in one stroke and merged Kashmir with India forever.”

    He further elaborated about Kashmir and Article 370. “At the time of removal of Article 370 in J&K, SP, BSP, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were threatening that if it is repealed, ‘Koon Ki Nadia Bahe Jayengi’ (there will be bloodshed), but Modi acted in such a way that no one dared to lift even a single stone,” he said.
     

  • ‘Disciples’ of JP sacrificed his ideology, joined hands with Congress: Amit Shah

    By PTI

    SITAB DIARA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that those who claim themselves to be disciples of Jayaprakash Narayan have sacrificed his socialist ideology, in an apparent dig at the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar.

    Shah made the statement while addressing a rally here at the birthplace of Jayaprakash, popularly known as JP, in Bihar’s Saran district after unveiling a 15-feet high statue of the socialist icon.

    “He is power hungry, and for power, he sacrificed JP’s ideologies and joined hands with the Congress. He has nothing to do with the ideologies of JP,” Shah said, in an apparent reference to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who dumped the BJP to form a new seven-party coalition government.

    “Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the poor and the weaker sections of the society, for whom JP was concerned. This is the reason the Centre launched ‘Antyodaya Anna Yojna’ and Ujjwala Yojna, among others. He (Modi) is a firm believer in JP’s ideology,” the home minister said.

    Shah also credited the prime minister for the installation of JP’s statue, a project of the Union Culture Ministry.

    “The Hazaribagh jail escape of JP, his call for ‘total revolution’, his historic address at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan and his struggle during the days of Emergency are his legacy,” he said.

    UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the programme to mark the 120th birth anniversary of the veteran leader. Adityanath said his government has done a lot for the development of the areas of Sitab Diara that is in the jurisdiction of Uttar Pradesh.

    “JP was a towering national leader, he can’t be confined to UP and Bihar only,” he said.

    SITAB DIARA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that those who claim themselves to be disciples of Jayaprakash Narayan have sacrificed his socialist ideology, in an apparent dig at the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar.

    Shah made the statement while addressing a rally here at the birthplace of Jayaprakash, popularly known as JP, in Bihar’s Saran district after unveiling a 15-feet high statue of the socialist icon.

    “He is power hungry, and for power, he sacrificed JP’s ideologies and joined hands with the Congress. He has nothing to do with the ideologies of JP,” Shah said, in an apparent reference to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who dumped the BJP to form a new seven-party coalition government.

    “Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the poor and the weaker sections of the society, for whom JP was concerned. This is the reason the Centre launched ‘Antyodaya Anna Yojna’ and Ujjwala Yojna, among others. He (Modi) is a firm believer in JP’s ideology,” the home minister said.

    Shah also credited the prime minister for the installation of JP’s statue, a project of the Union Culture Ministry.

    “The Hazaribagh jail escape of JP, his call for ‘total revolution’, his historic address at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan and his struggle during the days of Emergency are his legacy,” he said.

    UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the programme to mark the 120th birth anniversary of the veteran leader. Adityanath said his government has done a lot for the development of the areas of Sitab Diara that is in the jurisdiction of Uttar Pradesh.

    “JP was a towering national leader, he can’t be confined to UP and Bihar only,” he said.

  • Hearing ‘Azaan’, Amit shah pauses speech during J-K rally

    By PTI

    BARAMULLA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday briefly stopped his speech during a rally in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir as ‘Azaan’ or Muslim call to prayer was going on from a nearby mosque.

    Five minutes into his about half-an-hour speech at Showkat Ali stadium in this North Kashmir district, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader paused and asked those on the stage “if something was going on at a mosque”? When someone on the stage told him that ‘Azaan’ was going on, Shah stopped his speech, attracting a huge round of applause and chanting of slogans in his favour from the gathering.

    After a brief moment, he said the call for prayer has now stopped and asked if he would continue his speech.

    ALSO READ | No talks with Pakistan; Modi govt won’t tolerate terrorism: Amit Shah

    “Should I start or not? Say it loudly, should I start,” he asked and then went on with his speech.

    Earlier, soon after his arrival, Shah started his speech much to the delight of the people who had been waiting for hours since early morning.

    Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitender Singh, who was also present on the stage, did not address the gathering.

    BARAMULLA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday briefly stopped his speech during a rally in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir as ‘Azaan’ or Muslim call to prayer was going on from a nearby mosque.

    Five minutes into his about half-an-hour speech at Showkat Ali stadium in this North Kashmir district, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader paused and asked those on the stage “if something was going on at a mosque”? When someone on the stage told him that ‘Azaan’ was going on, Shah stopped his speech, attracting a huge round of applause and chanting of slogans in his favour from the gathering.

    After a brief moment, he said the call for prayer has now stopped and asked if he would continue his speech.

    ALSO READ | No talks with Pakistan; Modi govt won’t tolerate terrorism: Amit Shah

    “Should I start or not? Say it loudly, should I start,” he asked and then went on with his speech.

    Earlier, soon after his arrival, Shah started his speech much to the delight of the people who had been waiting for hours since early morning.

    Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Jitender Singh, who was also present on the stage, did not address the gathering.

  • Abrogation of Article 370 paved way for providing reservation benefits in J-K, says Amit Shah

    By PTI

    RAJOURI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced that the Gujjar, Bakerwal and Pahari communities in Jammu and Kashmir will get reservation benefits in accordance with the recommendations of the Justice Sharma Commission which examined the issue of quota.

    Addressing a rally here, Shah also said there will be no decline in the ST quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals and Paharis and everyone will get their share.

    He said the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 has paved the way for providing reservation benefits to the deprived sections of the society in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “The Justice Sharma Commission has recommended and it includes Paharis, Bakerwal and Gujjars for ST quota benefits. These recommendations have been received and soon after completion of legal procedure, Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis will get the reservation benefits,” he said.

    The home minister said some people have tried to instigate the Gujjars and Bakerwals in the name of ST status being given to Paharis but the people have foiled their design.

    Coming down heavily on the Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said earlier that just three political families used to rule the erstwhile state, but now the power is with 30,000 people who were elected to panchayats and district councils through fair elections.

    He said the development of Jammu and Kashmir is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priority.

    “Earlier, all money sent by the Centre for development was usurped by a few, but now everything is spent on people’s welfare,” he said.

    “I want to appeal to you to free Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of these three families and to make hands of Modi strong for the betterment and welfare of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Shah did not take names of the three families. 

    He also said the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is far better now than earlier due to the strong action taken against terrorists by the Modi government.

    “As a result, the death toll of security forces has come down from 1,200 every year to 136 this year,” he said.

    RAJOURI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced that the Gujjar, Bakerwal and Pahari communities in Jammu and Kashmir will get reservation benefits in accordance with the recommendations of the Justice Sharma Commission which examined the issue of quota.

    Addressing a rally here, Shah also said there will be no decline in the ST quota of Gujjars and Bakerwals and Paharis and everyone will get their share.

    He said the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 has paved the way for providing reservation benefits to the deprived sections of the society in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “The Justice Sharma Commission has recommended and it includes Paharis, Bakerwal and Gujjars for ST quota benefits. These recommendations have been received and soon after completion of legal procedure, Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis will get the reservation benefits,” he said.

    The home minister said some people have tried to instigate the Gujjars and Bakerwals in the name of ST status being given to Paharis but the people have foiled their design.

    Coming down heavily on the Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said earlier that just three political families used to rule the erstwhile state, but now the power is with 30,000 people who were elected to panchayats and district councils through fair elections.

    He said the development of Jammu and Kashmir is Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s priority.

    “Earlier, all money sent by the Centre for development was usurped by a few, but now everything is spent on people’s welfare,” he said.

    “I want to appeal to you to free Jammu and Kashmir from the clutches of these three families and to make hands of Modi strong for the betterment and welfare of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. Shah did not take names of the three families. 

    He also said the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is far better now than earlier due to the strong action taken against terrorists by the Modi government.

    “As a result, the death toll of security forces has come down from 1,200 every year to 136 this year,” he said.

  • CBI makes social media debut ahead of Interpol General Assembly 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Social media shy CBI has made a maiden appearance on Twitter and Instagram ahead of the upcoming Interpol General Assembly in which 195 countries are likely to participate, officials said on Sunday.

    The agency created its accounts on both platforms with user ID CBI_CIO for the three-day-long 90th General Assembly starting October 18, they said.

    Unlike its peers, the Enforcement Directorate and the National Investigation Agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had kept social media at an arm’s length, sticking to the age-old practice of issuing press releases.

    The General Assembly will focus on cybercrime, financial crimes and Child Sexual Abuse Material peddled on the internet among other issues, officials said.

    Having already organised a General Assembly in 1997, India was given an out-of-turn chance to organise the event through a vote on the eve of the 75th anniversary of its independence.

    Home Minister Amit Shah had made a proposal in this regard to Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock, who called on the minister during his visit to India.

    The General Assembly is Interpol’s supreme governing body, comprising representatives from each of the 195 member countries which meets annually.

    Each member country may be represented by one or several delegates who are typically ministers, chiefs of police, heads of their Interpol National Central Bureaus and senior ministry officials, they said.

    India, which joined the organisation in 1949, is one of the oldest members of The International Criminal Police Organization, known as Interpol.

    Headquartered in Lyon, France, Interpol was founded in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC).

    The name Interpol served as the agency’s telegraphic address in 1946, and was chosen as its common name in 1956.

    The CBI is designated as the National Central Bureau of India for Interpol.

    The agency has actively participated in two recent operations based on Interpol inputs– Operation Megha Chakra against online Child Sexual Abuse Material and Operation Garud against narcotics.

    NEW DELHI: Social media shy CBI has made a maiden appearance on Twitter and Instagram ahead of the upcoming Interpol General Assembly in which 195 countries are likely to participate, officials said on Sunday.

    The agency created its accounts on both platforms with user ID CBI_CIO for the three-day-long 90th General Assembly starting October 18, they said.

    Unlike its peers, the Enforcement Directorate and the National Investigation Agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had kept social media at an arm’s length, sticking to the age-old practice of issuing press releases.

    The General Assembly will focus on cybercrime, financial crimes and Child Sexual Abuse Material peddled on the internet among other issues, officials said.

    Having already organised a General Assembly in 1997, India was given an out-of-turn chance to organise the event through a vote on the eve of the 75th anniversary of its independence.

    Home Minister Amit Shah had made a proposal in this regard to Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock, who called on the minister during his visit to India.

    The General Assembly is Interpol’s supreme governing body, comprising representatives from each of the 195 member countries which meets annually.

    Each member country may be represented by one or several delegates who are typically ministers, chiefs of police, heads of their Interpol National Central Bureaus and senior ministry officials, they said.

    India, which joined the organisation in 1949, is one of the oldest members of The International Criminal Police Organization, known as Interpol.

    Headquartered in Lyon, France, Interpol was founded in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC).

    The name Interpol served as the agency’s telegraphic address in 1946, and was chosen as its common name in 1956.

    The CBI is designated as the National Central Bureau of India for Interpol.

    The agency has actively participated in two recent operations based on Interpol inputs– Operation Megha Chakra against online Child Sexual Abuse Material and Operation Garud against narcotics.

  • RJD chief Lalu Yadav slams Home Minister Shah for ‘jungle raaj’ jibe at Bihar govt 

    By PTI

    DELHI/ PATNI: RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday lashed out at Home Minister Amit Shah over his “jungle raaj” jibe on Bihar’s ruling alliance and stressed on the need for Opposition unity, a day before he meets Congress leader Sonia Gandhi along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    “Amit Shah has totally gone crazy. His government has been removed there (Bihar). It (BJP) will face a rout in 2024 as well. That is why he is going there running and speaking of ‘jungle raaj’ and all those things. What did he do when he was in Gujarat,” Yadav told reporters in the national capital.” 

    “Jungle raaj was in Gujarat when he was there,” the former Bihar chief minister alleged.

    “Amit Shah bilkul paglaye hue hain,” he said, speaking in Hindi, when asked about Shah’s ‘jungle raaj’ barb at the state government on Friday in his Purnea rally where he went hammer and tongs after Kumar and Yadav.

    Asked about the home minister’s claim that the BJP will form the government at the Centre in 2024 again and then in Bihar the next year, he quipped, “We will see that.”

    With the BJP saying that Kumar will dump the RJD later in his pursuit of power, Yadav asserted they are together now.

    Kumar and Yadav have scheduled to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday evening.

    “We are making every effort for Opposition unity,” Yadav, who has been battling poor health, said, adding this will be the agenda of their meeting.

    Earlier in Patna, Yadav predicted a wipeout for the BJP in the 2024 polls.

    “Don’t worry, the BJP will be wiped out (safaya ho jaega),” he said.

    His legal troubles and falling health have kept the charismatic leader mostly away from the daily grind of active politics as his son and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has emerged as the RJD’s de facto leader.

    Shah on Friday had flayed former ally Nitish Kumar, accusing the Bihar chief minister of backstabbing the BJP and trying to fulfil his prime ministerial ambitions while “sitting in the laps of Congress and RJD”.

    At a rally held in Purnea, Shah asserted the combine of Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad will be “wiped out (soopda saaf)” in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and, a year later, the BJP will win a majority on its own in the state assembly elections.

    Bihar does not want the grand alliance’s “jungle raaj”, he had said.

    DELHI/ PATNI: RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav on Saturday lashed out at Home Minister Amit Shah over his “jungle raaj” jibe on Bihar’s ruling alliance and stressed on the need for Opposition unity, a day before he meets Congress leader Sonia Gandhi along with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    “Amit Shah has totally gone crazy. His government has been removed there (Bihar). It (BJP) will face a rout in 2024 as well. That is why he is going there running and speaking of ‘jungle raaj’ and all those things. What did he do when he was in Gujarat,” Yadav told reporters in the national capital.” 

    “Jungle raaj was in Gujarat when he was there,” the former Bihar chief minister alleged.

    “Amit Shah bilkul paglaye hue hain,” he said, speaking in Hindi, when asked about Shah’s ‘jungle raaj’ barb at the state government on Friday in his Purnea rally where he went hammer and tongs after Kumar and Yadav.

    Asked about the home minister’s claim that the BJP will form the government at the Centre in 2024 again and then in Bihar the next year, he quipped, “We will see that.”

    With the BJP saying that Kumar will dump the RJD later in his pursuit of power, Yadav asserted they are together now.

    Kumar and Yadav have scheduled to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday evening.

    “We are making every effort for Opposition unity,” Yadav, who has been battling poor health, said, adding this will be the agenda of their meeting.

    Earlier in Patna, Yadav predicted a wipeout for the BJP in the 2024 polls.

    “Don’t worry, the BJP will be wiped out (safaya ho jaega),” he said.

    His legal troubles and falling health have kept the charismatic leader mostly away from the daily grind of active politics as his son and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has emerged as the RJD’s de facto leader.

    Shah on Friday had flayed former ally Nitish Kumar, accusing the Bihar chief minister of backstabbing the BJP and trying to fulfil his prime ministerial ambitions while “sitting in the laps of Congress and RJD”.

    At a rally held in Purnea, Shah asserted the combine of Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad will be “wiped out (soopda saaf)” in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and, a year later, the BJP will win a majority on its own in the state assembly elections.

    Bihar does not want the grand alliance’s “jungle raaj”, he had said.

  • Amit Shah on first Bihar trip since BJP’s fallout with JD(U)

    By PTI

    PATNA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Bihar on Friday, for the first time after the political upheaval last month robbed the BJP of power in the state.

    Shah, a former party president who is regarded as the BJP’s principal strategist, will spend two days in the Seemanchal region.

    “The home minister will reach Bagdogra airport around 11.30 am and proceed to Purnea in a helicopter. Late in the evening, he will leave for Kishanganj,” state BJP vice-president Rajib Ranjan told PTI.

    A series of meetings with the party and administrative officials are scheduled during the two-day trip though the highlight will be a public meeting at Purnea, titled evocatively “Jan Bhavana Rally”, in line with the party’s stance that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has “betrayed public sentiments” by turning his back on the NDA as part of which he had won the mandate in 2020 assembly polls.

    The loss of power, in the third week of August, came as a rude shock for the party which had, less than a month earlier, held with much fanfare a two-day conclave in Patna — attended by Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.

    The BJP has been accused of having tried to break the JD(U) through former Union minister RCP Singh, whose induction had caused controversy.

    BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who had served as the Deputy CM for long before being shunted out to an uneventful stint in Rajya Sabha, has claimed his ex-boss was looking for an alibi and Singh was inducted into the Union Cabinet with the consent of the Bihar CM, the JD(U) de facto leader, obtained over phone by Shah himself.

    Keen watchers of politics are likely to be interested in the manner in which Shah breaks his silence over the matter.

    However, the BJP realises well the limitations of righteousness, having acquired power “through back door” five years ago which it now accuses the RJD, Congress and Left combine of.

    Union minister Giriraj Singh has been camping in Seemanchal for a while, ostensibly to supervise the preparations for Shah’s visit, while making headlines with comments on alleged “demographic change” in Seemanchal and activities of the PFI.

    Singh, the MP from Begusarai, has been pulling no punches while blaming “appeasement politics” for terrorism, unchecked population growth and infiltration of illegal immigrants.

    The party had, while still in alliance with JD(U), made it clear that it will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to legitimise the alleged infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas under the headcount of castes being undertaken in the state.

    Besides, memories of the 2013 Patna serial blasts are being raked up to paint Kumar as a political vacillator whose alleged prime ministerial ambitions cause him to break up with BJP under one pretext or the other and claim that this results in a spurt in terror activities in the state.

    Raids have been conducted in several Bihar districts by the NIA and the BJP is clearly not willing to let go of the opportunity to firm up its narrative battle.

    The dog-whistling has irked the JD(U), which is eager to see its leader, now working for opposition unity, in a “national role”.

    Senior JD(U) leaders have been issuing statements, warning the BJP against polarisation and urging the people not to fall into the communal trap.

    In a sarcastic Facebook post, JD(U) parliamentary board chief Upendra Kushwaha said Shah will “speak in favour of special status for Bihar, expose the culprits of Pulwama terror attack, announce the distribution of black money brought from abroad among the poor, pledge to scrap the faulty collegium system of judges’ appointment and declare rollback of privatisation of public sector companies”.

    PATNA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive in Bihar on Friday, for the first time after the political upheaval last month robbed the BJP of power in the state.

    Shah, a former party president who is regarded as the BJP’s principal strategist, will spend two days in the Seemanchal region.

    “The home minister will reach Bagdogra airport around 11.30 am and proceed to Purnea in a helicopter. Late in the evening, he will leave for Kishanganj,” state BJP vice-president Rajib Ranjan told PTI.

    A series of meetings with the party and administrative officials are scheduled during the two-day trip though the highlight will be a public meeting at Purnea, titled evocatively “Jan Bhavana Rally”, in line with the party’s stance that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has “betrayed public sentiments” by turning his back on the NDA as part of which he had won the mandate in 2020 assembly polls.

    The loss of power, in the third week of August, came as a rude shock for the party which had, less than a month earlier, held with much fanfare a two-day conclave in Patna — attended by Shah and BJP president JP Nadda.

    The BJP has been accused of having tried to break the JD(U) through former Union minister RCP Singh, whose induction had caused controversy.

    BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who had served as the Deputy CM for long before being shunted out to an uneventful stint in Rajya Sabha, has claimed his ex-boss was looking for an alibi and Singh was inducted into the Union Cabinet with the consent of the Bihar CM, the JD(U) de facto leader, obtained over phone by Shah himself.

    Keen watchers of politics are likely to be interested in the manner in which Shah breaks his silence over the matter.

    However, the BJP realises well the limitations of righteousness, having acquired power “through back door” five years ago which it now accuses the RJD, Congress and Left combine of.

    Union minister Giriraj Singh has been camping in Seemanchal for a while, ostensibly to supervise the preparations for Shah’s visit, while making headlines with comments on alleged “demographic change” in Seemanchal and activities of the PFI.

    Singh, the MP from Begusarai, has been pulling no punches while blaming “appeasement politics” for terrorism, unchecked population growth and infiltration of illegal immigrants.

    The party had, while still in alliance with JD(U), made it clear that it will oppose tooth and nail any attempt to legitimise the alleged infiltration of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas under the headcount of castes being undertaken in the state.

    Besides, memories of the 2013 Patna serial blasts are being raked up to paint Kumar as a political vacillator whose alleged prime ministerial ambitions cause him to break up with BJP under one pretext or the other and claim that this results in a spurt in terror activities in the state.

    Raids have been conducted in several Bihar districts by the NIA and the BJP is clearly not willing to let go of the opportunity to firm up its narrative battle.

    The dog-whistling has irked the JD(U), which is eager to see its leader, now working for opposition unity, in a “national role”.

    Senior JD(U) leaders have been issuing statements, warning the BJP against polarisation and urging the people not to fall into the communal trap.

    In a sarcastic Facebook post, JD(U) parliamentary board chief Upendra Kushwaha said Shah will “speak in favour of special status for Bihar, expose the culprits of Pulwama terror attack, announce the distribution of black money brought from abroad among the poor, pledge to scrap the faulty collegium system of judges’ appointment and declare rollback of privatisation of public sector companies”.