News Analysis India

Tag: BJP MLA

  • Former BJP legislator held in Bihar for Ram Navami violence

    By Online Desk

    The Bihar Police on Saturday arrested former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Jawahar Prasad for inciting violence in Sasaram town during Ram Navami rally on March 31, Maktoob Media reports quoting national dailies.

    Prasad, a five-time former MLA, was among the 67 persons arrested in connection with the Hindutva violence.

    A police team reached Prasad’s house and took him to the nearby police station. His supporters reached the police station and started raising slogans against the police, reports Hindustan Times.

    Rohtas Superintendent of Police, Vineet Kumar, said to Indian Express that the BJP leader was apprehended on Saturday following an investigation that revealed his involvement in the violence.

    Planned violence against Muslims were reported in several parts of Bihar during Ram Navami festivities. Besides Sasaram, violence was reported in Rohtas, Biharsharif, Nalanda, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Munger.

    Three BJP local leaders– Shivnath Choudhary, Sonu Sinha and Robin Keshri– had surrendered before the court on Friday after they were accused of anti-Muslim violence.

    Days before, Bajrang Dal convenor of Nalanda district, Kundan Kumar, involved in Hindutva violence in Bihar Sharif town, surrendered before the police after the authorities started property attachment of his house.

    The Bihar Police on Saturday arrested former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Jawahar Prasad for inciting violence in Sasaram town during Ram Navami rally on March 31, Maktoob Media reports quoting national dailies.

    Prasad, a five-time former MLA, was among the 67 persons arrested in connection with the Hindutva violence.

    A police team reached Prasad’s house and took him to the nearby police station. His supporters reached the police station and started raising slogans against the police, reports Hindustan Times.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Rohtas Superintendent of Police, Vineet Kumar, said to Indian Express that the BJP leader was apprehended on Saturday following an investigation that revealed his involvement in the violence.

    Planned violence against Muslims were reported in several parts of Bihar during Ram Navami festivities. Besides Sasaram, violence was reported in Rohtas, Biharsharif, Nalanda, Bhagalpur, Gaya and Munger.

    Three BJP local leaders– Shivnath Choudhary, Sonu Sinha and Robin Keshri– had surrendered before the court on Friday after they were accused of anti-Muslim violence.

    Days before, Bajrang Dal convenor of Nalanda district, Kundan Kumar, involved in Hindutva violence in Bihar Sharif town, surrendered before the police after the authorities started property attachment of his house.

  • BJP MLA dies of heart attack while on his way to Lucknow

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Lakhimpur Kheri’s Gola Gokarannath Assembly constituency, Arvind Giri 65, died after he suffered a massive heart attack in his car while on his way from his constituency to the state capital Lucknow on Monday night.

    The MLA, 65, died near Sidhauli township in Sitapur district while on his way to Lucknow. A five-term MLA, Giri had been a party hopper. He remained Samajwadi MLA for three terms, and a BJP MLA for two terms. In between, he joined Congress as well but for a very short time and left it after losing the 2012 Assembly election on its ticket.

    In fact, Giri started his political career as a student leader in 1993 and joined the Samajwadi party in 1994. After being elected Gola Municipality Chief in 1995, Giri became MLA for the first time in 1996 on a Samajwadi party ticket. Between 1998-99, he also served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.

    In 2000, Giri was elected as the Chief of Gola municipality. He was later elected as MLA in 2002 and 2007 from the Haiderabad seat, which was later renamed Gola Gokarannath after delimitation, on a Samajwadi party ticket.

    In 2005, during the Samajwadi party’s government’s rule in the state, Giri was elected as the District Panchayat President. In 2012, he contested the state assembly election on a Congress ticket but lost. Later, he joined the BJP and won the election in 2017 and 2022 on the saffron party’s ticket.

    ALSO READ | Video of another namaz incident on Lulu Mall premises in Lucknow goes viral

    Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary expressed grief and extended condolences on the sudden demise of their party legislator.

    “The demise of BJP MLA Shri Arvind Giri Ji from Gola assembly constituency of Lakhimpur Kheri district is extremely sad. My condolences are with the bereaved families. May Lord Shri Ram grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this unfathomable loss. On Shanti,” Chief Minister tweeted. Samajwadi Party Chief and former CM Akhilesh Yadav also expressed grief over Giri’s death.

    LUCKNOW: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Lakhimpur Kheri’s Gola Gokarannath Assembly constituency, Arvind Giri 65, died after he suffered a massive heart attack in his car while on his way from his constituency to the state capital Lucknow on Monday night.

    The MLA, 65, died near Sidhauli township in Sitapur district while on his way to Lucknow. A five-term MLA, Giri had been a party hopper. He remained Samajwadi MLA for three terms, and a BJP MLA for two terms. In between, he joined Congress as well but for a very short time and left it after losing the 2012 Assembly election on its ticket.

    In fact, Giri started his political career as a student leader in 1993 and joined the Samajwadi party in 1994. After being elected Gola Municipality Chief in 1995, Giri became MLA for the first time in 1996 on a Samajwadi party ticket. Between 1998-99, he also served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee.

    In 2000, Giri was elected as the Chief of Gola municipality. He was later elected as MLA in 2002 and 2007 from the Haiderabad seat, which was later renamed Gola Gokarannath after delimitation, on a Samajwadi party ticket.

    In 2005, during the Samajwadi party’s government’s rule in the state, Giri was elected as the District Panchayat President. In 2012, he contested the state assembly election on a Congress ticket but lost. Later, he joined the BJP and won the election in 2017 and 2022 on the saffron party’s ticket.

    ALSO READ | Video of another namaz incident on Lulu Mall premises in Lucknow goes viral

    Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary expressed grief and extended condolences on the sudden demise of their party legislator.

    “The demise of BJP MLA Shri Arvind Giri Ji from Gola assembly constituency of Lakhimpur Kheri district is extremely sad. My condolences are with the bereaved families. May Lord Shri Ram grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family members to bear this unfathomable loss. On Shanti,” Chief Minister tweeted. Samajwadi Party Chief and former CM Akhilesh Yadav also expressed grief over Giri’s death.

  • Gujarat: ‘Abusive’ social media posts against Porbandar BJP MLA, ex-serviceman held

    By PTI

    PORBANDAR: An ex-Army jawan was arrested for allegedly abusing and threatening a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA in Gujarat on social media, police said on Saturday.

    Based on a complaint filed by MLA Babubhai Bokhiria, the former minister of agriculture and fisheries, one Lakhanashi Odedara was arrested on Friday, a Kamla Baug police station official said.

    Odedara, a former Army personnel, hails from a nearby Shishali village.

    “Odedara was arrested after some persons pointed out to Porbandar MLA Bokhiria that he had used abusive language against him on Facebook,” the official said.

    A case was registered under sections 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code, he added.

    PORBANDAR: An ex-Army jawan was arrested for allegedly abusing and threatening a ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA in Gujarat on social media, police said on Saturday.

    Based on a complaint filed by MLA Babubhai Bokhiria, the former minister of agriculture and fisheries, one Lakhanashi Odedara was arrested on Friday, a Kamla Baug police station official said.

    Odedara, a former Army personnel, hails from a nearby Shishali village.

    “Odedara was arrested after some persons pointed out to Porbandar MLA Bokhiria that he had used abusive language against him on Facebook,” the official said.

    A case was registered under sections 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 507 (criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code, he added.

  • Seer ends his life in Rajasthan’s Jalore, case against BJP MLA for abetting suicide

    By PTI

    JODHPUR: A seer died by suicide in Rajasthan’s Jalore after he was allegedly pressured by a BJP MLA to give way through his hermitage to the land where the legislator wanted to build a resort, according to police.

    Police also recovered a suicide note from the spot but did not disclose its content.

    After Ravinath (60) was found hanging from a tree at Jalore’s Rajapura village on Thursday night, seers at the hermitage did not allow police to take down the body, demanding that the suicide note’s content be disclosed.

    Meanwhile, Bhinmal MLA Pooraram Choudhary denied the allegations and demanded a fair investigation.

    Jalore SP Harshwardhan Agarwalla said they have registered an abetment of suicide case against the legislator on a complaint given by the seers.

    “They have not yet taken down the body. We are trying to convince them for a post-mortem,” Agarwalla said.

    He admitted that a suicide note was recovered but refused to disclose its content, saying it may impact the investigation.

    The SP said they have got information on Friday morning that Ravinath was found hanging from a tree in Rajapura.

    The seers there blamed the Bhinmal MLA for the suicide and claimed that the legislator had been harassing the victim for the past some time.

    Police said Choudhary has a piece of land adjacent to the hermitage and he was preparing to build a resort there.

    “But to reach his land, he needed through the hermitage, for which Choudhary had been forcing Ravinath to provide him land for it,” said an official.

    Choudhary junked the allegations and said he himself has surrendered land for the hermitage of Ravinath.

    “The allegations are false. I have on the contrary surrendered my land for the hermitage. I urge for a fair investigation into the matter. This appears to be a case of murder and Ravinath must get justice,” said Choudhary.

    JODHPUR: A seer died by suicide in Rajasthan’s Jalore after he was allegedly pressured by a BJP MLA to give way through his hermitage to the land where the legislator wanted to build a resort, according to police.

    Police also recovered a suicide note from the spot but did not disclose its content.

    After Ravinath (60) was found hanging from a tree at Jalore’s Rajapura village on Thursday night, seers at the hermitage did not allow police to take down the body, demanding that the suicide note’s content be disclosed.

    Meanwhile, Bhinmal MLA Pooraram Choudhary denied the allegations and demanded a fair investigation.

    Jalore SP Harshwardhan Agarwalla said they have registered an abetment of suicide case against the legislator on a complaint given by the seers.

    “They have not yet taken down the body. We are trying to convince them for a post-mortem,” Agarwalla said.

    He admitted that a suicide note was recovered but refused to disclose its content, saying it may impact the investigation.

    The SP said they have got information on Friday morning that Ravinath was found hanging from a tree in Rajapura.

    The seers there blamed the Bhinmal MLA for the suicide and claimed that the legislator had been harassing the victim for the past some time.

    Police said Choudhary has a piece of land adjacent to the hermitage and he was preparing to build a resort there.

    “But to reach his land, he needed through the hermitage, for which Choudhary had been forcing Ravinath to provide him land for it,” said an official.

    Choudhary junked the allegations and said he himself has surrendered land for the hermitage of Ravinath.

    “The allegations are false. I have on the contrary surrendered my land for the hermitage. I urge for a fair investigation into the matter. This appears to be a case of murder and Ravinath must get justice,” said Choudhary.

  • In UP, women give mud bath to BJP MLA to please rain god

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: With monsoon playing truant in entire eastern Uttar Pradesh, leaving the region parched and people sweating, the women of Maharajganj, a district adjoining Gorakhpur, performed a unique ritual by giving mud bath to the local BJP MLA and Municipal Council chief with mud to woo Indra Dev (Rain God) on Tuesday night.

    As per the local sources, the women approached BJP MLA Jai Mangal Kanaujiya and Municipal Council chairman Krishna Gopal Jaiswal urging them to be a part of the ritual by letting the women folk to soak them in mud to which both Kanuajiya and Jaiswal agreed.

    Interestingly, it is believed in this region that if the elite and respected persons of the area were bathed in mud, the Rain God gets pleased and blesses the people with rainfall. After drenching the duo with mud, the women sang folk songs to please Indra Dev (Rain God).

    The people of eastern UP are worried about the paddy crop which is getting badly hit due to deficient rainfall in the region.

    “People are suffering in sultry weather, crops are getting dried. This is a ritual based on an old belief so we decided to be a part of it if it helps in any way,” said the BJP MLA.

    The monsoon, which had entered UP from Sonbhadra on June 29, became weak leading to around 65 per cent less rainfall in state. So far, UP has received only 35.08 per cent of the total expected rainfall in July. Around 48 districts of the state are facing drought like situation with 40 per cent less rainfall. 

    Around 20 districts have received 40-60 per cent rainfall impacting the sowing of Kharif crops and paddy plantation in the state, said a senior official of the Agriculture department. So far only 28 per cent sowing of Kharif crop has taken place.

    As per the weathermen, UP has so far received only 69.8 mm of rainfall against 194.7 mm expected normally in this period. 

    As per the officials of Agriculture department, approximately 30 per cent paddy saplings have dried due to deficient rains in most of the districts. Farmers are facing challenge in sowing maize and pulses due to paucity of water.

  • Two Tripura BJP MLAs resign

    By PTI

    AGARTALA: BJP MLAs Sudip Roy Barman and Ashish Saha on Monday resigned from the Tripura assembly, and also gave up the membership of their party.

    Roy Barman and Saha met Speaker Ratan Chakraborty and handed over their resignation letters.

    Roy Barman told reporters that they will travel to New Delhi later in the day and finalise the future course of action amid speculation that they may join the Congress on Tuesday.

    “We will be back in Tripura on February 12. We have also sent letters to BJP state president Manik Saha, resigning from the primary membership of the party,” said Saha.

    The BJP’s tally went down to 33 in the 60-member assembly with the resignation of the two MLAs.

  • BJP MLA from Bara seat quits party

    By PTI

    PRAYAGRAJ: The BJP MLA from reserved Bara assembly constituency in Prayagraj district quit the party on Wednesday in protest against allegedly being kept in dark about the party’s intention to leave the seat for a coalition partner candidate.

    BJP MLA Ajay Kumar told reporters that he has resigned from the primary membership of the party.

    Explaining his reason for taking the drastic step, Dr Kumar said he had been hearing of the BJP leadership’s intention to leave the Bara seat for a candidate of alliance partner Apna Dal (S), “I have no remorse against it but I have been hurt by the fact that none of the top leaders of the party deemed it necessary to take me into confidence and inform me about it,” he said.

    “I have been deeply hurt by it and I am leaving the BJP with a heavy heart. I performed honestly and sincerely all the duties and responsibilities assigned to me as a BJP worker and MLA. The party was never hurt or harmed by any of my actions,” he said.

    Dr Kumar had won from Bara in both the 2012 and the 2017 assembly elections — first as a Samajwadi Party candidate and then as a BJP member.

  • Man arrested for threatening, abusing BJP MLA Ashish Shelar

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A 48-year-old man was arrested for allegedly threatening and abusing BJP MLA Ashish Shelar, Mumbai police said on Saturday.

    Osama Shamshad Khan, a resident of Mahim, was tracked down and held on the basis of technical inputs gathered during a probe by Unit IX of the Crime Branch after Shelar had approached police, an official said. It was found that the accused was frustrated over a land dispute in Bandra, due to which his son was facing an attempt to murder case, the official added.

    As his son was behind bars for two months, the accused called on the mobile of Shelar, who is MLA from Bandra West, and threatened and abused the BJP leader, he said.

  • Woman accuses Rajasthan MLA of rape; second case against lawmaker in 10 months

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: A case of rape has been registered against a BJP MLA in Rajasthan following a complaint by a 37-year-old woman in Udaipur district, police said on Thursday.

    This is the second rape case against Pratap Bheel, the MLA from the Gogunda Assembly constituency, in 10 months.

    Earlier, another woman had got a complaint of rape lodged against him at the Sukher police station.

    “A rape case has been registered against the Gogunda MLA,” Udaipur Superintendent of Police (SP) Manoj Kumar told PTI, adding that the woman submitted a written complaint to him, following which the case was lodged at the Ambamata police station.

    According to the police, the woman stated in her complaint that she came in contact with the MLA while looking for a job.

    She alleged that Bheel raped her after assuring her that he would help her get a job and promising to marry her.

    The woman approached the Udaipur SP through a lawyer.

    The investigation in both the rape cases against Bheel is being conducted by the Crime Investigation Department (CID), police said.

  • Uttarakhand BJP MLA denies plan to join Congress, insiders point at plum post

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand BJP MLA Umesh Sharma ‘Kau’, whom the party reportedly managed to stop from joining the Congress, has claimed he was in Delhi to persuade Yashpal and Sanjiv Arya not to return to the grand old party.

    “I was in Delhi on the same day Arya re-joined the Congress to convince him otherwise. Senior leaders know where I was, doing what. Rumours of me joining the Congress are baseless,” said the MLA from Raipur. Kau is one of the nine Congress rebel MLAs who had switched to the BJP in 2016. 

    His claim was supported by the BJP state leadership. “He was doing his bit and we know about it. He has been given a task which he tried to accomplish,” said BJP’s Uttarakhand chief Madan Kaushik. Party sources claimed Kau was prevented with the promise of a plum post. “He was promised the slot vacated by Arya,” said a BJP insider. 

    Kau also claimed that three senior ministers, including Arya, did not want to take oath when Pushkar Singh Dhami was chosen as chief minister in July. Meanwhile, Arya announced to contest the 2022 elections from Bajpur. However, speculations are rife about his son Sanjiv, who is MLA from Nainital. Sarita Arya, state president of the Congress women’s wing, has threatened to leave the party if it fields Sanjiv.