News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Congress to hold protest against Modi government over ‘atrocities’ against Dalits

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Scheduled Caste (SC) department of the Congress will hold a protest on Thursday over the alleged rise in “atrocities” against Dalits and non-implementation of measures to protect them by the BJP-led central government.

    In a statement, the Congress’ SC department chairman Nitin Raut alleged that the Modi government has been slashing allocations for the welfare of Dalits in the annual budgets, stopping and delaying scholarships.

    “Since the Bharatiya Janata Party government has come to power at the Centre, the total number of atrocities and cases of violence against Dalits and other marginalised communities have sharply increased,” the statement alleged.

    “We will raise these critical issues and demand answers directly from PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah. ‘Halla Bol’ protest will be held on 12th August 2021 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Jantar Mantar, Delhi,” Raut said.

  • Case registered against AAP’s Sanjay Singh on BJP MLA’s complaint

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: A case was registered on Tuesday against Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh on a complaint by a BJP MLA accusing him of tarnishing his image, police said.

    BJP MLA from Haraiya assembly seat in Basti district Ajay Singh filed the complaint in the Hazratganj Kotwali against Sanjay Singh on the basis of which the case has been registered, they said.

    Ajay Singh has alleged in his complaint that “on August 8, during a press conference in Lucknow, AAP MP Sanjay Singh referred to my (Ajay Singh) raising a question in the Legislative Assembly and alleged a scam in the Jal Shakti department”.

    The MLA alleged that Sanjay Singh, who is AAP’s in-charge of Uttar Pradesh affairs, used wrong and forged documents at the press conference and conspired to defame and tarnish his image.

    “Sanjay Singh hatched this conspiracy in view of the upcoming assembly elections and to gain political mileage. He showed forged documents to media persons,” Ajay Singh later told newspersons.

    The MLA said that he had raised a question concerning the irrigation department and it had nothing to do with the Jal Shakti department.

    He said that he had raised the demand for investigation and action into the “scam” in the construction of check dam by the Irrigation Department in the assembly.

    According to the Hazratganj Kotwali in-charge, the investigation is being done by registering a case against Sanjay Singh on the complaint of the BJP MLA.

  • BJP cancels membership of Jitendra Singh Bablu

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: The BJP on Tuesday cancelled the membership of former BSP MLA Jitendra Singh Bablu, inducted in the party last week, following a complaint by sitting party MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi that he was allegedly involved in the torching of her house in 2009.

    State unit president of the BJP Swatantra Dev Sing has cancelled the membership of Bablu, joint media incharge of the BJP Himanshu Dueby said in a press statement.

    Expressing shock over the induction of Bablu, Joshi, who is the sitting BJP MP from Allahabad, had alleged that Bablu might have hidden the facts from the party leaders.

    “In July 2009 when my house was set ablaze in Lucknow, he (Bablu) was in the forefront and he was found guilty during investigations,” Joshi, who was in the Congress at that time, had alleged.

    “I believe that he has kept the party in the dark and joined the party. The doors of the BJP are open to all and I have full faith that the state unit president was not aware of his criminal background and that he is an accused in the housing burning case,” Joshi had alleged.

    She had said she would talk to the state and central unit president of the party in this matter and appeal to them to end his membership.

    Joshi’s house in Lucknow was set afire in 2009, when Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati was the chief minister of the state, by alleged BSP supporters protesting over derogatory remarks against their party chief.

  • PM Modi launches Ujjwala 2.0 for providing free LPG connections

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched Ujjwala 2.0 — the second phase of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) — by handing over LPG connections in Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh.

    After the formal launch, the prime minister distributed free gas connections to 10 women virtually.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath handed over the documents to the women on behalf of the PM.

    During Ujjwala 1.0 launched in 2016, a target was set to provide LPG connections to five crore women members of BPL households.

    Subsequently, the scheme was expanded in April 2018 to include women beneficiaries from seven more categories such as SC and ST communities and forest dwellers.

    Also, the target was revised to eight crore LPG connections.

    This was achieved in August 2019, seven months ahead of schedule, officials said.

    In the Union Budget for 2021-22, provision for an additional one crore LPG connection under the scheme was announced.

    These one crore additional connections under Ujjwala 2.0 aim to provide deposit-free LPG connections to those low-income families who could not be covered under the earlier phase of PMUY.

    Along with a deposit-free LPG connection, Ujjwala 2.0 will provide first refill and hotplate free of cost to the beneficiaries.

    The enrolment procedure will require minimum paperwork and in Ujjwala 2.0, migrants will not be required to submit ration cards or address proof.

    A self-declaration for both ‘family declaration’ and as a ‘proof of address’ will suffice, they said.

    Ujjwala 2.0 will help achieve the prime minister’s vision of universal access to LPG, it said.

    Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was also present on the occasion.

    In his address, Union minister Puri said that the use of wood and coal for cooking has adverse effects on health of women.

  • PM Modi seeks names of members absent during voting for statutory resolution in RS: Sources 

    The statutory resolution demanded that the Tribunals Reforms Bill be sent to the select committee of the House, however, it got negated.

  • Farmers will oust BJP government if it doesn’t repeal agri laws: BKU leader Rakesh Tikait

    By PTI

    GHAZIABAD: Farmers will oust the BJP government if it does not repeal the contentious agricultural laws and enacts a legislation guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) for crops, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said here on Monday.

    Tikait, the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, made the remarks as he held a meeting with the BKU’s office-bearers from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh at the Ghazipur border here.

    The meeting was held to formulate a strategy to intensify the farmers’ agitation in these states to press their demand for the withdrawal of the three farm laws and the guarantee for MSP, according to a BKU statement.

    “If the laws are not repealed and MSP not guaranteed, we shall force the BJP (government) to quit. We will reach out to farmers and expose the BJP. A government made by farmers cannot stay in power if it is anti-farmer,” the statement in Hindi quoted Tikait as saying.

    However, the influential BKU leader emphasised that the farmers are not against any political party.

    “We are not against any party. We are only against any group which is opposed to the welfare of the farmers and labourers,” he added.

    In his meeting, Tikait held discussions on the BKU’s press conferences scheduled for August 11 in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun and Himachal Pradesh’s Nahan, the farmer union’s media in-charge Dharmendra Malik said.

    The BKU will hold an event in Haryana’s Mewat on August 26 and one in Yamuna Nagar on August 29, he said.

    In September, a ‘kisan panchayat’ will be held in Muzaffarnagar, the BKU’s headquarters in western Uttar Pradesh, he added.

    Hundreds of farmers are encamped at Delhi’s border points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since November 2020.

    They have been demanding that the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee MSP for their crops.

    The government, which has held 11 rounds of talks with the farmer leaders, has maintained the laws are pro-farmer and will usher in new technology in farming.

  • BJP worker’s wife gang-raped in West Bengal; TMC demands punishment for culprits

    By PTI

    HOWRAH: A BJP worker in West Bengal’s Howrah district has lodged a complaint with the police alleging that local leaders and activists of the Trinamool Congress gang-raped his mute wife.

    The TMC said it is with the victim’s family and demanded punishment for the culprits.

    The police said that they arrested two of the five persons named in the FIR on Monday.

    A manhunt has also been launched for the three others who were allegedly involved in the incident which took place in her house on Saturday night when her husband and elder son were not present.

    The woman is currently undergoing treatment at Uluberia Super Speciality Hospital and a police picket has been posted in front of her house.

    Amit Malviya, senior BJP leader and the party’s co-incharge of West Bengal, alleged in a Twitter post tweeted that the 34-year-old wife of a BJP worker was tied and brutally gang-raped by TMC workers in Bagnan area of Howrah district.

    “Local police initially refused to even file her complaint and wanted to dilute the case. TMC is using rape as a political tool to silence opponents,” he tweeted.

    On the other hand, TMC Howrah district president Pulak Roy said that criminals have no caste, religion, or race.

    “All criminals are punished in our state. We are with the family and we demand that all culprits are punished,” Roy, the state public health engineering minister, said.

    Sukanta Kumar Paul, the TMC’s MLA of Amta, and other leaders of the party visited the victim at the hospital.

    The woman, who lives at a place under the jurisdiction of Bagnan police station with her husband and two sons, had suffered a brain stroke six years ago, following which she lost her speech but could hear.

    The victim’s husband, who is into the business of flex and banners, said that he had gone to Kolkata for some work on Saturday and could not return.

    According to the complaint lodged with the police, some people called the woman by her nickname that night and she opened the door.

    A group of five people barged into the house, beat her up and raped her after tying her up.

    They had dropped his motorbike on the legs of his wife before leaving his house, the BJP worker claimed in his complaint.

    The victim’s younger son, who was in another room when the incident happened, on Monday said that his elder brother was on night duty on Saturday, and he (elder brother) was the first one to see that their mother was tied up and there were cut marks on her body.

    The victim’s brother-in-law who lives next door said that he heard nothing.

    The victim was initially taken to the Bangan police station.

    From there she was taken to a local hospital and later admitted to Uluberia Super Speciality Hospital.

  • If attacks on TMC men in Tripura do not stop, Bengal BJP members to face consequences: Ex-MLA Udayan Guha

    TMC leader Udayan Guha kicked up a fresh storm as he said that saffron camp members may not be able to reside peacefully in the locality.

  • Neither BJP, nor RSS had anything to do with India’s freedom struggle: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav on Monday hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government for organising a programme to mark the anniversary of the 1925 Kakori train robbery, saying neither the BJP nor the RSS had anything to do with India’s freedom struggle.

    Yadav termed the government’s programme “pretence”.

    On this day in 1925, some Indian revolutionaries looted the British government’s treasure from a train while it was passing through Uttar Pradesh’s Kakori town.

    “The BJP and its parent organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had nothing to do with the freedom movement,” a statement issued here by the Samajwadi Party quoted Yadav as saying.

    He alleged that on the eve of August Kranti Diwas on Sunday, a slain soldier’s wife and sons, who had gone to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Agra to seek the fulfilment of announcements made for soldiers killed in the line of duty, were humiliated and driven away.

    “It is a condemnable incident. How can people in the BJP know about respecting martyrs? The BJP is working against social harmony and like the British, its intention has also been to disintegrate the society. There is a need to be cautious about this,” he said.

    Yadav said, “The dream of the martyrs of August Kranti was to establish the rule of farmers, labourers and youth in the country so that everyone could live a life of dignity and respect and it is the responsibility of the Samajwadi Party to realise this dream.”

    The SP is committed to saving the constitutional values committed to ensuring a prosperous and secure life for every citizen, he said.

  • Pegasus row: Lok Sabha adjourned again; Congress asks for vote of no-confidence against Modi government

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings on Monday were adjourned thrice following uproar by Opposition members over various issues.

    When the House met for the day in the morning, Opposition members sought to raise various issues, including the Pegasus spyware controversy and started shouting slogans following which the proceedings were adjourned till 11:30 am.

    When the Question Hour resumed at 11:30 am, Opposition members trooped into Well.

    Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, asked members to go back to their seats.

    “Question Hour is a medium to discuss issues, please participate in this,” Agrawal said.

    Soon, he adjourned the House till noon.

    When the House met again at noon, Agarwal, who was in the chair allowed papers related to different ministries to be tabled in the House.

    Then he allowed Aayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to introduce The National Commission for Homoeopathy (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Amendment) Bill, 2021 amidst strong opposition.

    TMC member Saugata Roy said he opposed the introduction of the Homeopathy bill as it would be detrimental to the Homeopathy profession.

    However, Sonowal defended the bill saying it is very important for the country and members should appreciate it.

    Congress leader Manish Tewari said the introduction of bills amidst opposition protests is violation of the Constitution.

    After admission of the two bills, Agarwal allowed Social Justice and Empowerment minister Virendra Kumar to introduce The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2021.

    Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury strongly opposed the move and said that the entire opposition has been demanding discussion on the alleged snooping by Pegasus spyware but the government was ignoring the demand.

    Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Meghwal strongly objected it, saying the government was ready for discussion on all issues.

    As protests, continued, Agarwal adjourned the House till 12.30 pm.

    Earlier, Speaker Om Birla, on behalf of the House, paid tributes to those who had participated in the Quit India Movement.

    The members also stood in silence for a brief while as a mark of respect to those who took part in that movement.

    The country is celebrating the 79th anniversary of the Quit India Movement that was launched in 1942 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi.

    Birla also mentioned about India’s performance at the just-concluded Olympic games at Tokyo and congratulated the medal winners.

    Members thumped their desks when the name of Neeraj Chopra, who won the gold medal in javelin throw at the Olympics, was mentioned.

    While noting that winning seven medals was the best ever Olympics performance by India, Birla exuded confidence that the performance would enthuse youngsters.

    Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari on Monday suggested that the Opposition must consider bringing a vote of a no-confidence motion against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.

    He also moved an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over the row.

    Terming the Pegasus spyware issue ‘a matter of grave concern’, Tewari stated that ‘reputed agencies’ like Citizen Lab have found traces of the spyware on some of the devices that were attacked.

    As the logjam in Parliament continues over the issues including farmers’ agitation, Pegasus issue and COVID-19 mismanagement, Congress MP tweeted, “Since NDA/BJP Govt is showing a level of obduracy unwitnessed before in annals of Parliamentary Democracy by not discussing l’affaire Pegasus, Farmers agitation and COVID mismanagement joint opposition should seriously consider bringing a vote of no-confidence against NDA/BJP Govt.”

    “Reports have pointed out that the Government of India has procured the surveillance tool Pegasus developed by Israeli company NSO Group for surveillance of Journalists, Civil Society Activists, Politicians and Supreme Court Judges. Since the NSO group’s policy is that clients are confined to the vetted government only it suggests that the spyware was used by the GoI and not any other private body,” the Congress MP said in his adjournment motion.

    “It should be noted that this kind of surveillance classifies as hacking, which is what spyware does and it would very much qualify as unauthorised interception or hacking as per Information Technology Act, 2000. The fact is that the government has not categorically denied that Pegasus has been used officially. Sir this is a matter of grave concern and therefore I wish to raise the same,” he added.

    Tewari, earlier on last week, too moved an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha over the same issue.

    Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Monday moved adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha on the same issue.

    “I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely:- Need to suspend the business of the day to have a discussion in the presence of the Prime Minister or Home Minister the alleged role of the Government towards utilizing Israeli Pegasus spyware as the weapon against Indian opposition leaders, Chief Justice of India, Election Commissioner of India, CBI Director, Women Journalists and MPs of BJP’s,” Tagore said in his notice.

    The business of both the Houses of the Parliament remained majorly disrupted due to the continuous ruckus created by the Opposition over the issues including farmers’ protest, Pegasus spyware, COVID-19 and inflation.

    Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Opposition for disrupting the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament and said no matter how much the Opposition parties try to disrupt Parliament proceedings during the ongoing Monsoon Session and stall the development, the “country cannot become hostage to such selfishness and politics”.

    The Opposition has been continuously demanding discussion on the issue of Pegasus in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    The Monsoon Session commenced on July 19 and is scheduled to continue till August 13.

    (With ANI Inputs)