News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • BJP like a family, senior leaders will try to convince Supriyo: Bengal MP Jagganath Sarkar

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Reacting to BJP leader Babul Supriyo’s announcement of quitting politics, the party MP Jagganath Sarkar said that the senior leaders of the party will try to convince him as BJP needs Supriyo.

    Sarkar assured that Supriyo will remain in the party and would be given some important responsibilities in the West Bengal unit of the party.

    Speaking to ANI, Sarkar said, “In some situations, a person feels like leaving his house when he is upset but it is our work to convince him and bring him back. BJP is like a large family. The senior members of the party will try to explain to him that the party needs him in future and he will be given an important responsibility in the party.”

    The Lok Sabha MP said: “If Supriyo will leave the party at this juncture, everyone will think that he took this step because he had to resign from the ministerial post. However, Supriyo has informed that this is not the reason for quitting politics. In my view, this is not right and he should have waited.”

    “Supriyo is an independent person. He left his banking job to be a singer and then eventually joined politics. There must be something going on in his mind. He had met some senior leaders in the party and discussed his issues with them. The senior leaders will talk to him,” Sarkar said.

    He further said, “Many- a-times, we take wrong decisions and eventually realise our mistake. I hope that the present situation will change and Babul dada will take the right decision. He will remain with us and he has handled the responsibilities of the party earlier too and will continue to do so.”

    Bharatiya Janata Party leader Babul Supriyo on Saturday said he is leaving politics and will also resign as an MP.

    Supriyo, who resigned earlier this month as minister of state for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said in a Facebook post that there was a difference of opinion between him and the state BJP leaders and that the difference of opinion among senior leaders was “harming the party”.

    Supriyo stated that there was a difference of opinion between him and the state BJP leaders and that the difference of opinion among senior leaders was “harming the party”.

    Supriyo said he will also resign as an MP.

    The MP had said earlier he is not going to any political party and TMC, Congress, CPI(M) had not called him.

    Babul Supriyo joined the BJP in 2014 and has been elected twice from Asansol.

    Babul Supriyo, who represents Asansol in Lok Sabha, briefly referred to his moving out to the union council of ministers earlier this month. He lost in the assembly polls held earlier this year.

    The MP, who is a film artist and singer, said social work can be done without being in politics.

  • West Bengal BJP to go ahead with ‘mini marathon’ in Kolkata despite no police permission

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: BJP state president Dilip Ghosh has vowed to take part in the ‘mini marathon’ in the city to be organised by its youth wing on Sunday, despite the Kolkata Police not granting permission for the event.

    Besides Ghosh, Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat, Janata Yuva Morcha state president Saumitra Khan and its national secretary Raju Bista will take part in the less-than-1 km marathon in the Maidan area, to encourage the Indian sports contingent at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

    “Keeping in mind the Covid situation, there will not be a large turnout at the event with only 500 participants. This gesture is all about giving a boost to our sportspersons at the Olympics” If the police want to take action, let them,” Ghosh said.

    A Kolkata Police officer said go-ahead for the event has not been granted due to the COVID-19 restrictions that disallow large gatherings in the state.

  • Former Union Minister Babul Supriyo to leave politics; to quit as BJP MP

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Former Union Minister and BJP leader Babul Supriyo said on Saturday that he has decided to quit politics and will be resigning as an MP. He hinted the decision was partly due to losing the ministerial berth and also differences with the state BJP leadership.

    Supriyo, who had held several portfolios as MOS in the Narendra Modi government since 2014, was removed earlier this month during a major cabinet reshuffle.

    “Leaving, Alvida. Spoke to my parents, wife, friends, and after listening to the advice I am saying that I am leaving. Am not going to any other party – TMC, Congress, CPM, nowhere. I am confirming that nobody has called me,” he said.

    “I am going nowhere. I am a one-team player! Have always supported one team #MohunBagan – Have been with only one party – BJP West Bengal. That’s it!! Leaving,” Supriyo said in a Facebook post.

    “I have stayed for too long – I have helped somebody, have disappointed somebody, It is for the people to decide. To be involved in social work, you can do that without being involved in any politics,” his post read.

    The two-time MP from Asansol was among the several ministers who were dropped from the union cabinet on July 7 as part of a major rejig. His unsuccessfully contested assembly polls against Trinamool Congress’s Aroop Biswas in the last assembly elections.

    Both Supriyo and Debasree Chaudhuri were dropped as ministers. Four other MPs from West Bengal – Nishit Pramanik, Santanu Thakur, Subhas Sarkar and John Barla were inducted as MOS in the ministry.

    “If someone ask that whether leaving the politics is somehow connected to losing ministry. Yes then it is true to some extent….Also had differences with the state leadership since the assembly poll campaign,” he wrote.

    State BJP president Dilip Ghosh declined to comment on it.

  • BJP using ‘e-Ravanas’ on social media to spread hatred aheas of 2022 polls: Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The BJP is using “e-Ravanas” on social media to spread “propaganda and hatred” ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged on Saturday while underlining the perils of fake news on virtual platforms.

    The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said he has alerted his party cadres against social media content used by the BJP to paint its political rivals in a bad light and also asked them to be “disciplined and decent”.

    “Like the demon king Ravana, the BJP is using ‘e-Ravanas’ on social media to spread its propaganda and hatred. Like Ravana, they are there on social media in disguise and spread lies and rumours,” the SP president told PTI in an interview.

    He claimed “pseudo BJP leaders” pose as SP supporters, and post and forward “indecent remarks” on virtual platforms. “I have asked my party cadres to remain alert and keep an eye on the activities of such dubious elements. Party workers have also been asked not to share, respond or forward anything objectionable on social media, and report the same to the party office,” Yadav said.

    Taking an aggressive stand against those spreading false information targeting the SP, the party last week filed a complaint against unidentified people for allegedly creating a fake Twitter account of the party chief and spreading hatred.

    ALSO READ| BJP has no faith in democracy, defaming Samajwadi Party with propaganda online: Akhilesh Yadav

    The complaint was filed by state SP chief Naresh Uttam, who submitted screenshots of a tweet claiming the party would construct a “Babri mosque” at the place of the Ram temple in Ayodhya after coming to power in the state,, sources said.

    An FIR was registered in the matter against unidentified people at the Gautam Palli Police Station on July 25. Sounding a word of caution, Yadav said, “As the state polls are near, BJP men can do anything as they are experts in spreading lies to fool the people to grab power. Their objective is to divert the attention of people from core issues, including development.”

    “We have asked our workers to be disciplined, decent and practice restraint in the language they use on social media, which has emerged as a strong medium to communicate. Unfortunately, the BJP is misusing it,” he said.

    The former UP chief minister added that it is ironical the BJP cannot highlight any achievement of its government despite ruling the state for four-and-a-half-years. Stating that the people of the state have hopes from the SP, Yadav claimed the party will win 350 seats in the upcoming assembly elections. “When the BJP can win over 300 seats by lying, why cannot we win more seats on the development work done by our previous government?” he asked.

    Yadav asserted that the BJP has no faith in democracy. “It is conspiring so that the entire system goes out of the hands of the people. Its intention is that the people should be behind and the system should dominate. Democracy is in danger. In order to save democracy from BJP’s deceit, the SP is raising the voice of people,” he added.

    The SP leader also hit out at the “worsening” law and order situation in the northern state under the BJP regime. “The entire country has seen what treatment was meted out to women during the panchayat poll nominations – how BJP goons took the law in their hands and misbehaved with women,” he said.

    Yadav had earlier alleged that BJP workers pulled the saris of SP candidate Ritu Singh and her proposer Anita Yadav during the recent block panchayat chief elections in Lakhimpur Kheri. Based on Ritu Singh’s complaint, a case was filed against BJP workers in Lakhimpur. Six policemen were also suspended. The BJP has said those involved in any misbehaviour will not be spared.

  • Matuas threaten to end support to BJP over delay in implementation of CAA rules

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: A day after Union minister of state (home affairs) Nityananda Rai sought a six-month time period to frame the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the leadership of the All India Matua Mahasangha said it would withdraw support for the BJP if its demands for the implementation of the CAA is delayed further.  

    “The Union minister’s announcement has created insecurity as far as citizenship of our community is concerned. If it goes on, Matuas will withdraw their support that was extended to the BJP in the previous 2019 general elections and the recent Assembly elections in Bengal,” said Mahitosh Baidya, the general secretary of the Mahasangha.

    Baidya was among the Matua delegates who accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Orakandi in Bangladesh, the birthplace of Matua sect founder Harichand Thakur, ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. Of the 77 Assembly seats won by the BJP in West Bengal, about 50 per cent are from areas dominated by the Matuas.

    With discontent starting to brew within the sect, which helped the BJP grow its foothold in West Bengal, the national body of the refugees expressed its displeasure at the Centre for proposing a further delay in giving them the promised citizenship. 

    Ahead of the Assembly elections in West Bengal, the BJP had assured the Matuas it will implement the CAA at the earliest. However, blaming the pandemic, the Centre has sought more time. 

  • 1,000 seats in Lok Sabha? Congress speculates, BJP says no way

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: Is the Centre planning to increase Lok Sabha seats to over 1,000 before 2024? A tweet by Congress MP Manish Tewari citing ‘credible inputs’ from BJP MPs caught a lot of eyeballs.

    While some BJP MPs denied having knowledge of this, leaders of other political parties said this has been doing the rounds for a while. They felt such a step should not be taken without wider public consultation.“I am reliably informed by Parliamentary colleagues in BJP that there is a proposal to increase the strength of Lok Sabha to 1,000 or more before 2024. New Parliament Chamber being constructed as a 1000 seater. Before this is done there should be a serious public consultation,” tweeted Tewari, a former Union Cabinet minister, early this week.

    Following this, party colleague and Congress MP from Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga, Karti Chidambaram called for a public debate. “A large country like ours needs more directly elected representatives. But if the increase is based on population, it will further diminish the representation of southern states, that will not be acceptable,” he tweeted.

    The Congress Data Analytics Department under Praveen Chakravarty has done some modelling based on how dynamics will change if seats are increased based on population. The modelling with projected increase in Lok Sabha seats to 1,200 from 543 shows southern states losing out, while higher population density states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh would register gains. Maharashtra and Gujarat also gain in numbers. Karnataka is the only southern state that will see an increase. The modelling shows that the share of total seats will go down in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Odisha.

    D Raja, CPI general secretary, said this buzz about the Modi government increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats has been doing the rounds for some time, but questioned the criteria for such changes. “If it is planned to be done on the basis of population, southern states would suffer and this has happened in the past also,” said Raja.

    However, a Union minister dismissed Tewari’s claim and said he is indulging in speculation. “He may have been speculating in the context of the women’s reservation bill which is still pending. There is no proposal before the government as of now to increase the capacity of the Lok Sabha,” the minister said, requesting anonymity. Election Commission officials said they are not aware of this.

  • ‘Some elements’ reducing parliamentary panel on IT to ‘ping pong match’: Shashi Tharoor

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: With the BJP members of a parliamentary panel opposing his decision to question government officials on the Pegasus row, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who heads the committee, took a swipe at them on Thursday, saying “some elements” have chosen to reduce it to a “ping pong match” that is not in the spirit of Parliament.

    Asked about reports of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey moving a “privilege motion” against him, Tharoor told reporters that it has no “validity” as no constituted procedure was followed in introducing the motion that requires the Speaker to get the leave of the House before it can be introduced.

    Hitting back, Dubey said the Congress MP is unaware of the rules and has gone into “frustration” as he is focussed more on becoming the leader of his party in Lok Sabha in place of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

    Official sources said Dubey has moved a “privilege notice” in the Speaker’s office against Tharoor for allegedly misusing his power as the head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology.

    It will be for Speaker Om Birla to decide the fate of the notice. The panel that was set to question government officials on Wednesday on the Pegasus spyware issue was postponed due to lack of quorum. BJP members of the panel who were present in the meeting room didn’t sign the attendance register in protest leading to a lack of quorum required for holding the meeting.

    Tharoor said he was very disappointed with the development. “I am very disappointed that some elements on some issues have chosen to reduce this committee to some sort of a ping pong match which I dont believe is in the spirit of Parliament or parliamentary committee,” he said.

    Asked about divisions among the panel’s members along political lines, the former union minister noted that when he was the chairman of the parliamentary committee on external affairs for five years where its members worked in an extremely amicable and cooperative spirit. “That committee also had a strong BJP majority,” he added.

    He also expressed his ignorance about Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra allegedly calling Dubey a “Bihari gunda” when the panel members had assembled for the meeting.

    “How can I tell you about a meeting which never happened? I am completely unaware if somebody allegedly said something at a meeting that never took place to somebody who was not there. How am I to be concerned about it?”

  • Halting water, irrigation projects in Marathwada may lead to farmer suicides: BJP MLA Prashant Bamb

    By PTI
    AURANGABAD: Certain water and irrigation schemes are being halted in Marathwada, and there is fear that this may lead to farmer suicides in the drought-prone region if it doesn’t get sufficient rainfall, BJP MLA Prashant Bamb has said.

    The legislator, who represents Gangapur constituency in Aurangabad district, claimed that he had made several attempts to meet Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to discuss the issue.

    “The water and irrigation schemes, especially designed for Marathwada region, are coming halt. Clearances for the water grid project had been fast-tracked and tenders for this scheme were floated. However, the scheme worth Rs 45,000 crore was halted and just Rs 250 crore was given to a scheme in Paithan taluka. Moreover, Jalyukt Shivar scheme is not being implemented in the region,” Bamb said in a virtual address.

    The BJP MLA further said that earlier, the Shiv Sena had given priority to Marathwada and had taken a strong stand against the crop insurance companies.

    However, the companies are now not paying farmers for the losses, and if the region does not receive sufficient rainfall, there is a fear that farmers may commit suicide, he claimed. “I have written 19 letters to the state government on various issues, but haven’t received any response on the same,” Bamb said.

  • BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accuses TMC member of calling him ‘Bihari Gunda’, raises matter in Lok Sabha

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Thursday raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of a TMC member allegedly calling him a ‘Bihari Gunda’ during a Parliamentary committee meeting.

    “I want to draw attention of all members of this House. This is my 13th year as an MP and the way I was called ‘Bihari Gunda’ at the Parliamentary committee meeting yesterday by a woman, by Trinamool Congress, I have not seen this in my life,” Dubey said, amid din in the House due to protests by opposition over Pegasus and farm bill issues.

    “What is our mistake? Our mistake is in developing this country. We have worked as labourers, as Hindi-speaking people whether from Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh…we have worked hard. We have learnt sessions from Lord Ram,” Dubey said.

    However, Dubey did not name the TMC member. As Dubey was speaking, Rajendra Agrawal, who was chairing the proceedings, adjourned the House till 12:30 pm. As the House reassembled at 12:30 pm, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal urged the Chair to allow Dubey to complete the issue he was raising before the House got adjourned.

    However, Agrawal called for papers to be laid on the table. As opposition slogan shouting continued, Agrawal adjourned the proceedings till 2 pm.

    The meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on Wednesday was set to question government officials on the Pegasus spyware issue.

    However, the meeting was postponed due to lack of quorum. Even though the meeting did not take place, the gathering of BJP and opposition party members witnessed drama. Dubey had alleged that Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra called him a ‘Bihari Gunda’.

    Dubey, in a tweet on Wednesday tagged TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and alleged that Moitra’s comments show her party’s attitude towards the people of Bihar and the Hindi-speaking parts of the country.

    Moitra denied the charge, saying Dubey was not even present for the meeting.

  • Jharkhand Police trying to collect technical evidences in alleged horse trading case

    By Express News Service
    RANCHI: After the fact was well established that the three MLAs – Irfan Ansari, Uma Shankar Akela and Amit Yadav were present in a Delhi Hotel on July 15 along with the three Maharsashta BJP leaders, police are now tying to solve the case with the help of technical evidence collected from hotel.

    In order to get into the details of the matter, the police are scanning the call details of more than a dozen suspected people related to the case.

    Notably, three persons — Abhishek Kumar Dubey, Amit Singh and Niwaran Prasad, were arrested, allegedly for hatching conspiracy to destabilize the JMM-led alliance government in Jharkhand. Booked under sections 419, 420, 124-A, 120 B and 34 of IPC along with some section 171-B of PR Act and section 8/9 of PC Act.

    After the arresting of the three accused persons in the case, a police team had rushed to the Delhi to get into the details of the case and found that the three MLAs were present in the hotel along with the Maharasthra BJP leaders on July 15.

    The CCTV footage obtained from the hotel clearly indicated that the three leaders were present there and former Maharashtra minister and BJP State General Secretary Chandrashekher Rao Bavankule, Maharashtra BJP leader Charan Singh and businessman Jaikumar Belkhede alias Balkund. 

    Meanwhile, Congress MLAs Irfan Ansari and Umashankar Akela whose name have figured in the police investigation for visiting Delhi and holding secret parley with two of Maharashtra based BJP leaders, confessed their Delhi visit. But they denied their involvement in the shady deal.

    “Statements of six persons in Mahrashtra will be taken, for which, a police team will soon visit there. Besides the three Maharashtra BJP leaders, police will also interrogate three other suspected persons in the case,” said sources in the police department. Meanwhile, call details of more than a dozen people arebeing scanned to get into the details of the matter, it added.