Rahul Gandhi #39;s choice of words like #39;nautanki #39; for the prime minister at a time when Modi is working to curb COVID-19 is part of the toolkit #39;s script, said Prakash Javadekar.
Tag: BJP
-
Cops thrash BJP worker in Maharashtra’s Jalna, probe ordered after video goes viral
By PTI
JALNA: A video showing a group of around five policemen thrashing a man, who later turned out to be a local BJP functionary, at Jalna in Maharashtra went viral on social media, prompting the police authorities to order a probe into the incident.Police said the incident had occurred last month, but it went viral on social media platforms on Thursday.
Talking to PTI, Inspector general of Police K M Mallikarjun Prasanna said the inquiry into the episode will be carried out by an Additional Superintendent of Police-rank official.
Jalna Superintendent of Police Vinayak Deshmukh said, “The viral video shows the man, Shivraj Narialwale, being beaten by police. The incident had taken place on April 9 in Jalna and an inquiry has been ordered…Action will be taken if needed.”
According to police, the incident had occurred at Deepak Hospital, after a group of youths beat up doctors and went on a rampage in the ICU following the death of a patient.
The patient had suffered injuries in a road accident and admitted to the hospital where he died. However, the relatives of the deceased accused the doctors of negligence.
Some angry youths barged into the ICU, beat up some doctors, and broke the glasses, police said.
On learning about it, a police team rushed to the hospital.
Seeing them, the youths fled from the spot, but the police caught hold of Narialwale, who is a local BJP functionary, and the police team lathi-charged him, they said.
When contacted, Prasannna said, “Additional SP of Jalna has been asked to inquire into the incident and submit the report at the earliest.”
BJP leaders demanded action against the policemen who were involved in beating Narialwale.
Former Maharashtra minister Babanrao Lonikar said, “Narialwale was beaten up by Deupy Superintendent and PI-rank officials without any reason. He was thrashed as if he is a terrorist. Beating a worker of a national party dosent fit in any law and the officers should be suspended immediately.”
“If action is not taken against those involved, we will raise the issue in the legislative assembly,” he said.
In a video message, BJP’s state unit vice president Chitra Wagh said, “If the youth has done any crime, there are laws to deal with him. Police has beaten the youth inhumanly and state home minister, DGP should act against the police personnel concerned.”
-
‘Instead of tweeting, Rahul should speak to Congress CMs’: BJP on Covid tally charge
By PTI
NEW DELHI: The BJP on Thursday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi for his allegation that the government was “lying” about the COVID-19 death toll, saying he “knows nothing and speaks everything” and referred to the high number of casualties in opposition-ruled states like Maharashtra to attack the Congress leader.BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra noted that Maharashtra, where the Congress is in the ruling alliance, has reported the highest number of deaths and that there is a “huge discrepancy” between actual deaths and what has been projected by the Rajasthan government, a Congress-ruled state.
“Rather than existing in the republic of Twitter and playing this tweet game” Gandhi should pick up the phone and speak to chief ministers of states where his party is in power, he said, alleging that the Congress leader’s priority has always been to spread lies and misinformation.
“He will never get down to the ground and do any act of service. He will post one tweet daily. One tweet a day will not drive the corona away,” Patra said at a virtual press conference.
Rahul Gandhi should speak to his chief ministers and ask them to take proper measures, he added.
The Congress leader had on Wednesday posted a New York Times figure, which had said that the Covid tally in India may be grossly under reported.
“Numbers don’t lie. GOI (government of India) does,” he had said on Twitter.
Hitting back at the Congress over its leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s recent critical statement, Patra said they are the ones responsible for vaccine hesitancy and noted that chief ministers from the opposition party had even expressed their disapproval of Covaxin, an indigenously developed jab against Covid.
He also sought to know if Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have been vaccinated or not.
Patra also spoke at length about “myths and facts” on the vaccination process and accused leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of doing politics over the matter.
Referring to as “myths” allegations like the Centre was not doing enough to buy vaccines from abroad, not approving vaccines available globally, not doing enough to ramp up domestic production of vaccines, abdicating its responsibility to states and not taking any step to vaccinate children, he gave a point-by- point rebuttal.
The NITI Aayog, a public policy think tank of the government, had also earlier issued a statement on similar lines in which it had given a detailed reply about the measures being taken by the Centre since last year to boost its vaccination programme.
-
BJP MP Sambhaji Chhatrapati meets Sharad Pawar over Maratha quota issue
By PTI
MUMBAI: BJP MP Sambhaji Chhatrapati on Thursday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar to discuss the Maratha reservation issue and urged him to take an initiative in the matter.The Supreme Court recently struck down the Maharashtra law granting quota to the Maratha community in admissions and government jobs, by terming it as “unconstitutional”, and held that there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.
Speaking to reporters outside Pawar’s residence here, the Rajya Sabha MP said, “I have informed Pawar about the unrest and pain in the Maratha community and urged him to take an initiative in the matter.”
The BJP leader said he has asked the NCP chief to take Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders on board and try to give justice to the community.
“Pawar listened to the issue carefully and has responded positively,” he said.
The BJP leader, who is a descendant of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been visiting parts of the state to discuss with locals from the community regarding the future course of action.
He on Wednesday said if the Uddhav government wants to give reservation under the EWS category, then it can do so by relaxing its conditions and need not go to the Centre for it.
The BJP MP also said if the state government wishes to give reservation under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, then it has the right to relax its conditions.
“The Maharashtra government need not to go to the Centre for the same. The state should act on it,” the Rajya Sabha member said, adding that he will make his stand further clear over the issue on May 28.
The BJP leader also said if the government does not pay heed to the demands of Marathas, they may need to agitate.
“But in this COVID-19 pandemic time, we can’t let people die by coming out on roads. If we are safe, we can fight for the reservation later,” he said.
The Marathas had put forth their demands earlier and public representatives from the ruling as well as opposition parties in the state should take the responsibility to work for the community’s welfare, he added.
-
‘Lakshadweep deserves a developmental vision’: Rahul writes to PM, demands withdrawal of new regulations
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the withdrawal of new regulations in Lakshadweep, saying they seek to penalise dissent and undermine grassroots democracy.In a letter to the prime minister, he said all this is being done by the new Administrator Praful Khoda Patel in the guise of development and maintaining law and order.
“I request you to intervene in this matter and ensure that the above mentioned orders are withdrawn. The people of Lakshadweep deserve a developmental vision that respects their way of life and reflects their aspirations,” Gandhi told the prime minister.
Noting that Lakshadweep’s pristine natural beauty and its unique confluence of cultures have drawn people for generations, he said the custodians of its heritage seek to safeguard the archipelago for posterity.
“However, their future is threatened by the anti-people policies announced by the administrator of Lakshadweep, Shri Praful Khoda Patel. The administrator has unilaterally proposed sweeping changes without duly consulting elected representatives or the public. The people of Lakshadweep are protesting against these arbitrary actions,” the former Congress chief said.
Gandhi said the administrator’s attempt to undermine ecological sanctity of the island is evident in the draft Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation issued recently.
The provisions of the regulation, he said, undermine safeguards pertaining to land ownership, dilute environmental regulations for certain activities and severely limit legal recourse available to affected persons.
“Livelihood security and sustainable development are being sacrificed for short-term commercial gains. The provision in the draft Panchayat Regulation that disqualifies members with more than two children is blatantly anti-democratic,” he said.
The Congress leader highlighted that the new administrator has also proposed changes to regulations like the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Regulation, the Lakshadweep Animals Preservation Regulation and lifting of restrictions on sale of alcohol and termed them as a deliberate assault on the cultural and religious fabric of the local community.
He said the attempt to cut ties with the Beypore port strikes at the close historical and cultural ties with Kerala.
Despite the pandemic, the administration has demolished structures used by the fisherfolk, fired contractual workers in various government departments, and relaxed quarantine norms leading to a lethal spike in Covid cases, he charged.
“Under the guise of development and maintaining law and order in a low crime union territory, the draconian regulations penalise dissent and undermine grassroots democracy,” Gandhi told the prime minister in his letter.
The Congress has been demanding the immediate recall of the Lakshadweep administrator, who it says is a politician and not a bureaucrat.
-
Well within Parliament panel’s mandate to seek clarification from Centre on ‘manipulated media’ issue: Tharoor
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Amid the ongoing ‘toolkit’ row, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said the parliamentary panel on information and technology had written to the IT ministry over its communication with Twitter on the ‘manipulated media’ issue and has received a detailed reply on it.Hitting back at BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who had accused him of using his position as chairman of the panel to tarnish the image of the Centre, Tharoor asserted that it was well within the mandate of the committee to seek a clarification on Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MEITY) “contacts” with Twitter on the ‘manipulated media’ issue.
In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the BJP MP, who is a member of the panel, had referred to some recent remarks made by Tharoor on the Union government on the “toolkit issue”, and alleged that the Congress leader was “misusing” his official position to “tarnish” the image of the Union government as well as Parliament by raising issues which are outside the purview of the parliamentary panel.
Taking to Twitter, Tharoor said that with reference to allegations circulated publicly recently by a member of the Parliamentary Committee on IT relating to the ‘manipulated media’ issue, it is clarified that given the committee’s inability to meet in current circumstances, it communicates with ministries in writing as required.
On the subject of the IT ministry’s “contacts with Twitter” on ‘Manipulated Media’, the Committee Secretariat wrote to MEITY by email and received a detailed and comprehensive reply dated May 26, which is being circulated to all members for their information, Tharoor said in a series of tweets.
ALSO READ | Facebook seeks time, Twitter mum as compliance window for IT rules closes
The committee is already examining the subject ‘safeguarding citizens’ rights & prevention of misuse of social/online media platforms” which relates to this issue, he said.
It is therefore well within the committee’s mandate to seek a clarification on this matter from the ministry concerned, Tharoor asserted.
In a jibe at Dubey, he said, “As a matter of established practice and good form, members with issues to raise relating to the work of a parliamentary committee are advised to communicate directly with the Chairman and/or the Committee Secretariat, rather than ventilating their concerns in the media without discussion.”
Hours after a BJP spokesperson’s tweets on an alleged ‘toolkit’ on the Centre’s COVID-19 response were labelled as ‘manipulated media’, the government on Friday had asked Twitter to remove the tag, saying the social media platform cannot pass judgment on a matter under investigation.
MEITY wrote “a strong communication” to Twitter registering objection to the use of ‘manipulated media’ tag on certain tweets, according to sources.
ALSO READ | WhatsApp moves Delhi HC against govt on new social media intermediary rules: Sources
The BJP had accused the Congress of creating a ‘toolkit’ that seeks to tarnish the image of the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the handling of the Covid pandemic.
However, the Congress denied the allegation and claimed that the BJP is propagating a fake ‘toolkit’ to defame it.
Last week, Twitter labelled as “manipulated media” a tweet by Sambit Patra on the alleged ‘toolkit’.
Twitter says it “may label tweets that include media (videos, audio, and images) that have been deceptively altered or fabricated”.
-
UP minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi’s brother resigns amid row over appointment as assistant professor
By PTI
SIDDHARTHANAGAR: Uttar Pradesh minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi’s brother Arun Dwivedi, whose appointment as assistant professor at a university here under the economically weaker section quota sparked a row, resigned on Wednesday.Speaking to news persons, Arun Dwivedi said the registrar of Siddharth University, Rakesh Kumar, informed him that his resignation had been accepted.
“I was appointed on the post on the basis of my qualification as per the proper procedure, but it is my misfortune that soon after I joined, there has been an effort to tarnish the image of my elder brother by linking it (my appointment) to him in the media and social media,” he added.
Arun Dwivedi asserted that the appointment was made on the basis of his qualifications.
He added that he is a PhD, a gold medallist in MA, and has done his JRF and SRF from the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), DRDO.
He further said that 17 of his research papers were published, adding that he has edited a book as well.
Arun Dwivedi mentioned that he resigned as he was under severe mental stress due to the controversy over the appointment.
“I do not want baseless allegations levelled on my brother because of me. I cannot bear this,” he said.
“There is nothing more important than the social and political honour of my brother and my family, not even this important post. And so, with full responsibility, I have given my resignation today (Wednesday),” Arun Dwivedi added.
He said he had applied for the post in November 2019 with an EWS certificate issued to him based on his economic condition at the time.
He added that even though he got married to a woman working in the Education department later, it was his right to keep the certificate.
Arun Dwivedi further said that he had got the job after completion of all formalities, including an interview, and his brother had no role in it.
The state minister’s brother was appointed assistant professor in the psychology department of the Siddharth University under the economically weaker section (EWS) quota on May 21.
The move had triggered a massive controversy, prompting the university’s vice-chancellor, professor Surendra Dubey, to come out with a statement saying the appointment would be cancelled if any irregularity was found.
“The entire process was transparent and the interview was video-graphed. EWS certificate is issued by the administration and if any irregularity is found, the appointment would be cancelled,” he had said.
Dubey had added that the university would initiate “penal action” if Arun Dwivedi’s EWS certificate was found to be fake.
The university had invited applications for two posts, one under the EWS quota and the other in the Other Backward Classes category.
The vice-chancellor had said at the time of his appointment, he did not know that Arun Dwivedi was Basic Education Minister Satish Chandra Dwivedi’s brother.
It had come to light through social media, Dubey said.
He also said that for the two posts, 150 applications were received, and based on merit, 10 applicants were short-listed, including Arun Dwivedi.
-
Only PM’s photo on vaccination certificate, responsibility on states: Priyanka’s scathing attack on Modi
By PTI
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday held the Centre responsible for the vaccine crisis in the country and alleged that vaccines were a means for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “personal publicity” rather than a tool to save people’s lives.This was so from the beginning of the pandemic, the Congress general secretary said in posts on Twitter and Facebook.
The central government is responsible for creating a vaccine crisis in the country when experts have repeatedly highlighted the importance of vaccination, she said in a statement later in the day.
“Today, the states are forced to take out a global tender for vaccines and they have been left disappointed by the companies, but the central government is not acting at all,” she said.
In her social media posts, Priyanka Gandhi alleged that the Modi government has pushed the country into a “swamp of vaccine shortage” and left India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, dependent on vaccine donations from other countries.
Accusing the Centre of shifting the onus of vaccination on to states, she said there is now only Prime Minister Modi’s photo on the vaccination certificate while the rest of the responsibility has been put on the states.
“Today, the chief ministers of states are sending messages to the Central government over the lack of vaccines,” she said in her post in Hindi.
Her sharp attack on the government on the issue came as part of her ‘Zimmedaar Kaun?’ (who is responsible) campaign, asking questions of the government on behalf of the people over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
On August 15 last year, the prime minister said in a speech from the Red Fort that his government has prepared an entire plan for vaccination, she posted.
Given India’s history of vaccine production and the vastness of its vaccine programmes, it was easy to believe that the government would do this work in a better way, Priyanka Gandhi added.
“After all, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave flight to India’s vaccine programme by setting up a vaccine unit in Chennai in 1948 and the National Institute of Virology, Pune, in 1952. We successfully defeated diseases like smallpox, polio etc. Later, India started exporting vaccines to the world and today it is the largest vaccine producer in the world,” she noted.
Knowing these achievements, the country was sure that the people of India would not face problems in vaccination against COVID-19, Priyanka Gandhi said.
“But the bitter truth is that from the beginning of the pandemic, vaccines in India became a tool for the prime minister’s personal publicity rather than a tool to save the lives of the common people,” the Congress leader alleged.
“As a result, India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, has today become dependent on vaccine donations from other countries and has joined the ranks of the world’s weakest countries in terms of vaccination.”
Why did this happen and who is responsible, she asked.
Accusing the government of maintaining a slow rate of vaccination, Priyanka Gandhi said only 11 per cent of India’s 130 crore population has received the first dose of vaccine against Covid and only 3 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
According to her, “vaccination declined by 83 per cent in the last one month after the announcement of Modi’s ‘Teeka Utsav’.”
Priyanka Gandhi said large countries of the world ordered vaccines many times their population last year, but the Modi government placed the first order in January 2021, that too for only 1.6 crore vaccine doses.
Noting that between January-March this year, the Modi government sent 6.5 crore vaccine doses abroad, Priyanka Gandhi said the government also gifted free vaccines to many countries.
At that time, only 3.5 crore people had gotten vaccinated in India, she said.
“From May 1, the government opened the doors to give vaccination to about 60 crore population in the age group of 18-44, but gave orders for only 28 crore vaccine doses, with which it is possible to vaccinate only 14 crore.”
She also posed a series of questions for the government, asking why it ordered only 1.6 crore vaccines in January 2021 when, according to the prime minister’s statement, his government was ready with the complete plan for vaccination last year.
“Why is India, the world’s largest vaccine producer, today in a position that it has to ask for vaccines from other countries, and why is this shameless government trying to present it as an achievement?” she said in another poser.
Questions need to be asked so that the people in power understand their responsibility and accountability towards this country, Priyanka Gandhi had asserted while announcing her ‘Zimmedaar Kaun’ campaign on Tuesday.
The Congress has been critical of the Centre’s handling of the Covid situation in the country, but the government has dismissed the criticism of the Opposition party, accusing it of politicising the pandemic.
-
China could be behind second wave of COVID-19 in India: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya
By PTI
INDORE: BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has said it is a “matter of discussion” if the second wave of COVID-19 in India was an outbreak or China had a hand in it.A video of Vijayvargiya’s speech at a function here went viral on Tuesday.
“There is a second wave of COVID-19. It was an outbreak, or was it sent? It is a matter of discussion, because if any country in the world has challenged China, it is India…Prime Minister Narendra Modi has challenged (China),” the BJP leader is heard saying in the video.
“We think this is a viral `war’ by China to harass our country, because the second wave of COVID-19 was reported only in India and not in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Afghanistan,” he said, speaking in Hindi.
It could not be ascertained if he said ‘war’ or ‘vaar’ which means `blow/attack’ in Hindi.
While the BJP leader could not be contacted for comment, some witnesses said he made these statements at an event organized by a trust to distribute oxygen concentrators on Monday.
Opposition Congress said he should clarify what he wanted to say.
“Does Vijayvargiya want to say that China has waged a biological war against India? He holds a responsible position in the BJP and he should make clear the intent behind his statement,” state Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla said.
The negligence of the BJP-led Union government was responsible for the second wave, he alleged.