News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • COVID-19: Ex-Goa minister dies; four-time BJP MP from UP passes away

    By PTI
    PANAJI: Former Goa minister Somnath Juwarkar has succumbed to the COVID-19 infection, his family sources said on Wednesday.

    He was 74.

    “Juwarkar was undergoing treatment at a private hospital here after testing positive for coronavirus. He died last (Tuesday) night,” the sources said.

    He had represented Taleigao Assembly constituency near Panaji from 1989 till 2002 on a Congress ticket.

    Juwarkar had served as the minister for Civil Supplies, Cooperation and Transport in the governments led by Pratapsingh Rane and Fransico Sardina.

    “Deeply saddened by the passing away of former Cabinet minister of Goa Shri Somnath Juwarkar. My deepest condolences to the family in this hour of grief. May God gives them strength to bear this great loss,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant tweeted.

    Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and four-time MP Shyam Bihari Baijnath Mishra died due to COVID-19 at a hospital in Swaroop Nagar here on Tuesday.

    Mishra, 82, also president of the Bharatiya Udyog Vyapaar Mandal, was admitted to the private Madhuraj hospital on Monday where he was put on a ventilator support in the ICU.

    He breathed his last on Tuesday evening, said Sunil Bajaj, BJP city president Kanpur south.

    A few days ago, Mishra had tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to a private hospital in the NCR.

    He was brought to Kanpur just a couple of days back, Bajaj added.

    Mishra was cremated in the presence of family members and local BJP leaders.

    He was first elected as an MP from Bilhaur constituency in 1991 on the BJP symbol and represented the same constituency in the 1996, 1998 and 1999 elections.

    Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs Dinesh Sharma and Keshav Prasad Maurya and senior BJP leaders condoled the death.

  • Remdesivir politics: War of words between MVA, BJP; Pharma co director denies stocking vials

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Tuesday asked whether the Centre was responsible for two firms, selected for supplying Remdesivir, later expressing inability to meet the state’s demand.

    Shortage of Remdesivir, a drug used to treat COVID-19 patients in certain cases, has become the subject of a bitter political row between the state and the Centre.

    “The Maharashtra government’s tender for supply of eight lakh injections of Remdesivir was awarded to two companies and the state was to get 50,000 vials a day starting tomorrow,” Patole told reporters.

    “But now these companies have communicated to the state that they can not supply so many vials. They can supply only a few thousand, they have informed,” he said.

    “Is the Centre behind these companies drastically dropping their supply quantity? Is the Centre putting people’s lives in danger just to defame the Maharashtra government?” the Congress leader asked.

    State health minister Rajesh Tope and Food and Drug Administration minister Rajendra Shingane few days ago had assured that supply of Remdesivir will increase from April 21.

    The state was currently facing a shortage of around 10,000 vials a day, they had said.

    Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Tuesday alleged that former BJP MLA from north Maharashtra Shirish Chaudhari illegally distributed to people Remdesivir vials which had not been exported due to a ban on it.

    However, the BJP dismissed the allegation as baseless.

    Talking to reporters here, Malik said the Centre has banned the export of Remdesivir and one of its manufacturers is Bruck Pharma, a Daman-based company.

    “How could BJP leader Shirish Chaudhari store around 20,000 vials of the exportable Remdesivir stock of Bruck Pharmaand distribute them to people? They don’t have a licence to do so,” the NCP spokesperson said.

    ALSO READ | COVID-19: Government waives import duty on Remdesivir, its raw materials

    Malik said Chaudhari had allegedly distributed and sold the Remdesivir stock in black markets in Nandurbar, Dhule and Jalgaon districts.

    “Some videos have surfaced in which Chaudhari is allegedly seen distributing Remdesivir vials in Nandurbar from his Hira Executive Hotel. We believe Chaudhari sold around 20,000 vials, which were produced by Bruck Pharma, in the black market on April 8 and 12,” Malik alleged.

    He said Anil Patil, the NCP MLA from Amalner in Jalgaon, had complained against Chaudhari (who contested the 2019 Assembly poll against Patil) in a letter to the party.

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner has written a letter to Nandurbar collector, asking him to conduct a probe into Chaudhari’s alleged connection with the distribution of Remdesivir vials without a proper licence, Malik said.

    The Remdesivir vials of Bruck Pharma had ‘export only’ written on the packets, then how could Chaudhari get hold of the stock? the NCP leader sought to know.

    “What licence was obtained by Chaudhari from Maharashtra or the Union Territory of Daman?” he asked.

    Malik claimed that Chaudhari along with Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council Pravin Darekar had met FDA Minister Rajendra Shingane to seek permission for the Bruck Pharma to sell its Remdesivir stock in Maharashtra.

    However, Darekar termed Malik’s allegations as “baseless” and said FDA minister Shingane has admitted that the Bruck Pharma’s Remdesivir vials were to be sold in Maharashtra only.

    “It is a tight slap on the face of the Maharashtra government which is trying to defame the Centre by spreading misinformation on Remdesivir supply,” he said.

    Darekar said Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, Maharashtra minister Ashok Chavan, state Congress chief Nana Patole and senior party leader Priyanka Gandhi should apologise to the BJP for making “baseless” allegations.

    The BJP leader also said he has demanded details of the hoarding of Remdesivir stock, as alleged by Malik.

    “From day one, we have been telling people that the Remdesivir stock from Bruck Pharma is meant for Maharashtra and it is going to be distributed in the state only,” he said.

    A meeting had taken place at FDA minister Shingane’s official residence here and he gave permission to the Bruck Pharma to supply its drug stock in the state, Darekar said.

    “However, when the state government realised that Remdesivir was going to be made available because of some BJP leaders, the government’s ego was hurt. This government now appears to be more concerned about its ego than the lives of people or the betterment of infrastructure,” he claimed.

    The Bruck Pharma director, who was questioned by Mumbai police over the company’s Remdesivir stock, has denied stocking the vials in the city and claimed the consignment has been moved to a godown in Daman, a police official said on Tuesday.

    ALSO READ | Maharashtra COVID crisis: 2,200 Remdesivir vials stocked by exporters seized in Mumbai

    Remdesivir is listed for use in serious COVID-19 patients.

    In view of a sudden spike in demand of the drug due to the surge in COVID-19 cases, the Centre last week banned its export till the situation improves.

    The Mumbai police on Saturday questioned Rajesh Dokania, the director of the Daman-based pharmaceutical company that manufactures Remdesivir vials, following information that around 60,000 vials were going to be flown abroad by air cargo, despite a ban on the export of the drug.

    During his questioning, the police sought to know the whereabouts of the drug stock, the official said.

    “The pharma company director claimed the stock was moved to the firm’s godown in the neighbouring Union Territory of Daman as its export was banned and denied stocking the vials in Mumbai,” the official said.

    The police are verifying the information provided by the pharma firm executive, he said.

    Dokania was questioned at the BKC police station here and was later allowed to go.

    But, the police asked him to remain present for inquiry whenever he is called.

    On learning that Dokania was being quizzed, Fadnavis and another state BJP leader Pravin Darekar had rushed to the police station on Saturday night.

    They said the BJP was reaching out to pharma companies due to the shortage of Remdesivir in the state.

    “It was our sincere attempt to get Remdesivar for Maharashtra,” Fadnavis had said.

    The former CM had also said permission was taken from the FDA commissioner to donate the stock of Remdesevir vials to the Maharashtra government, as the drug stocked for export cannot be diverted to the domestic market without the nod of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) or the FDA.

    The communication from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the pharmaceutical company was not shared with the BKC police station, which was acting independently on the information available with them, a Mumbai police spokesperson had said.

    The pharma company director was called for an inquiry in order to trace and seize about 60,000 vials of the key anti-viral drug based on a specific inputs, the police said.

    The inquiry was necessary in light of complaints of rampant hoarding and black marketing of Remdesevir and its shortage being faced by citizens, they said.

  • COVID-19: Vijayvargiya says media ‘spreading panic’ as MP’s virus situation worsens

    By PTI
    INDORE: BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday said panic is spreading by media reports showing bodies of COVID-19 victims piling up, and urged media persons to also show positive stories of those serving the pandemic-affected people.

    He said doctors, paramedical staff, NGOs and people from other fields are working continuously to serve the COVID-19-affected people.

    “I request to the people in the media. You are everyday showing piles of dead bodies (of COVID-19 victims), suffering and agony of dying patients. This is creating panic among common people,” Vijayvargiya told reporters.

    He said If you look at history, pandemic comes once every 100 years.

    In such a situation, the media should show how doctors and paramedical staff are working continuously.

    The BJP leader said many non-medical persons and NGOs are also serving the coronavirus-affected people.

    “This, too, should be shown to the public as it is very essential for creating a positive atmosphere,” he said.

    The COVID-19 tally in Madhya Pradesh increased by 12,727 on Tuesday to reach 4,33,704, while the day also saw 77 patients dying and 8,937 recovering, an official said.

    The state has so far seen 4,713 deaths and 3,50,720 people getting discharged, leaving it with an active caseload of 78,271, he added.

    In April so far, the state has recorded 138,193 new cases and 727 fatalities, the official pointed out.

    Indore’s count rose by 1,753 to touch 92,768, and Bhopal’s touched 71,967 with the addition of 1,693 cases, he said.

    “During the day, Indore reported eight deaths, taking its toll to 1,062, while that of Bhopal rose by three to touch 682.

    Indore has 12,324 active cases and Bhopal has 9,037,” he added.

    With 51,385 samples being examined on Tuesday, the number of tests in MP crossed 71.79 lakh.

    Coronavirus figures in MP are as follows: Total cases 4,33,704, new cases 12,727, death toll 4,713, recovered 3,50,720, active cases 78,271, number of tests so far 71,79,032.

    Vijayvargiya termed as unconstitutional, the demand of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to curtail election schedule in her state to check the spread of COVID-19.

    The senior BJP leader, in-charge of party affairs in West Bengal, said Banerjee lacks knowledge about technical aspects of elections.

    Banerjee has requested the Election Commission to reconsider its decision of conducting elections as scheduled earlier.

    The TMC chief has suggested to hold the polling in the last three phases of elections in one go or in two days to minimise the effect of COVID-19.

    Banerjee lacks knowledge about technical aspects of elections.

    Once the EC has announced poll schedule, it sets the schedule of many poll-related exercises, including time that a candidate gets for campaigning,” Vijayvargiya said.

    How can one reduce the time period for campaigning.

    The EC wont be able to take any such decision as it will be unconstitutional.

    It is not proper for Banerjee to make such a demand to gain sympathy of people, the BJP leader said.

    On senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi cancelling his election rallies in West Bengal, he caustically remarked, Who is anyway going to his rallies? Vijayvargiya claimed the BJP will easily get past the majority mark (148 seats) in West Bengal after the sixth phase of polling on April 22.

    After seventh and eighth rounds of voting, the partys tally of seats would reach 200 in a house of 294, he claimed.

    West Bengal assembly elections are being held in eight phases.

    The last phase will be held on April 29, while counting of votes will take place on May 2.

    On protests by the Congress in Madhya Pradesh on the issue of shortage of hospital beds, Remdesivir injections and medical oxygen for COVID-19 patients, he said in such a difficult situation politicians should come forward to help people by rising above party politics.

    Answering a question, he said the state’s BJP government is taking all possible measures to deal with the pandemic.

  • Mamata roasts EC over not clubbing final-phase Bengal polls amid COVID-19 second wave

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: In a direct attack on the Election Commission for not clubbing the last three phases of Bengal Assembly elections in the wake of the second Covid wave, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that it was aimed to give advantage to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    While addressing a rally at Jiaganj, Murshidabad, a region dominated by minorities, Mamata said the poll panel did not listen to Trinamool Congress’s request for conducting the last three phases either in one go or in two phases.

    She also alleged the BJP was hatching a conspiracy to trigger communal discord in Bengal.

    “We requested the Election Commission to reconsider its poll schedule. We requested them to club the last three phases considering the pandemic situation. But the poll panel did not pay any heed to our plea. They decided not to change the schedule of the last three phases. It is to help the BJP and PM Modi so that he could keep visiting the state and address more rallies,’’ Mamata said.

    She said her party had already decided not to organise mega rallies in Kolkata.

    “We will hold only one rally on April 26 in Kolkata. In districts, I have shortened my speeches while addressing rallies,’’ she said.

    Mamata has lambasted the election panel on several occasions in the recent past accusing it of acting at BJP’s behest.

    While addressing the rally, Mamata urged the people of the minority-dominated area to be alert as the BJP was “trying to trigger communal discord”.

    “The BJP is trying to trigger riots in Bengal. Do not fall in their trap. Be alert and do vote,’’ she said.

    In the wake of the second Covid wave, the CPI-M has already announced it would not organise any major rally or road show. It will be more focused on small street corner meetings and using social media platforms to carry out its campaign.

    The TMC shot off a letter to Chief Electoral Officer Aariz Aftab on Tuesday, urging him to consider the party’s request amid the steep hike in Covid-19 cases.

  • PM Narendra Modi’s address was reassuring for people: Union ministers and BJP leaders

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Top Union Ministers and senior BJP leaders on Tuesday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on the coronavirus situation as reassuring for the public while highlighting his appeal for maintaining discipline and using lockdown as the last resort.

    Amid a second wave of the pandemic, Modi addressed the nation on Tuesday and appealed to people to follow right discipline to safeguard everyone against the novel coronavirus. Modi in his speech has emphasised on discipline and patience, senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, adding that with the participation of public, the country will overcome this challenge.

    प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi ने आज राष्ट्र के नाम अपने संबोधन में मर्यादाओं का पालन करने, अनुशासन एवं धैर्य रखने का आवाहन किया है।जन-भागीदारी से चुनौती पर विजय प्राप्त होगी।व्यवस्थाओं को मज़बूत करने का पूरा प्रयास जारी है।प्रधानमंत्रीजी की अपील का सभी देशवासी अवश्य पालन करें।
    — Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 20, 2021

    Singh further said efforts are being also made to strengthen the system. Hailing the prime minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said he assured the country that the government will improve the health of the economy of the country as well as that of its people.

    He also urged states to let lockdown be the last resort and to instead focus in micro-containment zones to handle the pandemic. “These words of Modiji while making us aware of the tough battle that we have to fight together, have also reassured us that we are in this together. That we as a nation are doing whatever it takes to ensure #IndiaFightsCorona successfully,” Shekhawat said in a series of tweets.

    PM @narendramodi ji assured the country that we will improve the health of the economy of the country as well as that of our people.He urged states to let #Lockdown be the last resort and to instead focus in Micro-containment zones to handle Covid.
    — Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) April 20, 2021

    BJP’s organisational secretary BL Santhosh said that Modi has requested everybody to follow safety protocols to avoid lockdown.

    Awareness …. Discipline …. Confidence …. three things emphasised by PM @narendramodi I his address .
    — B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) April 20, 2021

    Amid a staggering surge in COVID-19 cases, PM Modi on Tuesday said a lockdown should be the “last resort” to deal with the raging pandemic and asked states to convince migrant workers to stay put at their places of work with a guarantee for their lives and livelihood.

  • Media reports on bodies of COVID-19 victims piling up creating panic: BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya

    By PTI
    INDORE: BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Tuesday said panic is spreading by media reports showing bodies of COVID-19 victims piling up, and urged media persons to also show positive stories of those serving the pandemic-affected people.

    He said that doctors, paramedical staff, NGOs and people from other fields are working continuously to serve the COVID-19-affected people. “I request to the people in the media…you are everyday showing piles of dead bodies (of COVID-19 victims), suffering and agony of dying patients. This is creating panic among common people,” Vijayvargiya told reporters.

    “If you look at history, pandemic comes once every 100 years. In such a situation, the media should show how doctors and paramedical staff are working continuously, ” he said adding that many non-medical persons and NGOs are also serving the coronavirus-affected people. “This, too, should be shown to the public as it is very essential for creating a positive atmosphere,” he said.

    On protests by the Congress in Madhya Pradesh on the issue of shortage of hospital beds, Remdesivir injections and medical oxygen for COVID-19 patients, he said in such a difficult situation politicians should come forward to help people by rising above party politics.

    Answering a question, he said that the state’s BJP government is taking all possible measures to deal with the pandemic.

  • BJP seeks action against Mamata for statement ‘amounting to incite mutiny in CAPF’

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: The BJP on Monday complained to the Chief Electoral Officer accusing Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee of making a statement that amounts to incite “mutiny” in the central armed police force (CAPF) deployed in West Bengal for the assembly elections.

    Alleging that Banerjee, through her comment as published in a vernacular daily on Monday, has also violated provisions of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), the BJP called for action to be taken against her by the Election Commission.

    The BJP claimed that at a public meeting in Nadia district, the chief minister appealed to the CAPF personnel “not to shoot on the orders of the BJP. They are today but will not remain tomorrow.”

    In its complaint to the CEO, the saffron party alleged that the statement casts aspersions on the authority of the Election Commission.

    “The CAPF personnel during the election duty remain under the overall supervision of Commission and their superior officials deployed on ground,” the BJP said, adding that political parties who are stakeholders in the elections have no command over the forces deployed.

    “This amounts to incitement to mutiny in barely concealed language,” the complaint by the BJP over Banerjee’s alleged statement said.

    The BJP claimed that Banerjee made the statement on Sunday in reference to the firing by CAPF in Cooch Behar district on April 10 during polling, “violating provisions of Model Code of Conduct and provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951.”

    Four persons were killed in the firing which took place during the fourth phase of polling.

    “The statement deserves to be condemned and much stricter action is to be taken against her,” the BJP demanded in the complaint.

    The Election Commission had banned Banerjee from campaigning for 24 hours last week over her remarks against central forces and a statement that had “religious overtones”.

  • MP: BJP neta flags off vehicles for carrying corpses; Congress fumes

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: A controversy has erupted in Madhya Pradesh with a video purportedly showing a BJP leader flagging off six mini trucks which are meant to carry dead bodies, an incident the opposition Congress dubbed a “shameless photo-shoot”.

    It is also alleged that one of these “shav vahans” carrying a dead body was stopped for the photoshoot.

    The incident occurred close on the heels of state minister Tulsiram Silawat and his supporters recently breaking coconuts and a priest chanting prayers in front of an oxygen tanker in Indore.

    In one of the two videos, former Bhopal mayor and BJP leader Alok Sharma was seen flagging off six “shav vahans” or vehicles to carry corpses which he handed over to different hospitals.

    In one video clip, Sharma is seen with the vehicles decorated with flowers.

    In another video, one of these vans was seen carrying a corpse with a voice telling the driver to move slowly for the video shoot.

    However, Sharma was not visible in this clip.

    Sharma has denied the allegations.

    “I purchased these vehicles after reading reports about the shortage of ‘Shav Vahans’ to carry bodies. Media persons were present when I was handing over these vehicles to the management of the hospital concerned,” he told PTI.

    He termed the allegations against him a “dirty politics by the Congress to stir a controversy”.

    “I was receiving repeated calls for the arrangement of these vehicles.

    People have to wait for carrying their dead in the absence of such vehicles,” the BJP leader said.

    Sharma said when he was handing over these vehicles to JP Hospital (the district hospital) campus, a person came to the hospital asking to arrange an ambulance to carry a corpse.

    “I handed over the vehicle to the hospital management. Later, JP Hospital gave that vehicle to that person. The vehicle with the dead body passed from there in the presence of the media. We are making genuine attempts to make arrangements,” Sharma said.

    On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesman Narendra Saluja termed the incident a “shameful act”.

    “Earlier, BJP leaders had worshipped an oxygen tanker in Indore and halted its passage for delivery of oxygen. Now, another leader is seen flagging off Shav Vahans. In another incident, a minister inaugurated a covid care centre. They are finding ‘Apada Me Avsar’ for a photo shoot,” Saluja said.

  • Central forces on Bengal poll duty should undergo COVID-19 test, demands Didi

    Express News Service
    KOLKATA: Her first request to hold the last three phases of Assembly polls together was turned down. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday again urged the Election Commission to truncate the process, suggesting that things be wrapped up in two days, to check the spread of Covid-19.Vocal as usual against Narendra Modi and BJP and accusing them of spreading the disease in Bengal, Mamata also demanded that central security personnel on election duty be subjected to RT-PCR tests.

    Around 1,100 companies of Central forces from CISF, BSF, CAPF and police from other states are on duty in Bengal elections from March 27 to April 19.

    Each company has around 100 personnel.

    This means over one lakh security men from other states, who are moving around in different parts of Bengal.

    Sources in Central forces confirmed that they have not undergone RT-PCR tests.

    Speaking in Malda district, Mamata said considering the Covid-19 situation, the Centre should have advised the Election Commission.

    “Over one lakh personnel of Central forces are roaming from one place to another. I demand RT-PCR tests for them. They have come from other states. How will we know their health condition?”

    Reiterating TMC’s demand to shorten the election process in view of the pandemic, she said: “With folded hands, I request the Commission to hold the next three phases on a single day. If not possible, conduct it in two days and save one day. It will help check the infection to an extent.’’

    Indicating that the Commission may have decided against clubbing the three phases at the behest of BJP, Mamata urged the poll body to pay attention to the larger picture.

    “Please don’t take decisions based on what BJP says.”

    TMC and BJP are locked in a war of words over the increasing Covid cases in Bengal.

    While Mamata is accusing BJP of spreading infection by bringing in outsiders, PM Narendra Modi questioned her seriousness, pointing out that she skipped two meetings of chief ministers convened recently to discuss ways to check the virus.

  • West Bengal polls: BJP decides not to hold big rallies, public meetings amid rise in COVID cases

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the BJP on Monday said it has decided against holding any big rally or public meeting, including by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders, in the ongoing West Bengal assembly poll campaign.

    The decision comes amid the party facing flak from rivals for the big rallies of its leaders in West Bengal amid the COVID-19 tally rising to staggering levels across the country. The BJP said that breaking the chain of coronavirus infection is much needed in such a difficult time and it will leverage its “massive digital footprint” to take across the message of its top leaders to the voters.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders will be addressing only small public meetings to be attended by maximum of 500 people, the party said in a statement.

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has already cancelled his rallies in West Bengal while the ruling Trinamool Congress president and the state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that her party would organise small meetings in Kolkata and she would give short speeches in rallies in districts where polling would be held in the remaining three phases.

    The BJP said all its public meetings will be held in open places following all COVID-19 guidelines and that it will distribute six crore masks and sanitisers in the state. The party asserted that it is also very necessary for the constitutional and democratic obligations to be fulfilled, noting that the assembly polls are underway in the state.

    Amid a massive surge in the COVID cases, the BJP said the country had earlier overcome big challenges under Modi and will do it again. BJP’s IT wing head Amit Malviya, also the party’s co-incharge for the state, said the BJP will leverage its “massive digital footprint” and take the message of Modi and other leaders to lakhs of people.

    “We did that successfully during Bihar elections, which too was conducted under the cloud of COVID. The opposition had then complained that it gave us an edge,” he said.