News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Mamata accuses Modi of speaking at Matua temple with an eye on Bengal polls

    By Express News Service
    KHARAGPUR:  West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged PM Narendra Modi’s speech at the Matua temple at Orakandi in Bangladesh was with an eye on Bengal polls.

    The TMC supremo also alleged that Modi violated the model code of conduct through his speech at the temple, holy to the Matua community spread over India and Bangladesh. However, Modi in his speech at the temple had not made any election promises.

    Addressing a public meeting in Kharagpur, Banerjee recalled the scrapping Bangladeshi actor Firdaus’s visa during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections “as he took part in a rally here” and wondered why Modi’s visa should not be dealt with similarly.

    “Modi is delivering a speech at a temple in Bangladesh with an eye on elections in West Bengal. This is a total violation of the election code of conduct, we are taking up the issue with Election Commission,” she said.

    The Matua community in West Bengal is estimated to be 30 million strong. Pointing out that the BJP often accused her of bringing in Bangladeshi “infiltrators”, she wondered why Modi “now goes to Bangladesh to do marketing (sic)” for votes.

  • BJP claims Mamata sought help of party leader to win in Nandigram, Trinamool hits back with Mukul Roy’s ‘leaked’ audio

    By PTI
    NANDIGRAM: A huge controversy erupted on Saturday amid the polling for 30 assembly seats in West Bengal, with the BJP releasing an audio clip where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is purportedly heard cajoling a saffron party leader from Nandigram to rejoin the TMC and help her win the seat.

    The state’s ruling TMC reacted sharp and quick, releasing another audio tape where BJP national vice president Mukul Roy is heard telling industrialist and party leader Shishir Bajoria about how to influence the poll panel.

    Banerjee is pitted against her former protege and now the BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram, the spring board that propelled her to power in 2011, dislodging the Left Front government after a 34-year unbroken rule.

    A BJP delegation, led by party general secretary and Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya, met the state’s chief electoral officer and handed over the tape, claiming Banerjee was misusing her official position to influence the outcome of the bitterly contested assembly poll.

    The ruling TMC questioned the genuineness of the audio tape, but asserted that since Pralay Pal was a former TMC leader who switched over to the BJP, there was nothing wrong with Banerjee trying to woo him back.

    ALSO READ | ‘Under pressure by party’ not to contest, Bengal BJP nominee threatens to immolate self

    Hours later, the TMC released to media an audio clip of the purported conversation between Roy and Bajoria.

    Roy is heard telling Bajoria to convince the Election Commission to allow polling agents, even from outside a given constituency, to be function at all polling stations.

    Polling agents of parties, under the existent rules, are allowed only at booths in localities where they normally reside.

    “See, we have to include this point while meeting the EC. We have to say that this rule that polling agents can only be deputed in their localities should be changed. The only criteria should be that the person is a citizen of the state. The BJP won’t be able to have its agents in a large number of booths otherwise,” Roy purportedly told Bajoria.

    The TMC reacted angrily, with its spokesperson Kunal Ghosh insisting the audio clip had “blown the lid off” the nexus between the BJP and the Election Commission.

    Earlier in the day, Praloy Pal, who pledged his allegiance to the Adhikari family, whose two members are still TMC Lok Sabha MPs, claimed Banerjee personally called him up and asked for help to win the Nandigram seat.

    “You should help us win Nandigram. Look, I know you have some grievances, but that’s due mostly to the Adhikaris who never allowed me to get into Nandigram or East Midnapore. I will take care of everything henceforth,” Banerjee purportedly told Pal, a BJP official in East Midnapore, the district where the Adhikari family holds sway.

    Pal, however, was not game.

    “Didi, you called me and I am honoured. But I can’t betray the Adhikaris as they have stood by me through thick and thin,” he was heard saying in the audio clip.

    ALSO READ | Nearly 80 per cent voter turnout in first phase of Bengal polls, 10 arrested for violence

    He later told TV news channels that Banerjee called him up and requested him to return to the TMC, a proposal he declined.

    “I am now working for the BJP and can’t betray them,” said Pal.

    PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the audio tape.

    Sharing the clip of the purported conversation, BJP’s social media head Amit Malviya tweeted, “Massive! Mamata Banerjee calls Proloy Pal, BJP’s district Vice President in Nandigram and pleads for help! Proloy tells her that he was humiliated in TMC, and he, along with this family, cannot betray the BJP. Pishi is definitely losing Nandigram and TMC Bengal.”

    “Only a candidate who has accepted defeat can speak the way Mamata Banerjee has spoken,” Vijayvargiya told journalists.

    When asked about whether the tape was authentic, the BJP leader retorted: “I as saying what I am saying with full responsibility (jawabdari).”

    “She’s imploring (yachna) for help. It shows she has accepted defeat,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Bengal elections: Congress-Left-ISF alliance fighting for political relevance, hopes to be kingmaker

    The TMC said the tape was not verified but found nothing wrong in Banerjee approaching a former partyman.

    “First of all, the clip is not verified. We don’t know whether it is true or false. But we don’t see anything wrong in a politician calling her former leaders or aides. This is quite natural in politics,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

    The high-profile Nandigram seat will go to poll on April 1 in the second phase.

  • ‘Under pressure by party’ not to contest, Bengal BJP nominee threatens to immolate self

    By PTI
    BARDHAMAN: Claiming that the BJP leadership of Purba Bardhaman district is pressuring him not to contest the election as a “false” molestation case is pending against him, the party candidate of the Galsi (SC) assembly seat on Saturday threatened to immolate himself if he is not allowed to enter the fray.

    Tapan Bagdi, whose name was announced as the candidate of the seat from New Delhi, claimed that several party leaders have cases of murder and attempt to murder pending against them but still, they were made candidates.

    He also said that he will file his nomination paper as a BJP candidate on Monday.

    BJP district president Abhijit Ta said that Bagdi was asked to submit documents relating to the case on Friday and he has done so.

    The documents were sent to the state party leadership, he said, denying that he was being pressured not to contest the election.

    Bagdi said he was associated with the BJP since 1991 and was the party candidate from the same seat in the 2011 assembly election.

    “My name was announced by the central leaders as a candidate. And if I cannot contest, I will set myself on fire in front of the district office of the party,” he said.

    The BJP candidate told reporters that he is socially backward and finally weak but he has the support of many people like him.

    “I have been involved in political activities for a long time and a false case was slapped against me by the TMC. After some posters were found highlighting that false case, I was asked by the district party authorities to clarify my position. I told them everything but still I was asked not to contest,” Bagdi said.

    The Trinamool Congress’ Purba Bardhaman district spokesperson Prasenjit Das said that Bagdi should ponder whether he will stay in a party where he is not getting respect.

    The BJP has been facing protests and resignations as many of its aspiring old-timers did not find their names in its list of candidates.

  • BJP MLA thrashed, clothes torn by protesting farmers in Punjab’s Muktsar district

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: A BJP MLA in Punjab was allegedly thrashed and his clothes torn by a group of farmers at Malout in Muktsar district on Saturday, police said.

    BJP leaders have been facing the ire of farmers for the last several months in the state.

    Agitating farmers have been opposing the programmes of the saffron party leaders in Punjab over the farm laws issue.

    When Abohar legislator Arun Narang reached Malout on Saturday along with local leaders to address a press conference, they were surrounded by a group of protesting farmers and black ink was thrown at them and at their vehicles, officials said.

    Some police personnel took the MLA and local leaders to a shop.

    But later when they came out, the protesters allegedly thrashed Narang and tore his clothes, police said.

    The policemen escorting Narang faced a tough time in protecting him from the protesters.

    The legislator was later escorted to a safe place by the police, officials said.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (Malout) Jaspal Singh said the protesters were adamant that they would not allow the BJP legislators to hold the press conference.

    A video has surfaced on social media, purportedly showing the MLA in torn clothes being shifted to a safer place by the police.

    The Muktsar Police on Saturday night registered a case against seven named people and 200-250 unidentified people on the charges of attempt to murder, assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and rioting among others.

    Narang told PTI that he was “punched” by some people.

    “I was punched a lot and my clothes were also torn off,” he alleged.

    The BJP legislator said he had gone to Malout to address a press conference but the protesters did not allow it.

    They got violent and surrounded him, the MLA claimed.

    Asked whether he has lodged a complaint in this matter, Narang said he will talk to the party leadership over this issue.

    Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh strongly condemned the alleged attack on Narang and also warned of strict action against anyone trying to disturb peace in the state.

    He urged the farmers not to indulge in such acts of violence, and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently resolve the crisis triggered by the passage of farm laws in Parliament last year to prevent the situation from escalating.

    The chief minister directed the police chief to take strict action against the perpetrators of the incident, who also clashed with the police personnel trying to rescue the legislator.

    Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Faridkot, was injured while trying to save and evacuate the MLA.

    He suffered a cane blow on his head, causing his turban to fall off.

    He was admitted in Civil Hospital, Malout, the CM said in a statement.

    The DGP said a criminal case will be registered against the suspects and statements of local BJP leaders were being recorded.

    Amarinder Singh said that protest is the democratic right of the farmers but violence of any sort will not be tolerated.

    Reacting to Punjab BJP leaders’ demand for his resignation, he said instead of trying to take political mileage from the incident, they should put pressure on their central leadership to withdraw the contentious farm laws.

    Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh also strongly condemned the alleged attack on Narang.

    “It is not only unacceptable, but highly condemnable that an elected representative of the people is mercilessly thrashed in full public view,” he said.

    Darshan Pal, the leader of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of farmers’ union spearheading the agitation against the central agri laws, said, “Today, farmers protested against BJP MLA from Abohar.

    Under adverse circumstances, it turned violent and the MLA was physically assaulted.

    “It is a matter of regret that an elected representative was treated this way. We do not encourage such behaviour. We strongly condemn this act,” he said in a statement.

    Pal also said the Samyukta Kisan Morcha appeals to all protesters to remain peaceful and disciplined.

    The ruling Congress in Punjab, the BJP, as well as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) condemned the incident.

    Such “unlawful behaviour” has no place in a democracy and the farmers’ protest will be weakened by these incidents, state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said.

    BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh slammed the Amarinder Singh-led government over the incident and claimed that it has “exposed the complete collapse of law and order in the state”.

    Describing the incident as a “murderous attack” on Narang, he accused the ruling Congress of engineering it.

    Amarinder Singh was “instigating such attacks in order to stifle the voice of the BJP”, Chugh alleged and demanded that the chief minister resign.

    SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal termed as “deplorable” the “violent attack” on Narang and demanded an impartial inquiry to fix the responsibility for the “failure” of the police in protecting the dignity of an elected representative.

    He appealed to everyone to exercise restraint to ensure that peace and communal harmony in the state was not disturbed.

    Thousands of farmers have been protesting since late November at Delhi borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, demanding a rollback of the farm laws.

  • ‘BJP only works for big people’: Tejashwi attacks saffron party at Assam rallies

    By PTI
    RATABARI/DHOLAI: Terming BJP as “Badka Jhoota Party” (Biggest Lying Party), RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Saturday said the problem of unemployment will end once the betrayers will be dethroned.

    Addressing two back-to-back rallies at Ratabari and Dholai in Barak valley of Assam, the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly said the situation of inflation was not so severe during the tenure of the Congress.

    “BJP means Badka Jhoota Party. You need to be careful of them. The BJP does not talk about ‘mudda’ (issues) but talks about ‘murda’ (dead). And what are the main issues? Our democracy and Constitution is at stake. We need to save that,” he said.

    Alleging that the BJP works only for the “big people”, Yadav claimed every big organisation like the railways having scope to generate jobs are being sold off.

    “Job is the biggest problem. Large number of youths are unemployed. Unemployment is the biggest enemy. How will it be cured then? It will be cured when we will remove the cheater and betrayer from the chair.

    “So, will there be ‘khela hobe’ or not? If there is ‘khela hobe’, then unemployment will end. Five lakh jobs will be given as guarantees. And for that, all of you should be united while voting,” he added.

    The RJD leader asserted that inflation was not so high during the Congress regime and prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas were not so high.

    “How will you run your house at such high inflation? I want to thank Rahul Gandhi and all the ‘Mahajot’ (Grand Alliance) partners because of the guarantee of giving Rs 2,000 per month to every housewife,” he said.

    The Congress, which was in power for 15 years in Assam since 2001, has formed a ‘Grand Alliance’ with AIUDF, BPF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM), RJD and Jimochayan (Deori) Peoples Party (JPP) to fight the Assembly election against the BJP-led NDA.

    Yadav was in Assam to campaign for Congress candidates Sambhu Singh Mallah (Ratabari), Kamakhya Prasad Mala (Dholai), Mukesh Pandey (Lakhipur) and Sashi Kanta Das (Raha).

  • MP bypoll: BJP accuses Congress nominee of distributing money

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: The ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh has approached the Election Commission demanding that the candidature of Ajay Tandon, who is Congress’ nominee for Damoh Assembly bypoll scheduled next month, be cancelled as he allegedly distributed money to voters.

    While the BJP cited a video clip in its memorandum to the EC, the Congress on Saturday dismissed the allegations against its candidate saying he was only distributing badges to people during campaigning, but the ruling party is projecting the act as distribution of currency notes.

    BJP state secretary Rajneesh Agrawal told PTI that a memorandum was submitted to the Election Commission demanding action against Tandon for “distributing money to villagers”.

    “We also demanded that the EC cancel the candidature of Tandon for distributing money. It is clear from the video that he distributed money to villagers during campaigning,” he said.

    State Congress spokesman Durgesh Sharma denied the allegations, saying the BJP is misleading people as it is set to lose the byelection.

    “Ajay Tandon was actually distributing badges (campaign material) to people but the BJP is projecting that he was distributing money,” Sharma said and released a video in support of his claim.

    Meanwhile, an Election Commission official told a delegation of BJP leaders that a report will be sought on their complaint.

    The BJP has fielded Rahul Lodhi against Tandon.

    The bypoll, to be held on April 17, was necessitated after Lodhi, the sitting MLA from the constituency, quit the Congress in October last year, days before the November 3 byelections to 28 seats.

    Counting of votes will take place on May 2.

  • Rajasthan phone tapping row: Gehlot’s aide denies allegations against him

    By PTI
    JAIPUR: An aide of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s office on Saturday refuted allegations of his being involved in phone tapping in the state amid the last year’s rebellion by the state’s former Chief Minister Sachin Pilot.

    “The allegation of my involvement in phone tapping is baseless,” said Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Lokesh Sharma, reacting to the allegations against him.

    “The audio clips were already there on social media. I received them on WhatsApp and forwarded them to expose the conspiracy to topple the democratically-elected state government,” he added.

    Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has lodged a complaint with Delhi police against Sharma and others for allegedly committing offences of criminal conspiracy and unlawfully intercepting telegraphic signals (telephonic conversation).

    Chief Whip Mahesh Joshi said Shekhawat does not trust the police of his state, so he did not give his voice sample to the state’s Special Operation Group and Anti-Corruption Bureau.

    Joshi tweeted that Shekhawat should now give his voice sample to the Crime Branch of Delhi Police to prove that his telephone was intercepted.

    Based on audio clips, Joshi had lodged FIRs last year with the SOG and ACB over the alleged attempts to topple the state government.

    As per the Congress leaders’ allegations, the audio clips purportedly had a telephonic conversation between Gajendra Singh and Congress leaders.

    At the same time, Rajasthan’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying 90,000 phones were tapped when Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat.

    He also questioned why Shekhawat was not giving his voice sample to the state’s agencies.

    “Why is he afraid of giving his voice sample? If he comes forward and gives his voice sample, things will become clear,” he told reporters.

    The phone-tapping controversy erupted in July last year in Rajasthan during a political crisis due to the rebellion of former Deputy Chief Minister Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs against Gehlot’s leadership.

    These audio clips purportedly having a telephonic conversation between Shekhawat and Congress leaders had surfaced amid the rebellion by the Congress MLAs.

    The Congress leaders of Gehlot’s camp had then alleged that the BJP leaders were involved in horse-trading to topple the state government.

    Based on the complaint of Shekhawat, who is a BJP MP from Jodhpur, the Delhi police has registered an FIR against Sharma and others under various section of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, Information Technology Act and section 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

    According to the FIR, Shekhawat has alleged in his complaint that on July 17, 2020, various prominent media houses and news channels had aired some telephonic conversations, allegedly between him, a man named Sanjay Jain and Bhanwar Lal Sharma, a member of the Rajasthan legislative assembly.

    In the complaint, Shekhawat alleged that the telephonic conversations were allegedly leaked to the media houses and news channels by Lokesh Sharma, OSD to the Rajasthan chief minister.

    When the issue was raised in the recently concluded assembly session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal had denied the charges that phones of any public representative were tapped.

    On BJP’s allegations that the voice clips were circulated by Gehlot’s OSD Lokesh Sharma, the minister had admitted that Sharma had received the audio clips on WhatsApp and had forwarded them.

  • ‘Confront BJP-hired goons with ladle and spatula’: Mamata Banerjee tells women in West Bengal

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Alleging that the BJP was bringing in goons from outside to stop people from exercising their franchise in Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged women to “confront the hoodlums with ladle, spatula” and other cooking utensils.

    Addressing two public rallies at Narayangarh and Pingla in West Midnapore district, the TMC boss dubbed bte noire Suvendu Adhikari and his family as “traitors”, and claimed that one member of the household was seen distributing money among people on Friday night, hours before 30 assembly constituencies of the state went to polls.

    “Yesterday, one of the Adhikari brothers was seen distributing money…Women in the area caught him red-handed and asked the police to arrest him. They also handed over 30 goons, all hired from outside, to the police,” she said.

    Banerjee asserted that the saffron party’s fate will be sealed after the first phase of polls.

    “The BJP is bringing in goons from outside Bengal to places where the party has some foothold. I will urge the women of the state to come out with ‘hata and khunti’ (ladle and spatula) and confront the hoodlums.”

    Assembly polls LIVE | Mamata questions PM Modi’s Bangladesh visit, says violation of poll code

    She further requested the Election Commission to ensure that the assembly polls are conducted in a fair manner.

    “Delhi’s Amit Shah wants to conduct the polls in Bengal. With due respect to the Election Commission, I urge the poll body to see to it that the elections are held in a free, fair and impartial manner,” the CM underlined, taking a swipe at the home minister.

    The TMC chief also said that she will be putting up in Purba Medinipur’s Nandigram constituency, where polls are scheduled on April 1, to keep an eye on the activities of ‘Mir jafars’ (traitors).

    Three members of the Adhikari family — which wields considerable influence in Purba Medinipur — have quit the TMC and joined the saffron camp over the past few months.

    Banerjee is locked in a fierce battle against her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram.

    “I was responsible for giving them plump positions in public offices. they, however, betrayed the TMC and crossed over to the BJP…they were lured with money,” she added.

  • ‘Confront BJP-hired goons with ladla and spatula’: Mamata Banerjee tells women in West Bengal

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Alleging that the BJP was bringing in goons from outside to stop people from exercising their franchise in Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged women to “confront the hoodlums with ladle, spatula” and other cooking utensils.

    Addressing two public rallies at Narayangarh and Pingla in West Midnapore district, the TMC boss dubbed bte noire Suvendu Adhikari and his family as “traitors”, and claimed that one member of the household was seen distributing money among people on Friday night, hours before 30 assembly constituencies of the state went to polls.

    “Yesterday, one of the Adhikari brothers was seen distributing money…Women in the area caught him red-handed and asked the police to arrest him. They also handed over 30 goons, all hired from outside, to the police,” she said.

    Banerjee asserted that the saffron party’s fate will be sealed after the first phase of polls.

    “The BJP is bringing in goons from outside Bengal to places where the party has some foothold. I will urge the women of the state to come out with ‘hata and khunti’ (ladle and spatula) and confront the hoodlums.”

    Assembly polls LIVE | Mamata questions PM Modi’s Bangladesh visit, says violation of poll code

    She further requested the Election Commission to ensure that the assembly polls are conducted in a fair manner.

    “Delhi’s Amit Shah wants to conduct the polls in Bengal. With due respect to the Election Commission, I urge the poll body to see to it that the elections are held in a free, fair and impartial manner,” the CM underlined, taking a swipe at the home minister.

    The TMC chief also said that she will be putting up in Purba Medinipur’s Nandigram constituency, where polls are scheduled on April 1, to keep an eye on the activities of ‘Mir jafars’ (traitors).

    Three members of the Adhikari family — which wields considerable influence in Purba Medinipur — have quit the TMC and joined the saffron camp over the past few months.

    Banerjee is locked in a fierce battle against her former lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram.

    “I was responsible for giving them plump positions in public offices. they, however, betrayed the TMC and crossed over to the BJP…they were lured with money,” she added.

  • BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s brother’s vehicle attacked in Contai, blames TMC

    By ANI
    PURBA MEDINIPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari’s brother Soumendu Adhikari’s vehicle was attacked by miscreants at Sabajput area in Contai and his driver was thrashed allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) members, as polling for the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections is underway.

    Soumendu and his brother Dibyendu Adhikari alleged that TMC block president Ram Govind Das has orchestrated the attack and that he was involved in poll rigging in three booths. meanwhile, Soumendu was unharmed in the incident.

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    Speaking to ANI, Soumendu said: “Under the leadership of TMC block president Ram Govind Das and his wife, poll rigging was taking place at three polling booths. My arrival here created a problem for them to continue with their mischiefs, due to which they attacked my car and thrashed my driver,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Dibyendu said that he had informed the police about the incident and called on the Election Commission (EC) to take strong action in the matter.

    “With the help of TMC block president Ram Govind Das, some people attacked the car and beat up the driver. They were trying to rig the polls there. I have informed the police and the Election Commission should take strong action,” said Dibyendu.

    He also recalled the attack on CPIM candidate from Garbeta Sushanta Ghosh, calling it ‘unfortunate’.

    The driver, Ramon Das, alleged that some ‘bohiragato’ (outsider) goons had suddenly attacked him while he was speaking with Soumendu.

    West Bengal has a history of violence in the Legislative Assembly elections.

    Polling for the first of the eight-phase assembly polls in West Bengal began at 7 am on Saturday with voters deciding the fate of 191 candidates in 30 constituencies.

    All constituencies in Purulia, Jhargram and segments of Bankura, Purba Medinipur and Paschim Medinipur are going to decide the electoral fate of 191 candidates, including 21 women candidates in the fray. The polling will end at 6.30 pm.

    The BJP and TMC have been at loggerheads over various issues and an intense tussle of power between the two parties has been seen during the run-up to the assembly elections.