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Tag: BJP

  • Will always look to score boundaries off Ashoke Dinda on political pitch: TMC’s Manoj Tiwary

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Having shared a dressing room with fellow cricketer Ashoke Dinda for years, TMC’s new recruit Manoj Tiwary on Wednesday said his friendship with Dinda would remain intact despite him joining the BJP but quipped that he would “always look to score boundaries” off the paceman’s deliveries on the political pitch.

    Tiwary, an aggressive right-handed batsman who represented India in 12 One-day internationals and three T20s, has been named as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate from the Shibpur seat in Howrah.

    In an interview with PTI, he said he wants to play a long innings in politics and the idea as always has been in his cricketing career was to — make Bengal win.

    He said like he does in cricket, he would always offer a “straight bat” in politics as well and work for the people in a straightforward manner.

    On his association with Dinda, who has joined the BJP and is the saffron party’s candidate from Moyna, Tiwary said just because Dinda has gone to the BJP does not mean that they will not be friends.

    ALSO READ | Bengal elections 2021: TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee files nomination from Nandigram assembly seat

    “Yes, we cannot be friends till the elections get over. We also live in the same complex so when we get an opportunity to meet we would, but don’t want to discuss politics,” Tiwary told PTI over phone.

    “It is his (Dinda’s) decision (to join the BJP), I have made the right decision, he can answer for himself.

    As a person I wish him well,” the 35-year-old cricketer-turned-politician said when asked about his former Bengal teammate’s decision to join the BJP.

    Tiwary quipped that he will always look to score boundaries off Dinda’s deliveries on the political pitch.

    Talking about his entry into politics and in the electoral fray, the former Bengal cricket team’s skipper said he wants “to play a long innings” in politics and his foray into public life was a “lifelong commitment”.

    “I never see myself as a celebrity, I have come up the hard way and I can relate to the struggles of the people,” Tiwary said, adding that his life’s aim was and will always be to make Bengal win.

    Pointing to some qualities from his cricketing career that would stand him in good stead in the political arena, he said the game had taught him to become a better human being and make less mistakes.

    He said he already possessed leadership qualities which had been honed while captaining India Under-19, a team which had Rohit Sharma in its ranks, and India A.

    “I have led the Bengal team to many trophies.

    The leadership skills were there, and like in the field I would let my actions speak in the political field as well,” Tiwary said.

    Asked the reason for making the switch from cricket to politics, he said the main reason was the desire to serve the people of the state and of his constituency.

    “I had some injury before the playing season.

    I got injured before the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but took injections in consultation with the doctor so the pain was reduced but I played with discomfort.

    After that tournament, I made a decision not to continue playing and pulled out my name from Vijay Hazare,” he said.

    “All this was going on and then I got a call from Mamata (Banerjee) didi and she asked me to contest the polls.

    In the 2019 (general elections) also she had asked me but it did not work out at that time.

    So, all things came together and the decision making was easier for me as I wanted to do something for the people and serve them,” he said.

    Tiwary also pointed out that he was doing a lot of social service activities and helping in his own capacity even as a cricketer.

    “I felt when she (Banerjee) was asking me to be with her in this so-called difficult phase then how can I not help, especially when I am born here and got so much love and recognition here,” he said.

    On choosing the TMC over the BJP, Tiwary said he was moved by issues such as the farmers’ protest and petrol prices going up, but a major reason was Mamata Banerjee.

    “She is an inspiration and a fighter. I did not want to go to the other side,” Tiwary said.

    Hitting out at the BJP, he said the promises which it made to the common people were not fulfilled.

    “I don’t want to go into the details, but look at the jobs issue, they (BJP) promised to bring back black money and give Rs 15 lakh to people, all of which was disturbing me a lot,” he said.

    Tiwary said he cannot see the poor people suffer and lose their lives because of false promises.

    Slamming the BJP, he cited the examples of farmers committing suicides and migrants walking hundreds of kilometres with some of them even mowed down by a train during the COVID-induced lockdown in the country.

    He also asserted that the upcoming polls were also a fight for Bengal’s identity.

    “The kind of statements BJP leaders, their chief ministers and ministers made in Bengal, I didn’t like that, as they want to play divisive politics while in Bengal all religions coexist happily,” he said.

    Tiwary exuded confidence that the TMC would win the assembly polls.

    “It is not overconfidence but the number of people that are coming in large numbers (for public meetings) is evident.

    We can predict a win,” he said Tiwary, a stylish and aggressive right-handed batsman, has been a prolific run getter for Bengal in domestic cricket and also has a triple century to his name.

    He has also represented Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and Rising Pune Supergiants in the Indian Premier League.

    Elections to the 294-member assembly will be held in eight phases from March 27 to April 29.

    Votes will be counted on May 2.

    Shibpur will go to polls on April 10.

  • Congress’ ‘anti-people’ policies behind BJP’s rise to power: Mayawati

    The BSP chief also advised her party leaders and workers to meet various government officials after fixing appointments with them to secure justice for people in cases of atrocities against them.

  • No-confidence motion against Khattar government taken up in Haryana Assembly

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The motion of no confidence against the BJP-JJP government, brought by the main opposition Congress, was on Wednesday taken up in the Haryana Assembly, with Speaker Gian Chand Gupta reserving two-hour discussion on it.

    After the end of the Question hour, the Speaker admitted the notice of no-confidence motion against the Council of Ministers.

    “I have received no-confidence motion from the Leader of Opposition (Bhupinder Singh Hooda) and 27 other Congress MLAs,” the Speaker said.

    The notice was admitted by the Speaker and two hours were kept for discussion.

    ALSO READ | Haryana: Day before no-confidence vote, JJP MLA Babli says he stands with farmers

    Hooda expressed want of confidence in the Haryana Ministry headed by Chief Minister M L Khattar.

    In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, currently having an effective strength of 88 members, the ruling BJP has 40 members, the JJP 10 and the Congress 30.

    Seven are Independents, five of whom are supporting the government, while one member is of the Haryana Lokhit Party, who has also extended support to the government.

    Talking to reporters after the day’s proceedings in the state assembly ended on Friday, Hooda had said, “The no-confidence motion will let people know which MLA stands with the government and which MLA stands with farmers.”

    He had said the party needed to move a no-confidence motion because the BJP-JJP government has “lost public confidence” and the coalition government, “betraying public opinion, is taking anti-people decisions one after the other”.

  • Tirath Singh Rawat named new Uttarakhand CM, Trivendra likely to get national ‘responsibility’

    By Online Desk
    Tirath Singh Rawat has been named the new CM of Uttarakhand. The decision was taken at a BJP legislature meeting at the party office in Dehdradun.

    The new CM was named after Trivendra Singh Rawat resigned from the chief minsterial post after reports of discontent against him in the party ranks surfaced.

    Rawat submitted his resignation to Governor Baby Rani Maurya on Tuesday at the Raj Bhawan in Dehradun.

    As per sources, Rawat can be given some other ‘responsibility’ out of Uttarakhand.

    Before meeting Maurya, Rawat was closeted with his close associates at the chief minister’s residence including cabinet minister Madan Kaushik and state minister Dhan Singh Rawat, who has emerged as a frontrunner to succeed him.

    Speaking to the media over the sudden change of guard, Rawat said that the onus for such a move “lies with Delhi”. 

    “I told you it was a collective decision of the party. You will have to go to Delhi to find that out. All decisions in the BJP are unanimous,” he said after submitting his resignation.

    “The party gave me a golden opportunity to serve this State for four years. I had never thought that I would get such an opportunity. The party has now decided that the opportunity to serve as CM should be given to someone else now,” he added.

    ALSO READ | Profile: From pracharak to CM, Trivendra Singh Rawat travelled a long way

    Rawat pointed out that on March 18, he would have completed four years in his tenure as CM and listed his schemes started by him, especially for women. It is believed that a BJP legislature party meeting on Wednesday at 10 am will select the new CM.

    Governor Maurya also accepted Rawat’s resignation as CM and had asked him to continue as acting CM till a new face takes charge.

    Ajay Bhatt and Anil Baluni, two senior leaders from the state who are members of Parliament, were being seen as two other strong contenders for the top post.

    Sources also said the party might also bring in a deputy chief minister, who will be from the Kumaon region.

    The central BJP leadership recently sent two observers, party vice president Raman Singh and general secretary Dushayant Kumar Gautam, to Uttarakhand to get feedback from the party’s core group in the state amid reports of discontent against the chief minister.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand CM Rawat’s resignation an eyewash to hide govt’s failures: Congress

    Earlier, BJP sources had confirmed that the party high command summoned Rawat to the national capital for “further discussions” after a meeting of the state BJP’s core committee presided over by central observers was held.

    However, Uttarakhand BJP chief Bansidhar Bhagat claimed there was no leadership change likely in the state and Saturday’s meeting discussed events to mark the completion of the Rawat-led government’s four years in office.

    The BJP swept the elections in 2017, winning 57 seats in the 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly. Congress, on the other hand, won just 11 seats. 

    (With PTI, ANI and ENS inputs)

  • BJP legislature party meeting starts to select new Uttarkhand CM, MP Ajay Bhatt says not in race

    By ANI
    DEHRADUN: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Wednesday arrived at the party office in Dehradun for the party’s legislature meeting.

    Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ will also participate in Uttarakhand BJP legislative party meeting in Dehradun later today.

    “We are looking for someone who can be made the chief minister,” said MLA Suresh Rathore.

    A new Chief Minister candidate is likely to be decided in the meeting following the resignation of Trivendra Singh Rawat resigned from the chief ministerial post.

    Dhan Singh Rawat, who is a minister of state in the Uttarakhand government is being considered as the frontrunner for the chief ministerial post.

    He is considered to be close to the RSS. BJP MPs Anil Baluni, Ajay Bhatt and Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank are the other contenders for the position.

    ALSO READ | With Trivendra Rawat ouster, BJP sends a clear message to its Chief Ministers

    Meanwhile, BJP MP Ajay Bhatt said that he is not in the race for Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister post.

    “I have done all the job assigned to me to benefit the people of the state and my party. I’m not part of any race,” said Bhatt on being asked if he is in the race for the Uttarakhand CM post.

    Rawat tendered his resignation after meeting governor Baby Rani Maurya on Tuesday, a year before Uttarkhand is scheduled to go to the polls.

    The BJP swept the elections in 2017, winning 57 seats in the 70-member Uttarakhand Assembly. Congress, on the other hand, won just 11 seats.

  • Farm laws: BJP-JJP accuses Opposition of misleading farmers, Congress says Khattar government insensitive

    By PTI
    CHANDIGARH: The treasury and opposition benches sparred over the Centre’s new farm laws in the Haryana Assembly on Tuesday with the ruling BJP-JJP coalition accusing their rivals of misleading farmers and Congress MLAs describing the government as insensitive.

    Congress MLAs attacked the Manohar Lal Khattar-led state government, saying it is portraying as if everything is fine, which is not the case.

    Taking part in the debate on the Governor’s Address, Deputy Chief Minister and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Dushyant Chautala defended the laws and said contrary to the opposition claims, the “mandi” system won’t end and they will strengthen it.

    He said former deputy prime minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, his great grandfather, used to say misleading farmers is easy, but making them understand is difficult.

    However, JJP MLA Ram Kumar Gautam suggested a resolution should be passed by MLAs that the laws be put on hold for three years and two months till the current term of the NDA government at the Centre is over.

    “While the government says these laws are for farmers’ benefit, farmers terms term these as black laws. To my mind, there is only one solution in this situation, all parties and MLAs should unanimously pass a resolution that these laws should be put on hold for three years and two months,” he said.

    “After that polls will be held and farmers will be free to make a choice (on whom to vote),” he said.

    JJP’s Jogi Ram Sihag, who had earlier backed the protesting farmers, demanded that the Haryana government frame a law on the minimum support price (MSP).

    BJP legislator Aseem Goel challenged Congress MLAs to tell names of the three laws while alleging that they are misleading farmers.

    “Let them debate these farm laws, we are ready,” said Goel, claiming that during the previous Congress regime, farmers’ land was snatched from them.

    BJP legislator Kamal Gupta accused the Congress of exploiting farmers since the independence of the country.

    Independent MLA Nayan Pal Rawat, who is supporting the government, suggested opposition members “to study the farm laws first”.

    “These laws are in favour of farmers, which will help double farmers’ income,” Rawat said.

    Participating in the debate, senior Congress leader Kiran Choudhary said she rejects the government’s narrative that everything is fine.

    Farmers, small traders and entrepreneurs, all are adversely hit because of lopsided policies of the government, she said.

    “The government talks about doubling of farmers’ income. Reality is that for more than 100 days farmers are protesting against farm laws but their demands are not being met,” she said.

    Choudhary also demanded a relief of Rs 2 crore to kin of the farmers who died during the course of the agitation and said they should be given the status of a martyr.

    She said cases lodged against farmers should be withdrawn.

    Alleging corruption is rampant in the state, she said, “They talk of zero tolerance towards corruption, but these are proving only ‘jumlas’.”

    “Unemployment is at its peak, prices of fuel and cooking gas have skyrocketed,” she said.

    Congress MLA Aftab Ahmed said the treasury benches ask what is “black” in these farm laws.

    “If these laws were farmer-friendly, then why the chief minister, deputy CM and BJP-JJP MLAs cannot go in their constituencies among people? Why are they being opposed by villagers,” he asked.

    Congress MLAs Shamsher Gogi and Amit Sihag accused the government of being insensitive towards farmers’ plight.

    Another Congress MLA, Mohd Illyas, claimed that more than 250 farmers have died during the course of the stir and the government should agree to their demands.

    Independent MLA Balraj Kundu, who had withdrawn his support to the state government, said, “More than 200 farmers have died in this agitation, some committed suicides. Is this how government plans to double the farmers’ income,” he asked.

    Ishwar Singh, JJP legislator hailed the law giving 75 per cent reservation in private sector jobs and suggested that a provision should be made for reservation to Scheduled Casted category youth under it.

  • BJP, JJP, Congress rally MLAs as Khattar government to face no-confidence motion on Wednesday

    By PTI
    CHNADIGARH: With the Congress’ no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government set to be taken up in the Haryana Assembly on Wednesday, the ruling BJP-JJP as well as main the opposition party have issued whips to their respective members for their compulsory presence in the House.

    Haryana minister and BJP’s chief whip Kanwar Pal said, “All the members of the Bharatiya Janata Legislature Party are requested to remain present in the House throughout the 10th day of March during the current budget session of Haryana Vidhan Sabha.”

    “They should not leave the chamber without prior permission of the leader. Many important legislative matters are likely to come up for discussion. The members are requested to be present at the time of division/voting,” Pal, who is the Education and the Parliamentary Affairs minister, said while issuing the whip.

    BJP’s alliance partner the JJP also issued a whip to its legislators.

    Jannayak Janta Party’s chief whip Amarjeet Dhanda while issuing the whip to his party legislators said, “All JJP members of the Haryana legislative assembly are hereby informed that no-confidence against the Council of Ministers proposed by opposition will be brought in the Haryana legislative assembly on March 10.”

    “All members of JJP in the Haryana assembly are therefore requested to be present positively in the House throughout the day on March 10 and support the stand of the government against the no-confidence motion,” Dhanda said.

    ALSO READ | Haryana: Day before no-confidence vote, JJP MLA Babli says he stands with farmers

    Congress’ senior leader and chief whip B B Batra said, “The members of CLP, Haryana are informed that no confidence motion against the government shall be listed on March 10 in the business of the House”.

    “Hon’ble Members of CLP, Haryana are informed that No-Confidence Motion against the Government shall be listed on 10th March, 2021 in the business of the House. I issue whip, that you must ensure your presence in the House on 10th March, 2021 at 10.00 am positively and support the vote of No Confidence,” read a note from Batra.

    In the 90-member Haryana Assembly, currently having an effective strength of 88 members, the ruling BJP has 40 members, the JJP 10 and the Congress 30.

    Seven are Independents, five of whom are supporting the government, while one member is of the Haryana Lokhit Party, who has also extended support to the government.

    The Congress will move a no-confidence motion against the BJP-JJP government in the Haryana Assembly on Wednesday with Speaker Gian Chand Gupta on Friday last fixing the date for it to be taken up in the House.

    Talking to reporters after the day’s proceedings in the state assembly ended on Friday, former chief minister and Congress leader B S Hooda had said, “The no-confidence motion will let people know which MLA stands with the government and which MLA stands with farmers.”

    ALSO READ | Pained to see women MLAs pulling tractor with Hooda on it: Khattar hits out at Congress veteran

    He had said that his party also plans to bring many “Adjournment” and “Calling Attention” motions to draw the attention of the government to the multitude of problems faced by the people of the state.

    “The Congress is going to bring no-confidence motion, Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee bill, many adjournments and calling attention motion against the government. We will seek answers on issues such as farmers’ neglect, rising unemployment, changes in domicile regulations, rising crime, paper leaks, liquor and registry scams,” he said.

    He said the party needed to move a no-confidence motion because the BJP-JJP government has lost public confidence and the coalition government, betraying public opinion, is taking anti-people decisions one after the other.

  • RSS not in agreement with Haryana government decision of 75 per cent quota in private sector jobs

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The RSS is not in agreement with the decision of the BJP-JJP government in Haryana to reserve 75 per cent of private-sector jobs with a salary cap of Rs 50,000 monthly for locals, as it is against the Sangh’s view of ‘one nation, one people’, a senior functionary said on Tuesday.

    The RSS, the ideological mentor of the BJP, feels that the law has been brought to ease the pressure felt by the state government in wake of the farmers’ protest against the three contentious agri laws, the functionary said.

    The Haryana State Employment Of Local Candidates Bill, 2020, which was passed by the state assembly last year, will provide a quota for local people in private sector jobs that offer a monthly salary of less than Rs 50,000.

    “RSS believes in one nation one people, and this law is fundamentally against it. And governments should not regulate the flow of migrant labour in the country as we all believe in unity diversity,” said the functionary, who has spend sizeable time in Haryana and the northern region looking after Sangh work.

    It seems that the BJP was also not totally for this law but came on board with its ally JJP as the state government was feeling the heat of the ongoing farmers’ protest and also of khap panchayats organised across the state in support of the farmers, the Sangh leader said.

    The RSS feels that this law may have some temporary benefits for a section of the people but in the long run, it will not be in the interest of Haryana’s economy, he said.

    JJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana Dushyant Chautala, who was piloting this bill, said the state government is open to including suggestions from industry bodies while framing rules for the law.

    Responding to criticism from various quarters, including some members of the industry, Dushyant claimed that many people have “misconception” about the law and pointed out that Haryana was not the only state where such a provision had been made.

  • ‘Wish he was as concerned earlier’: Scindia on Rahul’s ‘would have become CM’ remarks

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “would have become CM” remark, saying he wishes Gandhi was as concerned when he was in the Congress as he is now.

    Gandhi had told his party’s youth wing leaders that had Jyotiraditya Scindia remained in the Congress he would have certainly become chief minister but was now a “backbencher” in the BJP, according to sources.

    The former Congress chief said he had told Scindia so, but “he chose a different path” by joining the BJP, where he can never be the chief minister.

    Asked about the remarks, Scindia told PTI, “I wish Rahul Gandhi was as concerned when I was in the Congress as he is now.” 

    Scindia had left the Congress along with some legislators loyal to him to join the BJP last year.

    This led to the fall of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh.

    Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan too asked what did Rahul Gandhi do to ensure that Scindia did not leave the party.

    Commenting on Gandhi’s reported remark that had Scindia, now with the BJP, remained in the Congress, he would have certainly become chief minister, Chouhan said Gandhi understands a situation a little late.

    “Where was Rahul Gandhi when Jyotiraditya Scindia was in the Congress?” Chouhan asked, speaking to reporters here.

    “That’s why I say that Rahul’s tubelight glows late (he takes time to understand),” he quipped.

    The Congress had done “injustice” to Jyotiraditya’s father late Madhavrao Scindia too and did not allow him to become chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, Chouhan claimed.

    Earlier, reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s remark, Scindia said, “I wish Rahul Gandhi was as concerned when I was in the Congress as he is now.”

    Scindia left the Congress along with several MLAs last March, bringing down the party’s government in Madhya Pradesh.

  • With Trivendra Rawat ouster, BJP sends a clear message to its Chief Ministers

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  By scripting the ouster of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, the BJP appears to have sent out a signal that organisational feedback on performance will carry maximum importance. 

    Having identified preparations for the next Lok Sabha elections as the key challenge, BJP is now putting the spotlight on chief ministers in the party-ruled states.

    The BJP Parliamentary Board is learnt to have met on Friday, after the party’s Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting to approve the leadership change in Uttarakhand in the wake of dissent among the MLAs against the chief minister.

    The BJP leadership is keeping a close watch on the six states heading for Assembly elections next year, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah holding regular meetings.

    ALSO READ | Profile: From pracharak to CM, Trivendra Singh Rawat travelled a long way

    Besides Uttarakhand, the BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Manipur have Assembly elections next year. Rawat’s ouster is the first of a chief minister from the post after the rise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah to the top of the party leadership.

    “The BJP and its current leadership ignored adverse ground reports against Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan, Raman Singh in Chhattishgarh, Raghubar Das in Jharkhand, went to Assembly elections with them as the face of the party and lost the three states. That has changed and the chief ministers should now guard against disconnect with the people and MLAs,” said a senior BJP functionary.

    In the six states, the saffron outfit appears to be gearing up to work on a strategy to beat the anti-incumbency factor. They consider Congress to be the main rival and are unwilling to not yield ground to the opposition.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand CM Rawat’s resignation an eyewash to hide govt’s failures: Congress

    The BJP leadership is also learnt to be keeping an eye on Haryana, where Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar leads an alliance with Jananayak Janata Party (JJP) amid acknowledgement that Jat identity politics has got a fresh leash of live on the back of the farmers’ agitation against the contentious farm laws.

    CM’s resignation an eyewash, says Congress

    The Congress on Tuesday said the resignation of Trivendra Singh Rawat was an eyewash to hide the government’s “failures”, and urged the President to dismiss the BJP dispensation in the state Congress in-charge for Uttarakhand Devendra Yadav said the act shows the “admission” by the BJP of its government’s “failure” in fulfilling the aspirations of people of the state.