News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Chinese goods being sold in Rahul’s ‘Mohabatt ki Dukan’: Anurag Thakur

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday charged that China, the NewsClick website and Congress are linked to an “anti-India umbilical cord” as he cited a news report which alleged that Chinese companies were funding the portal.

    Addressing a press conference along with Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar at the BJP headquarters here, Thakur charged that “Chinese goods are being sold in Rahul ji’s fake ‘Mohabbat ki Dukan’”.

    “If you see the funding network of NewsClick, it was funded by a foreigner Neville Roy Singham and he gets funds from China. This Neville Roy Singham has direct contact with the propaganda arm of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese media company Maku Group,” he said.

    He said “foreign hands” behind the news portal were revealed in 2021.

    “They present fake news in the name of free news. Congress and other parties are supporting them,” he alleged.

    ALSO READ | Rahul attends Lok Sabha, accorded warm welcome by Congress, Opposition MPs on arrival

    BJP member Nishikant Dubey had in Lok Sabha raised the issue of a news report in the New York Times which claimed that NewsClick has received funding from Chinese firms and the money has been used to create an anti-India environment.

    There was no immediate reaction available from the news portal or Congress.

    ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi slams govt over rising inflation, shares video of his visit to Azadpur Mandi

    NEW DELHI: BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday charged that China, the NewsClick website and Congress are linked to an “anti-India umbilical cord” as he cited a news report which alleged that Chinese companies were funding the portal.

    Addressing a press conference along with Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar at the BJP headquarters here, Thakur charged that “Chinese goods are being sold in Rahul ji’s fake ‘Mohabbat ki Dukan’”.

    “If you see the funding network of NewsClick, it was funded by a foreigner Neville Roy Singham and he gets funds from China. This Neville Roy Singham has direct contact with the propaganda arm of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese media company Maku Group,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He said “foreign hands” behind the news portal were revealed in 2021.

    “They present fake news in the name of free news. Congress and other parties are supporting them,” he alleged.

    ALSO READ | Rahul attends Lok Sabha, accorded warm welcome by Congress, Opposition MPs on arrival

    BJP member Nishikant Dubey had in Lok Sabha raised the issue of a news report in the New York Times which claimed that NewsClick has received funding from Chinese firms and the money has been used to create an anti-India environment.

    There was no immediate reaction available from the news portal or Congress.

    ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi slams govt over rising inflation, shares video of his visit to Azadpur Mandi

  • Modi dials Naveen, firms up BJD support in Parliament

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik enjoy a good political rapport, though the BJD differs from the BJP on many issues in the state. Amid persisting suspense over Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) support to the Centre against the Opposition’s no-confidence motion, a call was reportedly made by Modi on Tuesday morning to the Odisha CM. That brought smiles back on BJP MPs’ faces. The BJD agreed to support the BJP-led NDA government against the no-trust motion, which would be tabled in the Lok Sabha possibly on August 8, a source in BJD said.

    A top source in BJP, speaking to this newspaper, confirmed the Modi-Naveen communication. “It changed the entire scenario. Patnaik has spoken to his party colleagues about issuing a three-line whip to support the government against the no-confidence motion as well as the Bill replacing the Delhi ordinance.“Both these leaders enjoy tremendous rapport with each other, which is above party politics. Both of them are development-oriented politicians. The BJD is now against the no-confidence motion and also supports the government on the Delhi ordinance,” said a senior BJD functionary.

    Sources said the Modi-Patnaik conversation lasted a few minutes. The BJD support came even though both these parties in Odisha are against each other on certain issues. The good news for the BJP came as disruptions over the Manipur issue continued to rock the Lok Sabha for the ninth consecutive day on Wednesday. Speaker Om Birla skipped the proceedings on Wednesday to express his displeasure over the conduct of the Opposition and treasury benches alike.

    YSRCP member Midhun Reddy and BJP member Kirit Solanki, who are on the panel of chairpersons, chaired the proceedings in Lok Sabha which saw vociferous protests over the situation in Manipur by Opposition members, who demanded a statement from the Prime Minister. Home Minister Amit Shah had offered to respond to the debate on the Manipur situation, but the Opposition insisted on a statement from the Prime Minister.

    While Reddy was in the chair during the question hour, when Lok Sabha convened for the day at 11 am, Solanki presided over the post-lunch session at 2 pm. On both occasions, Opposition and BJP members were seen raising slogans and the House proceedings were adjourned within minutes of convening.

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik enjoy a good political rapport, though the BJD differs from the BJP on many issues in the state. Amid persisting suspense over Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) support to the Centre against the Opposition’s no-confidence motion, a call was reportedly made by Modi on Tuesday morning to the Odisha CM. That brought smiles back on BJP MPs’ faces. The BJD agreed to support the BJP-led NDA government against the no-trust motion, which would be tabled in the Lok Sabha possibly on August 8, a source in BJD said.

    A top source in BJP, speaking to this newspaper, confirmed the Modi-Naveen communication. “It changed the entire scenario. Patnaik has spoken to his party colleagues about issuing a three-line whip to support the government against the no-confidence motion as well as the Bill replacing the Delhi ordinance.“Both these leaders enjoy tremendous rapport with each other, which is above party politics. Both of them are development-oriented politicians. The BJD is now against the no-confidence motion and also supports the government on the Delhi ordinance,” said a senior BJD functionary.

    Sources said the Modi-Patnaik conversation lasted a few minutes. The BJD support came even though both these parties in Odisha are against each other on certain issues. The good news for the BJP came as disruptions over the Manipur issue continued to rock the Lok Sabha for the ninth consecutive day on Wednesday. Speaker Om Birla skipped the proceedings on Wednesday to express his displeasure over the conduct of the Opposition and treasury benches alike.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    YSRCP member Midhun Reddy and BJP member Kirit Solanki, who are on the panel of chairpersons, chaired the proceedings in Lok Sabha which saw vociferous protests over the situation in Manipur by Opposition members, who demanded a statement from the Prime Minister. Home Minister Amit Shah had offered to respond to the debate on the Manipur situation, but the Opposition insisted on a statement from the Prime Minister.

    While Reddy was in the chair during the question hour, when Lok Sabha convened for the day at 11 am, Solanki presided over the post-lunch session at 2 pm. On both occasions, Opposition and BJP members were seen raising slogans and the House proceedings were adjourned within minutes of convening.

  • J P Nadda overhauls party’s team of central office-bearers; appoints Bandi Sanjay as general secretary

    By Express News Service

    HYDERABAD: BJP president J P Nadda rejigged the list of the party’s central office-bearers on Saturday, bringing in a Pasmanda Muslim from Uttar Pradesh as one of its-vice presidents and accommodating its former Telangana unit chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar as a national general secretary.

    BJP general secretary and MP Arun Singh issued the appointment orders to that effect on Saturday.

    Sanjay will now be holding the post along with seven other party general secretaries including Tarun Chugh and Sunil Bansal, while BL Santhosh will continue to act as the party’s general secretary (organisation).

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dropped C T Ravi, a leader from Karnataka, and Dilip Saikia, a Lok Sabha MP from Assam, as its general secretaries, with sources indicating that they may be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor, now a BJP MLC in Uttar Pradesh, has been made a vice-president, a decision seen to be part of the party’s overtures to Pasmanda Muslims.

    Most of the office-bearers have been retained as vice presidents, general secretaries and secretaries in the new list.

    There are 13 vice presidents, nine general secretaries and 13 secretaries on the list.

    Former Union minister Radha Mohan Singh, a Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, has been dropped as a party vice-president.

    Anil Antony, son of veteran Congress leader A K Antony, has been brought in as a national secretary.

    BJP vice-president DK Aruna has also been retained in her role, along with the party’s joint general secretary (organisation) Shiv Prakash. Satya Kumar from Andhra Pradesh has been appointed the party’s secretary.

    (With inputs from PTI)

    HYDERABAD: BJP president J P Nadda rejigged the list of the party’s central office-bearers on Saturday, bringing in a Pasmanda Muslim from Uttar Pradesh as one of its-vice presidents and accommodating its former Telangana unit chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar as a national general secretary.

    BJP general secretary and MP Arun Singh issued the appointment orders to that effect on Saturday.

    Sanjay will now be holding the post along with seven other party general secretaries including Tarun Chugh and Sunil Bansal, while BL Santhosh will continue to act as the party’s general secretary (organisation).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dropped C T Ravi, a leader from Karnataka, and Dilip Saikia, a Lok Sabha MP from Assam, as its general secretaries, with sources indicating that they may be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    Former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor, now a BJP MLC in Uttar Pradesh, has been made a vice-president, a decision seen to be part of the party’s overtures to Pasmanda Muslims.

    Most of the office-bearers have been retained as vice presidents, general secretaries and secretaries in the new list.

    There are 13 vice presidents, nine general secretaries and 13 secretaries on the list.

    Former Union minister Radha Mohan Singh, a Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, has been dropped as a party vice-president.

    Anil Antony, son of veteran Congress leader A K Antony, has been brought in as a national secretary.

    BJP vice-president DK Aruna has also been retained in her role, along with the party’s joint general secretary (organisation) Shiv Prakash. Satya Kumar from Andhra Pradesh has been appointed the party’s secretary.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Opposition alliance will rebuild idea of India in Manipur: Rahul hits back at PM 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on the opposition alliance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said ‘call us what you want’, but ‘we are INDIA’ and ‘will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur’.

    Modi slammed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) as the most directionless the country has ever seen and cited reviled names, such as East India Company and Indian Mujahideen, to assert that people cannot be misled merely by the use of the country’s name.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the prime minister told a BJP Parliamentary Party meeting that the conduct of the opposition has been such that as if it has decided to stay in the opposition for long.

    Hitting back at Modi, Gandhi tweeted: “Call us whatever you want, Mr Modi.

    We are INDIA. We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people.” 

    “We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur,” the former Congress chief said.

    Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi.We are INDIA.We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people.We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur.
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 25, 2023
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Bidhuri said the prime minister said even those with a design to divide the country had names like East India Company and Indian Mujahideen, but people will not be misled by these gimmicks.

    Former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Modi told the BJP leaders that Indian National Congress and the East India Company were founded by foreigners.

    He said people were also using names, such as Indian Mujahideen and Popular Front of India, and their realities were quite different from what they tried to project.

    NEW DELHI: Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on the opposition alliance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said ‘call us what you want’, but ‘we are INDIA’ and ‘will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur’.

    Modi slammed the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) as the most directionless the country has ever seen and cited reviled names, such as East India Company and Indian Mujahideen, to assert that people cannot be misled merely by the use of the country’s name.

    Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said the prime minister told a BJP Parliamentary Party meeting that the conduct of the opposition has been such that as if it has decided to stay in the opposition for long.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Hitting back at Modi, Gandhi tweeted: “Call us whatever you want, Mr Modi.

    We are INDIA. We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people.” 

    “We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur,” the former Congress chief said.

    Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi.
    We are INDIA.
    We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people.
    We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur.
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 25, 2023
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ramesh Bidhuri said the prime minister said even those with a design to divide the country had names like East India Company and Indian Mujahideen, but people will not be misled by these gimmicks.

    Former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Modi told the BJP leaders that Indian National Congress and the East India Company were founded by foreigners.

    He said people were also using names, such as Indian Mujahideen and Popular Front of India, and their realities were quite different from what they tried to project.

  • From bumpy road to ‘old wine in new bottle’, NDA vs ‘INDIA’ is set for a soap-opera showdown

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: With battlelines drawn for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the newly formed opposition alliance ‘INDIA’ on Wednesday braced for a bumpy ride ahead from ironing out differences in states to seat sharing and choosing its leader even as the ruling BJP called the coalition “old wine in a new bottle.” 

    As a political slugfest erupted a day after 26 opposition parties formed a front — Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) — to unitedly take on the ruling BJP-led NDA at the Centre, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Congress rejected speculation that the JD(U) leader was dissatisfied for not being made the convenor of the new grouping.

    Kumar, who hosted the first mega meeting of opposition parties in Patna last month, also reiterated he does not have any ambition for himself, adding leaders at the opposition conclave held in Bengaluru on Tuesday were happy at the outcome of the deliberations.

    While Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told PTI there is a “new enthusiasm” among the constituents of INDIA, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee claimed that the BJP was “shivering with fear” after the formation of the opposition grouping.

    The assertions by Ramesh and Banerjee came even as senior BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister PK Dhumal said the opposition front would fall “like a pack of cards” before the Lok Sabha elections.

    BSP chief Mayawati, meanwhile, announced that her party will go it alone in the next Lok Sabha elections as well as in Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, dubbing the NDA, INDIA coalitions “anti-Dalit” alliances.

    A resolution adopted at a meeting of the 39 constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Delhi on Tuesday said the opposition is faced with a crisis of identity and relevance. “Today, the opposition is confused and disoriented,” the resolution said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the meeting. The BJP also intensified the online political fight as the party posted three short videos on social media portraying its rivals as ten-headed Ravana.

    ALSO READ | Opposition bloc ‘INDIA’ gets its tagline; BJP calls it as ‘ten-headed’ Ravana

    In one video, the BJP sought to convey that the people of the country are confused with the opposition alliance as it does not have any policy, vision and a leader to head the coalition.

    The BJP also took a swipe at the opposition parties over a Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator’s remark in the Maharashtra Assembly on chanting ‘Vande Mataram’, asking if this was their idea of ‘INDIA’.

    The BJP’s reaction came after SP MLA Abu Azmi, while raising the Sambhajinagar district riots issue in the Assembly, said chanting ‘Vande Mataram’ was unacceptable to him.

    “Is this idea of I.N.D.I.A? Or is this anti-India? SP is a part of this alleged I.N.D.I.A,” BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a tweet, taking a swipe at the newly formed coalition.

    Asked about the name INDIA chosen by opposition parties for their alliance, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “Someone does not change by changing the name. They are the same people. It is a old wine in a new bottle.”

    The new alliance, meanwhile, finalised “Jeetega Bharat” as its tagline, setting the tone for its Lok Sabha election campaign. The Hindi tagline means “India will win” and is likely to be replicated in several regional languages, sources said.

    ALSO READ | Inside Opposition’s meet: A look at how ‘INDIA’ was chosen alliance name

    Talking to reporters after inaugurating a month-long ‘Malmas Mela’ in Rajgir in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar claimed that the BJP will be wiped out in the Lok Sabha polls.

    “The (Bengaluru) meeting was very fruitful and we all are very happy with the outcome. I could not attend the press conference after the conclave as I had to come back to Patna. My effort is to unite all opposition parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and now things are taking shape,” the JD(U) leader said.

    BJP leader Sushil Modi on Tuesday had claimed that Nitish Kumar returned to Patna without attending the press meet as he was “upset” over not being made the convenor of the alliance. The CM asked, “Who takes Sushil Modi seriously?”

    “We are working to unify all non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Patna opposition meeting was attended by 16 parties and there were 26 parties in Bengaluru. Our numbers are increasing and the unity of the opposition parties is getting strengthened,” he added.

    JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’ described as “dushprachar” (canard) reports of Nitish Kumar being unhappy with the acronym INDIA and going into a sulk over not being made convener of the new coalition. The name INDIA bore the stamp of approval from all leaders present at the opposition conclave, said Lalan, who accompanied the CM on the trip to Bengaluru. He also asserted that selecting the convenor was not on the agenda of Tuesday’s meeting.

    “It may be thought about when the next meeting takes place in Mumbai….Nitish Kumar is the sutradhar (driving force) of opposition unity. And a sutradhar never gets angry,” Lalan said in Patna. He also claimed that the NDA meeting on Tuesday was indicative of its “desperation”.

    READ MORE:

    Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala asserted that no matter how hard the BJP tries to create a rift in the opposition alliance INDIA, it will not succeed. “We are all united. No matter how hard the BJP and Modi ji try to create a rift in Team India, they will not succeed,” he told reporters in Delhi.

    “The restlessness of the BJP is understandable. I wish them luck in continuing with their conspiratorial agenda.”

    Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said parties that love the country and motherland have come together, and asserted there is now a strong front against “dictatorship.”

    SP president Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the NDA and said the ruling coalition’s meeting in Delhi was its “farewell ceremony.”

    “The BJP has become afraid of ‘INDIA’. This name (of the opposition bloc) is good. ‘INDIA’ is a message of development and inclusiveness,” Yadav said in a statement in Lucknow.

    Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also took a swipe at the BJP, saying the ruling party remembered the NDA only after 26 opposition parties came together to form the grouping ‘INDIA’.

    AIADMK general secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami claimed the NDA would win 330 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

    BJP leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the new opposition grouping does not have a consensus candidate to take on Prime Minister Modi and they will soon start fighting among themselves.

    (With Additional Inputs from PTI)

    NEW DELHI: With battlelines drawn for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the newly formed opposition alliance ‘INDIA’ on Wednesday braced for a bumpy ride ahead from ironing out differences in states to seat sharing and choosing its leader even as the ruling BJP called the coalition “old wine in a new bottle.” 

    As a political slugfest erupted a day after 26 opposition parties formed a front — Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) — to unitedly take on the ruling BJP-led NDA at the Centre, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Congress rejected speculation that the JD(U) leader was dissatisfied for not being made the convenor of the new grouping.

    Kumar, who hosted the first mega meeting of opposition parties in Patna last month, also reiterated he does not have any ambition for himself, adding leaders at the opposition conclave held in Bengaluru on Tuesday were happy at the outcome of the deliberations.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    While Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told PTI there is a “new enthusiasm” among the constituents of INDIA, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee claimed that the BJP was “shivering with fear” after the formation of the opposition grouping.

    The assertions by Ramesh and Banerjee came even as senior BJP leader and former Himachal Pradesh chief minister PK Dhumal said the opposition front would fall “like a pack of cards” before the Lok Sabha elections.

    BSP chief Mayawati, meanwhile, announced that her party will go it alone in the next Lok Sabha elections as well as in Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Telangana, dubbing the NDA, INDIA coalitions “anti-Dalit” alliances.

    A resolution adopted at a meeting of the 39 constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Delhi on Tuesday said the opposition is faced with a crisis of identity and relevance. “Today, the opposition is confused and disoriented,” the resolution said.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had addressed the meeting. The BJP also intensified the online political fight as the party posted three short videos on social media portraying its rivals as ten-headed Ravana.

    ALSO READ | Opposition bloc ‘INDIA’ gets its tagline; BJP calls it as ‘ten-headed’ Ravana

    In one video, the BJP sought to convey that the people of the country are confused with the opposition alliance as it does not have any policy, vision and a leader to head the coalition.

    The BJP also took a swipe at the opposition parties over a Samajwadi Party (SP) legislator’s remark in the Maharashtra Assembly on chanting ‘Vande Mataram’, asking if this was their idea of ‘INDIA’.

    The BJP’s reaction came after SP MLA Abu Azmi, while raising the Sambhajinagar district riots issue in the Assembly, said chanting ‘Vande Mataram’ was unacceptable to him.

    “Is this idea of I.N.D.I.A? Or is this anti-India? SP is a part of this alleged I.N.D.I.A,” BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said in a tweet, taking a swipe at the newly formed coalition.

    Asked about the name INDIA chosen by opposition parties for their alliance, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, “Someone does not change by changing the name. They are the same people. It is a old wine in a new bottle.”

    The new alliance, meanwhile, finalised “Jeetega Bharat” as its tagline, setting the tone for its Lok Sabha election campaign. The Hindi tagline means “India will win” and is likely to be replicated in several regional languages, sources said.

    ALSO READ | Inside Opposition’s meet: A look at how ‘INDIA’ was chosen alliance name

    Talking to reporters after inaugurating a month-long ‘Malmas Mela’ in Rajgir in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar claimed that the BJP will be wiped out in the Lok Sabha polls.

    “The (Bengaluru) meeting was very fruitful and we all are very happy with the outcome. I could not attend the press conference after the conclave as I had to come back to Patna. My effort is to unite all opposition parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and now things are taking shape,” the JD(U) leader said.

    BJP leader Sushil Modi on Tuesday had claimed that Nitish Kumar returned to Patna without attending the press meet as he was “upset” over not being made the convenor of the alliance. The CM asked, “Who takes Sushil Modi seriously?”

    “We are working to unify all non-BJP parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Patna opposition meeting was attended by 16 parties and there were 26 parties in Bengaluru. Our numbers are increasing and the unity of the opposition parties is getting strengthened,” he added.

    JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’ described as “dushprachar” (canard) reports of Nitish Kumar being unhappy with the acronym INDIA and going into a sulk over not being made convener of the new coalition. The name INDIA bore the stamp of approval from all leaders present at the opposition conclave, said Lalan, who accompanied the CM on the trip to Bengaluru. He also asserted that selecting the convenor was not on the agenda of Tuesday’s meeting.

    “It may be thought about when the next meeting takes place in Mumbai….Nitish Kumar is the sutradhar (driving force) of opposition unity. And a sutradhar never gets angry,” Lalan said in Patna. He also claimed that the NDA meeting on Tuesday was indicative of its “desperation”.

    READ MORE:

    ‘INDIA’: Opposition alliance gets a name, to set up 11-member coordination committee
    NDA will secure over 50 per cent of votes in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, says PM Modi
    Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala asserted that no matter how hard the BJP tries to create a rift in the opposition alliance INDIA, it will not succeed. “We are all united. No matter how hard the BJP and Modi ji try to create a rift in Team India, they will not succeed,” he told reporters in Delhi.

    “The restlessness of the BJP is understandable. I wish them luck in continuing with their conspiratorial agenda.”

    Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said parties that love the country and motherland have come together, and asserted there is now a strong front against “dictatorship.”

    SP president Akhilesh Yadav took a dig at the NDA and said the ruling coalition’s meeting in Delhi was its “farewell ceremony.”

    “The BJP has become afraid of ‘INDIA’. This name (of the opposition bloc) is good. ‘INDIA’ is a message of development and inclusiveness,” Yadav said in a statement in Lucknow.

    Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also took a swipe at the BJP, saying the ruling party remembered the NDA only after 26 opposition parties came together to form the grouping ‘INDIA’.

    AIADMK general secretary and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami claimed the NDA would win 330 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.

    BJP leader and former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the new opposition grouping does not have a consensus candidate to take on Prime Minister Modi and they will soon start fighting among themselves.

    (With Additional Inputs from PTI)

  • NDA constituents repose faith in PM Modi, resolve to contest 2024 LS polls under his leadership

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: All 39 constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday reposed faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and resolved to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly under his leadership.

    In a resolution passed at a meeting convened by the BJP, the NDA partners also exuded confidence in emerging victorious in the polls and forming their government at the Centre under Prime Minister Modi for the third consecutive term.

    “The National Democratic Alliance meeting was held in New Delhi today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. A total of 39 alliance parties of the NDA participated in it,” the NDA resolution read. The meeting was organised on the occasion of the completion of 25 “successful years” of the NDA’s foundation, it added.

    “In the meeting, all constituents of the NDA resolved that the NDA will unitedly contest the Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and for the third consecutive time, Narendra Modiji will become the prime minister of the country with a huge majority,” the resolution said.

    ALSO READ | NDA will secure over 50 per cent of votes in 2024 Lok Sabha elections: PM Modi

    The NDA noted that the blessings it received from the people in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of Modi grew “manifold” in the 2019 polls.

    “Rejecting and rubbishing the lies, rumours and baseless allegations of the opposition parties, the country is reposing faith in the leadership of the NDA coalition,” the BJP-led alliance said.

    “The opposition is faced with a crisis of identity and relevance. Today, the opposition is confused and disoriented,” it added.

    The NDA parties lauded Prime Minister Modi for propelling India on the path of “unprecedented development” through his commitment, devotion, unrelenting hard work and selfless dedication, and giving the citizens the opportunity to feel proud over the realisation of the power and prowess of their country.

    “The NDA constituents unanimously commit that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi as participants of this development journey – we are one, we are united and we are unanimous,” the resolution read.

    ALSO READ | We’ve come together to defeat hatred against minorities, say Opposition leaders

    NEW DELHI: All 39 constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday reposed faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and resolved to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections unitedly under his leadership.

    In a resolution passed at a meeting convened by the BJP, the NDA partners also exuded confidence in emerging victorious in the polls and forming their government at the Centre under Prime Minister Modi for the third consecutive term.

    “The National Democratic Alliance meeting was held in New Delhi today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. A total of 39 alliance parties of the NDA participated in it,” the NDA resolution read. The meeting was organised on the occasion of the completion of 25 “successful years” of the NDA’s foundation, it added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “In the meeting, all constituents of the NDA resolved that the NDA will unitedly contest the Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and for the third consecutive time, Narendra Modiji will become the prime minister of the country with a huge majority,” the resolution said.

    ALSO READ | NDA will secure over 50 per cent of votes in 2024 Lok Sabha elections: PM Modi

    The NDA noted that the blessings it received from the people in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of Modi grew “manifold” in the 2019 polls.

    “Rejecting and rubbishing the lies, rumours and baseless allegations of the opposition parties, the country is reposing faith in the leadership of the NDA coalition,” the BJP-led alliance said.

    “The opposition is faced with a crisis of identity and relevance. Today, the opposition is confused and disoriented,” it added.

    The NDA parties lauded Prime Minister Modi for propelling India on the path of “unprecedented development” through his commitment, devotion, unrelenting hard work and selfless dedication, and giving the citizens the opportunity to feel proud over the realisation of the power and prowess of their country.

    “The NDA constituents unanimously commit that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi as participants of this development journey – we are one, we are united and we are unanimous,” the resolution read.

    ALSO READ | We’ve come together to defeat hatred against minorities, say Opposition leaders

  • Attempts being made to breathe new life into NDA after Patna opposition meet: Congress

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: The Congress on Monday asserted that Opposition unity would be “a game changer” for the Indian political scenario and took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA which had become a “ghost.”

    Addressing a press conference here on the two-day crucial deliberations of opposition parties starting Monday evening, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suddenly remembered the NDA (National Democratic Alliance).

    “Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. There used to be no talk about NDA and suddenly since the past few days we are hearing and reading about it. Suddenly, it was reported that an NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe a new life into it,” Ramesh said.

    This is a result of the meeting in Patna, he added.

    Ramesh also said all parties have to decide whether they are with the forces defending the Constitution or with the party that is attacking the Constitution as the time for staying neutral has gone.

    Soon after BJP chief J P Nadda announced that 38 parties have confirmed their participation in the NDA meeting on Tuesday, Ramesh said in a tweet, “Suddenly the NDA is being sought to be revived years after it had become a farce. This is the direct impact of 26 Opposition parties coming together.”

    “After the Patna conclave on June 23rd, and the fact that more parties are attending the Bengaluru conclave tomorrow, the BJP is desperately trying to infuse life into the NDA,” he said.

    Addressing the presser alongside Ramesh, Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said that when the time comes, people will teach a lesson to those who have totally failed in governance and cheated them with false promises.

    He said 26 opposition parties are here to move forward unitedly and give a solution for people’s problems and address the concerns over this “dictatorial government’s actions.”

    “That is why we have come here. This is the second meeting. We will decide in this meeting what the course of action would be in the future,” Venugopal said.

    The Parliament session is also starting on July 20 and the opposition parties will chalk out the strategy for that also, he said.

    “We are very sure that this is going to be a game changer for the Indian political scenario and we are very happy to see that after the Patna meeting those who were saying that ‘we are very comfortable in defeating the entire Opposition alone’, have now started meetings, that is the real success of opposition unity,” Venugopal said.

    Asked who would be the leader of the alliance, Venugopal said, “We have enough leaders, who have proved their mettle in various capacities. You don’t worry about the leader, worry about the situation in the country.”

    He said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy, constitutional rights, and the independence of institutions in this country.

    “These are all under attack from the BJP government. They want to silence the Opposition’s voice. They are using their agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, CBI to suppress the voice of Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi was the biggest example of that,” Venugopal alleged.

    “The incident happening in Maharashtra also shows that. They want to destabilise elected governments by misusing these agencies,” he said referring to the Ajit Pawar-led revolt in the NCP.

    Venugopal also said that Manipur has been “burning” since the last 75 days and the “silence of the PM Modi is shocking.”

    The people of the country are in great distress, he claimed, pointing to unemployment and price rise. He alleged that the government was making no attempts to address the common concerns of the people.

    Venugopal said 26 political parties from all over India will participate in the second Opposition summit in Bengaluru on July 18 after a “successful” meeting in Patna.

    He also said the opposition parties will extensively debate on all issues including whether to go with the same UPA name or coin a new nomenclature.

    In their meeting in Patna, the opposition parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    Hailing the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi is the mass leader in the Congress party and his efforts were praised in the last meeting as well.

    BENGALURU: The Congress on Monday asserted that Opposition unity would be “a game changer” for the Indian political scenario and took a swipe at the BJP, saying those who used to talk of defeating the opposition parties alone are now making attempts to breathe new life into the NDA which had become a “ghost.”

    Addressing a press conference here on the two-day crucial deliberations of opposition parties starting Monday evening, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suddenly remembered the NDA (National Democratic Alliance).

    “Attempts are being made to breathe new life into the NDA. There used to be no talk about NDA and suddenly since the past few days we are hearing and reading about it. Suddenly, it was reported that an NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. So NDA, which had become a ghost, attempts are now being made to breathe a new life into it,” Ramesh said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    This is a result of the meeting in Patna, he added.

    Ramesh also said all parties have to decide whether they are with the forces defending the Constitution or with the party that is attacking the Constitution as the time for staying neutral has gone.

    Soon after BJP chief J P Nadda announced that 38 parties have confirmed their participation in the NDA meeting on Tuesday, Ramesh said in a tweet, “Suddenly the NDA is being sought to be revived years after it had become a farce. This is the direct impact of 26 Opposition parties coming together.”

    “After the Patna conclave on June 23rd, and the fact that more parties are attending the Bengaluru conclave tomorrow, the BJP is desperately trying to infuse life into the NDA,” he said.

    Addressing the presser alongside Ramesh, Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said that when the time comes, people will teach a lesson to those who have totally failed in governance and cheated them with false promises.

    He said 26 opposition parties are here to move forward unitedly and give a solution for people’s problems and address the concerns over this “dictatorial government’s actions.”

    “That is why we have come here. This is the second meeting. We will decide in this meeting what the course of action would be in the future,” Venugopal said.

    The Parliament session is also starting on July 20 and the opposition parties will chalk out the strategy for that also, he said.

    “We are very sure that this is going to be a game changer for the Indian political scenario and we are very happy to see that after the Patna meeting those who were saying that ‘we are very comfortable in defeating the entire Opposition alone’, have now started meetings, that is the real success of opposition unity,” Venugopal said.

    Asked who would be the leader of the alliance, Venugopal said, “We have enough leaders, who have proved their mettle in various capacities. You don’t worry about the leader, worry about the situation in the country.”

    He said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose to protect democracy, constitutional rights, and the independence of institutions in this country.

    “These are all under attack from the BJP government. They want to silence the Opposition’s voice. They are using their agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, CBI to suppress the voice of Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi was the biggest example of that,” Venugopal alleged.

    “The incident happening in Maharashtra also shows that. They want to destabilise elected governments by misusing these agencies,” he said referring to the Ajit Pawar-led revolt in the NCP.

    Venugopal also said that Manipur has been “burning” since the last 75 days and the “silence of the PM Modi is shocking.”

    The people of the country are in great distress, he claimed, pointing to unemployment and price rise. He alleged that the government was making no attempts to address the common concerns of the people.

    Venugopal said 26 political parties from all over India will participate in the second Opposition summit in Bengaluru on July 18 after a “successful” meeting in Patna.

    He also said the opposition parties will extensively debate on all issues including whether to go with the same UPA name or coin a new nomenclature.

    In their meeting in Patna, the opposition parties resolved to take on the BJP unitedly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    Hailing the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi is the mass leader in the Congress party and his efforts were praised in the last meeting as well.

  • Meeting of ‘opportunists and power-hungry’ leaders: BJP on opposition meet in Bengaluru

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday called the opposition parties’ meeting in Bengaluru a ‘meeting of opportunists and power-hungry’ leaders and said such an alliance will not do any good for the country at present or in the future.

    Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad ridiculed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said he has gone to attend the opposition parties’ meeting in Bengaluru instead of being in the national capital to provide relief to the people affected by the flood.

    He also hit out at the Congress alleging that it has not said a word on the Kejriwal government’s ‘mismanagement’ during the flood situation in Delhi or on the violence during panchayat polls in West Bengal, where the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is in power.

    “Opposition parties’ meet in Bengaluru is a meeting of opportunists and power-hungry leaders,” Prasad told reporters.

    “Such an alliance is neither good for India’s present nor for its future,” he charged.

    Top leaders of 26 opposition parties, including the Congress, AAP and TMC, are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday and they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Monday called the opposition parties’ meeting in Bengaluru a ‘meeting of opportunists and power-hungry’ leaders and said such an alliance will not do any good for the country at present or in the future.

    Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad ridiculed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said he has gone to attend the opposition parties’ meeting in Bengaluru instead of being in the national capital to provide relief to the people affected by the flood.

    He also hit out at the Congress alleging that it has not said a word on the Kejriwal government’s ‘mismanagement’ during the flood situation in Delhi or on the violence during panchayat polls in West Bengal, where the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is in power.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “Opposition parties’ meet in Bengaluru is a meeting of opportunists and power-hungry leaders,” Prasad told reporters.

    “Such an alliance is neither good for India’s present nor for its future,” he charged.

    Top leaders of 26 opposition parties, including the Congress, AAP and TMC, are expected to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday and they are likely to start work on a common minimum programme and announce a joint agitational plan to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

  • Power Games: PMO denies extension to Gadkari’s key men in NHAI

    Express News Service

    Tension WithinPMO denies extension to Gadkari’s key men in NHAI

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has rejected a proposal sent by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for extending the tenure of its two top officials – Member (Technical) Mahabir Singh and Member (Projects) Manoj Kumar. They look after the critical aspects of the NHAI, India’s largest road and bridge builder. Sources said Singh and Kumar are considered close to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The NHAI, which functions under Gadkari’s ministry, had sought a two-year extension for these officers. Mahabir Singh was appointed NHAI’s Member (Technical) in July 2020 for three years. His term expires this month-end. Manoj Kumar’s term has also come to an end. According to sources, the Prime Minister’s Office was not happy with the performance of the two officers.

    Pulling Apart BJP’s RS pick brings focus on division of Bengal

    The BJP leadership’s choice of Ananta Rai Maharaj as its candidate to represent West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha has reignited the debate on the division of West Bengal and the formation of a separate state comprising some districts of north Bengal and Assam. Ananta Rai is a leader of Koch-Rajbanshis and has been a votary of a separate state of ‘Greater Cooch Behar”. Rai heads the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association, working to carve out a separate state from Bengal.

    The BJP-led Union government is also in talks with Jibon Singha, chief of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). KLO has been engaged in an armed struggle to create a separate state comprising north Bengal districts. Several BJP legislators from north Bengal have openly backed the demand for the division of Bengal. Union Minister of State for home affairs Nisith Pramanik, an MP from north Bengal, had earlier responded to a question about his government’s plan to divide Bengal by saying, “decision will be taken keeping in mind the people’s sentiments”. Pramanik accompanied Rai when the latter filed his nomination in the West Bengal assembly. The chatter for a new state is getting louder.

    Legislating for Lawmakers Cong may change stand on instant disqualification

    Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud’s comments last week that the courts cannot put a life ban on politicians who have been convicted and barred from contesting election has triggered discussion in the Congress on the disqualification issue. The CJI made the comment while hearing a petition on the period of disqualification filed in 2016. It was the Supreme Court’s decision in the Lily Thomas Vs Union of India case in 2013 that resulted in the instant disqualification of MPs, MLAs and MLCs, who are convicted in a criminal case for two years or more. The then Congress-led government had moved swiftly to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision by bringing in an ordinance. But it was thwarted by Rahul Gandhi who tore the ordinance in a press conference calling it “complete nonsense”. This forced the government not to pass a bill to turn the ordinance into law. The party’s opinion on the issue has, however, changed over time, primarily as it feels that “the ruling BJP was using flimsy grounds to get lawmakers disqualified”. Sources said Congress is now in sync with other opposition parties who plan to bring in laws to protect lawmakers from being targeted by the central government.

    Tension Within
    PMO denies extension to Gadkari’s key men in NHAI

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has rejected a proposal sent by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for extending the tenure of its two top officials – Member (Technical) Mahabir Singh and Member (Projects) Manoj Kumar. They look after the critical aspects of the NHAI, India’s largest road and bridge builder. Sources said Singh and Kumar are considered close to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. The NHAI, which functions under Gadkari’s ministry, had sought a two-year extension for these officers. Mahabir Singh was appointed NHAI’s Member (Technical) in July 2020 for three years. His term expires this month-end. Manoj Kumar’s term has also come to an end. According to sources, the Prime Minister’s Office was not happy with the performance of the two officers.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Pulling Apart 
    BJP’s RS pick brings focus on division of Bengal

    The BJP leadership’s choice of Ananta Rai Maharaj as its candidate to represent West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha has reignited the debate on the division of West Bengal and the formation of a separate state comprising some districts of north Bengal and Assam. Ananta Rai is a leader of Koch-Rajbanshis and has been a votary of a separate state of ‘Greater Cooch Behar”. Rai heads the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association, working to carve out a separate state from Bengal.

    The BJP-led Union government is also in talks with Jibon Singha, chief of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO). KLO has been engaged in an armed struggle to create a separate state comprising north Bengal districts. Several BJP legislators from north Bengal have openly backed the demand for the division of Bengal. Union Minister of State for home affairs Nisith Pramanik, an MP from north Bengal, had earlier responded to a question about his government’s plan to divide Bengal by saying, “decision will be taken keeping in mind the people’s sentiments”. Pramanik accompanied Rai when the latter filed his nomination in the West Bengal assembly. The chatter for a new state is getting louder.

    Legislating for Lawmakers 
    Cong may change stand on instant disqualification

    Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud’s comments last week that the courts cannot put a life ban on politicians who have been convicted and barred from contesting election has triggered discussion in the Congress on the disqualification issue. The CJI made the comment while hearing a petition on the period of disqualification filed in 2016. It was the Supreme Court’s decision in the Lily Thomas Vs Union of India case in 2013 that resulted in the instant disqualification of MPs, MLAs and MLCs, who are convicted in a criminal case for two years or more. The then Congress-led government had moved swiftly to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision by bringing in an ordinance. But it was thwarted by Rahul Gandhi who tore the ordinance in a press conference calling it “complete nonsense”. This forced the government not to pass a bill to turn the ordinance into law. The party’s opinion on the issue has, however, changed over time, primarily as it feels that “the ruling BJP was using flimsy grounds to get lawmakers disqualified”. Sources said Congress is now in sync with other opposition parties who plan to bring in laws to protect lawmakers from being targeted by the central government.

  • 26 Opposition parties to attend two-day brainstorming session on July 17-18 to take on BJP in 2024

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday where they will chalk out their strategy to unitedly fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to sources.

    On the eve of the meeting hosted by it, the Congress clarified that it will oppose the ordinance on Delhi services in Parliament, a key condition put by the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the talks.

    Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. “This time we are expecting leaders of 26 parties,” a source said.

    The opposition meeting also comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the West Bengal panchayat polls which saw widespread violence that claimed many lives with state units of the Congress and Left parties accusing the TMC government of oppression.

    The sources said the opposition parties will chart out a joint agitational plan across the country against the policies of the BJP, especially after the NCP split in Maharashtra.

    They said that the leaders will announce steps to further opposition unity to take on the BJP and “expose its attempts at toppling opposition governments and taking control over non-BJP-ruled states through the Governors.”

    “It will be a decisive meeting. Several issues will be discussed,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said.

    The BJP, however, hit out at the opposition parties, alleging that they are a “divided lot” and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    BJP president JP Nadda alleged that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to “protect” their dynastic politics. The proposed coalition is not a “Patriotic Democratic Alliance” but a “Protection of Dynasties Alliance”, he said in Jaipur.

    CPI general secretary D Raja said the two-day session will be a step further in the demonstration of the Opposition’s joint resolve to defeat the BJP. “The Bengaluru meeting will be another step forward in uniting the secular and democratic parties in order to defeat the BJP and in order to save the nation and democracy,” Raja told PTI.

    Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

    Other top leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal are expected to participate along with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    “Today, the Congress party cleared its position against Delhi Ordinance. We welcome the announcement. Along with this, AAP will attend the opposition meet in Bengaluru,” says AAP leader Raghav Chadha said.

    The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and another formal meeting on Tuesday, after which they are expected to firm up their unity plans and announce their further programme.

    A senior leader said opposition parties would have to iron out their differences if they have to take on the might of the BJP.

    The BJP alleged it was a meeting by a “fractured” Opposition and that “desperation ad confusion” has gripped the Congress with its central leadership going against the state units.

    “‘Disunited Congress’ holding fractured ‘Opposition Meeting’ in Bengaluru should first explain differences within Congress,” BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted.

    “On the issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said ‘AAP doesn’t deserve Congress Support’. Congress leader Mr Maken said ‘Congress should not support AAP’. Today, Cong Gen Secy KC Venugopal says ‘Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP’. Political desperation and confusion grips Congress,” Shergill continued.

    He alleged that the Congress has become AAP’s ‘spare wheel.”

    “‘Hate for PM Modi’ only glue for Opposition Unity. No agenda, no ideology and no leader – Only lust for power,” the BJP leader said.

    NEW DELHI: Top leaders of as many as 26 opposition parties are likely to attend the two-day brainstorming session in Bengaluru from Monday where they will chalk out their strategy to unitedly fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, according to sources.

    On the eve of the meeting hosted by it, the Congress clarified that it will oppose the ordinance on Delhi services in Parliament, a key condition put by the Aam Aadmi Party to attend the talks.

    Fifteen parties attended the last meeting for opposition unity hosted by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna on June 23. “This time we are expecting leaders of 26 parties,” a source said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The opposition meeting also comes in the backdrop of the split in the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the West Bengal panchayat polls which saw widespread violence that claimed many lives with state units of the Congress and Left parties accusing the TMC government of oppression.

    The sources said the opposition parties will chart out a joint agitational plan across the country against the policies of the BJP, especially after the NCP split in Maharashtra.

    They said that the leaders will announce steps to further opposition unity to take on the BJP and “expose its attempts at toppling opposition governments and taking control over non-BJP-ruled states through the Governors.”

    “It will be a decisive meeting. Several issues will be discussed,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said.

    The BJP, however, hit out at the opposition parties, alleging that they are a “divided lot” and have no specific programme other than to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    BJP president JP Nadda alleged that opposition parties were in the process of forming an alliance to “protect” their dynastic politics. The proposed coalition is not a “Patriotic Democratic Alliance” but a “Protection of Dynasties Alliance”, he said in Jaipur.

    CPI general secretary D Raja said the two-day session will be a step further in the demonstration of the Opposition’s joint resolve to defeat the BJP. “The Bengaluru meeting will be another step forward in uniting the secular and democratic parties in order to defeat the BJP and in order to save the nation and democracy,” Raja told PTI.

    Congress Parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to attend the meeting this time.

    Other top leaders including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar Chief Minister and JDU leader Nitish Kumar, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, JMM leader and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal are expected to participate along with former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    “Today, the Congress party cleared its position against Delhi Ordinance. We welcome the announcement. Along with this, AAP will attend the opposition meet in Bengaluru,” says AAP leader Raghav Chadha said.

    The two-day session will begin with a dinner meeting to be hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and another formal meeting on Tuesday, after which they are expected to firm up their unity plans and announce their further programme.

    A senior leader said opposition parties would have to iron out their differences if they have to take on the might of the BJP.

    The BJP alleged it was a meeting by a “fractured” Opposition and that “desperation ad confusion” has gripped the Congress with its central leadership going against the state units.

    “‘Disunited Congress’ holding fractured ‘Opposition Meeting’ in Bengaluru should first explain differences within Congress,” BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill tweeted.

    “On the issue of Delhi Service Ordinance: Punjab Congress Mr Pratap Bajwa categorically said ‘AAP doesn’t deserve Congress Support’. Congress leader Mr Maken said ‘Congress should not support AAP’. Today, Cong Gen Secy KC Venugopal says ‘Congress not in favour of Ordinance-support AAP’. Political desperation and confusion grips Congress,” Shergill continued.

    He alleged that the Congress has become AAP’s ‘spare wheel.”

    “‘Hate for PM Modi’ only glue for Opposition Unity. No agenda, no ideology and no leader – Only lust for power,” the BJP leader said.