News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Amid tensions between BJP, Nitish over Cabinet expansion, Chirag Paswan invited to NDA meeting

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Chirag Paswan is among the leaders invited to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting on Saturday to discuss the ruling bloc’s agenda for the Budget session of Parliament, party sources said.

    However, Paswan will not be attending the meeting due to health reasons, they said, adding that he also skipped the all-party meet.

    The invite to Paswan from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi to the meeting of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies assumes significance as it comes in the backdrop of the LJP walking out of the NDA in Bihar due to its opposition to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and contesting the state Assembly polls on its own.

    Though the LJP could win only one seat in the Bihar polls, it inflicted serious damage on the JD(U), the tally of which fell to 43 from 71, triggering a backlash from Kumar’s party, with some of its leaders questioning if Paswan could still be in the NDA at the Centre.

    A vocal supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Paswan has maintained that he remains an ally of the BJP at the Centre.

    Senior leaders of the saffron party had also criticised him for fielding candidates against the JD(U) in the Bihar polls.

    The invite to Paswan for the NDA meeting indicates that the BJP, which has lost a few key allies, continues to see the LJP, which was founded by towering Dalit leader Ram Vilas Paswan, as a partner.

  • Farm laws fallout: Amid Opposition protests at Parliament, BJP throws arrogance barb at Congress

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  First day of the Parliament’s Budget Session saw the opposition protest in front of the Gandhi statue against the farm laws.

    As many as 20 opposition parties boycotted the presidential address and held protests in the Parliament complex.

    Left MPs marched near Parliament, demanding justice for farmers. BJP criticised the opposition for boycotting the presidential address, saying it was a ‘mattter of regret’.

    There was drama inside the House too.

    Rajasthan’s MP Hanuman Beniwal held out a placard and raised the slogan ‘repeal all three black laws’ during President’s address at the start of the Budget Session.

    Beniwal is the chief of Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, which left the NDA recently in protest against the farm laws.

    Also during the President’s address, Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu raised the slogan ‘jai jawan jai kisan’.

    In the Lok Sabha during obituary references, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said the house should pay respect to farmers who died during the agitation. The Speaker did not allow him to speak further.

    While Congress’ leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, and AAP MP Sanjay Singh also spoke in favour of raising slogans in support of the farmers, BJP slammed the opposition for boycotting Kovind’s address.

    Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was a matter of regret.

    BJP leaders added that when they were in the opposition during the UPA rule, they never resorted to boycotting the President’s address despite allegations of corruption and scams.

    Prasad said “arrogance” of the Congress is the “real problem” as it believes that it is bound to rule the country despite not having the popular mandate.

    Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the Congress for the past few years has been pushing a false narrative that the Modi government is against the institutions. 

    “The hypocrisy of the Congress stands exposed after the boycott,” said Javadekar.

  • Farm laws: Badal attacks Modi government again; SAD cadres asked to reach protest sites

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal on Friday asserted the Centre cannot suppress the farmers’ voice against the agriculture laws and claimed BJP cadres are creating tension at peasants’ protest sites at Delhi’s Singhu and Ghazipur borders.

    Underlining that the SAD is a party of “peasantry”, Badal said he spoke to Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who is leading the farmers’ protest at Ghazipur, and assured him of all support.

    Earlier in the day, farmers camping at the Singhu border clashed with a large group of men claiming to be local residents who reached there to vacate the area.

    Police fired tear gas shells and resorted to baton charge to break up the clash.

    On Thursday, the Ghaziabad administration gave an ultimatum to farmers protesting at UP Gate in Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border to vacate the site by midnight.

    However, the protesters have stayed put at the protest site.

    “BJP cadres are trying to create tension at Singhu and Ghazipur borders where farmers are protesting against the three farm laws. With the help of its cadres, the BJP is creating a situation of confrontation at the locations where the farmers are peacefully protesting against the laws,” the SAD chief said at a press conference here.

    He asked if the government wants to create communal tension in the country.

    “Activities of BJP cadres can create communal tension, I appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to check their party cadres,” he said.

    The former deputy chief minister of Punjab said, “The struggle, the fight to repeal three farm laws is not of any specific religion or caste, it is of the entire farming community. The Centre cannot suppress the voice of farmers.”

    Describing farmers as ‘annadatta’, Badal said they don’t need a certificate for their patriotism from any party and cannot be termed anti-national.

    Meanwhile, the party on Friday asked its party cadre to rush to the three farmers’ protest sites on Delhi borders in large numbers to give a further boost to the ongoing agitation.

    SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal also spoke to farmer leader Rakesh Tikait and discussed ways to shore up more strength and support for the farmers’ agitation in Delhi, especially in view of the “combined onslaught against farmers by the BJP and the Centre”, a party statement said.

    Consequent upon the telephonic conversation with Tikait, Badal instructed the Akali cadre to rush to Delhi borders in larger numbers than before and lend strength to the peaceful movement, it added.

    While many Akali contingents have already joined the farmers in the gathering, more are on the way in large numbers, Badal said.

    Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia also appealed to SAD and Youth Akali Dal (YAD) workers who had returned to Punjab during the past one week to go back to the protest sites at Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, the statement said.

    It said Badal on Friday sent an Akali delegation comprising senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhunder, SAD Delhi president Harmit Singh Kalka and the DSGMC chief Manjindner Singh Sirsa to the site of the farmers dharna led by Tikait.

    The leaders had extensive talks with Tikait and discussed ways to lend more strength to the agitation, it added.

    The delegation assured Tikait of “whole-hearted support in terms of men, material and morale” to the farmers’ cause, the statement said.

    Majitha said more partymen need to be at protest sites when the government wants to crush the agitation.

    “I know a large number of you have been camping on the Delhi borders since the last two months. However, the central government is making attempts to crush the ‘kisan andolan’ (agitation) in league with the BJP government in Haryana,” he said.

    “We must ensure this nefarious design to silence the voice of the ‘annadaata’ and disrespect the sacrifice of eighty martyrs (farmers) does not succeed at any cost.

    No sacrifice is too big to ensure a win for the peasantry as well as ensuring peace and communal harmony,” the statement quoted Majitha as saying.

    The SAD leader also condemned the “crude attempts” being made to suppress the farmers’ agitation against the Centre’s new farm laws “by letting loose lumpen elements on peacefully agitating farmers at Ghazipur on Thursday during the course of which farmer leader Rakesh Takait was targeted”.

    “Similar attempts were made at Singhu border on Friday,” he alleged.

    Majithia said such scenes were “extremely unfortunate” in a democracy.

    “Coercive steps like cutting off water and power supply to the dharna sites and stopping food from reaching them would only strengthen the kisan andolan even further.”

    He said it was also condemnable that the “central government was instigating communities to fight against each other and also fomenting fights between farmers as well as farmer organisations”.

    He appealed to farmers, farm labourers and people to maintain peace and communal harmony “despite grave provocations”.

    Majithia also denounced the manner in which the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was being “misused” against farmer leaders and journalists.

    He said the UAPA had been framed against those challenging the unity and integrity of India and should not be used to persecute innocent people.

    “Doing so amounts to dictatorial conduct,” Majithia added.

    Farmers should not be singled out for fighting for the repeal of the three agricultural laws as well as the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report in letter and spirit.

    Majithia, whose party had snapped ties with the NDA over farm laws issue, said the central government had not taken any action against those indulged in wrongful acts on Republic Day in Delhi “which has sent a clear message to the people that state agencies were behind them.

  • Bengal BJP trying to rope in Yogi or Rajnath as Shah calls off visit

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI/KOLKATA:  Though Union home minister Amit Shah cancelled his trip to West Bengal at the eleventh hour, the BJP’s Howrah  rally on Sunday, where Trinamool Congress functionaries, including two MPs, four MLAs and a former minister, are expected to join the party, will take place as scheduled, BJP’s state president Dilip Ghosh confirmed on Friday. 

    “Since the Union home minister’s visit has been cancelled, a senior leader from the party’s leadership will be present in the rally in Howrah to welcome the defectors from the TMC,’’ said Ghosh.

    Sources in the Bengal BJP said they are trying to bring any of the other big leaders like JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh or Yogi Adityanath to the event where the TMC’s functionaries are scheduled to join the saffron camp.

    Shah was set to address two rallies in West Bengal on Saturday and Sunday, and attend several programmes as the BJP steps up its campaign in the poll-bound state where assembly elections are expected to be held in April-May. 

    Shah’s Bengal visit was much awaited event aiming to the Matua vote-share ahead of the upcoming 2021 Assembly elections. 

    As the electorates of the religious sect wanted Shah to announce a deadline of giving them citizenship by implementing CAA, the promise that the BJP had made in 2019 general elections and secured electoral dividend riding on it. 

    During Shah’s visit last month, six TMC MLAs and an MP had joined BJP along with 45 district-level functionaries. 

    Meanwhile, the TMC was on Friday rocked by a fresh bout of desertions as former minister Rajib Banerjee quit the party and several other leaders rallied behind him, deepening the crisis in the party. After quitting the Mamata Banerjee cabinet, Rajib Banerjee on Friday resigned from the party and as MLA of the West Bengal Assembly.

    A slew of disgruntled TMC leaders, including some MLAs such as Prabir Ghosal and Baishali Dalmiya, who was recently expelled from the party and former Howrah Mayor Rathin Chakraborty, spoke out against the TMC leadership.

    Incidentally, Shah was scheduled to address a rally in Rajib Banerjee’s home district Howrah on January. 31. 

  • Bihar cabinet expansion: BJP demands key portfolio for Shahanwaz Hussian

    Express News Service
    PATNA:  The Bihar BJP in-charge Bhupendra Yadav’s presence in Patna on Wednesday has once again raised hopes that the cabinet expansion might happen soon along with the finalisation of nominations to the state Legislative Council.

    The cabinet expansion is likely to see some fresh faces to maintain the social equation

    According to sources, the BJP has demanded the finance or home portfolio for MLC and senior leader Shahanwaz Hussian.

    At present, the education ministry is held by JD (U) leader Ashok K Choudhary.  Sources said the BJP wants the education ministry in order to make changes to the curriculum.

    Recently, the BJP had sent a list of MLAs to be sworn in as ministers in the next cabinet expansion. Objections’ were reportedly raised by the JD (U) over certain names in the list.

    CM Nitish Kumar had also recently expressed his annoyance over the delay in cabinet expansion saying that it was the first time in the NDA that delay to such an extent was being made in cabinet expansions.

  • Trinamool goons hurled bombs at my residence: Bengal MLA who joined BJP

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal MLA Tapasi Mondal on Friday alleged that crude bombs were hurled at her residence in Purba Medinipur by “TMC goons”, in an attempt to “create fear psychosis” among locals ahead of the assembly elections.

    The Haldia legislator, who recently switched to the BJP from the CPI(M), hoped that the police would take necessary action in the matter.

    “I woke up to the sound of a huge blast at 3 am (on Friday). I saw some people fleeing the area near my residence, which is in Durgachowk. They had hurled three bombs, but two didn’t explode and were lying inside the residential complex. This was done to create fear psychosis,” she said.

    Local TMC leaders, however, denied any involvement in the incident.

    Mondal said she sought help from the police, following which the two bombs were defused.

    “I have registered a complaint with the police. I hope the police will act against the TMC goons,” Mondal told PTI.

    A senior police officer said the matter was under investigation.

    According to saffron camp sources, Haldia has been witnessing political disturbances since Suvendu Adhikari, who wields considerable influence in the area, switched to the BJP from the ruling TMC.

  • BJP slams opposition parties for decision to boycott President’s address to Parliament

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Slamming opposition parties for their decision to boycott the President’s address to Parliament, the BJP on Thursday accused them of “constitutional and moral bankruptcy”.

    BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said if these parties think that the Modi government will backtrack from its support to three farm laws due to their collective pressure, then they should know that they lack such strength and that this dispensation bows only before people.

    Addressing a press conference, Bhatia said opposition parties had been calling for a session all this while as he hit out at them for their decision to boycott the address.

    A day before the start of the Budget Session of Parliament, 16 opposition parties led by the Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena and the TMC on Thursday decided to boycott the President’s address to the joint sitting of Parliament in solidarity with the farmers protesting the new farm laws.

    The BJP spokesperson said all major opposition parties had spoken before these laws were passed in the last session, rejecting their contention that the government had rammed through these legislations without following due consultation.

    What they have shown with this decision is their constitutional and moral bankruptcy, he said.

    Parties like the Shiv Sena had even supported these laws in Parliament before making a U-turn, so did the Shiromani Akali Dal, he said.

    Bhatia also lashed out at opposition parties like the Congress, TMC and the Samajwadi Party for not “condemning” the “anarchy” protesting farmers unleashed in the national capital on Republic Day and “insult” to the national flag.

    Some opposition leaders had disapproved of the violence but alleged that the government’s refusal to heed the farmers’ demand to repeal these laws was a factor in it.

    Bhatia said it is the government which has shown much flexibility and an open mind in its talks with farmer union leaders.

    He also lauded the Delhi Police for its restrain and overall handling of the situation.

  • Samajwadi Party demands FIR against Delhi Police, top BJP leaders for R-Day violence

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Ram Govind Chaudhary on Thursday said instead of farmers, an FIR should be registered against the Delhi police commissioner and top BJP leaders for the violence in New Delhi on Republic Day.

    “The chaos and the unfurling of a religious flag at the Red Fort on January 26 is a conspiracy of the Delhi police, which is under the home ministry and the top leadership of the BJP, to weaken the farmers’ agitation.

    For this, the Delhi Police and the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party should be condemned.

    Instead of farmers, an FIR should be registered against the Delhi police commissioner and the BJP leaders, whose names have surfaced in connection with Deep Sidhu…,” the Samajwadi Party (SP) leader said in a statement here.

    “Even after this big conspiracy, farmers did not lose patience. It is not a minor thing. I salute the patience of the farmers and once again demand from the Centre that instead of weakening the farmers’ agitation, it should withdraw the farm laws.

    The farmers of the entire country are shocked by the conspiracy and attitude of people occupying top positions,” he added.

    The SP, under the leadership of its president Akhilesh Yadav, is and will remain in support of the ongoing farmers’ movement, Chaudhary said.

  • India’s economic recovery post-COVID is strong; Union Budget will be game-changer: BJP

    Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, BJP spokesperson Gopal Krishna Agarwal said that the Modi government has been walking on the path of strong reforms.

  • Mamata wants to create ‘Greater Bangladesh’: BJP chief Dilip Ghosh

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: In a Facebook post, BJP state president Dilip Ghosh on Thursday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of trying to create a “Greater Bangladesh” by raising ‘Jai Bangla’ slogan at her public meetings.

    Ghosh shared a poster on his official Facebook account where an image of Banerjee is shown with the caption -“The honourary person is uttering the Bangladeshi slogan Jai Bangla which is the national slogan of Islamic Bangladesh.”

    “She is fighting with the objective of a Greater Bangladesh,” the post said.

    Two other images of Bangladeshi actor Firdaus campaigning for the Trinamool Congress in 2019 Lok Sabha polls and a Bangladeshi cricketer inaugurating a Durga Puja, organised by a Trinamool Congress MLA in north Kolkata, were also attached with the Facebook post.

    The chief minister on January 23 declined to speak at an event to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s birth anniversary where “Jai Shri Ram” slogans were raised in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Banerjee had not started her speech when the slogan was raised by a section of the crowd at the Victoria Memorial event to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of the freedom fighter.

    “This is a government programme and not a political programme. There has to be dignity. It doesn’t behove anybody to invite people and insult. I won’t speak. Jai Bangla, Jai Hind,” she had said, wrapping up.

    Strongly reacting to Ghosh’s Facebook post, TMC MP Sougata Roy described it as “not worthy of response”.

    “It is condemnable that the BJP is trying to import its divisive communal brand of politics to Bengal,” Roy added.

    TMC spokesman Kunal Ghosh said, “Ghosh has forgotten that the BJP has increased its number by inducting former TMC members which shows the bankruptcy of the saffron party”.