News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Not forcing anyone to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan: Yogi Adityanath on allged heckling of Mamata

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: No one is being forced to raise ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans and there is nothing to feel bad about such chants, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Monday after his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee refused to speak at an event over raising of such slogans.

    Banerjee on Saturday refused to speak at an official event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark the beginning of the celebrations of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 124th birth anniversary after ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans were raised just before she was to start her address.

    Speaking to a select group of journalists, Adityanath said, “If someone says Jai Shri Ram there is nothing to feel bad about it as it is a greeting”‘.

    “If someone says ‘namaskar’ or ‘Jai Shri Ram’ it shows his etiquette,” he said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants at Mamata: Trinamool questions PM’s silence; Governor warns against attempts to ‘belittle’ Netaji

    Responding to questions on Banerjee refusing to speak after such chants, Adityanath said, “We are not forcing anyone to speak it. But if someone says Jai Shri Ram there is nothing to feel bad about it.”

    The West Bengal chief minister had expressed displeasure at BJP supporters at the event shouting slogans.

    She said such an “insult” was unacceptable.

    With elections due in the state in March-April, the tussle between the BJP and Banerjee’s TMC has intensified.

    Talking about law and order in the state, Adityanath, said the state witnessed several riots during earlier regimes while under this government the state has not witnessed any such incident.

    He claimed the law and order situation in the state is one of the best in the country.

  • ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants at Mamata: Trinamool questions PM’s silence; Governor warns against attempts to ‘belittle’ Netaji

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress workers staged demonstrations in several districts of West Bengal on Sunday in protest against the “insult” of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during a programme at Victoria Memorial, where she was greeted with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants.

    TMC supporters reportedly raised slogans against the BJP and burnt tyres on streets in Birbhum, Hooghly and West Burdwan.

    Singer and former TMC MP Kabir Suman was also seen holding a placard that read ‘Jai Bangla’ at Gariahat in the metropolis.

    The 125th birth anniversary celebrations of Subhas Chandra Bose in the state had ended in abject bitterness on Saturday when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to deliver her speech at the main ‘Parakram Diwas’ event at Victoria Memorial, after ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans greeted her.

    “Never have I been prouder to be part of Mamatadi’s team. In an ocean of monkeys, she stands out as the lone lioness,” TMC MP Mohua Moitra said in a tweet on Sunday.

    The party on Sunday also expressed regret over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “silence” on the “reprehensible treatment” meted out to Banerjee.

    ALSO READ | ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants to her is like red rag to a bull: Anil Vij takes potshot at Mamata

    State minister Bratya Basu, during a press meet here, said the incident reflects the “misogynistic mindset” of certain people.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was present at the programme, did not utter a single word condemning the behaviour of a section of audience. This shows that the BJP has no respect for Netaji and has no idea what he stood for,” he claimed.

    The chief minister on Saturday declined to speak at an event, organised to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s 125th birth anniversary, after “Jai Shri Ram” slogans were raised there, in the presence of Modi.

    The TMC MLA claimed that “a dark fascist force” was trying to grab power in West Bengal, and alleged that freedom of expression would be under stake, if it gets to seize control.

    “Please don’t allow this force to take control of Bengal. It will do away with our freedom of expression. People of different ideologies are free to air their views in Bengal. That would all come to end,” Basu said, after popular Bengali actress Kaushani Mukhopadhay and the chairperson of Eastern India Motion Pictures Association, Piya Sengupta, joined the ruling camp at the meet.

    “An ugly force is now out to throttle the voice of all artistes in the country. Director Anurag Kashyap and actor Naseeruddin Shah have already got a taste of it,” he underlined.

    Sengupta and her daughter-in-law Mukhopadhyay said they have always been inspired by the “pro-people approach” of the TMC supremo, and vowed to serve the people of the state.

    Among others, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh was also present at the hastily called press meet.

    Two days ago, popular actor Sourav Das joined the TMC, while actor Rudranil Ghosh, who was close to the CM till recently, was seen rubbing shoulders with saffron camp leaders, of late, fuelling speculation that he might switch sides.

    ALSO READ | Parakram Diwas: Trinamool, BJP lock horns over legacy of Netaji ahead of assembly polls

    Meanhwile, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday said Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose stood “too tall among us” and there should not be any attempt to “belittle the maker”, amid the controversy over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s refusal to speak at an event for celebrating Netaji’s birth anniversary when a section of the audience shouted ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

    In a series of tweets on the microblogging site, Dhankhar cautioned against any attempt of creating din on the legacy of the great patriot.

    “There cannot be any room for creating noise on legacy #NetajiSubhasChandraBose. Such attempt will only belittle the maker & be irrelevant.”

    “Netaji all through thrived for unity of country. He stands too tall amongst us. Lets dump any ulterior thinking on this great occasion,” the governor tweeted.

  • Need to induct leaders from other parties to expand base: Bengal BJP chief

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: Amid a spate of defections from the ruling TMC to the saffron camp in Bengal ahead of the assembly polls, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Sunday allayed apprehensions of the turncoats getting more importance than the old timers,saying switching political allegiance doesnt always guarantee leadership positions.

    Ghosh, however, insisted that the party, in order to expand its base for coming to power in Bengal, needs to induct people from other political outfits.

    In an interview to PTI, he also clarified that everybody has to abide by the rules and regulations of the party, be it the old-timers or the newcomers.

    “The BJP is a growing force in West Bengal. Our organisation is getting strengthened with each passing day; people from other parties including the TMC are joining us. If we dont take people from other outfits, how will we grow? “No matter who joins the camp, I would like to add that everyone has to abide by the rules and regulations of the party. No one is above the party,” he said, when asked about reports of infighting in certain pockets of the state over induction of leaders from the Trinamool Congress.

    According to the saffron camp sources and media reports, several party cadres and the RSS the BJPs ideological parent are not very happy with the induction of certain leaders in the party.

    “There could be complaints against some leaders, but you have to understand one thing that whoever is joining us will not become a leader immediately. In a democracy, numbers play an important role. We have to get the numbers (to come to power),” he said.

    Ghosh further said and “regarding the question of getting a leadership position, it will be decided later by the party who will be the leader or the face.”

    Ghosh assured the old-timers that they have nothing to worry about, as each of them will be accommodated according to their ability.

    “Everybody be will be accomodated according to their ability and will get respect. All of us have to work together to oust the TMC,” he said.

    Many senior TMC leaders, including political heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, 14 other MLAs and a sitting MP, have switched over to the saffron camp in the last two years.

    Three Left MLAs and four Congress legislators have also joined the saffron camp.

    Talking about Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees allegation that the BJP has turned into a “washing machine” that cleanses corrupt turncoats after inducting them, Ghosh said taking someone into the party fold does not mean justifying his/her wrong deeds.

    “We are not certifying or justifying anyone or anything. If someone is proven guilty, he or she will have to face the consequences. Its the TMC that believes in the culture of corruption.”

    “In our society, a section of people are into politics, and wherever this section goes, that party grows from strength to strength. If there are some politicians who are willing to join us, we will welcome them.Law, on the other hand, will take its own course,” he stated.

    Ghosh, however, maintained that the party has put in place a mechanism to look into the profile of cadres and workers before inducting them.

    “We are not here to judge anyone. But, that doesnt mean we will induct each and every one. There is a screening process and everybody has to go through it. We can never deliver good governance if we dont come to power. For that, we need to expand our base,” he said.

    Referring to the “outsider versus insider” debate in West Bengal, the state BJP chief said the TMC has raked up the issue as it has nothing else to talk about.

    “The TMC, after a decade in power in the state, has nothing to talk about, it seems. Ours is a national party, and our leaders will come here to assist us. But, those who are fighting elections or are working at the grassroots level are residents of this state. So the allegations are baseless,” he underlined.

    Exuding confidence that the BJP will come to power with more than two-thirds majority, Ghosh said the party would draft a road map for the development of the state.

    Speaking on the issue of projecting a chief ministerial candidate before the assembly polls, Ghosh said it is for the leadership to decide.

    “In states where we were in opposition, we chose our CM candidate after winning the elections. Our party believes in collective leadership. Naming a chief ministerial candidate is not important,” he pointed out.

    Asked if he would take up the challenge if the party anoints him as its CM face, Ghosh said, he is a loyal soldier of the BJP, and has always taken up all responsibilities bestowed upon him.

    “When I was asked to become the state president of the party, I accepted it. I worked hard. When I was asked to contest for an MLA or an MP post, I agreed. Whatever responsibility the party assigns me, I will perform my duty diligently,” he added.

  • Shah plays infiltration card against Congress-AIUDF in poll-bound Assam

    By Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Listing out the achievements of the BJP-led government in Assam, Home Minister Amit Shah pitched for another term to ‘safeguard’ the state’s interests. Shah on Sunday said the Congress- AIUDF combine would open ‘all gates’ to infiltrators if voted to power.

    Addressing his first political rally in the poll-bound state, Shah took a swipe at the Congress for calling the BJP communal by questioning its alliance with Badruddin Ajmal-led AIUDF, which draws support mainly from Muslims.

    At the Vijay Sankalp Samaroh, Shah asserted that an era of peace and development has been ushered in Assam by the BJP.

    Appealing to the people to vote for BJP, Shah said Assam has become ‘bullet-free and agitation free’ and the next BJP dispensation will make it ‘flood-free’, calling floods its biggest problem.

    Shah projected his party as the only alternative capable of safeguarding and promoting the regional culture.

    He also took a dig at the Assam Jatiya Parishad, a party floated by former AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi, which is tipped to ally with Akhil Gogoi-led Raijor Dal, without naming them, saying they are in the poll arena to help the Congress by trying to cut into votes of the BJP.

    These two parties are stridently opposed to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and have alleged the CAA is a ‘threat’ to Assam’s culture and identity.

    The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), which has led mass agitations over the issue of regional identity in the past, has backed Assam Jatiya Parishad.

    Hitting out at the Congress, the Home Minister said the party had adopted the British Empire’s policy of ‘divide and rule’ by pitting different groups of people against one another, leading to bloodshed and loss of lives of thousands of youth.

  • Roll back excise duty hike, says Congress as it slams Centre over rise in fuel prices

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  Slamming the Centre over fuel prices touching an all-time high, the Congress on Sunday demanded that the excise duty hike by the Centre be immediately rolled back to give relief to the masses.

    Attacking the Centre over rising fuel prices, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that people are suffering due to inflation and the Modi government is busy in tax collection.

    “What is more shocking is that during the Congress regime when we left power in May 2014, the international crude oil was USD 108 per barrel, but petrol and diesel prices were at Rs 71.51 and Rs 57.28 per litre respectively, which have increased to Rs 85.70 and Rs 75.88 in Delhi today despite the crude oil prices coming down to half of that time,” said Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken.

    Fuel prices touched all time high with hike in latest hike in diesel and petrol prices Saturday. Petrol price in Delhi on Saturday was Rs 85.70 per litre and in Mumbai Rs 92.28.

  • MP Assembly session postponed by fudging COVID-19 figures: Congress

    By Express News Service
    BHOPAL: The opposition Congress has written to the Madhya Pradesh Assembly Pro Tem Speaker, seeking permission to move a breach-of-privilege motion against three senior health department officials, accusing them of “manipulating and concealing” actual facts about Covid pandemic, just to get the Vidhan Sabha’s winter session postponed last month.

    Significantly, the three-day session (December 28 to 30, 2020) was postponed on December 27 following an all party meeting chaired by Pro Tem Speaker Rameshwar Sharma.

    At that time Additional Chief Secretary (ACS-Health) Mohd. Suleman had made a presentation about the “alarming” 

    situation of Covid pandemic in Bhopal, claiming that many staff of the Vidhan Sabha and the MLA Rest House had tested positive. The presentation played an important role in postponing the session. The eight-page letter addressed to the Pro Tem Speaker was moved by Leader of  Opposition and state Congress chief Kamal Nath on Saturday evening and has signatures of six other Congress MLAs.

    The motion has been sought against ACS (Health) Mohd Suleman and others for “concealing” actual facts and “conspiring” to  postpone the session

    “We’ve got strong evidence which suggests that the claim of a large number of Vidhan Sabha staff testing positive was nothing but fake. The  session was postponed by fudging the numbers, just to save the government from being cornered by the opposition on various burning issues,” Congress MLA from Bhopal South West and former law minister PC Sharma said on Saturday.

    Reacting, state BJP spokesperson Rahul Kothari said, “Congress is making false allegations, as the winter session was postponed following consensus at all-party meeting.”

  • Bengal BJP issues show-cause notice to 14 members over clash, vandalism at party office

    By PTI
    BARDDHAMAN: The BJP on Sunday issued a show-cause notice to 14 members over clash and vandalism at a party office in West Bengal’s Purba Barddhaman district.

    The letter, issued by the party’s state vice president Pratap Bandyopadhyay, warned the members of expulsion if they failed to give a satisfactory reply within a week.

    Two BJP factions clashed, hurling stones at each other, at the district party office during a meeting on January 21.

    One group had stormed out of a meeting and ransacked furniture and set parked vehicles on fire.

    “The conduct of these members goes against the party ethics and discipline and the BJP will take serious action even to the extent of expulsion if they cannot explain their conduct,” a senior party leader said.

    BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya had said that no act of indiscipline will be tolerated.

  • Enter at your own risk: Uttarakhand village bans entry for members, leaders of ‘anti-farmer’ BJP 

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: As farmers agitation continues against the newly framed farm laws, a village in Uttarakhand has banned the entry of Bhartiya Janta Party members, workers and leaders. 

    Posters, banners and hoardings have come up in Malpuri village of Udham Singh Nagar district warning the ‘Anti-Farmer’ BJP workers and leaders.  The banners further warn that if they venture into the village, none will be responsible for their ‘security’. 

    Suba Singh, former village pradhan said, “A total of 70 farmers have sacrificed their lives for the movement and the BJP led government is still adamant. We are not letting anyone from the BJP to enter our village. If the party doesn’t care for us we don’t care for them.”

    Paramjit Singh, another resident of the village said, “The people are angry and if the party leaders or members come to the village, they will have to face the inevitable. The only way forward is that the government moves back on the farm laws which are not good for the farmers.”

    The state BJP leaders were not available for the comment. 

    Farmers from the district have been actively supporting the Delhi-NCR protests. More than 20,000 farmers from the district have already joined others in Delhi at the protest site.

    More than 3,000 farmers from Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district will drive their tractors to Gazipur on the Delhi border on January 23 to participate in the kisan tractor parade on Republic Day in the national capital. 

    Earlier this month, farmers from the district of have started free bus service to ferry farmers to Delhi at the protest site. The service is available two days a week- Monday and Thursday. 

    The expenses of the service is being borne by local Gurudwara committees for now and the plan is to expand the service to 3-4 days soon. 

    In December 2020, Uttarakhand state police registered case against over 1000 farmers after they marched towards Delhi breaking the barricading by Udham Singh Nagar district police. 

    The police had tried to stop the farmers by force responding to which the farmers defied the ban and went ahead. 

    The case had been registered under sections 147 (Rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty.), 353 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant.), 269 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease danger¬ous to life.) and under 51 b of Disaster Management Act 2005.

    The district with 42% of agricultural produce leads among 13 districts of Uttarakhand state in terms of agriculture and is also known as the food bowl of the state. With a variety of crops like rice, wheat, maize, barley, sugarcane and others the district produces enough to fulfill food requirements of the population of state of over 1.15 crore. 

    The ‘terai’ district is known for the cultivation of the crops like rice, wheat, sugarcane, maize and soybean and cropping pattern is an ideal way to spot the trend of the various crops grown across various parts of the district. 

  • Will quit if Centre brings law allowing only one member of family in politics: Mamata’s nephew

    Banerjee said he will publicly hang himself if the corruption charges levelled against him are proved to be true.

  • Sole aim of Congress, other regional parties is to bring Babur’s rule in Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    By PTI
    NALBARI: Senior BJP leader and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the sole aim of the entire opposition, comprising the Congress-led Grand Alliance and the newly-formed regional parties, is to bring “Babur’s rule” in the state.

    Addressing a rally in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah here, the NDA’s regional wing North East Democratic Alliance Convenor also asked the opposition whether Hindus will be able to follow their faith if it forms the government.

    “The only aim of (AIUDF chief Badruddin) Ajmal, Congress and regional parties is how to bring (Mughal emperor) Babur’s rule in Assam.

    But, till the BJP’s Hanumans are there, we will move ahead with Ram’s ideals,” Sarma said.

    ALSO READ: PM Modi, BJP committed to fulfil clauses of Bodo Accord: Union Minister Amit Shah

    The Congress has formed the Grand Alliance with AIUDF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML) and the Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) to fight the upcoming assembly elections, likely to be held in March-April.

    A new regional political party, the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), was formed jointly by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP).

    Jailed anti-CAA leader Akhil Gogoi’s Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and 70 other groups have formed another party — Raijor Dal.

    Training guns at the AIUDF chief, the Assam health and family welfare minister said, “Ajmal told Muslims won’t be able to go to mosques if BJP wins.

    I want to ask today whether Hindus can visit temples if Congress and AIUDF form the government in the state.”

    He asserted that till the “BJP is alive”, Ajmal will not be able to enter within 100 km of Dispur, the locality of the Assam secretariat.

    Sarma also alleged that followers of Ajmal attacked ‘Satras’, the Vaishnavite places of worship, at Batadrava and other areas.

    Attacking the AASU, which has been protesting against the visit of the prime minister and home minister, Sarma said, “Today you are taking out a torchlight procession against Amit Shah. But did you donate a single unit of plasma when we were fighting against COVID-19?”