News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Modi govt’s ‘fire sale’ of national assets to ‘friends’ is ‘single biggest anti-national’ act: Kharge  

    The Congress has been running a campaign claiming that the government's nine years have been marked by incompetence and failures. NEW DELHI: With the Modi government completing nine years in office, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused it of carrying out a “fire sale” of national assets and PSUs to its crony capitalist “friends” and claimed this was the “single biggest anti-national” act.

    The Congress has been running a campaign claiming that the government’s nine years have been marked by incompetence and failures.

    “Modi Govt’s ‘Fire Sale’ of National Assets & PSUs to its ‘Mitr Cronies’ is the single biggest ‘Anti-National’ act!” Kharge said in a tweet.

    This “destructive loot” is snatching away job opportunities for India’s poor, SCs, STs, and OBCs, he alleged.

    Modi Govt’s ‘Fire Sale’ of National Assets & PSUs to its ‘Mitr Cronies’ is the single biggest ‘Anti-National’ act !

    This ‘Destructive Loot’ is snatching away the job opportunities for India’s poor, SCs, STs, OBCs in shape of reservation.

    #NaakamiKe9Saal pic.twitter.com/s3VBDwidOP
    — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 31, 2023

    Attacking the Modi government, which completed nine years in office last week, Kharge had earlier taken a dig at the government, accusing it of “looting” people’s earnings through “deadly inflation” while making “arrogant claims” about it.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned a month-long campaign to celebrate the ninth anniversary with various mass connect programmes.

    Senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers and chief ministers, had on Monday highlighted the government’s achievements in a nationwide outreach.

  • Centre spending crores on new parliament but depriving Bengal of funds: TMC leader

    The TMC national general secretary alleged the Centre, has stopped the funds due to Bengal at the instance of the ruling BJP party. DEBRA: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building and said while crores of rupees are being spent on its construction, the union government has withheld funds under the 100-day rural employment guarantee scheme for Bengal.

    Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday even as around 20 opposition parties, including the TMC, boycotted the event, alleging that President Droupadi Murmu has been denied the right to inaugurate the building and called it an insult to India’s first woman president from the tribal community.

    “They have built a new parliament building by spending crores of rupees. The Centre is also spending crores of rupees on the Central Vista project. Whereas they have kept Rs 7,500 crores pending for the 100 days MGNREGA scheme in the State,” Abhishek said.

    The new parliament building was completed in about two-and-a-half years at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 1,200 crore.

    The TMC leader said he never had any issues in sitting in the old parliament.

    “As an MP, I never had any problem sitting in the old parliament building. The parliament is in session for nearly 40 days a year, and around 800 MPs are members of either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. yet they are spending crores of rupees on new buildings,” he said.

    The TMC national general secretary alleged the Centre, has stopped the funds due to Bengal at the instance of the ruling BJP party.

    “They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the State’s people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021,” he said while addressing a rally in the Debra area in Paschim Midnapur district.

    Banerjee was addressing the rally as part of the ‘Trinamool-eh Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool) mass outreach campaign.

    His remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations baseless.

    “The TMC has a habit of levelling baseless allegations. The funds have been stopped as the state government has not submitted funds utilization certificates,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

  • RJD makes “coffin” jibe at new Parliament building; BJP says register treason charge

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Janata Dal on Sunday allegedly equated the structure of the new Parliament building with that of a coffin

    Taking to Twitter, the RJD shared a photo of a coffin and asked ‘Yeh kya hai (What is this?) in Hindi. The reaction has elicited sharp reactions from BJP.

    ये क्या है? pic.twitter.com/9NF9iSqh4L
    — Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) May 28, 2023
    “A case of treason should be registered against such people who have compared the new Parliament building with a coffin, ” BJP leader Sushil Modi said.

    RJD leader Shakti Yadav while speaking to ANI said, “PM Modi has buried democracy. The coffin has been posted as Modi has ensured the death of democracy.”

    “This is very unfortunate. Today they are comparing it with a coffin, were they comparing the old Parliament with ‘zero’? We were earlier sitting in zero?” BJP leader Dushyant Gautam asked.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

    Several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya and Jitendra Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP president J P Nadda among other leaders were present on the occasion.

    NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Janata Dal on Sunday allegedly equated the structure of the new Parliament building with that of a coffin

    Taking to Twitter, the RJD shared a photo of a coffin and asked ‘Yeh kya hai (What is this?) in Hindi. The reaction has elicited sharp reactions from BJP.

    ये क्या है? pic.twitter.com/9NF9iSqh4Lgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
    — Rashtriya Janata Dal (@RJDforIndia) May 28, 2023
    “A case of treason should be registered against such people who have compared the new Parliament building with a coffin, ” BJP leader Sushil Modi said.

    RJD leader Shakti Yadav while speaking to ANI said, “PM Modi has buried democracy. The coffin has been posted as Modi has ensured the death of democracy.”

    “This is very unfortunate. Today they are comparing it with a coffin, were they comparing the old Parliament with ‘zero’? We were earlier sitting in zero?” BJP leader Dushyant Gautam asked.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday morning and installed the historic Sengol in the Lok Sabha chamber.

    Several Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Mansukh Mandaviya and Jitendra Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and BJP president J P Nadda among other leaders were present on the occasion.

  • BJP trying to replicate Manipur-like situation in Bengal: Mamata

    The BJP wants to create a situation wherein Adivasis will fight Kurmis so that army can be called in and the military will have shoot-at-sight orders and we won't be able to protect, said Mamata. SALBONI:  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that the BJP was trying to replicate a Manipur-like situation in her state by planning to orchestrate ethnic riots.

    She condemned the attack on state minister Birbaha Hansda’s vehicle and claimed that BJP activists, not members of the Kurmi community, were behind the incident that took place on Friday.

    The feisty TMC boss iterated there will be a change of guard at the Centre in the next six months, and “people’s rights will be restored, and politics of hatred will come to an end”.

    “The BJP was behind the ethnic violence in Manipur. The saffron party is trying to replicate similar riots between communities in West Bengal. They want to separate the hills from Bengal.”

    They want to create a situation wherein Adivasis will fight Kurmis so that army can be called in and the military will have shoot-at-sight orders and we won’t be able to protect if someone is shot or killed.

    “The BJP is pumping in huge money in the area to foment trouble,” she said at a rally in Salboni in Paschim Medinipur district.

    Banerjee said those trying to fuel ethnic riots in the state will not be spared.

    Earlier this month, ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kukis in Manipur claimed the lives of over 70 people, and 10,000 security forces were deployed even as curfew was imposed and internet services were suspended.

    The car of minister Birbaha Hansda, who is also the MLA of Jhargram constituency, was attacked by alleged members of the Kurmi community, leaving several TMC activists injured.

    The vehicle was part of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy.

    “I condemn yesterday’s violence in which minister Birbaha Hansda’s vehicle was attacked with lathis and stones. She is a proud Adivasi and a state minister. I believe the violence was not a handiwork of the Kurmis. BJP workers disguised as members of the Kurmi community were behind it,” she said while addressing TMC’s mass outreach campaign ‘Trinamool e Nabojowar’ (new wave in Trinamool).

    She alleged that the BJP was providing money and muscle power to fuel ethnic tension in the area, which was affected by Maoist insurgency a decade back.

    Listing out various developmental projects implemented by the state government for the development of tribal-inhabited areas in the state, the CM said her most significant achievement was to bring back peace in Junglemahal region in the western part of the state by putting an end to the Maoist insurgency.

    Incidentally, the BJP made deep inroads in Bankura, Purulia, Paschim Medinipur and Jhargram districts collectively called ‘Junglemahal’ (the area is home to dense forests) in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 assembly elections.

    The Kurmi community, which is classified as OBC in West Bengal, staged protests in several districts, including Dakshin Dinajpur, Purulia, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur, in April, disrupting railway and highway traffic, to press for the demand for inclusion into the Scheduled Tribe list.

    “The Centre has asked me why I haven’t instituted a task force for the NRC (National Register of Citizens) exercise in Bengal. I assure you that I will not let that happen,” she said.

    “People of the country have tolerated a lot in the last nine years of the BJP rule at the Centre. But don’t worry, this pain will be over in six months’ time. The Union government is bound to change, and people’s rights will be restored across the country,” she said.

    Earlier in the day, Banerjee visited Egra area of Purba Medinipur district to meet family members of those killed and injured in a blast in an illegal fireworks factory there 11 days ago.

  • Shiv Sena (UBT) accuses BJP of trying to set up ‘laboratory of riots’ in Maharashtra

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to set up a “laboratory of riots” in Maharashtra to disturb social peace and polarise voters.

    Maybe they want to fight elections by dividing the society, just like they “broke the Shiv Sena” to form government in Maharashtra, an editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said referring to the split in the Sena last year following which Eknath Shinde became the CM with the BJP’s support.

    The people of the state need to be alert as they are surrounded by those who crave for power by side-stepping the Constitution, national unity and religious coexistence, the Marathi publication claimed.

    Maharashtra witnessed communal clashes on Saturday and Sunday in Akola city and Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district, respectively, in which one person was killed and 13 others injured.

    In another incident, members of a different religion allegedly tried to force their way into the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik district, prompting the state government to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a probe into it.

    The editorial in Saamana claimed since the time Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis coalition has come to power, the state has been witnessing religious and social tensions.

    “In Maharashtra, the BJP and its supporters are trying to disturb social peace, polarise voters by setting up a laboratory of riots,” it alleged.

    “Some issues can be resolved through understanding, but it looks like they want to fight elections by dividing the society, just like the Shiv Sena was broken to form government,” the Marathi daily said. It said the recent incidents in Akola, Shevgaon and Nashik were a cause of concern.

    Social tensions were deliberately being created with political motives and this was being done in a systematic and planned manner, the editorial claimed.

    “Despite Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying he would expose the masterminds, nothing has happened,” it added.

    MUMBAI: The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to set up a “laboratory of riots” in Maharashtra to disturb social peace and polarise voters.

    Maybe they want to fight elections by dividing the society, just like they “broke the Shiv Sena” to form government in Maharashtra, an editorial in the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said referring to the split in the Sena last year following which Eknath Shinde became the CM with the BJP’s support.

    The people of the state need to be alert as they are surrounded by those who crave for power by side-stepping the Constitution, national unity and religious coexistence, the Marathi publication claimed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Maharashtra witnessed communal clashes on Saturday and Sunday in Akola city and Shevgaon village in Ahmednagar district, respectively, in which one person was killed and 13 others injured.

    In another incident, members of a different religion allegedly tried to force their way into the famous Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik district, prompting the state government to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a probe into it.

    The editorial in Saamana claimed since the time Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis coalition has come to power, the state has been witnessing religious and social tensions.

    “In Maharashtra, the BJP and its supporters are trying to disturb social peace, polarise voters by setting up a laboratory of riots,” it alleged.

    “Some issues can be resolved through understanding, but it looks like they want to fight elections by dividing the society, just like the Shiv Sena was broken to form government,” the Marathi daily said. It said the recent incidents in Akola, Shevgaon and Nashik were a cause of concern.

    Social tensions were deliberately being created with political motives and this was being done in a systematic and planned manner, the editorial claimed.

    “Despite Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying he would expose the masterminds, nothing has happened,” it added.

  • Sachin Pilot compares Rajasthan with Karnataka, asks Gehlot govt to fulfil promise on ‘corruption’

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday cited his party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls to push for action by the Ashok Gehlot government over alleged corruption during the previous BJP rule in Rajasthan.

    As the assembly polls approach in Rajasthan, the former deputy chief minister mounted pressure on Chief Minister Gehlot and the party’s top leadership with a five-day yatra which ended Monday with a big rally in Jaipur.

    In an effort to corner Gehlot, Pilot has been demanding action over accusations of corruption made by the Congress ahead of the Rajasthan polls in 2018.

    In an interview with PTI before the Jaipur rally, he compared the situation now in Karnataka, where the Congress has swept the assembly polls, with that in Rajasthan in 2018.

    “We levelled allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka. The Congress has got a mandate there and if no action against corruption by the (BJP’s) Bommai government is taken, will people listen to us after five years?” he said.

    “This is the situation here in Rajasthan. So I want action taken on this,” he added.

    Pilot’s argument is that the Congress levelled corruption charges against the BJP government of Vasundhara Raje ahead of the 2018 elections, and people expected it to act on the issue once it came to power.

    He asked how he could be wrong in talking about corruption that took place during the term of the previous BJP government in the state.

    Pilot, who is locked in a leadership tussle with Gehlot in the state, said he will continue to raise the issue in the future as well.

    At the rally later, he was more categorical.

    He threatened to launch a major agitation if his demands are not met by the month-end.

    About 15 Congress MLAs shared the dais with him in the show of strength.

    In 2018 the party’s top leadership faced in Rajasthan a dilemma of the kind it encounters in Karnataka where it is forced to pick between two CM aspirants — D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.

    The party had then gone with Gehlot, disappointing Pilot who claimed to have led the Congress to victory as the president of the state unit.

    Pilot said when Gehlot was given the opportunity by the party to run the state government for the first time in 1998 he was just 47 or 48 years old, and veteran Congress leaders of that time followed the party discipline.

    Pilot (45) was possibly alluding to the argument that he is too young to become the chief minister.

    He also criticised Gehlot loyalist and minister Shanti Dhariwal’s recent remark that the CM has shown several big leaders their place.

    Reacting to Gehlot’s recent remark that he never boasted about how he won 156 seats for the Congress in 1998, Pilot said no one can boast or take credit for something like this.

    It is the party that contests elections and votes are given on policies and principles, he said.

    When asked about the state government schemes, Pilot said, “A good budget comes, good announcements are made, good policy is made. But why don’t we get the votes? It is the reality and the bitter truth.”

    He said he has raised several issues on party platforms to ensure this doesn’t happen in the coming Rajasthan elections.

    Pilot has been asking the party to resolve “issues” he had raised in 2020 when he and 18 other Congress MLAs revolted against Gehlot’s leadership.

    When asked about reports that he has decided to quit the Congress if issues concerning him are not addressed, Pilot called it speculation created by the media.

    He said the Congress party got huge support in the 2018 elections on the promise that it will take action on “corruption” by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.

    But no action was taken, he said.

    So he wrote letters to the CM for one and a half years, and then held a one-day fast in Jaipur last month.

    On party leaders calling his foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur a “personal” yatra, the leader said the issues raised by him got huge support from the public.

    “People are coming together on these issues despite the scorching heat, they are walking with me. The support one can see on the road is the support for the issues which I am raising,” he said.

    At the rally, he gave the Gehlot government an ultimatum to agree to three demands, including a high-level probe into “corruption” by the BJP government.

    The dissident leader also demanded the reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) over exam paper leaks, and compensation for aspirants who suffered due to this.

    JAIPUR: Dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday cited his party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls to push for action by the Ashok Gehlot government over alleged corruption during the previous BJP rule in Rajasthan.

    As the assembly polls approach in Rajasthan, the former deputy chief minister mounted pressure on Chief Minister Gehlot and the party’s top leadership with a five-day yatra which ended Monday with a big rally in Jaipur.

    In an effort to corner Gehlot, Pilot has been demanding action over accusations of corruption made by the Congress ahead of the Rajasthan polls in 2018.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In an interview with PTI before the Jaipur rally, he compared the situation now in Karnataka, where the Congress has swept the assembly polls, with that in Rajasthan in 2018.

    “We levelled allegations of corruption against the BJP government in Karnataka. The Congress has got a mandate there and if no action against corruption by the (BJP’s) Bommai government is taken, will people listen to us after five years?” he said.

    “This is the situation here in Rajasthan. So I want action taken on this,” he added.

    Pilot’s argument is that the Congress levelled corruption charges against the BJP government of Vasundhara Raje ahead of the 2018 elections, and people expected it to act on the issue once it came to power.

    He asked how he could be wrong in talking about corruption that took place during the term of the previous BJP government in the state.

    Pilot, who is locked in a leadership tussle with Gehlot in the state, said he will continue to raise the issue in the future as well.

    At the rally later, he was more categorical.

    He threatened to launch a major agitation if his demands are not met by the month-end.

    About 15 Congress MLAs shared the dais with him in the show of strength.

    In 2018 the party’s top leadership faced in Rajasthan a dilemma of the kind it encounters in Karnataka where it is forced to pick between two CM aspirants — D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.

    The party had then gone with Gehlot, disappointing Pilot who claimed to have led the Congress to victory as the president of the state unit.

    Pilot said when Gehlot was given the opportunity by the party to run the state government for the first time in 1998 he was just 47 or 48 years old, and veteran Congress leaders of that time followed the party discipline.

    Pilot (45) was possibly alluding to the argument that he is too young to become the chief minister.

    He also criticised Gehlot loyalist and minister Shanti Dhariwal’s recent remark that the CM has shown several big leaders their place.

    Reacting to Gehlot’s recent remark that he never boasted about how he won 156 seats for the Congress in 1998, Pilot said no one can boast or take credit for something like this.

    It is the party that contests elections and votes are given on policies and principles, he said.

    When asked about the state government schemes, Pilot said, “A good budget comes, good announcements are made, good policy is made. But why don’t we get the votes? It is the reality and the bitter truth.”

    He said he has raised several issues on party platforms to ensure this doesn’t happen in the coming Rajasthan elections.

    Pilot has been asking the party to resolve “issues” he had raised in 2020 when he and 18 other Congress MLAs revolted against Gehlot’s leadership.

    When asked about reports that he has decided to quit the Congress if issues concerning him are not addressed, Pilot called it speculation created by the media.

    He said the Congress party got huge support in the 2018 elections on the promise that it will take action on “corruption” by the then Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.

    But no action was taken, he said.

    So he wrote letters to the CM for one and a half years, and then held a one-day fast in Jaipur last month.

    On party leaders calling his foot march from Ajmer to Jaipur a “personal” yatra, the leader said the issues raised by him got huge support from the public.

    “People are coming together on these issues despite the scorching heat, they are walking with me. The support one can see on the road is the support for the issues which I am raising,” he said.

    At the rally, he gave the Gehlot government an ultimatum to agree to three demands, including a high-level probe into “corruption” by the BJP government.

    The dissident leader also demanded the reconstitution of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) over exam paper leaks, and compensation for aspirants who suffered due to this.

  • After BJP rakes up Karnataka sovereignty issue, FIR against Sonia; EC asks INC chief to rectify 

    By PTI

    BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: As the row over Karnataka’s “sovereignty” remark escalated with the BJP on Monday moving the Election Commission seeking an FIR against Sonia Gandhi and her party’s derecognition, the poll panel asked the Congress to clarify and rectify the party’s social media post attributed to Gandhi.

    The EC sent a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge after the BJP complaint regarding a tweet that appeared on the official Twitter handle of the Indian National Congress on May 6.

    In its complaint, the BJP has alleged, “Karnataka is a very important member state in the Union of India and any call to protect the sovereignty of a member state of the Union of India amounts to a call for secession and is fraught with perilous & pernicious consequences.

    “The BJP also alleged in its complaint to the EC that the tweet is violative of the mandatory oath undertaken by the political parties under section 29A (5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 at the time of registration.”

    “In view of the above, you are requested to clarify and take rectification measures in respect of the social media post which has been put up on the INC Twitter handle and attributed to Chairperson, CPP,” the EC letter read.

    A former Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi is currently the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson.

    After Gandhi addressed a campaign rally in Hubballi in Karnataka on Saturday, the Congress tweeted from its official handle: “CPP Chairperson Smt.Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: ‘The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty or integrity’.”

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue in his public meetings on Sunday to launch a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of openly advocating for “separating” Karnataka from India. Modi alleged that the disease of the “tukde-tukde gang” (anti-national elements) has reached the Congress’ top level.

    Several BJP leaders attacked the Congress over the “sovereignty” remark. Union minister Anurag Thakur said, “By referring to ‘Karnataka’s sovereignty’, Sonia Gandhi Ji, you have revealed the Congress’ deep conspiracy to disintegrate India.”

    However, Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala hit back and claimed that the “desperation of the prime minister and BJP is glaring as they seek to clutch at straws for want of a narrative in Karnataka”.

    On the last day of the campaign for the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka, Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak out on corruption charges against his party’s government and added that excuses cannot be the refuge of the BJP in this election.

    “We reject the fakery and falsehood being perpetuated by PM as he refuses to answer a single question on why BJP is denigrating the ‘swabhimaan’ of Karnataka,” the Congress leader said when asked about the BJP’s charge on “sovereignty” remark.”

    “…If raising the issues of Kannada pride being compromised is a crime, we consider it our ‘dharma’ to do so again and again,” the Congress leader told PTI.

    Amid the row, the Election Commission on Monday also asked the Karnataka BJP to provide “verifiable and traceable” facts by Tuesday evening regarding its newspaper advertisement aimed at the opposition party.

    The Congress had approached the poll panel against the advertisement issued by the BJP’s Karnataka unit.

    The EC said if no proof is provided, the BJP should come up with reasons as to why action should not be initiated for violating the MCC and relevant legal provisions under the Representation of the People Act and the Indian Penal Code.

    Before the high-octane campaigning ended this evening, a BJP delegation headed by Union minister Bhupender Yadav submitted a memorandum to the poll panel in Delhi over the “sovereignty” remark attributed to Sonia Gandhi and the party also demanded an FIR against her.

    Speaking to reporters, party leader Tarun Chugh, who was part of the delegation besides BJP MP Anil Baluni and leader Om Pathak, cited the Representation of the People Act and said the Congress party should be derecognised.

    Citing the Congress tweets, the BJP in its memorandum to the poll watchdog alleged that such a comment is a well-considered “evil design” to provoke the staunch nationalists, peace-loving, progressive and globally recognised people of Karnataka.

    The intent apparently is to disturb the equanimity, harmony and peace to garner votes and support some select communities or groups, whose sole purpose and intent is to disrupt the very being of the Indian state, it claimed.

    The BJP also filed a complaint with the Election Commission in Bengaluru and requested it to issue a direction for the registration of an FIR against Gandhi over the use of the word “sovereignty”.

    Noting that a “sovereign” by definition is an independent nation, the complaint said, “When a country becomes independent, that country is called a sovereign country. India is a sovereign country and the state of Karnataka is a proud part of it. Till today no one raised any question about the integrity of Kannadigas with the sovereignty of the nation.”

    The complaint added, “The meaning of what Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India. This statement is divisive in nature.”

    “It is aimed at dividing the citizens and creating a rift between people of different states. Karnataka is not different from India. This is a shocking statement leading to igniting divisive sentiments and creating disharmony in the society.”

    Describing the Congress’ tweet quoting Gandhi as “shocking and unacceptable”, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who filed the complaint, said Gandhi had violated provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and requested the EC to take stringent action against her for making “such a statement”.

    Karandlaje, the convener of the BJP Election Management Committee, also requested the EC to issue directions to register an FIR against her and take exemplary punitive action.

    “This is an insult to freedom fighters from Karnataka, who fought for India’s independence. It is an insult to crores of patriotic Kannadigas, who swear by India and cherish their Indianness,” said the Union Minister of State for Agriculture.

    The statement would lead to division on the basis of language and statehood, the complaint alleged.

    Polling to elect 224 members of the Karnataka assembly will be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.

    BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: As the row over Karnataka’s “sovereignty” remark escalated with the BJP on Monday moving the Election Commission seeking an FIR against Sonia Gandhi and her party’s derecognition, the poll panel asked the Congress to clarify and rectify the party’s social media post attributed to Gandhi.

    The EC sent a letter to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge after the BJP complaint regarding a tweet that appeared on the official Twitter handle of the Indian National Congress on May 6.

    In its complaint, the BJP has alleged, “Karnataka is a very important member state in the Union of India and any call to protect the sovereignty of a member state of the Union of India amounts to a call for secession and is fraught with perilous & pernicious consequences.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The BJP also alleged in its complaint to the EC that the tweet is violative of the mandatory oath undertaken by the political parties under section 29A (5) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 at the time of registration.”

    “In view of the above, you are requested to clarify and take rectification measures in respect of the social media post which has been put up on the INC Twitter handle and attributed to Chairperson, CPP,” the EC letter read.

    A former Congress chief, Sonia Gandhi is currently the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) chairperson.

    After Gandhi addressed a campaign rally in Hubballi in Karnataka on Saturday, the Congress tweeted from its official handle: “CPP Chairperson Smt.Sonia Gandhi ji sends a strong message to 6.5 crore Kannadigas: ‘The Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty or integrity’.”

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi had raised the issue in his public meetings on Sunday to launch a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing the party of openly advocating for “separating” Karnataka from India. Modi alleged that the disease of the “tukde-tukde gang” (anti-national elements) has reached the Congress’ top level.

    Several BJP leaders attacked the Congress over the “sovereignty” remark. Union minister Anurag Thakur said, “By referring to ‘Karnataka’s sovereignty’, Sonia Gandhi Ji, you have revealed the Congress’ deep conspiracy to disintegrate India.”

    However, Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala hit back and claimed that the “desperation of the prime minister and BJP is glaring as they seek to clutch at straws for want of a narrative in Karnataka”.

    On the last day of the campaign for the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka, Surjewala said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should speak out on corruption charges against his party’s government and added that excuses cannot be the refuge of the BJP in this election.

    “We reject the fakery and falsehood being perpetuated by PM as he refuses to answer a single question on why BJP is denigrating the ‘swabhimaan’ of Karnataka,” the Congress leader said when asked about the BJP’s charge on “sovereignty” remark.”

    “…If raising the issues of Kannada pride being compromised is a crime, we consider it our ‘dharma’ to do so again and again,” the Congress leader told PTI.

    Amid the row, the Election Commission on Monday also asked the Karnataka BJP to provide “verifiable and traceable” facts by Tuesday evening regarding its newspaper advertisement aimed at the opposition party.

    The Congress had approached the poll panel against the advertisement issued by the BJP’s Karnataka unit.

    The EC said if no proof is provided, the BJP should come up with reasons as to why action should not be initiated for violating the MCC and relevant legal provisions under the Representation of the People Act and the Indian Penal Code.

    Before the high-octane campaigning ended this evening, a BJP delegation headed by Union minister Bhupender Yadav submitted a memorandum to the poll panel in Delhi over the “sovereignty” remark attributed to Sonia Gandhi and the party also demanded an FIR against her.

    Speaking to reporters, party leader Tarun Chugh, who was part of the delegation besides BJP MP Anil Baluni and leader Om Pathak, cited the Representation of the People Act and said the Congress party should be derecognised.

    Citing the Congress tweets, the BJP in its memorandum to the poll watchdog alleged that such a comment is a well-considered “evil design” to provoke the staunch nationalists, peace-loving, progressive and globally recognised people of Karnataka.

    The intent apparently is to disturb the equanimity, harmony and peace to garner votes and support some select communities or groups, whose sole purpose and intent is to disrupt the very being of the Indian state, it claimed.

    The BJP also filed a complaint with the Election Commission in Bengaluru and requested it to issue a direction for the registration of an FIR against Gandhi over the use of the word “sovereignty”.

    Noting that a “sovereign” by definition is an independent nation, the complaint said, “When a country becomes independent, that country is called a sovereign country. India is a sovereign country and the state of Karnataka is a proud part of it. Till today no one raised any question about the integrity of Kannadigas with the sovereignty of the nation.”

    The complaint added, “The meaning of what Congress is saying is that the Congress believes that Karnataka is separate from India. This statement is divisive in nature.”

    “It is aimed at dividing the citizens and creating a rift between people of different states. Karnataka is not different from India. This is a shocking statement leading to igniting divisive sentiments and creating disharmony in the society.”

    Describing the Congress’ tweet quoting Gandhi as “shocking and unacceptable”, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, who filed the complaint, said Gandhi had violated provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and requested the EC to take stringent action against her for making “such a statement”.

    Karandlaje, the convener of the BJP Election Management Committee, also requested the EC to issue directions to register an FIR against her and take exemplary punitive action.

    “This is an insult to freedom fighters from Karnataka, who fought for India’s independence. It is an insult to crores of patriotic Kannadigas, who swear by India and cherish their Indianness,” said the Union Minister of State for Agriculture.

    The statement would lead to division on the basis of language and statehood, the complaint alleged.

    Polling to elect 224 members of the Karnataka assembly will be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.

  • BJP’s Manikanta Rathod booked for ‘murder’ in Rajasthan for ‘death threat’ to Mallikarjun Kharge

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Police has booked Manikanta Rathod, a BJP candidate in upcoming Karnataka assembly poll, and local BJP MLA Madan Dilawar with charges of murder and criminal intimidation for their remarks against Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, a senior officer said on Monday.

    The FIR has been filed at Sanjay Circle Police Station here at the complaint of Congress state secretary Ram Singh Kaswan.

    According to Kotwali ACP Narendra Kumar, an FIR has been registered against BJP Ramganj Mandi MLA Madan Dilawar and Manikanta Rathod, a BJP contender in the upcoming Karnataka assembly election. “As one of the accused, Madan Dilawar, is a sitting MLA, the matter will be investigated by the CB-CID,” said Kumar, who is also the investigating officer in the case.

    According to the FIR, the two men have been booked under IPC section 302 (murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), and under sections of the SC/ST Act.

    Kaswan in his complaint said committing a crime is not necessary, even hatching a conspiracy is enough.

    Congress had on May 6 shared an audio clip purportedly of Manikanta Rathod, the BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district, in which he was heard saying in Kannada that he will wipe out “Kharge, his wife, and children.” The BJP candidate is named in 40 police cases and has studied till class 8, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms, a poll-reform body. According to Congress, in the wake of Kharge’s “poisonous snake” remark for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP state general secretary Madan Dilawar had said Kharge being 80 years old can die anytime, still, he would “pray to God not to take him away for at least 200 years.” Uttarakhand Congress too in the same matter has approached the police against Rathod.

    Party’s Mathura Dutt Joshi said it lodged a complaint Sunday at Dehradun Kotwali against Rathod for his alleged remarks against Kharge.

    Uttarakhand Congress chief Karan Mahra, who lodged the complaint, said BJP can foresee its defeat in Karnataka and this is why its nominees were behaving like “goons.” 

    ALSO READ: K’taka polls: Cong alleges plot by BJP neta to kill Kharge, family; saffron party denies charge

    JAIPUR: Rajasthan Police has booked Manikanta Rathod, a BJP candidate in upcoming Karnataka assembly poll, and local BJP MLA Madan Dilawar with charges of murder and criminal intimidation for their remarks against Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, a senior officer said on Monday.

    The FIR has been filed at Sanjay Circle Police Station here at the complaint of Congress state secretary Ram Singh Kaswan.

    According to Kotwali ACP Narendra Kumar, an FIR has been registered against BJP Ramganj Mandi MLA Madan Dilawar and Manikanta Rathod, a BJP contender in the upcoming Karnataka assembly election. “As one of the accused, Madan Dilawar, is a sitting MLA, the matter will be investigated by the CB-CID,” said Kumar, who is also the investigating officer in the case.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    According to the FIR, the two men have been booked under IPC section 302 (murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), and under sections of the SC/ST Act.

    Kaswan in his complaint said committing a crime is not necessary, even hatching a conspiracy is enough.

    Congress had on May 6 shared an audio clip purportedly of Manikanta Rathod, the BJP candidate from Chittapur constituency in Kalaburagi district, in which he was heard saying in Kannada that he will wipe out “Kharge, his wife, and children.” The BJP candidate is named in 40 police cases and has studied till class 8, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms, a poll-reform body. According to Congress, in the wake of Kharge’s “poisonous snake” remark for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP state general secretary Madan Dilawar had said Kharge being 80 years old can die anytime, still, he would “pray to God not to take him away for at least 200 years.” Uttarakhand Congress too in the same matter has approached the police against Rathod.

    Party’s Mathura Dutt Joshi said it lodged a complaint Sunday at Dehradun Kotwali against Rathod for his alleged remarks against Kharge.

    Uttarakhand Congress chief Karan Mahra, who lodged the complaint, said BJP can foresee its defeat in Karnataka and this is why its nominees were behaving like “goons.” 

    ALSO READ: K’taka polls: Cong alleges plot by BJP neta to kill Kharge, family; saffron party denies charge

  • Former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal joins BJP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former Lok Sabha deputy speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal joined the Bharatiya Janata Party here in the presence of its president J P Nadda on Friday, in a boost to the party ahead of the Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-poll on May 10.

     Atwal (86) resigned from the primary membership of the Akali Dal. He was also the Deputy Speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha of India from 2004 to 2009.

    Charanjit Singh Atwal, former Speaker of Punjab, joins BJP in the presence of party national president JP Nadda, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/I5ZnwodzTI
    — ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2023
    His son Inder Iqbal had already joined the BJP. Supporting his son’s wish, Charanjit Singh Atwal also bid farewell to the Akali Dal and joined the saffron party. Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal is the BJP candidate from Jalandhar. 

    The Atwals belong to the Scheduled Caste community, which has a large presence in Punjab.

    The BJP is making all-out efforts to put up a strong show in the Lok Sabha seat and has deployed a number of Union ministers and other senior leaders for the campaign.

    The party has also been making strong efforts to woo Sikhs and has inducted many leaders from the community. 

    NEW DELHI: Former Lok Sabha deputy speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal joined the Bharatiya Janata Party here in the presence of its president J P Nadda on Friday, in a boost to the party ahead of the Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-poll on May 10.

     Atwal (86) resigned from the primary membership of the Akali Dal. He was also the Deputy Speaker of the 14th Lok Sabha of India from 2004 to 2009.

    Charanjit Singh Atwal, former Speaker of Punjab, joins BJP in the presence of party national president JP Nadda, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/I5ZnwodzTIgoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });
    — ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2023
    His son Inder Iqbal had already joined the BJP. Supporting his son’s wish, Charanjit Singh Atwal also bid farewell to the Akali Dal and joined the saffron party. Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal is the BJP candidate from Jalandhar. 

    The Atwals belong to the Scheduled Caste community, which has a large presence in Punjab.

    The BJP is making all-out efforts to put up a strong show in the Lok Sabha seat and has deployed a number of Union ministers and other senior leaders for the campaign.

    The party has also been making strong efforts to woo Sikhs and has inducted many leaders from the community. 

  • Delhi Police barricades border entries to stop wrestlers’ supporters from coming to Jantar Mantar

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The heads of the 15 police districts in the national capital have been instructed to be on alert in their jurisdictions, especially in the border areas, in the aftermath of a late-night ruckus at Jantar Mantar between police and some wrestlers on protest, a senior officer said on Thursday.

    The direction was given to the DCPs of all the districts after police received inputs that a large number of people could be heading to Jantar Mantar, where wrestlers have been on a sit-in demanding action against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, allegedly for sexually harassing a number of female wrestlers.

    “Directions have been issued to all the DCPs to be on alert in their districts, especially in the border areas. They have also been asked to take special care and keep watch on roads which go towards Central Delhi,” the officer said.

    Barricades have been put up at several locations across Delhi as part of precautionary measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place, he said.

    The development comes a day after a scuffle broke out between the protesting wrestlers and some policemen at the Jantar Mantar here, leading to a couple of protesters getting injured in the head.

    The wrestlers have alleged that they were beaten up by the police. According to protestors, two wrestlers, Rahul Yadav and Dushyant Phogat, were injured in the incident. Phogat, an award-winning wrestler, also received head injuries.

    Police in the night detained Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda and chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal when they went to the spot to support the wrestlers.

    The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23.

    They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against the Wrestlers Federation of India chief, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh.

    READ MORE:

    Protesting wrestlers move SC seeking FIR against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh

    NEW DELHI: The heads of the 15 police districts in the national capital have been instructed to be on alert in their jurisdictions, especially in the border areas, in the aftermath of a late-night ruckus at Jantar Mantar between police and some wrestlers on protest, a senior officer said on Thursday.

    The direction was given to the DCPs of all the districts after police received inputs that a large number of people could be heading to Jantar Mantar, where wrestlers have been on a sit-in demanding action against WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, allegedly for sexually harassing a number of female wrestlers.

    “Directions have been issued to all the DCPs to be on alert in their districts, especially in the border areas. They have also been asked to take special care and keep watch on roads which go towards Central Delhi,” the officer said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Barricades have been put up at several locations across Delhi as part of precautionary measures to ensure no untoward incident takes place, he said.

    The development comes a day after a scuffle broke out between the protesting wrestlers and some policemen at the Jantar Mantar here, leading to a couple of protesters getting injured in the head.

    The wrestlers have alleged that they were beaten up by the police. According to protestors, two wrestlers, Rahul Yadav and Dushyant Phogat, were injured in the incident. Phogat, an award-winning wrestler, also received head injuries.

    Police in the night detained Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Hooda and chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Swati Maliwal when they went to the spot to support the wrestlers.

    The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23.

    They have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against the Wrestlers Federation of India chief, who is also a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Uttar Pradesh.

    READ MORE:

    Protesting wrestlers move SC seeking FIR against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh