News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • When chief minister goes on tour, mafia welcomes him: SP chief Akhilesh Yadav

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that BJP leaders are behind all illegal constructions in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is welcomed in his programmes by “mafia”.

    Accusing the ruling BJP of “misusing” the CBI and ED to defame the opposition parties, Yadav said that the image of opposition leaders who are fighting strongly against the BJP is being maligned by using these central agencies.

    “All the raids that are happening are political. The intention of the BJP is not clean. The people of the country are aware and sensible. They know that elections are near and that is why raids are being conducted,” he said.

    Interacting with reporters after an event in Mahmudabad, the Samajwadi Party president said, “The BJP does not accept the Constitution and the law. All the illegal constructions that are taking place in Uttar Pradesh today belong to BJP leaders. When the chief minister goes on tour, mafia welcome him.”

    He alleged, “The chief minister withdrew cases against himself and also those against the deputy chief minister. That is why the government is not releasing the list of the top 100 mafia of the state despite the demand of the Samajwadi Party.”

    LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday alleged that BJP leaders are behind all illegal constructions in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is welcomed in his programmes by “mafia”.

    Accusing the ruling BJP of “misusing” the CBI and ED to defame the opposition parties, Yadav said that the image of opposition leaders who are fighting strongly against the BJP is being maligned by using these central agencies.

    “All the raids that are happening are political. The intention of the BJP is not clean. The people of the country are aware and sensible. They know that elections are near and that is why raids are being conducted,” he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Interacting with reporters after an event in Mahmudabad, the Samajwadi Party president said, “The BJP does not accept the Constitution and the law. All the illegal constructions that are taking place in Uttar Pradesh today belong to BJP leaders. When the chief minister goes on tour, mafia welcome him.”

    He alleged, “The chief minister withdrew cases against himself and also those against the deputy chief minister. That is why the government is not releasing the list of the top 100 mafia of the state despite the demand of the Samajwadi Party.”

  • BJP spread rumours about attacks on Bihari migrants in Tamil Nadu: JD(U)

    By PTI

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) on Thursday charged the BJP with spreading “rumours” of attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu with an eye on “electoral gains.”

    JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan also said that though his party did not favour criticising the country on foreign soil, it felt that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was well within his rights to express his anxieties about “threats to democracy in India” during his Cambridge tour.

    “It has turned out that nothing had happened in Tamil Nadu. And just look at the people who have been booked and arrested for spreading rumours,” said the JD(U) chief, referring to cases being lodged against a number of BJP leaders by the DMK government in the southern state.

    “So, this is the character of the BJP. Rumour-mongering, and coercion of parties opposed to it, all for electoral gains. But it is making a mistake. People of the country are now conscious enough to see through their designs,” said the JD(U) president, whose party snapped ties with the saffron party less than a year ago.

    ALSO READ | Bihar officials satisfied with migrants’ safety in Tamil Nadu

    Asked about the controversy triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s remarks abroad, Lalan, whose party is now aligned with the Congress, said “we believe the problems in the country are best discussed on the home soil, which offers a very large stage. We do not think one’s own country should be criticised on foreign soil,” said the JD(U) national president, however, hastened to add “we also hold that Rahul Gandhi is well within his rights to express his anxieties about the threats to democracy in India. And the threats are, indeed, real. This is a fact borne out by the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on the appointment of Election Commissioners.”

    He also sought to make light of speculations that Chirag Paswan, a known detractor of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Upendra Kushwaha, who recently rebelled against the JD(U) supreme leader and quit the party, were likely to join the BJP-led NDA.

    “Just recall the 2015 assembly polls when these people were very much with the BJP. They performed dismally,” Lalan said referring to the high-decibel elections which saw the NDA being trounced by the ‘Mahagathbandhan'(Grand Alliance) that had come into being with Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and the Congress joining hands.

    He also said that the BJP’s ‘jod tod’ (attempts to split other parties) was at work in Nagaland where the lone JD(U) MLA ended up offering support to the newly formed government of which the saffron party was a part.

    “Since we hold that we can have no relationship with the BJP, we held the Nagaland unit guilty of gross indiscipline and decided to dissolve it. The BJP had earlier broken away our MLAs in Arunachal, too. In Bihar, they wanted to do to us what they had succeeded in doing in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. But we got wind of their plans in time”, alleged Lalan, referring to last year’s upheaval.

    “The BJP has no scruples. Its sole concern is power. Just look at Meghalaya where they had been accusing the government of being the most corrupt. Now the same dispensation has returned to power and the BJP’s top leaders flew down to attend the oath-taking ceremony,” said the JD(U) chief.

    “The BJP has had no achievement to showcase despite having been in power at the Centre for so many years. Everywhere it keeps talking about the Ujjwala Yojana, which has been a failure as expensive gas cylinders make it impossible for beneficiaries to go in for a refill. Another scheme they rave about is the Ayushman Bharat. They should release data of how many people have benefited from the promise of Rs five lakh health insurance cover,” demanded the JD(U) president.

    The BJP is also trying to shy away from the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into allegations against the Adani group which is being accused of the biggest corporate fraud in history, the JD(U) chief said.

    “On the other hand, it keeps harassing its opponents through vindictive use of agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax department,” he alleged.

    PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) on Thursday charged the BJP with spreading “rumours” of attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu with an eye on “electoral gains.”

    JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan also said that though his party did not favour criticising the country on foreign soil, it felt that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was well within his rights to express his anxieties about “threats to democracy in India” during his Cambridge tour.

    “It has turned out that nothing had happened in Tamil Nadu. And just look at the people who have been booked and arrested for spreading rumours,” said the JD(U) chief, referring to cases being lodged against a number of BJP leaders by the DMK government in the southern state.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “So, this is the character of the BJP. Rumour-mongering, and coercion of parties opposed to it, all for electoral gains. But it is making a mistake. People of the country are now conscious enough to see through their designs,” said the JD(U) president, whose party snapped ties with the saffron party less than a year ago.

    ALSO READ | Bihar officials satisfied with migrants’ safety in Tamil Nadu

    Asked about the controversy triggered by Rahul Gandhi’s remarks abroad, Lalan, whose party is now aligned with the Congress, said “we believe the problems in the country are best discussed on the home soil, which offers a very large stage. We do not think one’s own country should be criticised on foreign soil,” said the JD(U) national president, however, hastened to add “we also hold that Rahul Gandhi is well within his rights to express his anxieties about the threats to democracy in India. And the threats are, indeed, real. This is a fact borne out by the Supreme Court’s recent judgement on the appointment of Election Commissioners.”

    He also sought to make light of speculations that Chirag Paswan, a known detractor of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Upendra Kushwaha, who recently rebelled against the JD(U) supreme leader and quit the party, were likely to join the BJP-led NDA.

    “Just recall the 2015 assembly polls when these people were very much with the BJP. They performed dismally,” Lalan said referring to the high-decibel elections which saw the NDA being trounced by the ‘Mahagathbandhan'(Grand Alliance) that had come into being with Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Lalu Prasad and the Congress joining hands.

    He also said that the BJP’s ‘jod tod’ (attempts to split other parties) was at work in Nagaland where the lone JD(U) MLA ended up offering support to the newly formed government of which the saffron party was a part.

    “Since we hold that we can have no relationship with the BJP, we held the Nagaland unit guilty of gross indiscipline and decided to dissolve it. The BJP had earlier broken away our MLAs in Arunachal, too. In Bihar, they wanted to do to us what they had succeeded in doing in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. But we got wind of their plans in time”, alleged Lalan, referring to last year’s upheaval.

    “The BJP has no scruples. Its sole concern is power. Just look at Meghalaya where they had been accusing the government of being the most corrupt. Now the same dispensation has returned to power and the BJP’s top leaders flew down to attend the oath-taking ceremony,” said the JD(U) chief.

    “The BJP has had no achievement to showcase despite having been in power at the Centre for so many years. Everywhere it keeps talking about the Ujjwala Yojana, which has been a failure as expensive gas cylinders make it impossible for beneficiaries to go in for a refill. Another scheme they rave about is the Ayushman Bharat. They should release data of how many people have benefited from the promise of Rs five lakh health insurance cover,” demanded the JD(U) president.

    The BJP is also trying to shy away from the demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee to look into allegations against the Adani group which is being accused of the biggest corporate fraud in history, the JD(U) chief said.

    “On the other hand, it keeps harassing its opponents through vindictive use of agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax department,” he alleged.

  • BJP to propose resolution against BBC’s 2002 riots documentary in Gujarat Assembly

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vipul Patel will on Friday move a resolution in the Assembly seeking “strong action” against the “concocted” findings shown in a BBC documentary, which he alleged “once again attempts to blame the then-state government” for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

    The proposed resolution will likely say the BBC documentary was a “low-level attempt” to tarnish India’s global image.

    “India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean that a news media can abuse such freedom,” according to a summary of the proposed resolution shared by the Assembly secretariat on Tuesday.

    The two-part BBC documentary, titled “India: The Modi Question”, claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

    “If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then he cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central Government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary,” said a note on the resolution to be moved by Patel.

    The controversial documentary again “attempts to blame the then-state government for the 2002 Godhra riots and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat,” said the note.

    The BBC documentary misrepresents the events of 2002 and is a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India’s global image, it said.

    Through the documentary, deliberate attempts have been made to tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Modi with an agenda to affect India’s goal to be in a top place in the world, said the note.

    This, despite the fact that the Nanavati-Shah inquiry commission concluded after a thorough investigation that burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and the riots that followed were spontaneous, it said.

    The commission found no evidence that the state government or any religious organization or political party played any role in the riots, stated the note.

    The Assembly, which is having its Budget session, will meet on Friday after a two-day break.

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Vipul Patel will on Friday move a resolution in the Assembly seeking “strong action” against the “concocted” findings shown in a BBC documentary, which he alleged “once again attempts to blame the then-state government” for the 2002 post-Godhra riots.

    The proposed resolution will likely say the BBC documentary was a “low-level attempt” to tarnish India’s global image.

    “India is a democratic country and freedom of expression is at the core of its Constitution, but that does not mean that a news media can abuse such freedom,” according to a summary of the proposed resolution shared by the Assembly secretariat on Tuesday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The two-part BBC documentary, titled “India: The Modi Question”, claimed it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state.

    “If someone behaves or acts like this (BBC), then he cannot be taken lightly. BBC is losing its credibility and seems to be working with some hidden agenda against India and the Indian government. Hence, this House requests the Central Government to take strict action against the mind-boggling findings shown in the BBC documentary,” said a note on the resolution to be moved by Patel.

    The controversial documentary again “attempts to blame the then-state government for the 2002 Godhra riots and subsequent communal riots in Gujarat,” said the note.

    The BBC documentary misrepresents the events of 2002 and is a malicious and low-level attempt to tarnish India’s global image, it said.

    Through the documentary, deliberate attempts have been made to tarnish the image and popularity of Prime Minister Modi with an agenda to affect India’s goal to be in a top place in the world, said the note.

    This, despite the fact that the Nanavati-Shah inquiry commission concluded after a thorough investigation that burning of the Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station on February 27, 2002, was a premeditated conspiracy, and the riots that followed were spontaneous, it said.

    The commission found no evidence that the state government or any religious organization or political party played any role in the riots, stated the note.

    The Assembly, which is having its Budget session, will meet on Friday after a two-day break.

  • BJP ideology ‘cowardice’, says Rahul Gandhi in London; draws Thakur flak

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a fresh attack on the BJP, has said that the ruling party follows “an ideology of hatred and violence”, and at the heart of their ideology is “cowardice.” Gandhi made the remarks during his interaction with the Indian diaspora organised by the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) UK chapter on Sunday while referring to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks on China during an interview.

    Referring to the BJP, the 52-year-old former Congress president said they have “an ideology of hatred and violence, a disrespectful ideology that attacks people because of their ideas. And you must have noticed one thing this is in the nature of BJP and the RSS.”

    BJP senior leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday said, “Gandhi is betraying India”, alleged.  Thakur accused  Rahul Gandhi of seeking intervention from the US and European nations over “disappearing” democracy in India. 

    Speaking to the reporters here on Monday, the minister said, “Rahul Gandhi never misses a chance to malign and betray India whenever he goes on a foreign tour. His objections to India’s foreign policy are clear evidence of his lack of understanding and scant regard for the issue. No one will believe his lies against India from foreign soil”, Thakur remarked.

    “This kind of remark by Rahul Gandhi is not a new one. His party had done it earlier, when it took local issues to the United Nations, and now to ask other countries to intervene in India. They have not yet come out of the thought of slavery,” Thakur alleged. 

    Lambasting at Gandhi, the minister further alleged that Gandhi has always been resorting to “maligning India” from foreign soil as part of a conspiracy to hide his failures. 

    Describing Gandhi as a storm of controversies, Thakur said, “Be it foreign agencies, foreign channels or be it foreign soil. He does not lose a single opportunity to malign India”.  The minister said that when Indian soldiers were martyred, Gandhi had termed it as ‘killing by a car bomb’. 

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a fresh attack on the BJP, has said that the ruling party follows “an ideology of hatred and violence”, and at the heart of their ideology is “cowardice.” Gandhi made the remarks during his interaction with the Indian diaspora organised by the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) UK chapter on Sunday while referring to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks on China during an interview.

    Referring to the BJP, the 52-year-old former Congress president said they have “an ideology of hatred and violence, a disrespectful ideology that attacks people because of their ideas. And you must have noticed one thing this is in the nature of BJP and the RSS.”

    BJP senior leader and Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday said, “Gandhi is betraying India”, alleged.  Thakur accused  Rahul Gandhi of seeking intervention from the US and European nations over “disappearing” democracy in India. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Speaking to the reporters here on Monday, the minister said, “Rahul Gandhi never misses a chance to malign and betray India whenever he goes on a foreign tour. His objections to India’s foreign policy are clear evidence of his lack of understanding and scant regard for the issue. No one will believe his lies against India from foreign soil”, Thakur remarked.

    “This kind of remark by Rahul Gandhi is not a new one. His party had done it earlier, when it took local issues to the United Nations, and now to ask other countries to intervene in India. They have not yet come out of the thought of slavery,” Thakur alleged. 

    Lambasting at Gandhi, the minister further alleged that Gandhi has always been resorting to “maligning India” from foreign soil as part of a conspiracy to hide his failures. 

    Describing Gandhi as a storm of controversies, Thakur said, “Be it foreign agencies, foreign channels or be it foreign soil. He does not lose a single opportunity to malign India”.  The minister said that when Indian soldiers were martyred, Gandhi had termed it as ‘killing by a car bomb’. 

  • Birthday bash not show of strength, says Raje as BJP faces popularity test in Rajasthan

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: With polls in Rajasthan slated for December this year, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday said that her recently concluded birthday celebrations was not a show of strength and that it was about her devotion. 

    This comes after Raje’s birthday bash on March 4 saw over fifty thousand people including several MLAs and MPs gather at the Slasar Dham in Churu, forcing the BJP high command to think about her popularity.

    Speaking to the media Raje said, “It is not a show of strength, but devotion. It is not right to publicize it in the media as a show of strength.” Raje’s powerplay comes at a time when the internal dispute is rife within the BJP with several party members jockeying to become the party’s chief ministerial face. Among those is state BJP president Satish Poonia, whose tussle with Raje has been well documented. 

    In a bid to counter Raje’s birthday bash, Poonia organised a protest on the same day against the Gehlot administration over the issue of paper leak, with instructions issued to all party lawmakers to participate in the protest.

    However, the Raje camp has claimed that as many as 12 MPs, 52 MLAs and 118 former MLAs of the party had taken part in the BJP leader’s birthday celebrations. This also included BJP’s State in-charge Arun Singh who visited Salasar to congratulate Raje and project a show of solidarity.

    Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP’s state in-charge Arun Singh have said that the assembly elections to be held this year will be fought under the collective leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But Raje’s supporters have been persistently demanding the party to make her the chief ministerial face and argue that no leader within the Rajasthan BJP camp is of her stature.

    Experts believe that by holding a grand rally in Salasar, Raje has given a befitting reply to her opponents in the party and also sent a message of her popularity to the central leadership. This comes as the role of Leader of the Opposition continues to be vacant after senior BJP leader Gulab Chand Kataria became the Governor of Assam. It is to be seen whether the BJP leadership will hand a bigger role to Raje ahead of the assembly elections.

    JAIPUR: With polls in Rajasthan slated for December this year, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Monday said that her recently concluded birthday celebrations was not a show of strength and that it was about her devotion. 

    This comes after Raje’s birthday bash on March 4 saw over fifty thousand people including several MLAs and MPs gather at the Slasar Dham in Churu, forcing the BJP high command to think about her popularity.

    Speaking to the media Raje said, “It is not a show of strength, but devotion. It is not right to publicize it in the media as a show of strength.” Raje’s powerplay comes at a time when the internal dispute is rife within the BJP with several party members jockeying to become the party’s chief ministerial face. Among those is state BJP president Satish Poonia, whose tussle with Raje has been well documented. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    In a bid to counter Raje’s birthday bash, Poonia organised a protest on the same day against the Gehlot administration over the issue of paper leak, with instructions issued to all party lawmakers to participate in the protest.

    However, the Raje camp has claimed that as many as 12 MPs, 52 MLAs and 118 former MLAs of the party had taken part in the BJP leader’s birthday celebrations. This also included BJP’s State in-charge Arun Singh who visited Salasar to congratulate Raje and project a show of solidarity.

    Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP’s state in-charge Arun Singh have said that the assembly elections to be held this year will be fought under the collective leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But Raje’s supporters have been persistently demanding the party to make her the chief ministerial face and argue that no leader within the Rajasthan BJP camp is of her stature.

    Experts believe that by holding a grand rally in Salasar, Raje has given a befitting reply to her opponents in the party and also sent a message of her popularity to the central leadership. This comes as the role of Leader of the Opposition continues to be vacant after senior BJP leader Gulab Chand Kataria became the Governor of Assam. It is to be seen whether the BJP leadership will hand a bigger role to Raje ahead of the assembly elections.

  • Microphones in our Parliament are silenced, Rahul Gandhi tells British MPs

    By PTI

    LONDON: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told British parliamentarians in the Houses of Parliament complex in London on Monday that functioning microphones in the Lok Sabha are often silenced against the Opposition.

    During an event organised by veteran Indian-origin Opposition Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma in the Grand Committee Room within the House of Commons, Gandhi also shared experiences from the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ which he described as a “deeply political exercise in mass mobilisation.”

    In a lighter vein, he used a faulty microphone in the room to make his point about what he described as a “stifling” of Opposition in India.

    “Our mikes are not out of order, they are functioning, but you still can’t switch them on. That’s happened to me a number of times while I am speaking,” the 52-year-old Wayanad MP told the gathering, in response to a question about sharing his experience of being a politician in India with his counterparts in Britain.

    “Demonetisation, which was a disastrous financial decision, we were not allowed to discuss. The GST…we were not allowed to discuss. Chinese troops entering Indian territory…we were not allowed to discuss. I remember a Parliament where there were vibrant discussions, heated debates, arguments, and disagreements but we had a conversation. And, that’s frankly what we miss in Parliament. We have to use debates to fit in other debates. There is a stifling that is going on,” he said.

    Earlier on Sunday, the Congress leader said that the BJP follows “an ideology of hatred and violence”, and at the heart of their ideology is “cowardice. Gandhi made the remarks during an interaction with the Indian diaspora organised by the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) UK chapter while referring to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks on China during an interview.

    ALSO READ | Structures of India’s democracy under ‘brutal attack’, says Rahul in UK

    Referring to the BJP, the 52-year-old former Congress president said they have “an ideology of hatred and violence, a disrespectful ideology that attacks people because of their ideas. And you must have noticed one thing this is in the nature of BJP and the RSS.”

    “If you notice the statement of the Foreign Minister, he said China is much more powerful than us. To think China is more powerful than us, how can I pick a fight with them? At the heart of the ideology is cowardice,” he said, referring to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks during an interview.

    Gandhi further said that V D Savarkar has written in his book that once he and his friends beat up a Muslim man and that day they felt great happiness. “So if five people beat up a man and one person is experiencing happiness, then this is cowardice only. If you want to fight then go fight single-handedly,” he added

    Meanwhile, The BJP has accused Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil while praising China.

    Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday hit out at Gandhi for his remarks and asked the Congress leader not to betray the nation. “Don’t betray India, Rahul Gandhi ji. The objections to India’s foreign policy is an evidence of your scant understanding of the issue. No one will believe the lies you spread about India from foreign soil,” Thakur told reporters in New Delhi.

    Thakur said Gandhi has resorted to “maligning India” from foreign soil as part of a conspiracy to hide his failures.

    “Rahul Gandhi has become a storm of controversies. Be it foreign agencies, foreign channels or be it foreign soil. He does not lose a single opportunity to malign India,” Thakur said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Never defamed my country’, says Rahul in UK

    Gandhi took questions from the group of MPs and peers from the House of Lords to also highlight the importance of India-UK relations to create greater employment opportunities and also to protect Indian democracy.

    “Democracy in India is a global public good. India is big enough, where if democracy is weakened in India, it is weakened on the planet. India’s democracy is three times the size of the US and Europe and if this democracy crumbles, it will be a huge setback for democracy on the planet,” he said.

    WATCH | Modi govt doesn’t understand actual threat from China: Rahul Gandhi

    LONDON: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told British parliamentarians in the Houses of Parliament complex in London on Monday that functioning microphones in the Lok Sabha are often silenced against the Opposition.

    During an event organised by veteran Indian-origin Opposition Labour Party MP Virendra Sharma in the Grand Committee Room within the House of Commons, Gandhi also shared experiences from the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ which he described as a “deeply political exercise in mass mobilisation.”

    In a lighter vein, he used a faulty microphone in the room to make his point about what he described as a “stifling” of Opposition in India.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Our mikes are not out of order, they are functioning, but you still can’t switch them on. That’s happened to me a number of times while I am speaking,” the 52-year-old Wayanad MP told the gathering, in response to a question about sharing his experience of being a politician in India with his counterparts in Britain.

    “Demonetisation, which was a disastrous financial decision, we were not allowed to discuss. The GST…we were not allowed to discuss. Chinese troops entering Indian territory…we were not allowed to discuss. I remember a Parliament where there were vibrant discussions, heated debates, arguments, and disagreements but we had a conversation. And, that’s frankly what we miss in Parliament. We have to use debates to fit in other debates. There is a stifling that is going on,” he said.

    Earlier on Sunday, the Congress leader said that the BJP follows “an ideology of hatred and violence”, and at the heart of their ideology is “cowardice. Gandhi made the remarks during an interaction with the Indian diaspora organised by the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) UK chapter while referring to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks on China during an interview.

    ALSO READ | Structures of India’s democracy under ‘brutal attack’, says Rahul in UK

    Referring to the BJP, the 52-year-old former Congress president said they have “an ideology of hatred and violence, a disrespectful ideology that attacks people because of their ideas. And you must have noticed one thing this is in the nature of BJP and the RSS.”

    “If you notice the statement of the Foreign Minister, he said China is much more powerful than us. To think China is more powerful than us, how can I pick a fight with them? At the heart of the ideology is cowardice,” he said, referring to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks during an interview.

    Gandhi further said that V D Savarkar has written in his book that once he and his friends beat up a Muslim man and that day they felt great happiness. “So if five people beat up a man and one person is experiencing happiness, then this is cowardice only. If you want to fight then go fight single-handedly,” he added

    Meanwhile, The BJP has accused Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil while praising China.

    Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Monday hit out at Gandhi for his remarks and asked the Congress leader not to betray the nation. “Don’t betray India, Rahul Gandhi ji. The objections to India’s foreign policy is an evidence of your scant understanding of the issue. No one will believe the lies you spread about India from foreign soil,” Thakur told reporters in New Delhi.

    Thakur said Gandhi has resorted to “maligning India” from foreign soil as part of a conspiracy to hide his failures.

    “Rahul Gandhi has become a storm of controversies. Be it foreign agencies, foreign channels or be it foreign soil. He does not lose a single opportunity to malign India,” Thakur said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Never defamed my country’, says Rahul in UK

    Gandhi took questions from the group of MPs and peers from the House of Lords to also highlight the importance of India-UK relations to create greater employment opportunities and also to protect Indian democracy.

    “Democracy in India is a global public good. India is big enough, where if democracy is weakened in India, it is weakened on the planet. India’s democracy is three times the size of the US and Europe and if this democracy crumbles, it will be a huge setback for democracy on the planet,” he said.

    WATCH | Modi govt doesn’t understand actual threat from China: Rahul Gandhi

  • Storm in Gujarat BJP as several district chiefs quit party post

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD:  After winning 156 seats in assembly elections in December last year, the BJP is now witnessing the resignations of city and district chiefs one after another. On Wednesday, four district and city chiefs resigned. Presidents of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district and Bhavnagar city resigned.

    According to sources, this chief was asked to resign due to complaints and an internal dispute. A press release issued by BJP said: “The presidents of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district, and Bhavnagar city have voluntarily resigned due to personal reasons, indicating an inability to handle the responsibility, so the organisation body of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district, and Bhavnagar city has been dissolved.”

    Earlier this month, the presidents of districts of Banaskantha, Devbhumi Dwarka, Amreli, Surendranagar, Vadodara and Kheda were changed.

    BJP stated in the press release that they are the functionaries who were unable to accept the responsibility due to personal reasons. According to sources close to the party, the city and district presidents who resigned did not do so voluntarily; instead, they were asked to do so by the party after receiving complaints from local organisations. While some of them were also allegedly engaged in anti-party activity during the assembly elections so they were asked to resign, a source said.

    “Resignations have been taken in some places because the party promised to give positions to some angry leaders who were willing to leave the party during the assembly elections,” a source said. It is worth noting that the Gujarat BJP appointed former MLA Satish Patel as Vadodara president, despite being reportedly in a rebellious mood ahead of the assembly elections after the party denied him a ticket.

    BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas told the media that “many presidents have been elected as MLAs so that they can do their work better as people’s representatives, and they want to stay among the people, whereas the BJP’s district president’s responsibility is full-time, and the city/district organisation is constantly working. As a result, it is difficult to work both positions, and those who felt they needed to devote more time as public representatives have resigned.”

    AHMEDABAD:  After winning 156 seats in assembly elections in December last year, the BJP is now witnessing the resignations of city and district chiefs one after another. On Wednesday, four district and city chiefs resigned. Presidents of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district and Bhavnagar city resigned.

    According to sources, this chief was asked to resign due to complaints and an internal dispute. A press release issued by BJP said: “The presidents of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district, and Bhavnagar city have voluntarily resigned due to personal reasons, indicating an inability to handle the responsibility, so the organisation body of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district, and Bhavnagar city has been dissolved.”

    Earlier this month, the presidents of districts of Banaskantha, Devbhumi Dwarka, Amreli, Surendranagar, Vadodara and Kheda were changed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    BJP stated in the press release that they are the functionaries who were unable to accept the responsibility due to personal reasons. According to sources close to the party, the city and district presidents who resigned did not do so voluntarily; instead, they were asked to do so by the party after receiving complaints from local organisations. While some of them were also allegedly engaged in anti-party activity during the assembly elections so they were asked to resign, a source said.

    “Resignations have been taken in some places because the party promised to give positions to some angry leaders who were willing to leave the party during the assembly elections,” a source said. It is worth noting that the Gujarat BJP appointed former MLA Satish Patel as Vadodara president, despite being reportedly in a rebellious mood ahead of the assembly elections after the party denied him a ticket.

    BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas told the media that “many presidents have been elected as MLAs so that they can do their work better as people’s representatives, and they want to stay among the people, whereas the BJP’s district president’s responsibility is full-time, and the city/district organisation is constantly working. As a result, it is difficult to work both positions, and those who felt they needed to devote more time as public representatives have resigned.”

  • BJP will be ousted from power in 2024, says RJD supremo Lalu Prasad

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Former Union Railway Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav said on Saturday that BJP would be ousted from power at the centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha election as a grand alliance is ready to give the former a tough contest.

    Addressing a mammoth rally of grand alliance in Bihar’s Purnea virtually, Lalu said that it was high time all Opposition parties should come together to fight against BJP-RSS as the country’s democracy and constitution are in danger.

    “BJP koi rajnitik party nahi hai balki RSS ka mukhauta hai (BJP is not a political outfit, it’s only a mask of RSS),” veteran politician, who is recuperating in New Delhi after undergoing a kidney transplant in Singapore, said.

    He said that he had predicted in 2014 that if BJP was voted to power the country will suffer a lot. “What I had said then is happening today. The country is on the brink of division. Poverty is at its peak due to autocratic government at the centre,” he alleged.

    Recalling his fight against BJP-RSS, Lalu said that he had stopped the chariot of the BJP in Bihar in 1990. “When state’s politics takes a turn, its impact is felt across the country. Now Lalu and Nitish have come together. Nobody should be under any illusion as our alliance is based on ideology,” he added.

    He reiterated that the two parties have resolved to remain together. He said political parties will survive only when the country’s democracy and constitution are safe. So all Opposition parties have to fight unitedly against BJP in the next election.

    PATNA: Former Union Railway Minister and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav said on Saturday that BJP would be ousted from power at the centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha election as a grand alliance is ready to give the former a tough contest.

    Addressing a mammoth rally of grand alliance in Bihar’s Purnea virtually, Lalu said that it was high time all Opposition parties should come together to fight against BJP-RSS as the country’s democracy and constitution are in danger.

    “BJP koi rajnitik party nahi hai balki RSS ka mukhauta hai (BJP is not a political outfit, it’s only a mask of RSS),” veteran politician, who is recuperating in New Delhi after undergoing a kidney transplant in Singapore, said.

    He said that he had predicted in 2014 that if BJP was voted to power the country will suffer a lot. “What I had said then is happening today. The country is on the brink of division. Poverty is at its peak due to autocratic government at the centre,” he alleged.

    Recalling his fight against BJP-RSS, Lalu said that he had stopped the chariot of the BJP in Bihar in 1990. “When state’s politics takes a turn, its impact is felt across the country. Now Lalu and Nitish have come together. Nobody should be under any illusion as our alliance is based on ideology,” he added.

    He reiterated that the two parties have resolved to remain together. He said political parties will survive only when the country’s democracy and constitution are safe. So all Opposition parties have to fight unitedly against BJP in the next election.

  • Avoid unwarranted comments on religious issues: Nadda to MPs   

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Ahead of the 2024 general elections, the BJP seems to have started treading cautiously on religious issues. BJP national president JP Nadda has directed party MPs to avoid making any statement on religious issues which could snowball into major controversies. Nadda’s direction came after party leaders had been mired in disputes over religious issues, the latest one related to the BJP-Congress contest over a religious seer.

    In a virtual meeting, Nadda communicated that only authorised spokespersons of party – after consultation with the organisation’s senior think-tank – would given statements on religious themes like ‘Hindutva’ or ‘Hindu rashtra’.

    Sources in the BJP said that Nadda had asked party MPs that those faithful to any centre of religion – in this case the Bageshwar Dham – should avoid making comment on religious issues or belief. “Any such comment on issues related to religion could either land the party in an spot or may snowball into a bigger controversy,” Nadda reportedly instructed the MPs during online meeting.

    Sharing strategies, in view of the elections in 2024, Nadda said that all party MPs must bring the government’s performance sheet to the common people in their respective constituencies. Nadda also instructed party MPs to take the President’s address, at the joint sitting of both houses of the Parliament, to the common people. President Draupadi Murmu’s inaugural address at the Budget session highlighted the Centre’s policies and plans for the upcoming year.

    Additionally, he asked the MPs to complete organising the of the ‘MP Khel Spardha’ (MP sports competition) as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion. Nadda’s instruction on religious issues also followed party MP Manoj Tiwary’s visit to a religious event held at the Bageshwar Dham where he had reportedly sung a Bhojpuri song and had reportedly spoken on ‘Hindutva’ and ‘Hindu rashtra’.

    NEW DELHI:  Ahead of the 2024 general elections, the BJP seems to have started treading cautiously on religious issues. BJP national president JP Nadda has directed party MPs to avoid making any statement on religious issues which could snowball into major controversies. Nadda’s direction came after party leaders had been mired in disputes over religious issues, the latest one related to the BJP-Congress contest over a religious seer.

    In a virtual meeting, Nadda communicated that only authorised spokespersons of party – after consultation with the organisation’s senior think-tank – would given statements on religious themes like ‘Hindutva’ or ‘Hindu rashtra’.

    Sources in the BJP said that Nadda had asked party MPs that those faithful to any centre of religion – in this case the Bageshwar Dham – should avoid making comment on religious issues or belief. “Any such comment on issues related to religion could either land the party in an spot or may snowball into a bigger controversy,” Nadda reportedly instructed the MPs during online meeting.

    Sharing strategies, in view of the elections in 2024, Nadda said that all party MPs must bring the government’s performance sheet to the common people in their respective constituencies. Nadda also instructed party MPs to take the President’s address, at the joint sitting of both houses of the Parliament, to the common people. President Draupadi Murmu’s inaugural address at the Budget session highlighted the Centre’s policies and plans for the upcoming year.

    Additionally, he asked the MPs to complete organising the of the ‘MP Khel Spardha’ (MP sports competition) as per Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s suggestion. Nadda’s instruction on religious issues also followed party MP Manoj Tiwary’s visit to a religious event held at the Bageshwar Dham where he had reportedly sung a Bhojpuri song and had reportedly spoken on ‘Hindutva’ and ‘Hindu rashtra’.

  • BBC’s reporting ‘venomous’, allow I-T dept to do its job: BJP on Tax ‘survey’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing “venomous” reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress’ agenda go together.

    The remarks came soon after Income Tax officials ‘surveyed’ the British broadcaster’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi.

    Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia rejected the Congress’ criticism of the Income Tax (I-T) action and said the government agency should be allowed to do its job.

    Hitting out at the London-headquartered public broadcaster, he said BBC is the “most corrupt” organisation in the world, adding that the Congress should remember that the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also banned the broadcaster. The BJP leader further claimed that BBC has a “tainted and black history of working with malice against India.”

    He cited its past reports, including the one which described a terrorist as a “charismatic young militant” and allegedly called Holi a “filthy” festival. It works in India, but has little regard for its constitution, he said.

    At a time when India is marching ahead globally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, there are many powers which do not like it, Bhatia said, claiming that the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties also feel the “pain” at the country’s rise.

    Accusing the opposition Congress of supporting “anti-national” forces, he said, “Your hate for Modi is so much that you politicise even a probe agency’s work. You always question constitutional authorities like the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.”

    The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.

    The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices, saying while they were demanding a JPC on the Adani issue, the Centre is after the BBC.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (when doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).

    A recent BBC series on the 2002 Gujarat riots has come in for criticism from the ruling BJP in India, with the government blocking access to it on social media platforms.

    NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday accused the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) of unleashing “venomous” reporting against India and alleged that its propaganda and the Congress’ agenda go together.

    The remarks came soon after Income Tax officials ‘surveyed’ the British broadcaster’s offices in Mumbai and Delhi.

    Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia rejected the Congress’ criticism of the Income Tax (I-T) action and said the government agency should be allowed to do its job.

    Hitting out at the London-headquartered public broadcaster, he said BBC is the “most corrupt” organisation in the world, adding that the Congress should remember that the then prime minister Indira Gandhi had also banned the broadcaster. The BJP leader further claimed that BBC has a “tainted and black history of working with malice against India.”

    He cited its past reports, including the one which described a terrorist as a “charismatic young militant” and allegedly called Holi a “filthy” festival. It works in India, but has little regard for its constitution, he said.

    At a time when India is marching ahead globally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, there are many powers which do not like it, Bhatia said, claiming that the Congress, its leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition parties also feel the “pain” at the country’s rise.

    Accusing the opposition Congress of supporting “anti-national” forces, he said, “Your hate for Modi is so much that you politicise even a probe agency’s work. You always question constitutional authorities like the Supreme Court and the Election Commission.”

    The Income Tax Department on Tuesday conducted a survey operation at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of a tax evasion investigation, officials said.

    The Congress on Tuesday took a swipe at the government over the Income Tax survey operation at the BBC offices, saying while they were demanding a JPC on the Adani issue, the Centre is after the BBC.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also used a Hindi idiom to attack the government, saying “Vinash Kale, Vipreet Buddhi” (when doom approaches, a person’s intellect works against his interest).

    A recent BBC series on the 2002 Gujarat riots has come in for criticism from the ruling BJP in India, with the government blocking access to it on social media platforms.