News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • PM Modi made it possible for Rahul Gandhi to hoist tricolour at Lal Chowk: BJP

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI/JAMMU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created such an atmosphere in Kashmir that any Indian can hoist the national flag with pride at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the BJP said on Sunday and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to thank him for the change in the Valley.

    The comments from BJP spokesperson and former Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore came after Gandhi unfurled the tricolour at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk, popularly known as ‘Ghanta Ghar’, as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which concludes on Monday.

    “Rahul Gandhi is hoisting tiranga with pride at Lal Chowk. PM Modi and his government had created such a situation in Kashmir that every Indian can unfurl tiranga with pride there. Rahul Gandhi must thank Modi ji after unfurling tiranga,” he said in a statement.

    Echoing similar views, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina said the credit for Gandhi unfurling the national flag goes to Modi who normalised the situation in the Valley with the abrogation of Article 370.

    Gandhi was able to do it because of the policies of Prime Minister Modi who dealt a severe blow to separatism and terrorism by abrogating Article 370 (in 2019) and strengthened nationalist forces, paving way for the normalisation of the situation and return of peace to the region, he said in Jammu.

    Raina said the Congress ruled the country for the most part of the past seven decades but none of its leaders dared to unfurl the tricolour at Lal Chowk. Modi, along with the then BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi, unfurled the national flag at the same venue when terrorism was at its peak in 1990, he said.

    Today, peace and normalcy have returned to Kashmir due to the efforts of Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi was able to move to Lal Chowk and unfurl the tricolour which none of his party leaders could do in the past 70 years, the BJP leader said.

    Referring to the recent statement of AICC in-charge J-K Rajni Patil that Gandhi will unfurl the national flag at the party headquarters rather than Lal Chowk which is the agenda of the RSS, Raina said, “Though late, the Congress has started working on the nationalist agenda of the RSS.”

    “We want to tell Gandhi and his party leaders to learn from the RSS members who have nationalist sentiments in their hearts and work for the nation,” he said in a swipe at the Congress.

    NEW DELHI/JAMMU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created such an atmosphere in Kashmir that any Indian can hoist the national flag with pride at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the BJP said on Sunday and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to thank him for the change in the Valley.

    The comments from BJP spokesperson and former Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore came after Gandhi unfurled the tricolour at the historic clock tower of Lal Chowk, popularly known as ‘Ghanta Ghar’, as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which concludes on Monday.

    “Rahul Gandhi is hoisting tiranga with pride at Lal Chowk. PM Modi and his government had created such a situation in Kashmir that every Indian can unfurl tiranga with pride there. Rahul Gandhi must thank Modi ji after unfurling tiranga,” he said in a statement.

    Echoing similar views, Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina said the credit for Gandhi unfurling the national flag goes to Modi who normalised the situation in the Valley with the abrogation of Article 370.

    Gandhi was able to do it because of the policies of Prime Minister Modi who dealt a severe blow to separatism and terrorism by abrogating Article 370 (in 2019) and strengthened nationalist forces, paving way for the normalisation of the situation and return of peace to the region, he said in Jammu.

    Raina said the Congress ruled the country for the most part of the past seven decades but none of its leaders dared to unfurl the tricolour at Lal Chowk. Modi, along with the then BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi, unfurled the national flag at the same venue when terrorism was at its peak in 1990, he said.

    Today, peace and normalcy have returned to Kashmir due to the efforts of Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Gandhi was able to move to Lal Chowk and unfurl the tricolour which none of his party leaders could do in the past 70 years, the BJP leader said.

    Referring to the recent statement of AICC in-charge J-K Rajni Patil that Gandhi will unfurl the national flag at the party headquarters rather than Lal Chowk which is the agenda of the RSS, Raina said, “Though late, the Congress has started working on the nationalist agenda of the RSS.”

    “We want to tell Gandhi and his party leaders to learn from the RSS members who have nationalist sentiments in their hearts and work for the nation,” he said in a swipe at the Congress.

  • BJP leader Laishram Rameswor Singh shot dead in Manipur

    By Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: A BJP leader in Manipur was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday.

    The motive behind the killing of Laishram Rameswor Singh (50) was yet to be ascertained. The police arrested one person and are searching for the prime suspect. The police appealed to him to surrender and warned people not to shelter him.

    The assailants came in a car and fired at Singh, who was the convener of the BJP’s ex-servicemen cell in the state, near the gate of his house at Kshetri locality of Thoubal district in the Imphal valley. The vehicle sped away immediately after the incident, which occurred at around 11 am.

    Singh sustained gunshot wounds on his chest and succumbed to injuries at a private hospital in Imphal. After autopsy, the body was taken to the BJP’s state office where party leaders, including Chief Minister N Biren Singh, paid floral tributes.

    The BJP condemned the killing and demanded the arrest and punishment of all those responsible for the murder.

    GUWAHATI: A BJP leader in Manipur was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Tuesday.

    The motive behind the killing of Laishram Rameswor Singh (50) was yet to be ascertained. The police arrested one person and are searching for the prime suspect. The police appealed to him to surrender and warned people not to shelter him.

    The assailants came in a car and fired at Singh, who was the convener of the BJP’s ex-servicemen cell in the state, near the gate of his house at Kshetri locality of Thoubal district in the Imphal valley. The vehicle sped away immediately after the incident, which occurred at around 11 am.

    Singh sustained gunshot wounds on his chest and succumbed to injuries at a private hospital in Imphal. After autopsy, the body was taken to the BJP’s state office where party leaders, including Chief Minister N Biren Singh, paid floral tributes.

    The BJP condemned the killing and demanded the arrest and punishment of all those responsible for the murder.

  • ‘Pressing wrong button will bring back mafia raj in UP’: JP Nadda begins BJP’s 2024 push

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Launching the saffron party’s campaign for 2024, BJP President JP Nadda on Friday claimed pressing the “wrong button” would result in the return of “mafia raj” while pressing the right button would bring development and prosperity to the state. 

    Nadda, who was addressing a meeting in Ghazipur, said,  the people of Uttar Pradesh rejected “mafia rah” by voting BJP to power at the centre and state and added that the Modi government provided proactive and responsible governance by ensuring money was sent for development.

    “Pushing the right button brings highways, expressways, medical colleges and other developments,” said the BJP chief.

    Nadda said, there had been “goonda raj” and “mafia raj” in UP, where land grabbing, kidnapping, extortion, hooliganism and unlawful activities had become common practices. With the formation of a double-engine government, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ensured the end of ‘mafia raj’ by acting tough on gangsters and criminals to set up rule of law in the state, he added.

    The BJP chief chose Ghazipur to blow the poll bugle as part of the party’s strategy to focus on 14 of the 80 seats which the saffron party lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

    Targeting the previous Akhilesh Yadav government over alleged corruption, the BJP chief said, “During the government of Akhilesh Yadav when we used to send money, it used to go somewhere else as there was a hole in the bowl of the state government. No work was done on the ground using that money.”

    “Now under the present regime, so far Rs 22 lakh crores have reached the bank accounts of beneficiaries from different government schemes through direct benefit transfer scheme without involving middlemen,” he said adding that, “85 paise of every single rupee sent by the Centre, during the Congress regime, were grabbed by unknown ‘Panja’.”

    Nadda claimed that Uttar Pradesh had emerged as HIRA  under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Yogi Adityanath government. “Today, I say that development means HIRA — H for Highway, I for Internet, R for Railways and A for Airways,” he elaborated.

    “Yogi government is ensuring implementation of all central schemes on priority and each assembly segment of state are being benefitted by development projects,” he said.

    Nadda did not spare Bahujan Samaj Party MP from Ghazipur Afzal Ansari saying: “The local MP is not concerned about the development of Ghazipur. Instead, he is working only for the release of his brother (mafia don Mukhtar Ansari) from jail. These people symbolize mafia raj. They looted and intimidated people to the hill. Action initiated against them brought peace in the state.”

    Speaking about the economy, the BJP chief said India emerged as the fifth largest economy in the world. “As per IMF’s prediction, it will reach fourth place soon in a span of just 8 years of Modi rule.”

    After reaching Ghazipur Nadda along with CM Yogi, BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary, state general secretary (organization) Dharampal Saini and other party leaders visited Pawahari Baba Ashram and later felicitated the ex-servicemen during a meeting with them at Bansi Bazar. Before leaving for Delhi, Nadda also held meetings with the BJP poll management committee.

    LUCKNOW: Launching the saffron party’s campaign for 2024, BJP President JP Nadda on Friday claimed pressing the “wrong button” would result in the return of “mafia raj” while pressing the right button would bring development and prosperity to the state. 

    Nadda, who was addressing a meeting in Ghazipur, said,  the people of Uttar Pradesh rejected “mafia rah” by voting BJP to power at the centre and state and added that the Modi government provided proactive and responsible governance by ensuring money was sent for development.

    “Pushing the right button brings highways, expressways, medical colleges and other developments,” said the BJP chief.

    Nadda said, there had been “goonda raj” and “mafia raj” in UP, where land grabbing, kidnapping, extortion, hooliganism and unlawful activities had become common practices. With the formation of a double-engine government, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ensured the end of ‘mafia raj’ by acting tough on gangsters and criminals to set up rule of law in the state, he added.

    The BJP chief chose Ghazipur to blow the poll bugle as part of the party’s strategy to focus on 14 of the 80 seats which the saffron party lost in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

    Targeting the previous Akhilesh Yadav government over alleged corruption, the BJP chief said, “During the government of Akhilesh Yadav when we used to send money, it used to go somewhere else as there was a hole in the bowl of the state government. No work was done on the ground using that money.”

    “Now under the present regime, so far Rs 22 lakh crores have reached the bank accounts of beneficiaries from different government schemes through direct benefit transfer scheme without involving middlemen,” he said adding that, “85 paise of every single rupee sent by the Centre, during the Congress regime, were grabbed by unknown ‘Panja’.”

    Nadda claimed that Uttar Pradesh had emerged as HIRA  under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Yogi Adityanath government. “Today, I say that development means HIRA — H for Highway, I for Internet, R for Railways and A for Airways,” he elaborated.

    “Yogi government is ensuring implementation of all central schemes on priority and each assembly segment of state are being benefitted by development projects,” he said.

    Nadda did not spare Bahujan Samaj Party MP from Ghazipur Afzal Ansari saying: “The local MP is not concerned about the development of Ghazipur. Instead, he is working only for the release of his brother (mafia don Mukhtar Ansari) from jail. These people symbolize mafia raj. They looted and intimidated people to the hill. Action initiated against them brought peace in the state.”

    Speaking about the economy, the BJP chief said India emerged as the fifth largest economy in the world. “As per IMF’s prediction, it will reach fourth place soon in a span of just 8 years of Modi rule.”

    After reaching Ghazipur Nadda along with CM Yogi, BJP state president Bhupendra Chaudhary, state general secretary (organization) Dharampal Saini and other party leaders visited Pawahari Baba Ashram and later felicitated the ex-servicemen during a meeting with them at Bansi Bazar. Before leaving for Delhi, Nadda also held meetings with the BJP poll management committee.

  • Bengal BJP expects CAA message in Nadda’s rally

    Express News Service

    Kolkata: Bengal BJP is expecting a message from the party’s national president JP Nadda on the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) during his visit to Nadia district, a stronghold of Matuas, a Hindu religious sect comprising refugees from Bangladesh, on January 19.

    Nadda will address a rally in Bethuadahari and the leadership of the saffron camp in Bengal is hopeful that he will give a roadmap for CAA’s implementation.

    The BJP made inroads in Matua strongholds both in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Assembly polls. Implementation of the CAA was the promise that the BJP made in recent previous elections to woo Matua electorates.

    “I have not yet talked to the party’s high command about Nadda ji’s rally. I will request our leadership in Delhi to clear the confusion over the issue of implementation of the CAA,” said BJP MP from Ranaghat.

    A BJP leader said he is expecting a clear message on the CAA as part of Nadda’s rally in the Matua-dominated district. “Matuas extended support in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections only because of our promise to give them citizenship by implementing the CAA. Now if we do not give them a deadline to implement the act, retaining the vote bank will be difficult for us,” he said.

    The BJP leaders in Kolkata said that if Nadda delivers a message on CAA, the mercury in Bengal politics will start soaring up before the panchayat elections.

    “Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly opposed CAA and she on several occasions announced that her government and party would not allow the implementation of the CAA in Bengal. Despite her strong opposition, Naddaji should mention about CAA in his speech otherwise our party will face a debacle in the rural polls in many pockets in Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts,” said a BJP leader.

    Bengal had witnessed large-scale violent protests after the contentious Act passed in the Parliament. BJP’s elected legislators and MPs also expressed their discontent when the Centre preferred to remain silent on the issue of CAA’s implementation.  

    Nadda was also scheduled to address another rally in Hooghly’s Arambagh, which is not a Matua stronghold, but the party’s high command cancelled. “Since the party wanted its national president to give more time in a Matua-dominated district, we are quite hopeful about CAA in Bengal,” said another BJP leader.

    Kolkata: Bengal BJP is expecting a message from the party’s national president JP Nadda on the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) during his visit to Nadia district, a stronghold of Matuas, a Hindu religious sect comprising refugees from Bangladesh, on January 19.

    Nadda will address a rally in Bethuadahari and the leadership of the saffron camp in Bengal is hopeful that he will give a roadmap for CAA’s implementation.

    The BJP made inroads in Matua strongholds both in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2021 Assembly polls. Implementation of the CAA was the promise that the BJP made in recent previous elections to woo Matua electorates.

    “I have not yet talked to the party’s high command about Nadda ji’s rally. I will request our leadership in Delhi to clear the confusion over the issue of implementation of the CAA,” said BJP MP from Ranaghat.

    A BJP leader said he is expecting a clear message on the CAA as part of Nadda’s rally in the Matua-dominated district. “Matuas extended support in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections only because of our promise to give them citizenship by implementing the CAA. Now if we do not give them a deadline to implement the act, retaining the vote bank will be difficult for us,” he said.

    The BJP leaders in Kolkata said that if Nadda delivers a message on CAA, the mercury in Bengal politics will start soaring up before the panchayat elections.

    “Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly opposed CAA and she on several occasions announced that her government and party would not allow the implementation of the CAA in Bengal. Despite her strong opposition, Naddaji should mention about CAA in his speech otherwise our party will face a debacle in the rural polls in many pockets in Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts,” said a BJP leader.

    Bengal had witnessed large-scale violent protests after the contentious Act passed in the Parliament. BJP’s elected legislators and MPs also expressed their discontent when the Centre preferred to remain silent on the issue of CAA’s implementation.  

    Nadda was also scheduled to address another rally in Hooghly’s Arambagh, which is not a Matua stronghold, but the party’s high command cancelled. “Since the party wanted its national president to give more time in a Matua-dominated district, we are quite hopeful about CAA in Bengal,” said another BJP leader.

  • BJP’s two-day national executive meet begins Monday

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A two-day national executive meeting of the BJP will begin from Monday here that is likely to endorse an extension of tenure for party national president J P Nadda and deliberate on its strategy for assembly and general elections.

    Nadda’s three-year term as the national president ends this month. He is likely to lead the party till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are over.

    Before the start of the national executive meeting on Monday, the party has organised a road show for Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Patel Chowk to the NDMC convention centre, the meeting venue.

    Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party general secretary Vinod Tawde said that several important issues facing the country will be discussed at the meeting.

    There will be discussions on political and economic resolutions, he said.

    Underlining that the meeting is being held at an important juncture, Tawde said, “Elaborate discussions will be held on the upcoming assembly elections in states, the BJP’s ‘pravas yojana’ for weak Lok Sabha seats and strengthening booth level teams.”

    In a way this meeting will finalise the party’s future course of action of the BJP, he said.

    Before the national executive, a meeting of the party’s national office bearers, state unit presidents and various organisational secretaries will be held at the BJP headquarters here.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, several Union ministers and chief ministers of the party-ruled states will attend the meeting.

    Tawde said a grand exhibition will be held at the sidelines of the BJP’s national executive based on six themes including service works of the party.

    It will also showcase India as ‘Vishwa Guru’, initiatives like governance-first, empowering the deprived, inclusive and strong India and conserving the age-old icons like building the Ram temple at Ayodhya, and the rise of Sanatan Dharma across the globe.

    NEW DELHI: A two-day national executive meeting of the BJP will begin from Monday here that is likely to endorse an extension of tenure for party national president J P Nadda and deliberate on its strategy for assembly and general elections.

    Nadda’s three-year term as the national president ends this month. He is likely to lead the party till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are over.

    Before the start of the national executive meeting on Monday, the party has organised a road show for Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Patel Chowk to the NDMC convention centre, the meeting venue.

    Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party general secretary Vinod Tawde said that several important issues facing the country will be discussed at the meeting.

    There will be discussions on political and economic resolutions, he said.

    Underlining that the meeting is being held at an important juncture, Tawde said, “Elaborate discussions will be held on the upcoming assembly elections in states, the BJP’s ‘pravas yojana’ for weak Lok Sabha seats and strengthening booth level teams.”

    In a way this meeting will finalise the party’s future course of action of the BJP, he said.

    Before the national executive, a meeting of the party’s national office bearers, state unit presidents and various organisational secretaries will be held at the BJP headquarters here.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, several Union ministers and chief ministers of the party-ruled states will attend the meeting.

    Tawde said a grand exhibition will be held at the sidelines of the BJP’s national executive based on six themes including service works of the party.

    It will also showcase India as ‘Vishwa Guru’, initiatives like governance-first, empowering the deprived, inclusive and strong India and conserving the age-old icons like building the Ram temple at Ayodhya, and the rise of Sanatan Dharma across the globe.

  • BJP doing dirty politics to stop AAP govt from sending teachers to Finland for training: Sisodia

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday alleged that the BJP was resorting to “dirty politics” to stop the AAP government’s efforts to send school teachers to Finland for training.

    At a press conference here, he said so far around 1,100 teachers have undergone training abroad, including Singapore, the UK and Finland.

    Now, that the people of the BJP have an “unauthorised hold” over the services department, they are “doing dirty politics” to stop the AAP government in Delhi from giving the best training to teachers, Sisodia alleged.

    He said that if Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena cares for the future of children and doesn’t want their education to be impacted, then he “should not side with the BJP in their conspiracy”. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP or the LG Secretariat over Sisodia’s charges.

    “We wanted to send a batch of 30 teachers to Finland for training. The LG delayed it on one pretext or another,” Sisodia claimed.

    The Delhi deputy chief minister alleged the BJP was trying to “use all its might” to stop the Delhi government’s efforts to send school teachers to Finland for training.

    “We sent teachers to Finland as it is one of the best places that has carried out education reforms. We want to expose our teachers to such international standards, as it is the teachers who contribute to raising the standard of education,” Sisodia told reporters.

    He said, “The BJP doesn’t know it because they have nothing to do with education.” Sisodia said the file regarding sending teachers to Finland for training will be again sent to the LG.

    “We had sent the file on Finland visit of teachers to LG, and he has asked for a cost-benefit analysis if such a programme can be done in India,” he claimed, adding, “The prime minister and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will go to World Economic Forum.

    Will that also be stopped on the pretext of cost-benefit analysis?” 

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday alleged that the BJP was resorting to “dirty politics” to stop the AAP government’s efforts to send school teachers to Finland for training.

    At a press conference here, he said so far around 1,100 teachers have undergone training abroad, including Singapore, the UK and Finland.

    Now, that the people of the BJP have an “unauthorised hold” over the services department, they are “doing dirty politics” to stop the AAP government in Delhi from giving the best training to teachers, Sisodia alleged.

    He said that if Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena cares for the future of children and doesn’t want their education to be impacted, then he “should not side with the BJP in their conspiracy”. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP or the LG Secretariat over Sisodia’s charges.

    “We wanted to send a batch of 30 teachers to Finland for training. The LG delayed it on one pretext or another,” Sisodia claimed.

    The Delhi deputy chief minister alleged the BJP was trying to “use all its might” to stop the Delhi government’s efforts to send school teachers to Finland for training.

    “We sent teachers to Finland as it is one of the best places that has carried out education reforms. We want to expose our teachers to such international standards, as it is the teachers who contribute to raising the standard of education,” Sisodia told reporters.

    He said, “The BJP doesn’t know it because they have nothing to do with education.” Sisodia said the file regarding sending teachers to Finland for training will be again sent to the LG.

    “We had sent the file on Finland visit of teachers to LG, and he has asked for a cost-benefit analysis if such a programme can be done in India,” he claimed, adding, “The prime minister and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will go to World Economic Forum.

    Will that also be stopped on the pretext of cost-benefit analysis?” 

  • Bhopal Diary: Uma Bharti meets expelled BJP leader

    Express News Service

    Uma Bharti meets expelled BJP leaderEx-CM and former Union Minister Uma Bharti created a flutter by recently meeting the expelled BJP leader Pritam Lodhi in Gwalior. She said that if the party can apologise for acting against ex-finance minister and senior leader Jayant Malaiya (against whom action was initiated in the wake of 2021 Damoh by-poll loss), why can’t it forgive the backward caste leader Pritam Lodhi. Lodhi was expelled from BJP for outrageous utterances about Brahmins last year and since then has been working with the OBC Mahasabha to build a third front in MP politics. Bharti has recently asked her OBC Lodhi community to decide on who to vote on their volition and not be influenced.

    Scindia loyalist claims Congress wants him backA Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist MP minister Brijendra Singh Yadav has claimed that the opposition Congress is trying for his return to the party. Yadav, who represents Mungaoli seat in the Vidhan Sabha and is a minister of state, recently alleged that Congress is trying to get him back to the party, but every time the grand old party does so, its own ranks switchover to the BJP.  Yadav’s allegation comes a few weeks after the Leader of Opposition Dr Govind Singh had claimed that many Scindia loyalist and former MLAs wanted to return to the Congress, as they fear that BJP may deny them tickets in the assembly polls.

    Sagar city to levy tax on pet owners from AprilCome April 2023, Sagar city will become MP’s first city to levy a tax on pet dog owners. According to Sagar municipal commissioner Chandrashekhar Shukla in the wake of rising stray dog menace and dirtying of public places by defecation of pet dogs, all the municipal wards of Sagar have unanimously resolved for strict registeration, vaccination of dogs as well as levying tax on those owning the pet dogs. The rules for it will be framed by the Sagar Municipal Corporation in consultation with legal experts and the new rules will come into effect from April 2023. 

    Anuraag singhOur correspondent in Madhya [email protected]

    Uma Bharti meets expelled BJP leader
    Ex-CM and former Union Minister Uma Bharti created a flutter by recently meeting the expelled BJP leader Pritam Lodhi in Gwalior. She said that if the party can apologise for acting against ex-finance minister and senior leader Jayant Malaiya (against whom action was initiated in the wake of 2021 Damoh by-poll loss), why can’t it forgive the backward caste leader Pritam Lodhi. Lodhi was expelled from BJP for outrageous utterances about Brahmins last year and since then has been working with the OBC Mahasabha to build a third front in MP politics. Bharti has recently asked her OBC Lodhi community to decide on who to vote on their volition and not be influenced.

    Scindia loyalist claims Congress wants him back
    A Jyotiraditya Scindia loyalist MP minister Brijendra Singh Yadav has claimed that the opposition Congress is trying for his return to the party. Yadav, who represents Mungaoli seat in the Vidhan Sabha and is a minister of state, recently alleged that Congress is trying to get him back to the party, but every time the grand old party does so, its own ranks switchover to the BJP.  Yadav’s allegation comes a few weeks after the Leader of Opposition Dr Govind Singh had claimed that many Scindia loyalist and former MLAs wanted to return to the Congress, as they fear that BJP may deny them tickets in the assembly polls.

    Sagar city to levy tax on pet owners from April
    Come April 2023, Sagar city will become MP’s first city to levy a tax on pet dog owners. According to Sagar municipal commissioner Chandrashekhar Shukla in the wake of rising stray dog menace and dirtying of public places by defecation of pet dogs, all the municipal wards of Sagar have unanimously resolved for strict registeration, vaccination of dogs as well as levying tax on those owning the pet dogs. The rules for it will be framed by the Sagar Municipal Corporation in consultation with legal experts and the new rules will come into effect from April 2023. 

    Anuraag singh
    Our correspondent in Madhya Pradesh
    [email protected]

  • BJP’s ‘use and discard’ policy responsible for plight of Kashmiri Pandit employees: Kharge

    Rahul Bhat, a Kashmiri Pandit employee, was shot dead by terrorists inside his office at Chadoora in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir in May last year.

  • Lalu Prasad’s daughter Rohini strongly bats for special status to Bihar

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Rohini Acharaya, 40, is not in the mood to enter politics now, but bats for special status to Bihar. She hopes that the Modi government will work closely with the Bihar government for the state’s development. Rohini is one the daughters of RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav. 

    She also became a household name after she donated one of her kidneys to her ailing father. Moved at this act of her, many leaders of the BJP coming above party lines, had hailed her decision. A BJP leader had tweeted that if God gives him a daughter, she should be like Rohini Acharya. Talking to this newspaper, she said: “There is no plan to join politics. I am happily settled in Singapore with my kids. Also, I have no immediate plans of coming back to India as my children are in school in Singapore.”

    When asked what made her to donate one of her kidneys to her father, she said that her kidney was just ‘a small chunk of flesh’ that she donated to her father as a farz (duty) of a daughter. Speaking about the political future of her brother Tejashwi Yadav, she said that Tejashwi is serving the people sincerely. “I am confident that he will continue to serve the people of Bihar and India in future,” she said.

    She also batted for special status for Bihar strongly. “I would like Bihar to get special status from the centre as soon as possible which will help accelerate development of Bihar. I want to see Bihar regain its lost glory of once being the ‘education hub of India’,” she added.

    NEW DELHI:  Rohini Acharaya, 40, is not in the mood to enter politics now, but bats for special status to Bihar. She hopes that the Modi government will work closely with the Bihar government for the state’s development. Rohini is one the daughters of RJD national president Lalu Prasad Yadav. 

    She also became a household name after she donated one of her kidneys to her ailing father. Moved at this 
    act of her, many leaders of the BJP coming above party lines, had hailed her decision. A BJP leader had tweeted that if God gives him a daughter, she should be like Rohini Acharya. Talking to this newspaper, she said: “There is no plan to join politics. I am happily settled in Singapore with my kids. Also, I have no immediate plans of coming back to India as my children are in school in Singapore.”

    When asked what made her to donate one of her kidneys to her father, she said that her kidney was just ‘a small chunk of flesh’ that she donated to her father as a farz (duty) of a daughter. Speaking about the political future of her brother Tejashwi Yadav, she said that Tejashwi is serving the people sincerely. “I am confident that he will continue to serve the people of Bihar and India in future,” she said.

    She also batted for special status for Bihar strongly. “I would like Bihar to get special status from the centre as soon as possible which will help accelerate development of Bihar. I want to see Bihar regain its lost glory of once being the ‘education hub of India’,” she added.

  • Congress believes in ‘tapasya’, BJP is a ‘pooja’ organisation: Rahul Gandhi in Kurukshetra

    By PTI

    KURUKSHETRA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the Bharat Jodo Yatra was against hatred and fear being spread in society as well as unemployment and inflation.

    On the Yatra, Gandhi said, “We are seeing it as “tapasya”, suggesting the foot march was about austerity and self-meditation. The Congress believes in ‘tapasya’ while the BJP is an organisation of “pooja.”

    The BJP and the RSS do not respect ‘tapasya’ but want that people who do their ‘pooja’ (worship) be respected only, he added.

    Gandhi said the Yatra’s purpose is also to let people hear the true voice of the country.

    Replying to a question, Gandhi said, “One thing which I have understood is that this fight is actually not political, superficially it is political fight. When we fight BSP or TRS, then it is a political contest. But there has been change in the country.”

    The day when the RSS controlled the institutions of this country, the fight did not remain political.

    “Now, this has become a different fight. You may call it a fight of ideology, dharam ki fight, or you can give it any framework, but this is not a political fight. If you look at Congress party’s history, what you (reporter) said there is an energy in workers. It is an organisation of ‘tapasya’”, he said he addressing the media here.

    “BJP is a ‘sangthan of pooja’, ” he claimed, adding both the BJP and the RSS want people to “worship” them.

    “RSS wants they be forcibly worshipped. (PM Narendra) Modi ji wants this, that is why he does not meet you (media), that he be worshipped forcibly and all people in the country should worship him,” Gandhi alleged.

    He said the Congress’ response is only one and it is ‘tapasya’ and nothing else.

    OPINION | The Laal Singh Chaddha moment in Indian politics

    “That is why this Yatra is successful. Because not only the Congress or one individual is doing ‘tapasya’, lakhs are doing ‘tapasya’, it is the message of yatra,” Gandhi said.

    He said there should be respect of ‘tapasya’, of skill and work.

    He further said, “The BJP and the RSS say there should not be respect of ‘tapasya’ and those who do their ‘pooja’ (worship), only they should be respected. Did demonetisation respect the ‘tapasya’ of the poor? Certainly not. It was an attack on ‘tapasya.”

    “The BJP and the RSS are taking the country towards ‘forced pooja’ using of wealth, capturing institutions and making people fear,” Gandhi alleged.

    The former Congress president also took on the BJP-led Centre on the issue of “plight” of the farmers.

    “A farmer is being cornered from every side,” he said and pointed out that the farmers were hit by fuel and urea prices.

    The backbone of the country, which is feeding us, is being attacked, he charged.

    Talking about the Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march, which is currently passing through Haryana, Gandhi said it has received an overwhelming response and he got to learn many things during the course of the journey so far.

    “What is in the country’s heart got to hear that directly (interacting with people). The Yatra has received good response in Haryana — it is energetic, enthusiastic response,” he said.

    OPINION | Rahul’s beard of self-discovery

    In an attack on the critics of the Yatra, Gandhi said when it was started, “People said the response which we got in Kerala, we won’t get that in Karnataka, which is a BJP-ruled state. But we got even better response there. Then they said the Yatra got response in south India, but when it reaches Maharashtra, it won’t get that response. When we reached Maharashtra, we got even better response than the south”.

    “Then it was said we will not get good response when the Yatra passes through the Hindi belt, but in Madhya Pradesh there was even more improvement to the response. When we reached Haryana, it was said it is a BJP-ruled state, but here too the response was overwhelming. As we are moving forward, the response is improving,” he said.

    Replying to a question, Gandhi said, “The voice of India which is being suppressed, the fear which is being spread and India which is being divided, one caste being put up against the other, one religion being put up against the other, this Yatra is against that.”

    There is other purpose of this Yatra that we are seeing, it as “tapasya”, he added.

    “We love our country, we love our people, farmers, poor and we want to walk with them. So, Yatra’s purpose is also that people of this country get to hear true voice of the country,” the Congress leader said.

    He said there is economic inequality in the country and wealth, media and other institutions are being controlled by a few people.

    This Yatra is against unemployment, inflation, he added.

    On farmers’ issues, Gandhi said, “Farmers are being cornered from all sides. They are directly hit by fuel prices and urea prices and not getting insurance claims.”

    The three farm laws (now repealed) were not the farm laws.

    They were weapons to hit them (farmers), like demonetisation and wrong GST were weapons to hit small traders, he further said.

    The Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, will end with Gandhi hoisting the national flag in Srinagar on January 30.

    The march has so far covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

    KURUKSHETRA: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the Bharat Jodo Yatra was against hatred and fear being spread in society as well as unemployment and inflation.

    On the Yatra, Gandhi said, “We are seeing it as “tapasya”, suggesting the foot march was about austerity and self-meditation. The Congress believes in ‘tapasya’ while the BJP is an organisation of “pooja.”

    The BJP and the RSS do not respect ‘tapasya’ but want that people who do their ‘pooja’ (worship) be respected only, he added.

    Gandhi said the Yatra’s purpose is also to let people hear the true voice of the country.

    Replying to a question, Gandhi said, “One thing which I have understood is that this fight is actually not political, superficially it is political fight. When we fight BSP or TRS, then it is a political contest. But there has been change in the country.”

    The day when the RSS controlled the institutions of this country, the fight did not remain political.

    “Now, this has become a different fight. You may call it a fight of ideology, dharam ki fight, or you can give it any framework, but this is not a political fight. If you look at Congress party’s history, what you (reporter) said there is an energy in workers. It is an organisation of ‘tapasya’”, he said he addressing the media here.

    “BJP is a ‘sangthan of pooja’, ” he claimed, adding both the BJP and the RSS want people to “worship” them.

    “RSS wants they be forcibly worshipped. (PM Narendra) Modi ji wants this, that is why he does not meet you (media), that he be worshipped forcibly and all people in the country should worship him,” Gandhi alleged.

    He said the Congress’ response is only one and it is ‘tapasya’ and nothing else.

    OPINION | The Laal Singh Chaddha moment in Indian politics

    “That is why this Yatra is successful. Because not only the Congress or one individual is doing ‘tapasya’, lakhs are doing ‘tapasya’, it is the message of yatra,” Gandhi said.

    He said there should be respect of ‘tapasya’, of skill and work.

    He further said, “The BJP and the RSS say there should not be respect of ‘tapasya’ and those who do their ‘pooja’ (worship), only they should be respected. Did demonetisation respect the ‘tapasya’ of the poor? Certainly not. It was an attack on ‘tapasya.”

    “The BJP and the RSS are taking the country towards ‘forced pooja’ using of wealth, capturing institutions and making people fear,” Gandhi alleged.

    The former Congress president also took on the BJP-led Centre on the issue of “plight” of the farmers.

    “A farmer is being cornered from every side,” he said and pointed out that the farmers were hit by fuel and urea prices.

    The backbone of the country, which is feeding us, is being attacked, he charged.

    Talking about the Kanyakumari to Kashmir foot march, which is currently passing through Haryana, Gandhi said it has received an overwhelming response and he got to learn many things during the course of the journey so far.

    “What is in the country’s heart got to hear that directly (interacting with people). The Yatra has received good response in Haryana — it is energetic, enthusiastic response,” he said.

    OPINION | Rahul’s beard of self-discovery

    In an attack on the critics of the Yatra, Gandhi said when it was started, “People said the response which we got in Kerala, we won’t get that in Karnataka, which is a BJP-ruled state. But we got even better response there. Then they said the Yatra got response in south India, but when it reaches Maharashtra, it won’t get that response. When we reached Maharashtra, we got even better response than the south”.

    “Then it was said we will not get good response when the Yatra passes through the Hindi belt, but in Madhya Pradesh there was even more improvement to the response. When we reached Haryana, it was said it is a BJP-ruled state, but here too the response was overwhelming. As we are moving forward, the response is improving,” he said.

    Replying to a question, Gandhi said, “The voice of India which is being suppressed, the fear which is being spread and India which is being divided, one caste being put up against the other, one religion being put up against the other, this Yatra is against that.”

    There is other purpose of this Yatra that we are seeing, it as “tapasya”, he added.

    “We love our country, we love our people, farmers, poor and we want to walk with them. So, Yatra’s purpose is also that people of this country get to hear true voice of the country,” the Congress leader said.

    He said there is economic inequality in the country and wealth, media and other institutions are being controlled by a few people.

    This Yatra is against unemployment, inflation, he added.

    On farmers’ issues, Gandhi said, “Farmers are being cornered from all sides. They are directly hit by fuel prices and urea prices and not getting insurance claims.”

    The three farm laws (now repealed) were not the farm laws.

    They were weapons to hit them (farmers), like demonetisation and wrong GST were weapons to hit small traders, he further said.

    The Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7, will end with Gandhi hoisting the national flag in Srinagar on January 30.

    The march has so far covered Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.