News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Caste-based headcount begins in Bihar; Tejashwi terms it ‘historic step’ 

    By PTI

    PATNA: Terming the caste-based head count that began in Bihar on Saturday as a “historic step”, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said the exercise will provide scientific data for carrying out welfare schemes for weaker sections of the society.

    Noting that all the parties of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ were in favour of the exercise, the RJD leader claimed that the BJP was “critical” about the survey.

    “The enumeration exercise began in Bihar today. It is a historic step taken by the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government in the state.

    Once the exercise is completed, it will provide scientific data to the state government for carrying out developmental work for people, including those who are deprived,” Yadav said, while speaking to media persons here.

    He also said, “The BJP is an anti-poor party which always opposed this exercise and has always been critical about the caste-based headcount.”

    Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on Friday said that the caste-based enumeration exercise could be beneficial for all.

    The caste-based headcount process has been a major issue in Bihar, as Kumar’s JD(U) and all constituents of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ were demanding that the exercise be undertaken at the earliest.

    The state government embarked on the exercise in the wake of the Centre expressing its inability to undertake a caste-based enumeration other than SCs and STs.

    The exercise will be conducted in two phases across Bihar, an official said.

    “All households will be covered in the first phase, which will continue till January 21. In the second one which will start in March, data on people, belonging to all castes, sub-castes and religions, will be collected. Enumerators will gather information about the financial status of all people,” Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh told PTI.

    Earlier in the day, he inspected the ongoing exercise being conducted by the state government employees in the Bank road area in Patna.

    “The exercise is being conducted in all 12,696 blocks in Patna district,” he said.

    The caste-based survey will be completed by May in 2023, and the state government will spend Rs 500 crore from its contingency fund for the exercise.

    The general administration department is the nodal authority for the survey.

    PATNA: Terming the caste-based head count that began in Bihar on Saturday as a “historic step”, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said the exercise will provide scientific data for carrying out welfare schemes for weaker sections of the society.

    Noting that all the parties of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ were in favour of the exercise, the RJD leader claimed that the BJP was “critical” about the survey.

    “The enumeration exercise began in Bihar today. It is a historic step taken by the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government in the state.

    Once the exercise is completed, it will provide scientific data to the state government for carrying out developmental work for people, including those who are deprived,” Yadav said, while speaking to media persons here.

    He also said, “The BJP is an anti-poor party which always opposed this exercise and has always been critical about the caste-based headcount.”

    Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had on Friday said that the caste-based enumeration exercise could be beneficial for all.

    The caste-based headcount process has been a major issue in Bihar, as Kumar’s JD(U) and all constituents of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’ were demanding that the exercise be undertaken at the earliest.

    The state government embarked on the exercise in the wake of the Centre expressing its inability to undertake a caste-based enumeration other than SCs and STs.

    The exercise will be conducted in two phases across Bihar, an official said.

    “All households will be covered in the first phase, which will continue till January 21. In the second one which will start in March, data on people, belonging to all castes, sub-castes and religions, will be collected. Enumerators will gather information about the financial status of all people,” Patna District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh told PTI.

    Earlier in the day, he inspected the ongoing exercise being conducted by the state government employees in the Bank road area in Patna.

    “The exercise is being conducted in all 12,696 blocks in Patna district,” he said.

    The caste-based survey will be completed by May in 2023, and the state government will spend Rs 500 crore from its contingency fund for the exercise.

    The general administration department is the nodal authority for the survey.

  • No patient benefitted from health ministry scheme to treat rare disease: Varun Gandhi to Mandaviya

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: No patient has so far benefitted from a health ministry scheme which assures an assistance of Rs 50 lakh to people with rare diseases, BJP MP Varun Gandhi said on Saturday, warning that it endangers the lives of 432 patients, mainly children below six years of age.

    Ten children have died waiting for treatment, he tweeted, urging Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to act immediately by clearing these payments.

    In a letter to Mandaviya, Gandhi noted that the ‘National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021’ was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on March 30, 2021 to save the lives of patients suffering from rare diseases.

    According to an amendment made to this in May, 2022, all groups of rare disease patients were assured a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh for treatment, he said.

    However, he said in the letter, even after several months of the announcement, not a single patient has been able to reap the benefits of this scheme, “threatening the survival of 432 patients, mainly children below six years of age”.

    Most of these children suffer from Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSD) such as gaucher, pompe, MPS I, MPS II and fabry disease, he said.

    According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare crowdfunding platform, around 208 Lysosomal Storage Disorder patients can immediately be put on therapy since the Drugs Controller General of India-approved treatments for most of these diseases have been available in India for many yeas, Gandhi said.

    Despite several reminders from the ministry, he said, the 10 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) constituted under the policy are yet to seek financial assistance for patients with rare diseases.

    According to organisations committed to the cause of rare disease patients, more than half of the CoEs have not sent a single treatment request to the health ministry, he added.

    “Over ten children have lost their lives while waiting for treatment. Therefore, I request that the treatment of these 208 children at the Centres of Excellence start immediately. I hope you will consider this matter seriously as any delay in this regard will result in the loss of lives of many more children,” he said.

    NEW DELHI: No patient has so far benefitted from a health ministry scheme which assures an assistance of Rs 50 lakh to people with rare diseases, BJP MP Varun Gandhi said on Saturday, warning that it endangers the lives of 432 patients, mainly children below six years of age.

    Ten children have died waiting for treatment, he tweeted, urging Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to act immediately by clearing these payments.

    In a letter to Mandaviya, Gandhi noted that the ‘National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021’ was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on March 30, 2021 to save the lives of patients suffering from rare diseases.

    According to an amendment made to this in May, 2022, all groups of rare disease patients were assured a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh for treatment, he said.

    However, he said in the letter, even after several months of the announcement, not a single patient has been able to reap the benefits of this scheme, “threatening the survival of 432 patients, mainly children below six years of age”.

    Most of these children suffer from Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSD) such as gaucher, pompe, MPS I, MPS II and fabry disease, he said.

    According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare crowdfunding platform, around 208 Lysosomal Storage Disorder patients can immediately be put on therapy since the Drugs Controller General of India-approved treatments for most of these diseases have been available in India for many yeas, Gandhi said.

    Despite several reminders from the ministry, he said, the 10 Centers of Excellence (CoEs) constituted under the policy are yet to seek financial assistance for patients with rare diseases.

    According to organisations committed to the cause of rare disease patients, more than half of the CoEs have not sent a single treatment request to the health ministry, he added.

    “Over ten children have lost their lives while waiting for treatment. Therefore, I request that the treatment of these 208 children at the Centres of Excellence start immediately. I hope you will consider this matter seriously as any delay in this regard will result in the loss of lives of many more children,” he said.

  • Rahul Gandhi ‘perpetually confused’, wants India to surrender before China: BJP 

    Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Sudhanshu Trivedi took a dig at Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra and said the Congress leader had become a victim of confusion during his travels.

  • Rajasthan: Budget session in January sets off big buzz over withdrawal of resignations by Congress MLAs

    Express News Service

    JAIPUR: Ahead of the budget session of the Rajasthan assembly from January 23, a meeting between assembly Speaker CP Joshi and Congress state in-charge Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa has set off a big buzz that the resignations submitted by over 90 pro-Gehlot MLAs on 25th September are now being withdrawn.

    Sources in the party say that the reason for revoking resignations is the hearing in the Rajasthan High Court on the issue on January 2. The BJP has asked Speaker Joshi to accept the resignations which in effect will bring the Gehlot government to a minority. The plan to revoke the resignations is being described as a mockery of democracy by the opposition BJP.

    Over 90 MLAs of the Gehlot faction, who resigned after boycotting the Congress Legislature Party meeting on September 25, have now been asked to withdraw their resignations. The new in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa, in a meeting with Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi, discussed how the dispute over resignations of the MLAs could be settled by citing the message of the Congress High Command.

    In the meeting with Joshi, he also wanted to know the status of resignations and the technical aspects of it. After a few days in Jaipur, Randhawa returned to Delhi after taking feedback from all party leaders.

    In contrast, the BJP is raising questions as to why no decision has been taken even after three months on the resignations by Congress MLAs. A petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore, on which Speaker Joshi has asked to clarify the situation through a notice to his secretary by the next hearing of the case on January 2.

    The second reason for withdrawing the resignation is that the assembly session will start in Rajasthan on January 23. As soon as the budget session begins, the BJP will ask the speaker to clarify the position on the resignations. On the BJP’s demand, Speaker Joshi will have to give a ruling in the assembly and there is a possibility of the Congress and the government getting cornered on this issue. In such a situation, the resignations of all the MLAs are likely to be revoked before the budget session.

    On September 25, following the orders of the Congress high command, a meeting of the Legislature Party was called at the CM’s residence where a one-line resolution was to be passed giving the right of selection of the new CM to the high command. After boycotting that CLP meet, 91 Congress MLAs had voluntarily submitted their resignations to the Speaker.

    By resigning, the MLAs were trying to put pressure on the high command that if Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is removed from the post, then only one of the 102 MLAs of his faction should be made the Chief Minister and not Sachin Pilot. The pro-Gehlot MLAs had gone to Speaker Joshi and handed him their resignations. However, the speaker has, to date, neither accepted those resignations nor taken any action on them.

    These resignations became the biggest obstacle in the way of making Pilot the CM. It is believed that resignation politics in Rajasthan is almost over now as it has also become clear that CM Ashok Gehlot will present the budget. In such a situation, there is no scope for any leadership change and the resignations of MLAs will be withdrawn in the next few days.

    According to Vidhansabha sources, neither these resignations were received by the Vidhansabha office, nor is there any information about their withdrawal. Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said that this is a mockery of democracy.

    “Once resignation is given, there is no provision to take it back. These MLAs are misleading the public. If the ministers had resigned, how their decisions are being implemented till now. The government did not have the confidence of the house. The ministers and MLAs should also return their salaries and allowances for this period. These Congress MLAs were not in a position to counter the points raised in the petition, that’s why the resignations have been withdrawn.”

    Just before Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan, the Congress high command had effected a reconciliation between CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, after which the yatra could pass off peacefully.

    Experts believe that due to the resignations, CM Gehlot has been able to get his desire to present the last budget of this government.

    But it is still a big question whether Gehlot will remain the CM after the budget.

    JAIPUR: Ahead of the budget session of the Rajasthan assembly from January 23, a meeting between assembly Speaker CP Joshi and Congress state in-charge Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa has set off a big buzz that the resignations submitted by over 90 pro-Gehlot MLAs on 25th September are now being withdrawn.

    Sources in the party say that the reason for revoking resignations is the hearing in the Rajasthan High Court on the issue on January 2. The BJP has asked Speaker Joshi to accept the resignations which in effect will bring the Gehlot government to a minority. The plan to revoke the resignations is being described as a mockery of democracy by the opposition BJP.

    Over 90 MLAs of the Gehlot faction, who resigned after boycotting the Congress Legislature Party meeting on September 25, have now been asked to withdraw their resignations. The new in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa, in a meeting with Assembly Speaker Dr CP Joshi, discussed how the dispute over resignations of the MLAs could be settled by citing the message of the Congress High Command.

    In the meeting with Joshi, he also wanted to know the status of resignations and the technical aspects of it. After a few days in Jaipur, Randhawa returned to Delhi after taking feedback from all party leaders.

    In contrast, the BJP is raising questions as to why no decision has been taken even after three months on the resignations by Congress MLAs. A petition was filed in the High Court on behalf of BJP MLA Rajendra Rathore, on which Speaker Joshi has asked to clarify the situation through a notice to his secretary by the next hearing of the case on January 2.

    The second reason for withdrawing the resignation is that the assembly session will start in Rajasthan on January 23. As soon as the budget session begins, the BJP will ask the speaker to clarify the position on the resignations. On the BJP’s demand, Speaker Joshi will have to give a ruling in the assembly and there is a possibility of the Congress and the government getting cornered on this issue. In such a situation, the resignations of all the MLAs are likely to be revoked before the budget session.

    On September 25, following the orders of the Congress high command, a meeting of the Legislature Party was called at the CM’s residence where a one-line resolution was to be passed giving the right of selection of the new CM to the high command. After boycotting that CLP meet, 91 Congress MLAs had voluntarily submitted their resignations to the Speaker.

    By resigning, the MLAs were trying to put pressure on the high command that if Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is removed from the post, then only one of the 102 MLAs of his faction should be made the Chief Minister and not Sachin Pilot. The pro-Gehlot MLAs had gone to Speaker Joshi and handed him their resignations. However, the speaker has, to date, neither accepted those resignations nor taken any action on them.

    These resignations became the biggest obstacle in the way of making Pilot the CM. It is believed that resignation politics in Rajasthan is almost over now as it has also become clear that CM Ashok Gehlot will present the budget. In such a situation, there is no scope for any leadership change and the resignations of MLAs will be withdrawn in the next few days.

    According to Vidhansabha sources, neither these resignations were received by the Vidhansabha office, nor is there any information about their withdrawal. Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore said that this is a mockery of democracy.

    “Once resignation is given, there is no provision to take it back. These MLAs are misleading the public. If the ministers had resigned, how their decisions are being implemented till now. The government did not have the confidence of the house. The ministers and MLAs should also return their salaries and allowances for this period. These Congress MLAs were not in a position to counter the points raised in the petition, that’s why the resignations have been withdrawn.”

    Just before Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra entered Rajasthan, the Congress high command had effected a reconciliation between CM Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, after which the yatra could pass off peacefully.

    Experts believe that due to the resignations, CM Gehlot has been able to get his desire to present the last budget of this government.

    But it is still a big question whether Gehlot will remain the CM after the budget.

  • BJP, Congress spar over cough syrup linked deaths in Uzbekistan, Gambia

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The alleged role of Indian pharma companies in the deaths of children abroad led to a verbal tussle between the BJP and the Congress on Thursday.

    While the opposition party asked the government to stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world and take strictest action, the ruling party accused it of deriding India in its “hate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated a probe in connection with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to a cough syrup manufactured by an Indian firm, official sources said on Thursday. Before that, were reports linking the deaths of children in Gambia to India-made cough syrups.

    The Drugs Controller General of India had claimed the WHO drew a premature link.

    “Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First, it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

    ALSO READ | ‘Shocked, deeply saddened,’ says Maiden pharma after WHO alert on its cough syrups links to child deaths in Gambia

    The BJP hit back with its IT department in-charge Amit Malviya replying, “The death of children in Gambia had nothing to do with the consumption of cough syrup made in India. That has been clarified by the Gambian authorities and DCGI, both. But blinded in its hate for Modi, Congress continues to deride India and its entrepreneurial spirit. Shameful.”

    The DCGI said Gambia has informed, according to media, that there has been no direct causal relation established yet between cough syrup consumption and the deaths, and that certain children who had died had not consumed the syrup in question.

    The health ministry of Uzbekistan has claimed that the 18 children had consumed cough syrup, ‘Doc-1 Max’, manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech.

    NEW DELHI: The alleged role of Indian pharma companies in the deaths of children abroad led to a verbal tussle between the BJP and the Congress on Thursday.

    While the opposition party asked the government to stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world and take strictest action, the ruling party accused it of deriding India in its “hate” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has initiated a probe in connection with the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan allegedly linked to a cough syrup manufactured by an Indian firm, official sources said on Thursday. Before that, were reports linking the deaths of children in Gambia to India-made cough syrups.

    The Drugs Controller General of India had claimed the WHO drew a premature link.

    “Made in India cough syrups seem to be deadly. First, it was the deaths of 70 kids in Gambia & now it is that of 18 children in Uzbekistan. Modi Sarkar must stop boasting about India being a pharmacy to the world & take strictest action,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

    ALSO READ | ‘Shocked, deeply saddened,’ says Maiden pharma after WHO alert on its cough syrups links to child deaths in Gambia

    The BJP hit back with its IT department in-charge Amit Malviya replying, “The death of children in Gambia had nothing to do with the consumption of cough syrup made in India. That has been clarified by the Gambian authorities and DCGI, both. But blinded in its hate for Modi, Congress continues to deride India and its entrepreneurial spirit. Shameful.”

    The DCGI said Gambia has informed, according to media, that there has been no direct causal relation established yet between cough syrup consumption and the deaths, and that certain children who had died had not consumed the syrup in question.

    The health ministry of Uzbekistan has claimed that the 18 children had consumed cough syrup, ‘Doc-1 Max’, manufactured by Noida-based Marion Biotech.

  • BJP uses communal hatred as weapon to divert attention from real issues: Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP on Saturday of using communal hatred as a weapon and spreading it across the country to divert the attention of people from real issues.

    Addressing a big rally outside the Red Fort as the Congress’s “Bharat Jodo Yatra” entered the national capital, Gandhi said he has not seen violence or hatred anywhere in the country while walking hundreds of kilometres from Kanyakumari to Delhi, but he sees it being spread on television all the time at the behest of the powers controlling the media.

    The former Congress chief also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spent thousands of crores of rupees to destroy his image, but he has shown the truth to the country in just a month.

    Gandhi also thanked people for the love and support showered on him so far during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which entered its 108th day on Saturday, and said after his request made in Rajasthan, people have opened lakhs of shops to spread love across the country.

    Hatred in the name of Hindu-Muslim is being spread through television 24×7 to divert the attention of people from the real issues, he alleged, stressing that this is the truth.

    “After doing Hindu-Muslim 24 hours, they will hand over your money and sell all your ports, airports, roads and other assets to their crony friends. They try to divert your attention all the time,” he said.

    “This is not a Narendra Modi government, it is the Ambani-Adani government,” Gandhi alleged.

    The Congress leader said he has traversed across the country, “but I have not seen violence, hatred anywhere. But I see it on television all the time. Thousands of crores are being given to big industrialists but not to common people. These are not policies, but weapons to destroy small businessmen, traders, farmers,” he said.

    Gandhi said the Bharat Jodo Yatra aims at uniting India and will spread awareness against price rise, unemployment, communal hatred and violence.

    Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Sonia Gandhi were present during his speech outside the Red Fort.

    The yatra will disseminate for a nine-day winter break and restart on January 3 for its onward journey to Jammu and Kashmir, after passing through Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

    NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP on Saturday of using communal hatred as a weapon and spreading it across the country to divert the attention of people from real issues.

    Addressing a big rally outside the Red Fort as the Congress’s “Bharat Jodo Yatra” entered the national capital, Gandhi said he has not seen violence or hatred anywhere in the country while walking hundreds of kilometres from Kanyakumari to Delhi, but he sees it being spread on television all the time at the behest of the powers controlling the media.

    The former Congress chief also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spent thousands of crores of rupees to destroy his image, but he has shown the truth to the country in just a month.

    Gandhi also thanked people for the love and support showered on him so far during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which entered its 108th day on Saturday, and said after his request made in Rajasthan, people have opened lakhs of shops to spread love across the country.

    Hatred in the name of Hindu-Muslim is being spread through television 24×7 to divert the attention of people from the real issues, he alleged, stressing that this is the truth.

    “After doing Hindu-Muslim 24 hours, they will hand over your money and sell all your ports, airports, roads and other assets to their crony friends. They try to divert your attention all the time,” he said.

    “This is not a Narendra Modi government, it is the Ambani-Adani government,” Gandhi alleged.

    The Congress leader said he has traversed across the country, “but I have not seen violence, hatred anywhere. But I see it on television all the time. Thousands of crores are being given to big industrialists but not to common people. These are not policies, but weapons to destroy small businessmen, traders, farmers,” he said.

    Gandhi said the Bharat Jodo Yatra aims at uniting India and will spread awareness against price rise, unemployment, communal hatred and violence.

    Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Sonia Gandhi were present during his speech outside the Red Fort.

    The yatra will disseminate for a nine-day winter break and restart on January 3 for its onward journey to Jammu and Kashmir, after passing through Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab.

  • Opposition boycotts proceedings of Maha legislature for ‘not letting’ its leaders speak

    By PTI

    NAGPUR:  Leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Friday boycotted the proceedings of both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature, and protested against the state government at the Vidhan Bhavan complex here, accusing it of not letting them speak in the Assembly and the Council.

    The leaders of the MVA, comprising the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray-led faction and Congress, also condemned the suspension of senior NCP leader Jayant Patil for alleged derogatory remark against the Assembly Speaker on Thursday.

    Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar, Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Bhaskar Jadhav, Congress’s Balasaheb Thorat, NCP leaders Rajesh Tope, Dhananjay Munde, Dilip Walse Patil and others were seen sporting black ribbons to protest against the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

    They held the protest by sitting on the steps of the legislature complex.

    A senior Congress leader said, “We are boycotting the proceedings of both the Houses to protest against the government which is not letting the members of the opposition speak in the legislature.”

    Aaditya Thackeray said, “Unless and until the speaker gives us assurance that the opposition members will get an opportunity to speak, we will stay out. We want to raise the issues of Governor B S Koshyari’s remarks against iconic personalities, CM Shinde’s involvement in land allotment scam and the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue.”

    The opposition legislators raised slogans against the Shinde-Fadnavis government on these issues. When asked about his name being linked to the death case of Disha Salian, a former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Thackeray said it was a “conspiracy” to malign him.

    According to police, Salian (28) allegedly committed suicide by jumping from a high-rise in Malad area of Mumbai on June 8, 2020.

    Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in Mumbai’s Bandra area on June 14, 2020. Talking to reporters, Thackeray said, “My (maternal) grandfather died on the same day. All I can say is that the government is scared of a 32-year-old youth. We will continue to raise the issue of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) land allotment case and demand the resignation of the chief minister. I am ashamed that these people were once with us.”

    Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, had announced in the Assembly on Thursday that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed to conduct a probe into the death of Salian.

    The winter session of the state legislature, which began on Monday, is scheduled to end on December 30.

    NAGPUR:  Leaders of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Friday boycotted the proceedings of both Houses of the Maharashtra legislature, and protested against the state government at the Vidhan Bhavan complex here, accusing it of not letting them speak in the Assembly and the Council.

    The leaders of the MVA, comprising the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray-led faction and Congress, also condemned the suspension of senior NCP leader Jayant Patil for alleged derogatory remark against the Assembly Speaker on Thursday.

    Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar, Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Bhaskar Jadhav, Congress’s Balasaheb Thorat, NCP leaders Rajesh Tope, Dhananjay Munde, Dilip Walse Patil and others were seen sporting black ribbons to protest against the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

    They held the protest by sitting on the steps of the legislature complex.

    A senior Congress leader said, “We are boycotting the proceedings of both the Houses to protest against the government which is not letting the members of the opposition speak in the legislature.”

    Aaditya Thackeray said, “Unless and until the speaker gives us assurance that the opposition members will get an opportunity to speak, we will stay out. We want to raise the issues of Governor B S Koshyari’s remarks against iconic personalities, CM Shinde’s involvement in land allotment scam and the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue.”

    The opposition legislators raised slogans against the Shinde-Fadnavis government on these issues. When asked about his name being linked to the death case of Disha Salian, a former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Thackeray said it was a “conspiracy” to malign him.

    According to police, Salian (28) allegedly committed suicide by jumping from a high-rise in Malad area of Mumbai on June 8, 2020.

    Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in Mumbai’s Bandra area on June 14, 2020. Talking to reporters, Thackeray said, “My (maternal) grandfather died on the same day. All I can say is that the government is scared of a 32-year-old youth. We will continue to raise the issue of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) land allotment case and demand the resignation of the chief minister. I am ashamed that these people were once with us.”

    Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, had announced in the Assembly on Thursday that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be formed to conduct a probe into the death of Salian.

    The winter session of the state legislature, which began on Monday, is scheduled to end on December 30.

  • Govt blocking debate on China, Weakening judiciary, says Sonia

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday tore into the BJP government for its refusal to allow a debate in Parliament on the border situation, adding that the Centre’s failure to address security concerns is worrisome. 

    Speaking to party MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament, Sonia said that while blocking debates, the BJP is also actively engaged in targeting the Opposition and any questioning voices, manipulating the media and undermining the institutions that stand in its way.

    “The continuing incursions by China on our border are a matter of serious concern. The whole nation stands with our vigilant soldiers who repelled these attacks under difficult conditions. The government, however, stubbornly refuses to allow a discussion on the issue in Parliament,” she said, asking: “Why is China emboldened to continually attack us? What preparations have been made to repel these attacks, and what more needs to be done? What is the government’s policy to deter China from future incursions?”

    Coming down heavily on the government’s China policy, she pointed out that the country is imports more from China than it exports. “Given that we continue to have a severe trade deficit with China, importing far more than we export, why is there no economic response to China’s military hostility? What is the government’s diplomatic outreach to the global community?’ the Congress leader asked.

    Sonia also slammed the Narendra Modi government for what she termed attempts to ‘delegitimise’ the judiciary.  “Ministers have been enlisted to make speeches attacking the judiciary on various grounds,” she said. 

    No conflict with judiciary: RijijuLaw Minister Kiran Rijiju  said there is no conflict between the Centre and judiciary. “It’s my duty to answer questions in Parliament and this is not an attack on the judiciary,” he said, rejecting Sonia’s charges

    NEW DELHI:  Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday tore into the BJP government for its refusal to allow a debate in Parliament on the border situation, adding that the Centre’s failure to address security concerns is worrisome. 

    Speaking to party MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament, Sonia said that while blocking debates, the BJP is also actively engaged in targeting the Opposition and any questioning voices, manipulating the media and undermining the institutions that stand in its way.

    “The continuing incursions by China on our border are a matter of serious concern. The whole nation stands with our vigilant soldiers who repelled these attacks under difficult conditions. The government, however, stubbornly refuses to allow a discussion on the issue in Parliament,” she said, asking: “Why is China emboldened to continually attack us? What preparations have been made to repel these attacks, and what more needs to be done? What is the government’s policy to deter China from future incursions?”

    Coming down heavily on the government’s China policy, she pointed out that the country is imports more from China than it exports. “Given that we continue to have a severe trade deficit with China, importing far more than we export, why is there no economic response to China’s military hostility? What is the government’s diplomatic outreach to the global community?’ the Congress leader asked.

    Sonia also slammed the Narendra Modi government for what she termed attempts to ‘delegitimise’ the judiciary.  “Ministers have been enlisted to make speeches attacking the judiciary on various grounds,” she said. 

    No conflict with judiciary: Rijiju
    Law Minister Kiran Rijiju  said there is no conflict between the Centre and judiciary. “It’s my duty to answer questions in Parliament and this is not an attack on the judiciary,” he said, rejecting Sonia’s charges

  • No plan to derail TMC, BJP will come to power on its own: Suvendu

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition on Wednesday said that BJP has no intention to derail the Trinamool Congress-led Bengal government by poaching MLAs of the ruling party as the saffron camp will come to power in the state through election. 

    Referring to his earlier December deadline announcing three dates hinting that the TMC would not be able to run the government, Adhikari, while addressing a rally at his Kanthi hometown in East Midnapore, said, “I meant about important developments in Bengal politics. I never meant that we will derail the TMC government. Do you want to derail the government by poaching TMC MLAs? The BJP doesn’t want it. The BJP will come to power through elections.’’

    Adhikari also said that after coming to power in Bengal, bulldozer will run in the state like Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties alleged the use of bulldozers in UP emerged as a new source of hate in saffron camp’s politics. Adhkari’s rally in Kanthi was said to be a counter event of TMC’s national general secretary and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s rally at the same place recently.

    Giving a call to ensure victory in the next year’s panchayat elections, Adhikari said, “We will field candidates in all seat in the panchayat elections and will ensure the victory. I am announcing without any doubt the wining candidates will get houses under PMAY,’’ he said.

    KOLKATA: Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition on Wednesday said that BJP has no intention to derail the Trinamool Congress-led Bengal government by poaching MLAs of the ruling party as the saffron camp will come to power in the state through election. 

    Referring to his earlier December deadline announcing three dates hinting that the TMC would not be able to run the government, Adhikari, while addressing a rally at his Kanthi hometown in East Midnapore, said, “I meant about important developments in Bengal politics. I never meant that we will derail the TMC government. Do you want to derail the government by poaching TMC MLAs? The BJP doesn’t want it. The BJP will come to power through elections.’’

    Adhikari also said that after coming to power in Bengal, bulldozer will run in the state like Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties alleged the use of bulldozers in UP emerged as a new source of hate in saffron camp’s politics. Adhkari’s rally in Kanthi was said to be a counter event of TMC’s national general secretary and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s rally at the same place recently.

    Giving a call to ensure victory in the next year’s panchayat elections, Adhikari said, “We will field candidates in all seat in the panchayat elections and will ensure the victory. I am announcing without any doubt the wining candidates will get houses under PMAY,’’ he said.

  • BJP will come in Bengal through election, not by poaching TMC MLAs

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: West Bengal’s leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said the BJP has no intention to derail the Trinamool Congress-led Bengal government by poaching MLAs of the ruling party as the saffron camp will come to power in the state through election.

    Referring to his earlier December deadline announcing three dates hinting that the TMC would not be able to run the government, Adhikari, while addressing a rally at his Kanthi hometown in East Midnapore, said, “I meant about important developments in Bengal politics. I never meant that we will derail the TMC government. Do you want to derail the government by poaching TMC MLAs? The BJP doesn’t want it. The BJP will come to power through elections.”

    Adhikari also said that after coming to power in Bengal, bulldozers will run in the state like Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties alleged the use of bulldozers in UP emerged as a new source of hate in the saffron camp’s politics.

    Adhikari’s rally in Kanthi was said to be a counter event of TMC’s national general secretary and chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s rally in the same place recently.

    Giving a call to ensure victory in the next year’s panchayat elections, Adhikari said the candidates winning in the rural polls will get houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).     

    “We will field candidates in each and every seat in the panchayat elections and you will have to ensure the victory. I am announcing without any doubt the winning candidates will get houses under the PMAY,” he said.

    The PMAY scheme created embarrassment for the TMC presently as thousands of the ruling party’s panchayat functionaries and their relatives, who are not eligible, enrolled themselves under the central scheme.

    KOLKATA: West Bengal’s leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said the BJP has no intention to derail the Trinamool Congress-led Bengal government by poaching MLAs of the ruling party as the saffron camp will come to power in the state through election.

    Referring to his earlier December deadline announcing three dates hinting that the TMC would not be able to run the government, Adhikari, while addressing a rally at his Kanthi hometown in East Midnapore, said, “I meant about important developments in Bengal politics. I never meant that we will derail the TMC government. Do you want to derail the government by poaching TMC MLAs? The BJP doesn’t want it. The BJP will come to power through elections.”

    Adhikari also said that after coming to power in Bengal, bulldozers will run in the state like Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties alleged the use of bulldozers in UP emerged as a new source of hate in the saffron camp’s politics.

    Adhikari’s rally in Kanthi was said to be a counter event of TMC’s national general secretary and chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s rally in the same place recently.

    Giving a call to ensure victory in the next year’s panchayat elections, Adhikari said the candidates winning in the rural polls will get houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).     

    “We will field candidates in each and every seat in the panchayat elections and you will have to ensure the victory. I am announcing without any doubt the winning candidates will get houses under the PMAY,” he said.

    The PMAY scheme created embarrassment for the TMC presently as thousands of the ruling party’s panchayat functionaries and their relatives, who are not eligible, enrolled themselves under the central scheme.