News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Andheri East byelections: Cold war in Maharashtra, BJP withdraw its candidate 

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI: The cold war in BJP out on Monday after the BJP’s abrupt declarations of withdrawing its candidate Murji Patel against Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidate Rutuja Latke in Andheri East byelections.

    According to the sources, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar was firm and determined to fight the Andheri East by-elections to energize the party cadre and get a major victory. But senior leaders including deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis were against it owing to the possibility of loss ahead of the BMC elections.

    “Shelar was the first person to announce the candidature of Mulji Patel on his social media even before the decision of the BJP’s parliamentary board. He was confident to win, the reason in previous assembly elections, Muji Patel had bagged 42,000 votes as an independent candidate. Now, on BJP’s support and symbol, there were chances of giving a good fight to Rutuja Latke. On other hand, Thackeray factions had old party names and no traditional symbols also,” said the source requesting anonymity.

    He added, “Shelar told his leaders that they should fight by-elections irrespective of the result, but BJP leaders refused to accept his argument saying this Andheri East result will have larger repercussions on the alliance and stability of the three-month-old government as well. Therefore, giving up one MLA is not big when there is a larger goal in hand.”

    ALSO READ | Relief to Uddhav: HC steps in, paves way for candidate to contest bypoll

    “The loss in Andheri East would have given a major message that BJP was not ready to accept. Therefore, Shelar’s decision was overruled at the eleventh hour by senior BJP leaders by withdrawing its candidate. BJP can afford a few days of negative battle, but not prolonged battles that would have damaged the party image badly,” he further added.

    Sources said that on Sunday late at night the meeting between Devendra Fadnavis and Ashish Shelar took place at Meghadot bungalow of Fadnavis, then later on Monday, Maharashtra BJP in-charge TC Ravi had a meeting with Ashish Shelar where the final decision of withdrawing candidate was taken.

    Later, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule made the withdrawal announcement in Nagpur.

    Ashish Shelar, speaking to the media, said that the withdrawal of Murji Patel’s candidature decision was taken at the senior level. The party workers and cadre should remain charged for the BMC elections, he added.

    MUMBAI: The cold war in BJP out on Monday after the BJP’s abrupt declarations of withdrawing its candidate Murji Patel against Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena candidate Rutuja Latke in Andheri East byelections.

    According to the sources, Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar was firm and determined to fight the Andheri East by-elections to energize the party cadre and get a major victory. But senior leaders including deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis were against it owing to the possibility of loss ahead of the BMC elections.

    “Shelar was the first person to announce the candidature of Mulji Patel on his social media even before the decision of the BJP’s parliamentary board. He was confident to win, the reason in previous assembly elections, Muji Patel had bagged 42,000 votes as an independent candidate. Now, on BJP’s support and symbol, there were chances of giving a good fight to Rutuja Latke. On other hand, Thackeray factions had old party names and no traditional symbols also,” said the source requesting anonymity.

    He added, “Shelar told his leaders that they should fight by-elections irrespective of the result, but BJP leaders refused to accept his argument saying this Andheri East result will have larger repercussions on the alliance and stability of the three-month-old government as well. Therefore, giving up one MLA is not big when there is a larger goal in hand.”

    ALSO READ | Relief to Uddhav: HC steps in, paves way for candidate to contest bypoll

    “The loss in Andheri East would have given a major message that BJP was not ready to accept. Therefore, Shelar’s decision was overruled at the eleventh hour by senior BJP leaders by withdrawing its candidate. BJP can afford a few days of negative battle, but not prolonged battles that would have damaged the party image badly,” he further added.

    Sources said that on Sunday late at night the meeting between Devendra Fadnavis and Ashish Shelar took place at Meghadot bungalow of Fadnavis, then later on Monday, Maharashtra BJP in-charge TC Ravi had a meeting with Ashish Shelar where the final decision of withdrawing candidate was taken.

    Later, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekar Bawankule made the withdrawal announcement in Nagpur.

    Ashish Shelar, speaking to the media, said that the withdrawal of Murji Patel’s candidature decision was taken at the senior level. The party workers and cadre should remain charged for the BMC elections, he added.

  • BJP puts out animation video of Rahul on Bharat Jodo Yatra, Cong slams it as frustration

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The BJP and the Congress engaged in a battle of videos on Sunday with the ruling party putting out an animation video of Rahul Gandhi to take a dig at the Bharat Jodo Yatra and its rival then posting one taking a swipe at the “unfulfilled promises” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The BJP put out on Twitter an over two-minute-long animation of Rahul Gandhi, portraying him as Asrani’s character from the movie Sholay.

    In the video, digs have been taken over Congress MLAs quitting in Goa, leaders quitting and joining Ghulam Nabi Azad and infighting in Rajasthan, among other things.

    “Mummy, why doesn’t suffering end? It’s over, Tata..goodbye,” the BJP tweeted along with the animation in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi.

    मम्मी ये दुःख खतम काहे नहीं होता है?खतम…टाटा…गुडबाय! pic.twitter.com/J4tFqQgPOQ
    — BJP (@BJP4India) October 16, 2022
    Reacting to the move, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “BJP’s latest formula to counter the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    Frustration + Desperation = Animation.

    ” “To call the video they have put out pathetic is an understatement!” Ramesh said.

    Later in the day, the Congress also put out an animation video in which Modi is portrayed as an animation and is seen running around with people raising questions on gas cylinder and petrol prices, and jobs.

    In the video, the song from the movie Dushman ‘Vaada Tera Vaada’ plays in the background.

    “Dauda Dauda bhaga bhaga sa,” the Congress tweeted in Hindi along with the video.

    Since the start of the Yatra, the BJP has been attacking and taking swipes at it, while the Congress has claimed that it is doing so as it is rattled by the initiative’s success.

    NEW DELHI: The BJP and the Congress engaged in a battle of videos on Sunday with the ruling party putting out an animation video of Rahul Gandhi to take a dig at the Bharat Jodo Yatra and its rival then posting one taking a swipe at the “unfulfilled promises” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    The BJP put out on Twitter an over two-minute-long animation of Rahul Gandhi, portraying him as Asrani’s character from the movie Sholay.

    In the video, digs have been taken over Congress MLAs quitting in Goa, leaders quitting and joining Ghulam Nabi Azad and infighting in Rajasthan, among other things.

    “Mummy, why doesn’t suffering end? It’s over, Tata..goodbye,” the BJP tweeted along with the animation in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi.

    मम्मी ये दुःख खतम काहे नहीं होता है?
    खतम…टाटा…गुडबाय! pic.twitter.com/J4tFqQgPOQ
    — BJP (@BJP4India) October 16, 2022
    Reacting to the move, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “BJP’s latest formula to counter the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    Frustration + Desperation = Animation.

    ” “To call the video they have put out pathetic is an understatement!” Ramesh said.

    Later in the day, the Congress also put out an animation video in which Modi is portrayed as an animation and is seen running around with people raising questions on gas cylinder and petrol prices, and jobs.

    In the video, the song from the movie Dushman ‘Vaada Tera Vaada’ plays in the background.

    “Dauda Dauda bhaga bhaga sa,” the Congress tweeted in Hindi along with the video.

    Since the start of the Yatra, the BJP has been attacking and taking swipes at it, while the Congress has claimed that it is doing so as it is rattled by the initiative’s success.

  • AAP has broken records of corruption set by Congress: BJP chief J P Nadda 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has become synonymous with scams and broken the records of corruption set by the Congress, BJP president J P Nadda alleged on Sunday.

    He also asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will “trounce” the AAP in the MCD election and thereafter, in the Delhi assembly polls.

    “The AAP has become a party of scams. It has broken all records of corruption set by Congress. It needs to be packed off the lock, stock and barrel,” Nadda said at the BJP’s “Panch Parmeshwar Sammelan” held at the Ramlila Maidan here ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls, which are likely to be held in December.

    The BJP chief said the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had promised to provide a clean and healthy government in Delhi “but it has committed scam after scam in the power and excise departments, in the purchase of DTC buses, in the construction of classrooms and toilets and in the Delhi Jal Board…Kejriwal has ruined Delhi”.

    “The court has sent three AAP MLAs, including a minister, to jail. Five of their MLAs are out on bail. That is their record, he added.

    “We need to keep in mind that people who have been oscillating between jail and bail are MLAs in the AAP,” Nadda said.

    “They wanted to bring in Lokpal Bill, sat on hunger strike, made lofty statements of giving a healthy administration. They are now even embarrassing those who had an unhealthy government,” he said.

    Chief Minister Kejriwal had said he would enforce prohibition in Delhi if his party came to power, but has opened liquor shops in every neighbourhood after his party formed government, Nadda said.

    There are no principals in 745 schools run by the Delhi government, while 70 per cent of such schools do not teach science and commerce to students, he alleged.

    “We fail to understand how you will make poor children doctors. Spreading lies and giving false figures to people has become your nature, Kejriwalji,” the BJP chief said.

    Delhi had 6,600 buses when Kejriwal became chief minister and he promised to increase the tally to 11,000 but it has reduced to 3,680, Nadda said.

    “The BJP will trounce the AAP in the MCD polls and thereafter, in the assembly election. Go door to door and tell the people of Delhi about the AAP’s corruption,” he told BJP workers.

    Nadda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has realised the goal of “sabka sath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas”.

    “Other political parties are afraid of holding rallies at the Ramlila Maidan due to its sheer size. But even a workers’ conference of the BJP is enough to fill the ground. The BJP is the largest party in the world and the only party in the country that has a mass base,” he said.

    When other political parties “went into the ICU” and their leaders restricted themselves to Twitter and video conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the workers of the BJP committed themselves to serve the people of the country, Nadda said.

    He said people in the US, the UK and Europe still have masks on.

    “Modiji gave not one but two COVID-19 vaccines within nine months to the country and this is the reason you are sitting close to each other without wearing a mask. So far, 219 crore vaccine doses have been administered,” Nadda said.

    The BJP chief said the trifurcation of the MCD led to a shortage of funds, but the Delhi unit of the party kept working tirelessly.

    The MCD was trifurcated in 2012 during Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as chief minister.

    It was reunified by merging three civic bodies — North, South and East Municipal Corporations — through the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2022.

    Nadda said that the Modi government gave a health cover of Rs 5 lakh a year to 10.74 crore poor families across the country under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, but the AAP government did not implement it in Delhi.

    Also, the Kejriwal government has not been able to build a single hospital in the capital so far, he added.

    “Take any scheme of the Modi government — Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana, Ujala Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Mudra Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, Startup India, Standup India — these are aimed at strengthening Dalits, poor people, women, youngsters, farmers and the deprived sections of the society,” Nadda said.

    In a veiled attack on the Gandhi family, he said the Congress has been reduced to a party of “brothers and sisters”.

    For the MCD polls, “Panch parmeshwar” or five workers in each booth have been appointed by the BJP in Delhi over the last 45 days.

    There are around 13,800 polling booths in the national capital.

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has become synonymous with scams and broken the records of corruption set by the Congress, BJP president J P Nadda alleged on Sunday.

    He also asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will “trounce” the AAP in the MCD election and thereafter, in the Delhi assembly polls.

    “The AAP has become a party of scams. It has broken all records of corruption set by Congress. It needs to be packed off the lock, stock and barrel,” Nadda said at the BJP’s “Panch Parmeshwar Sammelan” held at the Ramlila Maidan here ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) polls, which are likely to be held in December.

    The BJP chief said the Arvind Kejriwal-led party had promised to provide a clean and healthy government in Delhi “but it has committed scam after scam in the power and excise departments, in the purchase of DTC buses, in the construction of classrooms and toilets and in the Delhi Jal Board…Kejriwal has ruined Delhi”.

    “The court has sent three AAP MLAs, including a minister, to jail. Five of their MLAs are out on bail. That is their record, he added.

    “We need to keep in mind that people who have been oscillating between jail and bail are MLAs in the AAP,” Nadda said.

    “They wanted to bring in Lokpal Bill, sat on hunger strike, made lofty statements of giving a healthy administration. They are now even embarrassing those who had an unhealthy government,” he said.

    Chief Minister Kejriwal had said he would enforce prohibition in Delhi if his party came to power, but has opened liquor shops in every neighbourhood after his party formed government, Nadda said.

    There are no principals in 745 schools run by the Delhi government, while 70 per cent of such schools do not teach science and commerce to students, he alleged.

    “We fail to understand how you will make poor children doctors. Spreading lies and giving false figures to people has become your nature, Kejriwalji,” the BJP chief said.

    Delhi had 6,600 buses when Kejriwal became chief minister and he promised to increase the tally to 11,000 but it has reduced to 3,680, Nadda said.

    “The BJP will trounce the AAP in the MCD polls and thereafter, in the assembly election. Go door to door and tell the people of Delhi about the AAP’s corruption,” he told BJP workers.

    Nadda said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has realised the goal of “sabka sath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas”.

    “Other political parties are afraid of holding rallies at the Ramlila Maidan due to its sheer size. But even a workers’ conference of the BJP is enough to fill the ground. The BJP is the largest party in the world and the only party in the country that has a mass base,” he said.

    When other political parties “went into the ICU” and their leaders restricted themselves to Twitter and video conferences during the COVID-19 pandemic, the workers of the BJP committed themselves to serve the people of the country, Nadda said.

    He said people in the US, the UK and Europe still have masks on.

    “Modiji gave not one but two COVID-19 vaccines within nine months to the country and this is the reason you are sitting close to each other without wearing a mask. So far, 219 crore vaccine doses have been administered,” Nadda said.

    The BJP chief said the trifurcation of the MCD led to a shortage of funds, but the Delhi unit of the party kept working tirelessly.

    The MCD was trifurcated in 2012 during Sheila Dikshit’s tenure as chief minister.

    It was reunified by merging three civic bodies — North, South and East Municipal Corporations — through the Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2022.

    Nadda said that the Modi government gave a health cover of Rs 5 lakh a year to 10.74 crore poor families across the country under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, but the AAP government did not implement it in Delhi.

    Also, the Kejriwal government has not been able to build a single hospital in the capital so far, he added.

    “Take any scheme of the Modi government — Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana, Ujala Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Mudra Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana, Startup India, Standup India — these are aimed at strengthening Dalits, poor people, women, youngsters, farmers and the deprived sections of the society,” Nadda said.

    In a veiled attack on the Gandhi family, he said the Congress has been reduced to a party of “brothers and sisters”.

    For the MCD polls, “Panch parmeshwar” or five workers in each booth have been appointed by the BJP in Delhi over the last 45 days.

    There are around 13,800 polling booths in the national capital.

  • Modi-Shah to lead from the front and defend fortress Gujarat

    By IANS

    NEW DELHI: After the announcement of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Gujarat’s is going to be announced soon. In such a situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state for 27 years, has a big challenge to save its fort.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have taken up the responsibility of retaining BJP’S power in Gujarat.

    A few hours after the Election Commission (EC) announced the Himachal elections on Friday, a meeting was held under the leadership of the PM at his residence. The BJP leaders of Gujarat and Himachal, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and state president C.R. Patil were present in the meeting, said sources.

    According to sources, this meeting was related to the Gujarat elections. A strategy to save the throne of Gujarat was prepared in this 5-hour-long meeting. It is believed that the BJP will compete in the Gujarat elections by keeping the face of the PM in front. At the same time, Amit Shah, along with J.P. Nadda, is busy preparing the complete outline of the plan. The gathering focused on several important aspects.

    Modi-Shah to announce schemes before the EC’s model code of conduct

    There is a possibility that the EC will announce the Gujarat elections after Diwali. In the remaining 10-12 days, Modi and Shah can give many big gifts to the state. The Defence Expo, which is going to be held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat from October 18 to October 22 will be inaugrated by the Prime Minister on October 19.

    The government is expecting to have signatures on more than 400 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investments above Rs 1.25 lakh crore in this expo. Apart from this, the foundation stone of many schemes and inaugurations will also be done around Diwali in Gujarat.

    To lessen the resentment of employees and farmers

    In Gujarat, many teachers, class IV government employees, health workers, farmers, forest guards and other organisations are angry with the government and were part of protests recently. They protested for an increase in their grade pay and the implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), among other demands.

    The Bhupendra Patel government has been successful in pacifying some of these, and has received instructions from the PM to dispose off the resentment still being seen in some organisations.

    Dealing with AAP’s promises and Congress’ silent propaganda

    The Gujarat Assembly elections are likely to be triangular this time. Apart from the BJP-Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also vigorously engaged in registering its presence in the state. Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convenor is making populist promises of providing free water, electricity as well as restoring old pension scheme of employees.

    In order to prevent the people from falling for these promises,the BJP has entrusted the central and state level leaders to go to the public and make them remember the development works of the government. Gujarat Gaurav Yatra is the beginning of the same.

    At the same time, the silence of the Congress also remains a matter of concern for the BJP. Recently, during a rally, Modi warned his workers of Congress’ silent campaign. He said that the “Congress was campaigning in villages and one should not get confused by them for not giving speeches or being seen in news”.

    To deal with this, the BJP has asked its workers to contact voters and conduct door to door campaigns. Amit Shah is also going to hold a meeting with the prominent leaders of Gujarat regarding this, said sources.

    There are 40-50 seats in Gujarat where the party seems weak in its own survey. A strategy is being prepared to bring these seats in its favour by holding more rallies with Modi and Shah. The party is also trying to strengthen its hold on the tribal seats. There are 27 seats reserved for tribals in the state. In the year 2017, the party could win only nine seats. Two seats went to the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and the remaining went to the Congress.

    Sources believe that CM Patel is not a leader with much mass base, hence the party has decided to go amongst the people with the face of Modi and the strategy of Shah.

    Gujarat has a total of 182 seats in the Assembly, out of which it is very important for any party to win 92 seats for a majority. In the 2017 elections, the BJP won 99 seats, while the Congress got 77.

    NEW DELHI: After the announcement of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections, Gujarat’s is going to be announced soon. In such a situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been in power in the state for 27 years, has a big challenge to save its fort.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have taken up the responsibility of retaining BJP’S power in Gujarat.

    A few hours after the Election Commission (EC) announced the Himachal elections on Friday, a meeting was held under the leadership of the PM at his residence. The BJP leaders of Gujarat and Himachal, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and state president C.R. Patil were present in the meeting, said sources.

    According to sources, this meeting was related to the Gujarat elections. A strategy to save the throne of Gujarat was prepared in this 5-hour-long meeting. It is believed that the BJP will compete in the Gujarat elections by keeping the face of the PM in front. At the same time, Amit Shah, along with J.P. Nadda, is busy preparing the complete outline of the plan. The gathering focused on several important aspects.

    Modi-Shah to announce schemes before the EC’s model code of conduct

    There is a possibility that the EC will announce the Gujarat elections after Diwali. In the remaining 10-12 days, Modi and Shah can give many big gifts to the state. The Defence Expo, which is going to be held in Gandhinagar in Gujarat from October 18 to October 22 will be inaugrated by the Prime Minister on October 19.

    The government is expecting to have signatures on more than 400 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for investments above Rs 1.25 lakh crore in this expo. Apart from this, the foundation stone of many schemes and inaugurations will also be done around Diwali in Gujarat.

    To lessen the resentment of employees and farmers

    In Gujarat, many teachers, class IV government employees, health workers, farmers, forest guards and other organisations are angry with the government and were part of protests recently. They protested for an increase in their grade pay and the implementation of Old Pension Scheme (OPS), among other demands.

    The Bhupendra Patel government has been successful in pacifying some of these, and has received instructions from the PM to dispose off the resentment still being seen in some organisations.

    Dealing with AAP’s promises and Congress’ silent propaganda

    The Gujarat Assembly elections are likely to be triangular this time. Apart from the BJP-Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is also vigorously engaged in registering its presence in the state. Arvind Kejriwal, the party’s national convenor is making populist promises of providing free water, electricity as well as restoring old pension scheme of employees.

    In order to prevent the people from falling for these promises,the BJP has entrusted the central and state level leaders to go to the public and make them remember the development works of the government. Gujarat Gaurav Yatra is the beginning of the same.

    At the same time, the silence of the Congress also remains a matter of concern for the BJP. Recently, during a rally, Modi warned his workers of Congress’ silent campaign. He said that the “Congress was campaigning in villages and one should not get confused by them for not giving speeches or being seen in news”.

    To deal with this, the BJP has asked its workers to contact voters and conduct door to door campaigns. Amit Shah is also going to hold a meeting with the prominent leaders of Gujarat regarding this, said sources.

    There are 40-50 seats in Gujarat where the party seems weak in its own survey. A strategy is being prepared to bring these seats in its favour by holding more rallies with Modi and Shah. The party is also trying to strengthen its hold on the tribal seats. There are 27 seats reserved for tribals in the state. In the year 2017, the party could win only nine seats. Two seats went to the Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) and the remaining went to the Congress.

    Sources believe that CM Patel is not a leader with much mass base, hence the party has decided to go amongst the people with the face of Modi and the strategy of Shah.

    Gujarat has a total of 182 seats in the Assembly, out of which it is very important for any party to win 92 seats for a majority. In the 2017 elections, the BJP won 99 seats, while the Congress got 77.

  • Day after Muzaffarnagar riots conviction, BJP MLA Vikram Saini gets acquittal in another case

    By PTI

    MUZAFFARNAGAR: BJP legislator Vikram Saini was on Wednesday acquitted in connection with a case of inciting communal tension, a day after he was awarded a two-year jail term in an unrelated 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case.

    Special MP-MLA court judge Mayank Jaiswal acquitted Saini for lack of evidence in the case.

    According to prosecution officer Niraj Singh, police had registered the latest case against Saini under sections Indian Penal Code sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) and 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship) at Kawal village in Jansath police station area on February 21, 2013.

    This case was registered months before the Muzaffarnagar riots.

    On Tuesday, the Special Judge Gopal Upadhyay of the same court had convicted Saini and 11 others for rioting and other offences and also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each.

    They were granted bail the same day after submitting sureties. The court had acquitted 15 other accused in the riots case for lack of evidence. Saini, who is the BJP MLA from Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh, had said he will file an appeal against the verdict.

    The 12 were convicted under IPC sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), and 149 (unlawful assembly).

    The BJP MLA and 26 others were facing trial for their alleged role in the violence at Kawal village when a crowd was returning after the cremation of two Jat youths.

    The killing of the two youths — Gaurav and Sachin — and one Shahnawaz triggered the communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September 2013, claiming 60 lives and leaving 40,000 people displaced.

    MUZAFFARNAGAR: BJP legislator Vikram Saini was on Wednesday acquitted in connection with a case of inciting communal tension, a day after he was awarded a two-year jail term in an unrelated 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case.

    Special MP-MLA court judge Mayank Jaiswal acquitted Saini for lack of evidence in the case.

    According to prosecution officer Niraj Singh, police had registered the latest case against Saini under sections Indian Penal Code sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion) and 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship) at Kawal village in Jansath police station area on February 21, 2013.

    This case was registered months before the Muzaffarnagar riots.

    On Tuesday, the Special Judge Gopal Upadhyay of the same court had convicted Saini and 11 others for rioting and other offences and also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each.

    They were granted bail the same day after submitting sureties. The court had acquitted 15 other accused in the riots case for lack of evidence. Saini, who is the BJP MLA from Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh, had said he will file an appeal against the verdict.

    The 12 were convicted under IPC sections 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), and 149 (unlawful assembly).

    The BJP MLA and 26 others were facing trial for their alleged role in the violence at Kawal village when a crowd was returning after the cremation of two Jat youths.

    The killing of the two youths — Gaurav and Sachin — and one Shahnawaz triggered the communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas in August and September 2013, claiming 60 lives and leaving 40,000 people displaced.

  • ‘Disciples’ of JP sacrificed his ideology, joined hands with Congress: Amit Shah

    By PTI

    SITAB DIARA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that those who claim themselves to be disciples of Jayaprakash Narayan have sacrificed his socialist ideology, in an apparent dig at the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar.

    Shah made the statement while addressing a rally here at the birthplace of Jayaprakash, popularly known as JP, in Bihar’s Saran district after unveiling a 15-feet high statue of the socialist icon.

    “He is power hungry, and for power, he sacrificed JP’s ideologies and joined hands with the Congress. He has nothing to do with the ideologies of JP,” Shah said, in an apparent reference to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who dumped the BJP to form a new seven-party coalition government.

    “Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the poor and the weaker sections of the society, for whom JP was concerned. This is the reason the Centre launched ‘Antyodaya Anna Yojna’ and Ujjwala Yojna, among others. He (Modi) is a firm believer in JP’s ideology,” the home minister said.

    Shah also credited the prime minister for the installation of JP’s statue, a project of the Union Culture Ministry.

    “The Hazaribagh jail escape of JP, his call for ‘total revolution’, his historic address at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan and his struggle during the days of Emergency are his legacy,” he said.

    UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the programme to mark the 120th birth anniversary of the veteran leader. Adityanath said his government has done a lot for the development of the areas of Sitab Diara that is in the jurisdiction of Uttar Pradesh.

    “JP was a towering national leader, he can’t be confined to UP and Bihar only,” he said.

    SITAB DIARA: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that those who claim themselves to be disciples of Jayaprakash Narayan have sacrificed his socialist ideology, in an apparent dig at the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar.

    Shah made the statement while addressing a rally here at the birthplace of Jayaprakash, popularly known as JP, in Bihar’s Saran district after unveiling a 15-feet high statue of the socialist icon.

    “He is power hungry, and for power, he sacrificed JP’s ideologies and joined hands with the Congress. He has nothing to do with the ideologies of JP,” Shah said, in an apparent reference to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who dumped the BJP to form a new seven-party coalition government.

    “Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for the poor and the weaker sections of the society, for whom JP was concerned. This is the reason the Centre launched ‘Antyodaya Anna Yojna’ and Ujjwala Yojna, among others. He (Modi) is a firm believer in JP’s ideology,” the home minister said.

    Shah also credited the prime minister for the installation of JP’s statue, a project of the Union Culture Ministry.

    “The Hazaribagh jail escape of JP, his call for ‘total revolution’, his historic address at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan and his struggle during the days of Emergency are his legacy,” he said.

    UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was also present at the programme to mark the 120th birth anniversary of the veteran leader. Adityanath said his government has done a lot for the development of the areas of Sitab Diara that is in the jurisdiction of Uttar Pradesh.

    “JP was a towering national leader, he can’t be confined to UP and Bihar only,” he said.

  • Religious conversion event: Delhi Police to question ex-minister Gautam on Tuesday

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police will question former minister Rajendra Pal Gautam on Tuesday over his presence at a religious conversion event where Hindu deities were allegedly denounced, senior officials said.

    He has been issued a notice to appear for questioning along with some others, a senior police official said.

    The former minister will be questioned about his presence in the event and details will be sought from him regarding what actually happened there, he said.

    Gautam resigned from his post on Sunday amid a controversy over his presence at the religious conversion event.

    The BJP had used the issue to attack AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal during the election campaigning in Gujarat and accused him of being “anti-Hindu”.

    In a letter shared on Twitter, Gautam said he attended the event in his personal capacity and it had nothing to do with his party or the ministry.

    He lashed out at the BJP for targeting Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alleging the saffron party was doing “dirty politics” on the issue.

    Gautam, who was the Minister for Social Welfare, SC and ST, Registrar of Co-operative Societies and Gurudwara Elections, said he is resigning as minister as he does not want his leader or AAP to be in trouble because of him.

    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police will question former minister Rajendra Pal Gautam on Tuesday over his presence at a religious conversion event where Hindu deities were allegedly denounced, senior officials said.

    He has been issued a notice to appear for questioning along with some others, a senior police official said.

    The former minister will be questioned about his presence in the event and details will be sought from him regarding what actually happened there, he said.

    Gautam resigned from his post on Sunday amid a controversy over his presence at the religious conversion event.

    The BJP had used the issue to attack AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal during the election campaigning in Gujarat and accused him of being “anti-Hindu”.

    In a letter shared on Twitter, Gautam said he attended the event in his personal capacity and it had nothing to do with his party or the ministry.

    He lashed out at the BJP for targeting Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alleging the saffron party was doing “dirty politics” on the issue.

    Gautam, who was the Minister for Social Welfare, SC and ST, Registrar of Co-operative Societies and Gurudwara Elections, said he is resigning as minister as he does not want his leader or AAP to be in trouble because of him.

  • BJP’s journey from 2 to 303 seats will start reversing from 2024: RJD

    The national executive endorsed party founder Lalu Prasad's re-election as the national president for the 12th time.

  • Unpopularity of BJP govt feeding Bharat Jodo Yatra’s success: Yogendra Yadav

    Express News Service

    MYSURU: Political analyst, social activist and president of Swaraj India Party Yogendra Yadav, who has joined the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, shared his thoughts with The New Sunday Express on why this journey is important and how it will bring the country together to fight politics of hatred.

    Yadav, who has been walking nearly 20 km every day for the last one month, said the yatra has shown the promise of challenging the dominant narrative and highlighting real issues bothering society.

    Asked about nine days of the yatra in the state, he said, “We began with both expectation and apprehension. Expectation because this is the land that offers deepest intellectual, cultural and literary resources to combat the politics of hate. Apprehension because the reception in Kerala was so good and we were worried if Karnataka could match it. But it has turned out better than what I expected with noted writer Devanuru Mahadeva welcoming the yatra, many cultural icons expressing support and family members of Gauri Lankesh walking along,” he said.

    Asked if it will have any political implications in the state that is going for polls, he said, “Unpopularity of the BJP government is feeding the success of the yatra here. There is a to-and-fro effect here. Unpopularity of BJP is making the yatra a success and the success of yatra will make BJP much weaker. What matters to me is the resolve to take on politics of hatred for which Karnataka is made a prime laboratory. This needs to be defeated and if that means BJP losing in the election. nothing can be better than that.”

    MYSURU: Political analyst, social activist and president of Swaraj India Party Yogendra Yadav, who has joined the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, shared his thoughts with The New Sunday Express on why this journey is important and how it will bring the country together to fight politics of hatred.

    Yadav, who has been walking nearly 20 km every day for the last one month, said the yatra has shown the promise of challenging the dominant narrative and highlighting real issues bothering society.

    Asked about nine days of the yatra in the state, he said, “We began with both expectation and apprehension. Expectation because this is the land that offers deepest intellectual, cultural and literary resources to combat the politics of hate. Apprehension because the reception in Kerala was so good and we were worried if Karnataka could match it. But it has turned out better than what I expected with noted writer Devanuru Mahadeva welcoming the yatra, many cultural icons expressing support and family members of Gauri Lankesh walking along,” he said.

    Asked if it will have any political implications in the state that is going for polls, he said, “Unpopularity of the BJP government is feeding the success of the yatra here. There is a to-and-fro effect here. Unpopularity of BJP is making the yatra a success and the success of yatra will make BJP much weaker. What matters to me is the resolve to take on politics of hatred for which Karnataka is made a prime laboratory. This needs to be defeated and if that means BJP losing in the election. nothing can be better than that.”

  • Congress should have taken up Bharat Jodo Yatra in 1947: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

    By Express News Service

    UDUPI: In a pointed attack against Congress over its Bharat Jodo Yatra, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the liberation of Goa would not have got delayed, had the Congress conducted Bharat Jodo Yatra in 1947.

    Speaking to the media after visiting Sri Krishna Mutt here on Saturday Sawant said, “If the Yatra was conducted in 1947, Goa would have been liberated at least in 1950. Our freedom fighters had to fight against the Portuguese in 1955. Several freedom fighters even lost their lives during the fight. If the Yatra was held then, it could have been avoided. The whole of East India and entire Kashmir would have become an integral part of India.”

    He added, “Leaders from various political parties are joining BJP after realising the long-term vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM has been an inspiration to the country’s youth and their dream of a new United Nations. The youth are joining hands to make PMs programmes like Clean India and Make in India successful. It is the same dream of New India that made political leaders from other parties a part of the BJP in Goa. This same magic may repeat in other parts of the nation too.” Paryaya Sri Krishnapura Mutt Seer Sri Vidyasagara Theertha Swamiji felicitated him.

    UDUPI: In a pointed attack against Congress over its Bharat Jodo Yatra, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the liberation of Goa would not have got delayed, had the Congress conducted Bharat Jodo Yatra in 1947.

    Speaking to the media after visiting Sri Krishna Mutt here on Saturday Sawant said, “If the Yatra was conducted in 1947, Goa would have been liberated at least in 1950. Our freedom fighters had to fight against the Portuguese in 1955. Several freedom fighters even lost their lives during the fight. If the Yatra was held then, it could have been avoided. The whole of East India and entire Kashmir would have become an integral part of India.”

    He added, “Leaders from various political parties are joining BJP after realising the long-term vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM has been an inspiration to the country’s youth and their dream of a new United Nations. The youth are joining hands to make PMs programmes like Clean India and Make in India successful. It is the same dream of New India that made political leaders from other parties a part of the BJP in Goa. This same magic may repeat in other parts of the nation too.” Paryaya Sri Krishnapura Mutt Seer Sri Vidyasagara Theertha Swamiji felicitated him.