News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Issue of sharing CM’s post with BJP could have been resolved through talks in 2019:  Shinde’s veiled swipe at Uddhav 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday launched a veiled attack on Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, saying the issue of sharing the post of chief minister with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the 2019 polls could have been resolved through talks.

    Addressing a rally in Aurangabad district, Shinde said some people took an “adamant stand” after the polls which implied that they didn’t want to form a government with the BJP despite both the parties winning the mandate of the people and resolving the issue of the post of the CM.

    “Some people said Shiv Sena should get the post of the chief minister for the first 2.5 years. (And if this condition is agreed to) then only talks between the two parties (read Sena and BJP) for forming a government could proceed, ” Shinde said without naming Thackeray.

    He said this adamant stand meant there was no will to form a government with BJP though the two parties had fought the assembly elections together and won a popular mandate.

    “Soon after the poll results, some people started discussing different options. MLAs of Shiv Sena were not in favour of an alliance with the Congress and NCP,” said Shinde.

    Thackeray had broken the alliance with BJP after the 2019 polls claiming that the ally reneged on its promise of sharing the CM’s post, a contention denied by the BJP.

    ALSO READ | ED detains Sena’s Sanjay Raut in Patra Chawl land scam case after day-long raids

    The Sena then joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress to form a tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in November 2019 with Thackeray taking oath as the chief minister.

    Shinde said the BJP had honoured the commitment of making Nitish Kumar the chief minister of Bihar despite the saffron party winning more seats than the JD(U).

    Shinde, a veteran shivsainik and former minister in the Thackeray cabinet, rebelled with 40 MLAs of Sena in June, leading to the collapse of the MVA government. He took oath as the chief minister on June 30 with Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP as the deputy CM.

    Shinde said the BJP could have taken the chief minister’s post in the present government led by him.

    “I was told by BJP leadership that despite that party having more MLAs than the Shinde faction, it has agreed to make him the chief minister. Had we (apparently referring to BJP) made any commitment in 2019, we would have honoured it. Now you tell me, who is speaking the truth,” Shinde asked.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday launched a veiled attack on Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, saying the issue of sharing the post of chief minister with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the 2019 polls could have been resolved through talks.

    Addressing a rally in Aurangabad district, Shinde said some people took an “adamant stand” after the polls which implied that they didn’t want to form a government with the BJP despite both the parties winning the mandate of the people and resolving the issue of the post of the CM.

    “Some people said Shiv Sena should get the post of the chief minister for the first 2.5 years. (And if this condition is agreed to) then only talks between the two parties (read Sena and BJP) for forming a government could proceed, ” Shinde said without naming Thackeray.

    He said this adamant stand meant there was no will to form a government with BJP though the two parties had fought the assembly elections together and won a popular mandate.

    “Soon after the poll results, some people started discussing different options. MLAs of Shiv Sena were not in favour of an alliance with the Congress and NCP,” said Shinde.

    Thackeray had broken the alliance with BJP after the 2019 polls claiming that the ally reneged on its promise of sharing the CM’s post, a contention denied by the BJP.

    ALSO READ | ED detains Sena’s Sanjay Raut in Patra Chawl land scam case after day-long raids

    The Sena then joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress to form a tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in November 2019 with Thackeray taking oath as the chief minister.

    Shinde said the BJP had honoured the commitment of making Nitish Kumar the chief minister of Bihar despite the saffron party winning more seats than the JD(U).

    Shinde, a veteran shivsainik and former minister in the Thackeray cabinet, rebelled with 40 MLAs of Sena in June, leading to the collapse of the MVA government. He took oath as the chief minister on June 30 with Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP as the deputy CM.

    Shinde said the BJP could have taken the chief minister’s post in the present government led by him.

    “I was told by BJP leadership that despite that party having more MLAs than the Shinde faction, it has agreed to make him the chief minister. Had we (apparently referring to BJP) made any commitment in 2019, we would have honoured it. Now you tell me, who is speaking the truth,” Shinde asked.

  • Issue of sharing CM’s post with BJP could have been resolved through talks in 2019: Shinde’s veiled swipe at Uddhav 

    Eknath Shinde said the BJP could have taken the chief minister's post in the present government led by him. He took oath as the chief minister on June 30.

  • ‘BJP’s Operation Lotus in Jharkhand exposed’: Congress after three MLAs caught with cash

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress has accused the BJP of trying to topple its coalition government in Jharkhand after three MLAS were caught allegedly with a huge amount of cash in West Bengal’s Howrah, saying the saffron party’s game plan is to do in Jharkhand what they did in Maharashtra.

    Acting on a tip-off, police on Saturday intercepted an SUV in which Congress MLAs Irfan Ansari, Rajesh Kachchap and Naman Bixal Kongari were travelling on national highway-16 at Ranihati in Howrah and allegedly found a huge amount of cash in the vehicle.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter on Saturday that “The BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ in Jharkhand stands exposed tonight in Howrah. The game plan of ‘Hum Do’ in Delhi is to do in Jharkhand what they did in Maharashtra by installing E-D duo.”

    After rebel Sena leader Eknath Shinde was sworn in as the Maharashtra chief minister recently, the Congress had hit out at the BJP for capturing power “unethically” The Jharkhand Congress also claimed that the huge amount of cash was part of a conspiracy by the BJP to topple the Hemant Soren government, of which it is a part along with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal.

    Howrah Superintendent of Police (Rural) Swati Bhangalia had said, “We had specific inputs that a huge amount of money was being transported in a black car. We started checking the vehicles and intercepted this SUV in which three Jharkhand MLAs were travelling. A huge amount of cash was found in the vehicle.”

    “Cash counting machines are being brought in to ascertain the total amount. The MLAs are also being questioned about the source of the money and where it was being taken to,” she added.

    Besides the MLAs, there were two other people in the SUV, which carried a board mentioning “MLA Jamtara Jharkhand” along with the Congress’ election symbol, police said.

    Ansari is the MLA of Jamtara, while Kachchap is the legislator of Khijri in Ranchi district and Kongari is the MLA of Kolebira in Simdega district.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress has accused the BJP of trying to topple its coalition government in Jharkhand after three MLAS were caught allegedly with a huge amount of cash in West Bengal’s Howrah, saying the saffron party’s game plan is to do in Jharkhand what they did in Maharashtra.

    Acting on a tip-off, police on Saturday intercepted an SUV in which Congress MLAs Irfan Ansari, Rajesh Kachchap and Naman Bixal Kongari were travelling on national highway-16 at Ranihati in Howrah and allegedly found a huge amount of cash in the vehicle.

    Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter on Saturday that “The BJP’s ‘Operation Lotus’ in Jharkhand stands exposed tonight in Howrah. The game plan of ‘Hum Do’ in Delhi is to do in Jharkhand what they did in Maharashtra by installing E-D duo.”

    After rebel Sena leader Eknath Shinde was sworn in as the Maharashtra chief minister recently, the Congress had hit out at the BJP for capturing power “unethically” The Jharkhand Congress also claimed that the huge amount of cash was part of a conspiracy by the BJP to topple the Hemant Soren government, of which it is a part along with Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal.

    Howrah Superintendent of Police (Rural) Swati Bhangalia had said, “We had specific inputs that a huge amount of money was being transported in a black car. We started checking the vehicles and intercepted this SUV in which three Jharkhand MLAs were travelling. A huge amount of cash was found in the vehicle.”

    “Cash counting machines are being brought in to ascertain the total amount. The MLAs are also being questioned about the source of the money and where it was being taken to,” she added.

    Besides the MLAs, there were two other people in the SUV, which carried a board mentioning “MLA Jamtara Jharkhand” along with the Congress’ election symbol, police said.

    Ansari is the MLA of Jamtara, while Kachchap is the legislator of Khijri in Ranchi district and Kongari is the MLA of Kolebira in Simdega district.

  • ‘Silly Souls’: Mahua Moitra’s quip at BJP for accusing Congress MPs of eating chicken near Gandhi statue

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Friday took a dig at the BJP for alleging that Congress MPs protesting under the Gandhi statue in Parliament complex ate chicken.

    The demonstration is being held against the suspension of 24 MPs — 20 from Rajya Sabha and four Congress members from Lok Sabha.

    Without taking any names, Mitra hit out at BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who raised the issue on Thursday, and Union Minister Smriti Irani, whose 18-year-old daughter has been accused of running an “illegal bar” in Goa by the Congress.

    “BJP’s hired help commenting on what food suspended MPs eat on dharna. Silly Souls! Don’t you know your masters serve both tongue & cheek ?!” she tweeted.

    “Silly Souls” is the name of the place being linked to Irani’s daughter.

    Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi accused the Congress of insulting Mahatma Gandhi by consuming chicken while sitting under the statue of the seeker of non-violence.

    “Far from discussing public issues, insulting the great personalities of the country has become a habit of the Congress,” he said in Hindi.

    The TMC served tandoori chicken to the protesting MPs on Wednesday, and fish fry on Thursday.

    It is, however, not clear if the Congress leaders ate any of the non-vegetarian food.

    NEW DELHI: TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Friday took a dig at the BJP for alleging that Congress MPs protesting under the Gandhi statue in Parliament complex ate chicken.

    The demonstration is being held against the suspension of 24 MPs — 20 from Rajya Sabha and four Congress members from Lok Sabha.

    Without taking any names, Mitra hit out at BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, who raised the issue on Thursday, and Union Minister Smriti Irani, whose 18-year-old daughter has been accused of running an “illegal bar” in Goa by the Congress.

    “BJP’s hired help commenting on what food suspended MPs eat on dharna. Silly Souls! Don’t you know your masters serve both tongue & cheek ?!” she tweeted.

    “Silly Souls” is the name of the place being linked to Irani’s daughter.

    Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi accused the Congress of insulting Mahatma Gandhi by consuming chicken while sitting under the statue of the seeker of non-violence.

    “Far from discussing public issues, insulting the great personalities of the country has become a habit of the Congress,” he said in Hindi.

    The TMC served tandoori chicken to the protesting MPs on Wednesday, and fish fry on Thursday.

    It is, however, not clear if the Congress leaders ate any of the non-vegetarian food.

  • Sonia-Smriti face-off: Congress MPs protest in Parliament premises, demand government apology; BJP hits back

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted on Friday after opposition staged protests and BJP members countered, leading to adjournment of the House till 12 noon immediately after it assembled for the day.

    As soon as the House met at 11 am, opposition members, mostly Congress MPs, came to well-shouting slogans against the government.

    BJP women members, who were standing in the second row of the Treasury benches, too stood up and shouted counter slogans.

    Kirit Solanki, who was in the chair, first requested the members to sit down in their respective seats.

    Solanki repeated his request but the members ignored his pleas following which he adjourned the House till 12 noon within a minute of assembling.

    The House had seen noisy scenes on Thursday when Union Minister Smriti Irani led the charge against Congress for its Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s comment on President Droupadi Murmu, terming her as ‘Rashtrapatni’ Irani had also demanded an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi for Chowdhury’s remark, leading to vociferous protests from opposition members and counter-protests from treasury benches.

    The House could not function properly due to the pandemonium and adjourned for the day after witnessing repeated brief adjournments.

    There was also a face-off between Gandhi and Irani during an interval, inviting allegations and counter-allegations from both sides.

    Gandhi and Chowdhury attended the House on Friday.

    However, front row of the Treasury benches was not occupied when the House met in the morning.

    Lok Sabha proceedings have been disrupted mostly due to the opposition protests, seeking a discussion on price rise and GST rate hike on some food items, even since the Monsoon Session began on July 18.

    Four Congress MPs — Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, TN Prathapan and S Jothimani – were also suspended last Monday for rest of the session for protests and carrying placards inside the House.

    Congress MPs staged a protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament on Friday to demand an apology from the government following the face-off between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union minister Smriti Irani.

    On Thursday, the raging row over Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calling President Droupadi Murmu “rashtrapatni” escalated with the opposition party accusing BJP MPs of subjecting its president to “brutal heckling, verbal assault and physical intimidation” in the Lok Sabha.

    Congress MPs, protesting against the alleged misbehaviour with Gandhi, were joined by their colleagues from the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

    Chowdhury’s remark on India’s first tribal president has drawn a fresh battleline between the Congress and the BJP, which has demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi.

    As the Lok Sabha adjourned soon after 12 noon on Thursday, Gandhi walked across to the treasury benches and sought to know from BJP member Rama Devi why she was dragged into the issue.

    Irani intervened and was seen gesturing towards Gandhi and apparently protesting Chowdhury’s remark.

    Gandhi tried to ignore Irani’s protestations, but was soon seen gesturing towards the minister and speaking angrily.

    Suspended Rajya Sabha members TMC’s Derek O’Brien and AAP’s Sanjay Singh spent the night at the protest site near the entrance of Parliament.

    TMC’s Dola Sen and Mausam Noor were there at the site till midnight.

    The opposition parties sat on a relay protest in Parliament premises protesting against the suspension of 24 MPs in both Houses of Parliament.

    On Thursday, three more MPs were suspended.

    The opposition parties have demanded a discussion on price rise in Parliament.

    Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday said the Lok Sabha will only function after Sonia Gandhi apologises for party MP Adhir’s remark against the President.

    A major political row broke out on Thursday over Chowdhury’s ‘rashtrapatni’ remark with the BJP launching an all-out offensive against the opposition party, accusing Chowdhury of hurling a “deliberate sexist insult” at President Droupadi Murmu and demanding an apology from the Congress chief.

    Chowdhury, who is the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said he never intended to disrespect the President and his ‘rashtrapatni’ remark was a “slip of the tongue”.

    In a series of tweets, Dubey said, “The BJP wouldn’t tolerate the insult of the tribal community.

    Lok Sabha will only function after the apology of Mrs Gandhi”.

    Dubey also charged that Congress has a history of misusing democracy and Parliament.

    In 2012, Congress had given 10 notices against then BJP president Rajnath Singh for just speaking about the family’s (Gandhi family) trust, he added.

    NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha proceedings were disrupted on Friday after opposition staged protests and BJP members countered, leading to adjournment of the House till 12 noon immediately after it assembled for the day.

    As soon as the House met at 11 am, opposition members, mostly Congress MPs, came to well-shouting slogans against the government.

    BJP women members, who were standing in the second row of the Treasury benches, too stood up and shouted counter slogans.

    Kirit Solanki, who was in the chair, first requested the members to sit down in their respective seats.

    Solanki repeated his request but the members ignored his pleas following which he adjourned the House till 12 noon within a minute of assembling.

    The House had seen noisy scenes on Thursday when Union Minister Smriti Irani led the charge against Congress for its Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s comment on President Droupadi Murmu, terming her as ‘Rashtrapatni’ Irani had also demanded an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi for Chowdhury’s remark, leading to vociferous protests from opposition members and counter-protests from treasury benches.

    The House could not function properly due to the pandemonium and adjourned for the day after witnessing repeated brief adjournments.

    There was also a face-off between Gandhi and Irani during an interval, inviting allegations and counter-allegations from both sides.

    Gandhi and Chowdhury attended the House on Friday.

    However, front row of the Treasury benches was not occupied when the House met in the morning.

    Lok Sabha proceedings have been disrupted mostly due to the opposition protests, seeking a discussion on price rise and GST rate hike on some food items, even since the Monsoon Session began on July 18.

    Four Congress MPs — Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, TN Prathapan and S Jothimani – were also suspended last Monday for rest of the session for protests and carrying placards inside the House.

    Congress MPs staged a protest in front of the Gandhi statue in Parliament on Friday to demand an apology from the government following the face-off between Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union minister Smriti Irani.

    On Thursday, the raging row over Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury calling President Droupadi Murmu “rashtrapatni” escalated with the opposition party accusing BJP MPs of subjecting its president to “brutal heckling, verbal assault and physical intimidation” in the Lok Sabha.

    Congress MPs, protesting against the alleged misbehaviour with Gandhi, were joined by their colleagues from the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

    Chowdhury’s remark on India’s first tribal president has drawn a fresh battleline between the Congress and the BJP, which has demanded an apology from Sonia Gandhi.

    As the Lok Sabha adjourned soon after 12 noon on Thursday, Gandhi walked across to the treasury benches and sought to know from BJP member Rama Devi why she was dragged into the issue.

    Irani intervened and was seen gesturing towards Gandhi and apparently protesting Chowdhury’s remark.

    Gandhi tried to ignore Irani’s protestations, but was soon seen gesturing towards the minister and speaking angrily.

    Suspended Rajya Sabha members TMC’s Derek O’Brien and AAP’s Sanjay Singh spent the night at the protest site near the entrance of Parliament.

    TMC’s Dola Sen and Mausam Noor were there at the site till midnight.

    The opposition parties sat on a relay protest in Parliament premises protesting against the suspension of 24 MPs in both Houses of Parliament.

    On Thursday, three more MPs were suspended.

    The opposition parties have demanded a discussion on price rise in Parliament.

    Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday said the Lok Sabha will only function after Sonia Gandhi apologises for party MP Adhir’s remark against the President.

    A major political row broke out on Thursday over Chowdhury’s ‘rashtrapatni’ remark with the BJP launching an all-out offensive against the opposition party, accusing Chowdhury of hurling a “deliberate sexist insult” at President Droupadi Murmu and demanding an apology from the Congress chief.

    Chowdhury, who is the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, said he never intended to disrespect the President and his ‘rashtrapatni’ remark was a “slip of the tongue”.

    In a series of tweets, Dubey said, “The BJP wouldn’t tolerate the insult of the tribal community.

    Lok Sabha will only function after the apology of Mrs Gandhi”.

    Dubey also charged that Congress has a history of misusing democracy and Parliament.

    In 2012, Congress had given 10 notices against then BJP president Rajnath Singh for just speaking about the family’s (Gandhi family) trust, he added.

  • SSC scam: BJP takes out rally in Kolkata to protest against school jobs irregularities

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The BJP’s West Bengal unit on Thursday took out a rally here to protest against alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teachers and non-teaching staff in government-sponsored and-aided schools.

    Led by BJP’s state president Sukanta Majumdar and other senior party leaders, the protest march – Kolkata Chalo – began at College Street and culminated at Rani Rashmoni road in central Kolkata.

    “The corruption in School Service Commission is just the tip of the iceberg. The entire TMC and its government are knee-deep in corruption. Partha Chatterjee and other corrupt leaders should be put behind bars,” Majumdar said.

    The state government on Thursday removed Chatterjee, who was on July 23 arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged school jobs scam, from the ministry with immediate effect.

    Carrying posters and placards, the BJP activists shouted slogans against the Mamata Banerjee government and its education department.

    They demanded that the culprits behind the alleged scam should be put behind bars.

    Chatterjee held the portfolios of commerce and industry, parliamentary affairs, information technology and electronics, public enterprises and industrial reconstruction in the state cabinet.

    He was the state education minister when the alleged scam took place.

    The Enforcement Directorate is probing into the money trail involved in the irregularities in recruitment at schools.

    Crores of rupees in cash along with other items were allegedly recovered from the residence of a woman, who is considered to be a close associate of Chatterjee.

    PTI could not independently verify the information.

    Another central agency CBI, as directed by the Calcutta High Court, is also probing the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Group-C and D staff as well as teachers in government-sponsored and-aided schools on recommendations of the West Bengal School Service Commission.

    KOLKATA: The BJP’s West Bengal unit on Thursday took out a rally here to protest against alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teachers and non-teaching staff in government-sponsored and-aided schools.

    Led by BJP’s state president Sukanta Majumdar and other senior party leaders, the protest march – Kolkata Chalo – began at College Street and culminated at Rani Rashmoni road in central Kolkata.

    “The corruption in School Service Commission is just the tip of the iceberg. The entire TMC and its government are knee-deep in corruption. Partha Chatterjee and other corrupt leaders should be put behind bars,” Majumdar said.

    The state government on Thursday removed Chatterjee, who was on July 23 arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged school jobs scam, from the ministry with immediate effect.

    Carrying posters and placards, the BJP activists shouted slogans against the Mamata Banerjee government and its education department.

    They demanded that the culprits behind the alleged scam should be put behind bars.

    Chatterjee held the portfolios of commerce and industry, parliamentary affairs, information technology and electronics, public enterprises and industrial reconstruction in the state cabinet.

    He was the state education minister when the alleged scam took place.

    The Enforcement Directorate is probing into the money trail involved in the irregularities in recruitment at schools.

    Crores of rupees in cash along with other items were allegedly recovered from the residence of a woman, who is considered to be a close associate of Chatterjee.

    PTI could not independently verify the information.

    Another central agency CBI, as directed by the Calcutta High Court, is also probing the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Group-C and D staff as well as teachers in government-sponsored and-aided schools on recommendations of the West Bengal School Service Commission.

  • Zero FIR lodged against Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary over remarks against President Murmu

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: While BJP and Congress members indulged in a heated exchange of words in the Parliament on Thursday, over the Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary’s alleged “Rashtrapatni” remarks against President Draupadi Murmu, back in the tribal-dominated Dindori district of the BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh, zero FIR was lodged against Chaudhary on the complaint of the ruling party’s national secretary Om Prakash Dhurve.

    While confirming the lodging of zero FIR, seeking action against Chaudhary on the complaint of the BJP leader Om Prakash Dhurve, the Dindori district’s additional SP (ASP) Jagannath Markam said the FIR will be transferred for further investigations to the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi.

    The zero FIR has been lodged against the Congress’s Lok Sabha member from West Bengal u/s 15B and 55[2] IPC.

    Confirming the development, another BJP leader Vinod Gotia, chairman of MP State Tourism Development Corporation, said by making indecent remarks against Murmu, Chaudhary has insulted the post of the President of India, women and the entire tribal population of the country, owing to which the FIR has been lodged at the Dindori Kotwali by the former MP minister and BJP national secretary Om Prakash Dhurve.

    BHOPAL: While BJP and Congress members indulged in a heated exchange of words in the Parliament on Thursday, over the Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chaudhary’s alleged “Rashtrapatni” remarks against President Draupadi Murmu, back in the tribal-dominated Dindori district of the BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh, zero FIR was lodged against Chaudhary on the complaint of the ruling party’s national secretary Om Prakash Dhurve.

    While confirming the lodging of zero FIR, seeking action against Chaudhary on the complaint of the BJP leader Om Prakash Dhurve, the Dindori district’s additional SP (ASP) Jagannath Markam said the FIR will be transferred for further investigations to the Parliament Street police station in New Delhi.

    The zero FIR has been lodged against the Congress’s Lok Sabha member from West Bengal u/s 15B and 55[2] IPC.

    Confirming the development, another BJP leader Vinod Gotia, chairman of MP State Tourism Development Corporation, said by making indecent remarks against Murmu, Chaudhary has insulted the post of the President of India, women and the entire tribal population of the country, owing to which the FIR has been lodged at the Dindori Kotwali by the former MP minister and BJP national secretary Om Prakash Dhurve.

  • Adhir’s ‘rashtrapatni’ remark on President Murmu: BJP demands apology from Sonia

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday slammed Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for his remark against the President, saying the entire country is upset over it.

    Both Houses of Parliament witnessed uproar over the remark with BJP leaders demanding an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

    “The entire country today is upset over Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s remark on the President. Congress has been insulting tribal leaders,” Goyal, who is the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, told reporters.

    Referring to President Droupadi Murmu as ‘rashtrapatni’ was a “slip of the tongue”, Chowdhury said on Thursday and accused the BJP of making a “mountain out of a molehill” over the issue.

    The term was used only once by mistake and he never intended any disrespect to the president, Chowdhury said.

    BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday said Congress president Sonia Gandhi must apologise to the nation over party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s “derogatory” remark against President Droupadi Murmu.

    BJP members stalled both house of Parliament on Thursday as they protested against Chowdhury, the party’s top leader in Lok Sabha, for calling Murmu “rashtrapatni”.

    They too sought an apology from the Congress president over Chowdhury’s remark.

    Sonia Gandhi has appointed Chowdhury as the leader in Lok Sabha to speak and he has made a “derogatory” remark against President Murmu.

    Therefore, the Congress chief must apologise to the nation, Patra told reporters here.

    Reacting to Congress’ stand that Chowdhury has already apologised for the comment, Patra said the MP needs to be “punished” for demeaning the country’s highest constitutional post.

    NEW DELHI: Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday slammed Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for his remark against the President, saying the entire country is upset over it.

    Both Houses of Parliament witnessed uproar over the remark with BJP leaders demanding an apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

    “The entire country today is upset over Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s remark on the President. Congress has been insulting tribal leaders,” Goyal, who is the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, told reporters.

    Referring to President Droupadi Murmu as ‘rashtrapatni’ was a “slip of the tongue”, Chowdhury said on Thursday and accused the BJP of making a “mountain out of a molehill” over the issue.

    The term was used only once by mistake and he never intended any disrespect to the president, Chowdhury said.

    BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday said Congress president Sonia Gandhi must apologise to the nation over party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury’s “derogatory” remark against President Droupadi Murmu.

    BJP members stalled both house of Parliament on Thursday as they protested against Chowdhury, the party’s top leader in Lok Sabha, for calling Murmu “rashtrapatni”.

    They too sought an apology from the Congress president over Chowdhury’s remark.

    Sonia Gandhi has appointed Chowdhury as the leader in Lok Sabha to speak and he has made a “derogatory” remark against President Murmu.

    Therefore, the Congress chief must apologise to the nation, Patra told reporters here.

    Reacting to Congress’ stand that Chowdhury has already apologised for the comment, Patra said the MP needs to be “punished” for demeaning the country’s highest constitutional post.

  • SSC scam: Why is arrested minister being retained in Mamata Cabinet, asks BJP’s Suvendu

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday questioned why Partha Chatterjee is being retained as a minister by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee despite his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged school jobs scam.

    Adhikari met Governor La Ganesan at the Raj Bhavan here, seeking that Chatterjee, who holds the industry, commerce and parliamentary affairs portfolios, be removed as minister.

    “She (the chief minister) has not taken any step against him despite so much information and proof,” Adhikari told reporters after the meeting.

    Adhikari, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee government before joining the BJP in 2020, alleged that it is “her strategy to show that she is good and others are not”.

    The chief minister had said during a programme on Monday that anyone found guilty in court would face action from the party.

    Chatterjee and his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee were arrested on July 23 by the ED, which is probing the money trail involved in the alleged teacher recruitment irregularities at government-sponsored and-aided schools.

    Crores of rupees in cash along with other valuable items were allegedly recovered from the residence of Mukherjee.

    PTI could not independently verify the information.

    Chatterjee was the education minister when the school jobs scam occurred.

    Both have been remanded to the custody of the central agency by a special ED court till August 3.

    KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday questioned why Partha Chatterjee is being retained as a minister by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee despite his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged school jobs scam.

    Adhikari met Governor La Ganesan at the Raj Bhavan here, seeking that Chatterjee, who holds the industry, commerce and parliamentary affairs portfolios, be removed as minister.

    “She (the chief minister) has not taken any step against him despite so much information and proof,” Adhikari told reporters after the meeting.

    Adhikari, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee government before joining the BJP in 2020, alleged that it is “her strategy to show that she is good and others are not”.

    The chief minister had said during a programme on Monday that anyone found guilty in court would face action from the party.

    Chatterjee and his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee were arrested on July 23 by the ED, which is probing the money trail involved in the alleged teacher recruitment irregularities at government-sponsored and-aided schools.

    Crores of rupees in cash along with other valuable items were allegedly recovered from the residence of Mukherjee.

    PTI could not independently verify the information.

    Chatterjee was the education minister when the school jobs scam occurred.

    Both have been remanded to the custody of the central agency by a special ED court till August 3.

  • Shinde’s demand and BJP’s Gujarat pattern causing delay in Maharashtra cabinet expansion

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: The deadlock continues over cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde abruptly cancelled his scheduled Delhi visit on Wednesday evening.

    Shinde was expected to meet the top leadership of the BJP to discuss the cabinet expansion.

    According to sources, Shinde made several visits to Delhi and met the top leadership of the BJP, but there is an icebreaker between the two partners. Shinde might fly on Thursday to Delhi once he confirms the appointment of the BJP leadership in Delhi.

    “The problem is not only with Shinde’s demand but BJP is also having issues regarding the expansion of the cabinet, which is causing a delay in the expansion,” said a senior BJP leader who requested anonymity. 

    “After getting the Chief Minister post, Shinde wants to keep the key portfolios like Home and Finance with him so that he can give justice to his 41 rebelled Shiv Sena MLAs. Shinde had promised everyone either making cabinet minister or minister for the state. It will be difficult for him to fulfil this given promise, therefore if finance is with him, then at least he can impart sufficient funds to his camp MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs. And, with the home ministry, he can control the state and break the Sena further. The 12 Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MPs who joined Shinde also expecting some good pie in this new alliance. So, Shinde is surrounded by several issues and demands of his own people.”

    Source added, Shinde is a hard bargainer while BJP is also a tough bargainer. “BJP leadership is in no mood to sacrifice further after giving the Chief Minister post to Shinde, while Shinde will continue to remain on the pitch to get some or other things. This tough bargaining by both sides is causing an indefinite delay in the cabinet expansion. Shinde met the BJP’s leadership with the list but leadership is no more entertaining him now. They are not also giving him appointments. In his last Delhi visit, he spent his entire day at Maharashtra Sadan to fix the appointment with top BJP leaders but failed and returned back to Maharashtra without any concrete meeting,” said sources requesting anonymity.

    Deepak Kesarkar, Shinde camp spokesperson said that the media should not worry about the delay in cabinet expansions. He said there is a government in place and taking several decisions. “We are confident that there will be soon cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. A month’s delay is not much delay. It has happened earlier also. Uddhav Thackerays’ government had also delayed cabinet expansion despite 2/3 majority on his side,” he explained. 

    Sources in BJP said that the top leaders of Delhi leadership also want to give a second shock to Maharashtra BJP by giving all fresh faces like Gujarat patterns’ cabinet expansion. “Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis doing hard lobbying for his people while the BJP state president Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawade are also doing their own lobbying. This has made it difficult to come out with same-page solutions. The BJP not only struggling to resolve Shindes’ demands but within the party demand is also a major issue. All these things are incorporated for the delay in cabinet expansion,” said a BJP leader requesting anonymity.

    MUMBAI: The deadlock continues over cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde abruptly cancelled his scheduled Delhi visit on Wednesday evening.

    Shinde was expected to meet the top leadership of the BJP to discuss the cabinet expansion.

    According to sources, Shinde made several visits to Delhi and met the top leadership of the BJP, but there is an icebreaker between the two partners. Shinde might fly on Thursday to Delhi once he confirms the appointment of the BJP leadership in Delhi.

    “The problem is not only with Shinde’s demand but BJP is also having issues regarding the expansion of the cabinet, which is causing a delay in the expansion,” said a senior BJP leader who requested anonymity. 

    “After getting the Chief Minister post, Shinde wants to keep the key portfolios like Home and Finance with him so that he can give justice to his 41 rebelled Shiv Sena MLAs. Shinde had promised everyone either making cabinet minister or minister for the state. It will be difficult for him to fulfil this given promise, therefore if finance is with him, then at least he can impart sufficient funds to his camp MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs. And, with the home ministry, he can control the state and break the Sena further. The 12 Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MPs who joined Shinde also expecting some good pie in this new alliance. So, Shinde is surrounded by several issues and demands of his own people.”

    Source added, Shinde is a hard bargainer while BJP is also a tough bargainer. “BJP leadership is in no mood to sacrifice further after giving the Chief Minister post to Shinde, while Shinde will continue to remain on the pitch to get some or other things. This tough bargaining by both sides is causing an indefinite delay in the cabinet expansion. Shinde met the BJP’s leadership with the list but leadership is no more entertaining him now. They are not also giving him appointments. In his last Delhi visit, he spent his entire day at Maharashtra Sadan to fix the appointment with top BJP leaders but failed and returned back to Maharashtra without any concrete meeting,” said sources requesting anonymity.

    Deepak Kesarkar, Shinde camp spokesperson said that the media should not worry about the delay in cabinet expansions. He said there is a government in place and taking several decisions. “We are confident that there will be soon cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. A month’s delay is not much delay. It has happened earlier also. Uddhav Thackerays’ government had also delayed cabinet expansion despite 2/3 majority on his side,” he explained. 

    Sources in BJP said that the top leaders of Delhi leadership also want to give a second shock to Maharashtra BJP by giving all fresh faces like Gujarat patterns’ cabinet expansion. “Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis doing hard lobbying for his people while the BJP state president Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawade are also doing their own lobbying. This has made it difficult to come out with same-page solutions. The BJP not only struggling to resolve Shindes’ demands but within the party demand is also a major issue. All these things are incorporated for the delay in cabinet expansion,” said a BJP leader requesting anonymity.