News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Tejashwi makes fresh bid to fish in NDA’s troubled waters as he questions ramped up security in state BJP offices

    By PTI

    PATNA: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday made a fresh attempt at fishing in the NDA’s troubled waters in Bihar by questioning the manner in which security for the BJP’s leaders and offices were ramped up in the state in the wake of violent protests against ‘Agnipath’ scheme.

    The leader of the opposition came out with a series of tweets accusing BJP leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi, MPs and MLAs, who have been given “Y” category security, of having no faith in their “own double engine government” but staying in a coalition with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) “just for the sake of power”.

    Yadav also alleged that deployment of central paramilitary forces at BJP offices was made “without taking the state government into confidence” and was tantamount to “assault on the federal structure”.

    BJP offices were torched in more than one districts and houses and cars of Renu Devi, besides party’s state unit president Sanjay Jaiswal and a couple of other MLAs were vandalised during the protests against ‘Agnipath’, the new scheme of recruitment in the armed forces.

    The BJP was obviously flabbergasted by the scale and intensity of the protests and contention of the JD(U) that these were “spontaneous” and not part of a “planned conspiracy” as suggested by the saffron party, had placed the ties between the two parties under strain.

    There have been rumours, neither confirmed nor denied by leaders of the JD(U) or the administration, that the Narendra Modi government at the Centre decided to give “Y” category security to 10 Bihar leaders and deploy personnel of central paramilitary forces at party offices, including the state headquarters here, without consulting the chief minister who also holds the home portfolio.

    Notably, Kumar himself has so far not spoken about ‘Agnipath’, which has come in for criticism by his close aides like JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Prasad Singh and parliamentary board chief Upendra Kushwaha.

    However, a visit to his residence recently by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who later also declared that the chief minister was NDA’s undisputed leader in Bihar and will complete his five-year-term, was seen as an assuaging tactic by the central BJP leadership which may not like the JD(U), currently its largest ally in the country, to be estranged at this point.

    A softening of stance on part of the JD(U) was apparent during the recently concluded monsoon session of the assembly and ministers belonging to the party criticised, in unison with their BJP colleagues, the opposition’s ruckus over ‘Agnipath’.

    Nonetheless, Yadav, who has been buoyant over his party becoming the single largest group with four MLAs of the AIMIM joining the RJD, has indicated that he will not be sitting on his laurels and continue to keep the ruling NDA, whom he has repeatedly accused of achieving power “through backdoor”, on its toes.

    “The Bihar government should tell us whether the police is so incompetent so as to warrant deployment of central forces at BJP offices?”, tweeted Yadav, in a deft attempt to provoke the JD(U).

    “Did the Centre not attack the federal structure by deploying central forces without taking the state government into confidence,” he asked.

    “BJP leaders in Bihar have taken ‘Y’ category security because they do not trust their own double engine government in the state, the home department here and the police.

    Are these shameless (begairat) and corrupt (bhrasht) people in power just to loot the people?”, asked the former Deputy CM in yet another tweet.

    The term “double engine” is used by BJP leaders to refer to the party being in power at the Centre as well as in a state.

    PTI NAC BDC BDC 07021712 NNNN

  • Congress warns of legal action against BJP for sharing ‘misleading’ Rahul video, demands apology

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Accusing BJP leaders, including former Union minister Rajyavardhan Rathore, of sharing “deliberately fabricated and distorted reportage” on Rahul Gandhi’s comments in Kerala, the Congress on Saturday threatened to take legal action against them if the saffron party fails to apologise.

    Rahul Gandhi also lashed out at the BJP and the RSS, alleging that “propaganda and lies” are their foundation.

    The opposition party attacked Rathore and called him “shameless” after Twitter labelled a post by him on a video of Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in Kerala as “media presented out of context”.

    In a letter to BJP chief J P Nadda, Congress general secretary in-charge communication Jairam Ramesh said he was appalled to note that several BJP leaders have been deliberately and enthusiastically sharing “mischievous” reportage that occurred on a news channel on Friday.

    “The original video was Shri. Rahul Gandhi’s comment on the SFI violence on his Wayanad office but it was deliberately and mischievously doctored to appear as if it was a comment on the heinous murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur,” Ramesh said.

    It was immediately brought to the attention of all concerned that the reportage was false and deliberately misleading, he said.

    “What is of even greater concern, is that several of your party colleagues, including Rajyavardhan Rathore, MP, Subrat Pathak MP, Kamlesh Saini, MLA and others, have enthusiastically and without verification published and shared the deliberately fabricated and distorted reportage,” Ramesh said in his letter.

    “Despite being cautioned by my party colleagues that the clip was maliciously false and misleading, Rathore persisted with amplifying the same, first deleting and then re-uploading the same,” he said.

    This leaves no doubt that Rathore’s actions were deliberate and part of your party’s strategy to defame the former Congress president, the party and to further polarise an already sensitive, communal situation, Ramesh alleged.

    ”The fact that some of your colleagues may have deleted the false reportage later after uploading and sharing is no excuse whatsoever because the damage has already been inflicted,” he said.

    “We have already initiated appropriate legal action against the original broadcaster. We expect that you and your party colleagues will cease and desist from spreading such falsehoods,” Ramesh said in his communication to Nadda.

    “Furthermore, I expect that you will immediately issue an appropriate apology on behalf of your colleagues who have acted with such reckless disregard towards the truth.”

    “If this apology is not issued today, we will take appropriate legal action against your party and its leaders who insist and persist in using social media in such a blatantly irresponsible and criminal manner,” Ramesh warned.

    There was no immediate reaction from the BJP.

    In an apparent reference to the issue, Rahul Gandhi in a tweet in Hindi said, “Whole India knows the history of BJP-RSS, which warms its hands by pushing the country in the fire of hatred.

    “No matter how much these traitors try to break the country, the Congress will continue to do more work to unite India,” he said.

    The communication department head, Pawan Khera, said that those BJP leaders who have put out “fake video” of Rahul Gandhi should be ready to tour the country as they will have to make rounds of the courts of many cities.

    “Doctored Shameless Rathore has this honour of being labelled by @twitter as a man who posts fake content,” Khera tweeted, sharing a screenshot of Twitter’s flagging of Rathore’s post.

    Congress’ social media in-charge Supriya Srinate also slammed the BJP for sharing the video to mislead people and called Rathore a “fake news peddler”.

  • BJP made Eknath Shinde Maharashtra CM to wrest Mumbai from Shiv Sena, claims Raut

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday alleged that the BJP has made Eknath Shinde the chief minister of Maharashtra to wrest Mumbai from the Shiv Sena of Bal Thackeray.

    Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, who stepped down as the chief minister on June 29 following a rebellion by Shinde, removed the latter from the post of ‘Shiv Sena leader’, accusing him of “indulging in anti-party activities”.

    Shinde on Thursday took oath as the chief minister, while BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as his deputy.

    Talking to reporters here, Raut said, “Uddhav Thackeray made it clear yesterday that Shinde doesn’t belong to Shiv Sena. It is now clear that Shinde has been used to defeat Shiv Sena in Mumbai, where civic polls will be held later this year.”

    Shiv Sena has ruled the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for over two decades.

    Raut further said that the Congress was split several times, but the Congress of Indira Gandhi still survives.

    “Similarly, Shiv Sena is where Thackeray is,” he said.

    The Sena MP said Fadnavis needs to be appreciated for taking up the deputy chief minister’s post as Shinde was a junior minister in his government earlier, and added that discipline is maintained and orders are obeyed in BJP.

    Raut, who appeared before the ED on Friday in connection with a money-laundering probe, said he told the central agency officials that he was ready to respond to any questions asked by them.

    “The ED grilled me for 10 hours. They treated me well. I told them if any more information is required, I would submit. There is no need to fear as I haven’t done anything wrong. Truth is with me,” he said.

    As member of Parliament, it was my duty to appear before the investigating agency if they require any information.

    I have no connection with the case they are investigating, he said.

    The ED had summoned the Rajya Sabha member for questioning in the money laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai ‘chawl’ (tenement) and related financial transactions involving his wife and friends.

  • PM cannot change my behavior by making me sit in ED office for five days, says Rahul

    By PTI

    WAYANAD: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who recently faced an ED probe in the National Herald case, on Friday took a dig at the Prime Minister, alleging Narendra Modi adopted such a measure due to ‘confusion’ but did not know there would be no change in the Wayanad MP’s behavior by making him sit in the central agency’s office for five days.

    Gandhi was quizzed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi for five days last month in connection with the National Herald money laundering case.

    “The Government of India. The Prime Minister thinks that by making me sit in the ED (office) for five days, I will change my behaviour. This is a confusion in the mind of the Prime Minister,” the Gandhi told a UDF Bahujana Sangamam organised in Sulthan Bathery here against the Eco-Sensitive Zone policy of the BJP-ruled Centre and the CPI(M)-led state government.

    Alleging that both the BJP and the CPI(M) believe in violence and that it was deep-rooted in their ideology, he said both think that by the means of violence and by threatening they can shape other people’s behaviour.

    “They both think, by acting violently they can threaten people. This is a very deep confusion in their mind. Because they lack courage. They think violence can shape other people’s behaviour. That is not the case. Because there are many people whose behaviour cannot be shaped by the violence and by threats,” the Congress leader said.

    Referring to the SFI activists’ attack on his office in Kalpetta last week, Gandhi said the CPI(M) also believed that by damaging his office he would change his behaviour.

    “My behaviour is shaped by my affection for the people of my country. It is shaped by the affection for the toiling masses of this country. It can never be shaped by my opponents or my enemies,” Gandhi added.

  • Murmu has better chances to win prez polls after Maha development: Mamata

    Banerjee stressed that “a consensus candidate is always better for the country”.

  • If law does not act against Nupur Sharma, wrong message would be sent out: Left parties 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Left parties on Friday sought an apology from suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma for her recent remarks on Prophet Mohammad, and said if the law did not act against her, it would send out a wrong message.

    The Supreme Court on Friday came down heavily on Sharma for her controversial comments, saying her “loose tongue” has “set the entire country on fire” and that she is “single-handedly responsible for what is happening in the country”.

    Refusing to entertain Sharma’s plea for clubbing of FIRs lodged in various states against her for the remark, the bench held that the comment was made either for cheap publicity, political agenda or some nefarious activities.

    “It is a severe indictment of not Sharma’s views alone but of the misuse of authority the BJP exercises, it is an indictment of the divisiveness BJP promotes and the hate its leaders and trolls consistently fan, putting our country at great risk. It is the BJP that should also apologise and pledge to not indulge in further acts which are anti-Indian, unpatriotic and divisive,” said CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury in a tweet.

    He said the party hoped that action would be taken against Sharma.

    “We hope that beyond words, if according to Supreme Court, Ms Sharma is responsible for starting the hate spiral & most recent reprehensible cycle of violence, she will be proceeded upon as per law. BJP has suspended her only as of now, under international pressure.”

    “But if the law does not act against her and others like her promoted by the party, who sow discord, separatism and damage India, the wrong message would be go out. We would find many more like her mushrooming from the RSS/BJP’s hate factory and on vitriolic TV debates,” Yechury said.

    Comparing the cases of Sharma and AltNews co-founder Mohammad Zubair, Yechury said the top court should take cognisance of the latter as well.

    “We were hoping that the Supreme Court will take cognisance of the fact that a fact checker, journalist Mr Mohammed Zubair has been jailed for the flimsiest of reasons, on the prompting of a dubious handle that has now vanished. Police under BJP, only because he pointed out Ms Sharma’s hate-speech has victimised him. He should not have been in jail at all, but encouraged to continue his work as a diligent fact-checker to help counter the polarised, divisive world RSS/BJP has been desperate to shape,” he said.

    CPI MP Binoy Viswam too appreciated the remarks made by the apex court on Sharma and compared her case with that of Teesta Setalvad and Sreekumar.

    “Red carpet for Nupur Sarma, prison cells for Teesta and Sreekumar! Comments from Supreme Court should alert Modi Govt. Irresponsibility, driven by bigotry should n’t be hall mark of any spokesperson. Such elements caused Udaipur incident. They should apologise to People & Nation,” CPI MP Binoy Viswam tweeted.

    CPIML general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya said that in a way, the Supreme Court’s remark is an indictment of the present government’s “polarising discourse”. “It also amounts to an indictment of the hate-filled polarising discourse promoted by the regime and the impunity granted to hate merchants,” he said on Twitter.

  • Uddhav Thackeray wonders why did BJP refuse to give CM post to Shiv Sena in 2019 

    By Online Desk

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday questioned BJP’s decision to install a “so-called Shiv Sainik” as Maharashtra chief minister when it did not keep its 2019 promise of rotating the CM’s post.

    Addressing a press conference at Shiv Sena Bhavan, Thackeray also asked the BJP not to betray Mumbai like it “betrayed” him.

    ALSO READ | Special two-day session of Maharashtra Assembly from July 3; Eknath Shinde likely to face trust vote

    Claiming that Eknath Shinde is not a Shiv Sena Chief Minister, Thackeray said, “The manner in which the government has been formed amd a so-called Shiv Sena worker has been made as Chief Minister, I had said the same to Amit Shah earlier as well that there should be a Shiv Sena CM for 2.5 years. This could have been done respectfully. The Shiv Sena was officially with you at that time.”

    “Had they done this earlier, there would’ve been no Maha Vikas Aghadi,” Thackeray added.

    He said he was saddened by new Maharashtra government’s move to relocate metro car shed to Aarey Colony from Kanjurmarg in Mumbai.

    ALSO READ | SC to hear on July 11 plea of Shiv Sena seeking suspension of Eknath Shinde, rebel MLAs from Assembly

    “Don’t project anger for me on Mumbaikars. Don’t change the proposal for the metro shed. Don’t toy with the environment of Mumbai.”

    “Let the metro car shed project be at Kanjurmarg and not in Aarey. Kanjurmarg is not a private plot. I am with the environmentalists and had declared Aarey as reserved forest. Wildlife exists in that forest,” he said.

    Thackeray described the rebellion in his party as a mockery of democracy and waste of people’s vote.

    (With PTI inputs)

  • ‘Disturbing, smack of arrogance’: SC hits out at Nupur Sharma for her comments on Prophet Mohammad

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday castigated suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma for her “disturbing” remark against Prophet Mohammad, saying it has led to unfortunate incidents in the country The court said the remark was made either for cheap publicity, political agenda or some nefarious activities.

    Referring to her apology for the Prophet remarks, the apex court also said that it was too late and her comment led to unfortunate incidents.

    ““These remarks are very disturbing and smack of arrogance. What is her business to make such remarks? These remarks have led to unfortunate incidents in the country…These people are not religious.”

    “These people don’t have respect for other religions,” the court said on the suspended BJP leader’s plea to club FIRs against her for Prophet remarks.

    “Remark against Prophet were made either for cheap publicity, political agenda or for some nefarious activities,” it said further.

    The court also refused to entertain her plea to club FIRs in various states for her remark and allowed her to withdraw the petition.

    “What has Delhi police done? Don’t make us open our mouth? What was the TV debate for? Only fan an agenda? Why did they choose a sub judice topic?,” said Justice Surya Kant.

    “There must be a red carpet for you there,” the apex court bench remarked when Sharma’s lawyer informed it that she is joining the investigation and not running away.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Prayagraj violence: House demolished had accused Javed Mohammad’s nameplate, Yogi government tells HC

    By PTI

    PRAYAGRAJ: The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday told the Allahabad High Court that the house demolished in Prayagraj following the June 10 violence had the nameplate of main accused Javed Mohammad on its gate.

    In its counter-affidavit against the petition filed by the wife and daughter of Javed Mohammad challenging the demolition of their house, the state government raised preliminary objection to maintainability of the writ petition.

    The petitioners have not challenged the May 25 order for the anti-encroachment action and it has not been brought on record.

    Therefore, the writ petition deserves to be dismissed, the state government said.

    Justice Anjani Kumar Mishra and Justice Syed Waiz Mian gave a week’s time to the petitioners – Javed Mohammad’s wife Parveen Fatima and daughter Summaiya Fatima — to file rejoinder and fixed July 7 as the next date of hearing in the matter.

    The counter-affidavit stated that the gate of the house which was demolished had a plaque bearing the name of Javed Mohammad and the office of the Welfare Party of India was being run from there, even though the property was in a residential area.

    This shows that Javed was in possession of the house.

    According to the petition filed by the accused’s wife and daughter, “The house did not belong to Javed Mohammad but was owned by Fatima, who had received it as a gift from her parents before marriage.

    ” The petitioners alleged that the Prayagraj Development Authority’s notice, with the house number listed, was not addressed to Fatima but to her husband Javed Mohammad, the activist and businessman who was arrested on June 10 on charges of instigating violent protests against derogatory remarks targeting Prophet Mohammad.

  • BJP curveball: Shinde CM, Fadnavis Deputy

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: With the BJP on Thursday pulling off a massive surprise by offering the chief minister’s post to rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and persuading a reluctant Devendra Fadnavis to be his deputy, it appears to have killed multiple birds in one stone. From his humble beginnings as an auto driver to that of the CM, the rise of the four-time MLA and twice minister has indeed been meteoric.Also read: Eknath Shinde: Former auto driver and Sena street fighter now in driving seat in MaharashtraAt the oath-taking ceremony, Shinde invoked Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe saying his government will follow in their footsteps. Sources saw in the day’s developments a masterstroke by Union home minister Amit Shah.

    “By making Shinde the CM, the BJP has not just engineered a vertical split in elected representatives of the Shiv Sena, it also divided the party. More importantly, it has diminished the Thackeray brand and reduced him to a caricature. And Shinde will be controlled by the top leadership of the BJP for future manoeuvres,” said a source requesting anonymity.

    Besides, Shah clipped the wings of Fadnavis, the source said. “Fadnavis was CM from 2014 to 2019. He was also projected as a potential prime ministerial candidate after Narendra Modi. And he has tacit support from the RSS. He was not ready to work as Shinde’s No 2. But Shah persuaded Modi that the Shinde-Fadnavis team would be best in the larger interests of the BJP in Maratha dominated Maharashtra.

    Modi then called Fadnavis and persuaded him to take the job.” Shinde was light-weight minister in the Fadnavis cabinet earlier. The roles reversed on Thursday with Shinde becoming his boss. Fadnavis was hoping to be the new CM. “But it appears that the party leadership decided to not only rub salt on his wounds but also humiliate him by asking him to be deputy CM,” sources said.

    Pawar quip on FadnavisNCP chief Sharad Pawar said the body language of Devendra Fadnavis showed he was not happy with being asked to be the deputy CM but accepted it against his will because of the discipline RSS inculcated in him. He also said drawing as many as 38 Shiv Sena rebels is not easy but Eknath Shinde pulled it off. “I have spoken with him over the phone and congratulated him.”