News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Mumbai police summons Nupur Sharma in case related to her remarks against Prophet Mohammad

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Mumbai Police has summoned suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma to record a statement on June 25 in connection with her objectionable remarks against Prophet Mohammad, an official said here on Saturday.

    A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Sharma at Pydhonie police station in the city earlier this week after her comments about the Prophet during a TV debate triggered a huge controversy.

    Police wanted to record her statement in the case and she has been asked to appear before the investigating officer at 11 am on June 25, the official said. Earlier, police had asked for a video of the debate from the concerned news channel.

    The BJP has suspended Sharma and expelled another leader, Naveen Jindal, who had tweeted similar comments.

  • Owaisi demands Nupur Sharma’s arrest, says violence should be shunned

    By PTI

    BHUJ: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday said that suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma should be arrested for her controversial remarks about Prophet Mohammad.

    While stating that nobody should indulge in violence over the issue nor should police take law in their hands, he accused the BJP of not taking timely action against Sharma after her comments during a TV debate triggered a huge controversy.

    “Nupur Sharma is not being arrested. As per the law, she should be arrested. She has not been arrested for so many days. Why don’t you arrest her and take legal action against her? Who is stopping you?” Owaisi asked, speaking to reporters here.

    The BJP’s action of suspending her for violating the party’s constitution did not resolve the issue, and one should “also think of the Indian Constitution,” the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief said.

    “Take action against her, arrest her as per the law. We demand that she be arrested and action be taken against her as per the law. Had BJP been serious, it would have told her then and there (that her statements were objectionable), but it took ten days to do so,” he said.

    Sharma’s apology over the remarks was not enough, Owaisi said. “We do not need an apology. Law should take its course,” he added.

    Asked about the violence reported from different cities during protests against Sharma’s remarks, including the incidents in Ranchi where two persons were killed in police firing, Owaisi said nobody should indulge in violence.

    “It is vital for democracy that there is no violence. It is the government’s responsibility to not allow violence and try its best to stop it. Police should also not take law in their hands. Yesterday, two people died in police firing in Ranchi. This should not happen,” said the Hyderabad MP.

    Asked about a statement by AIMIM’s Aurangabad MP Imtiaz Jaleel that Sharma should be “hanged” for her remarks, Owaisi said the party’s stand was clear that she should be arrested as per the law. “This is the party’s stand which everybody will have to follow,” he added.

    As to how many seats the party would be contesting in the Gujarat Assembly elections which are due this year, Owaisi said it was being worked out.

  • Bengal: BJP MP writes to Amit Shah, demands deployment of central forces in violence-hit Howrah

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: BJP MP from West Bengal, Saumitra Khan, on Saturday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding immediate deployment of central forces in violence-hit Howrah district which had witnessed arson over controversial remarks made by two saffron party leaders against Prophet Mohammad.

    Khan alleged that the state government has “failed” to maintain law and order in the trouble-torn areas and “allowed the violence to spiral for vested political interests”.

    “For the last two days, we have seen that the state government has completely failed to maintain law and order in Howrah district. It allowed the protestors to let loose to wreak havoc. I have written a letter to Amit Shah Ji and requested him to send central forces so that they can be deployed in the troubled areas,” Khan said.

    He accused the ruling TMC of indulging in “cheap politics” and “allowing the violence to continue for vested political interest”.

    Senior BJP leader and co-in-charge of West Bengal, Amit Malviya, said if the state government cannot act, the chief minister should allow the governor to deploy the Army.

    “Mamata Banerjee, Home Minister of Bengal, has once again failed to manage law & order in the state. Her administration has remained a mute spectator to the rampaging rioters as they burn and vandalise property. If she is unable to act, she should urge the Governor do (to) deploy Army,” he said on Twitter.

    Reacting to the BJP’s allegations, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, “The state government has effectively tackled the situation. The BJP is trying to spread violence in the state. They are also trying to vitiate the atmosphere of Bengal and the country through their politics of hatred.”

    Protests erupted in several parts of Howrah on Friday over controversial remarks by suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled leader Naveen Jindal on Prophet Mohammad.

    Protesters clashed with police personnel in Dhulagarh, Panchla and Uluberia areas when law enforcers tried to end a blockade on a national highway stretch. They set police vehicles on fire and damaged public property during the agitations.

    Internet services have been suspended across the district till June 13, and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC have been imposed in several areas such as Uluberia, Domjur and Panchla till June 15.

    Commuters had to face problems as roads and railway tracks were blocked by protesters in the district. Several local and express trains were cancelled due to the violence.

  • Bengal BJP president arrested on way to violence-hit Howrah; Governor appeals for peace

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: BJP’s West Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar was arrested on Saturday afternoon when he tried to visit violence-hit Howrah district, police said.

    Majumdar, the MP of Balurghat in Uttar Dinajpur, was arrested near the toll plaza on Vidyasagar Setu, they said.

    “Mr Majumdar was trying to travel to Howrah where prohibitory orders under CrPC 144 have been clamped. His visit could have created a law and order situation. This is a preventive arrest,” a senior police officer told PTI.

    Violence rocked parts of Howrah on Friday following the inflammatory remarks of now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on Prophet Mohammed.

    Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday expressed concern over the “worsening law and order” situation in the state, following protests in several parts of Howrah district.

    He asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to deal sternly with the problem and take action against lawbreakers.

    “Concerned at worsening law & order situation. Inaction @chief_west@WBPolice @KolkataPolice is unfortunate endorsement of the criminality of law violators. Appeal #MamataBanerjee to sternly deal with lawbreakers. All involved be identified and arrested,” Dhankhar wrote on Twitter.

    The situation in Howrah, which witnessed violent protests against controversial remarks of suspended BJP spokespersons, was peaceful on Saturday morning, officials said.

    Protesters clashed with police personnel in Dhulagarh, Panchla and Uluberia areas when law enforcers tried to end a blockade on a national highway stretch on Friday.

    They set police vehicles on fire and damaged public property during the agitations.

    Internet services have been suspended across the district till June 13 and prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC imposed in several areas such as Uluberia, Domjur and Panchla till June 15.

    Commuters had to face problems as road and railway tracks were blocked by protesters in the district.

    Several local and express trains were cancelled due to the violence.

  • Nadda to interact with 13 foreign envoys today, as part of ‘Know BJP’ initiative

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda will meet the envoys of 13 foreign countries at the party headquarters in the national capital as part of the “Know BJP” initiative on Saturday.

    Nadda will interact with 13 foreign envoys including the UK, Spain, Finland, Croatia, Serbia, Nepal, Thailand, Mauritius and Zamaika at the BJP office at 4 pm today.

    Under the “Know BJP” programme, Nadda briefs the foreign envoys about the party and a short documentary on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s journey since 1951 is also shown to them.

    Notably, this will be Nadda’s third interaction with foreign envoys as part of the ‘Know BJP’ initiative. He has so far interacted with a total of 34 foreign envoys.

    The BJP chief interacted with envoys of Laos, Russia, Cuba, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkey on Saturday. The previous meeting that took place earlier this month, lasted for three hours.

    “India’s global recognition has increased under the Narendra Modi government and there was a need to familiarise the envoys with the party’s history and vision,” BJP’s foreign affairs wing chief Vijay Chauthaiwale told ANI after the interaction.

    He had also said the party will have interactions with more envoys. “We will have three or four interaction sessions this month. There is also a plan to enhance party-to-party interactions,” Chauthiwale said.

    In his interaction, Nadda elaborated upon the BJP’s expansion, growth in membership and structure, and the role of BJP’s departments and frontal organisations.

    After Nadda’s remarks, the envoys spoke of the significance of their countries’ bilateral relationship with India. 

  • Maha Vikas Aghadi 4th candidate losses to BJP candidates in high voltage biennial RS elections

    Express News Service

    Big set back to Maha Vikas Aghadi in Rajya Sabha elections. Shiv Sena’s second candidate Sanjay Pawar got defeated by BJP candidate Dhananjay Mahadik in the second preference of vote counting on the early morning of Saturday.

    Union minister Piyush Goel, BJP leader Dr Anil Bhonde and Dhananjay Mahadik won the Rajya Sabha elections while NCP leader Praful Patel, Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut won the election while Shiv Sena candidate Sanjay Pawar lost it again BJP candidate Dhananjay Mahadik.

    In a neck and neck fight, union minister Piyush Goel and Dr Anil Bhonde secured 48 votes while Dhananjay Mahadik got 26 as first preference votes against the winning quota of 41 seats. On the other hand,  NCP leader Praful Patel got 43 votes, Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi secured 44 votes, Sanjay Raut got 41 votes and Sanjay Pawar got 33 votes. Mahadik and Sanjay Pawar could not compete the required quota in the first round, therefore, the second preference votes were counted and BJP’s additional first preference votes got transferred to him which helped Mahadik to win the elections in the second round.

    BJP was able to get additional 12 votes against its actual numbers. BJP successfully pursued independent MLAs and smaller parties to cast their votes for BJP candidates. Independent was king maker and BJP used them properly.

  • BJP downplays JD-U neta’s pitch for ‘President Nitish’

    Express News Service

    PATNA:  Political weather in Bihar has heated up yet again after a senior JD-U minister made a call for naming Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the Presidential candidate. Alliance partner BJP, however, downplayed it.

    JD-U minister Shravan Kumar kick-started the debate by saying Nitish should be made the Presidential candidate as “he has all the abilities to assume the top constitutional post”. “Nitish is not in the race for the top post but everybody wants to see him as the President. He will be a better Presidential candidate and will also hold the responsibility well,” he added.

    “Nitish ji possesses all qualities to become Rashtrapati,” he asserted. The minister also claimed that Nitish has a “large vision on national and international issues”. “Every Bihari will be happy to have Nitish Kumar as the next President,” he added.

    The saffron camp, meanwhile, downplayed the JD-U leader’s statement. “When the presidential candidate would be declared formally, I would react,” firebrand BJP leader Giriraj Singh told reporters in Muzaffarpur.

    In the same vein, senior Bihar BJP minister Ramsurat Kumar said the matter will be settled when the name is announced. “In democratic set-up, everybody has the right to contest elections,” Kumar, state’s revenue minister, said. In the past two occasions, Nitish had sprang surprises during the Presidential elections.

  • Maharashtra RS polls: BJP wins 3 of 6 seats in major setback to ruling Sena-NCP-Cong alliance

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: In a major setback to Maharashtra’s ruling alliance of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, the BJP on Saturday won three of the six Rajya Sabha seats in the state, even as the ruling combine questioned the eight-hour delay in counting of votes.

    The winners include BJP candidates Union minister Piyush Goyal and former state minister Anil Bonde and Dhananjay Mahadik. Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut, NCP’s Praful Patel and Congress’ Imran Pratapgarhi also won the fiercely-fought elections.

    The contest was for the sixth seat the BJP had fielded former MP Dhananjay Mahadik and the Shiv Sena candidate was Sanjay Pawar, who lost. Mahadik and Pawar hail from Kolhapur in western Maharashtra.

    The high-stake battle for the sixth turned out to be a nail-biting affair with the Congress and BJP trading charges, even approaching the Election Commission.

    “Elections are contested not just for the fight, but the victory.bJai Maharashtra,” tweeted BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, whose refusal to have a consensus candidates for the Rajya Sabha led to elections in the state after 23 years.

    The counting of votes started after an eight-hour delay amid complaints of cross voting and rules violation by the BJP and the ruling alliance.bBoth BJP and the Shiv Sena approached the Election Commission, alleging cross voting and seeking disqualification of votes.bThe poll panel directed the Rajya Sabha election returning officer of Maharashtra to reject the vote cast by Shiv Sena legislator Suhas Kande, after which the counting of votes got underway.

  • Maharashtra RS polls: BJP bags 3 of 6 seats in major setback to ruling Sena-NCP-Cong alliance

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: In a major setback to Maharashtra’s ruling alliance of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, the BJP on Saturday won three of the six Rajya Sabha seats in the state, even as the ruling combine questioned the eight-hour delay in counting of votes.

    The winners include BJP candidates Union minister Piyush Goyal and former state minister Anil Bonde and Dhananjay Mahadik. Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut, NCP’s Praful Patel and Congress’ Imran Pratapgarhi also won the fiercely-fought elections.

    The contest was for the sixth seat the BJP had fielded former MP Dhananjay Mahadik and the Shiv Sena candidate was Sanjay Pawar, who lost. Mahadik and Pawar hail from Kolhapur in western Maharashtra.

    The high-stake battle for the sixth turned out to be a nail-biting affair with the Congress and BJP trading charges, even approaching the Election Commission.

    “Elections are contested not just for the fight, but the victory.bJai Maharashtra,” tweeted BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis, whose refusal to have a consensus candidates for the Rajya Sabha led to elections in the state after 23 years.

    The counting of votes started after an eight-hour delay amid complaints of cross voting and rules violation by the BJP and the ruling alliance.bBoth BJP and the Shiv Sena approached the Election Commission, alleging cross voting and seeking disqualification of votes.bThe poll panel directed the Rajya Sabha election returning officer of Maharashtra to reject the vote cast by Shiv Sena legislator Suhas Kande, after which the counting of votes got underway.

  • Haryana RS polls: BJP’s Krishan Panwar, Independent candidate win, Congress’ Ajay Maken loses

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH The BJP’s Krishan Lal Panwar and Independent candidate Kartikeya Sharma, backed by the saffron party and its ally JJP, have won the two Rajya Sabha seats from Haryana, officials said early Saturday, after the counting of votes which was delayed by hours over allegation of violation of rules. Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken did not get enough votes.

    According to a senior Election Commission official here, Panwar got 36 votes, while Sharma got 23 first preference votes and six transferred from the BJP, taking his tally to 29. Congress MLA and the party’s authorised polling agent BB Batra said while the party’s Kuldeep Bishnoi cross-voted, the vote of another party MLA was declared invalid.

    The counting of votes began past midnight Friday after the Election Commission gave the go-ahead. The counting was held up after the BJP and an Independent candidate backed by it had alleged violation of rules and demanded the votes of two Congress MLAs be declared invalid. Election Commission sources in Delhi said the demand was rejected.

    Panwar and Sharma had written to the EC, alleging Congress MLAs Kiran Choudhary and B B Batra showed their ballot papers to unauthorised persons after marking them and that the episodes were recorded by cameras.

    The Congress had also approached the Election Commission accusing the BJP of trying to defeat the process of free and fair election and demanded immediate declaration of results.

    89 of a total of 90 MLAs in Haryana had cast their votes while Independent MLA Balraj Kundu had abstained from voting.