News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Rajya Sabha polls: BJP likely to win eight upper house seats from UP, SP three

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: With the Election Commission of India (ECI) scheduling the 57 biennial elections for 57 seats of the Rajya Sabha on June 10, the focus will be on UP, which will send 11 members to the upper house.

    In fact, UP tops the list of states and sends the maximum number of 31 members to Rajya Sabha.

    With the BJP returning to power in the state with 273 seats and Samajwadi Party and its allies emerging as the largest opposition with  125 seats, there are only two clear claimants to the RS seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party  (BSP) and Congress are set to draw a blank owing to their dismal presence in the state assembly.

    While the BSP has just one MLA from Rasra in Ballia,  Congress has two — from Rampur Khas in Pratapgarh and Pharenda in Maharajganj. Besides, the Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya-led Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik)  has two seats.

    ALSO READ | ‘50% below 50 from block to CWC’ set to lead to major leadership revamp in Congress

    Of these, 11 members who will bid adieu to the upper house in July include BJP’s Shiv Pratap Shukla, Hariom Yadav, Surendra Singh Nagar, Sanjay Seth, Jay Prakash Nishad and Zafar Islam, SP’s Vishambhar Prasad Nishad, Sukhram Singh Yadav and Reoti Raman Singh, BSP’s Satish Chandra Mishra and Ashok Siddharth, and Congress’s Kapil Sibal.

    As per the numbers, the BJP could win at least eight of the 11 seats, while Samajwadi Party will comfortably bag at least three.

    Both the ruling BJP and opposition SP would have five floating votes comprising one of the BSP, two each of Jansatta Dal and Congress. However, these five votes would not be able to tilt the polls in favour of one of the two main claimants as each seat would require at least 36.63 votes to sail through.

    This means that the BJP will require at least 298.64 votes to win eight seats. It is sure to win seven and is 26 votes short to win the eighth seat as it has 273 votes. So, the second preference vote will also come into play if the Samajwadi Party, which is sure to win three with 109.91 votes, fields a candidate to stake claim for the fourth. This will lead to voting.

    This means that while the BJP would require 26 votes, SP would have 15.36 additional votes and would need 21.53 votes to bag the fourth seat.

    ALSO READ | ‘Time to repay debt’: Sonia tells Congress men and women to be ready for sacrifices

    However, the victory of SP on fourth seat would depend much on how disgruntled MLAs like Shivpal Yadav, Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam Khan vote.

    According to political observers, as these MLAs have strained ties with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, the possibility of cross-voting cannot be ruled out if the situation arises in RS polls.

    Sources said that of the three seats which SP is sure to win, the party president may choose alliance partner and RLD chief Jayant Chaudhury, former IAS officer Alok Ranjan, who had joined the SP just ahead of 2022 Assembly polls, and the party’s face in Maharashtra Abu Asim Azmi.

    Moreover, in the wake of the recent meeting with senior BJP leaders and cabinet ministers, the moves of SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar would also be closely watched. At the same time, if sources are to be believed, Apna Dal (K) leader Pallavi Patel, who had won the assembly election under the SP symbol by defeating BJP’s Keshav Maurya in his own turf of Sirathu, is also not very happy with the SP leadership.

  • Gujarat Chief Minister meets Congress delegation in Rajkot

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday met a delegation of Congress members during his visit to Rajkot and assured action to resolve the issues put forth by the opposition leaders.

    On learning that the chief minister will be in Rajkot city to take part in a series of government events and meetings, Congress leaders met him in Gandhinagar on Thursday and sought time for a meeting, said Mahesh Rajput, the general secretary of the party’s state unit.

    “We told the chief minister that he should also listen to the opposition because we are equally concerned about people’s issues. He agreed and met our delegation during his Rajkot visit. We discussed a range of issues and he gave an assurance that he will take appropriate steps to resolve them,” Rajput told reporters after the meeting.

    The 10-member Congress delegation included Rajput, Gujarat Congress vice president Gayatriba Vaghela, Leader of Opposition in the BJP-ruled Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Bhanuben Sorani and former LoP Pravin Rathod among others.

    Some of the major demands of the Congress during the meeting were the appointment of a full-time police commissioner for Rajkot, waiver of penalty interest on unpaid property tax, halting spot recovery of unpaid traffic e-memos from vehicle owners and stopping private schools from increasing fees among others.

    Since the sudden transfer of former Rajkot police commissioner Manoj Agarwal in March following corruption charges, IPS officer Khursheed Ahmed is holding the additional charge of the post.

    “When the Congress was in power till 1994, our CMs used to consult opposition leaders in important matters. But that was not followed by the BJP. We appreciate Bhupendra Patel’s gesture of listening to opposition leaders. This is the best way of governance,” Rajput said.

    Speaking to reporters, Vaghela said she had raised the issue of “deteriorating condition of the Rajkot civil hospital due to bad management”, and urged the chief minister to provide adequate medicines, stretchers and wheelchairs for the hospital.

    Elections are due in Gujarat in December this year.

  • Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury appeals to Shah to withdraw CAA in next Parliament session

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and appealed to withdraw Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the next Parliament session.

    A large number of Pakistani Hindus who had come to India from Pakistan in order to escape religious persecution had to return to Pakistan because they were unable to secure Indian citizenship, Chowdhury said in his letter.

    “We have always raised our voice for the marginalized and neglected lot irrespective of religion, caste, creed or nationality,” he wrote to Shah.

    This come after Shah, during his West Bengal visit earlier this month, that the Central government will implement it once the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

    Chowdhury further said, “It is more than two years now that you have passed the ill-thought-out legislation called CAA. But still, you are not able to implement it because of its inherent and manifest unconstitutionality.”

    “That is why Pakistani Hindu returnees are going back to Pakistan out of sheer frustration and hopelessness. This draconian legislation cannot be implemented because it is legislation targeting a particular community. It is against the basic tenets and fundamentals of our constitutional ethos. The underlying value of our constitution is “to live and let live”. I am sure this targeted legislation against a particular community will not stand judicial scrutiny.”

    “Perhaps you know it well and that’s why despite the passage of the act of more than two years, you have not been able to frame even the rudimentary rules of CAA,” he said.

    “In view of the above, I appeal to you to withdraw the CAA legislation in the impending monsoon session of Parliament like the three controversial farm laws,” the letter read.

    The CAA allows persecuted minorities belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to avail Indian citizenship.

  • Kejriwal promises free pilgrimage, free power if AAP forms govt in Gujarat

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Aam Aadmi Party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday promised free pilgrimage for senior citizens to various religious places, including Ayodhya, if the AAP was voted to power in Gujarat, and accused the ruling BJP of “failure” on multiple fronts despite being in power in the state for nearly three decades.

    He also promised free electricity, better schools and hospitals if the AAP forms the next government in Gujarat, where the Assembly polls are due by the year-end.

    Addressing a rally in Rajkot city, Kejriwal accused the BJP of “failing” on education, health and employment fronts in Gujarat during its long rule in the state.

    “Though the BJP is in power for 27 years in Gujarat, it has never sent a single person on pilgrimage. In Delhi, we sent 50,000 persons on pilgrimage in three years under our scheme. If voted to power here (in Gujarat), we will take each and every elderly citizen to religious places for free,” said Kejriwal.

    The AAP leader, whose party recently formed its government in Punjab, asked the people of Gujarat to give his outfit a chance to govern the state, a BJP stronghold.

    “The AAP is a party of educated, honest and patriotic people. I urge the people to give us one chance, at least to break the ego of the BJP. If you do not find our work satisfactory, you are free to choose any other party afterwards,” he added.

  • SC sedition order must be viewed in context of government’s positive suggestions: BJP

    Party spokesperson Nalin Kohli noted that the Modi government has so far removed over 1,500 archaic and obsolete laws and over 25,000 compliances to make citizens' lives easier.

  • BJYM activist’s autopsy report indicates death by hanging; TMC asks Shah to apologise

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The autopsy report of BJYM activist Arjun Chourasia, conducted by Command Hospital here and submitted to Calcutta High Court on Tuesday, indicated that he died by hanging and the ligature mark on his neck was ante-mortem in nature.

    The report submitted the post-mortem report in a sealed cover before a division bench presided by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava.

    The Trinamool Congress was quick to launch an attack on the BJP which had been holding demonstrations after the body of the activist was found hanging in an abandoned house as well as an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah who had described it as a “political murder”.

    Shah had visited Kashipur and demanded a CBI probe into Chourasia’s death, claiming a culture of violence and a fear psychosis prevailed in West Bengal.

    “The union home minister had called it a political murder even before the probe was over. He should now apologise to the people for trying to tarnish the image of the state,” senior TMC leader and minister Shashi Panja said.

    The TMC leader added, “The BJP is continuously maligning the people of Bengal. This stems from its failure to win the assembly election.”

    Reacting to the TMC remarks, the state BJP unit said it would not be right to comment on a sub-judice matter.

    The autopsy was conducted by a team of experts constituted by the head of Command Hospital, a defence healthcare establishment, as per an order of the court passed on Friday.

    The bench noted in its order that the findings relating to the cause of death of Chourasia is “hanging” and the ligature mark on his neck is “ante-mortem”.

    The post-mortem report was handed over by the court to Advocate General S N Mookherjee representing the West Bengal government. It directed that the viscera sample be handed over to police authority concerned.

    BJP leader and lawyer Priyanka Tibrewal had submitted earlier to the court that the family does not have faith in the investigation being conducted by the Kolkata Police, which has already formed a special investigation team to probe Chourasia’s death.

    Claiming that Chourasia was one of many BJP workers who had to leave their homes during post-poll violence and had recently returned to his residence, Tibrewal also prayed before the court that the case be handed over to the CBI in accordance with its earlier order that directed probe by the central agency in cases of murders, rapes and attempts to rape that took place after the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections.

    AG submitted that the police has formed an SIT to investigate the matter, treating it as a case of unnatural death. The bench directed that the matter will be taken up for hearing again on May 19.

  • BJP leader lodges complaint with Punjab Police against Kejriwal for objectionable remarks against PM

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARGH: BJP leader and former IAS officer Jagmohan Singh Raju on Tuesday said he has lodged a complaint with the Punjab Police against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly making objectionable remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    In his complaint lodged with police in Mohali, Raju said he came across a video on social media in which Kejriwal made “highly disturbing, shocking and seditious” remarks against the prime minister during a rally. Raju had unsuccessfully fought the 2022 state assembly polls from the Amritsar East constituency.

    In his complaint, Raju claimed that Kejriwal, in his remarks, had accused PM Modi of having an understanding with Pakistan and alleged that the AAP leader was attempting to bring hatred, contempt, disaffection against the elected government with his remarks.

    “Such statements, being made to the public at large are highly provocative, insinuating and willfully instigative by an incumbent chief minister of the capital of this country,” said Raju in his complaint.

    “Such unfairly and unfoundedly allegations towards the prime minister have higher bearing of causing instability and harmony and that too by a person who is the chief minister and his assertions may carry weight in the minds of people who otherwise may ignore such statements made by an ordinary politician,” said Raju. He urged the police to take action against the Delhi chief minister.

  • ‘Ayodhya visit, chanting prayers taking precedence’: Pawar expresses worry on economy

    By PTI

    PUNE: NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday claimed the Centre “failed 100 per cent” in tackling the problems of inflation and unemployment, while issues like Ayodhya visit by some people and chanting prayers were taking precedence.

    “Going to Ayodhya is not a national issue,” Pawar told reporters in Kolhapur.

    Pawar also said he not come across an instance of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducting raids on those part of the central government, but action was being taken against those in opposition.

    Recently, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who had stirred a row over his call for removal of loudspeakers on mosques, said he will visit Ayodhya on June 5 to seek blessings of Lord Ram.

    Notably, Maharashtra Tourism Minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray had also earlier said he would visit Ayodhya.

    Pawar said issues like Ayodhya visit and reciting prayers are taking priority, instead of focus on handling inflation, unemployment, and law and order issues.

    The Narendra Modi government had given assurances to people over issues like inflation and unemployment when it came to power in 2014.

    But, they have “failed 100 per cent” and people will recover the cost from them at the right time, he claimed.

    “While the common man is facing all these issues, those in power at the Centre are not ready to pay attention to these issues, and to divert the attention of people from these issues, such things related to religion are been encouraged,” said the NCP chief, whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in Maharashtra as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    On the sedition law and the Centre’s submission in the Supreme Court that it has decided to go for re-consideration of its provisions by a “competent forum”, Pawar said he has already stated before the Koregaon-Bhima Inquiry Commission that the law is “archaic” and was used by Britishers (then ruling India) against those who revolted against them.

    “We are now an independent country and every person has the right to raise his voice against any issue,” Pawar said.

    The NCP leader said he has read that the Centre told the SC that they will re-look into the law.

    “If this is true, then it is good,” he added.

    Asked if the ED raids had come down in Maharashtra, Pawar said he does not know if the number of raids has decreased.

    “But, I have not read anywhere that the ED conducted raids on people who are part of the central government.

    On the contrary, action against the opposition is going on,” he said.

    On Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the next census will be an ‘e-census’ (electronic census), Pawar said he has heard about it, but there is a need to ask what exactly is the ‘e-census’.

    To a query on bringing up an alternative front against the BJP, Pawar said discussions on the issue are going on.

    “Every party should take the decision internally. For example, the Congress’s ‘Chintan’ camp is going on and I think they will also come up with some conclusions. Other parties are also discussing it,” he said.

    Asked if there was an “opposition face” against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pawar stated,” It cannot be said now.

    In some places, there are differences amongst us (opposition parties).

    In the West Bengal elections, Mamata ( Banerjee) and we were together, but the Congress and communists were on the other side.

    Had the Congress, communists, Mamata and we been together, we would have seen a more different picture,” he said.

    In Kerala, the Congress fights polls separately, but the communists and NCP are together.

    “We need to address this issue and the process is going on,” he added.

    On the possibility of an alliance among MVA parties ahead of local body elections in Maharashtra, Pawar said there are two opinions in his party on the issue.

    “Some (NCP members) think we should fight elections on our own symbol and after the election, we can sit together and decide (on alliance), but some people say since we are running the government together, we also should face the elections together. But, no final decision has been made on this issue,” said Pawar.

    Asked if the Centre’s perspective towards Maharashtra has changed after the MVA came to power in the state, Pawar said there is an observation that there is a delay in getting the Centre’s response on valid issues of the state.

    “The highest collection of taxes is from Maharashtra. The outstanding of Maharashtra’s share of tax (GST compensation) is yet to be received from the Centre. If that share is not received in time, it adversely affects development works in the state,” he added.

  • Bommai’s Delhi visit sparks speculation about expansion or rejig of K’taka cabinet

    By PTI

    BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s New Delhi visit, amid speculations about the cabinet expansion or reshuffle, has raised hopes among ministerial aspirants.

    He will be travelling to Delhi on Tuesday morning and his return schedule to Bengaluru on Wednesday has been kept ‘open’.

    Though there is no mention about Bommai’s meeting with BJP’s central leadership in his official tour programme, according to some party sources, he may seek their appointment and hold discussions, as he is halting in Delhi on Tuesday night.

    As per the tour programme, released to media on Monday, he is expected to meet several Union Ministers on Tuesday and in the evening will be holding interactions with ambassadors of various countries regarding ‘Invest Karnataka 2022’ – Global Investors Meet, which is scheduled to be held in November.

    Bommai had recently said that he is ready to go to New Delhi to discuss the cabinet exercise, as soon as the BJP central leadership calls him.

    Karnataka BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa last Friday had hinted that the much-awaited expansion or reshuffle, may take place before May 10.

    The former chief minister had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon take a decision in this regard after discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had visited the city earlier this month.

    The postponement of the cabinet meeting that was scheduled to be held last week had also added to the speculations that it might have been done to accommodate expansion or reshuffle of the ministry, amid reports that the BJP high command is expected to arrive at a decision soon.

    Amid murmurs in the BJP circles that a top-to-bottom overhaul of the cabinet cannot be ruled out, ministerial aspirants are hopeful that a decision is likely soon regarding cabinet expansion or reshuffle, and there are even talks that several incumbents could make way for fresh faces.

    Bommai is under pressure from aspirants to expand or reshuffle his cabinet at the earliest, ahead of assembly polls next year.

    There are currently five positions vacant in the state cabinet, which has 29 ministers, including the chief minister, against the sanctioned strength of 34.

    Some legislators have even been advocating a Gujarat-like overhaul of the Karnataka cabinet soon, to make way for new faces, ahead of the assembly elections.

  • Need to refrain from speculation, truth will emerge in probe: Minister over rape case against son

    By PTI

    JAIPUR/NEW DELHI: Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi on Monday said people should refrain from speculating over the rape case lodged against his son and stressed that “police will do justice” as the BJP accused the state government of trying to save the accused.

    State Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra too assured action against the minister’s son if found guilty.

    The FIR against the state public health and engineering department minister’s son Rohit Joshi was lodged in Delhi by a 23-year-old woman, who alleged that she was raped multiple times over a year.

    After lodging a zero FIR, the Delhi Police said they informed about it to the Rajasthan Police, which will conduct further investigation. The complaint also mentions that she was raped in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan.

    However, Sawai Madhopur Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar Vishnoi said on Monday that they have not received any FIR from the Delhi Police yet.

    Meanwhile, a Delhi police officer said they have started the process to convert the zero FIR into the regular one as the commission of sexual assault committed in the Delhi’s Sadar Bazar police station jurisdiction have also been mentioned.

    Reacting to the allegations against his son, Joshi said, “Instead of speculation and the media trial in this case, police should be allowed to do their job. I am sure police will do justice, go deep and find out the truth.”

    “All I want to say is that I have spent all my life with truth and justice. As media reported that an FIR has been registered, police should investigate thoroughly and honestly. Be in this episode or any other case, I will always stand with truth and justice,” Joshi told reporters here.

    Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra came to the Joshi’s rescue, saying action will be taken on the basis of the report of the case investigating officer.

    “Be it anyone, whether he is my son or someone else’s son, if he is found guilty, then the Congress party will 100 per cent take action,” Dotsara said.

    The Opposition BJP in the state alleged that the state government is trying to save the accused. “It is unfortunate that the government is trying to save the accused. It is the Congress culture, which tries to cover up such cases eventually, which is unfortunate,” Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria said.

    State Mines Minister Pramod Jain Bhaya defended Joshi, saying allegations and counter-allegations are part of politics. Many things are concocted and they have no basis, he said.

    Meanwhile, Delhi’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Singh Kalsi said the woman’s counselling was conducted and she was medically examined at Hindu Rao Hospital.

    Since the allegations of commission of sexual assault committed in the Delhi’s Sadar Bazar police station jurisdiction have also been mentioned, investigation has been taken up and the further process has been started to convert the same into a regular FIR, he said.

    The case was registered on May 8 at a police station in Delhi’s North District under Sections 312 (causing miscarriage), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc), 376 (rape), 377 (unnatural offences) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, the Delhi Police had said.

    The woman has alleged that Rohit Joshi raped her several times from January 8 last year to April 17 this year, promising to marry her.