News Analysis India

Tag: BJP

  • Anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh: SDMC files complaint with police against AAP MLA, others

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation lodged a complaint with the police against AAP MLA Aamanatullah Khan and his supporters for obstructing the civic body’s anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh on Monday, hours after state BJP chief Adesh Gupta asked the SDMC mayor to do so.

    In a complaint to the SHO of Shaheen Bagh, SDMC’s Central Zone licensing inspector said that an encroachment removal drive was fixed for Monday on the main road in Shaheen Bagh and its staff and police personnel were present at the site for carrying out the action.

    “Amanatullah Khan MLA (Okhla) along with his supporters present did not allow the field staff of the SDMC zone to remove the encroachment. In view of the above, you are requested to take appropriate legal action against Amanatullah Khan and his supporters for interfering in discharge of official duties by public servants,” according to the complaint.

    The action came after SDMC Mayor Mukesh Suryan wrote to the municipal commissioner to lodge an FIR against AAP MLA Khan and other leaders for obstructing the anti-encroachment drive.

    The civic body has planed an encroachment removal action in Shaheen Bagh but protests erupted as soon as the authorities reached there with bulldozers. They had to return from Shaheen Bagh without executing the exercise.

    In his letter to Municipal Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, Suryan said that Delhi BJP chief Gupta apprised him that some political leaders obstructed the pre-planned anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh.

    “It has come to my notice that local area MLA Amanatullah Khan and councillor Abdul Wazid Khan have obstructed the government action. Hence, It is requested to you to please take cognizance of the issue and take appropriate action in accordance with the law and register an FIR against persons related with the matter,” Suryan wrote.

    Delhi BJP Chief Gupta also wrote a letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner and demanded that an FIR be registered against the AAP and Congress leaders who obstructed the SDMC’s anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh.

    In his letter to the Police Commissioner, Gupta said some leaders of the AAP, including party MLA and councillor, and the Congress disrupted the drive by “lying in front of bulldozers”.

    “So, it is requested to take action in accordance with the law and register a case against those responsible for obstructing the government (civic body) work,” Gupta said in the letter.

    Protests erupted at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh on Monday with hundreds of people, including women, opposing an anti-encroachment drive of the SDMC as bulldozers rolled into the area in the presence of a huge number of police personnel, even as the civic body team was forced to return without carrying out the exercise.

    The protesters raised slogans against the BJP-ruled SDMC as well as the Centre and demanded that the action be stopped. Some of the women protesters even stood in front of the bulldozers to prevent the exercise.

  • BJP, TMC in blame game on Tagore’s birth anniversary over theft of his Nobel medallion

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: The Nobel medallion theft that shook the nation 18 years ago was dragged into West Bengal’s politics on Monday when the state celebrated the 161st birth anniversary of the Bengali icon Rabindranath Tagore as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lamented that the CBI’s failure to recover it is a ‘big insult’ to the people of the state, while BJP leader Rahul Sinha linked the ruling party to the incident.

    “The CBI couldn’t recover the stolen medallion because of non-cooperation from the state government. Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had assured that she would find Tagore’s Nobel if the CBI fails. Now it is her job to bring back Bengal’s pride. The TMC was involved in the theft,” Sinha said on the occasion of the Nobel laureate’s birth anniversary at the party headquarters in north Kolkata.

    Shortly after Sinha’s allegation, the Bengal CM hit out at the CBI, which probed the theft, on the same issue at an event organised by the state government. “This was the first Nobel that we had received and someone snatched it away from us. It pains me to think that the Nobel could not be traced even after so many years. This happened during the Left Front regime. I do not know if any evidence still exists. The failure on the part of CBI is a big insult to the people of Bengal,” Mamata said in her address expressing her apprehension that the central agency might have closed the probe by now.

    TMC’s general secretary and spokesperson Kunal Ghosh rubbished Sinha’s allegation. “It is baseless. When the theft took place, the Left Front government was in Bengal. How can the TMC be linked with the incident?” he asked.

  • Will approach PM Modi against our ‘ill-treatment’ by Uddhav government: Rana couple

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi on Monday said they will approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to raise the issue of their alleged ill-treatment by Maharashtra authorities when the couple was in jail recently.

    Talking to reporters here, Navneet Rana said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, “who back-stabbed the BJP”, should not talk and teach the Ranas about principles.

    The Ranas also dismissed the allegation that they committed contempt of court by speaking to the media.

    On May 4, a special court here while granting bail to the couple said the duo shall not commit a similar offence while on bail, and not address the press on any subject related to the case.

    The couple was arrested on April 23 by the Mumbai police after they announced that they would recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ outside Chief Minister Thackeray’s private residence ‘Matoshree’ here, which had angered workers of the Shiv Sena, Thackeray’s party, leading to tension.

    They walked out of jail on May 5 following which Navneet Rana was admitted to a private hospital here.

    Her lawyer had then said she had complaints of high blood pressure, body-ache and spondylitis.

    She was discharged from the hospital on Sunday.

    “We are going to Delhi today and meet all the leaders who respect women. I am going to meet the prime minister, (Union) home minister and Lok Sabha Speaker and tell them how we were ill-treated from a lockup to jail. I am going to complain about it,” said Navneet Rana, who was flanked by her husband.

    Describing Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut as a “parrot”, Navneet Rana alleged that he had talked about “burying the couple”.

    “We had filed a complaint against it here, but no action was taken. So, I am going to Delhi to raise the issue,” she said.

    The Ranas also categorically denied having committed any contempt of court by speaking to the press.

    “We did not talk about the offence, how it was registered against us, reciting ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ and Matoshree. We spoke about how I was ill-treated from the lockup to jail and how my health issues were avoided (ignored),” she said.

    The Lok Sabha member from Amravati wondered would be the fate of common people if a public representative like her could be treated “in such a manner” in Maharashtra.

    “So, it was important for me to speak up and the Constitution has given me the right as a public representative. Nobody should snatch my rights from me,” she said.

    She said CM Thackeray should learn how to run the state from his predecessor and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis.

    “Devendra Fadnavis ji also ran the government for five years, but he was not this shrewd. Thackeray should learn from Devendra sahab how to run Maharashtra (government) and with what sentiments,” she said.

    She further said that Thackeray, “who back-stabbed the BJP”, should not talk and teach the Ranas about principles.

    Ravi Rana, the MLA from Badnera in Amravati, also hit out at CM Thackeray over the Brihamumbai Municipal Corporation issuing a notice to the housing society where they live in suburban Khar here following a complaint of illegal construction.

    “Thackeray should inspect our flat online since he worked only through the online platform for the past two-and-half years,” he quipped.

    “You (the CM) can send Raut and (another Shiv Sena leader and state minister) Anil Parab, your right and left (hands), who are sitting idle. You can send them to take the measurements (of the house) if there is any problem. We will welcome them,” the MLA said.

    To a question, Ravi Rana said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar should take information on how the couple was allegedly ill-treated when they were in the lockup and jail.

    “We were treated worse than a criminal,” he alleged, while responding to Pawar’s reported remark that the duo was served tea when taken to Khar police station before their arrest.

  • Chhattisgarh minister seeks action to check collector’s alleged corrupt practices

    By Express News Service

    RAIPUR: As the Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel not hesitating to take prompt strict action on complaints received against corrupt-negligent officers during his ongoing statewide “Bhet-Mulakat” tour, his cabinet colleague has levelled serious charges against the collector of Korba, one of the highest contributor districts of DMF fund, citing her as “corrupt officer, grossly misusing the public fund”.State Revenue, Disaster Management and Rehabilitation minister Jaisingh Agrawal in his complaint had claimed the Korba collector Ranu Sahu as involved in massive corruption through her unilateral non-transparent decisions leading to embezzlement of public (DMF) funds.

    Agrawal has shot a letter highlighting his objections to the Secretary and Nodal officer of the state mining department and DMF seeking his urgent intervention in postponing the upcoming DMF committee meeting called by the collector and “stop further misuse of public money”.

    Korba, supplying 16 percent of the total coal production of the country and more than the Jharkhand state, is the largest contributor to the DMF kitty with several hundred crores annually.

    “The collector is sanctioning works from the DMF fund as per her own wishes that doesn’t serve the public interest. Prevent the misuse of public money and initiate appropriate action. There is no transparency regarding the information that needed to be shared on the public domain regarding the approved works allotted by the DMF committee in Korba”, alleged Agrawal.The minister categorically asserted that the lack of any action by the Secretary will equally suggest his silent consent to the squandering of crores of rupees to the state through embezzlement in the allotted works under the DMF scheme.The collector couldn’t be reached despite repeated attempts nor did she respond to the message texted to her seeking the reaction.The opposition BJP nevertheless grasped the minister’s complaint to target the state government. “We have brought the issue of massive irregularities in utilisation of DMF funds in Korba district to the knowledge of the Prime Minister Office, home minister and DoPT urging them to intervene for putting things right. It’s shocking to find the state minister had not just exposed the dishonest practices of the collector but also how corruption ruled the roost in bureaucracy”, said Naresh Gupta, BJP legal cell in charge.

  • Power games: Guruji set for second coming in Jharkhand

    Express News Service

    BJP eyes hemant ousterGuruji set for second coming in Jharkhand

    Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren is locked in a bitter battle with the opposition BJP. Accusing Soren of giving a mining lease to himself, the BJP has sought his disqualification as an MLA for holding an office of profit while being a legislator. Taking cognizance of BJP’s complaint, the Election Commission has issued a show-cause notice to Hemant asking him why he should not be disqualified as his act of allotting the mining lease to himself violated Section 9A of the Representation of People’s Act. Hemant’s legal team is engaged with the EC. But sources said Hemant’s trouble with the poll panel is not the main problem the CM is facing. It is the BJP’s campaign that the chief minister’s disqualification is only a matter of time, and the nervousness this campaign is causing among MLAs of his party and those of his ally Congress. The BJP has been trying to poach the ruling JMM and Congress MLAs and form its own government in the state. Hemant’s misadventure has made the BJP intensify its efforts to oust him. But the CM has reportedly been keeping in close touch with all the MLAs supporting him. He has termed the mine leasing issue a storm in a teacup and has assured the ruling coalition members that his government was safe. The CM has assures his partymen and allies that he would get his father Shibu Soren to take over as CM but would not let the government fall.

    Meeting Nitish halfwayPM rushes Pradhan to prevent BJP-JD(U) split

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi got on phone while he was on his European tour and asked trusted lieutenant Dharmendra Pradhan to rush to Patna to stop Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar from taking any step that may rupture relation between the BJP and the JD(U) and cause the fall of Bihar government which the two parties are jointly running. Sources said that the Prime Minister received reports that the Chief Minister was fed up with the BJP’s brinkmanship and was contemplating dumping the party and reuniting with Lalu Yadav’s RJD. Reports suggested that the fall of the JD(U)-BJP government was imminent. Pradhan reached Nitish’s house late in the evening and remained closeted with him for two hours. Nitish reportedly told Pradhan to ask his leaders to rein in Bhupendra Yadav, who looks after BJP’s affairs in Bihar, and the Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai. He narrated a series of events and statements that undermined his position as the Chief Minister. Pradhan promised every support to the CM and requested him not to take any precipitate action. The trouble between partners seems to have temporarily been overcome. But the strain in the relationship remains. Sources in the BJP said the party has been asked to make every effort to keep Nitish in the NDA fold as he remains critical to Modi’s re-election in 2024, especially after the departure of Shiv Sena from the NDA.

    Aircraft deal delayBoeing chief comes calling as India cracks whip

    Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun called on PM Narendra Modi on Saturday. The ostensible reason for Calhoun’s India trip is to sell six more P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft to the Indian Navy. India has already bought 12 P-8Is from Boeing worth over US$3 billion. Sources said the real reason is the show-cause notice served by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) against Boeing for its failure to implement the offset deal in relation to the earlier purchase. As per the offset agreement, 30% of the value of the order given to Boeing had to be spent in India by the company. Boeing had promised to build a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility for the P-8I aircraft in India. Besides India, Australia also operates these aircraft. South Korea and New Zealand are expected to be new customers of Boeing. The US Navy operates a few dozen of these aircraft in Asia. But there is no dedicated MRO for these aircraft in Asia. Keeping all this in mind, Boeing was asked by the MoD to discharge its offset obligation worth over US$600 million by setting up a state-of-the-art MRO in India to service these aircraft. But even after years of signing the deal, the MRO is nowhere in sight. Boeing has reportedly spent only a fraction of its offset commitment. The MoD has, therefore, asked Boeing why it should not be denied any future contracts in view of its failure to honour the offset deal. Sources said the purpose of Calhoun’s visit was to smoothen the ruffled feathers in New Delhi.

  • BJP govt failed in ensuring national security: AAP after Khalistan flags at Himachal Assembly gate

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The AAP on Sunday slammed the BJP after Khalistan flags were found at the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly entrance in Dharamshala, asking how will its government save the people of the country when it failed in ensuring national security.

    Calling it a “huge security failure”, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party demanded that either Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur immediately resign or the Union government sack his government in Himachal Pradesh.

    Either the BJP governments at the Centre and Himachal Pradesh were “completely incompetent” or the saffron party was hand in glove with the Khalistanis that someone could walk away after tying Khalistani flags at the gate of the state assembly complex despite them being at the helm, the AAP charged.

    Taking to Twitter, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the putting up of the Khalistan flags outside the gate of Himachal assembly building in Dharamshala was a “complete failure” of the BJP government in dealing with the matter pertaining to national security and keeping the respect of the people of the hill state.

    The BJP sharply responded to allegations and said that Khalistani activities have increased after the AAP government was formed in Punjab. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta alleged that the AAP was “furthering Khalistani agenda”.

    In Himachal Pradesh, along with increasing AAP’s activities, Khalistani activities are also on the rise, Gupta said. The flags were put up on the outer side of the gate number one of the state assembly complex, which have now been removed by the administration.

    Pro-Khalistan slogans were also found scrawled on the walls of the assembly complex, which have been painted again. The entire BJP is trying to save one goon, and Khalistani left putting up flags there (at the gate of Himachal Pradesh Assembly complex), Sisodia tweeted in Hindi, taking a dig at the ruling BJP.

    He apparently referred as goon Delhi BJP leader Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga who was arrested by a team of Punjab Police on Friday from his residence in the national capital in connection with a case registered in Mohali but brought back by the Delhi Police same day later after a high-voltage drama which drew police of three states and kicked up a slugfest between the AAP and the BJP.

    In his tweet, Sisodia said, “The government which cannot save the Legislative Assembly, how will it save the people. This is a matter of Himachal’s respect, security of the country. The BJP government has completely failed.”

    In another tweet, the Delhi deputy chief minister called the tying of Khalistani flags at the entrance of the assembly complex a huge security failure and demanded that either Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur resign or the Union government sack his government in Himachal Pradesh.

    The AAP called the incident a shame on the BJP, saying someone could walk away putting up Khalistani flags at the entrance of the Assembly despite the saffron party being at the helm, both in the state and at the Centre.

    “Shame on BJP. It’s their government in Himachal and at the Centre. Yet someone leaves after putting up Khalistani flag at Legislative Assembly, which means either they (BJP) govt are completely incompetent or they are hand in glove with Khalistanis,” the party said in a tweet in Hindi.

    Responding to allegations, Delhi BJP chief Gupta in a statement alleged, “Even before Punjab polls, Kejriwal was having meals with Khalistani chief at his house. Now, when polls are due in Himachal Pradesh, a Khalistani flag has been put up outside state assembly there to defame the state.”

    Gupta alleged it cannot be denied that “ever since AAP became active in Punjab, Khalistani moment is gaining strength there.” The extremist, Pannu, openly charged that “we gave foreign donation to AAP for winning Punjab polls.”

    Earlier it was in Patiala and now this flag being put up at Himachal Pradesh state assembly in Dharamshala today. It’s not a coincidence but an experiment. It is time to stop such acts of Khalistanis in Punjab and other parts of the country, Gupta said in the statement.

    In the run-up to the assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh scheduled later this year, the AAP recently found itself at the centre of a controversy after the BJP accused the Arvind Kejriwal-led party’s social media in-charge in the hill state Harpreet Singh Bedi of openly supporting the Khalistan referring to a series of his tweets posted on the microblogging site few years ago.

    Acting swiftly on the BJP’s allegations, the AAP expelled Bedi from all posts in the party over his alleged pro-Khalistani tweets, saying that the views expressed by him in his posts on the micro-blogging site were against the Aam Aadmi Party’s ideology.

    Buoyed by its landslide victory in neighbouring Punjab, the AAP is gearing up to contest on all seats in the upcoming assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.

  • PM Modi a follower of Adolf Hitler: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in “love” with Adolf Hitler who used to “do a lot of events”, and follows the German dictator.

    Taking a dig, Raut said that currently, if anyone praises Hitler it cannot be treated as sedition.

    Speaking at a function of Shiv Sena, the party’s chief spokesperson also said that Sena founder Bal Thackeray had also admired Hitler who was a popular leader.

    “Hitler used to do a lot of events that’s what Modi does. In fact, Modi follows Hitler. Look at social media. The way Hitler used to do events, Modi and his party do it similarly. I am not criticising him (Modi) though,” Raut said.

    He referred to Germany hosting the Summer Olympics in Berlin in 1936.

    “Hitler was a popular leader who may have been defeated later. Balasaheb Thackeray (Shiv Sena founder) admired him. Even PM Modi is in love with him (Hitler). Currently, if anyone praises Hitler, it cannot be treated as sedition,” he said.

    Notably, the Shiv Sena-led MVA government is facing flak for booking lawmaker couple Navneet Rana (Amravati MP) and her MLA husband Ravi Rana on the charge of sedition amid a row over the recitation of ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ in Mumbai.

  • Gujarat: Rahul to address rally in Dahod on Tuesday, Kejriwal in Rajkot on Wednesday

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Aam Aadmi Party national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will visit Gujarat this week to address public rallies in Dahod and Rajkot respectively.

    Polls are likely to be held in December in the state, which has been ruled by the BJP for the past 27 years and where the AAP is making a concerted effort to dislodge the Congress as the main challenger.

    Gandhi will address ‘Adivasi Satyagrah Rally’ in tribal-dominated Dahod on Tuesday, while Kejriwal will address a rally in Rajkot city on Wednesday. Kejriwal had, on May 1, addressed a tribal rally jointly with Bharatiya Tribal Party (BTP) leader Chhotu Vasava in Bharuch district.

    Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Dahod on April 20 and launched various projects worth Rs 22,000 crore for the tribal region.

    As per a Congress statement, Gandhi’s rally is organised in Dahod’s historic Navjivan Arts and Commerce College, and, after the event, he is scheduled to meet party MLAs as well as interact with the leaders of tribal areas in the state.

    The party statement said the rally was aimed at protecting the constitutional rights of the tribals, who it claimed were in distress under BJP rule.

    AAP spokesperson Yogesh Jadwani said Kejriwal will address a on May 11 in Rajkot, and the detailed schedule of his Gujarat visit will be declared later.

  • PM Modi introduced new political culture in country: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

    By PTI

    SITAMARHI: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the BJP under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought to introduce a new political culture in the country, rising above considerations of vote bank politics or subjective preferences.

    The latest evidence of this, he said, is the inclusion of Sitamarhi under the Centre’s aspirational district programme purely on the consideration that it deserved special attention for its growth and development in certain sectors.

    Singh, Minister of State for Personnel and BJP national executive member, addressed a meeting of party workers here.

    He said while PM Modi has vindicated Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s dream of the BJP being a truly democratic party suited to the requirements of post-independence India, it was the sacrifices of three generations of party workers, which enabled the party to survive over the last seven decades before emerging as the world’s largest political party under the able organisational leadership of party presidents like Amit Shah and J P Nadda.

    “The Prime Minister has sought to introduce a new political culture in the country, rising above considerations of vote bank politics or subjective preferences,” the minister said.

    Singh said it was his good fortune to be able to pay obeisance at the holy place which was closely associated with Maa Sita of the epic Ramayan.

    He said with the kind of special focus being given by the government of India, the day is not far when Sitamarhi will develop and live up to its name, which conjures up the thoughts of Lord Ram and Ram Rajya.

    Singh spent about two hours interacting with the party workers.

    He informed them that he had impressed upon the local administration to maintain a closer coordination and rapport with public representatives and the citizens.

    Singh said it was the priority treatment given to Sitamarhi by the Modi government that despite the constraints of Covid pandemic, a CT scan machine was installed in the Sadar hospital and a new nursing school has also been set up.

  • No coercive step to be taken against BJP leader Tajinder Bagga: Punjab and Haryana HC

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court Saturday night directed that no coercive step be taken against Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga after the Delhi BJP leader sought a stay on the arrest warrant issued by a Mohali court earlier in the day.

    Justice Anoop Chitkara took up Bagga’s petition in an urgent late-night hearing at his residence.

    “No coercive steps till May 10,” said Bagga’s counsel Chetan Mittal on the high court order.

    He said that the court stayed the arrest warrant.

    The hearing took place for around 45 minutes, said Mittal.

    Earlier in the day, the court of Judicial Magistrate Ravtesh Inderjit Singh issued the arrest warrant against Bagga in connection with a case registered last month.

    The Punjab Police had booked Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga on the charges of making provocative statements, promoting enmity and criminal intimidation.

    The case was registered on a complaint of AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia, a resident of Mohali.

    The FIR registered on April 1 referred to Bagga’s remarks on March 30, when he was part of a BJP youth wing protest outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

    Bagga was booked under relevant sections, including 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place etc), 505 (whoever makes, publishes or circulates any statement, rumour or report) and 506 (criminal intimidation), of the Indian Penal Code.

    Bagga was arrested by the Punjab Police from his Delhi home on Friday, stopped in Haryana while being taken to Punjab and brought back to the national capital by Delhi Police hours later.