News Analysis India

Tag: Kailash Vijayvargiya

  • Power Games: Scindia, Vijayvargiya join hands to promote heirs

    By Express News Service

    Family FirstScindia, Vijayvargiya join hands to promote heirs

    A newfound bonhomie between arch-rivals Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kailash Vijayvargiya has had the Madhya Pradesh political watchers racking their brains to figure out the reason for this realignment. Supporters of the two leaders had earlier come to blows when Vijayvargiya first challenged Scindia in the election for the post of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) president. The clash between the two groups was so fierce that the police resorted to lathi charge to help the authorities conduct the election. Scindia defeated Vijayvargiya. They have since remained at loggerheads. But developments in the last two weeks have baffled all. During an MPCA award ceremony at Indore earlier this month, Scindia surprised the who’s who of the state’s cricketing and political fraternity present on the occasion by walking down the dais to bring Vijayvargiya, who was sitting in the audience, onto the stage. Scindia along with his son Mahanaryaman also went for lunch at Vijayvargiya’s residence at Indore.

    While initially their new equation was seen as the emergence of an axis within the state BJP, informed sources say the two leaders have decided to work together in the interest of their heirs. Scindia’s son Mahanaryaman was recently appointed vice-president of the Gwalior Division Cricket Association. Scindia wants him to take over from him as the head of MPCA. For this, he needs the support of Vijayvargiya. For Vijayvargiya, who has been sidelined in the party, joining hands with Scindia would ensure the re-election of his son Akash as an MLA from Indore. The Scindias wield considerable clout in Indore by virtue of their close ties with the widely-respected Holkar royal family of Indore. State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has heaved a sigh of relief on learning that the new alliance is not a ploy to target his chair. Both Scindia and Vijayvargiya are contenders for the post of chief minister.

    Karnataka ElectionsBJP sees red as Yediyurappa plays truant

    The BJP’s first chief minister in south India, B S Yediyurappa, is not amused by the central leadership’s decision to appoint him to the parliamentary board. He has been trying to persuade the central leaders to appoint his son B S Vijayendra as a minister in the state government. The party leadership has refused to oblige. He has reportedly been told that his son would be made deputy chief minister if he helps the party return to power. Yediyurappa says when his son is not being made a minister now, what is the guarantee that he would be made a deputy chief minister later? At one point he was so disappointed by the party’s continued efforts to sideline him that he announced retirement from politics.

    Last year, he was asked to step down as the chief minister of Karnataka as the party felt his government had become unpopular and it may not be able to return to power under his leadership. The party’s electoral fortunes have, however, failed to change even after his exit. Yediyurappa is by far the most popular leader among Karnataka’s numerically strong Lingayat community which has largely supported the BJP over the years. This has forced the party to bring him back to a position of prominence.

    Sources said Yediyurappa continues to sulk as he and his family have been kept away from power politics and forced to live on the margins. Efforts are on by the party to persuade their Lingayat strongman. The fact that the party now realises his importance was also evident when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Mangaluru, called Yediyurappa to the dais when he saw him sitting in the audience. Party’s overtures notwithstanding, BSY appears in no mood to bring back a government in which he and his family would have no role to play.

    Family First
    Scindia, Vijayvargiya join hands to promote heirs

    A newfound bonhomie between arch-rivals Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kailash Vijayvargiya has had the Madhya Pradesh political watchers racking their brains to figure out the reason for this realignment. Supporters of the two leaders had earlier come to blows when Vijayvargiya first challenged Scindia in the election for the post of Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) president. The clash between the two groups was so fierce that the police resorted to lathi charge to help the authorities conduct the election. Scindia defeated Vijayvargiya. They have since remained at loggerheads. But developments in the last two weeks have baffled all. During an MPCA award ceremony at Indore earlier this month, Scindia surprised the who’s who of the state’s cricketing and political fraternity present on the occasion by walking down the dais to bring Vijayvargiya, who was sitting in the audience, onto the stage. Scindia along with his son Mahanaryaman also went for lunch at Vijayvargiya’s residence at Indore.

    While initially their new equation was seen as the emergence of an axis within the state BJP, informed sources say the two leaders have decided to work together in the interest of their heirs. Scindia’s son Mahanaryaman was recently appointed vice-president of the Gwalior Division Cricket Association. Scindia wants him to take over from him as the head of MPCA. For this, he needs the support of Vijayvargiya. For Vijayvargiya, who has been sidelined in the party, joining hands with Scindia would ensure the re-election of his son Akash as an MLA from Indore. The Scindias wield considerable clout in Indore by virtue of their close ties with the widely-respected Holkar royal family of Indore. State Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has heaved a sigh of relief on learning that the new alliance is not a ploy to target his chair. Both Scindia and Vijayvargiya are contenders for the post of chief minister.

    Karnataka Elections
    BJP sees red as Yediyurappa plays truant

    The BJP’s first chief minister in south India, B S Yediyurappa, is not amused by the central leadership’s decision to appoint him to the parliamentary board. He has been trying to persuade the central leaders to appoint his son B S Vijayendra as a minister in the state government. The party leadership has refused to oblige. He has reportedly been told that his son would be made deputy chief minister if he helps the party return to power. Yediyurappa says when his son is not being made a minister now, what is the guarantee that he would be made a deputy chief minister later? At one point he was so disappointed by the party’s continued efforts to sideline him that he announced retirement from politics.

    Last year, he was asked to step down as the chief minister of Karnataka as the party felt his government had become unpopular and it may not be able to return to power under his leadership. The party’s electoral fortunes have, however, failed to change even after his exit. Yediyurappa is by far the most popular leader among Karnataka’s numerically strong Lingayat community which has largely supported the BJP over the years. This has forced the party to bring him back to a position of prominence.

    Sources said Yediyurappa continues to sulk as he and his family have been kept away from power politics and forced to live on the margins. Efforts are on by the party to persuade their Lingayat strongman. The fact that the party now realises his importance was also evident when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Mangaluru, called Yediyurappa to the dais when he saw him sitting in the audience. Party’s overtures notwithstanding, BSY appears in no mood to bring back a government in which he and his family would have no role to play.

  • Court closes case against Vijayvargiya as MP government remains undecided on sanction for prosecution

    By PTI

    INDORE: A special court here has closed a case against BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya in an alleged ‘pension scam’ at the Indore Municipal Corporation as the Madhya Pradesh government did not give sanction to prosecute him and others for 17 years.

    Complainant K K Mishra — chairman of the MP Congress’s media department — has now moved the High Court against the delay in the grant of sanction.

    Judge Mukesh Nath for a special court for cases against MPs and MLAs ordered closure of the proceedings against Vijayvargiya and others on Monday citing the lack of sanction for prosecution.

    But the complainant can move the court afresh if the government granted sanction, the judge added.

    The complaint before the court alleged that when Vijayvargiya was Indore Mayor from 2000 to 2005, the IMC paid pension to the destitute, widows and disabled persons through co-operative institutes instead of national banks and post offices as required by rules.

    Persons who were ineligible or deceased or even non-existing persons got a pension, causing a loss of Rs 33 crore to the government, it alleged.

    “By not sanctioning prosecution for 17 years, the state government has shown that it wants to save corrupt people,” Mishra told PTI on Friday.

    His lawyer Vibhor Khandelwal said they have filed a petition before the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore bench against the non-grant of sanction.

    INDORE: A special court here has closed a case against BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya in an alleged ‘pension scam’ at the Indore Municipal Corporation as the Madhya Pradesh government did not give sanction to prosecute him and others for 17 years.

    Complainant K K Mishra — chairman of the MP Congress’s media department — has now moved the High Court against the delay in the grant of sanction.

    Judge Mukesh Nath for a special court for cases against MPs and MLAs ordered closure of the proceedings against Vijayvargiya and others on Monday citing the lack of sanction for prosecution.

    But the complainant can move the court afresh if the government granted sanction, the judge added.

    The complaint before the court alleged that when Vijayvargiya was Indore Mayor from 2000 to 2005, the IMC paid pension to the destitute, widows and disabled persons through co-operative institutes instead of national banks and post offices as required by rules.

    Persons who were ineligible or deceased or even non-existing persons got a pension, causing a loss of Rs 33 crore to the government, it alleged.

    “By not sanctioning prosecution for 17 years, the state government has shown that it wants to save corrupt people,” Mishra told PTI on Friday.

    His lawyer Vibhor Khandelwal said they have filed a petition before the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore bench against the non-grant of sanction.

  • ‘Girls change boyfriends frequently’: Vijayvargiya in soup for using sexist jibe at Nitish

    By PTI

    INDORE: Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has taken a jibe at the political realignment in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) has dumped the saffron party, and quoted a foreign friend as apparently saying such things happen in his country where “girls change their boyfriends frequently”.

    Vijayvargiya has also said, “The foreigner told me Bihar Chief Minister (Nitish Kumar) was like that – it is hard to tell when he will walk out of a relationship and when he will enter into a new relationship.”

    As his controversial remarks, made on Thursday, drew the Opposition fire, Vijayvargiya on Friday said he has immense respect for women and he was merely quoting a foreign friend in the backdrop of latest political development in Bihar and that the objectionable words were not uttered by him.

    “I was abroad when the government (of the JDU-BJP) changed in Bihar. On this issue, a man there told me that such things happen there where girls change their boyfriends frequently,” he had told reporters here upon his return from the US.

    Facing criticism for his remarks, the former Madhya Pradesh minister said he respects women.

    “As far as women are concerned, we respect them. Women are worth worshipping for us. For women, at least for Indian women, we all have immense respect,” Vijayvarigya said.

    The BJP leader said if a person is interpreting his words and presenting them in a distorted form, then it shows he lacks wisdom.

    Last week, Kumar snapped ties with the coalition ally BJP and joined hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led grand alliance, which also consists of the Congress and Left parties, to stay put as Chief Minister.

    The Janata Dal (United), the RJD, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) slammed Vijayvargiya over his Thursday’s comments.

    SP president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, “With BJP people harbouring such a negative approach towards women, how will their condition improve in the country under their rule.”

    Taking potshots at Vijaywargiya, Congress Member of Parliament Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, “BJP general secretary sets a new example in women’s respect.”

    Surjewala also attached the BJP leader’s audio and video clip containing his controversial remarks with his tweet.

    INDORE: Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has taken a jibe at the political realignment in Bihar, where Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) has dumped the saffron party, and quoted a foreign friend as apparently saying such things happen in his country where “girls change their boyfriends frequently”.

    Vijayvargiya has also said, “The foreigner told me Bihar Chief Minister (Nitish Kumar) was like that – it is hard to tell when he will walk out of a relationship and when he will enter into a new relationship.”

    As his controversial remarks, made on Thursday, drew the Opposition fire, Vijayvargiya on Friday said he has immense respect for women and he was merely quoting a foreign friend in the backdrop of latest political development in Bihar and that the objectionable words were not uttered by him.

    “I was abroad when the government (of the JDU-BJP) changed in Bihar. On this issue, a man there told me that such things happen there where girls change their boyfriends frequently,” he had told reporters here upon his return from the US.

    Facing criticism for his remarks, the former Madhya Pradesh minister said he respects women.

    “As far as women are concerned, we respect them. Women are worth worshipping for us. For women, at least for Indian women, we all have immense respect,” Vijayvarigya said.

    The BJP leader said if a person is interpreting his words and presenting them in a distorted form, then it shows he lacks wisdom.

    Last week, Kumar snapped ties with the coalition ally BJP and joined hands with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led grand alliance, which also consists of the Congress and Left parties, to stay put as Chief Minister.

    The Janata Dal (United), the RJD, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) slammed Vijayvargiya over his Thursday’s comments.

    SP president Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, “With BJP people harbouring such a negative approach towards women, how will their condition improve in the country under their rule.”

    Taking potshots at Vijaywargiya, Congress Member of Parliament Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, “BJP general secretary sets a new example in women’s respect.”

    Surjewala also attached the BJP leader’s audio and video clip containing his controversial remarks with his tweet.

  • ‘What about Adhikaris, Scindias and Vijayvargiyas?’ Trinamool mocks Shah’s vow to end ‘dynasty rule’

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Slamming Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his comment that the BJP will end “family rule” in West Bengal and Telangana, the TMC on Sunday asserted that people of the eastern state rejected the “divisive politics” of the saffron camp in the assembly elections last year and voted the Mamata Banerjee-led party to power for the third consecutive term.

    In his address at the BJP national executive meeting in Hyderabad, Shah called for ending the politics of dynasty, casteism and appeasement.

    He also said the party will end “family rule” in Telangana and West Bengal and form governments in states where power has so far remained out of its reach.

    Reacting to Shah’s comments, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said, “If the BJP holds a mirror to itself, the party will see how it has been abetting politics of dynasty. It inducted the entire Adhikari family of Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district in its fold – Suvendu and his two brothers – and Amit Shah had invited Suvendu’s father Sisir Adhikari in his public meeting. And what about the Scindia family and Kailash Vijayvargiya’s son? In Trinamool Congress, no such things happen.”

    He also claimed that “Shah, whose dream to occupy power in West Bengal was not fulfilled in 2021”, is yet to “digest the humiliating defeat” in the last year’s assembly polls.

    “His comments stem from frustration and desperation,” the TMC leader said.

    The TMC won 213 assembly seats in the last year’s polls, while the BJP bagged 77.

    Later, several saffron camp legislators joined the ruling party.

    Briefing reporters on the Shah’s speech, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the union home minister cited the BJP’s win in a series of polls to assert that it underlined people’s approval of the party’s “politics of development and performance”.

    Ghosh also criticised Sarma for “making political statement at the BJP’s national executive meeting at a time when people of his state are affected by floods”.

    “When Assam is reeling under major floods, and lakhs of people are hit by the deluge, the chief minister of the state is busy with making political statement at his party’s meet instead of standing by the side of those who elected him. Here lies the difference between the Trinamool Congress and the BJP”.

  • Udaipur killing: Some forces want to humiliate India in world, says BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya

    By PTI

    INDORE: Expressing outrage over the killing of a tailor in Udaipur allegedly for supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday said some forces want to humiliate India as its global reputation has gone up under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    He also targeted Congress saying the grand old party is dismissing the Udaipur incident as a normal murder and not a terrorist act which has exposed its “real face”.

    “India’s reputation has increased globally under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership but some forces want to humiliate the country and they should not get political patronage,” Vijayvargiya told reporters when asked about the brutal killing of Kanhaiya Lal by some persons.

    Nupur Sharma was suspended by the BJP for making controversial comments about Prophet Mohammad.

    He said Congress is considering the gruesome incident as a normal murder, which is a terrorist act.

    “Making a video of the incident and circulating it means that the killers wanted to spread terror in society. I ask you had this incident happened in Uttar Pradesh (which is ruled by BJP) what would have happened? It is a question of the policy and intention of the government and a political party. After this incident, the real face of Congress has been exposed,” the BJP leader said.

    Queried on Congress’ claim that one of the accused in the murder case, Riyaz Akhtari, is linked to the BJP, Vijayvargiya said, “Now it is understood that there was a conspiracy behind this murder. If a person has to commit any (criminal) act in this office (BJP’s Indore office), he will first take online membership of BJP and then visit the party office by posing as a BJP member”.”

    A day earlier, the BJP had dismissed the Congress’ allegation that Akhtari was a member of the saffron party.

    Vijayvargiya also proposed imparting computer training in madrasas along with the Quran to help students of the Islamic seminaries to become doctors and engineers.

    “”We have no objection to the Quran being taught in madrasas. But computer training should also be imparted so that students get modern education,”” he said.

    Vijayvargiya said a person studying in a madrasa doesn’t become a doctor or an engineer.

    “”We want students of madrasas to become doctors or engineers as well, so education other than the Quran should also be imparted to them,”” he added.

    Vijayvargiya also said the experiment of providing modern education in madrasas has been started in Assam and Uttar Pradesh.

    He, however, termed the issue of madrasa education as a “broader subject” and said the government, as well as society, will have to ponder over it.

    “The society may allege that there is a need to control the education being imparted in madrasas, but we do not want to control it,”” he said.

  • Now we know what ‘Main Bhi Chowkidaar’ meant: Congress’ dig at Kailash Vijayvargiya’s remarks

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday took a dig at the BJP over its leader Kailash Vijayvargiya’s remarks apparently suggesting that he will give priority to ‘Agniveers’ for security jobs at his party office, saying now “we know” what the BJP really meant when it launched the ‘Main Bhi Chowkidaar’ campaign in 2019.

    In a reference to the BJP leader’s remarks, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi, “One cannot expect those who did not hoist the tricolour for 52 years of independence to respect soldiers.”

    जिन्होंने आज़ादी के 52 सालों तक तिरंगा नहीं फहराया, उनसे जवानों के सम्मान की उम्मीद नहीं की जा सकती।युवा, सेना में भर्ती होने का जज़्बा, चौकीदार बन कर भाजपा कार्यालयों की रक्षा करने के लिए नहीं, देश की रक्षा के लिए रखते हैं।प्रधानमंत्री की चुप्पी इस बेइज़्ज़ती पर मोहर है।
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 19, 2022
    “The youth have a zeal to join the Army to protect the country and not for protecting BJP offices by becoming chowkidar,” the former Congress chief said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence was a “stamp of approval” on the insult.

    Amid protests over the Agnipath scheme for recruitment into the armed forces, the BJP general secretary said that if he has to hire the services of professionals to arrange security at the party office, he would give priority to those who have served as Agniveer soldiers.

    Tagging a screenshot of a media report on Vijayvargiya’s remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Now we know what the BJP really meant when they launched the campaign in 2019, ‘Main Bhi Chowkidaar’.”

    Now we know what the BJP really meant when they launched the campaign in 2019, ‘Main Bhi Chowkidaar’… pic.twitter.com/CE8pbcAfNg
    — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 19, 2022
    On its officical Twitter handle, the Madhya Pradesh Congress said, “BJP general secretary insulting soldiers. Agniveer will become a watchman outside the BJP office. Mr. Modi, this was the mentality we were afraid of — shameless government.”

    ALSO READ| 35 WhatsApp groups banned for ‘spreading fake news’ about Agnipath scheme

    Addressing a press conference at the BJP office in Indore, Vijayvargiya made the remarks while defending the Centre’s Agnipath scheme. “In Army training, first is discipline and second is following orders. He will undergo training and when he comes out after four years of service, he would have Rs 11 lakh in his hand. And he would also walk around with the badge of Agniveer on his chest,” Vijayvargiya said.

    He went on to say, “If I have to have security (personnel) here in this BJP office, I will give priority to Agniveer.” His remarks were shared on social media by many who criticised him for it. The government had last Tuesday announced the Agnipath scheme and those recruited under it will be called ‘Agniveer’.

    In his statement later, Vijayvargiya alleged that people associated with “toolkit” were twisting his remarks to insult “karmveer”. The country is aware of the toolkit gang’s conspiracies, the BJP leader said.

  • BJP’s Vijayvargiya offers security jobs for Agniveers at party offices; Congres seeks apology

    By PTI

    INDORE: BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday sought to defend the Centre’s Agnipath scheme for military recruitment, which is facing stiff opposition from various quarters, saying if he has to appoint security personnel as his party office, he would give priority to those who have served as Agniveers.

    His remark soon kicked up a row, with some prominent political leaders, including his party colleague MP Varun Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, besides several netizens slamming him for it.

    The Madhya Pradesh Congress demanded an apology from the BJP for “insulting” the defence forces.

    Under fire for the statement, Vijayvargiya later said what he meant was that the excellence of Agniveers will be utilised in whichever field they choose after completing service in the defence forces. He also accused the “toolkit gang” of twisting his remark to insult the “Karmveer”.

    The Centre on Tuesday announced the Agnipath scheme for four-year contractual military recruitment that has sparked protests in many parts of the country and is being questioned by many parties.

    The soldiers to be recruited under this plan will be called Agniveers.

    Addressing a press conference at the BJP office here, Vijayvargiya, while describing the benefits of the scheme, said the youth would develop qualities like discipline and obedience, which is part of army’s training.

    “In army training, first is discipline and second is following orders. He (Agniveer) will undergo training and when he comes out (of the armed forces) after four years of service, he would have Rs 11 lakh in his hand. And he would also walk around with the badge of Agniveer on his chest,” he said.

    “If I have to recruit security (personnel) here in this BJP office, I will give priority to Agniveer,” the senior BJP leader added.

    A video of his statement went viral on social media platforms.

    जिस महान सेना की वीर गाथाएँ कह सकने में समूचा शब्दकोश असमर्थ हो, जिनके पराक्रम का डंका समस्त विश्व में गुंजायमान हो, उस भारतीय सैनिक को किसी राजनीतिक दफ़्तर की ‘चौकीदारी’ करने का न्यौता, उसे देने वाले को ही मुबारक।भारतीय सेना माँ भारती की सेवा का माध्यम है, महज एक ‘नौकरी’ नहीं। pic.twitter.com/Ehq0rwx0zV
    — Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) June 19, 2022
    Tagging the video in his tweet, Varun Gandhi questioned Vijayvargiya and said army is a medium to serve ‘Maa Bharti’ (mother India). “Our great army’s heroic tales cannot be expressed with mere words and its valour echoes in the entire world,” Gandhi said, accusing the BJP national general secretary of offering the job of a “chowkidar” (watchman) to soldiers after retirement.

    “Indian Army is a means to serve mother India, not merely a job,” Gandhi said.

    Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Kejriwal termed it an insult of the youths and army personnel of the country.

    “Do not disrespect the youth and army personnel of the country so much. The youth of our country work hard day and night to pass the physical exam and clear test because they want to serve the country and not because they want to be a guard outside the BJP office,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

    ALSO READ | There will be no rollback of Agnipath military recruitment scheme: Lt Gen Anil Puri

    K K Mishra, chairman of the media department of Madhya Pradesh Congress, also criticised Vijayvargiya for the statement. “Agniveers, who will be recruited (in the armed forces) only for four years, will be later appointed as security guards at the BJP office. This is a big insult of the unemployed youth and the valour of the armed forces. BJP should apologise,” he said in a tweet.

    Several other social media users also slammed the senior BJP leader for his statement.

    However, Vijayvargiya later blamed the toolkit gang for the controversy.

    “Agniveers who complete their service under the Agnipath scheme will definitely be trained and committed to their duties. This excellence will be utilised in the fields they choose after completing their service in the army. This was what I clearly meant,” he said in a tweet.

    He alleged that people associated with the ‘toolkit gang’ were trying to insult the “Karmveers” by distorting his statement. “This would be an insult to the Karmveers of the country. The nation is well aware of the conspiracies of this toolkit gang against the Rashtraveer and Dharmveer,” he added.

    READ HERE | Agnipath: All you need to know about Army recruitment scheme that has India on the boil

  • ‘Spitting’ incident: BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya asks Indore administration to shut salons of hairstylist Jawed Habib

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL: Thirty one months after he was arrested for hitting a civic body official with a cricket bat in full public view, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya’s MLA son Akash Vijayvargiya is now in news for giving a 48-hours ultimatum to Indore administration-police to shut down establishments of hair stylist Jawed Habib.

    In the wake of the Uttar Pradesh police lodging an FIR against Habib over the viral video in which the hairstylist is seen spitting on a woman’s head while styling her hair, Akash Vijayvargiya, the first-time BJP MLA from Indore-III seat released a 1.51 minute video on Friday, giving the Indore district administration and police commissionerate 48 hours to shut down Habib’s saloons and a training centre in Indore.

    The young ruling BJP lawmaker further says in the video that if the saloons-training center run by Habib weren’t shut down in 48 hours, a massive movement will be launched in Indore to close them down.

    “We’ve taken a vow not to allow any institution owned by Jawed Habib to run here (Indore), if they aren’t shut down in 48 hours, we’ll launch a movement to close them,” Vijayvargiya Junior said in the video released on Friday.

    Reacting to the BJP MLA’s video, the Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson Narendra Saluja tweeted the 2019 picture of Jawed Habib joining the BJP.  “The saloons will have to be closed, because the concerned MLA’s anger is bad,” Saluja tweeted.

    Back in June 2019, the Indore-III MLA Akash Vijayvargiya was arrested in Indore for hitting an Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) official with a cricket bat during an anti-encroachment drive.

    The celebrity Jawed Habib had joined the BJP in New Delhi ahead of the third phase of Lok Sabha polls in April 2019. Habib had then tweeted “Aaj tak main baalon ka chowkidar tha, aaj main desh ka chowkidar ban gaya hoon.”        

    Importantly, a police case has been filed against Habib for spitting on a woman’s head during a seminar in west Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district earlier this week. The case was registered on the complaint filed by the woman on whose hair Habib was seen spitting. The video of the incident which took place at a workshop conducted by the hairstylist on Monday was widely shared on social media, leading to massive criticism among internet users.

  • ‘Will write new story in Bengal’: Nadda assures leaders, voters amid state BJP infighting

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: West Bengal politics resonated in the Bharatiya Janata Party national executive meeting being held in the national capital Sunday as party chief JP Nadda assured the leaders and people that “the BJP will chart a new story in the state”.

    With many leaders who played a crucial part in the recently concluded Assembly polls in West Bengal, Swapan Das Gupta, Anupam Hazra, Kailash Vijayvargiya present in the audience, the BJP President assured that the BJP will write a new story in West Bengal.

    “I want to assure the people of West Bengal that we will be with you and we will chart a new story in the state,” said Nadda.

    The political situation in West Bengal is witnessing a lot of churn with many dissatisfied elected BJP leaders leaving the party to join ruling Trinamool Congress.

    The party had to face embarrassment after one of its newly-nominated national executive committee member Rajib Banerjee left the party and joined TMC again.

    Nadda also gave targets to be completed on the ground to the party leaders. The party chief said that booth level committee formation must be completed before December 25.

    “Every booth has been mobilised to listen in to the Maan Ki Baat at the booth level,” stated Nadda.

    While mentioning that BJP’s vote share has increased in every poll, Nadda said that from general to the panchayats polls, the vote share of the BJP has increased. In fact, in Jammu and Kashmir, the BJP has and is performing exceedingly well,” stated the party chief.

    He listed policies started by the Centre for health and agriculture.

    Nadda has addressed the national executive committee meeting in national capital with PM Narendra Modi, and several Cabinet Ministers and Chief Ministers in presence. Many other senior leaders including, LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, have joined the meeting virtually from their respective states.

  • Trouble in Bengal BJP? Amid Dilip Ghosh vs Tathagata Roy, another leader quits party

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh on Saturday hit out at veteran colleague and former Meghalaya governor Tathagata Roy over his recent criticism of the organisation’s style of functioning, and sought to know why he wasn’t leaving the party if he was so upset.

    Roy had been critical of the decisions taken by former West Bengal minder Kailash Vijayvargiya, Ghosh, who was earlier the party’s state president, and senior leaders Arvind Menon and Shiv Prakash, blaming them in a series of tweets for the saffron camp’s poor show in the March-April assembly polls.

    He also claimed that there was “no chance” of Vijayvargiya returning to the state to oversee the operations of the Bengal BJP unit.

    Asked to comment on Roy’s frequent jibe at him, Menon and Vijayvargiya, the former BJP state president told reporters, without taking any name, “If you are so upset and ashamed of all that is happening within the party, why don’t you just leave?” The Midnapore MP, who was on his way to Delhi to attend the BJP central working committee meeting, further stated, “You (Tathagata) did nothing for the party in the recent times. But the party did everything for people like you.”

    Roy, when contacted, maintained that he would not want to attach much importance to what Ghosh said.

    BJP state president Sukanta Majumder, however, steered clear of the controversy andunderlined that it was the “prerogative of the central leadership” to take a call on the comment made by Tathagata Roy.

    Roy had told reporters last month that he was “ashamed of some top-level leaders like Vijayvargiya as, ahead of the Bengal assembly polls, they were swayed by the glamour factor while inducting people into the BJP and did not take experience and chances of winning into consideration”.

    Actor-turned-BJP leader Joy Banerjee on Saturday said he has decided to resign from the primary membership of the party, after having “faced neglect” in the recent years.

    Banerjee, who joined the BJP in 2014 and unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections twice, also said that he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, informing him about his decision to sever all association with the saffron party.

    “I want to work for common people and that isn’t quite possible if I continue to be a part of the BJP,” he told reporters.

    Mentioning that he has been removed from BJP National Executive, Banerjee further said, “My security has also been taken away by the central leadership. I am not a new member; I had joined the party way back in 2014.”

    “I had told Narendra Modi in 2017 that I would want to do more for the organisation. But there was no response. I won’t tolerate more neglect,” he added.

    To a question if he had any plan to join the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee said he hasn’t taken any such decision as yet.

    “All I know is that I would want to work for people,” he iterated.