While the BJP has planned several rallies today, the Congress led by Rahul Gandhi is promoting its manifesto claiming that it can change the face of India.
Tag: Narendra Modi
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Manmohan Singh, the hero of India’s economic liberalisation, bids adieu to Rajya Sabha after three decades
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (91) bid adieu to the Rajya Sabha today, marking the end of his remarkable three-decade-long tenure.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge paid tribute to Singh’s dedicated service, expressing admiration for his unwavering commitment to the nation. Kharge in a post on X wrote, “As you retire today from the Rajya Sabha after having served for more than three decades, an era comes to an end. Very few people can say they have served our nation with more dedication and more devotion than you. Very few people have accomplished as much as you for the nation and its people.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi some time back had also lauded his role as a member of the upper house and said his contributions would never be forgotten. Modi also said that Singh sometimes came to vote while being on a wheelchair, and that he did to strengthen democracy.Singh, who first entered the Rajya Sabha in 1991, served multiple terms and faced a brief hiatus in 2019 before being re-elected from Rajasthan. He held the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2004.
Manmohan Singh’s journey as a Rajya Sabha member began in 1991 following his tenure as the Finance Minister in the Rao government. He secured re-election in 1995, 2001, 2007, and 2013. Despite an unsuccessful attempt in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections from South Delhi, where he was defeated by BJP’s Vijay Kumar Malhotra, Singh maintained his presence in the Rajya Sabha.
Representing Assam for five consecutive terms from October 1, 1991, to June 14, 2019, Singh later resumed his tenure in the House from Rajasthan. Since August 20, 2019, he has represented Rajasthan, with his current term slated to conclude on April 3, 2024. During his tenure, Singh served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha from March 21, 1998, to May 21, 2004. He has often been accused by the BJP for running a government that was marred by corruption. The party had also termed “MaunMohan Singh”, alleging he did not speak out against corrupt leaders in his cabinet. Singh had, however, hoped that “to me than the contemporary media, or for that matter, the opposition parties in Parliament”.Of late, he has has not been keeping good health and has often been seen attending the Rajya Sabha proceedings, especially during crucial voting, on a wheelchair.
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BJP govt subverting democracy and Constitution: Opposition leaders
New Delhi: In a show of strength and unity, the INDIA bloc came together at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on Sunday and blew the poll bugle for Lok Sabha elections with a scathing attack on Narendra Modi government, accusing it of subverting democracy and Constitution.
All major Opposition leaders – Sonia Gandhi, son Rahul, daughter Priyanka, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Uddhav Thackerary, son Aditya, Farooq Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, Champai Soren – came together at ‘Loktantra Bachao Rally’ to press for the release of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jharkhand’s former CM Hemant Soren.
Kejriwal’s March 21 arrest is the immediate trigger for the entire Opposition to come together, but the finer optics of the rally went far beyond. For starters, Trinamool Congress, which could not hammer out a seat-sharing pact with the Congress in West Bengal, came out strongly in support of the INDIA bloc, with leader Derek O’Brien stating that his party “was, is and will be with INDIA bloc”. Sonia, who has been keeping away from most public engagements, made a rare appearance and sat next to Kejriwal’s wife Sunita to show her support. Two chairs were kept empty on the stage for Kejriwal and Soren to emphasise that Opposition leaders’ arrest by central investigative agencies was the central point of the rally.The Opposition put forth following demands to the Election Commission of India: A level playing field before elections, efforts to forcefully scuttle Opposition parties’ finances should be immediately stopped, action by ED, CBI and the Income-Tax department should be stopped and a Supreme Court-monitored special investigation team should probe the electoral bonds scheme.
Wife reads Kejriwal messageThe rally, which was organised by AAP to garner support for its jailed national convenor, saw emotions run high when Sunita carried a message from her husband and read it out. Striking an instant chord with the crowd, she said BJP wanted her husband to resign as CM and asked the crowd if he should. As supporters responded in the negative, Sunita said she believed her husband was a “lion” and “they won’t be able to keep him in jail for too long”. Her voice choked with emotion as she said that though her husband had not taken the permission of other INDIA bloc partners, he wanted to give six guarantees on behalf of the Opposition.
The guarantees included 24×7 power across the country, free electricity to the poor, constructing excellent government schools in every village and neighbourhood, establishing mohalla clinic in every village, ensuring fair price for crops to farmers as given in Swaminathan Commission report and full statehood for Delhi.MODI trying to fix polls: RahulSenior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi warned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was desperately trying to “fix” elections, the way sometimes cricket matches are fixed. Pointing out the way cricket matches are fixed by various methods like appointing umpires of choice, buying out players and intimidating captains, same way Modi appointed election commissioners of his choice, was trying to pressurise judiciary and had jailed two chief ministers, Soren and Kejriwal, just ahead of elections. He said all bank accounts of Congress had been frozen right at the start of the election process in a clear attempt to prevent it from campaigning.
Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray gave a catchy slogan to counter BJP’s call of “is baar chaar sau paar”. He said this time it should be “is baar BJP tadi paar” (throw out BJP this time). Tejashwi said the way BJP was showing confidence that it would cross 400, it seemed that it had already tampered with electronic voting machines (EVMs). The rally came on a day Modi flagged off BJP’s campaign in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh, however, appeared confident. “I have heard that people from Delhi are outside today somewhere. This is an indication of the times to come. People will throw him out of Delhi very soon,” he said.
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2024 Lok Sabha elections: ‘BJP needs to pay Rs 4600 crore in tax if I-T examines them’: Congress after getting 1823 cr notice – The Economic Times Video
Congress treasurer Ajay Maken claimed that BJP will have to pay Rs 4600 crore penalty if the I-T dept examines the ruling party’s financials. This comes after the Income Tax department issued a notice of Rs 1,823.08 crore to Congress, exacerbating the grand old party’s financial concerns. Maken called the I-T notice a premeditated, diabolical campaign against Congress ahead of the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress top brass also slammed the I-T department for ‘inactions’ against the ruling party and targeting the opposition. Watch!
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PM Modi Reaches Out To Lok Sabha Candidates In Bengal, Kerala; Know Why It’s Important For BJP |
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today reached out to BJP candidates of two crucial states – Kerala and Bengal. While the BJP is looking to open its account in Kerala Lok Sabha polls, the party is trying hard to boost its seat count in TMC-ruled West Bengal. The BJP is fighting tooth and nail against the popularity of the TMC led by Mamata Banerjee while in God’s own country Kerala, the saffron party is yet to taste victory in the Lok Sabha polls. Thus, PM Modi’s attempt to speak to the women candidates from both the states is an attempt to boost the morale of the party cadre.
PM Modi’s Speaks To Kerala BJP Candidate
Prime Minister Modi talked to Prof TN Sarasu who is the BJP candidate from the Alathur Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. During the conversation, she informed PM Modi that there is a problem with cooperative banks in Kerala which are governed by the CPI(M) leaders. “They loot the money that the poor people deposited in the bank. They are not getting back their money. So, there is a great complaint from the people here…Could you do something against this?” said Sarasu.
PM Modi then told her, “I am happy that as a candidate, you are taking up the issues of the people. It’s a good thing for any public servant…Yes, I have heard about it. I have some details about it and you are right that a lot of poor people have been affected. Our government will take strict action against everyone involved and we will ensure that the poor get justice…I will take the legal advice and whatever property the ED will attach, if the common man’s money is involved, I will see that every penny should return to the person concerned. We will do that strictly.”
#LISTEN | The conversation between PM Narendra Modi and Prof TN Sarasu, BJP candidate from Alathur in Kerala.
She tells the PM, “…”There is a problem in Kerala with cooperative banks which are governed by the CPI(M) leaders. They loot the money that the poor people deposited… pic.twitter.com/AlpeQOkyNs
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2024PM Modi’s Conversation With Bengal Candidate
Prime Minister Modi also spoke to Rekha Patra, BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Bengal’s Basirhat and one of the Sandeshkhali victims. The senior BJP leader spoke to Patra about her Lok Sabha campaign preparations. While talking to her, PM Modi called her ‘Shakti Swaroopa’. Shakti is a Hinduism term associated with goddesses like Durga and Kali. Patra narrated the ordeal faced by women of Sandeshkhali.
#LISTEN | The conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rekha Patra, a BJP candidate from Basirhat and one of the Sandeshkhali victims.
She says, “…The situation in Sandeshkhali has been a matter of concern since 2011. If we were allowed to vote freely then this… pic.twitter.com/Y4KB7k1OKE
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2024Boosting Cadre’s Morale
The BJP has been galvanising its grassroots cadre in Kerala and West Bengal besides southern states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana. While the BJP has bettered its presence and vote share in Bengal, in Kerala, the saffron party is yet to open its account in the Lok Sabha. There are at least five seats in Kerala where the BJP has increased its vote shares and the party is now looking to translate it into the winning seats. PM Modi’s conversation with the candidates will send out a message that the person sitting on the highest echelons of the BJP is looking after the party candidates. This will boost the cadre’s morale ahead of the voting for the Lok Sabha polls.
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‘India Stands With Russia In Hour Of Grief’: PM Modi Condemns Moscow Concert Hall Attack |
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condemned the terror attack inside a packed concert hall in Moscow on Saturday, calling it a ‘heinous act’ and expressing solidarity with the Russian government and its people. “We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief,” PM Modi posted from his X handle.
We strongly condemn the heinous terrorist attack in Moscow. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims. India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2024
According to reports, a group of armed men stormed into the Crocus City Hall concert venue in Moscow and opened fire and detonated explosives among the crowd on Friday (local time). The ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack at the concert venue complex near Moscow Friday that left at least 60 dead and 145 injured after assailants stormed the venue with guns and incendiary devices, CNN reported.
The terror group claimed responsibility for the attack in a short statement published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram on Friday. However, the ISIS did not provide any evidence to support the claim. Video footage from the site of the attack showed the Crocus City Hall concert venue on fire, with thick, black smoke filling the air.
It also showed scared locals huddling, screaming and ducking behind cushioned seats as gunshots rang out in the vast hall. State-run RIA Novosti reported the armed individuals “opened fire with automatic weapons” and “threw a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which started a fire.” They then “allegedly fled in a white Renault car”, the news agency reported.
The claim by the Islamic State was also confirmed by US officials shortly afterwards, the New York Times reported. The US officials said they had privately apprised Russian officials about the intelligence pointing to an impending attack, the New York Times reported.
The US gathered intelligence in March that Islamic State-Khorasan, known as ISIS-K, the branch of the group based in Afghanistan, had been planning an attack on Moscow, according to officials. ISIS members have been active in Russia, a US official said.
After a period of relative quiet, the Islamic State has been trying to increase its external attacks, according to US counterterrorism officials. Most of those plots in Europe have been thwarted, prompting assessments that the group has diminished capabilities.
The attack on Friday in Moscow, followed by the one in Iran in January, could prompt a reassessment of its ability to strike outside its home territory, according to the NYT.
“ISIS-K has been fixated on Russia for the past two years,” frequently criticising President Vladimir Putin in its propaganda, said Colin P Clarke, a counterterrorism analyst at the Soufan Group, a security consulting firm based in New York. “ISIS-K accuses the Kremlin of having Muslim blood in its hands, referencing Moscow’s interventions in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Syria,” he added.
The US officials said in addition to publicly warning on March 7 about a possible attack, they had privately told Russian officials about the intelligence pointing to an impending attack, the New York Times reported. But, it is not clear how much information Washington gave to the Moscow officials beyond what was in the public warning.
Earlier, the US had also warned Iran of a possible attack ahead of twin bombings in January that killed at least 103 people and wounded 211 others at a memorial service for Iran’s former top general, Qassim Suleimani, who was killed by a US drone strike four years before. ISIS-K claimed responsibility for that attack too.
Meanwhile, regional governor Andrey Vorobyov said everything was being done to save people in what is now the deadliest terror attack on Moscow in decades. A SWAT team was called to the area and more than 70 ambulance teams and doctors were assisting victims.
115 people have been hospitalised, including five children, the Russian Health Ministry told TASS. 60 people are in a ‘serious condition’. Moscow City Duma Chairman Alexey Shaposhnikov called on Moscow residents to donate blood to help treat victims, saying that “this is a matter of life and death for dozens of people,” CNN reported.
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Arvind Kejriwal: “BJP afraid of INDIA bloc”: Jairam Ramesh on arrest of Delhi CM Kejriwal
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday took a jibe at the BJP over the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying it was ‘afraid’ of the INDIA bloc going into the Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking to ANI, Ramesh said, “The arrest of Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren and Delhi Chief Minister is an attack on democracy and our constitution.”
“This is politics of revenge at play. The BJP is afraid of the INDIA alliance. This is an attack on democracy and our constitution,” the Congress leader further said. Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said there is only one thought in the PM’s mind- ‘One Nation No Election’.
“There is only one thought in the Prime Minister’s mind-‘One Nation, No Election’… The entire country is in OPD-One Person Dictatorship,” he added.
Earlier, the BJP’s Delhi president Virendraa Sachdeva said the truth surrounding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s alleged involvement in the liquor scam would soon be revealed.”Law is taking its course…Yesterday he (Arvind Kejriwal) was bargaining in the court that he is the Chief Minister of Delhi, hence he should be given two months but there is a rule of law in the country. The law treats every criminal the same, it is proven today. Soon the truth of Arvind Kejriwal’s involvement in liquor scam will be revealed to everyone,” Sachdeva told ANI.On Friday, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court sent Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28. The probe agency had asked for 10 days remand after arresting the Delhi CM in the alleged Delhi excise policy case.
In its arguments before the court, the ED alleged that the Delhi Chief Minister is the key conspirator and kingpin in demanding kickbacks from businessmen. The agency further claimed that Kejriwal was directly involved in the formation of the excise policy.
The ED counsel claimed that Vijay Nair, who was the media in charge of AAP, was working for Delhi CM Kejriwal. Nair, who the agency said lives adjacent to the residence of Kejriwal, acted as a middleman between the AAP and the South group.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Kejriwal opposed the remand plea and submitted that the agency needs to show the necessity of arrest. Singhvi argued that the power of arrest and the necessity of arrest are two different things.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in the excise policy case on Thursday after the Delhi High Court refused interim protection to Kejriwal from coercive action in connection with the excise policy case.
The case pertains to alleged irregularities and money laundering in framing and implementing the Delhi excise policy case 2022, which was later scrapped.
Two senior AAP leaders, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh, are in judicial custody in the excise policy case. Sisodia, who was the then Delhi Deputy Chief Minister, was arrested by the CBI on February 26 following several rounds of questioning. On October 5, ED arrested Sanjay Singh, who is a Rajya Sabha member.
Kejriwal’s arrest came days after the ED arrested Bharat Rashta Samithi (BRS) leader and daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao K Kavitha, in connection with its investigation into money laundering charges linked to the now-scrapped excise policy. Kavitha is in ED custody till March 23.
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BJP: BJP hits back at Congress, says it is conveniently blaming its irrelevance on financial troubles
BJP chief J P Nadda on Thursday dismissed the Congress’ talk of financial helplessness as “comical”, and said the party can use the money accumulated from “all the scams” that took place during its rule for electioneering. The BJP’s reaction came after former Congress president Sonia Gandhi demanded that the party be given access to its bank accounts to ensure a level playing field for the Lok Sabha polls and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making a systematic effort to cripple the party financially.
In a post on X, Nadda said the Congress is “conveniently blaming” its irrelevance on financial troubles’ while in reality, their bankruptcy is “moral and intellectual, not financial”.
“The Congress is going to be totally rejected by the people and fearing a historic defeat, their top leadership addressed a press conference and ranted against Indian democracy and institutions,” he said Instead of correcting their own errors, the Congress is blaming authorities for their troubles. Be it the ITAT or the Delhi High Court, they have asked the Congress to comply with the rules, pay the taxes due but the party never did so, Nadda said.
“For a party which has looted from every sector, in every state and at every moment of history, to talk of financial helplessness is comical. Congress can use the money accumulated from all their scams starting from jeep to chopper scam via Bofors for their electioneering,” the BJP chief said.
“Congress part time leaders say India being a democracy is a lie- may I humbly remind them that India was not a democracy only for a few months between 1975 and 1977 and that time the Prime Minister of India was none other than Indira Gandhi,” the BJP chief added.
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In Conversation With Ukrainian President Zelensky, Russian President Putin, PM Modi Emphasises On Dialogue For Conflict Resolution
PM Modi reiterated India’s people-centric approach and called for dialogue and diplomacy for the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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Uttar Pradesh: After failed BSP experiment in 2019, SP pins hope on Congress tie-up to stop BJP juggernaut in UP
The coming general election may throw some surprising results in Uttar Pradesh with the SP-BSP alliance now replaced by the SP-Congress pact under the INDIA bloc. The Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance in 2019 had offered some resistance to the BJP on a handful of seats in the western and eastern parts of UP, but failed to make a big impact.
With BSP supremo Mayawati deciding to duke it out alone this time, it will be up to the SP and Congress to stop the marauding juggernaut of the NDA, which has now has RLD on its side, as well as a number of caste-based regional parties in the Poorvanchal region.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and allies won 73 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The party ceded some ground in the 2019 general election, when the opposition parties scraped their combined tally to 16.
Even with the conventional anti-incumbency apprehensions at work, the saffron party laid its claim on the state winning 62 seats, bolstered further by two more won by its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal).
In 2019, the maximum seats — 23 — for the BJP came from the state’s western part, where the SP-BSP alliance could manage to win only four seats each. The BSP won Saharanpur, Bijnor, Amroha and Nagina (SC seat) in the western UP, while the Samajwadi Party emerged victorious in Sambhal, Moradabad, Mainpuri (first held by Mulayam Singh Yadav then by Dimple Yadav in a bypoll) and Rampur that year. The central region of the state has prominent parliamentary constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli — both long considered bastions of the Congress.
In 2019, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi retained her Rae Bareli seat, while her son Rahul Gandhi lost the long held Amethi constituency to Union minister Smriti Irani.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh won from Lucknow.
The BSP won only one seat from this region in Ritesh Pandey, who bagged Ambedkarnagar Lok Sabha constituency. The SP scored a zilch.
The BJP won 13 seats from the region, which includes the coveted Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, the epicentre of a Hindu reverie that drowned parts of the nation in a collective religious fervour after the Ram Temple consecration.
Varanasi, represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha, is one of the 30 seats in the eastern part of the state.
From this region, the BSP won five seats, while the SP won one, Azamgarh. Apna Dal (Sonelal) won two seats from here.
The Bundelkhand region was swept in 2019 by the BJP, which won all four Lok Sabha seats of Jhansi, Banda, Hamirpur, and Jalaun-SC.
The parched Bundelkhand region has been seeing the start of some irrigation projects and its residents getting safe drinking water.
Expressways, new airports in different parts of the UP have narrowed the regional disparity the state has witnessed for a long time.