News Analysis India

Tag: NDA

  • Opposition attacks CM Nitish Kumar for Bihar Covid death tally anomalies

    Express News Service
    PATNA:  Inconsistency in the reporting of deaths due to Covid-19 in Bihar has become ammunition for the Opposition to attack the NDA government with. After a recount, it was found that 3,951 deaths were not mentioned in earlier reports. These have now been added to the official tally.

    Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav of RJD and Congress spokespersons trained their guns at the government, saying that the actual death tally is still not in public domain. Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Yadav said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his government are lying. “Nitish ji, do not lie so much that you end up getting buried under the heap of lies,” he tweeted.

    Yadav alleged that the state government has been concealing the real number of deaths. “The number of deaths is 20 times higher than what this government is saying. If the Nitish government is fake, its statistics will also be fake,” he said in another tweet.

    Congress leader Dr Madan Mohan Jha also alleged that more deaths from Covid-19 have occurred, which are not mentioned in the official count. Sources in the medical fraternity said a huge number of deaths took place in private hospitals and on way to hospitals in rural areas. These were not reported in the official count. Additional Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit had said on Wednesday action would be taken against the responsible.

  • Between perfomance and politics, turmoil surfaces within NDA in Bihar

    Express News Service
    PATNA: The Hindustani Awami Morch (HAM), one of the constituents of Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government, on Wednesday demanded the formation of ‘Coordination Committee’ within the NDA.

    This was a telling sign that all is not well with the ruling alliance.

    This comes few days after State BJP chief Dr Sanjay Jaiswal expressed his displeasure on the functioning of district administration in preventing crimes against Dalit by a particular section of people in the state.

    With this mind, the HAM stirred up politics within the NDA in Bihar with the demand for Coordination Committee.

    “We’ve demand to form coordination committee to sort out any kind of grievances within the NDA internally instead of going in public through media or other channels of communication,” Danish Rizwan-spokesperson of HAM said, adding that those who are trying to create confusion will be exposed.

    He said that whosoever from NDA making statements are giving a chance to the opposition for slamming the state government.

    Over the last few weeks, leaders of NDA constituents including JDU and BJP have tweeted contrary statements against each other.

    Earlier, Upendra Kushwaha had also tweeted in sarcastic tone on Jaiswal and asking PM Modi to follow what Nitish Kumar had done by granting reservation to girls in medical and engineering college admission.

    When another BJP leader Janak Ram also raised a voice against crimes perpetuated by some people of a particular community, the HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi had indirectly attacked on him tweeting that no one should attempt to disturb the cordial social bonding of Dalit and the minority people.

    “The Dalit-Muslims of the state are united. Those who are feeling pain in their stomach due to Dalit-Muslim unity, are raising their fingers on the Bihar government. In Bihar, the law is doing its job,” Manjhi said.

    The BJP leaders had alleged that atrocities on Dalits by Muslims in Purnia, Champaran, Gopalganj and Jamui were on the rise. The BJP minister in the government, Janak Ram, had said that the conversion of Mahadalits is being done in Gopalganj and Jamui.

    Sources from the NDA said that differences within the NDA particularly between BJP and the JDU are cropping up over many issues.

    The differences have widened further after the release of report of NITI Aayog in which Bihar has been ranked at worst in performance. The BJP leaders, trying to console Nitish Kumar, are saying that developments have taken place under his leadership but JDU is attributing the worst state performance to lack of special status to Bihar on the part of the union government.

    BJP leader and national general secretary of OBC wing Dr Nikhil Anand on being asked about the HAM demand said that the NDA is working on common agenda of crime and corruption free sustainable development of the state.

    “Nitish Kumar is excellently leading the state and coordinating well with all the alliance partners. There is no significance on the statement of any individual,” he added.

    But sources from NDA noted that the HAM had created division in the UPA also on the issue of formation of Coordination committee.

    Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav taking advantages of growing ruckus within the NDA termed the Nitish Kumar led government as a fungus imposed by the Election commission on Bihar in November.

    Reacting against Tejashwi statement, Dr Anand said, “If Tejashwi Yadav is saying Nitish Kumar government is a fungus, what is Tejashwi himself? He is a Chinese virus!” he said.

  • Pappu Yadav’s arrest reveals NDA faultlines as allies slam Nitish

    Express News Service
    PATNA:  The arrest of Jan Adhikar Party chief and Madhepura ex-MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav in Patna on Tuesday laid bare the fault lines in the NDA, with two important allies the Hindustan Awami Morcha (HAM) and the Vikashsheel Inssan Party (VIP) launching a scathing attack on incumbent Nitish Kumar.

    Pappu Yadav was arrested by the Patna police for violating lockdown guidelines by visiting the Patna Medical College Hospital without obtaining e-pass.

    He was later handed over to the Madhepura police. Yadav has been actively helping the Covid across the state and visiting hospitals to assess the infrastructure.  

    A couple of days ago, he had a spat with BJP Chapra MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy over dozens of ambulances lying idle at Saran.

    The Amnour police had lodged an FIR against him for allegedly damaging some ambulances at Vishwa Prabha Community Centre.

    Expressing his displeasure, ex-CM and HAM chief Jitan Ram Manjhi said: “If a public representative is arrested for serving public then it sets a dangerous precedent for humanity.”

    Had his arrest followed a judicial enquiry fixing responsibility, it would have been alright. However, such highhandedness may rightly spark public outrage.

    Soon after Manjhi’s reaction, minister of fisheries and animal husbandry and VIP chief Mukesh Sahni, too, voiced his concern.

    “Instead of motivating people to offer selfless service, arresting selfless workers like Pappu Yadav comes across as insensitive,” he said.

    Yadav’s arrest had elicited sharp response from the Opposition camp as well.

    Soon after Yadav’s arrest, his supporters created a ruckus outside the Gandhimaindan police station in Patna.

    They cried foul over his handing over to the Madhepura police. 

  • Himanta Biswa Sarma to take oath as Assam Chief Minister on May 10

    Express News Service
    GUWAHATI: Ending days of uncertainty, the BJP on Sunday named party strongman Himanta Biswa Sarma as its Assam chief ministerial candidate.

    The decks were cleared after he was elected as the leader of BJP legislature party in the presence of central observers including Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, BL Santhosh, Arun Singh and Vaijyanta Panda.

    The name of Sarma was proposed by outgoing CM Sarbananda Sonowal and seconded by BJP state chief and MLA Ranjeet Kumar Dass and MLA Nandita Garlosa.

    “As no other name was proposed, Sarma was elected unanimously as the BJP legislature party leader,” Tomar said.

    ALSO READ | Sonowal to be a guide, grateful to PM for support: Himanta Biswa Sarma

    Later in the evening, Sarma along with Sonowal and other leaders of BJP-led alliance met Governor Jagdish Mukhi and submitted a list of legislators to him, staking claim to form the government. The alliance of BJP, Asom Gana Parishad and United People’s Party Liberal had bagged a combined 75 seats in the 126-member House.

    Sarma as well as some ministers will be administered the oath of office and secrecy on Monday. Outgoing CM Sonowal tendered his resignation to the Governor, but was asked to continue in office till the new government is installed.

    Earlier in the day, Sarma visited Sonowal and left in the same vehicle to attend the BJP legislature party meeting. Later, both posed together for photos.

    On Saturday, the duo had rushed to Delhi in a chartered flight after being summoned by the party’s central leaders who met them separately before meeting them together at party chief JP Nadda’s residence.

    Sonowal accepted the transition with a smile.

    Speaking after a meeting of NDA legislature party, he highlighted how the BJP government had managed to restore peace in the state.

    “The government had managed to restore peace and ensure progress and security. People’s faith and trust in us increased as evident from this victory. Given his long experience, I am confident Mr Himanta Biswa Sarma will be able to deliver,” Sonowal said.

    READ HERE | Himanta Biswa Sarma: Chief architect of BJP’s success in Northeast

    Sarma said Assam had seen value-based politics in the last five years under Sonowal. He said there are some dark spots in the moon but Sonowal’s tenure was spotless.

    “We will march ahead by following in his (Sonowal’s) footsteps. I promise the new government will maintain value-based politics. Sonowal was our leader and he will remain so,” Sarma said.

    He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing faith in him.

    “How enormously blessed I feel Hon PM Sri @narendramodi for your faith in me. This is the biggest day in my life, and I so fondly cherish your generous affection. I assure you we shall leave no stone unturned to carry forward your vision of taking Assam, & NE to greater heights,” Sarma tweeted.

    He was prepared for this moment. He did all that he could to retain the attention of party’s central leaders. Even before other parties launched their election campaign, he had taken out rallies and organised roadshows across the state with thousands of BJP workers and supporters to prove his popularity.

    His filing of nomination was a gala affair. Several thousand supporters accompanied him. Manipur CM N Biren Singh and BJP’s two central leaders were also present. Sonowal’s was a low-key affair.

    The BJP got strengthened in Assam and Northeast ever since Sarma deserted the Congress and wore saffron. It was he who hoisted the BJP flag across the region and was rightly rewarded. 

  • Goa Forward Party withdraws from BJP-led NDA citing ‘anti-Goan’ policies by state government

    By PTI
    PANAJI: The Goa Forward Party walked out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Tuesday, citing “anti-Goan policies” of the BJP-led state government.

    However, the move of the GFP, which has 3 MLAs in the 40-member Goa House, will not have any impact on the stability of the Pramod Sawant government in the state since the Vijai Sardesai-led party is not a ruling constituent.

    The GFP extended support to the NDA in 2017 to facilitate the formation of the then BJP-led state government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar.

    After Parrikar’s death in 2019, the alliance soured when three GFP ministers were dropped from the Pramod Sawant- led government.

    The GFP’s state executive committee and political affairs committee met in Panaji on Tuesday.

    Later, GFP president Vijai Sardesai, in a formal letter to senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, conveyed the party’s decision to withdraw from the NDA.

    “I write to you today formally declaring the Goa Forward Party’s withdrawal from the National Democratic Alliance.

    There is no doubt that our relationship with the NDA ended in July 2019, with no room for reconsideration,” Sardesai said in the letter.

    He claimed that in the last two years, the BJP has repeatedly introduced “anti-Goan policies” in every session of the state Legislative Assembly.

    Since July 2019, the BJP’s Goa leadership has turned its back on the people of the state who looked ahead with hope to the prospect of all-round development, the GFP alleged.

    Parrikar’s death brought Goa to despair, ushering in a period of rampant corruption and dishonesty, it said.

    The GFP has pointed out the state government’s alleged failure in handling various issues, such as three linear projects, the Mahadayi river water dispute, and other matters.

    The Sardesai-led party said it is fully committed to consistently and selflessly work to safeguard, protect and preserve Goa’s culture, people and heritage.

  • Don’t mess with numerically stronger NDA: Nitish warns Opposition

    By PTI
    PATNA: Enraged over the day-long rumpus created by the opposition on the previous day, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday warned the Grand Alliance against provoking the ruling NDA which was numerically stronger.

    Kumar made the remark inside the legislative council where he rose to intervene when MLCs of the opposition coalition led by RJD tried to create a ruckus over the previous day’s happenings inside the assembly.

    The Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021, which had led to the day-long drama on Tuesday, was presented and being debated inside the Upper House a day later when Grand Alliance members made noises about the “high handed” manner in which MLAs were thrown out of the assembly a day earlier.

    Quivering with rage, the 70 years old chief minister screamed at the top of his voice “the entire public saw what goondaism took place yesterday. They will give you a befitting reply”.

    Waving an angry finger at Congress MLCs, Kumar said they seemed to have lost their sense of propriety following their long association with Lalu Prasads party which has often been accused of rowdyism.

    He also said “do not forget that we are greater in number than you are. Yesterday, people of this side sat quietly, maintaining decorum, while you were engaging in mischief. Be mindful of the consequences”.

    In the 243-member assembly, the ruling NDA has 126 MLAs besides it enjoys the support of an Independent.

    The opposition has 110 legislators while AIMIM has 5 and one MLA is from LJP.

    In the 75-member legislative council, the ruling coalition has overwhelming numbers.

    Later, talking to reporters, Kumar expressed displeasure over the opposition accusing him directly of having called the police, on Tuesday, inside to help marshals physically evict the most unruly of the opposition MLAs.

    “It is the Speakers prerogative to requisition whatever resources he deems necessary to maintain order inside the premises.

    “Whatever happened yesterday was unusual but has there been any other instance, in any state legislature, of the Speaker having been held hostage”, Kumar asked.

    He also deplored the opposition indulging in acts like tearing up documents and throwing shreds of paper towards the Chair besides clambering atop the speakers dais to physically prevent him from running the House.

    Asked about the intention expressed by speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha that action might be taken against those MLAs whose behaviour was found most objectionable, the chief minister replied “the government has nothing to do with that.

    “If the speaker deems it fit, he will take action in accordance with rules. We will neither egg him on nor try to restrain him”.

  • SC notice to Centre on plea raising issue of exclusion of female candidates from joining NDA

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Wednesday sought responses from the Centre and others on a plea which has raised the issue of exclusion of eligible and willing female candidates from joining the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) solely on the ground of sex which allegedly is a violation of the fundamental right of equality.

    The plea has sought a direction to the concerned authorities to allow eligible female candidates to appear in the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination’ and train at the NDA.

    A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde issued notices to the Centre, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and others seeking their responses on the plea which said “the categorical exclusion of eligible female candidates from entering the National Defence Academy is not constitutionally justifiable and is simply done on the basis of their sex.”

    The bench, also comprising justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, allowed a separate application filed by a Uttar Pradesh based woman seeking impleadment in the matter.

    The plea filed by advocate Kush Kalra has referred to the February last year landmark verdict in which the apex court had directed that women officers in the Army be granted permanent commission and command postings.

    The plea said that authorities allow unmarried male candidates having adequate 10+2 qualification to take the “National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination’, but eligible and willing female candidates are not allowed to take the examination on the sole ground of their sex and without any reasonable or justifiable explanations within the four corners of the Constitution.

    It alleged that this act of discrimination is a “dishonour committed” by the concerned authorities to the constitutional values of equality and non-discrimination.

    “The act of the respondents to categorically exclude eligible and willing female candidates from appearing for the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination over the years, solely on the ground of sex, is a violation of the fundamental right of equality before the law and equal protection of the law,” it said.

    It said that eligible female candidates having adequate 10+2 level of education are denied the opportunity to take the examination on the ground of their sex and the consequence of this denial is that they do not have access to any mode of entry to join the armed forces as officers at this level.

    “Whereas, equally and similarly situated male candidates with 10+2 level of education have the opportunity to take the examination and after qualifying join the National Defence Academy to get trained to be commissioned as permanent commissioned officers in the Indian armed forces,” the plea said.

    “The categorical exclusion of women to train at the National Defence Academy and get commissioned into the armed forces of the country as permanent commissioned officers solely on the basis of their sex is a denial of the fundamental right to practice any profession and it is not justifiable within the contours of the Indian Constitution,” it said.

    It said that UPSC conducts the ‘National Defence Academy & Naval Academy Examination’ and as per eligibility criteria, any unmarried male candidate with the required educational qualification and aged between 15-18 years can appear in it.

    It said that the candidate, on qualifying the exam and on successful completion of training at the NDA and subsequent training at the respective academy of the service the cadet opts for, gets commissioned into the service as a permanent commissioned officer by the age of 19-22 years old.

    “This opportunity to take the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy Examination at the age of 15-18 years, with the eligible academic qualifications is not available to eligible and willing female candidates and the sole reason for this categorical exclusion is on the basis of their sex,” the plea said.

    It claimed that duration of training for the Short Service Commission women officers is very less compared to the training that a male permanent commission officer, who gets entry through the NDA, gains.

    The plea alleged that denying equal opportunity under the law by not allowing eligible and willing female candidates to appear in the examination “should not be used to perpetuate and continue the legal, social and economic inferiority of women.”

    “Therefore, the state, having control over the opportunity to allow women entry into the National Defence Academy have no constitutional right to exclude eligible and qualified individuals from joining the National Defence Academy, getting trained in the most premier institute of military education and training in the country and developing and transforming themselves into inspiring and motivating leaders in the armed forces solely based on the wrong and flawed notions of gender roles and weaker sex perpetuated by the society,” the plea said.

  • NDA partners appeal to workers for united fight in Assam assembly election

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: NDA constituents in Assam on Sunday appealed to workers to help each other to ensure the victory of the BJP-AGP-UPPL alliance in the wake of protests by a section of supporters after announcement of seat-sharing and ticket distribution in the poll-bound state.

    Addressing a joint press conference here, the presidents of the three parties accepted that ground level workers are “slightly dissatisfied” which is “natural” in an alliance.

    “Workers of every party want leaders to contest from their areas. They also want inclusion of more candidates from their parties. But in an alliance, we have to accept give- and-take understanding,” BJP Assam chief Ranjeet Kumar Dass said.

    The aim of the BJP-led alliance is to win over 100 seats in the election to the 126-member assembly and it will be achieved with the help of its allies — the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and the United People’s Party Liberal (UPPL), he said.

    “I appeal to all BJP workers to help the AGP in their 26 seats and UPPL in their eight seats, which were allotted as per the understanding. BJP workers should consider AGP and UPPL as one party and help them,” Dass said.

    Workers of the saffron party and the AGP have protested in over 10 places across the northeastern state following the announcement of the seat-sharing arrangement among the NDA partners and publication of the first list of BJP candidates.

    Already many leaders have switched their loyalty from the BJP to the Congress and from the AGP to the saffron party while several others are planning to do so in the coming days.

    Dass said, BJP workers are dedicated and the dissatisfaction of some of them due to ticket distribution will not have any impact on the poll outcome.

    AGP president Atul Bora said, the party joined hands with the BJP to defeat the Congress-AIUDF alliance and that is why all his party workers should work for the victory of NDA candidates in Assam.

    “After Independence, the Congress was in power for the maximum number of years in Assam and it ruined the state. So, people gave us a chance in 2016. If we get one more term, then Assam will be among the top states in India,” he added.

    UPPL chief Pramod Boro said, peace has returned to Bodoland areas because of the NDA government in the state and winnability is always more important than a particular individual.

    The Congress has formed an alliance with the AIUDF, BPF, CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), and the Anchalik Gana Morcha (AGM) against the ruling BJP-led NDA.

    The first phase of polling in Assam is on March 27 for 47 seats, second on April 1 for 39 seats, and third on April 6 for 40 seats.

  • Will Upendra Kushwaha return to NDA? Former union minister refuses to reveal cards

    By PTI
    PATNA: Former union minister Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday kept his cards close to the chest when asked about his much-speculated return to the NDA, but said the “future course” will be announced after a meeting of his Rashtriya Lok Samata Party scheduled next week.

    The RLSP chief dodged queries about his numerous meetings, in the recent past, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his former mentor, whom he had revolted against a decade ago quitting the JD(U) and charting out his own path.

    Kumar, on his part, replied with a cryptic “lets see” when he was asked elsewhere by journalists about the cornered Kushwahas possible return under his wing.

    Kushwaha, who celebrated his partys ninth foundation day, told reporters “our partys national and state executives will meet here on March 13-14. The future course will be decided thereafter”.

    About his meetings with the chief minister, he quipped with a tinge of mischief “why do you want to stop me from meeting him”.

    However, to a pointed query about reports in a section of the media that the RLSP was all set to “merge” with the JD(U), Kushwaha said testily “it is you people who write such stuff. Only you can shed more light on this”.

    When pointed out that veteran JD(U) leader Vashishtha Narayan Singh has also said that Kushwaha was all set for a return to the NDA, Kushwaha replied “he is a senior leader. I cannot comment on him. I can speak about only what I have myself said in the past”.

    Kushwaha, who was then a JD(U) Rajya Sabha member, had parted ways in 2013 and floated his own outfit.

    The BJP, which was in search of allies in Bihar after being dumped by Nitish Kumar, readily accepted the RLSP into its fold a year later.

    The fledgling party won all the three Lok Sabha seats it contested, riding the Modi wave and Kushwaha, elected from Karakat, won a berth in the Union council of ministers.

    He grew uneasy in the NDA a few years later and crossed over to the Grand Alliance on the eve of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, quitting his ministerial berth.

    The five-party grand alliance fared miserably in the elections and the RLSP chief, who also suffered the mortification of both his MLAs and sole MLC joining the JD(U), burnt his bridges with the Congress-RJD combine ahead of the assembly polls last year.

    He fought the elections as part of an alliance comprising, among others, Asaduddin Owaisis AIMIM and Mayawatis BSP.

    The RLSP drew a blank though its leader was declared the “Chief Ministerial candidate”.

    Kushwaha and Kumar are understood to have agreed upon a mutually beneficial realignment.

    The RLSP chief badly needs an opportunity to come out of political wilderness.

    The chief minister, who has been outperformed by the BJP in elections, is now busy consolidating his grip over the “Luv Kush” combination, a colloquial term for OBC Kurmis and Koeris who have stood by Kumars side in the worst of times.

  • Amit Jogi will join NDA? RPI supremo Ramdas Athawale invited

    Janata Congress Chhattisgarh state president Amit Jogi met RPI supremo Ramdas Athawale in Mumbai today. Meanwhile, Athawale invited Amit Jogi to join the NDA.
    Amit Jogi said that JCCJ is India’s most recognized regional party. You will learn from the experience of others to gain power through struggle. He said that coordination and harmony with all other like-minded regional parties will give strength to the neglected people of Chhattisgarh. Amit Jogi invited Ramdas Athawale to visit Chhattisgarh soon.