News Analysis India

Tag: Priyanka Chaturvedi

  • ‘MLAs were misled; We will rebuild the party’

    Express News Service

    Priyanka Chaturvedi is Shiv Sena’s Rajya Sabha member and the party’s national spokesperson. She alleges many Sena MLAs are being “scanned” by various investigating agencies. She claims the party had done everything to address the concerns of Eknath Sinde. She sees only a slim chance of a patch-up now, although CM Uddhav Thackeray will take the final call. Excerpts from an interview with Sudhir Suryawanshi:

    Why such a big migration from Shiv Sena?If you look at the list of the Shiv Sena’s rebel MLAs — Eknath Shinde, Yamini Jadhav, Pratap Sarnaik and others — it would be clear that most of them are under the scanner of Central investigating agencies. They have been told to either join the rebel group or be ready to go to jail. Given the option of surrender or survival, they have preferred the latter. Some MLAs were misled and taken to Thane and Guwahati. They did not understand the legal issues and put their career at stake.

    There are allegations that Uddhav was inaccessible to MLAs…When the Maha Vikas Aghadi shaped up, everyone understood that in the three-party government, there would be issues. We even chalked out the minimum agenda to avoid any conflict. Then the pandemic struck. The state government worked hard and earned admiration. After the pandemic, the CM went for a spinal surgery. It was our job to support him. Eknarth Shinde was given the urban development department that is generally kept with the CM.

    Any chance of a patch up?That call will be taken by Uddhav Thackeray. However, I don’t see any patch-up with Eknath Shinde because he has misled our MLAs. There are some genuine MLAs trapped in Guwahati. They want to return. We are getting phone calls. At least three rebels are in touch with the party leadership.

    Do you believe BJP is behind this?Without BJP’s support, no one will dare to leave Shiv Sena. The BJP has orchestrated this by facilitating resources. In Surat, BJP leaders were seen with Sena MLAs. The hotel arrangements in Surat were made by BJP. They (BJP) arranged a private jet to take the MLAs to Guwahati, and the Assam CM met them. 

    What is the way out now?Shiv Sena has faced such revolts. Our grassroots cadre is with us. They are charged up, as they feel cheated. Last time, despite a big revolt, we came into power twice. As Uddhav Thackeray says, we have to rebuild the party.

  • Provide security to Hindus, migrants in Kashmir: Shiv Sena MP to Amit Shah

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide adequate security to Hindus and migrants in the Kashmir Valley in the light of the recent targeted killings there.

    In a letter to Shah, the Sena leader also sought probe by a competent agency into the killings, adequate compensation to the families of the victims, and a government job for one family member if the victim were the sole breadwinner.

    Chaturvedi also alleged that the Union government had not taken any effective action regarding the recent killings.

    “In view of the current situation in Kashmir, I request you to provide adequate security to the Hindu community in Kashmir.

    Considering the gravity of the situation, I also request you to order an investigation into the recent killings by a competent authority,” the Sena MP wrote.

    Vijay Kumar, a 29-year-old bank manager from Rajasthan, was shot dead by a terrorist of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba organization inside his office in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Thursday, making it the eighth targeted killing in the Kashmir Valley since May 1 and the third of a non-Muslim government employee.

    The killing came barely two days after Rajni Bala, a Hindu woman teacher hailing from Jammu’s Samba district, was shot dead by terrorists at a government school in Gopalpora, Kulgam.

    “Such killings have amplified the feeling of fear and uncertainty among Hindus residing in Kashmir.

    Such targeted attacks on Kashmiri Pandits and migrants raises questions on the implementation of various schemes launched by the Government of India for the development and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants,” Chaturvedi said in the letter.

  • Despite political differences, Priyanka Chaturvedi supported govt stand on oil purchasing from Russia

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Despite political differences, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi came out in support of India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar’s remark on the issue of oil purchasing from Russia given during the 2+2 ministerial talks at Washington.

    Jaishankar had categorically said, “If you are looking at (India’s) energy purchases from Russia, I would suggest your attention should be on Europe. We buy some energy necessary for our energy security. But I suspect, looking at figures, purchase for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon.”

    Sharing these lines of Jaishankar’s remark through her Twitter handle, Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the remark as ‘superb’ from External Affair Minister putting an emoji of applause.

    Jaishankar’s remarks came at a time when many countries including the US, have imposed multiple sanctions on Russia for being in a war against Ukraine.

    Speaking to this newspaper, Chaturvedi on late Tuesday evening said, “Party (Shiv Sena) stands by India at international forums. Country’s interest comes first for us in politics.” Giving thumbs-up to EAM for his brilliant remarks, she further said that the opposition has come together on this issue. “Remember, the opposition has come together on this issue as was obvious in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha discussions on the Ukraine crisis,” she added.

    She also said, “Our differences were with regards to the evacuation of the students stranded in war-hit Ukraine, but as far as the policy for energy security is needed, we are all aligned on the issue.”

  • Have ‘Kashmiri Pandits’ become ‘Kashmiri Migrant Employees’? Centre thinks so

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  Have Kashmiri Pandits become ‘Kashmiri Migrant Employees’ in the eyes of the Government of India?  At a time when there’s a growing sentiment on the plight Kashmiri Pandits fuelled by Bollywood film ‘The Kashmir Files’, the Ministry of Home Affairs has called them ‘Kashmiri Migrant Employees’. 

    In a written reply to a zero-hour question raised by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits on February 4, Nityanand Rai-the minister of state for Home Affairs called “Kashmiri Migrant Employees”.

    The Shiv Sena MP, reacting to Kashmiri Pandits being called ‘Kashmiri Migrant Employees’ said: “The letter speaks of Kashmiri Migrant Employees. Kashmiri Pandits are not migrants sir, Kashmir is their home and they continue to wait to return with dignity and honour”.

    According to the written response received by Chaturvedi, out of 6,000 Transit Accommodations (TAs) approved by the government to house Kashmiri Migrant Employees in Kashmir valley, only 1,025 units have been completed while 1,488 units are in different stages of completion.

    “In the initial phase the private land was to be acquired for construction of these transit accommodations. However, due to cost escalation and time overrun in land acquisition process, Govt of J&K in 2019 to acquire state land with the aim to speed up the construction works,” the ministry noted in the written reply.

    “It is expected that construction will be completed by 2023,” it said. 

    Category ‘Y’ cover for the kashmir files maker

    Film director behind The Kashmir Files Vivek Agnihotri has been given ‘Y’ category security with CRPF commando cover in light of the threats to his security following the release of the film.

  • Expedite return of Kashmiri Pandits living in exile: Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi to Centre

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday asked the government to expedite the construction of transit accommodation units for Kashmiri Pandits and to facilitate their return to the valley.

    Raising the issue of the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits during the Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the Shiv Sena MP said they have been living in exile for 32 years and they continue to be denied the right to return home.

    In 2015, the government had promised to construct 6,000 transit accommodations for Kashmiri Pandits. Unfortunately, as per the department-related parliamentary standing committee of Home Affairs, the work has been progressing slowly, and only 15 per cent of the work has been completed till date, she said.

    “It is unfortunate that despite the government’s big promises, post the removal of Article 370, after allowing people from outside the state to buy land there, Kashmiri Pandits are denied their homes,” the Shiv Sena MP said.

    “…I urge the government to expedite the construction of transit accommodation units and to facilitate the return, rehabilitation, and empowerment of the Kashmiri Pandit community. They have been fighting a battle to go back home for the past 30 years. The government must ensure their safe return and a dignified life for them,” she said.

    In his Zero Hour mention, Binoy Viswam of the Communist Party of India expressed concerns over the privatization of public sector units and said it was creating fear among the people. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Manoj Kumar Jha made a case for states governments and Centre to strengthen the framework of national employment policy.

  • Shiv Sena MP urges Sitharaman to fix special interest rates for senior citizens

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to provide a special interest rate on bank fixed deposits for senior citizens and remove the cap on investments in postal savings scheme and public provident fund.

    In a letter to Sitharaman, Chaturvedi said lower interest rates on savings schemes have left senior citizens with lower retirement funds and put a severe strain on their pockets, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The Union Budget offers the government this opportunity to resolve these concerns and provide relief to the people of our country,” Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra, said.

    “Currently, interest rates are extremely low considering the high inflation. Interest rates in fixed deposits over the years has come down from 12 per cent to five per cent, post offices savings have come down to around seven per cent with a cap of Rs 15 lakh on investments,” she said.

    “In case of PPF, it has a cap of Rs 1.5 lakh only annually. Further, all of these barring the PPF are taxable,” she said, adding lowering of interest rates has made it difficult for senior citizens and retired employees to have sufficient income to run their households.

    Chaturvedi asked Sitharaman to provide a special rate of interest on bank fixed deposits keeping the concerns of senior citizens and retired persons.

    She also requested the finance minister to remove the cap on post office savings scheme and PPF to allow a steady source of secure income to senior citizens keeping in mind the rising cost of living.

    The Rajya Sabha member said the issue of decline in interest rates on small savings schemes such as PPF, senior citizens savings scheme, national savings certificate and post office savings scheme were brought to her notice by senior citizens, non-government retired employees and their associations.

  • Scribe files complaint after her doctored picture uploaded on website to insult Muslim women

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI:  Hours after the shocking incident in which photographs of hundreds of Muslim women were uploaded on a website, a female journalist on Saturday filed a complaint with the Delhi Police against unknown persons demanding action against the people behind the shameless deed.

    The complaint was lodged against unknown persons for allegedly uploading her doctored picture on a website “with the intent of embarrassing and insulting Muslim women”.

    Photographs of reportedly hundreds of Muslim women were uploaded by an unidentified group on the app named ‘Bulli bai’ using GitHub. This comes months after pictures of several Muslim women were uploaded without their consent on an app called “Sulli Deals” to imply that these women were “up for sale”. ‘Sulli’ or ‘Sulla’ is a derogatory slang used to refer to Muslims.

    The journalist shared a copy of the complaint, submitted online at south Delhi’s CR Park police station, on her Twitter handle.

    The woman, who works with an online news portal, sought immediate registration of an FIR and investigation against the unknown set of people who are “seeking to harass and insult Muslim women” on social media and the internet.

    “I was shocked to find out this morning that a website/portal (since deleted) had a doctored picture of me in an improper, unacceptable and clearly lewd context. This needs immediate action, as the same is clearly designed to harass me and other similarly situated independent women and journalists,” the complaint stated.

    “I enclose snapshots of the said tweet directed at me herein as well as of other tweets. The term ‘Bulli bai’ itself seems disrespectful and the content of this website/portal (bullibai.github.io) is clearly aimed at insulting Muslim women as the derogatory term ‘Bulli’ is used exclusively for Muslim women and the entire website seems to have been designed with the intent of embarrassing and insulting Muslim women,” she said.

    The Delhi Police has responded on Twitter and said that the matter has been taken cognisance of.

    “Concerned officials have been directed to take appropriate action,” the police said in the tweet.

    Earlier in July, a case was registered by the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police after it received a complaint about an unidentified group uploading photos of Muslim women on an app.

    Delhi Police PRO, Chinmoy Biswal, had said, “Acting on a complaint received on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal regarding ‘Sulli Deals’ mobile application, a case under section 354-A of the Indian Penal Code has been registered on Wednesday and investigation taken up.

    Priyanka Chaturvedi, an MP from Maharashtra’s ruling Shiv Sena, said a probe had also been launched in Mumbai.

    (With PTI inputs.)

  • After Priyanka Chaturvedi, Tharoor now steps down as Sansad TV host in protest against suspension of Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Expressing solidarity with the 12 suspended Rajya Sabha MPs, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday said he has decided to suspend hosting of a talk show on Sansad TV until the suspension of the legislators is revoked and a “semblance of bipartisanship restored to the conduct of Parliament”.

    Tharoor has been hosting the talk show “To The Point” on Sansad TV.

    “I believed that my accepting Sansad TV’s invitation to host a show was in the best traditions of India’s parliamentary democracy, reaffirming the principle that our political differences did not prevent us, as Members of Parliament, from participating fully in various parliamentary institutions which belong to us all,” the MP from Thiruvananthapuram said.

    “However, the prolonged suspension of 12 MPs from the Rajya Sabha, expelled in an arbitrary manner for actions committed during a previous session, has called into question the very assumption of a bipartisan spirit animating the work of Parliament,” he said.

    ALSO READ | ‘Can’t continue when my oath to Constitution denied to me’: Priyanka Chaturvedi quits from anchoring Sansad TV show

    Tharoor said that in solidarity with the protesting MPs, he has decided to suspend hosting of the talk show “To the Point” on Sansad TV until such time as the suspensions of MPs are revoked and a “semblance of bipartisanship restored to the conduct of Parliament and the functioning of Sansad TV”.

    His statement comes a day after Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who is among the 12 suspended Rajya Sabha MPs, said she has stepped down as the anchor of the Sansad TV’s show “Meri Kahaani”.

    The 12 opposition MPs — six from the Congress, two each from the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena, and one each from the CPI and CPI(M) — were suspended from the Rajya Sabha last Monday for the entire Winter Session of Parliament for their “unruly” conduct in the previous session in August.

    The Opposition has termed the suspension as “undemocratic and in violation of all the Rules of Procedure” of the Upper House.

  • Shashi Tharoor, Priyanka Chaturvedi turn interviewers for Sansad TV with individual shows

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: They are articulate, erudite and much sought after for their opinions by the media and also others. Now, Opposition MPs Shashi Tharoor and Priyanka Chaturvedi are moving to the other side of the mic as hosts for their own shows on the newly launched Sansad TV.

    Politics in all likelihood will be off the table when Congress’ Tharoor hosts “To The Point” and Shiv Sena’s Chaturvedi anchors “Meri Kahani”, both posing questions instead of answering them. While Tharoor’s show will be about candid conversations with eminent personalities, Chaturvedi’s programme will have women MPs share their journeys.

    “I have interviewed actor Michael Douglas and a couple of others for United Nations Television, so I cannot claim to be totally inexperienced as an anchor, but it’s a refreshing change to find myself asking the questions rather than answering them!” Tharoor told PTI.

    “It is an interesting space to be in as you control the narrative. You can ask the questions you want to from the guests,” Chaturvedi added. Other star hosts on the channel that seeks to break stereotypes include economist Bibek Debroy, the government’s principal economic advisor Sanjeev Sanyal and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched Sansad TV, created by merging Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV, jointly with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The decision to merge Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV was taken in February, and the CEO of Sansad TV appointed in March.

    The new channel and its programmes have piqued the curiosity of viewers and the spotlight for the moment is on the two MPs known for speaking their mind, to the media and on social media platforms.

    According to officials, sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan will be among the guests on Tharoor’s show, while Chaturvedi’s show is set to have Indian classical dancer and MP Sonal Mansingh as a guest.

    Tharoor, Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram and chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on information technology, said “‘To The Point’ was conceived as a show that will go “in depth into the life and work of the subject in a non-confrontational, easy-flowing conversational style”.

    Asked about the role reversal, the former UN under secretary general known for his candidness as an interviewee, said the guests are chosen by Sansad TV producers and they have made it clear they wish to avoid political controversy. “However, once the guests are chosen I have a free hand in conducting the conversation as I see fit,” Tharoor said.

    Elaborating on the specifics, he said, “Once we have a half-dozen shows ‘in the can’ and are ready to unveil them to the world at large, the audience will get to see how well it works — and then we might be able to widen the range of interviewees!” Chaturvedi said her programme focuses on talking to other women MPs about their journey to Parliament, where they began and how they manage to give time to their families as well as their parliamentary work.

    Asked how difficult it would be to steer clear of politics, she said maybe not too much. “As one woman speaking to another woman, we understand the challenges, the difficulties, the barriers and how they managed families with work etc. We are not talking about political parties, we are talking about them,” the Shiv Sena MP added.

    She admitted that it was a bit difficult to move to the other side of the mic. “Especially allowing them to do make-up, because that was not something I was personally keen on being a participant to, but I have a hard taskmaster in the producer of the show who tells me what to do in terms of look etc,” she said.

    Chaturvedi said she asked Sonal Mansingh about her life as a dancer and challenges she faces in one of the episodes. Also gracing the channel would be former MP and senior Congress leader Karan Singh who will host a show on different religions.

    The line up of other shows has also given an indication that this will be a completely different set up from Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV and it seeks to break the stereotype by getting MPs involved in programming.

    The actor tweeted that a full documentary on actor-turned-politician Hema Malini’s constituency of Mathura and her involvement as an MP would also be broadcast on Sansad TV. It is not just MPs who will be donning new roles on Sansad TV.

    Top officials will do so too. Kant, the CEO of the government’s public policy think-tank NITI Aayog, will be seen talking about “India’s growth story” on the show “Transforming India”, and Sanyal turns ‘sutradhar’ for the show “Economic Sutra”, which will explain government policies and economic strategies.

    According to the PMO, Sansad TV programming will primarily be in four categories — functioning of Parliament and democratic institutions, governance and implementation of schemes, policies, history and culture of India, and issues, interests, concerns of contemporary nature.

    Retired IAS officer and former Textile Ministry secretary Ravi Capoor is CEO of the channel while the Joint Secretary in Lok Sabha Secretariat Manoj Arora is the OSD.

    Launching the channel, Modi on Wednesday said Parliament is not only about politics but policy too and noted that content is about “connect” that is as much applicable to the parliamentary system as to the media.

    He said it is very important that the common man connects with Parliament and feels he is part of it. The new channel adds another important chapter in the country’s parliamentary system, Modi said.

  • COVID-19: Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi calls for vaccination of religious leaders

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which she called for framing of guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination of religious leaders and saints in India.

    In the letter, also addressed to Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member and party spokesperson said most of the religious heads and saints are senior citizens and are not able to get vaccinated since they may not have Aadhaar card or are not techno-savvy to get themselves registered for it.

    “They may want to get vaccinated voluntarily, but do not have documents for the same. Some saints of specific religions are always on the move on foot,” she wrote.

    “While they adhere to their religious duties which they have dedicated their life for, it is imperative to keep them safe from any risk of COVID-19,” she wrote and sought a directive to the officials to frame guidelines on the issue.