News Analysis India

Tag: Uttar Pradesh

  • Farm laws: Damage control bid in poll-bound states, say political analysts and Opposition leaders

    By Express News Service

    For BJP, PM Narendra Modi’s big heart could have prompted the repeal of three contentious farm laws. For political analysts and Opposition leaders, it is simply a matter of electoral arithmetic. This holds especially true in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh and its spillover effect in Punjab elections.

    In western UP, 16 districts comprise 136 Assembly seats out of the total of 403. Jat votes in these districts, which consolidated after the 2013 riots in BJP’s favour, have disintegrated. That means the Jats, an aggressive section of the farmer stir, are going back again with the Muslims against BJP — a grim warning for the party.

    Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was blunt in his reaction. “The repeal symbolises the defeat of an individual’s ego, which has been prompted by the fear of losing 2022 polls. They’ll bring the same laws after elections.”

    Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi said, “Why is the PM apologising now when 600-700 farmers have lost their lives? It is because (BJP’s) internal surveys have warned them of defeat in polls,” she said in LucknowSome analysts term it as the PM’s masterstroke to deny the Opposition any chance to gain an edge in the polls.

    They say the formidable Jat-Muslim votes would now stand divided to BJP’s advantage. In Punjab, political analyst Prof Ashutosh of Punjab University says BJP can now hope to have some kind of presence in the polls. “They would co-opt farmer leaders to preempt a backlash in the polls.”

    Another political observer, Prof Kuldeep Singh says the decision would enable the Centre to have wider consultations with various farmer unions, something the government should have done earlier. “In the process, BJP would like to take credit for the decision and make a fresh beginning in Punjab after losing support.

    The saffron party faces isolation in Punjab after it parted ways with the Akalis following enactment of the laws. Many say the poll dynamics would change with former CM Amarinder Singh going ahead with seat adjustment with the BJP.

    In Uttarakhand, stakes are high for BJP. Jay Singh Rawat, a political commentator, said, “The repeal will have its effects in US Nagar where a sizable population of farmers supported the protests.” The Bajpur seat in the US Nagar district is considered a stronghold of former state minister Yashpal Arya. He was a cabinet minister for BJP and joined Congress last month.

    Harpreet Bajwa (Chandigarh), Vineet Upadhyay (Dehradun), ENS (Lucknow)

  • Caste census on PM Narendra Modi’s government agenda next?

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Will the Narendra Modi government bite the bullet to go ahead with a nationwide caste census? Yes, feel insiders from the NDA constituents. Like the decision to repeal the farm laws, the ruling dispensation is said to be mulling over a rethink on the contentious issue of caste census ahead of the polls in states including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

    “A deep consideration to review the BJP stand on the nationwide caste census is going on. If everything goes well after considering all pros and cons, the BJP-led government may take another dramatic decision on it soon,” a party insider says, adding that the inputs received on the BJP’s stand have not been favourable.

    In September, the central government had ruled out the possibility of a caste-based census through the Census-2021 exercise. After sustained attack by opposition parties and unease among its alliance parties, the BJP had shifted the onus of conducting such exercise on state government. 

    Given that Friday’s announcement to set aside the three agriculture laws is the second major volte face of the government after it put land acquisition on hold in 2015, the sources indicate that there may be an announcement of a caste census with the caveat of being again voted to power after 2024 general elections.

    Those in the know from the NDA admit that the latest decision was taken in the wake of the Lakhimpur-Kheri episode. The decision to repeal the farm laws in principle was taken soon after former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, they say.

    “It may have been Amarinder’s condition for a pre-poll alliance or because of mounting pressure from the Opposition and farmers. Or, it may be because of the unfavourable inputs the party had received in its internal survey. But it is a strategic move ahead of the polls in five states,” said a senior NDA leader.

    Incidentally, the PM’s announcement to repeal the farm laws caught its allies in Bihar by surprise. “It was his (Modi) decision to bring the laws and again it is his decision to repeal. What can we comment on it?” said Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

  • Man killed in celebratory firing in Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah: Police

    A 'tilakotsav' ceremony was going on in Nagla Khushali village when one Brijesh Kumar fired a shot from a country-made weapon and the bullet hit Kamlesh in the chest.

  • Lakhimpur violence: UP agrees to SC suggestion on monitoring of SIT probe by ex-judge

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday agreed to the Supreme Court suggestion that a former judge of its choice may be appointed to supervise the state SIT’s probe on day-to-day basis into the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which eight people including four farmers were killed on October 3.

    A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana also raised the issue of low-rank police officers being engaged in the SIT probe and sought names of the IPS officers who are of the UP cadre but not natives of the state, for being included in investigation team.

    The bench, also comprising justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, said that it will have to take the consent of the judge concerned and will consider names of even former apex court and high court judges for monitoring the probe in the sensational case and pronounce the same on Wednesday.

    While consenting, senior advocate Harish Salve said that the state has no issues with the apex court appointing a former judge of its choice to monitor the probe, but the point that he should not be a native of Uttar Pradesh should not bear in the mind as the person concerned is a relevant factor.

    The apex court, on November 8, had expressed dissatisfaction over the probe and suggested that to infuse “independence, impartiality and fairness, in the ongoing investigation, a former judge of a “different high court, should monitor it on day-to-day basis.

    The bench had also said that it has no confidence and does not want the one-member judicial commission appointed by the state to continue probe into the case.

    Retired Allahabad High Court judge Justice Pradeep Kumar Srivastava was named by the state government to enquire into the eruption of violence on Tikonia-Banbirpur road in Lakhimpur Kheri district.

  • No alliance in offing in Uttar Pradesh, Congress has to win on its own: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Congress seems to come to terms with the reality that no political outfit was interested in stitching an alliance with it.

    It was reflected well in the Sunday statement of general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra when she ruled out any chances of pre-poll alliance with other political parties for Uttar Pradesh assembly elections due next year.

    “If Congress has to win, it will win on its own,” the 49-year-old said while addressing the party’s ‘Pratigya Sammelan-Lakshya 2022’ in Bulandshahr in western Uttar Pradesh. “We will nominate only Congress workers for all Uttar Pradesh Assembly seats,” she said.

    Last month, Samajwadi Party (the main opposition party in Uttar Pradesh) chief Akhilesh Yadav had made it clear that he would not enter into alliance with any mainstream party as per his past experience. “Our experience of alliances with bigger parties had been bitter. We therefore now look forward to bringing in smaller parties together and not the bigger ones. I don’t think SP will have any alliance with Congress or BSP,” he asserted.

    Facing an uphill task of consolidating its support base in Uttar Pradesh where the grand old party has just one MP Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli, and just seven MLAs of which two have rebelled.

    The Congress recently promised 40 per cent tickets to women in the coming Assembly elections slated for early next year. Priyanka said the decision was aimed at making women, a “full-fledged partner in power”. The AICC general secretary has been tasked with regaining the party’s lost glory in the political heartland. Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh for almost three decades now.

  • Teen found dead in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit, family alleges gang rape

    By PTI

    PILIBHIT: A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped and killed in this district of Uttar Pradesh, a police official said on Sunday.

    The incident took place on Saturday in a village under the Barkhera police station limits, police said.

    The teen had left for her tuition classes on Saturday morning.

    When she did not return her home in the night, her family members started a search for her and contacted the police, SP Dinesh Kumar said.

    Police found the body of the girl in a naked state in a sugarcane field close to her village, the SP said.

    There were a number of injury marks on the body and a piece of cloth was found stuffed into her mouth, police said.

    Her books, bag, cycle and shoes were found lying a few metres away from the body, police said.

    Four beer bottles, snacks and cigarette butts were also recovered from the spot, they said.

    The family members of the minor have alleged that she was gang raped.

    Police said all angles, including that of gang rape, are being probed and it cannot be ruled out.

    Six people have been detained and are being interrogated, they said.

    Based on the complaint of the family members, a case has been registered against one named accused and five other unidentified people under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act, police said.

    The body of the deceased has been sent for post-mortem examination, police said.

  • Those raking up partition extending support to Taliban: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: Those who are raising the issue of partition are in a way supporting the Taliban, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Sunday.

    His remark is seen as a veiled dig at the Samajwadi Party (SP).

    Om Prakash Rajbhar, the chief of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an ally of the SP, had on Thursday blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for the country’s partition, a day after saying India would have remained unified had Muhammad Ali Jinnah been made its first prime minister.

    Earlier, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav had equated Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, with Mahatma Gandhi, Vallabhbhai Patel and Jawaharlal Nehru.

    With months to go for the Assembly polls in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, Jinnah appears to be dominating the political discourse.

    Addressing the Samajik Pratinidhi Sammelan here, Adityanath said, “Those who are speaking about the partition are in a way extending support to the Taliban. As soon as the Taliban resurfaced in Afghanistan, a number of voices started to come up in its support. When strong action was taken, these voices went soft.”

    “Supporting the Taliban means supporting a power that works against humanity, against Lord Buddha’s message of ‘maitri’ (friendship). Certain people are moving in that direction and we need to be aware of them,” he added.

    The BJP leader said those supporting the Taliban need to learn from the past “We should not forget how Buddha’s statues were destroyed in Bamiyan (in Afghanistan) by the Taliban. Breaking the statues of Buddha means trying to put an end to peace. Twenty years ago, when this incident took place, we thought that one day, they (Taliban) will face ‘durgati’ (misfortune). A few days later, the US dropped bombs on them. Back then, I had said they reaped what they sowed,” he said.

    Without naming any political party, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, “The opposition does not have any issue to raise…Rashtranayak (national hero) Sardar Patel is on one side and Jinnah, who divided the country, is on the other. They support Jinnah and insult Patel. But we support Patel. He is a rashtranayak while Jinnah will remain a villain for centuries. Will you support those supporting Jinnah?”

    Referring to history books, he said, “History never termed emperor Ashoka or Chandragupta Maurya great, but it termed Alexander, who was defeated by Chandragupta Maurya, great. Historians are silent on such issues. However, once the countrymen learn the truth, India will change.”

    Showering praises on Narendra Modi, Adityanath said the prime minister is making the country resurgent and the philosophy of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat” entails this.

    Addressing a public meeting in Hardoi, the SP chief had said, “Sardar Patel, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Jinnah studied in the same institute and became barristers. They helped the country achieve independence and never backed away from any struggle.”

  • Congress only alternative in Uttar Pradesh, will get majority: Ajay Kumar Lallu

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Predicting that the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll results will spring a surprise, Congress’ state unit chief Ajay Kumar Lallu on Sunday claimed that his party would secure a clear majority while the BJP would “not be able to cross 30 seats” in the elections next year.

    He also hit out at the Samajwadi Party (SP), alleging that the Akhilesh Yadav-led party was only interested in fighting polls and not in struggling on the ground for people’s issues, making the Congress the only alternative in Uttar Pradesh.

    In an interview with PTI, Lallu reiterated that the Congress will not forge an alliance with the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), but its doors were open for smaller parties in Uttar Pradesh.

    Asked about which parties the Congress was engaged with for possible alliances, he said everything cannot be shared publicly in politics, adding that there could be changes in alliances announced by other parties.

    “Wait for sometime, you will get to see many things. Many parties that have entered into small alliances could change their tie-ups,” he added.

    “No alliance is firmed up, wait for some time, many alliances will change. The SP and the BJP are engaged in ‘noora-kushti (fixed fight). The Congress is struggling for real issues and the ‘noora kushti’ of the BJP and the SP will come to an end,” Lallu said.

    Asked about Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s reported statement that even if the Congress, SP and BSP come together, they will not be able to defeat the BJP, the Congress’ Uttar Pradesh unit chief claimed that the BJP will not be able to win more than 30 seats.

    “As soon as the model code of conduct is put in place, let the BJP leaders go and seek votes and see what happens. Inflation, unemployment, women’s security, law and order, people will ask questions on these issues,” he said.

    “People are waiting for the polls. I say with a lot of confidence that the BJP will not be able to cross 30 seats and all their claims will remain on paper,” he claimed.

    In the 2017 assembly polls, the Congress won just seven seats while its then alliance partner SP bagged 47 seats in the 403-member assembly in the 2017 assembly polls.

    The BJP had won a thumping mandate with 312 seats and the BSP bagged 19 seats.

    Lallu stressed the Congress will spring a surprise in the Uttar Pradesh poll results as people are enthusiastic about it and after giving a chance to all parties, they would give their blessings to the Congress.

    The Congress will get a “clear majority”, he claimed.

    Lallu asserted that the Congress has emerged the main challenger to the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and expressed confidence that it will form the next government.

    “The way the Congress has emerged among poor, youth and farmers, the way it has been struggling on issues like women’s security, law and order, and made its nine promises, change is in the air in Uttar Pradesh and the Congress is being seen as the main challenger. 100 per cent, the Congress will form a government in Uttar Pradesh,” the Congress leader said.

    Asked about the SP calling itself the main challenger and its recent event launching of a perfume, Lallu alleged that the Akhilesh Yadav-led party is a party “for the polls”.

    “Its chief Akhilesh Yadav and other leaders are out on an election campaign, not to struggle for people’s issues. Farmers wanted to know where you (SP) were when the Lakhimpur incident took place, why you did not come out, why you didn’t struggle. It was Priyanka Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress workers who were struggling on the ground,” he said.

    “Where was everyone sleeping when the three black farm laws were enacted? Where were they sleeping when the proper price was not given for wheat, sugarcane and paddy. All these battles are being fought by the Congress. These people are only interested in fighting elections and branding,” Lallu said.

    People understand that the SP does not have the capacity or the strength to fight and the Congress is the only alternative, he said.

    On the SP’s perfume launch event, he said with money anything can be done but whoever is strong on the ground will matter and the Congress is being backed by the people.

    On the BSP, Lallu said its votes are constantly moving towards the Congress and are strengthening the party.

    Asked if not having the chief ministerial face will hamper the Congress’ chances, he said the party’s national leadership decided on the chief ministerial face issue.

    He hailed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s leadership as a big boost for the party in Uttar Pradesh and used the slogan “Badlav ki aandhi hai, jiska naam Priyanka Gandhi hai (There is a storm of change, whose name is Priyanka Gandhi)”.

  • BSP president Mayawati’s mother dies at 92

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: BSP president Mayawati’s mother Ramrati died from heart failure in Delhi on Saturday.

    Ramrati, 92, died at a hospital in the national capital where she was undergoing treatment, a BSP release issued here said.

    Mayawati left for Delhi soon after getting information about the death of her mother, the release said.

    The last rites will be performed in Delhi on Sunday, it said.

    BSP leaders and workers offered condolences on the death of the party president’s mother any prayed for peace to the soul.

    About a year ago, Mayawati’s father Prabhudayal had died at the age of 95, the release added.

  • Resolving farmer agitation issue not linked with UP elections: Piyush Goyal

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Union minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said the government is ready to talk with protesting farmers over three new farm laws but asserted that resolving the farmer agitation is not all related to the upcoming assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

    He also expressed confidence that the BJP along with its allies will again form the government in the state.

    The minister was replying to a question that if it is not necessary for the Centre to resolve the ongoing farmer protests at Delhi borders else it could have a bearing on BJP’s election prospects in Uttar Pradesh.

    “UP election results will be very good. BJP along with its allies will again form the government with a good majority,” the minister said in Hindi at the Times Now Summit 2021.

    Further, Goyal said, “Finding a resolution to farmer protests is not related to UP elections. Otherwise also, we want to resolve the issue and are even ready to talk to them tomorrow.”

    He asserted that resolution to farmer protests is not at all related to UP polls.

    Thousands of farmers are camping on Delhi’s borders since last November, seeking withdrawal of the new agriculture laws.

    Protesting farmers should come forward for discussion, but that should be based on certain facts and logics, Goyal added.

    On minimum support price (MSP) issue, he highlighted that the government has taken various measures in the last seven years including a decision to fix MSP at least 1.5 times of the production cost.

    The government has raised MSP of various crops significantly and is also procuring record quantity of wheat and paddy.

    He said the government has categorically stated in the parliament that the MSP system will continue as it is now and it will not be stopped.