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Tag: Varun Gandhi

  • ‘Madness or treason’: BJP MP Varun Gandhi’s swipe at Kangana Ranaut after her remarks on freedom

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Varun Gandhi took a swipe at film actor Kangana Ranaut on Thursday for her reported remarks that India received freedom in 2014 and what it got in 1947 was “alms”, and asked if her thinking was madness or treason.

    He also posted a short clip of her remarks during a new channel programme in which she is heard saying in Hindi, “That was not freedom but ‘bheekh’ (alms), and the freedom came in 2014.”

    Ranaut, who was recently given Padma Shri, was apparently referring to the BJP coming to power in 2014.

    She has sparked controversy in the past with her right wing comments and jibes at opposition politicians.

    Slamming her, Gandhi said, “Insulting the sacrifice of Mahatma Gandhi sometime, respecting his killer sometime, and now the disdain for the sacrifices of Mangal Pandey, Rani Laxmibai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and lakhs of freedom fighters. Should I call this thinking madness or treason?” 

  • Varun Gandhi posts video of UP man setting fire to crop, seeks agri policy rethink

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday shared a video clip purportedly showing a man setting fire to a heap of paddy crop after his vain efforts to sell it, and sought a rethink of the agriculture policy.

    Gandhi shared the video of the man on Twitter. “Samodh Singh, a farmer of Uttar Pradesh, had been running around mandis for the last 15 days to sell his paddy crop. When paddy did not sell, he in frustration put fire to it himself. Where has this system brought the farmers? The need of the hour is to rethink our agriculture policy,” he said.

    Without making a direct attack, the BJP leader has been critical of the government’s handling of agri issues of late and has also sympathised with the farmers protesting against the three farm laws.

    उत्तर प्रदेश के किसान श्री समोध सिंह पिछले 15 दिनों से अपनी धान की फसल को बेचने के लिए मंडियों में मारे-मारे फिर रहे थे, जब धान बिका नहीं तो निराश होकर इसमें स्वयं आग लगा दी।इस व्यवस्था ने किसानों को कहाँ लाकर खड़ा कर दिया है? कृषि नीति पर पुनर्चिंतन आज की सबसे बड़ी ज़रूरत है। pic.twitter.com/z3EjYw9rIz
    — Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) October 23, 2021

  • Uttar Pradesh floods: Common man in Pilibhit left to fend for himself, says BJP MP Varun Gandhi

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: BJP MP Varun Gandhi, whose Pilibhit constituency has been hit by heavy rains, on Thursday attacked the Uttar Pradesh government, saying if the common man is left to fend for himself, what does governance mean.

    Three people were killed and hundreds were marooned as torrential rains lashed Bareilly and Pilibhit districts over two days, officials had said on Wednesday.

    “Much of Terai is badly flooded. Donating dry rations by hand so that no family is hungry till this calamity ends. It’s painful that when the common man needs the system the most, he’s left to fend for himself. If every response is individual-led then what does ‘governance’ mean,” Gandhi said in a tweet.

    The Sharda and Deoha rivers are in spate due to heavy rainfall and many villages situated on their banks have been flooded.

    Around 500 villagers in Pilibhit are inundated by waters from the Sharda river.

    On Tuesday night, the Pilibhit district administration sought the help of the Army for rescue operations and 26 people have been airlifted to safer places since Wednesday morning.

    Local BJP MP Varun Gandhi had written to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding compensation for farmers whose crops have been damaged due to floods.

    Gandhi’s spokesperson MR Malik had said the MP has demanded that farmers who lost their crops be provided compensation.

  • Lakhimpur Kheri incident: Varun Gandhi shares clip of ex-PM Vajpayee’s speech supporting farmers

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Thursday posted on Twitter a short clip of a speech of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee from 1980 in which he warns the then Indira Gandhi government against repressing farmers and extends his support to them.

    Gandhi tweeted, “Wise words from a big-hearted leader…” The BJP MP has been vocal in empathising with farmers agitating against the three agri laws enacted by the Modi government and sharing Vajpayee’s speech is seen as his message to the central government.

    Wise words from a big-hearted leader… pic.twitter.com/xlRtznjFAx
    — Varun Gandhi (@varungandhi80) October 14, 2021
    In the video clip, Vajpayee is heard telling a gathering that farmers cannot be scared. “If the government will suppress (farmers), misuse laws and repress a peaceful agitation, then we will not shy away from joining the farmers’ struggle and standing with them,” he is heard saying.

    Gandhi has also sought stringent action against those responsible for the death of four farmers after vehicles, allegedly linked to BJP leaders, ran over them in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri. He was recently dropped from the BJP national executive in what was seen as an indication of the party leadership’s unhappiness with the Pilibhit MP.

  • Shiv Sena backs Varun Gandhi over his stand on Lakhimpur Kheri violence

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Backing BJP MP Varun Gandhi for his support to the farmers’ movement, especially after the Lakhmipur Kheri incident, the Shiv Sena on Monday said all farmer organisations should pass a resolution applauding him for his stand on the issue.

    An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ also asked whether the blood of other MPs had “turned cold” even after seeing the “horrific” incident at Lakhmipur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh where eight people, including four farmers, were killed earlier this month.

    The death of the four cultivators triggered strong reactions from farmer leaders, while opposition parties launched an attack on the BJP-led central and the UP governments.

    “The country cannot afford attempts being made to spread animosity. Varun Gandhi is the grandson of (former prime minister) Indira Gandhi and son of Sanjay Gandhi. After seeing the Lakhmipur horror, his blood boiled and he expressed his opinion,” the editorial said.

    Varun Gandhi showed political courage without thinking of any consequence and condemned the killing of farmers, the Marathi publication noted.

    “Farmers’ leaders should pass a resolution applauding Varun Gandhi,” said the Sena, which parted ways with long-term ally BJP after the Maharashtra Assembly polls in 2019 over the issue of sharing the chief ministerial post.

    The editorial said the ‘Maharashtra bandh’, called by the ruling allies Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress in the state on Monday, is for those who cannot express their feelings openly.

    Varun Gandhi on Sunday warned against attempts to turn the Lakhimapur Kheri incident into a “Hindu vs Sikh battle”, saying it is dangerous to create these fault lines and reopen wounds that have taken a generation to heal.

    The Pilibhit MP, who was recently dropped from the BJP national executive, said the struggle for justice in Lakhimpur Kheri is about the “cruel massacre of poor farmers in the face of an arrogant local power elite,” and the issue has no religious connotations.

    “To use the word ‘Khalistani’ liberally to describe the protesting farmers is not only an insult to the generations of these proud sons of the Tarai who have fought and shed blood on our borders, it is also extremely dangerous for our national unity if this provokes the wrong kind of reaction,” he had said.

    Police on Saturday arrested Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, in connection with the October 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri.

    Ashish Mishra was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers during their protest over Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit last Sunday.

    Varun Gandhi has been sympathetic towards the farmers’ cause over their protests against three agricultural laws and often tweeted in their support, a stand which is said to have not gone down well with the BJP leadership.

  • Varun Gandhi warns against ‘Hindu vs Sikh’ narrative in Lakhimpur violence

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Sunday warned against attempts to turn the Lakhimpur Kheri incident into a “Hindi vs Sikh battle”, saying it is dangerous to create these fault lines and reopen wounds that have taken a generation to heal.

    The Pilibhit MP, who was recently dropped from the BJP national executive, said the struggle for justice in Lakhimpur Kheri is about the “cruel massacre of poor farmers in the face of an arrogant local power elite”, and the issue has no religious connotations.

    “To use the word ‘Khalistani’ liberally to describe the protesting farmers is not only an insult to the generations of these proud sons of the Tarai who have fought and shed blood on our borders, it is also extremely dangerous for our national unity if this provokes the wrong kind of reaction,” he said.

    In a tweet, he said, “An attempt to turn Lakhimpur Kheri into a Hindu vs Sikh battle is being made. Not only is this an immoral & false narrative, it is dangerous to create these fault-lines & reopen wounds that have taken a generation to heal. We must not put petty political gains above national unity.”

    Police had arrested Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra, in connection with the October 3 Lakhimpur violence.

    Farmer organisations have blamed the father-son duo for the incident and are alleging that the minister had made a provocative speech while his son was inside a vehicle that hit farmers.

    Both have denied the allegations.

    Ashish Mishra was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers protesting over Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya’s visit last Sunday.

    Two BJP workers and their driver were allegedly lynched by angry farmers in retaliation.

    Local journalist Raman Kashyap also died in the violence, which has triggered a political storm and put the BJP government on the back foot in poll-bound UP.

    Gandhi has been sympathetic to the farmers’ cause over their protests against three agricultural laws and often tweeted in their support, a stand which is said to have not gone down well with the BJP leadership.

     

  • Hours after decrying Lakhimpur deaths, Varun Gandhi, mom Maneka shown the door from BJP National Executive

    By Agencies

    Varun Gandhi, who has been vocal in condemning the Lakhimpur Kheri Violence, was dropped from BJP National Executive on Thursday.

    Both Varun, MP from Pilibhit constituency, and his mother and MP Maneka Gandhi were dropped from the party’s National Executive.

    In a series of tweets, Varun Gandhi condemned the Lakhimpur Kheri violence in which eight people were crushed to death by a speeding car that belonged to MoS for Home Ajay Mishra’s son.

    “The video is crystal clear. Protestors cannot be silenced through murder. There has to be accountability for the innocent blood of farmers that has been spilled and justice must be delivered before a message of arrogance and cruelty enters the minds of every farmer,” the Pilibhit MP said in a tweet.

    The BJP MP demanded justice for the farmers who were killed in the violence.A total of eight people including four farmers died in the violence that took place in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3.

    The BJP on Thursday announced the 80-member National Executive of the party, with the names of its top brass, ranging from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to many Union ministers, several state leaders and veterans like L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. 

    Former Union ministers like Harsh Vardhan, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Prakash Javadekar also remain the members of the national executive.

    ​(Inputs from PTI)

  • ‘There has to be accountability for farmers’ blood’: BJP MP Varun Gandhi attacks party

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Thursday posted a video purportedly of the Lakhimpur Kheri incident and said the protesters cannot be silenced through murder asking for accountability for the farmers.

    “The video is crystal clear. Protestors cannot be silenced through murder. There has to be accountability for the innocent blood of farmers that has been spilled and justice must be delivered before a message of arrogance and cruelty enters the minds of every farmer,” the Pilibhit MP said in a tweet.

    He posted a 37-second video in which a speeding Mahindra Thar jeep is seen running over people.

    Two SUVs — one black and another white — was seen following the jeep while there is commotion of people shouting and crying in the video.

    The video, which has gone viral on social media, is said to have been taken on October 3, the day on which violence took place in Lakhimpur Kheri.

    Eight people were killed in the violence on Sunday.

    Of the eight killed, four were farmers, who were allegedly mowed down by vehicles driven by BJP workers travelling to welcome UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to an event in the area.

    The other four were two BJP workers, a driver of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra and a journalist working for a private television channel.

  • BJP MP Varun Gandhi shares video of SUV knocking down farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, demands arrest

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Tuesday shared a video clip purportedly showing an SUV mowing down farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, and demanded that police immediately identify and arrest those involved in the incident.

    The authenticity of the video has not yet been verified.

    “This video of vehicles deliberately crushing farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri will shake anyone’s soul. Police should take cognisance of the video, identify the owners of these vehicles and their occupants, identify others involved in the incident and immediately arrest them,” Gandhi said.

    Eight people died and several others were injured on Sunday in the bloodiest clash since the farmers’ protest over the Centre’s agri laws began last year.

    Four of the dead were farmers, allegedly knocked down by vehicles driven by BJP workers travelling to welcome Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya to an event in the area.

    The others were BJP workers and their driver who were allegedly pulled out of the vehicles and lynched.

    Two cars were set on fire.

    While the BJP has officially maintained a guarded silence over the matter, with the Uttar Pradesh government assuring a thorough probe, Varun Gandhi has been vocal in empathising with the farmers.

  • Book those involved in death of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri for murder: Varun Gandhi to Yogi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Monday said a murder case under IPC section 302 should be lodged against those involved in the death of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, emphasising that protesting farmers should be dealt with restraint and patience.

    In a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Gandhi also demanded a CBI inquiry in the case in a time-bound manner and Rs 1 crore compensation to the family members of deceased farmers.

    Eight people were killed on Sunday as violence erupted during a farmers’ protest in Lakhimpur Kheri, claiming the lives of both farmers and BJP workers.

    Two SUVs were set on fire by angry farmers in the clash near Banbirpur in Lakhimpur Kheri, the bloodiest incident of violence since the protest over the farm laws enacted at the Centre began last year.

    Describing the incident as “heart-wrenching”, Gandhi said it has caused anguish and anger among the people of the country.

    Underlining that the “agitating farmer brothers are our own citizens”, the three-time BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh said they are suffering due to some issues and protesting under their democratic rights.

    “We should deal with them with great restraint and patience. In any case, we should treat our farmers with sensitivity and only in Gandhian and democratic way within the ambit of law,” he said.

    Gandhi requested Adityanath to immediately identify all the suspects involved in this incident and “take the strictest action by setting up a murder case under section 302 of the IPC”.

    He further said it would be more appropriate to get the CBI to investigate this incident in a time-bound manner under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

    “Apart from this, a compensation of Rs 1 crore should also be given to the families of the victims,” Gandhi said.

    Varun Gandhi has been writing to Adityanath on farmers issues’ and seeking various relief measures for them.