Page 4 - Politics

Delhi BJP to celebrate 'Samajik Nyay Saptah' beginning today till April 14

April 6 is the foundation day of the BJP and many programmes will be organised on this occasion

Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay detained, development triggers protests

Telangana BJP President and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar was detained by the police, triggering protests in the state, police said on Wednesday. Sanjay Kumar, a Lok Sabha MP from Karimnagar constituency, was picked up by a team of police late on Tuesday night from his residence. The MP's supporters tried to prevent the police from arresting Kumar. Condemning the police action, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy termed as 'undemocratic' the detention of Kumar without citing any reason. The development comes days ahead of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state to inaugurate various projects. Sanjay Kumar has been shifted to Bommalaramaram police station under Rachakonda Police Commissionerate limits here. A large number of BJP workers gathered there to protest Kumar's detention and also raised slogans against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. They demanded Sanjay Kumar be immediately released. Meanwhile, BJP leader and party's I-T department head Amit Malviya in a

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Not Kharge, but Rahul is captain of Congress: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Veteran politician and former Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad believes that the Congress is still run by "remote control" and he also came down heavily on a "new coterie of inexperienced sycophants" who manage its affairs. Ahead of the release of his book 'Azaad -- an autobiography', the former Congress stalwart, who quit the party last year, refused to talk about the issues he had with his former colleagues, saying "the more I dig into the past, the more bitterness surfaces, and I don't want to dwell with that since I have stepped out of the party". At the same time, Azad, who was chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, said he had great respect for Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, but acknowledged there were political differences with Rahul Gandhi. "...as an individual, I am not saying Rahul Gandhi is a bad person. As an individual he is a good person. Maybe we have some .

President promises support to South Sudan in ongoing political process

Emphasising that South Sudan can benefit from the Indian experience in Parliamentary democracy, including the drafting of a new constitution, President Droupadi Murmu Wednesday said India will extend full support in the process. Welcoming a parliamentary delegation from South Sudan, led by the Speaker of the Transitional National Assembly Jemma Nunu Kumba, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Murmu said India is proud to be a major troop contributor to the UN Peacekeeping Missions in South Sudan. "The President said that South Sudan can benefit from India's experiences in parliamentary democracy in its ongoing political process, including the drafting of a new Constitution. She further said that India would extend its full support to South Sudan in this process," a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan said. Underlining the cordial and friendly relations between India and South Sudan, Murmu said apart from peace missions, Indian soldiers are playing an important humanitarian role and contributing

Whitewashing with a vengeance: Congress over deletions from NCERT textbooks

The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the government over some texts missing from NCERT's new class 12 textbooks, including Mahatma Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity irking the right-wing and the ban on the RSS for some time, and called it "whitewashing with a vengeance". The NCERT, however, claims that no curriculum trimming has happened this year and the syllabus was rationalised last year in June. "Gandhiji's death had a magical effect on communal situation in the country", "Gandhiji's pursuit of Hindu-Muslim unity provoked Hindu extremists", "organisations like RSS were banned for some time", "communal politics began to lose its appeal"--these are among the texts missing from class 12 political science textbooks for the new academic session. Tagging a media report on it, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, "Whitewashing with a vengeance." Tagging another report which claimed that chapters related to the Mughals and Dalit writers have also been axed fro

Rahul Gandhi disqualification: Kharge accuses Centre of double standards

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the Centre of double standards, saying while it disqualified Rahul Gandhi with lightning speed, a Gujarat MP who was convicted in a criminal case did not face the same action. Kharge was referring to the BJP's Amreli MP Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadia, who was awarded a three-year jail term by a court. Kachhadia's conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court. Gandhi was convicted by a lower court in Gujarat's Surat and sentenced to prison for two years on March 23 for a speech in which he linked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's last name with two fugitive businessmen, remarking how the "thieves" shared the same last name. A day later, he was disqualified as a member of the Lok Sabha. Kharge said the Gujarat MP was allowed to attend the Parliament but a person who speaks the truth has been kept out of Parliament. "The height of the Modi government's hypocrisy and double standards -- a BJP MP from Gujarat is awarded a ...

Keep ED-CBI aside and face us: Sanjay Raut dares Devendra Fadnavis

Referring to Fadnavis' claim that he was not a 'fadtus' (useless) - as labelled by Thackeray - but a "kartoos" (cartridge), Raut took a swipe, saying it was more like a "wet kartoos"

Bihar riots were orchestrated, culprits will be exposed soon: CM Nitish

With dust settling on communal disturbances in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday rejected charges of administrative laxity and vented spleen against Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BJP, vowing to expose those who had orchestrated the riots. The JD(U) leader also lambasted AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, calling him an agent of the BJP. He was replying to queries from journalists on the sidelines of a function organised on the occasion of birth anniversary of former deputy prime minister and dalit stalwart Babu Jagjeevan Ram. Kumar's remarks come a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the BJP was bringing in goons to create riots in her state. The Bihar CM taunted Shah over the much-publicised rioters will be hung upside down if BJP comes to power in Bihar remark at a rally in Nawada district on Sunday, and reminded him of riots in 2017 when our government had to arrest the son of a BJP leader". The allusion was to the riots that broke

Ex-Lok Sabha MP Shivarame Gowda joins BJP in poll-bound Karnataka

Former Lok Sabha member from Mandya, L R Shivarame Gowda, on Wednesday joined the ruling BJP in poll-bound Karnataka. Gowda, who was expelled by the Janata Dal (Secular) last year, was welcomed into the party fold by BJP State unit President Nalin Kumar Kateel, BJP National General Secretary C T Ravi and Karnataka Ministers K Sudhakar and K Gopalaiah, among others. He had also served an MLA and was also earlier with the Congress.

Monopolies in various sectors pushing prices higher: Jairam Ramesh

The Congress on Wednesday said growing concentration of economic power is having a negative effect on people's lives as monopolies in various sectors are pushing prices higher. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that profit margins across all sectors have doubled from 18 percent in 2015 to 36 percent in 2021 due to growing market concentrations created by the Modi dispensation. He said a research paper by top economist, Dr Viral Acharya has substantiated this concern about higher profit margins due to monopolies in several sectors. Evidence by the ex-RBI Deputy Governor Acharya shows that Modi government's alleged "monopolistic" friends are a big cause of price rise in India, the Congress leader said. "As the Adani 'megascam' has shown, PM Modi's 'suit-boot ki sarkaar' has systematically helped his cronies build large, concentrated monopolies across various sectors since he took office. Now we have fresh and credible evidence that these monopolies are driving price ri

Scindia attacks Rahul Gandhi, says Congress is left with no ideology

Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress on Wednesday, alleging the party has been left with no ideology except the one of a "traitor" which works against the country. The BJP leader attacked the Congress for according Rahul Gandhi a "special treatment" following his conviction in a defamation case and accused the party of pressuring the judiciary, and doing everything possible to stay relevant. This party has insulted backward classes, sought proof of our armed forces' bravery and spoken about our soldiers being beaten up by China, Scindia said, in a direct attack on Gandhi who has been accused of making these remarks. "The Congress has been left with no ideology. This Congress has been now left with only one ideology which is of a traitor, an ideology which works against the country," he told reporters. Scindia was incidentally in the Congress for a long time and was considered a close associate of Gandhi. He quit the party and

LS: MP gives adjournment notice to discuss govt in 'market for new spyware'

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Wednesday gave an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha to discuss a news report that "reveals that the Indian Government is in the market for new spyware."Tewari said, "A report in the Financial Times dated 31st March 2023 reveals that the Indian Government is in the market for new spyware. The NSO, the company that manufactures and sells Pegasus, has been blacklisted by some countries.""The report further reveals that the Government is willing to spend up to USD 120mn or around Rs 1000 crore. Around a dozen spyware sellers are expected to bid to the Indian Government," he added.He further said that the procurement of such Surveillance Technology without parliamentary oversight has grave implications for the right to privacy of individuals guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian ConstitutionUnder these circumstances, the House must adjourn to discuss the matter of the Government reportedly seeking to procure Pegagus-like surveillance technology, he ...

Treasury benches forestalled debate: Chidambaram on 'no debate on budget'

Congress leader P Chidambaram hit out at the government on Wednesday after Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman expressed anguish over the Parliament not having a debate on the Union Budget, saying it's for the first time in Indian parliamentary history that the treasury benches started disruption and forestalled debate. Sitharaman on Tuesday expressed anguish over the Parliament not having a debate on the Union Budget as proceedings in both Houses have been a washout so far and accused the Opposition of resorting to diversionary tactics to distract people's attention from the "success story" of the Indian economy. In a tweet, Chidambaram said, "Hon'ble FM has lamented that there was no debate in Parliament on the Budget. Who was responsible for the Budget being passed without debate?" "It is for the first time in Indian parliamentary history that the Treasury Benches started the din and disruption and forestalled debate," the former finance minister said. In another tweet, ...

Modern Indian history should start from 2014: Sibal takes dig at govt

In an apparent swipe at the government over the reported removal of certain references in NCERT's new class 12 textbooks, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said that consistent with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's India, modern Indian history should start from 2014. Sibal's attack on the government came after The Indian Express reported certain deletions from Class 12 National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) social sciences textbooks. In a tweet, Sibal said, "NCERT textbooks: Effaced: 1) Gandhi's pursuit of Hindu Muslim unity 2) Banning of RSS 3) All references to Gujarat riots 4) Protests that turned into social movements in contemporary India." "Consistent with Modi ji's Bharat modern Indian history should start from 2014," the former Union minister said. The BJP government came to power in 2014. Earlier, it was reported that Uttar Pradesh government schools will adopt from this academic session the NCERT's new class 12 history textbooks in which portion

Apologise for anti-Savarkar remarks: Nitin Gadkari tells Rahul Gandhi

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to apologise for his critical remarks on late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and said no one has the right to insult him. Gandhi should realise that he insulted the Hindutva icon due to some misunderstanding, Gadkari said addressing a gathering organised as part of the 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' at Shankar Nagar in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on Tuesday. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said the former Congress president should show a big heart and tender an apology for his "crime". "Who has given him the right to insult Savarkar? No one will tolerate insult of Savarkar," Gadkari maintained. Gadkari, speaking in a lighter vein, thanked Gandhi for giving the BJP an opportunity to make the country's youth aware about Savarkar's life and message through the yatra. The former Congress chief has constantly targeted Savarkar by raking up the issue of his mercy plea. His latest attack came last month following his ...

Atishi hits back at BJP over claims of 'poor results' of Delhi govt schools

Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Monday slammed the BJP for "spreading misinformation" and "concocting lies" about the results of city government-run schools. She was reacting to claims by the saffron party that 50 out of every 100 students studying in Delhi government schools dropped out in class 10 and that a similar dropout pattern was seen in classes 11 and 12. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also alleged that teachers were forced to write answers in almost blank answer sheets of below average students, especially in multiple choice questions section, and then pass them with minimum 33 per cent marks. In a statement, Atishi said the BJP is not concerned about the pitiable condition of the government schools in states ruled by it, adding that these schools function with classrooms made of tin sheds and in the absence of basic facilities. The Arvind Kejriwal government is doing everything in its control to improve the condition of government schools in Delhi and children over

BJP's Halady Srinivas Shetty hints at retirement from electoral politics

BJP leader and five-time MLA from Kundapura constituency in Udupi district, Halady Srinivas Shetty has indicated to his confidantes that he will not contest the coming Assembly elections. Party sources said on Monday that Shetty will soon take a call with regard to his candidature and his future in politics. Sources said Shetty, a popular leader in Udupi district, is contemplating political retirement with a rider that his close aide Kiran Kumar Kodgi be given the ticket from Kundapur to contest on a BJP ticket. Shetty is likely to announce the decision on his political career at a press conference on Tuesday, sources said. If Shetty decides not to contest, the BJP will have to rework their strategy while fixing candidates in other constituencies of the district. Shetty has been representing Kundapura constituency for the last 25 years. He was elected from the segment once as an independent. Karnataka Assembly polls will be held on May 10.

Yediyurappa says son Vijayendra to contest from Shikaripura and not Varuna

Former Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday said his son B Y Vijayendra will contest the May 10 Assembly elections from Shikaripura in this district, which he represented in the Lower House six times. The BJP strongman, who had already announced his retirement from electoral politics, again ruled out the possibility of his son being fielded from Varuna in Mysuru against Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah. Vijayendra, who is a BJP state vice-president, sought the people's blessings to contest from Shikaripura. "There was a pressure on Vijayendra to contest from Varuna constituency but I decided that he should contest from Shikaripura because this was the constituency which gave me a political life, recognition and honour, Yediyurappa said addressing a public meeting. Yediyurappa's statement came even though the BJP's Central Parliamentary Board, the party's highest decision-making body of which he is a member, has not yet cleared the list of candidates Addressing people,

Mamata greets Rahul in morning and attacks him in evening: Sambit Patra

Accusing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of doublespeak, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Monday said the TMC chairperson greets Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the morning and attacks him in the evening. Patra was addressing a press meet at the new state BJP office in Salt Lake. Asked about Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress expressing support to Gandhi against his disqualification from the Lok Sabha, Patra said, "she sends a bouquet to Rahul ji in the morning and greets him. However, in the evening she speaks against Rahul." Reacting to Gandhi's disqualification from Lok Sabha on March 26, Banerjee had said "in PM Modi's New India, Opposition leaders have become the prime target of BJP." "While BJP leaders with criminal antecedents are inducted in the cabinet, opposition leaders are disqualified for their speeches - we have witnessed a new low for our constitutional democracy," she had said in a tweet.