Goa Chief Minister News

One guard 'missing' after Bihar bridge demolition, says circle officer
The Indian Express | 13 hours ago | |
The Indian Express
13 hours ago | |

After a 200-metre stretch of an under-construction bridge over the Ganga in Bihar collapsed Sunday, authorities on Monday said that one person working as a guard at the site has been reported missing.“He was a guard with the SP Singla Company. We have been searching for him since yesterday night. SDRF and NDRF teams are also engaged in the search operation. We have not been able to trace the body. We are making efforts to to recover the body at the earliest,” Parbatta Circle Officer Chandan Kumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.#WATCH | The bridge that collapsed yesterday had collapsed last year also. I have instructed officials to take strict action. It is not being constructed correctly that’s why it is collapsing again & again. The department will look into it & action will be taken: Bihar CM Nitish… pic.twitter.com/Y8m5Zo5Kka— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2023Circle Officer Kumar added that the missing person’s bike is still parked near the pillar where it was yesterday.Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Monday said that the said bridge had collapsed last year as well. “I have instructed officials to take strict action. It is not being constructed correctly that’s why it is collapsing again and again. The department will look into it and action will be taken,” he told reporters.The Bihar government on Sunday clarified that the Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bhagalpur had been demolished intentionally, and that no casualties had occurred due to its razing. “It was decided that we must not take any chance and wait for a final report. So we went ahead with pulling down parts of the bridge. It was a part of such a preventive exercise,” Additional Chief Secretary of Road Construction Department, Pratyay Amrit, had said in a press conference with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.The 3.1-kilometre-long bridge, built by SP Singla Constructions Private Limited at a cost of Rs 1,710 crore, had also collapsed on April 30 last year, raising concerns over its construction.(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

One guard 'missing' after Bihar bridge demolition, says circle officer
BJP, Shiv Sena to jointly contest all future elections in state, including Lok Sabha: CM Eknath Shinde
The Indian Express | 13 hours ago | |
The Indian Express
13 hours ago | |

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced Monday that the Shiv Sena and BJP have decided to jointly contest all elections including the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, state Assembly and local body polls. This was decided during a meeting between Shinde, Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, and Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.In a tweet, Shinde said, “It was also decided in this meeting that Shiv Sena and BJP will jointly contest all upcoming elections in the state (including elections to Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, local bodies)”.काल, रविवारी रात्री मी आणि उपमुख्यमंत्री @Dev_Fadnavis यांनी दिल्लीत केंद्रीय गृह आणि सहकार मंत्री @AmitShah यांची भेट घेतली.कृषि, सहकार विभागाशी संबंधित विविध बाबींवर आम्ही चर्चा केली. राज्यात शेतकरी, महिला सक्षमीकरण अशा विविध क्षेत्रात गतीने कामे सुरू असून अनेक रखडलेले… pic.twitter.com/MdLoqiPoy2— Eknath Shinde – एकनाथ शिंदे (@mieknathshinde) June 5, 2023Shinde said that the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance for Maharashtra’s development is “strong”. “In the future, we will contest elections together and win with a majority to make Maharashtra the number one state in the country in all fields, to continue the race of development,” he added.Several issues of the state including agriculture and cooperation were discussed during the meeting with Shah. Shinde said that pending projects in the state have been streamlined now and they are on way to completion.“We have always received guidance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for various projects. We met Shah to discuss issues related to the cooperation sector,” the chief minister said.The visit comes ahead of the completion of one year of Shinde-Fadnavis led government in the state.

BJP, Shiv Sena to jointly contest all future elections in state, including Lok Sabha: CM Eknath Shinde
Odisha train tragedy: CM announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to kin of those killed
The Indian Express | 1 day ago | |
The Indian Express
1 day ago | |

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of those killed in the triple train accident at Bahanga Bazar near Balasore.The assistance will be given from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.The next of kin of the deceased will get an assistance of Rs 5 lakh and those who sustained serious injuries will get Rs 1 lakh as assistance, a statement issued by the CMO said.Patnaik who undertook a on-the-spot inspection of the tragedy on Saturday, has also conveyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery of the injured persons.Earlier Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and the Prime Minister’s Office declared Rs 2 lakh for the families which lost their near and dear ones in the tragedy.According to the preliminary report of the Railways, the Coromandel Express entered the loop line and crashed into a goods train parked there instead of the main line, near Bahanaga Bazar railway station.The triple train accident has left at least 288 people dead and over 1,100 injured.The crash involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train occurred on Friday near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar.

Odisha train tragedy: CM announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to kin of those killed
  • CM Patnaik announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia to kin of those killed

    • The Indian Express

    Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the family members of those killed in the triple train accident at Bahanga Bazar near Balasore.The assistance will be given from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.The next of kin of the deceased will get an assistance of Rs 5 lakh and those who sustained serious injuries will get Rs 1 lakh as assistance, a statement issued by the CMO said.Patnaik who undertook a on-the-spot inspection of the tragedy on Saturday, has also conveyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery of the injured persons.Earlier Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh and the Prime Minister’s Office declared Rs 2 lakh for the families which lost their near and dear ones in the tragedy.According to the preliminary report of the Railways, the Coromandel Express entered the loop line and crashed into a goods train parked there instead of the main line, near Bahanaga Bazar railway station.The triple train accident has left at least 288 people dead and over 1,100 injured.The crash involving Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express and a goods train occurred on Friday near the Bahanaga Bazar station in Balasore, about 250 km south of Kolkata and 170 km north of Bhubaneswar.

Wrestling troublesSign In to read
The Indian Express | 1 day ago | |
The Indian Express
1 day ago | |

While sitting in the front row during the Prime Minister’s speech in the new Parliament building, Amit Shah received a constant flow of messages from his office. The Home Ministry was giving him the latest updates on the Manipur situation and the Delhi Police’s ugly confrontation with protesting wrestlers, just a short distance from Parliament House.The wrestlers had attempted to break the police cordon and march to Parliament to press for their demand for the arrest of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, chief of the Wrestling Federation of India. Seemingly unperturbed by the mounting agitation against him, Singh was active inside Parliament taking selfies with all who would pose with him so that he could post it on social media. Several MPs discreetly moved away when they saw him approaching.BJP Jat MPs in particular kept their distance and were visibly uncomfortable with their party’s failure to act against Singh, as the campaign has gained much momentum in their community, which has produced many sports medalists. Jat mahapanchayats have started demonstrations outside houses of BJP Jat MPs. One Jat parliamentarian who was photographed with Singh was roundly abused as “a traitor”. His frantic explanation, that he was only trying to be polite by acknowledging Singh’s greetings, was found unacceptable.At the inauguration of the Parliament House building, the BJP’s ‘most successful BJP chief minister’, Yogi Adityanath, and its longest-serving, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, were seen engaging in a conversation. Chouhan assured Adityanath that contrary to rumours, the party is confident of a victory in Madhya Pradesh.But the soft-spoken Chouhan is conscious that he is on a sticky wicket in his state that is headed to the polls. He has to combat incumbency built up over 17 years in office and accommodate all factions in the state unit, including the newest BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. Chouhan may have the edge among OBC voters, but has yet to win over the SCs and STs.In contrast to the nervousness in the BJP camp, there was cocky confidence at a meeting of the Congress Madhya Pradesh unit presided over by Rahul Gandhi on Monday. Gandhi noted approvingly that unlike every other pre-election state-level meeting, in Madhya Pradesh, there was only one name mentioned as Chief Minister and there were no internal differences. (His inference was that Kamal Nath’s name was unanimous.) The Congress in-house poll strategist, Sunil Kanugolu, has already predicted a victory for the party.The mood of triumph and jubilation at the new Parliament House inauguration was not marred by a few quibblers. Two BJP MPs asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi why so many random people had been invited. (It was to fill the empty spaces thanks to the Opposition boycott.) An aesthete winced at the shocking bright green and pink hues, the theme colours of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha chambers. Most guests left uneaten the tacky cellophane-wrapped vegetarian sandwiches which were served to the guests. Some BJP MPs enviously questioned the major role given to deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, though his JD(U) boycotted the event and he is considered a political lightweight. Singh was actually standing in for Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who, like President Droupadi Murmu, outranks the PM in the official order of precedence, and hence discreetly stayed away.The Delightful Mr Daphtary, by Fali Nariman and Vinoo Bhagat, on C K Daphtary, the country’s second attorney general, provides insight into the legal giant’s craft and wit. For instance, Daphtary as Attorney General exercised his authority in ensuring correctness in the judicial process by asking Chief Justice of India P B Gajendragadkar to recuse himself from a land acquisition case because he had an indirect pecuniary interest in the matter.Daphtary insisted on upholding the great traditions of the bar, even though it actually went against his personal interest in the case. Another nugget is that Daphtary during the Emergency had the gumption to demand of Chief Justice of India A N Ray that the crucial bench to decide on the historic preventive detention cases should be based on seniority.A furious Ray questioned how anyone dared to suggest to a Chief Justice how to constitute a bench. Never at a loss for words, Daphtary claimed that Ray’s guru and mentor S R Dass had been requested in the past and not taken it badly. Taken aback, Ray acceded. The authors suggest mischievously that Daphtary had in fact invented the Dass anecdote to put pressure on Ray to feel he should follow Dass’s example. Unhappily, the two senior judges included as a consequence did not live up to Daphtary’s expectations.

Wrestling troublesSign In to read
‘Telangana model’ of governance now available to all, says KCR as state enters 10th year of formation
The Indian Express | 3 days ago | |
The Indian Express
3 days ago | |

Entering the tenth year of its formation, Telangana, which became the 29th state of the Indian Union when it was carved out of a unified Andhra Pradesh after a six-decade-long people’s movement, is now ready to showcase itself as a model state. On the eve of the statehood anniversary, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who reignited and spearheaded the second phase of the Telangana movement for 14 years, said Telangana’s achievements over the last nine years have been exemplary.While crediting the participation of the people and the state’s development and welfare programmes, Rao said the ‘Telangana model’ of governance is now available to the people of the country. In a statement, the CM said that the people of all states are demanding a government like Telangana and it is a great achievement of the people of Telangana.Here is an inspiring story of the youngest State from India. Telangana, that delivered a century of development in less than a decade!The Telangana growth model envisioned by Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao went beyond solutions and secured the lives of its people. The… pic.twitter.com/f8jHBX41Jl— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) June 2, 2023On Friday, KCR will kickstart the state’s decennial celebrations from the new state secretariat and the festivities will last 21 days. The government will showcase its achievements and the CM urged the public to participate in the celebrations.Turning nostalgic while recalling how the movement was transformed into a democratic struggle by uniting people over the idea of a separate state, KCR recounted the hardships, humiliations and obstacles and the support extended by all. “Nine years ago on June 2, 2014, Telangana became the 29th state of India. It is remarkable that the new state of Telangana overcame all hurdles and thwarted the political conspiracies hatched by the antagonists and stood as a strong developing state in the country. The Telangana state which suffered setbacks is now taking the country forward in all fields,” he said.Meanwhile, Governor Tamilisai Sounderarajan, who does not share the best of relations with the chief minister, will hold the state formation day celebrations at Raj Bhavan. In her message to the people on the eve of the statehood day, Sounderarajan said the day holds immense significance as it commemorates the supreme sacrifices of numerous youths in their quest for a separate Telangana state.pic.twitter.com/boudi65uh7— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (@DrTamilisaiGuv) June 1, 2023On the Formation Day of Telangana, my greetings to the people of this wonderful state. The skills of its people and the richness of its culture are greatly admired. I pray for the well-being and prosperity of Telangana.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 2, 2023My greetings to the people of Telangana on Statehood Day! Endowed with forests and wildlife, Telangana is also uniquely blessed with a rich cultural heritage and talented people. This beautiful state is emerging as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship. My best wishes for the…— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 2, 2023“The struggle for separate statehood witnessed spirited participation from all sections of society. Throughout its course, this mass movement achieved significant milestones and witnessed countless sacrifices from students and youths advocating for the cause of a separate state. I humbly pay my sincere tribute to the martyrs of the separate Telangana movement, for unwavering dedication,” the governor said. “May the indomitable spirit of Telangana grow stronger with each passing day.”The governor will meet the public and members of civil society organisations at the Durbar Hall in Raj Bhavan between 10 and 11 am.Heartiest greetings to my brothers & sisters of #Telangana on Statehood Day.Tributes to the martyrs and salutations to all who participated in the struggle.I pray for the continued progress and prosperity of Telangana in the coming years. pic.twitter.com/aLoiGZLEZq— G Kishan Reddy (@kishanreddybjp) June 2, 2023The Union Ministry of Culture also will hold a separate event to commemorate state formation day at Golconda Fort. G Kishan Reddy, the minister for culture and tourism and MP from Secunderabad, will hoist the national flag from the fort and kickstart the celebrations. The ministry has also arranged for a special exhibition to showcase the achievements of the Centre during the last nine years. A cultural show planned in the evening here will see the likes of Padma Shri awardee and dancer Ananda Shankar Jayant, noted singer Shankar Mahadevan, and singer Mangli perform along with a host of other artists, the minister said.

‘Telangana model’ of governance now available to all, says KCR as state enters 10th year of formation
'(Textbook) revisions by BJP have to be changed... hijab ban wasn't needed'Premium Story
The Indian Express | 4 days ago | |
The Indian Express
4 days ago | |

Madhu Bangarappa, MLA from Sorab constituency and School Education Minister in the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah, speaks with Sanath Prasad on the state government’s plans to revise school textbooks, the row over hijab, and the challenges that lie before the state’s education system. Madhu is son of former Karnataka chief minister S Bangarappa. Excerpts.Bangarappa: I have to get the statistics to really get my priorities. It is not even 48 hours since I have assumed office as Education Minister. I started my duties today by welcoming students back to school and keeping them comfortable.Bangarappa: The old textbooks have to be changed — we have already committed [that] in our manifesto. The revisions introduced by the BJP have to be changed, and it will be changed in the interest of the students. However, I don’t want to disclose what aspects will be changed. We already have a framework to make the changes, and (it) will be executed as early as possible.The required revision is already under way under the supervision of the Chief Minister. He (CM Siddaramiah) is being briefed on this regularly. In the interest of the future of the children, whatever has to be done to safeguard their education will be doneBangarappa: We can’t change the government order on hijab just like that. We have to go by the law. The Law Department will fight for it and they will make a decision. All these years everything was going fine, (but) suddenly imposing a ban on hijab was not needed. They (BJP) really messed it up by politicising (the issue). Since the matter is under the judiciary (sub judice), I don’t want to comment much on it.Bangarappa: Manpower in the department is good [adequate] but infrastructure needs to be improved. The department also has very good teachers. We have to give them trust and confidence to perform better. We also need funds to boost infrastructure. With our guarantees in place, how much I can infuse funds is a question, but I will fight for it.Bangarappa: Eggs will continue to be part of midday meals. I also have some expansion plans, (which are) under work. I will talk about it later.Bangarappa: It is true that a lot of schools are unauthorised and a lot of mishandling is taking place at the administration level. People are running from pillar to post to get things done. However, I don’t have much statistics on that (unauthorised schools) to talk about the issue (at present). I still need two months to settle down in the department.I will review all financial difficulties for the department and come up with a plan. I will try to make the education department better than what it is today.

'(Textbook) revisions by BJP have to be changed... hijab ban wasn't needed'Premium Story
‘Political chameleon’: BJP, Congress Delhi units on same page against Kejriwal over central Ordinance
The Indian Express | 5 days ago | |
The Indian Express
5 days ago | |

As he continues to reach out to Opposition leaders seeking support against the Centre’s Ordinance wresting control of ‘services’ from the Delhi government, leaders from the BJP and Congress’s Delhi units are unanimous in their offensive against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the issue.After Kejriwal publicly sought a meeting with former Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, leaders from both Delhi BJP and Congress have become more vocal in their opposition against his quest for support from parties and leaders who they said he had himself targeted over corruption charges.Reacting to the AAP national convenor’s meeting with CPI(M) leaders over seeking support against the Central Government’s Ordinance a day earlier, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said Kejriwal had made himself a subject of ridicule by “knocking on every door possible” over the issue.“It’s surprising to see Kejriwal, like a political joker, knock on the doors of leaders whom he just till yesterday not only called corrupt but also contested allegations against across the country,” Sachdeva said.“Only a true chameleon-like Kejriwal can contest against the CPM in Kerala, the Samajwadi Party in UP, the Congress in Gujarat, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, MP, Karnataka etc. and the TMC in Bengal and then innocently seek their political support,” Sachdeva added.Leaders from the Congress’ Punjab and Delhi units had, at a meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge including senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal among others on Monday, bluntly argued against extending any support to the AAP in addition to underlying the need to keep Kejriwal “at an arm’s length.”Reacting to the tweet by Kejriwal saying he had sought time to meet Gandhi, Congress leader Alka Lamba had shared AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh’s video attacking parties “run by political families” along with slides of the Delhi chief minister’s meetings with the same leaders seeking support.Lamba underlined the AAP was “bowing before those same political families” that Singh had sought to attack through his speech. “Will you show the courage to repeat it again? Or will you apologise?” she had asked.The AAP had routed the Congress in Delhi—reducing it to nought in successive Assembly elections in 2015 and 2020. It also ousted the Congress from power in Punjab in the 2022 Assembly polls.On Monday, sources said the Punjab unit of the Congress told the leadership that it will go the Delhi unit’s way if the party enters into any understanding with the AAP. A senior leader said the AAP was on a “spree to put the entire Congress behind bars in Punjab”.Among those who attended the Congress leadership’s meeting with the Delhi unit were Delhi AICC in-charge Shaktisinh Gohil, Delhi president Anil Chaudhary, and other senior leaders including Ajay Maken, Subhash Chopra, J P Agarwal, Arvinder Singh Lovely, Devender Yadav, and Haroon Yusuf.Maken, who has already taken an aggressive stance over the ordinance matter against any association with the AAP, reiterated his position forcefully”.“Leaders from Delhi spoke against supporting the AAP on the Ordinance. However, at least two of them spoke in favour of supporting the Ordinance but only due to technical reasons,” a leader, who was part of the meeting, said.“These two leaders, Lovely and Chopra, were of the opinion that support for the ordinance was warranted given the Congress’s previous stand in favour of more administrative powers for an elected government in Delhi. However, both said the final decision regarding this was up to the high command.”Both its Delhi and Punjab units are not in favour of the Congress opposing the Ordinance, with some of their leaders suggesting that the party stage a walk-out when the Bill is put to vote.A Delhi leader had said, “When it comes to the Ordinance, the Delhi unit was of the opinion that the BJP will somehow be able to push it through, so it will be a battle not worth fighting, given the stakes for us when it comes to triggering discontent among our state units across the country by showing any overt support for the AAP”.Taking aim at the AAP chief, a Delhi leader had claimed, “Kejriwal is using this ordinance as a bogey to appear as a self-styled saviour of the Constitution. This is only because he is embroiled in corruption charges which have dented his image.”

‘Political chameleon’: BJP, Congress Delhi units on same page against Kejriwal over central Ordinance
Gehlot-Pilot ‘peace deal’ more a piecemeal; over to high command
The Indian Express | 6 days ago | |
The Indian Express
6 days ago | |

After months of bickering and bitter exchanges, the Congress high command on Monday managed to make both Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot sit together but could not announce a peace formula despite claiming that both of them have “unitedly and unanimously” agreed to a “proposal”.After marathon meetings Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi had with Gehlot and Pilot – separately as well as together – AICC general secretary in charge of organisation K C Venugopal announced that both the leaders have agreed “to go together” and fight the upcoming Assembly elections unitedly.Kharge, Gandhi, Venugopal and AICC in charge of Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa met Gehlot first. The discussion went on for nearly two hours. Pilot reached Kharge’s 10, Rajaji Marg residence two hours later – around 8 pm – and the discussions continued for two more hours. The leaders emerged shortly after 10 pm and spoke to the media but did not reveal much despite claiming that there was an agreement.“In view of the upcoming Rajasthan Assembly election, Congress president (Kharge) and Rahul Gandhi had a detailed four-hour-long discussion with Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot. In this discussion, we have decided to fight the election unitedly. Both of them are in agreement that the Congress party has to go together and definitely we will win elections in Rajasthan. It is very clear that Rajasthan is going to be a strong state for the Congress party. We are going to win. Therefore, both the leaders unitedly and unanimously agreed to the proposal…,” Venugopal said.Gehlot and Pilot stood on either side but did not speak.Asked what the proposal was, Venugopal merely said: “Both of them have left it to the high command. The high command will take the decision. Don’t worry about that. We decided that both the leaders have agreed to go together and it will be a joint fight against the BJP and we will win the state.”That the high command could not announce details of the peace formula signal that there are still points of disagreement. The party also released photographs of the meeting where all six – Kharge, Gandhi, Gehlot, Pilot, Venugopal and Randhawa – were sitting together in an attempt to show an united face.Hours before the meeting, Gehlot stirred the pot, saying there is no tradition in the Congress to offer any position to any leader or worker to pacify him created a stir.Some party leaders argued that both Gehlot and Pilot have taken their tussle too far and a climb down would require a face-saving formula for both.But Gehlot’s remark was read as an attempt to derail any possible peace formula from the high command to placate Pilot, who had been targeting the Chief Minister, accusing his government of not taking any action in alleged corruption cases against the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government.Talking to reporters, Gehlot said there is no such tradition in the party to offer posts to any leader in order to pacify him.“I have not heard such a thing before…there is no such tradition in the Congress where any leader demands something and the party high command offers to give that position. We have not heard of such a formula ever,” he said when asked about reports of a formula being worked out to placate Pilot.A talk in the party circles had been that Pilot could be made the state Congress president again. Rubbishing such reports, Gehlot said that it is only the creation of the media and some leaders may be getting such stories planted.“The high command is strong even today. Such a situation has not come when it offers any leader a post of his choice to pacify him. Such a thing has not happened before and will not happen in the future. The Congress party and the high command is very strong and no leader or worker has the courage to demand any position. It does not happen like that,” Gehlot said.The meeting comes days after Pilot took out a five-day yatra from Ajmer to Jaipur demanding a high-level inquiry into alleged corruption cases against the Raje government, disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission and its reconstitution backed by a new law and compensation for “lakhs of students”, who have suffered economically due to question paper leaks. In fact, he had given a 15-day ultimatum to the Gehlot government to act on his demands.

Gehlot-Pilot ‘peace deal’ more a piecemeal; over to high command
Amit Shah to visit Manipur, day after fresh clashes in state
The Indian Express | 1 week ago | |
The Indian Express
1 week ago | |

A DAY ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Manipur, his first since clashes erupted there on May 3, the state witnessed a fresh round of violence Sunday, resulting in at least two deaths, including that of a policeman, in separate instances of firing. This came even as Chief Minister Biren Singh said that around 40 Kuki militants — who he said were targeting civilians — have been killed so far by security forces.Singh did not specify the period during which the militants were killed.As fresh arson and firing incidents began in the early hours of Sunday, a civilian was killed by militants in a village in Imphal West district and a police personnel was killed and another injured at Sugnu in Kakching district in an exchange of fire with the insurgents.Officials said more than a dozen people were injured in separate instances of firing upon civilians and clashes between militants and security forces through the day.After the large-scale violence that engulfed the state for three days since May 3 subsided, sporadic incidents of shooting and arson had continued to take place over the past three weeks, particularly in the foothill areas where the Meitei-dominated valley meets Kuki-Zomi-dominated hills.On the intervening night of May 27 and May 28, violence broke out in multiple such areas, including Sekmai, Phayeng, Torbung, Yaingangpokpi, Serou Lamkhai and Sugnu, and continued into the day. Following the fresh violence, authorities lifted curfew relaxations in Imphal West and Imphal East districts.“According to our information, firing has been reported from Sugnu in Kakching, Kangvi in Churachandpur, Kangchup in Imphal West, Sagolmang in Imphal East, Nungoipokpi in Bishenpur, Khurkhul in Imphal West and YKPI in Kangpokpi,” an official was quoted by PTI as saying.Branding the Kuki militants as “terrorists”, Chief Minister Singh told reporters, “We have launched operations against the terrorists who have been attacking civilians using sophisticated weapons like M16, AK 47 and snipers. So far, we have received reports that around 40 of them have been killed. Several others have also been captured….”He said one civilian was killed when the “terrorists” launched an attack at Phayeng in Imphal West district while several were injured in clashes across the state.“The fight is between the state and central forces against the terrorists who are trying to break Manipur. We will take strong action. It is not a fight between communities,” he said.Through the day on Sunday, Sugnu – a town with a mixed population in the area bordering Kakching district in the valley and Chandel district in the hills – and the areas around it saw exchange of fire and arson. The road leading to the town had fast-moving two-way traffic. Leaving the town were vehicles ferrying mostly women, children and the elderly out of Sugnu. And flowing towards the town in assorted vehicles, were hundreds of men from other villages and towns in the valley, many of them armed with guns, catapults, and large knives, rushing to “defend” the area.“We heard that shooting began here late at night. We don’t trust the Army and security personnel. These incidents keep going on and they can’t seem to do anything. We want to defend ourselves,” said Hemjit Laishram, who came from Pangantabi village.Nimai Wahengbam, a resident of Sugnu who was escorting his sister and her children out of the town, said, “The firing started around 2 am in the presence of security personnel. The reinforcements from other villages arrived around 5 am, and burned down a bridge to Kakching to prevent movement towards it.”Till 2 pm, when The Indian Express was present at the site, heavy firing continued to take place in the area between security personnel and alleged militants even as residents continued to flee the area. Signs of “retaliatory” action were also evident, with the Kuki village Lanching burnt to the ground.The situation remained charged with tension throughout the district, with women in large numbers assembled on the road leading to Sugnu with sticks in hand, stopping and checking the vehicles.“We want to take control because we are not happy with the Army. We want them to go back,” said R K Lakshmi Devi, who stood on the road with dozens of other women from the village at Wangoo Lamkhai. The men of the village had left for Sugnu.The Chief Minister appealed to the women to not block the roads. “I appeal to the women folk who have come out in the streets and highways, blocking roads to refrain from doing so. How can the security forces protect the lives and properties of the public if their movements are disrupted? Please cooperate with the security forces, pray for them and pray for Manipur,” he said. “I assure the public that the state government will wipe out the terrorists and save Manipur. Have faith in the government. Leave it to us.”Meanwhile, anger continued to be directed towards public representatives, with mobs attempting to storm the private residences of Kakching MLA Mayanglambam Rameshwar and Uripok MLA Kh Raghumani Singh on Sunday.—With PTI inputs

Amit Shah to visit Manipur, day after fresh clashes in state
Huge stride towards Oppn unity: JD(U) announces mega meeting, TMC to attend
The Indian Express | 1 week ago | |
The Indian Express
1 week ago | |

The Janata Dal (United) on Sunday said the first official meeting of Opposition parties would take place in Patna on June 12, with the top leaders of several non-BJP outfits set to attend. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) confirmed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would attend the meeting, which will be the first big statement of Opposition unity in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections next year.“There will be a meeting of Opposition parties in Patna on June 12,” senior JD(U) leader Manjit Singh said. A top JD(U) leader said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had revealed the date of the meeting during an informal meeting with his party colleagues. Congress insiders in New Delhi said Mamata Banerjee had asked Nitish Kumar to take the lead in organising the event since several parties, including the TMC, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), have a problem with the Congress being viewed as the leader of any eventual anti-BJP coalition. Since meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi last month, Nitish has been reaching out to the Opposition to bring them together on one platform before the Lok Sabha elections.A senior JD(U) leader said, “The meeting is finally going to happen in Patna. The idea was first mooted by West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee during her meeting with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar recently, recollecting socialist legend Jayaprakash Narayan’s efforts to form the Janata Party in 1977 by bringing together several parties under one roof. We all liked to go with the symbolism and Patna is ready to host a historic show of Opposition unity.”Earlier this week, JD(U) chief spokesperson and advisor K C Tyagi hinted that work on organising the Patna meeting was going on. “Nitish Kumar has already met all the top Opposition leaders and now the stage is set to take it to a logical conclusion. The Bihar CM has been able to break the ice between the Congress and the AAP, and the Congress and the TMC,” he said.TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay said Mamata Banerjee would attend the event. “The Opposition parties will put up a united fight against the BJP. Mamata Banerjee has made her points clear. If the Congress follows the same path, then it will further strengthen Opposition unity. Nitish Kumar came down here to meet Mamata Banerjee. She proposed that the meeting be held in Patna. They have accepted it. If all parties come together, then it will definitely boost our unity.”However, West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC) president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said notwithstanding what happens in Patna, his party would continue to fight the TMC in the state. “Even in Parliament, sometimes they (TMC) stand with us and sometimes they don’t. But that will not stop our fight against the TMC in Bengal. Notwithstanding the Opposition meeting and whether both parties come together, our movement against them will go on.”The JD(U) sees the Patna conclave as a great boost for Nitish Kumar’s ambition to showcase himself as a key leader in the anti-BJP camp in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. According to party insiders, there could be one-on-one contests between the BJP and an Opposition party in about 475 seats.Besides the JD(U), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) from Bihar, and the TMC, the other parties that are expected to attend the rally are the Samajwadi Party (SP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). The confirmation of the presence of the top leaders of some of these parties is awaited, according to JD(U) insiders.— With inputs from ENS Delhi and Kolkata

Huge stride towards Oppn unity: JD(U) announces mega meeting, TMC to attend
Since 2017 when Yogi took charge, over one killed every fortnight in police encountersPremium Story
The Indian Express | 1 week ago | |
The Indian Express
1 week ago | |

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has always underlined his crackdown on crime as a key imperative of his governance. To that effect, police encounters and bulldozing of properties of alleged criminals have become the visible symbols of a tough government bent on making Uttar Pradesh “apradh mukt” or crime-free.An investigation of police records by The Indian Express reveals that since March 2017, when Yogi Adityanath took charge, and till date, the state has witnessed 186 encounters. This works out to more than one alleged criminal being killed by the police every 15 days.In these six years, when it comes to police firing to injure (usually in the leg), the number goes up to 5,046 — more than 30 alleged criminals being shot at and injured every 15 days.In the list of 186 killed in police encounters, records show, as many as 96 alleged criminals faced murder cases, two of whom faced cases of molestation and gangrape, and POCSO.Police officials point out that between 2016 and 2022, there has been a sharp dip across the board in crime: 82% drop in dacoity and a 37% drop in murder, as per official records.But few are linking this to encounters. In fact, when asked about these findings, Prashant Kumar, Special DG, Crime and Law & Order, Uttar Pradesh Police (see interview) told The Indian Express: “Police encounters have never been a part of our strategy to control heinous crimes or keep a check on hardened criminals.”Records show that most of the encounter deaths go, effectively, unquestioned and unchallenged.A magisterial inquiry – the mandatory process in every police encounter that results in death – in as many as 161 encounters has been completed and disposed of with no objections raised by anyone, according to records.Significantly, in a magisterial inquiry, the magistrate is required to record the statement of the policemen involved in action and any other people who want to testify, and submit the report with their own findings. In none of the 161 cases (25 still pending), were any adverse comments mentioned in the magisterial inquiry report.Another procedural activity after each encounter relates to lodging of a case against the criminal (s) killed by the police and filing of a closure report in the court. Official records show that the police have filed closure reports in 156 of the 186 encounters. The respective courts have accepted these in 141 cases so far; 15 are pending. In the remaining 30 cases, the police investigation is pending, according to the records.The scrutiny of encounter data shows that almost a third of these or 65 alleged criminals were shot and killed by the police in districts under Meerut zone. The Varanasi and Agra zones accounted for 20 and 14, respectively.In ‘Operation Langda’ (in which an alleged criminal is shot in the leg and injured), the records show that between March 2017 and April 2023, as many as 5,046 criminals were shot in their legs during the encounter. Here again, Meerut zone topped the list with 1,752 wanted accused getting injured due to police firing.When asked why Meerut dominated these lists, Prashant Kumar, Special DG, Crime and Law & Order, Uttar Pradesh Police (see interview) told The Indian Express, “West UP has been traditionally crime prone.”During this six-year period – March 2017 to April 2023, as many as 13 policemen were killed in exchange of fire in the state, and another 1,443 injured. One of 13 policemen killed, and as many as 405 of the policemen hurt are from Meerut zone, according to the records.The first criminal shot dead after Yogi Adityanath took charge as UP Chief Minister was on March 31, 2017. Identified as Gurmeet, he was a resident of Nandanpur village in Nangal police station area of Saharanpur, and killed in exchange of fire. The latest police encounter was on May 14 in which two men, Umesh Chandra alias Kallu, 27, and Ramesh, 40, wanted for the murder of police constable Bhedjeet Singh were killed in Jalaun under Kanpur zone. Police said Singh was allegedly killed on May 9 when he was chasing the two.

Since 2017 when Yogi took charge, over one killed every fortnight in police encountersPremium Story
Ashok Gehlot: 'Congress will be victorious in Rajasthan if it unitedly contests elections'
The Indian Express | 1 week ago | |
The Indian Express
1 week ago | |

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said he believes the Congress will return to power if it unitedly contests the upcoming assembly elections in the state.Gehlot, while avoiding a question on dissident Congress leader Sachin Pilot, further said everyone in the Congress accepts the high command’s decision.In a meeting on May 15, Pilot warned that if his demands were not met by the end of this month, he would launch a state-wide agitation.Pilot has been demanding, among others, a high-level inquiry into alleged scams during the tenure of Gehlot’s predecessor Vasundhara Raje.On the question of some leaders giving ultimatums to governments headed by their own parties, Gehlot told reporters, “Ye toh media wale jyada faila dete hai (The media plays up these issues). We do not believe in these (things). We believe that the entire Congress should fight the elections unitedly, we will come back victorious.” Assembly elections are due in Rajasthan later this year.The Congress is likely to hold a meeting regarding Rajasthan in Delhi in the next few days.When asked about the meeting, Gehlot said, “There will be discussions. Everyone will give their suggestions and instructions will be issued by the high command after that.“Once the high command, the Congress president takes a decision, everyone accepts the decision. Then we get back to work.” Gehlot further said, “I hope that in the discussion that will take place, Karnataka’s experience may be useful for us. There will be discussions on that too. All of us will accept the decisions taken together and then move forward.” Taking a dig at the BJP over the Karnataka assembly election results, Gehlot said, “The people of Karnataka have taught a lesson (to the BJP) that governments are not formed by donations and spending money.“The path shown by Karnataka… this path will be shown by the people in every state of the country.” The Rajasthan chief minister said the state government’s inflation relief camp campaign is running successfully and there is enthusiasm among the people.This campaign has been designed in such a way that people get relief from inflation, he added.

Ashok Gehlot: 'Congress will be victorious in Rajasthan if it unitedly contests elections'
After Mann’s allegations, Channi prays at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, says he never accepted or demanded any bribe
The Indian Express | 1 week ago | |
The Indian Express
1 week ago | |

A day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accused his predecessor Charanjit Singh Channi of demanding a bribe of Rs 2 crore from a cricket player, the Congress leader performed an ardas in a gurdwara and swore that he had never demanded or accepted any bribe.Flanked by his supporters, Channi went to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Chamkaur Sahib, his constituency, and swore in front of the Guru Granth Sahib. Channi said, “I have come to perform an ardas that the incumbent chief minister has levelled allegations against me of seeking a bribe of Rs 2 crore. Whatever I have got was given by you. In 2007, I performed an ardas, I was made MLA thrice, a minister and CM. I owe all this to you. That is why I have come to you now after these allegations.”“I am telling the truth that I have never sent my nephew to seek more from anyone. I never accepted any bribe, nor did I send my nephews to anyone. These are the false allegations against me. I am answerable to you. You are my protector. Still, I say that if I ever sent my nephew to anyone to seek a bribe for giving a job or a transfer, then I am a sinner for my next life as well,” he added. On Monday, CM Mann had said when he went to watch a cricket match in Dharamshala recently, a player told him that when he approached Channi with a request for a job under sports quota, he was asked to meet his nephew. According to Mann, Channi’s nephew told him it would take “two”. Mann said the player thought he was asking for Rs 2 lakh for the job. But when he met Channi’s nephew with Rs 2 lakh, he “abused him saying he meant Rs 2 crore, not Rs 2 lakh.” Mann alleged Channi’s nephew used to demand Rs 2 crore for every job. Referring to Congress leaders, he said that these people say they are poor. “When the Vigilance goes to Channi’s house, it is said that the vigilance is going to the house of the poor. Has vigilance ever gone to the homes of the poor?” he had asked.Channi is already facing an investigation in a disproportionate assets case.

After Mann’s allegations, Channi prays at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, says he never accepted or demanded any bribe
Mission Oppn unity: Nitish, Tejashwi to meet Kharge, Rahul today
The Indian Express | 2 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
2 weeks ago | |

Over the last one month, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav had met several key opposition leaders as part of their attempt to build a non-BJP front to take on the ruling party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.On Monday, the duo will meet Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi to share the details of the confabulations they had with various opposition leaders and possibly fix the date for a big opposition conclave in Patna.Kumar and Tejashwi had last met Kharge and Rahul on April 12 during which it was decided that the Bihar CM would reach out to leaders of six parties, most of them who do not share a good equation with the grand old party and at least two that are not in the Opposition fold.Over the last month, Kumar met Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal. He also had discussions with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray and NCP supremo Sharad Pawar besides Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D Raja.Kumar and Yadav have not been able to meet Telangana CM and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and YSRCP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. Kumar is keen that the Opposition try and field one common candidate against the BJP in as many seats as possible to avert vote division.Although the idea of an opposition front against the BJP is riddled with hurdles as many of the Opposition parties are pitted against each other in many states — West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana being key examples — and there are questions on who will lead the front, the leaders believe the anti-BJP parties have little option but to unite given the central government’s “high-handed ways”.For instance, most of the Opposition parties have slammed the BJP-led Central government for promulgating an ordinance that effectively nullified a recent Supreme Court order that handed over crucial powers to the Delhi government. Opposition parties across the board have accused the Modi government of “bulldozing the Constitutional federal framework”.There has been some shifting of stands recently. Banerjee, who had earlier declared that her party would go alone in the Lok Sabha elections, some days ago said that the TMC was ready to support the Congress in seats where it was strong, if it did likewise.Separately, the Congress has also decided to begin the ground work early for the crucial Assembly elections scheduled to take place in November-December. Buoyed by the victory in Karnataka, the party is planning to roll out its campaign in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Telangana early. The Congress leadership has called a meeting of in-charges and top leaders of these states on May 24 to plan the strategy for the elections.

Mission Oppn unity: Nitish, Tejashwi to meet Kharge, Rahul today
Rebuff to Centralism 
The Indian Express | 2 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
2 weeks ago | |

It is said that ‘misfortunes don’t come singly’. The week beginning May 7, 2023, was brutal for the BJP. On May 11, the Supreme Court delivered two judgments. Both were of Constitution Benches (five judges) and both interpreted key provisions of the Constitution. Both amounted to two tight slaps on the face of the government. The Karnataka election results came on May 13.The BJP government’s refuge in the case of adversity is ‘silence’. Neither the usually self-assured Hon’ble Home Minister nor the voluble former Hon’ble Law Minister reacted to the judgments or the Karnataka election results.Constitutional TransgressionsThe Delhi case was quite simple. In 2018, the Supreme Court had interpreted Article 239AA of the Constitution and held that in all matters save public order, police and land, the executive power was vested in the Council of Ministers of the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor, Delhi was obliged to act on the ‘aid and advice’ of the Council of Ministers. There was lingering doubt about ‘Services’ — who will control the civil servants. The issue was put to rest by the May 11 judgment and it was declared that the Ministers had control over the ‘ Services’. Every LG since 2014 must share the blame for not honouring the essence of a democratic, federal system of government.The second case was complex only because the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution had not been interpreted authoritatively and unambiguously in previous judgments. After the Tenth Schedule was amended in 2004 there is no concept of a ‘split’ in a legislature party. The Tenth Schedule allowed an exception from the perils of defection only if one of two conditions was satisfied: (1) if the parent political party merged with another political party and not less than two-thirds of the members of the legislature party agreed to such merger; (2) if the legislator(s) has/have not accepted the merger and opted to function as a separate group in the legislature. If neither of the two conditions was satisfied, the dissident legislators continued to belong to the legislature party and were obliged to obey the whip of the parent political party.Unconstitutional GovernmentA situation arose in Maharashtra where 16 legislators led by Mr Eknath Shinde broke away from the Shiv Sena legislature party. Their parent political party had not, on that day, merged with another political party (and has not done so even today). None of the exceptional circumstances under the Tenth Schedule existed. Hence, the dissidents were obliged to act and vote as directed by the whip of Shiv Sena issued on June 21, 2022.Defying the whip, the Eknath Shinde group joined hands with the BJP. The Governor, without any cause (as found by the Supreme Court) asked Mr Uddhav Thackeray, chief minister, to seek the vote of confidence of the legislative assembly. Mr Thackeray (on poor advice) resigned without facing the legislative assembly. Promptly, the Governor, appointedMr Shinde as the chief minister and swore in a coalition government of the Shinde group and the BJP. The Shiv Sena pressed the Speaker to disqualify the 16 legislators. The Speaker sat on the petition (which has become the practice in many legislatures).The Supreme Court ruled that the ‘Whip’ is the person appointed by the political party (in this case, Shiv Sena); that the Governor had no cause to call a session of the legislative assembly and direct Mr Thackeray to secure a vote of confidence; and that the Speaker was obliged to decide on the disqualification petition as soon as possible.In this column, I am concerned with the conduct of the Constitutional functionaries. It is clear that the Governor exceeded his jurisdiction and the Speaker did not exercise his jurisdiction. Both were guilty of dereliction of duty. Both were complicit in installing or allowing an unconstitutional government to remain in office since June 2022.The Overarching GoalThe infamous Operation Lotus(es) in different states; the Bulldozer justice in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam; the denial or reduction of funds to non-BJP ruled states on one pretext or other; the rash of criminal cases against Opposition political leaders; the Constitutionally-suspect laws such as the amendment of Article 370 and the law on electoral bonds; the threat of enacting a Uniform Civil Code; the threat of creating a National Register of Citizens; the use of List III-Concurrent List to override State laws (e.g. education); the usurpation of taxation powers under the GST laws; and many other actions are aimed at achieving one overarching goal — to bring 140 crore people under one umbrella of governance under an omnipotent and omnipresent central government.It is called ‘centralism’. Examples of countries where ‘centralism’ prevails are China, Russia, Turkey, etc.The two judgments of the Supreme Court have interdicted the drift towards ‘centralism’. The Karnataka verdict has derailed the vaunted double-engine government. The best inoculation against ‘centralism’ is to keep our electoral and political system plural — several parties winning power in the states and at least two parties contesting for power at the Centre. Two battles have been won in the Supreme Court and one in Karnataka, but many more lie ahead.

Rebuff to Centralism 
Surjewala on K'taka CM selection: ‘Wanted a team of 11, not a team of one’Premium Story
The Indian Express | 2 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
2 weeks ago | |

Hours after the Congress brokered a deal between Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, said the party leadership was of the view that both the leaders should be given responsibility. “We wanted a team of 11, not a team of one, to run the state,” he said.Speaking to The Indian Express, Surjewala said both the leaders were happy, but was noncommittal when asked whether Siddaramaiah would be chief minister for the full term of five years. Sources close to Shivakumar have maintained that the agreement involves a rotational chief minister formula.Asked whether the leadership has agreed on a term-sharing pact and whether Siddaramaiah would remain CM for five years, Surjewala said: “The only power-sharing formula is to serve as servants of Karnataka’s people.”“Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are capable enough to be the chief minister. Unlike the BJP in Karnataka, the Congress has a range of leadership at all rungs, whose cumulative effort is the principal reason for its victory. The approach of (Congress president) Mallikarjun Kharge was, and has always been, consensus, unanimity and unity. He held detailed deliberations over two-and-a-half days and finally arrived at a solution where both can participate in implementing the party’s development agenda,” Surjewala said.Saying that Kharge was conversant with the intricacies of the state, he added: “Based on his own experience and knowledge of public life, and the fact that he has himself served the state for over five decades, he decided that both need to be given responsibility, instead of any one… so it is never an either/ or choice, but one where both contributed together. We wanted a team of 11, not a team of one, to run the state,” he said.Incidentally, Kharge was denied the Karnataka CM’s post thrice earlier.Asked about Shivakumar’s brother and Lok Sabha MP D K Suresh’s remarks that he was not entirely happy with the arrangement, Surjewala said: “That is D K Suresh’s opinion, and he is entitled to one. The Congress has the support of 138 legislators – 135 Congress MLAs, one from the Sarvodaya Party which is our ally, and the unconditional backing of two Independents. There is no reason why we won’t fulfill every single dream of the people of Karnataka and stand up to every promise we have made.”

Surjewala on K'taka CM selection: ‘Wanted a team of 11, not a team of one’Premium Story
Overnight meeting, breakfast cheer, give & take: how deal sealed for Siddaramaiah, ShivakumarPremium Story
The Indian Express | 2 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
2 weeks ago | |

Karnataka Chief Minister-designate Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will take oath in Bengaluru on Saturday, in an event likely to be attended by leaders of several opposition parties.Siddaramaiah met Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot to stake claim to form the government shortly after he was formally elected the leader of the Congress Legislature Party(CLP) at a meeting of the newly elected party MLAs on Thursday evening.In a tweet, AICC in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala said the resolution was endorsed by all the CLP members “unanimously”.Sh. D.K.Shivakumar moves a resolution to elect Sh. Siddaramaiah as the new leader of Congress Legislature Party in #Karnataka .All the members of CLP endorse it unanimously. pic.twitter.com/lWrhMuK7T8— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 18, 2023Congress sources said the swearing-in will see around 20 ministers inducted into the Cabinet. Negotiations are on over the number of loyalists from both the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps to be given Cabinet berths, they said.The deadlock over the Karnataka government formation ended earlier in the day in Delhi as Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar – who had not met even once despite being in the Capital for the last two days – reached K C Venugopal’s residence for breakfast. The two leaders were not fully in agreement with the leadership formula which had been hammered out until hours earlier.By the wee hours of Thursday, however, the Congress leadership finally managed to persuade Shivakumar, 61, to accept the post of Deputy Chief Minister, on the promise that he would be the sole Deputy CM.While Siddaramaiah, 75, remained the high command’s choice for CM throughout the two days of talks, it did not want to ignore Shivakumar’s claim and leave him fretting and fuming. On the other hand, the leadership desperately wanted the Vokkaliga heavyweight known for his organisational skills to be part of the government to ensure stability.This is particularly true given that the Lok Sabha elections are just a little over a year away. A united house would be a prerequisite for the party to translate its Assembly election victory into Lok Sabha success in the state which accounts for 28 seats – the seventh largest in the country in terms of constituencies.Both party president Mallikarjun Kharge and his predecessor Sonia Gandhi were also of the view that Shivakumar deserved recognition for his contribution to the party and for leading it to victory. Sonia’s assurance in as many words to Shivakumar is said to have proved the clincher. Shivakumar was told that he had time on his side and the party saw in him a future leader of Karnataka.Karnataka’s secure future and our peoples welfare is our top priority, and we are united in guaranteeing that. pic.twitter.com/sNROprdn5H— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) May 18, 2023Sources said that earlier, on Wednesday, Shivakumar was conveyed during meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge that Siddaramaiah would become CM. Rahul made it clear that the CM would be the leader with the support of a majority of the MLAs, and that the party would honour their views, making the writing in the wall clear for Shivakumar.Sources said Rahul also clearly told Shivakumar that he needed to follow the decision taken by the Congress president (Kharge), and tone down any voices of protest.Another negative on Shivakumar’s side were the Enforcement Directorate and CBI cases against him.Apart from the fact that most of the MLAs are with Siddaramaiah, the Congress leadership also prefers the former CM as he holds a credible record of governance at a time that it wants to showcase governance as a strength before the next round of Assembly elections, and the big Lok Sabha battle next year. The party wants to roll out its welfare promises as early as possible and ensure that the benefits reach the people soon.The strong appeal that Siddaramaiah has among the Dalits, backward classes and Muslims is another plus which could come in handy in the Lok Sabha elections.Shivakumar’s side pressed for power-sharing with Siddaramaiah during the five-year term, and a public announcement on the same, as a prime condition. His associates cited the ignominious fate of the Congress Deputy CM who was at the receiving end of an unofficial power-sharing pact of the party in Chhattisgarh, and the never-settled power tussle between the CM and Deputy CM in Rajasthan.Shivakumar drove a hard bargain on the matter, but the Congress refused to commit to it, or to make a public announcement about it. Shivakumar’s hand was forced due to fast-paced developments Wednesday, including celebrations outside Siddaramiah’s residence in Bengaluru, and slogan shouting by Shivakumar supporters in Delhi, which were frowned upon by the leadership.While sources close to Shivakumar continued to insist Thursday that the pact involved a two-and-a-half-year term-sharing formula, the party leadership was noncommittal.The last hurdle was Shivakumar’s insistence that he would not be one of two or three Deputy CMs. There was talk that the Congress was thinking about making one or two leaders from the Lingayat, Dalit and Muslim communities also as Deputy CMs.Sources said Kharge spoke to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who is in Shimla, to figure out the nuances of the details. During back-to-back late night meetings, AICC general secretary in-charge of organisation K C Venugopal and AICC in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala convinced Shivakumar that he would be the sole Deputy CM.With Shivakumar finally agreeing to the formula, Venugopal and Surjewala met Siddaramaiah with it. Sources said Siddaramaiah was not happy with the one Deputy CM formula as he was of the view that the party should ensure “social balance”. But, “reluctantly”, he too agreed.Meanwhile, as Siddaramaiah met Venugopal and Surjewala, Shivakumar dropped in at Kharge’s 10, Rajaji Marg, for a brief confabulation.With both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar on board, Venugopal and Surjewala met Kharge for the final go-ahead. Shortly after 2 am, Shivakumar’s letter to MLAs informing them about the CLP meeting in Bengaluru on Thursday evening was released.Shivakumar’s brother and Lok Sabha MP D K Suresh could not hide his disenchantment at how things had turned out. He said he was not fully happy and that there was a long way to go.Leaving nothing to chance till the end, Venugopal and Surjewala next ensured a picture of bonhomie, with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar joining them for breakfast. The two Karnataka leaders drove in separate cars, but all four drove away together to Kharge’s residence.Later, Siddaramaiah flew back to Bengaluru in a special plane with Shivakumar and Venugopal. He had come to Delhi along with aides, who were asked to stay back to make room for the two.Asked whether there was a power-sharing formula between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, Venugopal said Thursday: “(We will) share power with the people of Karnataka. Only that is there. Nothing else.” He also announced that Shivakumar would continue as Karnataka Congress president, “till the Parliament elections are over” – which seemed to indicate that there could be a change after that. And that Siddaramaiah would take oath with a group of ministers on May 20 at 12.30 pm.Venugopal and Surjewala said both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have the capability to become CM and lead the state. Venugopal said he saw nothing wrong in both staking claim for the top post. “Everybody has their own wish, their own desire to become CM… Both deserved it too.”The party is planning to make the oath-taking ceremony a platform to showcase Opposition unity. Kharge has started inviting senior Opposition leaders to the event.According to a letter from the Benglaru city police, the swearing-in ceremony will be attended by Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Kharge has also invited West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, her counterparts from Rajasthan (Ashok Gehlot), Chattisgarh (Bhupesh Baghel), Bihar (Nitish Kumar), Tamil Nadu (M K Stalin), Himachal Pradesh (Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu), Jharkhand (Hemant Soren) and Puducherry (N Rangaswamy) to attend the event.

Overnight meeting, breakfast cheer, give & take: how deal sealed for Siddaramaiah, ShivakumarPremium Story
GI tag to Himachali cap and Kinnauri apple under consideration: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
The Indian Express | 2 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
2 weeks ago | |

The process to secure Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Himachali cap, Sirmauri Loeya, Mandi Sepubari, Chamba metal craft, Kinnauri apple and Kinnauri ornaments is under way and the proposal is in consideration with the Registrar of Geographical Indication, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday.Sukhu said that GI status has been given to more than 400 traditional products of the state, including Kullu shawl, Chamba Rumal, Kinnaur shawl, Kangra painting, Lahaul woolen socks and gloves.GI tag is a status given to a product belonging exclusively to a particular area. The quality, reputation and any other characteristics of that particular product is generally attributed to the geographical origin of the product.The chief minister said that Kangra tea from Himachal was given GI status in 2005 by the Registrar of Geographical Indicators, Chennai and in March this year, the beverage from the hill state was granted the GI tag by the European Union, paving the way for the sale of the product in EU countries.He said that the sale of Kangra tea is expected to grow as registration was an important tool to recognise the quality, genuineness and reputation of the product in the European markets.Kangra tea is grown in Palampur, Baijnath, Kangra and Dharamshala in Kangra district, Jogindernagar of Mandi district and Bhattiyat area of Chamba district and is known for its unique taste and fragrance, attributed to its abundant pyrazine contents. Additionally, it also possesses medicinal values.

GI tag to Himachali cap and Kinnauri apple under consideration: Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu
Finally, a Cong-sensus: Siddaramaiah CM, Shivakumar solo Dy CM in K'taka
The Indian Express | 2 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
2 weeks ago | |

After four days of intense lobbying and hectic negotiations, the Congress leadership managed to broker a deal in the wee hours of Thursday between Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar to resolve the Karnataka chief minister tussle.As expected, Siddaramaiah will take over as the Chief Minister. Shivakumar will be sworn in as the sole Deputy Chief Minister, along with some significant portfolios. Shivakumar will continue on as the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.While the Shivakumar camp has claimed that the party leadership has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year term-sharing formula, it is not clear whether the leadership will announce it publicly. The two will take oath on May 20.Shivakumar was initially not enthusiastic about the central party leadership’s offers – a shared term with Siddaramiah, or the Deputy Chief Minister’s post with some important portfolios.He was not keen to become one of the two or three deputy chief ministers, given his stature as the state Congress chief who played a key role in bringing the party to power.The deal was sealed after the leadership late night agreed to Shivakumar’s demand to make him the only deputy chief minister. A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party will be held in Bengaluru this evening where Siddaramaiah will be officially elected as the CLP leader.

Finally, a Cong-sensus: Siddaramaiah CM, Shivakumar solo Dy CM in K'taka
CM decision likely today: Most newly-elected MLAs back Siddaramaiah
The Indian Express | 2 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
2 weeks ago | |

A day after the party’s 135 MLAs passed a one-line resolution authorising AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, the suspense continued on Monday, as both state party president D K Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stood their ground amid intense lobbying for the post of Chief Minister.While Siddaramaiah has emerged as the frontrunner, with majority of the newly elected MLAs learnt to have named him as their choice, Shivakumar played hardball, putting off his visit to Delhi where the action has shifted. Shivakumar’s brother and Lok Sabha MP, D K Suresh, met Kharge on his behalf instead.While a final decision is expected to be announced on Tuesday, the central leadership is yet to convince Shivakumar to accept the settlement. Shivakumar, who cited a stomach infection for cancelling his Delhi trip on Monday, is expected to reach the capital on Tuesday.Kharge met the three observers sent by him and AICC in-charge of the state, Randeep Surjewala, on Monday. He also had a meeting with AICC general secretary in charge of organisation, K C Venugopal. The observers — Sushil Kumar Shinde, AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh and former general secretary Deepak Babaria — conveyed to Kharge the outcome of the “secret ballot” that they conducted Sunday night among the MLAs in Bengaluru.Sources said majority of the MLAs have cited Siddaramaiah as their choice. The MLAs were asked to either write one name of their choice, or more than one name according to their order of preference, or just ‘high command’ if they wanted the leadership to decide. The exercise was over well after midnight.According to state party sources, 90 of the 135 MLAs indicated their support for Siddaramaiah after the former Chief Minister pressed the Congress observers to seek the MLAs’ individual opinions. The Shivakumar group is reported to have desisted from expressing an opinion, leaving the choice to the high command.Surjewala said the party will announce its decision by Tuesday evening. “The observers have submitted the report to the Congress president. We will hold consultations with all senior state leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and a decision will be taken after that by the Congress president,” he said.Confident that he has the numbers, Siddaramaiah reached Delhi by evening. Several MLAs who are known to be his close supporters, like M B Patil, R V Deshpande, Zameer Ahmed, K J George, Ashok Pattan and Byrathi Suresh, also reached Delhi to show support.In Bengaluru, Shivakumar admitted that he did not have the numbers, but underlined that it was his hard work that won the party 135 seats. He reiterated that he had taken over the state party unit’s leadership at a difficult time and had delivered the state as promised to then Congress president Sonia Gandhi, signalling that it was time to reward him.“I am a single man. I do not have the numbers. I will not talk about the numbers on my side. I am not here for worship of individuals, but of the party. I have 135 MLAs of the party with me. I am the state party president… The number we have today is 135,” he said.“I don’t have any personal number. Whatever the number, it is the Congress number… I had assured Sonia Gandhi when she appointed me, had assured Rahul Gandhi, Kharge… that my aim is to deliver Karnataka to the Congress party. Even at the conclave in Udaipur, Raipur (AICC session), we assured that we will work unitedly and deliver the Karnataka government to Delhi. That is what we assured,” he said.“I don’t have the strength to speak about others’ numbers, my strength is 135. I am the party president and, under my presidency, the party has won 135 seats in Karnataka, against the double-engine government, the corrupt administration,” he said.“I don’t want to answer any claims or anything. I’m a single man, I believe in one thing, that a single man with courage makes a majority. I have proved it. I don’t want to disclose what all has happened in the last five years… At a future point of time, I will disclose,” he said.Pointing out that the CLP passed a single-line resolution on Sunday, leaving the decision to the high command, the KPCC chief said: “Under my leadership, 135 MLAs, all of them with one voice, have said that the matter should be left to high command.”“Gandhiji said one thing: Be bold-hearted when you are defeated and large-hearted when you are victorious. When 15-16 of our MLAs left the party (in 2019), when we had a coalition government and lost it, I did not lose my heart. With courage, I took up the responsibility (as KPCC president),” he said.Responding to queries on claims by the Siddaramaiah camp that it had the support of majority of the Congress MLAs, the KPCC chief said he was not bothered about what others were doing. “I do not have any MLAs and I am not taking anyone to Delhi. There are 135 MLAs with the Congress, let anyone take any number of MLAs with them. I will not take anyone with me. I do not need anyone’s support. I have done my job,” he said.“You have all called me a rock. I have said the rock can be prayed to or destroyed. You do what you want with the rock, you can break it and make it a pillar, a statue or stones. I have told party workers that you should make me whatever you want and we should go to the steps of the Vidhana Soudha. Let them use me in any way they feel,” he said.“I am conscious of time. I have patience. I am willing to fight it out. We have used all the tactics in our arsenal to be successful,” he said.Meanwhile, Surjewala said the party elicited the opinions of all the 138 MLAs – 135 Congress, one ally, and two Independents supporting the party.Although the Congress has indicated that the new CM will be sworn in by Thursday, a formal announcement will only be made after consulting Shivakumar, who is reported to have maintained that he should be given the CM’s post and nothing less. The party hopes to placate him, and various proposals are on the table for discussions with him.In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Assembly, the Congress scored a resounding victory with 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.

CM decision likely today: Most newly-elected MLAs back Siddaramaiah
Khattar’s Jan Samvad programme disrupted again, a woman Sarpanch throws her dupatta at his feet
The Indian Express | 2 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
2 weeks ago | |

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s ongoing Jan Samvad (public connect) programme in Sirsa district was disrupted again Monday when a woman sarpanch confronted him, took off her dupatta (stole) and threw it on his feet. The woman was quickly removed from the stage and whisked away from the venue by the woman police personnel deputed on the spot.While the chief minister was addressing the gathering and interacting with them to hear their grievances, the woman, later identified as Naina Jhorhar, began raising the issue of non-availability of adequate staff in her village’s Primary Health Centre and there being no college in the radius of 25 kms. Khattar tried to convince her that her grievances would be redressed, but the woman continued talking on the microphone.Khattar told her that she can give her issue in writing. But, the woman continued speaking and said that she was an elected representative. She claimed that there was a murderous assault on her husband. As Khattar tried to interrupt and told her that there was no point of an argument, the woman said, “Mere pati pe jaanleva hamla hua hai. Toh, Sir agar aap nahi sunoge na, toh ek hindustani aurat ki izzat hoti hai (she uttered a few words, that were not clearly audible) and then she took off her dupatta and threw it on the chief minister’s feet and said “toh ye raha aapke kadmo mein, hindustani aurat ka dupatta”.While she was being removed from the venue, Khattar addressed the audience and said, “Dekhiye ye Jan Samvad ka matlab behas-baaji nahi, vohi jo maine pehle kaha tha, vohi yeh tamasha hai. Yaani hum rajneeti karne na aayein, baat kahein, baat sunein (The motive of this Jan Samvad is to share thought. Express ypur grievances and listen to the solution being offered. Do not politicise this event)” .Khattar said a few words that were not clearly audible and then said, “Aise thode hota hai, le jao isko le jao (This is not done. Take her away) ”.Later, the woman told media persons that her husband was attacked by a few men who have yet not been arrested.Meanwhile, a senior officer blamed the Opposition parties for the ruckus created by the woman“It is all part of the conspiracies being hatched by the Opposition, especially AAP. They provoke the CM deliberately to create a scene, shoot the videos and make it viral. It is not the only thing that the CM is doing during Jan Samvad.There are a large number of public-welfare issues that he is initiating and launching solely in the interest of people of Haryana,” the officer said.  Monday’s incident occurred a day after Khattar had rebuked a man in the gathering in Dabwali area when he entered into an argument with the chief minister over an issue. As the man sitting in the audience attempted to interrupt and say something, Khattar said, “Rajneeti mat karne do isko. Yeh rajneeti karne vaala hai Aam Aadmi Party ka karyakarta, isko utha kar ke pitayi karo aur bahar fenko (Don’t let this man do politics. He has come here to politicise the event. He is an AAP worker. Thrash him and throw him out)”.The remarks evoked a sharp reaction from AAP leader Anurag Dhanda who tweeted a video clip of the Jan Samvad and Khattar “used language, which does not behove a CM”. “AAP workers will ask you questions in each and every Jan Samvad programme. Yesterday you got our party workers detained in Sirsa, today you have got our party workers assaulted by the police in Dabwali,” Dhanda said, adding the AAP workers are not afraid of facing lathis or going to jails

Khattar’s Jan Samvad programme disrupted again, a woman Sarpanch throws her dupatta at his feet
Case filed against me by police under Maharashtra CM's pressure: Raut 
The Indian Express | 3 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
3 weeks ago | |

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged that the Nashik police have registered a case against him under pressure from Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis.Raut in a Twitter post also claimed that democracy and freedom have been severely affected in Maharashtra and said such “autocracy” has to be fought back.नाशिक पोलिसांनी माझ्या विरोधात भा. द. वि. कलम 505(1) अंतर्गत गुन्हा दाखल केला आहे. गुन्हा दाखल करण्यासाठी पोलिसांवर मुख्यमंत्री व गृहमंत्री महोदयांचा दबाव होता. माझा गुन्हा काय? सुप्रीम कोर्टाच्या निकालनंतर सरकारचे “गठन”बेकायदेशीर ठरले आहे . व्हिप पासून शिंदे यांना गटनेते पदी… pic.twitter.com/I3jqIT8BuH— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) May 15, 2023The Nashik police have registered the case against Rajya Sabha member and Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Raut for his alleged appeal to state officials and police personnel to not follow orders of the “illegal” state government, police earlier said.Raut had made the remarks on May 12, a day after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on the Shiv Sena-centric political imbroglio in Maharashtra.#WATCH | “I have only said that after the order of the Supreme Court, I think this govt is illegal and if the govt officials will follow the order of this govt then it will be illegal & action might be taken against them in the coming days,” says Uddhav faction leader and MP… https://t.co/E45r9MmHnq pic.twitter.com/akLdwpxomR— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2023The Nashik police suo motu took cognisance of the remarks and the case was registered under section 505(1) (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Police (Incitement to Disaffection) Act, and other relevant sections, an official said on Sunday.Section 505 (1) (b) deals with the “intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility”.Raut in a tweet on Monday claimed, “The police registered the case against me under pressure from the chief minister and state home minister.” The Rajya Sabha member wondered what was his crime.“I had expressed my opinion that the state administration should not follow the orders of this government because they might face legal implications in future. Is this even a crime? The state government directly filed a case against me,” he tweeted.The Supreme Court held on Thursday it cannot reinstate the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government headed by Uddhav Thackeray since he chose to resign without facing the floor test in the wake of a rebellion in his party.The unanimous verdict by a five-judge Constitution bench came as a relief for CM Shinde even as it censured former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari over his decision calling upon Thackeray to prove his majority in the Assembly based on a request by the Shinde faction of the Sena.Shinde, who led the rebellion in the Shiv Sena against Thackeray sparking a nine-day political crisis in June last year, later tied up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form a new government.Refusing to disqualify the 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs including Chief Minister Shinde, the bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said the court cannot ordinarily adjudicate disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law and directed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to take a decision on the pending matter within a “reasonable period.Citing the SC order, Raut in his Twitter post claimed, “After the Supreme Court’s verdict, the procedure that led to formation of the state government has now become illegal. The appointment of chief whip and Shinde as leader of the party in the Legislative Assembly has now become unconstitutional.” “The situation is such that the 16 MLAs can be disqualified any time. However, I am not afraid of any action against me,” he said.Democracy and freedom have been severely affected in Maharashtra, Raut claimed and said such “autocracy” has to be fought back.

Case filed against me by police under Maharashtra CM's pressure: Raut 
At public meetings, BJP seeks to expose ‘nawabi mentality’ of Arvind Kejriwal
The Indian Express | 3 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
3 weeks ago | |

Smarting from the recent Supreme Court verdict that handed the reins of ‘services’ to the AAP government, the BJP Sunday fanned out across the national capital to pitch Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s alleged VIP and anti-poor credentials as part of an informal bid for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.Aimed at exposing corruption allegations against the AAP government, the meetings saw party leaders juxtaposing the BJP-led Centre’s welfare schemes for the economically backward sections with the accusations related to Kejriwal’s “nawabi mentality” to the mix.The BJP announced it will intensify its fight against the AAP government’s “corruption” and “scams”, especially at unauthorised colonies, city slum clusters, and urbanised villages, at its public sensitisation meetings, or Jan Chetna Sabhas, in seven Assembly constituencies.“Drowned in corruption, the Kejriwal government is trying to showcase some administrative powers given by the Supreme Court as a clean chit to its government but Kejriwal should understand that the BJP will intensify its fight against corruption,” Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said at public meetings in Bawana and Rithala.Sachdeva especially sought to stoke anger on the issue of Arvind Kejriwal having allegedly spent Rs. 45 crore on the renovation of his official residence and accusing him of neglecting the development of Delhi Dehat and unauthorised colonies.While Sachdeva announced that the BJP’s “movement to expose Kejriwal’s Rajmahal bungalow scam” will continue, party National general secretary Dushyant Gautam brought up the issue of “freebies.” “Instead of doing development, Kejriwal has only shown dreams of freebies to the people of Delhi and has worked for his political development. Behind every scheme of Kejriwal government, either his personal benefit is hidden or there is corruption,” alleged Gautam.“Kejriwal has shown that he is not concerned about the poor by not implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in Delhi and building a lavish bungalow for himself,” he said and declared that voters would “uproot him from Delhi in the elections of 2024 and 2025.”At Rajendra Nagar, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri talked about the Delhi chief minister’s “special person” status. “Today, the people of Delhi want to ask why Kejriwal, who pretends to be a common man needed to become a special person…today Kejriwal has 106 security personnel of Delhi and Punjab Police engaged in his security whereas before joining politics, Kejriwal used to talk about not taking security,” Bidhuri alleged.“Today, he is running a government in which two ministers committed corruption and are in jail. His 45 crore Sheeshmahal is also giving proof of his corruption,” the LOP added.Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi said while the Narendra Modi government was strengthening the road infrastructure of Delhi with projects like the Pragati Tunnel, and Mahipal Gurugram Tunnel among others, Kejriwal had “harmed the poor of Delhi” by not implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and Atal Bima Yojana. “After the construction of his palace, he has become the most luxury-loving chief minister of the country,” she alleged.Northeast Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, “Kejriwal installed carpets worth Rs 20 lakh, curtains worth Rs 1 crore, interior worth Rs 11 crore, automatic doors, and toilet seats worth Rs 4 lakh in his Sheeshmahal…We will expose this nawabi mentality of Kejriwal.”

At public meetings, BJP seeks to expose ‘nawabi mentality’ of Arvind Kejriwal
Ashok Gehlot dismisses charge of collusion with Vasundhara Raje
The Indian Express | 3 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
3 weeks ago | |

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said on Saturday that he would have spoken to BJP leader and his predecessor Vasundhara Raje hardly 15 times in the past 15 years as he sought to dismiss the allegation of collusion with her.He also said that people misinterpreted his statement made in Dholpur that BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje and Kailash Meghwal had helped him survive the 2020 revolt by his then deputy Sachin Pilot and some Congress MLAs, saying that it was something that he had heard.Gehlot said that his government follows a policy of “zero tolerance’ against corruption.The chief minister’s remarks came amid Sachin Pilot’s ongoing “Jan Sangharsh Padayatra” from Ajmer to Jaipur which he had announced on Tuesday on the issues of corruption and recruitment exam paper leak cases. Pilot started the 125-km yatra from Ajmer on Thursday and it will conclude in Jaipur on Monday.The move of Pilot to take out the five-day yatra came after Gehlot’s allegations made in Dholpur on Sunday that the rebel Congress MLAs had taken money from the BJP to topple his government.Reacting to Gehlot’s statement that Raje had helped in saving his government, Pilot had even went on to say in a press conference in Jaipur on Tuesday that “it appeared from Gehlot’s statement that his leader is Vasundhara Raje, and not Sonia Gandhi.” Today Gehlot said in a public function in Nagaur that there is a vast difference in his thinking and that of Raje and that they would have talked hardly 15 times in the last 15 years.“I had said in Dholpur that Vasundhara ji and Kailash ji helped in saving my government. People misinterpreted it. She did not come to me and said that I am standing with you,” he said.Gehlot said that during the political crisis, Kailash Meghwal had given a statement that there is no tradition of toppling the government in Rajasthan. He added that what he had said in Dholpur on Sunday in the context of Raje was something that he had “heard”.“…it is not like that Vasundhara herself said (to me) that she is saving the government…,” he said.He said that when he was the PCC chief and Bhairo Singh Shekhawat was the chief minister, there was a conspiracy to topple Shekhawat’s government by some of the BJP leaders. Without naming anyone, Gehlot said that the BJP leaders had approached him and sought help in toppling the government when the then CM and BJP leader Shekhawat was undergoing treatment in America, but he refused to do so.Gehlot said that Raje’s then “advisors” like present leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore never wanted a cordial relation between the chief minister and the former chief minister and therefore Raje and he were not in talking terms.“I blame Vasundhara Raje, her way of working is negative. She works with the spirit of revenge, I work with love, she intimidates and threatens the officers in her own way and the worst thing is that she stops the work so that Ashok Gehlot does not get the credit,” he said.He said that after becoming chief minister, Raje stopped several works done by his previous government and therefore there cannot be a friendship between him and her.“Will I ever be friends with the one who has taken the contract to stop my works?” he asked.The chief minister also said that he never boasted about the party winning 156 seats in 1998.“I became chief minister in 1998, I had brought 156 seats but I never said that I brought. It was Sonia Gandhi and the high command that brought the seats. It was the victory of our policies and principles,” he said.

Ashok Gehlot dismisses charge of collusion with Vasundhara Raje
'My father should be CM...in the interest of the state': Siddaramaiah's son
The Indian Express | 3 weeks ago | |
The Indian Express
3 weeks ago | |

As Congress comfortably races ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Karnataka election, Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed confidence that his father will win the “absolute majority” and become the Chief Minister in the “interest of the state”.The counting of the votes began at 8 am today.“As a son, definitely I would like to see him as a Chief Minister. But as a resident of the state, his last regime had very good governance, this time also, if he becomes the CM, whatever corruption and misrule during the BJP rule will be corrected by him”, news agency ANI quoted Yathindra Siddaramaiah saying.The fight for the CM’s post has come down to Shivakumar and Congress legislature party leader and former CM Siddaramaiah. Ahead of the polls, the two went out of their way to paint a picture of bonhomie before the polls.While Siddaramaiah held meetings separately with Congress leaders at his residence on Friday, Shivakumar, made no effort to hide his ambition to be the CM – again — while adding that he would abide by “the decision of the high command”.Speaking to reporters Friday, he said: “I have struggled for the party and all will support (me). I got the responsibility (of the KPCC chief) after Dinesh Gundu Rao quit following the bypoll losses (2019). I never slept after that and will not sleep. I have done what is necessary for the party… all will support (me) and I will provide a good government.”In the run-up to the polls, Siddaramaiah repeatedly said that the CM name would be decided by the elected MLAs and the high command.In his home turf Varuna, Siddaramaiah was leading as per early leads of Karnataka results on Saturday. The constituency has more than 2.3 lakh voters, with Lingayats comprising the majority.

'My father should be CM...in the interest of the state': Siddaramaiah's son
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