What does the PM stand by: Rahul quizzes govt over Covid vax

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What does the PM stand by: Rahul quizzes govt over Covid vax

Former Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the Centre by highlighting the differing stance of the BJP and the Centre on the issue of vaccinating every Indian.

Tweeting on Thursday, Rahul said, “PM – Everyone will get the vaccine. BJP in Bihar elections – Everyone in Bihar will get a free vaccine. Now, Government – Never said everyone will get the vaccine. Exactly what does the Prime Minister stand by?” he tweeted.

The BJP during the Bihar Assembly polls had promised that free vaccine will be given to all if voted to power. The Congress leader’s remarks came a day after Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that the government never spoke of vaccinating everyone against Covid-19.

At a press briefing on Wednesday Bhushan said, “I just want to make this clear that the government has never spoken about vaccinating the entire country. It’s important that we discuss such scientific issues, based on factual information only and then analyze it.”

Modi speaks to Telangana BJP chief, enquires about GHMC polls

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Modi speaks to Telangana BJP chief, enquires about GHMC polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spoke to Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar over the phone and enquired about the municipal elections held in Greater Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Sanjay said Modi spoke to him for 10 minutes and enquired about the voting trend in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls.

The MP from Karimnagar stated that Prime Minister congratulated BJP leaders and workers for putting up a tough fight. He also enquired about the attacks on the party cadres.

According to the BJP leader, Modi expressed his happiness over the new vigor and enthusiasm among the party cadres. “Prime Minister advised the Telangana BJP workers to move ahead with the same spirit,” Sanjay said. A total of 46.60 percent of over 74 lakh voters cast their votes on Tuesday in 149 divisions.

Polling in one division was postponed after a discrepancy in the ballot paper. Telangana State Election Commission had ordered re-polling in all 69 polling booths of Old Malakpet division on Thursday. The counting of votes will be taken up on Friday.

The fate of 1,122 candidates was sealed in ballot boxes in the bitterly contested elections, which saw a shrill campaign and attracted national attention due to participation by BJP bigwigs including central ministers Amit Shah, Prakash Javadekar, Smriti Irani, party’s national president J. P. Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Upbeat over its victory in the recent by-election to Dubbak Assembly seat, BJP upped the ante to turn GHMC polls into a battle to make big inroads in South India.

Ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), which had won landslide majority in 2016 polls with 99 seats in 150-member municipal body, appears confident to retain power despite the saffron surge while Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) is looking to hold on to 44 seats it won in the last elections.

Meanwhile, a delegation of BJP leaders called on State Election Commissioner C. Parthasarthy, alleging that MIM resorted to rigging during the polling in few divisions in the old city.

BJP legislator Ramachandra Rao alleged that the voter turnout which was low till 5 p.m. suddenly picked up during the last one hour. He said MIM MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and his followers were involved in irregularities.

Stating that 94 percent polling was recorded in few polling booths in Ghansi Bazar and Puranapul, he demanded repolling. The election commissioner assured that he will seek a report from the election observer and take a decision. After the polling, BJP had blamed the TRS government and State Election Commission for the low turnout.

Union minister of state for home, G. Kishan Reddy alleged that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government used State Election Commission (SEC) to bring down the voter turnout to work to its advantage.

Need law against ‘love jihad’ in Gujarat also: BJP MLA

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Need law against ‘love jihad’ in Gujarat also: BJP MLA

A BJP legislator in Gujarat has demanded a law on the lines of the one enforced in Uttar Pradesh against illegal religious conversions to tackle what he called ‘love jihad’ cases in the state.

Dabhoi MLA Shailesh Mehta said in a public statement that he will shortly propose to the Gujarat government to bring forth a stringent law against ‘love jihad’.

“A stringent law against ‘love jihad’ will be brought in every state where the BJP is in power. Gujarat is the first state to believe in Hindutva — so obviously a law against ‘love jihad’ will be brought forth here too. There are so many ‘love jihad’ incidents happening in Gujarat. So a strict law should be framed in Gujarat in all circumstances,” he told the media.

Later, he told a local news channel: “There are so many such incidents happening across the country. The Yogi government in UP brought a law regarding this issue. Similarly, a stricter law than the one in UP should be enacted in Gujarat. Shortly, I will meet Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, his deputy Nitin Patel and Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja and put forth the proposal in writing.”

“For some time, underage Hindu girls have been lured into the trap through fake Hindu names… this has happened in Vadodara city and the district… I have not received any individual complaint as yet, but there are so many complaints registered with the police. Recently, a man named Taufiq impregnated a 15-year-old Hindu girl. A complaint in this regard was registered with the police,” added Mehta.

He said that under the proposed law, families of young women who wish to convert should be informed three months in advance of the inter-religion marriage. “The parents should get time to convince their daughters, and if girls are underage, the law should provide for the hanging of culprits,” the BJP MLA said.

On November 28, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel gave her nod to the ordinance on religious conversions promulgated by the Yogi Adityanath government, paving the way for its enforcement across the state with immediate effect.

The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, was sent to the Raj Bhavan for necessary action after the Cabinet’s approval.

According to the ordinance, a change of religion of a woman solely for the purpose of marriage will lead to the annulment of such marriage. As per the ordinance, for religious conversion, parties concerned will have to declare before the prescribed authority that such change of religion is totally voluntary.

The parties concerned will have to inform the District Magistrate two months in advance on the prescribed pro forma regarding the plan to change one’s religion. Violation of the provisions is punishable by jail terms ranging from six months to three years.

Those involved in the change of religion of a woman solely for the purpose of marriage will be jailed for terms ranging from one to five years.

Former IAS officer Santhosh Babu joins Kamal Haasan’s MNM party

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Former IAS officer Santhosh Babu joins Kamal Haasan’s MNM party

Former IAS officer Santhosh Babu on Tuesday joined Makkal Needhi Maiam floated by actor turned politician Kamal Haasan. Babu has been made the party’s General Secretary-Headquarters.

Speaking to the media here, Kamal Haasan said that Babu — who had taken voluntary retirement after serving the Tamil Nadu government — will handle the party’s information technology, data, research, and other issues.

Babu said he foresees IT-enabled predictive governance, which would obviate the need for people to go to government offices for applying for documents.

Kamal Haasan said he would seek Rajinikanth’s support in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls. The MNM founder said that if Rajinikanth enters politics he too would contest.

GHMC polls: KTR, Owaisi, Kishan Reddy cast votes

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GHMC polls: KTR, Owaisi, Kishan Reddy cast votes

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao, Union Minister of State G. Kishan Reddy and MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi were among the leaders who cast their vote in the first hour in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections on Tuesday.

Rama Rao, who led the ruling party in the campaign, and his wife exercised their franchise at Nandinagar polling station in Banjara Hills. Speaking on the occasion, the state municipal administration minister appealed to all voters to cast their votes.

“In a democracy, only those who cast their votes will have the right to question,” he said and appealed to voters to come out and vote.

Rama Rao, who is the son of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, urged voters to participate in voting. “Think before voting what kind of public representatives you want for the development of Hyderabad,” he said.

Kishan Reddy and his wife cast their votes at a polling booth in Kachiguda. The union minister appealed to all voters to exercise their right to franchise.

“In the Constitution drafted by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, from President of the country to an ordinary citizen everybody has a right to vote. Everyone should use this important weapon. People should not merely complain about governments not working properly but should use their constitutional right to ensure that they elect good public representatives,” said Kishan Reddy, who is a member of Parliament from Secunderabad. BJP OBC Morcha president K. Laxman came to a polling center in Chikkadpalli to cast his vote.

Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi cast his vote at Shastrippuram in the old city. “I exercised my right to vote. I am appealing to voters to come out and use their voting right for the development of the city, especially old city, and for protecting the city’s composite culture, heritage, and language,” he said.

Owaisi urged voters to come out and vote to increase the polling percentage and strengthen democracy.

Keep arrogance aside and give farmers their rights: Rahul

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Keep arrogance aside and give farmers their rights: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday again took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi without taking his name, saying he needs to shun arrogance and give the rights to the protesting farmers.

“Farmers are protesting on the streets and a ‘lie’ giving speeches on television. We all are indebted to the farmers for their hard work. And we can repay their debt by giving them justice and their rights, not by disrespecting them or by hitting them with lathis or tear-gas shells. Wake up, get down from a position of arrogance and think, and give the farmers their rights,” the Wayanad MP tweeted.

Thousands of farmers from several states have been staging protests on Delhi borders since last week and demanding the repeal of three central farm laws. The government has since called the farmers for a meeting later in the day.

Modi condoles Rajasthan BJP leader’s demise

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Modi condoles Rajasthan BJP leader’s demise

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over the death of Kiran Maheshwari, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Rajasthan.

“Pained by the untimely demise of Kiran Maheshwari Ji. Be it as MP, MLA, or Cabinet Minister in the Rajasthan Government, she made numerous efforts to work towards the progress of the state and empower the poor as well as marginalized. Condolences to her family. Om Shanti,” the Prime Minister tweeted.

Maheshwari, also an MLA from Rajsamand, died at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram early Monday morning. She had tested positive for Covid-19 and was undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Maheshwari was admitted to the hospital for the past 21 days. Her condition became critical a few days back. Her mortal remains will be brought to Udaipur later on Monday.

RJD may field its candidate for Bihar Rajya Sabha bypolls

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RJD may field its candidate for Bihar Rajya Sabha bypolls

After having suffered a defeat in the election for Speaker of Bihar Legislative Assembly, the primary opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is refusing to bow down to the ruling NDA government in the state and is preparing to give it a tough political fight. The RJD is now devising a different strategy for the Rajya Sabha elections.

The RJD is gearing to field its own candidate for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-elections. Earlier, on November 27, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominated the name of former Deputy Chief Minister and party leader Sushil Kumar Modi as the NDA candidate for the Rajya Sabha by-elections.

The BJP has nominated Sushil Modi for the Rajya Sabha seat recently vacated after the death of former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. With this major decision, the saffron party has put a stamp of approval on Sushil Modi’s name by bringing him into national politics. Considering the sheer numerical strength of the NDA in the Assembly, Sushil Modi is likely to be elected as a Rajya Sabha member. The nomination for this vacant RS seat can be filed by December 3 and the by-elections for the Upper House of the Assembly will be held on December 14.

As per RJD sources, two names are being pitched in by the Grand Alliance for the upcoming Rajya Sabha by-elections. The party is likely to nominate RJD state President Jagdanand Singh and senior party leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui for the Rajya Sabha seat. Siddiqui had recently lost the Bihar Assembly elections. Both the RJD leaders are considered to be trusted confidants of RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad.

Sources in the RJD also say that apart from veteran party leaders, the RJD could also field other lesser-known fresh faces to avoid criticism in case the party suffers a defeat in the RS polls.

However, the RJD has not revealed its political strategy yet. Looking at the sheer strength in terms of numbers in the Upper House, the NDA has the clear majority with 125 MLAs while the RJD-led Grand Alliance has 110 MLAs. Two days ago, the Grand Alliance had also fielded its candidate for the post of Bihar Assembly Speaker and suffered a defeat

BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma said, “Sushil Kumar Modi is an experienced leader. He has served Bihar for a long time, now the party wants to reward him and utilise his experience at the national level. The Opposition can try a million times but it is not going to achieve anything, their defeat is imminent.. ”

An RJD leader says that the party is focusing hard on the upcoming Rajya Sabha bypolls. After the demise of former Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan, there were demands to nominate Paswan’s wife Reena Paswan to the vacant RS seat. However, after the LJP broke up its ties with the NDA and contested as an independent party in the recent Bihar elections, the BJP decided to send Sushil Modi’s name.

Year-long celebrations to mark 60th anniv of Goa’s Liberation: CM

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Year-long celebrations to mark 60th anniv of Goa’s Liberation: CM

The Goa government will organize at least one event in every Indian state capital to celebrate the 60th anniversary year of the liberation of Goa from colonial Portuguese yoke, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday.

Sawant said that the Goa government had sought Rs 100 crore from the Centre to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the state’s liberation by the Indian armed forces on December 19, 1961.

“We will be celebrating the 60th anniversary year of Goa’s Liberation in a grand way. We will be holding a minimum of one event in every state capital to commemorate the year by organizing events that showcase our culture, food, literature, etc,” Sawant told reporters at a press conference in Panaji. Goa was a Portuguese colony for 451 years before the region was liberated by the Indian armed forces in 1961.

Sawant said that an organizing committee to finalize and oversee preparations for the 60th-anniversary celebrations had already been formed and he as the Chief Minister, would be heading the committee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi would also be formally invited to attend one of the commemorative events, Sawant added.

The year-long celebrations would also be used to broad-base Goa’s tourism offerings by highlighting various lesser-known facets of the state before potential tourists.

“People come for sun, sand, and sea. We want people to come to Goa for hinterland tourism, our culture, temples, and churches,” Sawant said.

Mehbooba claims ‘being detained again’, denied press meet

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Mehbooba claims ‘being detained again’, denied press meet

Former Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti were barred by the authorities from holding a press conference at her residence in Srinagar on Friday.

A large number of policemen were deployed outside her residence. The media people were not allowed by the police to enter her residence for attending the press conference.

Earlier on Friday, Mehbooba Mufti had alleged that she was detained and stopped from visiting the residence of party leader Waheed Parra, who was arrested by the NIA on Wednesday.

Accusing the administration of bias, Mehbooba alleged that she was prevented from meeting Parra’s family on the pretext of security, while the BJP leaders and Union Ministers were allowed to travel across Kashmir.

“I have been illegally detained yet again. For two days, J&K admin has refused to allow me to visit Waheed Parra’s family in Pulwama.”

“BJP Ministers & their puppets are allowed to move around in every corner of Kashmir but security is a problem only in my case,” she wrote on Twitter.

She said her daughter Iltija Mufti, who also wanted to visit Parra’s home and meet with his family, has also been placed under house arrest. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested PDP leader Waheed Parra.

He has been arrested in connection with former Deputy Superintendent Davinder Singh and Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Naveed Babu case for supporting the proscribed terror outfit in a conspiracy case. Singh and Babu were arrested while traveling from Srinagar to Jammu in January this year.

After Tejashwi’s barb against CM, JD-U calls him ‘Class 9 fail’

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After Tejashwi’s barb against CM, JD-U calls him ‘Class 9 fail’

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday alleged in the Bihar Assembly that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar did not sire another child as he was afraid of becoming a father to a female child, drawing condemnation from the ruling NDA leaders. Nitish’s party JD-U called Tejashwi as someone who had “failed in Class 9”.

Even though Nitish did not verbally react to the remark of the Leader of Opposition on the last day of the Assembly session but only smiled, Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad dubbed it as an “unfortunate personal attack”.

As the Speaker ordered the removal of the remark from Vidha Sabha records, Tejashwi’s remark triggered a war of words between JD-U and RJD, with a JD-U leader calling Tejashwi as a “flop cricketer and Class 9 failed student”.

During campaigning in the run-up to the Assembly polls in October-November, Nitish had taken a dig at his friend turned bete noire, Lalu Prasad, claiming without taking names that people sire 8-9 children due to their desire for a male child. The Rashtriya Janata Dal had taken it as a personal attack on Lalu Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi.

Tarkishore Prasad said: “The Speaker gave time to Tejashwi to speak in the House and everyone expected he will talk on the RJD’s vision; instead, he indulged in a personal attack on Nitish Kumar. It is unfortunate.”

Neeraj Kumar, a former Minister, and Janata Dal-United chief spokesperson were the most vocal in flaying Tejashwi.

“We can’t expect much from a person who failed in Class 9. He is a flop cricketer and an illiterate legislator. He has personally attacked Nitish Kumar whose work has been appreciated by people like Bill Gates and Amartya Sen,” Kumar said.

“On the other hand, Tejashwi’s father Lalu Prasad has been convicted in fodder scams and his temporary address is 3351 (Lalu’s prisoner number 3351), Hotwire Jail, Ranchi. He is also facing many criminal charges,” the JD-U leader alleged.

RJD MLC Subodh Rai maintained that it was Chief Minister who initiated the personal attack on Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi. Even Neeraj Kumar has used so many unparliamentary words for Lalu Prasad and his family, he alleged.

“Nitish Kumar always claims that Assembly elections in 2015 and 2020 were won due to his face value. Now, he has no face value. His party has won just 43 seats. We don’t recognize him as the CM anymore. He is just a nominated CM of the BJP,” Rai remarked.

5 Covid patients die in Gujarat hospital fire, PM Modi expresses grief

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5 Covid patients die in Gujarat hospital fire, PM Modi expresses grief

At least five patients died after a fire broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Covid designated hospital in Gujarat’s Rajkot on Friday. Twenty-seven other coronavirus patients being treated at the hospital were rescued.

The cause of the fire is not known yet, but reports say that a short circuit may have led to the fire. The fire broke out in the ICU of the Uday Shivanand Multispecialty hospital around 3 a.m. The Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani ordered a probe into the incident, which has been entrusted to Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Panchayat and Rural Development Department, A.K. Rakesh.

Expressing grief over the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: “Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to a hospital fire in Rajkot. My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate tragedy. Praying for a quick recovery of the injured. The administration is ensuring all possible assistance to the affected.” The Chief Minister announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the victims.

Voice of dissent can’t be muzzled indefinitely, says Punjab CM

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Voice of dissent can’t be muzzled indefinitely, says Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday once again reiterated that voices of the protesting farmers “cannot be muzzled indefinitely” and the “Centre should initiate talks”.

“The voice of farmers cannot be muzzled indefinitely. Center should immediately initiate talks with Kisan Union leaders to defuse the tense situation at the Delhi borders.

“Why to wait till December 3 when the situation is getting out of hand now?” a tweet by Chief Minister’s Media Advisor Raveen Thukral quoting Amarinder Singh said.

In a series of tweets, the Chief Minister said the central government “needs to show statesmanship and accept the farmers’ demand for assured MSP (minimum support price), which is the basic right of every farmer”.

“If they can give verbal assurance I fail to understand why they can’t make it a legal obligation of the Government of India.”

“Those claiming it’s the Congress that’s instigating the farmers are blind not to see the lakhs of farmers trying to enter Delhi from across the country. It’s a fight for their lives and livelihoods and they don’t need any backing or provocation,” the Chief Minister added.

Wrong of party MLAs to participate in anti-coal protests: Goa BJP chief

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Wrong of party MLAs to participate in anti-coal protests: Goa BJP chief

Irked by more and more ruling BJP MLAs joining public protests against transportation and handling of coal at the state’s only major port, state BJP President Sadanand Shet Tanavade faulted the party’s legislators, saying their actions should remain within the “respectable limits”.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Tanavade said that if the legislators had issues related to governance and government projects, they should contact the Chief Minister instead of participating in public protests.

“Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is not for increasing coal transportation in Goa. Our efforts are to minimize it. MLAs have to stay within respectable limits. Law and order are equal to a common man, MLA, and minister. No one should break law and order,” Tanavade said.

Pressurized by their respective constituents, an increasing number of ruling BJP MLAs, including Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Ferrao, former Environment Minister Alina Saldanha, and Cuncolim MLA Clafasio Dias, have openly joined the agitations against increased movement of coal through rural Goa.

Tanavade said that while coal transportation, which has been going on for decades, cannot be stopped in one day, the Chief Minister’s assurance on Tuesday that coal transportation in the future would be reduced by 50 percent should be respected.

“A common man can protest against public works, but an MLA cannot. They have to report it to the government or to the CM. They should not take law and order in their hands,” Tanavade said.

“I will speak to the MLAs concerned. I definitely feel it is wrong… Coal movement cannot be stopped in a day. The CM has said that coal transportation will be reduced to 50 percent,” he also said.

Take action if you have info: BJP to Telangana CM

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Take action if you have info: BJP to Telangana CM

BJP’s Telangana unit president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Thursday asked Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao if he has information about some people conspiring to create communal clashes then he should not wait, but take action against them.

He alleged that by issuing a statement, the chief minister is trying to stall elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) by creating a situation where people can’t cast their votes in a free and fair manner.

Sanjay, who is also a member of Parliament from Karimnagar, said the chief minister was making such statements as the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was afraid of losing the elections.

He was reacting to the chief minister’s direction to the police to deal with an iron hand some anarchic forces conspiring to create communal tensions and clashes to draw political mileage in GHMC elections.

The BJP leader said CM’s statement itself could create law and order problems. “He himself appears to be hatching a conspiracy as TRS is losing and BJP is winning GHMC polls.”

He wondered why the chief minister failed to take action when he had definite information. “If you have definite information, will you tell this to media or take action,” he asked and demanded that the government book cases and arrest them irrespective of the party they belong to, so that the elections can be held in a peaceful atmosphere.

Sanjay said a similar claim was made before by-elections to Dubbak Assembly seat but people gave a befitting reply to TRS. He claimed that there will be a similar outcome in GHMC polls.

The BJP leader was talking to media after a visit to ghats of former Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. T. Rama Rao on the banks of Hussain Sagar lake. His visit came a day after Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Akabruddin Owaisi challenged the government to demolish the samadhis of two leaders if it was sincere in removing encroachments on lakes in the city.

Sanjay demanded that a criminal case be booked against Akbaruddin Owaisi and he is arrested for threatening to demolish the samadhis of the two great personalities. Terming the MIM leader’s comments as ‘anti-national’, he questioned the silence of the chief minister on the issue.

The BJP leader claimed that MIM leader threatened to demolish samadhis as N.T. Rama Rao used to wear the saffron dress when he was chief minister while Narasimha Rao played an ‘inspiring’ role in the Ayodhya issue.

The MP said KCR’s respect for Narasimha Rao is confined to lip sympathy and celebrating his birth anniversary. “He is not even opening his mouth to condemn the insult of NTR under whom he started his political career,” Sanjay said.

Stating that BJP will protect the samadhis of the two leaders, he reiterated that if MIM demolishes them, his party workers will pull down MIM office ‘Darussalam’.

Desist from strong-arm tactics against farmers: Punjab CM

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Desist from strong-arm tactics against farmers: Punjab CM

Adopting a tough stand in support of the protesting farmers against the three Farm Laws, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged the BJP-led central leadership to direct saffron states’ administrations not to indulge in strong-arm tactics against the “angry” agri community.

“It’s a sad irony that on Constitution Day2020 the constitutional right of farmers is being oppressed in this manner. Let them pass (Haryana Chief Minister) Manohar Lal Khattar, don’t push them to the brink. Let them take their voice to Delhi peacefully,” a tweet quoting the Chief Minister said.

In another tweet supporting the cause of the farmers, he said the hands that feed the nation deserve to be held, not pushed aside. Congress leader Amarinder Singh said for nearly two months the farmers have been protesting peacefully in Punjab without any problem.

“Why is the Haryana government provoking them by resorting to force? Don’t the farmers have the right to pass peacefully through a public highway?” he asked.

The series of a tweet from Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Raveen Thukral’s handle came when tens of thousands of farmers, despite braving tear-gas shells and water cannons from Haryana Police, managed to broke police barricades ahead of the Punjab-Haryana border in Shambhu near Ambala with several of them, both protesters and the policemen were injured. The farmers broke barricades threw them down the bridge.

According to the All India Kisan Sabha, there are over 50,000 farmers at the spot. Bracing overnight rains and chilly winds, thousands of protesting farmers assembled at various places along the Haryana borders in Punjab amid mounting tension.

They have been stopped by the Haryana Police while heading towards the national capital for their ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest against the three Central farm laws.

A huge contingent of police comprising the Rapid Action Force has been deployed to deal with any untoward situation. They tried to evict farmers gathered since Wednesday evening.

Ahmed Patel laid to rest in native village, Rahul at funeral

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Ahmed Patel laid to rest in native village, Rahul at funeral

Amid thousands of well-wishers, the Congress veteran and party’s ace troubleshooter Ahmed Patel’s mortal remains were laid to rest in his native village in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, following the Covid-19 guidelines.

Many top national leaders of the party, including Rahul Gandhi, were present during the funeral to pay their last respects.

The last rites were carried out at the Sunni Vohra Muslim Jamaat graveyard in the Piraman village, Patel’s ancestral village. As per his wish, his dead body was buried beside his parents’ graves and due Covid-19 guidelines and protocols were followed during the funeral.

Ahmed Patel passed away on Wednesday morning due to post-Covid issues, according to his son Faisal. He was admitted in the Medanta hospital in Gurugram from where his body was flown to Vadodara and from there to Ankleshwar hospital, where it was kept till Thursday morning. After a brief 10-minute stop at his residence, his mortal remains were brought to the graveyard.

After performing the final Namaz for the deceased, Ahmed Patel’s dead body was buried by his family members, relatives, and friends, most of them attired in Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). Thousands thronged at the graveyard, trying to catch the last glimpse of their leader. The police were seen requesting them to follow the Covid-19 guidelines and at one point at a place, the police had to use mild force to control them.

Many of the top national Congress leaders remained present during the funeral, including Rahul Gandhi, who had flown to Surat airport Thursday morning. Besides him, the party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the Gujarat in-charge Rajiv Satav, senior leader Madhusudan Mistry, Rajya Sabha member Shaktisinh Gohil, were also at the funeral.

The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Chavda, the leader of the Opposition (LOP) in Gujarat state Assembly Paresh Dhanani, Siddharth Patel, Arjun Modhwadia, the working GPCC president Hardik Patel were present at the funeral besides hundreds of party workers. The former Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela was also present and the lone independent legislator in the state Assembly, Jignesh Mevani was also there at the graveyard to bid farewell to the leader.

Rahul Gandhi, after arriving was constantly seen comforting Patel’s son Faisal and his daughter Mumtaz. After the funeral, Gandhi returned to Delhi. Paying their respects to the Congress leader, the town of Bharuch observed a day’s mourning on Thursday and kept it shut.

The Gujarat Congress organized prayer meetings at regional headquarters across the state in respect of the deceased Congress leader. Live transmission of the funeral was made available at these places.

PM Modi to visit Varanasi on ‘Dev Deepawali’

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PM Modi to visit Varanasi on ‘Dev Deepawali’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit his constituency Varanasi on November 30 for ‘Dev Deepawali’.

He will be lighting the first earthen lamp at Rajghat in Varanasi to start illumination of all 80 Ghats with over 10 lakh lamps on the occasion.

The Prime minister will also take stock of the progress in the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor project and witness the sound and light show before leaving the city after a six-hour stay.

According to District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma, “We have received initial intimation regarding the possible visit of the Prime Minister on the occasion of Dev Deepawali, after which finalization of the events in which he will participate and other preparations have been started accordingly.”

As per the proposal being prepared for the Prime Minister’s participation, the tourism department will host a function where he will light the first lamp of Dev Deepawali at Rajghat to mark the beginning of the festival which is observed on the day of Kartik Purnima.

It will be followed by cultural events at the same venue for about 45 minutes. After earthen lamps are lighted at all the ghats, the Prime Minister will take a boat ride to view the beauty of illuminating Ghats along the river Ganga. This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit to his constituency during the pandemic.

Bengal is second Kashmir: Dilip Ghosh

TB Team
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Bengal is second Kashmir: Dilip Ghosh

West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday triggered a fresh controversy by calling Bengal “the second Kashmir”.

Ghosh was addressing a ‘Cha-Chakra’ (a candid chatting session over a cup of tea) program in Birbhum district’s Suri

“Bengal has turned into a second Kashmir. Everyday terrorists are being arrested from various districts. Illegal bomb-making factories are being unearthed every next day. The only factory that is working here is the bomb-making factory,” when the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said.

Veteran Trinamool Congress leader Sougata Roy said: “The state BJP president has gone mad. He is making baseless and irresponsible statements as the election is approaching.”

Senior Congress leader and the party’s Rajya Sabha member Pradip Bhattacharya also rubbished Ghosh’s claim. He said: “It is true that violent clashes are taking place in various parts but it would be unjustifiable to call Bengal the second Kashmir. I don’t subscribe to it at all.”

While addressing a mass rally in Murshidabad district in the latter half of the day, the BJP state unit chief said that false cases were being filed against BJP workers across the state.

“There is a speed-breaker government in Bengal. Whatever funds are coming from the Centre are getting stuck.

“People at the grassroots are not getting its benefit. Random loots are going on by Didi’s brothers. Many development projects are getting stalled because of the state government,” said Ghosh.

He reminded that the Narendra Modi-led government is ruling at the Centre and if it were to come to power in Bengal all developmental projects would be fast-tracked.

“Didi is talking about development. Her leaders say unnoyon (development) is standing in the road. You cannot see development anywhere but if you visit Trinamool Congress leaders’ residences, you will see the real development in their lifestyle,” the BJP president said, adding that the people of Bengal are aware of everything.

Congress to observe 3-day mourning following Ahmed Patel’s death

TB Team
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Congress to observe 3-day mourning following Ahmed Patel’s death

The Congress on Wednesday declared three-day mourning following the demise of its veteran leader Ahmed Patel. The party leaders and workers in all the states and districts will hold condolence meetings.

K.C. Venugopal, party General Secretary, said, “As a mark of respect to Shri Ahmed Patelji, the Congress party flag will fly at half-mast for the next three days.”

The party in a statement said Congress workers across the country were deeply pained and shocked by the passing away of senior leader Ahmed Patel, and have come together to express their heartfelt condolences.

“We deeply mourn his loss and pray to the Almighty to give strength to the family, his loved ones and his supporters to bear the loss”.

His colleague in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said, “Ahmad Bhai has left us. Deeply shocked and saddened to lose a friend and comrade who was a pillar of strength for the Congress. Words fail me as the mind is flooded with emotions and memories. He leaves a void, an irreparable loss for the country. Will miss him always.”

Party leader Kapil Sibal too remembered him. He said, “I am personally aggrieved because of our long and steadfast friendship. He was central to the functioning of the Congress party. His seminal contribution to its well-being will always be remembered. May his soul rest in peace.”

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