PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to participate in the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22.
Tag: BJP
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‘Conspiracy To Arrest Me, Summons Illegal’: Arvind Kejriwal Says Ready For Legal Battle Against ED |
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday refused to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged Delhi liquor scam case, calling the summons “false” and “illegal”. He also accused the BJP-led central government of using the ED and other agencies to harass and intimidate him and his party leaders ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said that he has explained to the ED why their summons is illegal and that he will not obey an unlawful order. He said that his biggest strength and asset is his honesty and that he has always fought for the country.
“In the last two years, all the agencies of BJP have conducted many raids but not a single penny was found. If there is corruption then where is the money? AAP leaders are kept in jail in such fake cases. Now BJP wants to arrest me. My biggest strength and asset is my honesty,” he said.
ED की क्या तैयारी.. छापेमारी या गिरफ्तारी ?#AamAdmiParty #ED #ArvindKejriwal #LiquorPolicy | @priyasi90 @bramhprakash7 pic.twitter.com/Fr8pPUfnpq
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) January 4, 2024He also questioned the timing of the notice, saying that the BJP wants to stop him from campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections. He said that he had cooperated with the CBI when they had called him eight months ago, but now the ED is trying to implicate him in a 31-year-old case.
“My lawyers told me that the summons was illegal, I wrote the question and sent it to ED. Should I obey an unlawful summon? If a legal summons comes, I will comply with it. Why am I being called just before the Lok Sabha elections? Eight months ago I was called by CBI, I went and gave all the answers. Today they want to stop me from campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections,” he added.
Kejriwal also alleged that the BJP is using the ED to lure opposition leaders into joining their party and that they are targeting honest leaders like Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Vijay Nair. He appealed to the people to support him in his fight against the BJP’s “politics of hatred and vendetta”.
“Today, opposition leaders are being included in the BJP through ED. Whoever joins his party, all his matters get resolved. Today honest leaders like Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Vijay Nair have been put in jail. I have always fought for the country. Every breath of mine is for the country. We have to save the country together. I am fighting against them with all my heart, I need your support,” he said.
The ED had issued a third summons to Kejriwal on December 22 last year, asking him to appear before the agency on January 3. The summons was in relation to a case registered by the ED in 2019 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against some liquor companies and government officials for allegedly causing a loss of Rs 1,000 crore to the Delhi government by evading excise duty.
Kejriwal, in his reply to the ED, had expressed his readiness to cooperate with the investigation but declined to appear on the summoned date, calling the notice “illegal”. He had also questioned the agency for not responding to his earlier replies when the summons was sent to him and he had raised certain queries on the nature of the agency’s investigation.
In his written reply to the ED, the Delhi CM had said “As a premier investigating agency the non-disclosure and non-response approach adopted by you cannot sustain the test of law, equity or justice. Your obstinacy is tantamount to assuming the role of judge, jury and executioner at the same time which is not acceptable in our country governed by the rule of law.”
“In these circumstances, I urge you to respond to my earlier response and clarify the position so as to enable me to understand the real intent, ambit, nature, sweep and scope of the purported inquiry/investigation for which I am being called” he had added in his response.
I hope this article meets your expectations. Here are some possible headlines for this article:
Kejriwal snubs ED, says BJP wants to arrest him before polls
BJP using ED to harass me and my party: Kejriwal
ED summons a political conspiracy, says Kejriwal
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IIT-BHU Gangrape Case: 3 Accused Arrested After Two Months; Akhilesh Yadav Says Culprits Belong to BJP |
Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav today slammed the BJP government accusing it of protecting the rapists. In a post on ‘X’, Yadav said that the police arrested the accused only due to pressure from the public. He said that BJP is playing with ‘Nari Samman’.
“These are the new crop of BJP workers who are growing and roaming openly under the patronage of senior BJP leaders, whose search was going on under the ‘so-called zero-tolerance government’, but under the pressure of solid evidence and growing anger among the public, the BJP government finally arrested these criminals. These are the same BJP members who had crossed all limits of indecency with a BHU student,” said Yadav.
ये हैं भाजपा के दिग्गज नेताओं की छत्रछाया में सरेआम पनपते और घूमते भाजपाइयों की वो नयी फसल, जिनकी ‘तथाकथित ज़ीरो टॉलरेंस सरकार’ में दिखावटी तलाश जारी थी लेकिन पुख़्ता सबूतों और जनता के बीच बढ़ते गुस्से के दबाव में भाजपा सरकार को आख़िरकार इन दुष्कर्मियों को गिरफ़्तार करना ही… pic.twitter.com/VgVJFZBPUO
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) December 31, 2023He further said, “Every woman across the country is seeing how BJP is playing arbitrarily with women’s dignity and is protecting those accused of atrocities, harassment and rape. Women will not give even a single vote to BJP in the upcoming elections. Women will be the reason for BJP’s defeat. The truth of BJP is in front of the public today.”
Earlier today, the Varanasi police arrested the three accused two months after the incident. According to the in-charge of Lanka police station Shivakant Mishra, the accused have been identified as Kunal Pandey, Anand alias Abhishek Chauhan and Saksham Patel.
The alleged incident of rape took place on November 1 when the complainant had gone out of her hostel with a friend when three men on a motorcycle forcibly took her to a corner. The complainant said that the accused allegedly stripped her, made a video, took photos and let her go after about 15 minutes. An FIR has already been registered in the matter. (With Agency Inputs)
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`Blatant Violation Of Poll Code`: Rajasthan Congress Hits Out At BJP For Making Karanpur Candidate A Minister
In a likely bid to counter the sympathy factor, the BJP today made Surendra Pal Singh a Minister of State (Independent) in the Bhajan Lal cabinet.
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Opinion: Why Modi May Emerge Stronger Leader Than Jawaharlal Nehru After Securing Third Straight Term In 2024? |
The 2024 Lok Sabha Election is going to be historic in many ways. First, it will mark the first instance when Congress will go to the polls after warming the opposition benches for 10 consecutive years. Second, the BJP will complete 10 years in power with an absolute majority and third, it will seek another straight term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the history of independent India, only Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had secured three consecutive terms as Prime Minister with a clear majority. While under Nehru, Congress won 364 seats in 1951-52 elections, 371 seats in 1957 and 361 seats in 1962 elections. Nehru remained PM of India from 1951 until his death on 27 May 1964. Even Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh ruled for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
Why Modi May Emerge Stronger Than Nehru?
When the former PM Nehru went to the third Lok Sabha polls in 1962, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind about the Congress party’s prospects as there was no strong opposition. The opposition at that point in time constituted smaller parties having no leaders who could challenge the authority of Nehru. In the 1962 polls, the Congress won 361 seats, the Communist Party of India won 29 seats, C Rajagopalchari’s Swatantra Party 18 and the Bharatiya Jana Sangh 14 seats. The Bharatiya Jana Sangh was at that time led by Debaprasad Ghosh but was popular only in certain regions. Also, back then, there was no concept of even Leader of Opposition and the provision for the post was made only in 1969. So, it can be said that Nehru virtually went into an opposition-less poll and the the victory for Congress was not only guaranteed but foretold.
Challenges Before NDA
On the other hand, the BJP led by Narendra Modi not only faces a strong opposition like Congress but also a united front of the INDIA bloc led by the grand old party. The bloc includes regional patriarchs like MK Stalin’s DMK, Nitish Kumar’s JDU, Lalu Yadav’s RJD, Sharad Pawar’s NCP, Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and other key parties like Left, Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Omar Abdullah’s Jammu & Kashmir National Conference, Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party.
If the BJP manages to get a clear majority for the third straight time, not only Modi will emerge as a strong national leader but the opposition will have to rethink its strategy as well.
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Bharat Nyay Yatra: What Congress Aims To Achieve With Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Manipur To Mumbai’ March |
NEW DELHI: In a strategic move to set the stage for the crucial 2024 Lok Sabha Polls, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is gearing up to embark on the Bharat Nyay Yatra, commencing on January 14 next year. Building on the success of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, which significantly boosted Gandhi’s popularity, the upcoming march aims to address political, economic, and social injustices across the nation.
Reviving Congress Fortunes: The Success Story Of Bharat Jodo Yatra
Rahul Gandhi’s previous Bharat Jodo Yatra, spanning 3,570 km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, witnessed a surge in popularity for the Congress leader. This success translated into electoral victories for the party, notably in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka. While the Bharat Jodo Yatra focused on economic inequalities, political centralization, and social polarization, its successor, Bharat Nyay Yatra, expands its scope to ensure justice in all spheres.
Comprehensive Route: From Manipur To Mumbai
The Bharat Nyay Yatra is set to cover a vast expanse, crisscrossing 90 Parliamentary constituencies across 14 states and 85 districts. Stretching approximately 6,200 km, the march is scheduled to conclude on March 20, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge flagging it off from Imphal. The journey will traverse states like Manipur, Nagaland, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
Congress Adopts A New Approach
The decision to launch the Bharat Nyay Yatra, coinciding with the Ram Temple inauguration and preceding the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, marks a significant shift in Congress’ political strategy. This rebranded version, replacing Bharat Jodo Yatra, signifies a calculated effort to rekindle the party’s narrative, reconnect with the masses, and redefine Rahul Gandhi’s political persona.
Countering BJP’s Narrative: Timing And Strategic Maneuvers
The yatra’s initiation on January 14, symbolically aligned with the Ram Temple inauguration on January 22, reflects Congress’s intent to counteract the BJP’s religious narrative. Unlike its predecessor, Bharat Nyay Yatra will incorporate buses alongside foot marches, expanding its reach and engaging with diverse populations. The strategic rebranding underscores a commitment to social, economic, and political justice, resonating with the theme of ‘nyay’ (justice).
Congress’s Bid For Rejuvenation
With recent electoral setbacks haunting the Congress, Bharat Nyay Yatra emerges as a crucial mechanism to revive the party’s organizational structure and uplift the spirits of its cadre. The extensive media coverage anticipated during the yatra positions the Congress to redefine the political discourse leading up to the 2024 elections.
Reclaiming Lost Political Ground
Beyond a mere political journey, Bharat Nyay Yatra embodies Congress’s concerted effort to reclaim lost ground, redefine Rahul Gandhi’s political image, and craft a narrative centered on social justice and grassroots engagement. As the political landscape intensifies in the run-up to the 2024 General Election, the effectiveness of this revamped yatra in reshaping political perceptions remains to be seen.
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Nitish Kumar says ‘not upset’ with INDIA bloc’s proposal on Kharge’s name |
In a move to end scepticism over a possible rift within the INDIA bloc, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he did not convey any willingness to get a post in the bloc, emphasising that he is not ‘upset’.
The chief minister added that he will be on board with whatever decision the bloc takes.
The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc of the Opposition met in New Delhi last week for its fourth meeting. The meeting came after Congress suffered a major setback in three states – Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
During the meeting, key opposition leaders recommended Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s name for the prime ministerial post.
In August, Nitish Kumar had reiterated that he did not want the post of national convener of the INDIA bloc, adding that his move to drive the Opposition into unity was not motivated by “personal ambition.”
Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi dialled up Kumar after reports surfaced that he is unhappy with the bloc and how it is advancing. The INDIA bloc meeting concluded with the decision that a call on seat sharing ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2024 would be taken soon.
Currently, the INDIA bloc has set a deadline of December 31 for seat sharing. The Opposition bloc has also decided to launch nationwide public meetings soon. A special focus will also be put on Uttar Pradesh ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
On the other hand, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set a goal of securing 50 per cent vote share in the next Lok Sabha elections. The party has also announced the beginning of cluster meetings from January 15 while the Yuva Morcha will hold around 5,000 conferences across the country.
The cluster meetings will be attended and addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP President JP Nadda.
Meanwhile, the BJP Yuva Morcha will begin a new campaign for new voters across the nation from January 24.
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C-Voter 2024 Opinion Poll: Historic Third Term For Modi Or South To Give Congress An Edge? |
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress have been working hard to prepare their poll strategies for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. While the BJP has set an ambitious target of winning 400 seats in the next election, the Congress and INDIA bloc are working to finalize a seat-sharing deal to defy the Modi might. Now, an opinion poll by C-Voter has given some crucial insights into the possible seat projections for both the parties in South India and the northern states.
The survey gave an upper hand to the BJP in the north but favoured the Congress-led bloc in the South. In Madhya Pradesh (29 seats), the BJP is likely to win 27-29 seats and Congress 0-2 while in Rajasthan (25 seats), the BJP may get 23-25 seats and Congress 0-2 seats. Of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, the BJP may win 9-11 and the Congress 0-2.
In Karnataka where the BJP lost the assembly election earlier this year, the party is likely to win 22-24 seats while Congress has 4-6 seats of the total 28 seats. In Telangana, the second southern state in full control of the Congress party, the BJP may get only 1-3 seats while the Congress may get 9-11 seats and the BRS 3-5 seats of the total 17 seats.
These states have a total of 110 seats and the BJP is likely to win around 83-85 seats.
On the other hand, there are 223 Lok Sabha seats in five key states – Punjab, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Of these, the BJP+ is likely to win 125-130 seats. These states play a pivotal role in sending any party to power. Of the 80 seats of Uttar Pradesh, the NDA-led by BJP is likely to win 73-75 seats, while Congress + SP 4-6 seats and BSP 0-2 seats.
In Punjab, despite the state having an Aam Aadmi Party government, the Congress has emerged favourites in the survey. According to it, of the 13 Lok Sabha seats, Congress may win 5-7, AAP 4-6, BJP 0-2 seats and Shiromani Akali Dal 0-2 seats.
Of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, Congress+ (Shiv Sena-UBT, NCP-Sharad Pawar and Congress) may get 26-28 seats while the BJP+ (BJP, Shiv Sena-Shinde and NCP-Ajit Pawar) may get 19-21 seats and others 0-2 seats.
Of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal where the BJP will face the might of Trinamool Congress, the saffron party is likely to win 16-18 seats while the ruling TMC may bag 23-25 seats and Congress+ (Congress, CPM) 0-2 seats.
In Bihar where 40 Lok Sabha seats will go to the polls, Congress+ (Congress, JDU and RJD) may win 21-23 seats, BJP+ (BJP, LJP-Ram Vilas, LJP-Pashupati Kumar Paras, HAM) 16-18 seats and others 0-2 seats.
In total, these 10 states have 333 seats of which the NDA is likely to win around 210 seats. If this survey is to be believed, the BJP will face an uphill task of winning 90 seats of the remaining 212 seats which includes 39 in Tamil Nadu, 25 in Andhra Pradesh, 20 In Kerala, 21 in Odisha, 14 in Assam and 26 in Gujarat. While the BJP might sweep Gujarat and Assam, it faces the mammoth task of breaching the Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Dravidian fort Tamil Nadu.
The BJP, which is planning to register a victory greater than 2019 by winning around 400 seats or at least more than 350 seats, may see its ‘2024 record’ dream being spoiled by states like Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Southern belt. If these surveys are to be believed, the NDA may secure a majority securing a historic third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi but only with many seats that it bagged in the 2019 polls.
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‘Sanjay Singh Not My Relative…’: Ex-WFI Chief Brij Bhushan Distances Self As Ministry Suspends New Body |
New Delhi: Former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has distanced himself from the controversy over the suspension of the newly elected WFI body by the Union Sports Ministry. He said that he had nothing to do with the wrestling federation anymore and that he had to focus on the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Singh, who is also the MP from Nandini Nagar, where the U-15 and U-20 nationals were announced to be held before the end of this year, said that the WFI elections were held on the directions of the Supreme Court and the body was formed democratically. He also denied that the new WFI president Sanjay Singh was his relative and said that the nationals were decided to be held in Nandini Nagar to resume the sports activities and not waste a year of young wrestlers.
VIDEO | “WFI elections were held on SC directions. Further, Sanjay Singh is not my relative. To resume the sports activities and not waste a year of young wrestlers, it was decided to conduct the games in Nandini Nagar. Now, I do not have anything to do with wrestling and have to… pic.twitter.com/8bf9xC0Lnk
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 24, 2023He said that whatever decision had to be taken would be taken by the new federation, which was suspended by the ministry on Sunday over its ‘hasty’ announcement to hold the nationals.
The ministry issued a letter stating that the decision was taken by Sanjay Singh without giving sufficient notice to the wrestlers, without following the provisions of the WFI constitution, and without involving the secretary general of the federation.
The letter also alleged that the new WFI body was in complete control of the former office bearers, who are facing allegations of sexual harassment of the players. The ministry said that the actions of the new WFI body demonstrated a blatant disregard for the established legal and procedural norms, violating both the WFI’s constitutional provisions and the National Sports Development Code.
The ministry added that adherence to governance norms was vital for ensuring fair play, transparency and accountability, and building trust among athletes, stakeholders, and the public.
The ministry issued a letter stating that the decision was taken by Sanjay Singh without giving sufficient notice to the wrestlers, without following the provisions of the WFI constitution, and without involving the secretary general of the federation.
The letter also alleged that the new WFI body was in complete control of the former office bearers, who are facing allegations of sexual harassment of the players. The ministry said that the actions of the new WFI body demonstrated a blatant disregard for the established legal and procedural norms, violating both the WFI’s constitutional provisions and the National Sports Development Code.
The ministry added that adherence to governance norms was vital for ensuring fair play, transparency and accountability, and building trust among athletes, stakeholders, and the public.
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With Eye On 350-Plus Lok Sabha Seats, PM Narendra Modi Clears ‘Caste’ Strategy For 2024 Polls |
With the opposition parties working to finalize seat-sharing arrangements for the Lok Sabha polls 2024, the BJP is keeping a close eye on all these developments and has started its preparations for the elections as well. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met BJP office bearers yesterday in Delhi and shared the party’s strategy for the 2024 polls. PM Modi told the BJP leaders that work should be done keeping in mind youth, poor, women and farmers.
Bharatiya Janata Party president JP Nadda presided over the meeting held yesterday in New Delhi. According to party sources, there was brainstorming in the meeting regarding the Lok Sabha elections to be held in 2024. Addressing the meeting, PM Modi said that work should be done keeping in mind four castes that for him are youth, poor, women and farmers.
According to reports, PM Modi asked all the leaders to work in mission mode. BJP General Secretary Vinod Tawde put forward the first topic in the meeting: that work has to be done at the booth level to increase 10% votes in the Lok Sabha elections. Speaking on this, the Prime Minister said that if our schemes reach the poor, youth, farmers and women in the right way, it will help us.
The BJP which won 303 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls has set a target of winning more than 350 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. If BJP alone achieves the target of 350 plus seats then together with NDA allies, its seat tally in the upcoming general elections will reach around 400.
The BJP is also making special preparations for 160 seats where the saffron party failed to make an impact. These 160 Lok Sabha seats include Sonia Gandhi’s Rae Bareli, Akhilesh Yadav’s family stronghold Mainpuri, and Sharad Pawar’s family stronghold Baramati, besides those seats of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and South India.