Page 223 - Bjp

Why are country's borders shrinking: SP Chief Akhilesh hits out at BJP

In a veiled attack on the BJP-led central government, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday wondered why the country's borders were shrinking and how free was its press. Yadav attended the special prayers at Aishbagh Eidgah here on Eid-ul-Fitr and greeted people on the occasion. "People are noticing that our country that was once developing, what is the state of law and order here now, what is our unemployment level, how free our press is, where are we standing on the parameters of health and poverty index? Why are our borders shrinking?" Yadav said without taking any names. "People are going to vote on these issues and they have decided to bring a change," the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said after initially declining to make any political comments "at the time of festivities". Earlier in the day, the Congress targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "ineffective and feeble" response to China for its border transgressions, and demanded that he apologises to

Maha Congress could have bagged better deal for LS seats: Varsha Gaikwad

Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Thursday said the party's Maharashtra leadership should have pursued equal seat-sharing among the three Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies for the Lok Sabha polls to ensure a better deal in the metropolis. There are six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai - Mumbai North, Mumbai North-Central, which have been allotted to the Congress in the seat sharing deal, while four others - Mumbai South, Mumbai South-Central, Mumbai North-East and Mumbai North-West went to the Shiv Sena (UBT). The MVA coalition in Maharashtra announced its seat-sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday with the Shiv Sena (UBT) securing a substantial portion with 21 seats, while the Congress will contest 17 seats, and the NCP (SP) 10 seats. Talking to reporters here, Gaikwad said, "Earlier, Congress used to contest five seats in Mumbai, leaving only Mumbai North-East to the undivided Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). So we were demanding equal seat-sharing this time.

Removal of Kejriwal's PA will pave way for excise policy scam probe: BJP

BJP leaders on Thursday said the removal of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's private secretary from his post by the Vigilance Directorate was an administrative decision that will pave the way for a probe into the alleged excise policy scam. It was necessary to remove Kumar from the post as his appointment was "illegal" and he was under the scanner of agencies in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy of the city government, Delhi BJP vice-president Kapil Mishra said, adding that his removal will now pave the way for an impartial investigation in the matter. In an order on Wednesday, the Delhi government's Vigilance Directorate terminated the service of Kejriwal's private secretary Bibhav Kumar over alleged violations of rules and procedures in his appointment. No immediate reaction was available from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi over Kumar's termination of services. The anti-corruption stand and high moral ground claimed

Lok Sabha polls: Former Congress spokesperson Rohan Gupta joins BJP

Former Congress spokesperson Rohan Gupta joined the BJP on Thursday, marking the defection of yet another visible opposition face to the ruling party in the election season. Gupta, along with some other leaders, joined the BJP in the presence of Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri and its national general secretary Vinod Tawde. He had resigned from the Congress last month after withdrawing his candidature from Ahmedabad East Lok Sabha constituency. Gupta had blamed his "constant humiliation and character assassination by a leader connected with communication department" of the Congress for his decision. Recently, another former Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh had also joined the BJP.

LS polls: BJP manifesto promises protection to rights of Sikkimese people

The BJP on Thursday released its Sikkim election manifesto which promised to ensure the protection of the rights of the Sikkimese people and to make the Himalayan state an educational hub, if the party wins the Assembly elections. BJP president J P Nadda on Thursday released the party's Sikkim Assembly election manifesto here in the presence of BJP Sikkim incharge, Dilip Jaiswal, Sikkim state president, DR Thapa and other party leaders. "Enough is enough, it is time Sikkim comes to join the mainstream. We have had enough of regional parties in Sikkim. We have to say goodbye to regional parties and corruption which these regional parties are involved in" said Nadda. He said that the BJP wanted a people-oriented, progressive and development-oriented government in Sikkim. "We want the lotus to bloom even in the mountains. Our manifesto ensures that every Sikkimese gets the best from the schemes and policies being given to the citizens. We want a clean government in Sikkim. Development

Lok Sabha polls 2024: BJP gaining ground in Tamil Nadu under K Annamalai

Often considered a fringe player in Tamil Nadu's electoral arena dominated by the Dravidian heavyweights, a resurgent BJP in Tamil Nadu has seen it's stock rising much beyond its expectations this time, thanks to an assertive and aggressive K Annamalai who is steering the party. The BJP has made no bones about its intentions to make good electoral inroads in the Dravidian heartland and is hopeful of turning the positive wave into votes for the April 19 general election. It is heading a non-DMK, non-AIADMK bloc and is contesting directly from 19 seats, including Coimbatore from where Annamalai has been fielded. Much of the party's newfound confidence stems from Annamalai's "En Mann, En Makkal" (My Land, My People) padayatra, a crucial political journey that made many heads turn towards the Tamil Nadu BJP and the former IPS officer. In fact, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the culmination of the nearly seven month-long yatra. Though how much of the frenzied crowd that swarmed

LS polls: BJP urges renaming Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad to Ganapathivattom

The BJP said on Thursday that the name of Sulthan Bathery town, associated with Tipu Sultan in the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, should be changed, as the place was originally known as Ganapathivattom before the Mysore ruler's invasion of the Malabar region of Kerala two centuries ago. The issue was raised by the BJP state president, K Surendran, who is contesting against the sitting MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, as well as CPI leader and ruling LDF candidate Annie Raja in the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. "Ganapathivattom is the true name of Sulthan Bathery. Its name change is necessary," Surendran told reporters in Thamarassery near here. Raking up the issue of Tipu Sultan's Malabar invasion during his election campaign, the BJP leader alleged that the Congress and LDF prefer to refer to it as Sulthan Bathery. "Why should such a place in Kerala be named after an aggressor?" he asked. "In reality, the place is Ganapathivattom. How many years ago did the Sultan's invasion occur

Arunachal Assembly polls: 23 candidates have criminal cases against them

Twenty-three candidates in the fray for the April 19 Assembly elections in Arunachal Pradesh, have criminal cases registered against them, according to a report of a civil society organisation. The report prepared by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Arunachal Pradesh Election Watch, which was released on Wednesday, revealed that out of the 23 candidates with criminal cases in the northeastern state, 20 have declared serious criminal cases against them in their affidavits. The report was prepared after analysing the self-sworn affidavits of 142 out of 143 contesting candidates in the assembly polls. The affidavit of BJP candidate Ratu Techi, who won from the Sagalee constituency unopposed, could not be analysed due to the unavailability of his clear and complete affidavit on the Election Commission website, the report said. In the 2019 assembly polls in the state, out of 184 candidates analysed, 29 had declared criminal cases and 26 have declared serious criminal cas

PM Modi pays tributes to eminent social reformer Phule on birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to eminent social reformer Jyotirao Phule on his birth anniversary, saying he dedicated his life to fighting injustice and promoting equality, and his thoughts give strength to millions. "Today, we pay homage to the great Mahatma Phule on his Jayanti. A visionary social reformer who dedicated his life to fighting injustice and promoting equality, his thoughts give strength to millions," Modi said on X. "His relentless efforts in the field of education and women empowerment have left an indelible mark on society. Today is an occasion to reiterate our commitment to fulfilling his vision to empower the poor and marginalised," he added. An icon for the movement to emancipate the backward and deprived sections of society, the 19th-century reformer dedicated his life to social justice and equality. His wife Savitribai Phule was also a pioneering social reformer, lauded especially for her role in women's education.

From 'god-gifted' to press freedom: What PM Modi said in Newsweek interview

The Prime Minister spoke on a host of issues ranging from India-China border tensions to India's economic growth and Ram Mandir, among others

LS polls: BJP invites 25 global parties to observe elections, its campaign

Notable absentees will be leaders from the US, Pakistan and China, while major political parties from Nepal, including the Maoists, have been invited

TDP, BJP, Janasena use political power to serve people: Chandrababu Naidu

TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said the NDA alliance of the TDP, BJP and Janasena uses political power to serve people while the YSRCP chief uses it as a license to "exploit and loot public wealth". The TDP chief made these allegations at the Tanuku town in the West Godavari district as part of an election canvassing public meeting, featuring Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan and others. Power is for serving the public for the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP while it is looting for Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has exploited his power as a license to loot public wealth, said Naidu. According to Naidu, Reddy is the only person who has prospered in the state in the past five years and he asked people whether they want the "destructive" rule of Reddy or the development of the state through the NDA. Asserting that the NDA will return to power at the Centre, he said the agenda of all the three partners is common - welfare, development and upholding democratic values. Terming Kalya

LS polls: BRS complains to EC against CM Revanth Reddy, Telangana BJP

The BRS in Telangana on Wednesday complained to the Election Commission against Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the state BJP for alleged violations of Model Code of Conduct (MCC)which is in force for the Lok Sabha elections. The BRS submitted separate representations to the EC in this regard. The BRS urged the EC to immediately ban Revanth Reddy from campaigning for the parliamentary elections and initiate an action against him and the Congress for alleged violation of the MCC. The BRS also sought immediate banning of the BJP's 'X' page from campaigning and prosecution of persons responsible for allegedly "morphing" the faces of prominent leaders of the BRS. Referring to a speech of CM Revanth Reddy at a Congress public meeting organised on the city's outskirts on April 6, the BRS alleged that he used the "most abusive and filthy language and also passed derogatory comments" against BRS president and former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The BRS alleged that whi

BJP's historic pursuit: Targeting 370 seats in 2024 LS polls challenge

For the past three decades, political parties with regional footprints accounted for 200 or more seats, and nearly half the votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections

LS elections: Neeraj Shekhar to contest from Ballia; Kher and Joshi axed

From Chandigarh, the BJP has fielded its Chandigarh unit chief Sanjay Tandon. From UP's Ghazipur, the BJP has fielded Paras Nath Rai against the SP's Afzal Ansari

Highlights of the day: ED moves court for NBW against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan

Latest news updates: Catch all the news updates from around the world here

Lok Sabha polls: BJP announces 10th list, drops Kirron Kher from Chandigarh

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Of the eight new names, seven are from Uttar Pradesh and one from Chandigarh

Congress creating north-south divide to break India: Amit Shah in Bihar

Launching a blistering attack on the opposition INDIA bloc, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the Congress of creating a north-south divide to break the country. Addressing an election rally in Guraru block of Gaya district, he also accused the Congress and the RJD of indulging in the politics of appeasement. The Congress party is creating a north-south divide to break the nation which the NDA-led Central government and people of the country will not allow. Their leader Rahul Gandhi is maintaining a stoic silence on this, Shah said. People of this country have now made up their mind to give a befitting reply to such divisive forces in the Lok Sabha polls and will ensure 400 plus seats for the NDA, he added. They (Congress and RJD) are indulging in politics of appeasement and that is the reason they are protesting the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, said Shah. He also claimed that the Congress never wanted Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and never thought of .

BJP members detained amid protest seeking Delhi CM Kejriwal's resignation

AAP leaders, who have maintained that the case against Kejriwal is "fabricated", said he would not resign

Lok Sabha polls highlights: DMK never focused on Tamil Nadu's development, says PM Modi

General Elections 2024 Highlights : Catch all the updates of the announcements related to Lok Sabha polls here