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Sibal tears into EC over Modi’s temple remark

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Former Congress leader says it is shameful that EC officials are not carrying out their salient duties…reports Asian Lite News

Weighing in on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charge at the Congress that it was planning to put a ‘Babri lock’ on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya if elected, Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal on Wednesday questioned if it was, at all, feasible.

Invoking expelled Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam’s big claim against Rahul Gandhi, that he planned to overturn the Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Temple; PM Modi urged people to give the BJP-led NDA “400 seats so that the Congress cannot put the Babri lock on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya”.

The former Congress leader said, “Is it possible to put a Babri lock be put on the Ram Mandir? Ask the PM: is this is prediction? How is this possible? The Election Commission is vested with the powers to put a lock on such statements but it doesn’t do it. This statement should be deemed a clear violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The EC has the power to put a lock on such star campaigners but doesn’t have the guts to do so, as it is also a part of the ‘parivaar’ these days. They become a part of the family during elections. Who isn’t? All so-called independent agencies are with the family these days.”

Addressing a mega meeting at Dhar in Madhya Pradesh earlier, PM Modi said he wanted a 400-seat mandate for the BJP-led NDA to ensure the Congress does not bring back Article 370 in Kashmir and put a ‘Babri lock’ on the Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Also responding to PM Modi’s statement that it was time for the people to decide if they stand with ‘vote jihad’ or ‘Ram Rajya’, Sibal said such statements can’t help him realise his goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.

“He (PM Modi) said the people should choose between ‘vote jihad’ and ‘Ram Rajya’. What kind of statement is this? Will this lead to ‘Vikas’ (development)? Will this give you ‘saath’ (cooperation) of all communities and sections? His public statements are in stark contrast with what he claims he stands for. This is unfortunate. You are the PM of the world’s largest democracy. Such statements can’t make us ‘Viksit Bharat’. I urge you not to air such views,” Sibal added.

Also hitting out at the Election Commission for not sending a notice to PM Modi over his statement on wealth redistribution, claiming that the Congress was planning to snatch mangalsutras off women’s necks; the Rajya Sabha MP said, “The EC will never act. It is committed to this government, to this party. It (EC notice for MCC violation) was sent to the party and not the individual who made that statement. Why did the EC not send the notice to him? It was not even a notice to the BJP but only a polite rap on its knuckles. What else can one expect from the Election Commission? It is shameful that the EC officials are not carrying out their salient duties.”

Priyanka slams Modi

Meanwhile, Congress national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday replied to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attack on her brother and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi where he had raised the Congress’ silence on Adani-Ambani and questioned if there was a secret deal between the Congress and the industrialists.

Priyanka Gandhi countered, accusing the BJP of favouring billionaires and transferring national assets to them.

“PM Modi is giving a lot of clarifications in the last few days. PM Modi calls my brother ‘Shehzada’ but he himself is ‘Shehenshah’. He is giving clarifications because people are seeing that the entire country’s property has been given to some billionaires. Airports, roads, coal factories, everything has been given to them,” Priyanka Gandhi said while speaking to ANI.

Priyanka said that the real face of the Prime Minister is coming out in front of the public, hence, he is giving such statements.

Reacting to BJP’s constant criticism of the Congress Manifesto, Priyanka Gandhi said that PM Modi dislikes it because it focuses solely on concrete plans for the betterment of various sectors such as youth, women, and addressing inflation, as well as returning the nation’s wealth.

“PM Modi does not like our manifesto because our manifesto only talks about work, about what we are going to do for the youth, women, inflation, returning the country’s wealth back to the people. That’s why the PM has been attacking our manifesto from the beginning. They are making such strange statements regarding our manifesto that we have to see for ourselves what it is, and where it came from…What are the real issues of the elections? Unemployment, inflation, oppression of women, the struggle of the people, the problems of the farmers, these are the issues elections should be fought on,” Priyanka Gandhi said.

Brushing off the controversy surrounding Sam Pitroda’s remark as “useless”, Priyanka Gandhi said, “PM Modi plays full toss on these useless issues. I challenge him to play full toss on employment, inflation, and atrocities on women, only then I will believe that yes someone has played.” (ANI)

ALSO READ: UMF backs Congress in Telangana

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Pitroda Quits After Racist Flub

Sam Pitroda Resigns Amid Political Uproar…reports Asian Lite News

Sam Pitroda, a long associate of the Congress party and the Gandhi family, is not new to controversies but this time his controversial remark regarding the appearance of Indians went beyond any damage control as the party was compelled to distance itself from what Pitroda said and BJP came out all guns blazing against the party terming his remarks “racist”.

After his remarks caused a major political furore in election season and embarrassed the Congress, Sam Pitroda resigned as chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress on Wednesday.

“Mr Sam Pitroda has decided to step down as Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress of his own accord. The Congress President has accepted his decision,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on X.

Pitroda stirred a major controversy in the middle of Lok Sabha polls and BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi seized on them to target the Congress.

Pitroda, in an interview with ‘The Statesman’, while reflecting upon the democracy in India said, “We have survived 75 years in a very happy environment where people could live together, leaving aside few fights here and there. We could hold a country together as diverse as India, where people in the East look like Chinese, people in the West look like Arab, people in the North look like white and maybe people in the South look like Africans.”

He said the people of India respect different languages, religions, food and customs which vary from region to region. “That’s the India that I believe in, where everybody has a place and everybody compromises a little bit,” he said.

Jairam Ramesh said that the analogies drawn by Sam Pitroda are “most unfortunate and unacceptable”.

“The analogies drawn by Sam Pitroda in a podcast to illustrate India’s diversity are most unfortunate and unacceptable. The Indian National Congress completely dissociates itself from these analogies,” he said in a post on X.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders slammed Pitroda over his “racist” remarks with PM Modi referring to them in his election rallies.

He said people of the country will not tolerate insults on the basis of the colour of their skin and demanded an answer from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

“‘Shehzade aapko jawaab dena padega’. My country will not tolerate the disrespect of my countrymen on the basis of their skin colour and Modi will never tolerate this,” PM Modi said in his rally at Warangal.

“I was thinking a lot that (President) Droupadi Murmu who has a very good reputation and is the daughter of an Adivasi family, then why is Congress trying so hard to defeat her but today I got to know the reason. I got to know that there is an uncle in America who is the philosophical guide of ‘Shehzada’ and just like the third umpire in cricket this ‘Shehzada’ takes advice from the third umpire,” he said.

“This philosophical uncle said that those who have black skin are from Africa. This means that you are abusing several people of the country on the basis of their skin colour…Where will they take the country? No matter what skin colour we have, we are the people who worship Lord Krishna,” he added.

BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi slammed Pitroda over his remark and said that the latter has given a very “objectionable” statement on India, its culture and the identity of the people.

Addressing a press conference here today, Trivedi said, “This is the battle of the idea of India on the question of India’s identity and its existence. This is the foreign mindset that was infiltrated in our minds by the Mughals and Britishers, that we all are outsiders and India was just an inn. Congress’ mindset is clear, their concept is ‘Bharat ko andar se todo, bahar se jodo.”

Continuing his attacks, Sudhanshu Trivedi said that gradually, the mask of Congress is falling, both inside and outside the country.

“Today, Sam Pitroda, for whom Rahul Gandhi is a disciple, has given a very objectionable statement on India, its culture, India’s identity, and the identity of its people. It seems that this subject isn’t limited only to elections or politics but to the existence of India, as they are questioning the very identity of the country,” Sudhanshu said.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also joined in the criticism alleging that these were racist comments by a man who is the guru of Rahul Gandhi.

“It is the words and thinking of Rahul Gandhi only because these days Rahul is also playing the politics of divide and rule to such an extent that first they divide on caste and language lines and now they are doing Indians vs Indians. To make comments like Indians are like Chinese. Isn’t this a racist comment? Isn’t this insulting? Indians are looking like Africans. Isn’t it the comment on the entire South people? By making these comments, it shows that Congress’ “Mohabbat ki dukaan” actually has “Nafrat ka saaman”. Unless Congress gives a complete explanation and sacks Sam Pitroda, this should be taken as the statement of the Congress,” Poonawalla said. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Farooq Abdullah tells rebel Kargil NC unit to vote for Congress

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JJP offers Cong support to bring down Haryana govt

The JJP was a partner in the BJP-led alliance government in Haryana before the two parted ways due to differences over seat-sharing for the LS polls…reports Asian Lite News

Amidst a deepening political crisis in Haryana after three Independent MLAs withdrew support to the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the State, the Jannayak Janta Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on May 8 offered to “consider” outside support to the Congress to bring down the government.

The JJP was a partner in the BJP-led alliance government in Haryana for more than four years before the two parted ways in March due to differences over seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha election. At a press conference in Hisar, Chautala categorically said that his party would “consider” offering outside support to the Congress if it made any efforts to topple the government during the ongoing Lok Sabha election. “It’s now for the Congress to decide whether it takes any step to bring down the government or not,” Chautala said.

Responding to the offer, senior Congress leader and two-time Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that the JJP must write to the Governor saying that it is not supporting the BJP. “Soon our delegation will call upon the Haryana Governor, seeking imposition of President’s Rule and fresh elections to the State assembly,” Hooda said.

Regarding the fact that three of the JJP’s 10 MLAs have been seen at the BJP’s election rallies, Chautala said that show-cause notices had been served to them, but no replies were received so far. He added that the party had evidence against them in the form of videos, posters and pictures for indulging in anti-party activities.

Chautala, however, added that they were bound to abide by the party’s whip in case a no-confidence motion was brought against the present government. He said that his party would vote against the government in that case.

The former Hisar Lok Sabha MP also demanded that Chief Minister Nayab Saini resign on moral grounds after his government was reduced to a “minority”, or prove his majority. Chautala added that his party would also write to the Governor seeking directions to the BJP government to prove its majority on the floor of the House.

The effective strength of the 90-member Haryana Assembly stands at 88 after former Chief Minister Manohar Lal and Independent MLA Ranjit Chautala resigned from the Karnal and Rania Assembly seats over the past few weeks for different reasons. This has brought the majority mark down to 45 MLAs.

After the withdrawal of support by three Independent MLAs – Sombir Sangwan (Dadri), Randhir Singh Golan (Pundri), and Dharampal Gonder (Nilokheri) – the BJP government now has the support of only 43 MLAs, including two Independents and the Haryana Lokhit Party’s lone MLA Gopal Kanda. The BJP itself has 40 MLAs at present, with the byelection for the Karnal Assembly seat slated for May 25.

Saini rubbished the Opposition’s claim of his government being reduced to a “minority”, insisting that the BJP government was “safe” and “functioning with full strength”. He accused the Congress of trying to mislead people and creating a misconception about the stability of the government. “The people of the State are not going to fulfil the wishes of the Congress since the Congress believes in corruption. On the other hand, [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi and the BJP believe in development,” Saini told journalists in Haryana’s Jind on the sidelines of a rally in support of the party’s Sirsa candidate Ashok Tanwar.

The CM also accused the Congress of luring the three Independent MLAs, saying that he had met them four days ago and they were good people, but were somehow coaxed into withdrawing their support.

Saini said that three independent MLAs, who withdrew their support to the BJP government, are good people, but they are stuck while recalling a recent meeting with them.

“…Sometime ago, trust vote happened…Congress has not been able to fulfil the wishes of the people. For their own benefit, they (Congress) fulfil the wishes of some people. Those MLAs are good people but they are stuck. I called and had a meeting with them four days ago,” CM Saini told reporters here.

Lashing out at the Congress, CM Saini added, “Encouraging corruption is Congress’s thinking. Whenever there is corruption, the pace of development slows down. Whoever is involved in corruption, will not be spared,” he added.

The Haryana government was reduced to a minority on Tuesday after three independent MLAs withdrew support from the Nayab Saini-led BJP government.

Independent MLA Dhharampal Gonder from Niolkheri said that he would extend support to Congress from outside.

“Three MLAs have withdrawn support from the Haryana government. During the election campaign in Nilokheri and other places, we were not invited…After this, the public started questioning us about why we weren’t called. It was an insult to us. The public asked us not to extend support from now on…We did not want any ministerial posts; we just wanted to work for the people of the state. Now, we are going to extend support to Congress from outside,” Gonder said.

ALSO READ: UMF backs Congress in Telangana

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Court extends Sisodia’s custody till May 15

While Sisodia remains under custody, Justice Kanta has allowed him to meet his wife once a week after noting that the ED has no objection to it….reports Asian Lite News

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended, till May 15, the judicial custody of former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with a money laundering case related to the excise policy case being probed by the CBI.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Court has also set the next date for further arguments regarding the framing of charges against the accused in the case.

On May 3, the Delhi High Court issued a notice on Sisodia’s petitions seeking bail after a trial court denied him regular bail in cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) pertaining to the alleged excise policy scam.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma sought replies from both the agencies — the CBI and the ED.

While Sisodia remains under custody, Justice Kanta has allowed him to meet his wife once a week after noting that the ED has no objection to it.

Meanwhile, the matter will come up for the next hearing on May 8.

Judge Baweja had on April 30 refused to grant bail to Sisodia who was seeking regular bail a second time.

Appearing before Judge Baweja, prosecutor Pankaj Gupta appearing for CBI had said that Sisodia does not satisfy the rigours for the grant of bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Claiming the AAP leader has political clout, the prosecutor said that he is influential and not entitled to parity.

The central probe agency accused Sisodia of being the main accused in the case and said that he might tamper with the evidence of the probe, which is at a nascent stage on certain key aspects.

Gupta also noted that he hasn’t gotten bail from the high court and the Supreme Court.

Sisodia’s bail application has been pending since February.

Last time, the ED had contended that Sisodia and the other accused persons were delaying the trial in the case.

Citing the bail granted to another accused, Benoy Babu, Sisodia’s counsel Mohit Mathur had argued for his bail, saying that he no longer holds a position of influence.

He had also stressed that Sisodia met the triple test for bail, as outlined by the Supreme Court, and urged for a speedy trial. Mathur further said that Sisodia’s eligibility for bail is established, given the fulfilment of all necessary conditions and the absence of any misuse of liberties, as per the Supreme Court’s guidelines.

ALSO READ: Nominations for Phase 7 of polls begins in Punjab, Himachal

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No relief for Kejriwal, SC may hear case on May 9

The court said that if it gives interim bail to the Chief Minister, it does not want him to perform official duties as somewhere it will lead to conflict….reports Asian Lite News

The Supreme Court bench, which initially decided to pronounce its judgement on Tuesday on the interim bail plea of incarcerated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case, will most likely take up the matter again on May 9 or the next week.

A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta was hearing CM Kejriwal’s petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case.

CM Kejriwal promised the court to refrain from signing any official documents if granted interim bail in connection with the case. This assurance came through his counsel, Senior Advocate AM Singhvi.

Justice Khanna specifically pointed out the challenges related to CM Kejriwal’s participation in the upcoming elections and his engagement in official duties, underlining that his active involvement could lead to “cascading effects”.

Singhvi argued that CM Kejriwal was not a habitual offender and posed no threat to society, suggesting that his release would not be inappropriate.

CM Kejriwal said that he would not sign any official file given that the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) would not halt government work on the basis that files were unsigned by him.

Moreover, the bench put several questions before the agency in the pre-lunch session. It asked the federal probe agency why the CM can’t be released on interim bail in view of the ongoing general elections. The court also said that this is an extraordinary situation and that it is not like he is a habitual offender.

The probe agency opposed the grant of relief saying that it would set a wrong precedent and that politicians have no special rights as compared to normal citizens.

The petition was filed challenging the April 10 judgement of the Delhi High Court which dismissed his plea challenging the ED arrest. CM Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 and has been under custody since then.

Last time, the court had told Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), to get prepared on the question of interim release of the AAP supremo due to elections.

The bench had clarified that it was merely informing both sides to get prepared on the question of interim bail as the final hearing in the case could be prolonged. “If it (conclusion of hearing) is going to take time, it does appear it may take time, we may then consider the question of interim bail because of the elections,” the apex court had said. Further, it had asked ASG Raju to take instructions if CM Kejriwal, because of the position he holds, can be allowed to sign official files in custody.

ALSO READ: SAD’s Chandigarh candidate quits party

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UMF backs Congress in Telangana

The decision was taken at a meeting, which was presided over by religious scholar Moulana Mufti Syed Sadeq Mohiuddin, who heads the UMF….reports Asian Lite News

The United Muslim Forum (UMF), an apex body of various religious organisations belonging to different schools of thought, on Tuesday declared support to the ruling Congress in Telangana for the Lok Sabha elections in 16 out of the 17 constituencies in the state.

It decided to back the AIMIM in the Hyderabad constituency.

The decision was taken at a meeting, which was presided over by religious scholar Moulana Mufti Syed Sadeq Mohiuddin, who heads the UMF.

Moulana Akbar Nizamuddin, who heads the well-known seminary Jamia Nizamia, said it was unanimously decided to support the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections scheduled in the state in the fourth phase on May 13.

The meeting appealed to the Muslims of Telangana to vote in favour of the Congress candidates in all the constituencies barring Hyderabad.

The UMF also appealed to the Muslims in Hyderabad to support the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), whose President Asaduddin Owaisi is seeking re-election for a fifth consecutive term.

The meeting felt that the country is passing through a critical phase and that Muslims should discharge their responsibility by defeating the communal forces.

The meeting was attended by religious scholars, community leaders, and intellectuals from various walks of life.

M.A. Majid, one of the participants, told IANS that the meeting was of the unanimous view that since the Congress and the INDIA bloc are taking the communal forces head-on in the elections, the Muslims of Telangana should back the party.

The UMF had backed the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the Assembly elections held in November 2023. The participants in the meeting felt that though the regional party is secular, this being the Lok Sabha elections, there is a need to support a national party like the Congress to defeat the communal forces.

“The meeting also noted the efforts of Asaduddin Owaisi in exposing the communal forces and commended his services,” Majid said.

The meeting also appealed to avoid the division of secular votes and decided to create awareness among the voters on the importance of casting every vote.

ALSO READ: Nominations for Phase 7 of polls begins in Punjab, Himachal

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Nizamabad gears up for triangular contest

BRS president and former Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao greets the gathering during a roadshow for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, in Nizamabad. (ANI Photo)

The main contestants – BJP, Congress and BRS – are battling it out after suffering defeat in Assembly elections…reports Asian Lite News

 A triangular fight is on the cards in the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency, a key constituency in the politically significant north Telangana region.

The main contestants are battling it out after suffering defeat in Assembly elections.

Sitting MP Dharampuri Arvind of BJP, senior Congress leader and former minister T. Jeevan Reddy and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) candidate Bajireddy Goverdhan all had to taste defeat in Assembly elections held in November 2023.

Unlike in 2019 when Arvind had defeated BRS president and then chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s daughter K. Kavitha in a direct fight, the constituency is witnessing a three-cornered contest this time.

Out of seven Assembly seats under Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency, BRS won three seats in the recent polls.

Congress and BJP bagged two seats each.

The BRS retained Koratla as Arvind lost to Kalvakuntla Sanjay by a margin of over 10,000 votes.

The Congress and BRS candidates too were unsuccessful in their bid to enter the Assembly.

Jeevan Reddy, a former minister and currently a member of Telangana Legislative Council, lost to M. Sanjay Kumar of BRS by a margin of 15,822 votes.

BRS leader Bajireddy Goverdhan suffered defeat at the hands of Congress party’s R. Bhupathi Reddy by a margin of nearly 22,000 votes in Nizamabad Rural constituency.

Nizamabad is the second Lok Sabha constituency after Adilabad where the BJP put up impressive performance in recent Assembly elections.

The BJP wrested Armoor and Nizamabad Urban seats from the BRS and finished second in the Koratla segment.

Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat remained a Congress stronghold till 1991 when Telugu Desam Party (TDP) wrested it for the first time.

The TDP won the seat again in 1998 and 1999.

TRS (now BRS) scored its first victory from here in 2014 when Kavitha defeated two-time MP Madhu Yaskhi Goud of Congress by a huge margin of 1.67 lakh votes. BJP had finished third with over 2.25 lakh votes.

In 2019, the BJP wrested the seat with Arvind, son of former Congress and BRS leader D. Srinivas, defeating Kavitha by a margin of 70,875 votes.

While both Arvind and Kavitha polled over 4 lakh votes each, Congress candidate finished a poor third with less than 70,000 votes.

The constituency had hit headlines in 2019 after 177 farmers jumped into the fray demanding remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and setting up of National Turmeric Board, taking the total number of candidates to 185.

Though Kavitha was later elected to the Legislative Council from Nizamabad Local Authorities’ constituency, she kept targeting Arvind through innovative protests for failing to fulfil his promise of getting Turmeric Board.

While addressing a public meeting in Mahabubnagar on October 1, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the National Turmeric Board will be set up in Telangana to professionally focus on the entire value chain of turmeric.

However, the Turmeric Board remains a key issue in this election too as both Congress and BRS are questioning the delay in follow-up action on the Prime Minister’s announcement.

Both the parties alleged that the BJP has taken people of Nizamabad for a ride with a mere announcement. Revival of Nizam Sugar Factory (NSF) in Nizamabad and its units across Telangana is another issue in the election.

The Congress has given the assurance it will revive NSF next year.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s election rally in Nizamabad where he promised that the BJP will scrap reservation for Muslims gave further boost to the BJP’s campaign.

Issues like Muslim reservation and celebration of Hyderabad Liberation Day are part of BJP’s poll campaign.

The party is also highlighting the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya and its promise to bring Uniform Civil Code.

Muslims constitute about 20 per cent of nearly 19 lakh voters in the constituency.

Nizamabad was one of the four Lok Sabha seats won by the BJP in 2019.

This was the BJP’s best-ever performance in the state.

As Kavitha was arrested in Delhi excise policy case, the BRS fielded its senior leader Bajireddy Goverdhan.

He was first elected to the Assembly on a Congress ticket from Armoor in 1999. In 2004, he was elected from Banswada. He joined YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) after it was floated by Jagan Mohan Reddy in 2010. Goverdhan joined TRS (now BRS) in 2014 and was elected to Telangana Assembly from Nizamabad Rural constituency. He retained the seat in 2018.

The BRS is telling the electorate that it alone can safeguard the interests of Telangana.

BRS chief KCR is exhorting people to make sure that Telangana’s voice is heard in Parliament.

Congress’ Jeevan Reddy is confident that like in the Assembly elections, the people will give their mandate in favour of Congress.

The senior leader is accusing BJP of diverting the people’s attention from real issues like unemployment, Turmeric Board, remunerative prices for farmers, revival of sugar factories and problems of beedi workers and Gulf migrants to polarise votes on communal lines.

Jeevan Reddy was first elected to Andhra Pradesh Assembly in 1983 on Telugu Desam Party (TDP ticket) from Jagtial and served as excise minister in N.T. Rama Rao’s Cabinet.

He joined the Congress in 1984 and was re-elected to the Assembly from Jagtial in 1989.

He was again elected from the same constituency in 1989, 1996, 1999 and 2004.

He served as minister for roads and buildings in Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s cabinet between 2007 and 2009.

He was elected to Telangana Assembly from Jagtial in 2014.

After defeat in 2018 elections, he entered the fray for Legislative Council elections and was elected from Karimnagar Graduates’ constituency in 2019.

Jeevan Reddy is contesting Lok Sabha elections for the third time.

He twice contested unsuccessfully from Karimnagar. Both times, he lost to BRS chief and former chief minister KCR.

ALSO READ: Nominations for Phase 7 of polls begins in Punjab, Himachal

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Mayawati strips nephew Akash Anand of all posts

Mayawati said she is taking the decision in the “larger interest” of the party and Anand is being removed from the positions till he attains “full maturity….reports Asian Lite News

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati announced on Tuesday the removal of her nephew Akash Anand from the position of national coordinator and her ‘political successor’.

Mayawati said she is taking the decision in the “larger interest” of the party and Anand is being removed from the positions till he attains “full maturity.”

“It is known that BSP, besides being a party, is also a movement for self-respect and self-esteem of Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and social change for which Shri Kanshi Ram ji and I have dedicated our entire lives and a new generation is also being prepared to give it momentum,” Mayawati said in a social media post on X.

The four-time Chief Minister said that Akash Anand’s father Anand Kumar will continue to fulfill his responsibilities in the party and BSP will work to take forward the caravan of Bhimrao Ambedkar,

“In the same sequence, along with promoting other people in the party, I declared Shri Akash Anand as the National Coordinator and her successor, but in the larger interest of the party and the movement, he is being removed from both these important responsibilities until he attains full maturity,” the former CM said.

“While his father Shri Anand Kumar will continue to fulfill his responsibilities in the party and the movement as before. Therefore, the leadership of BSP is not going to shy away from making every kind of sacrifice in the interest of the party and the movement and in taking forward the caravan of Baba Saheb Dr. Ambedkar,” Mayawati added.

Shivpal booked for remarks against Mayawati

Uttar Pradesh Police said an FIR has been registered against Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Yadav for allegedly making derogatory statements against BSP chief Mayawati.

Police said that on the complaint of BSP leader Ram Prakash Tyagi, an FIR was registered against Shivpal Yadav at the Civil Lines Police Station.

He said that Yadav has been booked under sections 504 (intentional insult) and 505 (statements creating public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Shivpal Yadav’s son Aditya Yadav is the SP candidate from Badaun, where voting will be held on Tuesday.

In his complaint, Tyagi alleged that on May 3 he saw a news clipping in which Yadav used “indecent and objectionable” language against Mayawati.

Tyagi has also urged the National Commission for Women and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to take cognizance of the matter. (ANI/IANS)

ALSO READ: Nominations for Phase 7 of polls begins in Punjab, Himachal

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Rahul vows to end Agniveer scheme

The Congress leader also promised to amend the GST and bring out a separate Sarna religious code for tribals…reports Asian Lite News

The Agniveer scheme would be abolished if the INDIA bloc is voted to power, announced Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging that it was initiated by PM Narendra Modi and not by the Army.

The former president of the Congress party also promised to amend the GST and bring out a separate Sarna religious code for tribals, news agency PTI reported.

“INDIA bloc will scrap the Agniveer scheme, a scheme brought by Modi and not by the Army. We do not want to differentiate between martyrs. Anyone sacrificing for the nation should be attributed martyr status, should be given pension,” he said at an election rally in Jharkhand’s Gumla.

Earlier this month, Gandhi said that 1.5 lakh youth who had completed the Army recruitment process should be compensated.

“We have said in our election manifesto that we will roll back Agniveer Scheme. Your dream to join the Army has not been fullfilled,” Rahul Gandhi said while interacting with the youth “impacted” by the Agnipath scheme at New Delhi’s Jawahar Bhawan.

“1.5 lakh youth who had completed the Army recruitment process should be compensated. There should be a way out. It will be analysed (If INDIA bloc is voted to power),” he said.

Rahul Gandhi had claimed that the Indian Army was against the idea of the Agnipath scheme, adding this policy was the brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all decisions regarding it were taken in the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Earlier poor used to join the Army, they used to get pension. Now they are training an individual for 4 months whereas a Chinese soldier is getting training for five years. You know what will happen, and when that agniveer dies he won’t get anything no pension, no canteen. We will abolish this scheme once our government comes to power. Interstingly, even the Army is against the Agniveer scheme. This scheme was the idea of the Prime Minister and its decision was taken in the Prime Minister office,” Rahul Gandhi had said.

Congress in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls has promised to abolish Agnipath Scheme and return to the normal recruitment processes followed by the Army, Navy and Air Force. “It will guarantee economic and social security for our soldiers,” the manifesto read.

The Agnipath scheme was announced by the Centre in June 2022.

This model seeks to recruit soldiers for only four years, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them in regular service.

Those recruited under the scheme are called ‘Agniveers’.

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Farooq Abdullah tells rebel Kargil NC unit to vote for Congress

Srinagar: National Conference (NC) president Dr Farooq Abdullah during a party meeting in Srinagar, on May 24, 2016. (Photo: IANS)

Ironically, Dr Abdullah’s directive came a day after the entire Kargil unit of the NC resigned en masse from the party….reports Asian Lite News

Former Chief Minister and NC President, Dr Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday directed the rebels of the Kargil unit of his party, who resigned en masse, to vote for the Congress in Ladakh Lok Sabha constituency.

The NC said in a post on its X handle on Tuesday, “NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah has directed the Kargil unit of the party to support the INDIA bloc candidate Tsering Namgyal in the Lok Sabha election for the Ladakh seat. He has told his colleagues that failure to follow this directive will be seen as a serious breach of party discipline.”

Ironically, Dr Abdullah’s directive came a day after the entire Kargil unit of the NC resigned en masse from the party.

In a letter written to Dr Abdullah, Qamar Ali Akhoon, Additional General Secretary of the NC, said the entire unit of the party had resigned in the “larger interest of Ladakh.”

The Kargil unit said that as it is being “insisted” to act against the interest of Ladakh people, they are “compelled to resign in masses.”

“In this connection, as the party insists us to act against the interest of the people of Ladakh, so we are compelled to resign in masses from all party functionaries including the undersigned from the party post. This letter may be considered as a mass resignation of all party functionaries from the primary membership of J&K National Conference,” the letter further stated.

Haji Hanifa Jan, former CEO of the Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council, filed nomination papers for the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat as an Independent against Tsering Namgyal of the Congress and Tashi Gyalson of the BJP.

Qamar Ali Akhoon and Feroze Khan, two senior NC leaders and local Congress leaders had accompanied Haji Hanifa Jan to the Returning Officer when he filed his papers.

Seen in this background, the directive of Dr Abdullah to NC rebels has the proverbial similarity to a general ordering his deserted army to move to the front against the enemy.

Ladakh constituency goes to vote on May 20.

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