Tag: UP

Categories
India News Politics

Union minister opposes UP govt’s directive for nameplate

Amid the row in Uttar Pradesh, the Haridwar Police Administration also issued an order for restaurant owners to display names on the Kanwar Yatra route…reports Asian Lite News

Opposing Uttar Pradesh’s government’s directive for food shops to display their owners’ names along the Kanwar Yatra route, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) and Rashtriya Lok Dal Chief Jayant Chaudhary said on Sunday that it doesn’t appear to be a well-thought-out and well-reasoned decision.

Echoing similar views as Janata Dal (United), the RLD chief is also averse to the decision of identifying people and pointing them.

Notably, Jayant Chaudhary is a part of the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre and his party, RLD, holds important significance in western Uttar Pradesh.

Jayant told ANI, “It doesn’t appear to be well thought out and well-reasoned decision. Any decision shouldn’t cause harm to the sense of well-being of the community and harmony in the community. All those who go on Kanwar yatra and people who serve them, all are same. This tradition has been there from starting and no one saw who was serving them. This thing of identifying people and pointing out them, I couldn’t get that.”

Amid the row in Uttar Pradesh, the Haridwar Police Administration also issued an order for restaurant owners to display names on the Kanwar Yatra route.

Earlier, another ally of the NDA, JDU asked the Uttar Pradesh government to review the Muzaffarnagar order or to take the order back.

Speaking to ANI, Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi said that a Kanwar Yatra bigger than this (in UP) takes place in Bihar.

“A Kanwar Yatra bigger than this (in UP) takes place in Bihar. No such order is in effect there. These prohibitions that have been imposed are in violation of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ that the PM speaks of. The order is not in effect in Bihar nor in Rajasthan and Jharkhand. It would be good if it is reviewed. This order should be taken back,” KC Tyagi told ANI.

Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the move and urged the court to take suo-motto cognizance on the matter.

The Kanwar Yatra, which originates from Kumbhnagari Haridwar, stands as a beacon of Hindu-Muslim harmony.

Each year, during the month of Sawan, millions of Shiva devotees flock to Haridwar to collect the sacred waters of the Ganga. Remarkably, the Kanwars that these devotees carry on their shoulders are crafted with meticulous care by Muslim families in the Haridwar district, who dedicate many months to this labour of love.

Months before the Kanwar fair commences, the Muslim community immerses itself in the preparation of Kanwars. This craft is a family affair, engaging everyone, from the eldest members to women and children, who work tirelessly day and night.

“We have been doing this since childhood. It brings me joy to be deeply involved in serving Bhole Baba. We craft all types of Kanwars and Dolis, feeling a great sense of fulfilment both while creating and sharing them. Our hearts connect and we are all one,” said Istkar, a Kanwad artisan.

“I have been doing this for 15 years, and it brings me great joy. We also create Ravana effigies. It’s all about love and brotherhood; the entire Hindu community is like family to us,” said Abrar, another Kanwad artisan. (ANI)

After UP, MP orders display names, mobile numbers of shop owners

The Madhya Pradesh government has asked the people associated with hotels and eateries or have shops to display their names and mobile numbers prominently outside their business establishments.  

The state government’s order follows a similar directive by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route.

The Madhya Pradesh government has said they will implement the new directives in the holy city of Ujjain.

“The owners of shops, hotels, eateries and others in Ujjain city have been asked to display their names and mobile numbers outside their establishments, which should be clearly visible from the outside. A penalty of Rs 2,000 will be imposed on violators for the first time and Rs 5,000 if they defy the order for the second time,” Ujjain Mayor Mukesh Tatwal said.

Ujjain Mayor said that the order is in accordance with the Madhya Pradesh Shop Establishment Act or Gumasta License and is being implemented to enhance customer safety.

“Ujjain is a religious and holy city and the people have a right to know about the shopkeeper whose services they are availing. If a customer is dissatisfied or cheated, knowing the shopkeeper’s details allows them to seek redress,” Tatwal added.

Sources said that the local administrations in some other cities in Madhya Pradesh have also planned to adopt the same process and have started pushing the state government.

Some local BJP leaders have also demanded Chief Minister Mohan Yadav to make the display of shop owners’ names and mobile numbers mandatory across the state.

BJP MLA from Indore-2, Ramesh Mendola has written to the Chief Minister and urged him to make it mandatory for all shopkeepers to display their names outside their shops in Indore.

“The name of any person is his identity. A person is proud of his name. Asking for the name is the customer’s right and the shopkeeper should be proud to tell his name and not be ashamed,” Mendola wrote in his letter.

ALSO READ-2 killed as 12 coaches of passenger train derails in UP

Categories
India News Politics

Eateries told to display names of owners in UP, Opposition fumes

Taking to X, Khera wrote, “Not just political parties, all right-thinking people and the media must rise against this state-sponsored bigotry. We cannot allow the BJP to push the country back into dark ages.”…reports Asian Lite News

A major controversy has erupted over the Muzaffarnagar administration’s directive to all the eateries and shops along the Yatra route, to properly display the names of owners to avoid “confusion” among the Kanwar Yatris.

The government’s directive to the food stalls and dhabas has riled up the Opposition parties, as some of them equated it to “apartheid” while others demanded “judicial intervention” to set aside the “lopsided” order.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said that such orders would vitiate the peaceful atmosphere and asked, “What will be known from the name of the one whose name is Guddu, Munna, Chhotu or Fatte?”

SP chief, who rode his party to its best-ever performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls 2024, smelled a “conspiracy” against a particular community and demanded the courts take suo motu cognisance of this order.

“Honourable court should take suo motu cognisance and investigate the intentions of the government behind such administrative order and take appropriate punitive action. Such orders are social crimes, which want to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of harmony,” he said on social media platform X.

Earlier, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi voiced his anger at the “discriminatory” order and said that this was like “apartheid” (institutionalised racial segregation) in South Africa and ‘Judenboycott’ (the boycott of Jewish businesses) in Hitler’s Germany.

In an X post, the AIMIM leader wrote, “As per the order of Uttar Pradesh Police, every food shop or cart owner will have to put his name outside the building so that no Kanwariya buys anything from a Muslim shop by mistake. This was like Apartheid in South Africa. In Hitler’s Germany, it was called ‘Judenboycott’.”

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera slammed the Muzaffarnagar police for such diktat and termed it “state-sponsored bigotry”.

Taking to X, Khera wrote, “Not just political parties, all right-thinking people and the media must rise against this state-sponsored bigotry. We cannot allow the BJP to push the country back into dark ages.”

Notably, the Muzaffarnagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) passed the order and said that these arrangements were made for the month of Shravan and such measures will only add to the comfort and convenience of Kanwar Yatris. He added that the shop owners are following it voluntarily.

About 240 km of the Kanwar Yatra route falls in the Muzaffarnagar district. As per the order, all the eateries including hotels, dhabas and carts, on the Yatra route will have to display the names of proprietors or those working in these shops.

“This has been done to ensure that there should be no confusion among kanwariyas and no law and order situation arises. All are following this voluntarily,” he had told reporters on Monday.

Also, the liquor and meat shops will remain closed during the month-long Kanwar Yatra. Officials have also been instructed to prevent stray animals from obstructing the path of Kanwar Yatris.

For the unversed, the Kanwar Yatra this year, will begin from July 22, the day when Shravan month begins. The month-long festival will see people from Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan visiting Haridwar and Rishikesh to collect water from the Ganga river and then offer the same in Lord Shiva temples, on returning home.

Meanwhile, Bollywood screenwriter Javed Akhtar reacted to the ongoing controversy over eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar being asked to display their owners’ names

“Muzaffarnagar UP police has given instructions that on the route of a particular religious procession in near future all the shops restaurants n even vehicles should show the name of the owner prominently and clearly. Why? In Nazi Germany they used to make only a mark on particular shops and houses,” Javed Akhtar posted on X.

After a row erupted over eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar being asked to display their owners’ names, Muzaffarnagar Police on Thursday said that the police have urged all the eateries to “voluntarily display” the names of their owners and employees, adding that the intention of this order is not to create any kind of “religious discrimination” but only to facilitate the devotees.

“During the Shravan Kanwar Yatra, a large number of Kanwariyas from neighbouring states, via Western Uttar Pradesh, collect water from Haridwar and pass through Muzaffarnagar district. During the holy month of Shravan, many people, especially Kanwariyas, abstain from certain food items in their diet,” the Muzaffarnagar police stated.

“In the past, such instances have come to light where some shopkeepers selling all types of food items on Kanwar Marg named their shops in such a way that it created confusion among the Kanwariyas and created a law and order situation. To prevent such a recurrence and in view of the faith of the devotees, hotels, dhabas and shopkeepers selling food items on Kanwar Marg have been requested to voluntarily display the names of their owners and employees. The intention of this order is not to create any kind of religious discrimination but only to facilitate the devotees passing through Muzaffarnagar district, counter allegations and save the law and order situation. This system has been prevalent in the past, too,” it added.

ALSO READ-Cracks in UP BJP?

Categories
-Top News India News Politics

Over-confidence caused harm in polls, says Yogi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister urges party workers to use social media platforms as much as possible to refute rumours…reports Asian Lite News

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said that everyone will have to be active from now on for the Assembly by-elections to be held on 10 seats in the state and the 2027 Assembly elections.

Addressing the state working committee meeting held at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Auditorium of Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, CM Yogi emphasised that they have to hoist the BJP flag once again in the state.

“Everyone will have to be active from now on for the assembly by-elections to be held on 10 seats in the state and the 2027 assembly elections,” adding that along with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, MLAs, MLCs, District Panchayat Presidents, Mayors, Block Pramukhs, Chairman and Councilors, everyone should start preparing for the 2027 assembly elections from today itself.

“We have to hoist the BJP flag in the state once again. BJP leaders and workers will have to be super active on social media and immediately refute any kind of rumours,” he said.

Yogi said that under the leadership of Modi, the state had maintained constant pressure on the opposition in UP, achieving great success in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2022.

“The percentage of votes that was in favor of BJP in 2014 and subsequent elections, BJP has been successful in getting the same number of votes in 2024 as well, but the shifting of votes and overconfidence have hurt our expectations. The opposition, which had earlier accepted defeat and sat down, is again jumping and dancing today,” he added.

The Chief Minister said that in 2022, the opposition had resorted to violence after the elections. Then all our workers felt that, in reality, our government’s Mafia-free UP’s dawn is for these goons.

“Today, with your support, we have succeeded in making UP Mafia-free. Apart from this, when Shri Ramlala was seated in his temple in Ayodhya, the wait of 500 years has also ended,” the UP CM said.

The Chief Minister said that we have to use social media platforms as much as possible.

“Using this social media, opposition forces and foreigners were engaged in conspiracy, in which they became successful. We are people with a nationalist mission. BJP workers have to see what is going on social media. We have to immediately refute the rumours,” Yogi asserted.

XXXX

Chhattisgarh CM seeks review of bypoll results

XXX

BJP leader and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday said that the recent Assembly bypoll results, in which the BJP suffered a setback, need to be reviewed.

The opposition INDIA bloc won 10 out of 13 seats in the by-polls in seven states and the BJP won only two seats.

Sai said that there are different political situations prevalent in the country and in a democracy, the decision lies with the people.

“There are different situations. In a democracy, the decision lies with the people. The results need to be reviewed,” he said.

Meanwhile, reacting to the bypoll results, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said that if the Lok Sabha election schedule had been advanced 6-8 months, the BJP would not have won more than 120 seats.

“Right after the look Sabha elections, we have won 12-13 seats in 4-5 states, which clearly indicates that the BJP’s graph has been falling. Had the Lok Sabha elections been organised after 6-8 months, BJP would not have won more than 120 seats,” he said.

“For the first time, NDA parties are performing better than the BJP in their respective states and the BJP is absolutely relying on them… The BJP has multiple organ failures and is failing in multiple states. It is soon headed to an ICU,” he further stated.

The results of the assembly by-polls came as a setback for the BJP, where the party won only two of the 13 seats, with the INDIA bloc winning 10 seats and an independent candidate winning a seat in Bihar.

Polling took place on July 10 for the assembly seats in seven states, including Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh.

The by-elections were held in one seat of Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, two seats of Uttarakhand, three seats of Himachal Pradesh, and four seats of West Bengal.

Uttarakhand witnessed the BJP losing both the two seats and saw the victory of Congress. In Badrinath, Lakhapat Singh Butola defeated Rajendra Singh Bhandari by a margin of 5224 votes, whereas in Manglaur, Qazi Mohammad Nizamuddin secured victory against the BJP’s Kartar Singh Bhadana by a margin of 422 votes.

In Himachal Pradesh, Congress secured a win on two out of three seats, where Kamlesh Thakur from Dehra and Hardeep Singh Bawa from Nalagarh secured victory. Ashish Sharma from the BJP secured victory in Hamirpur.

In Punjab, the INDIA alliance’s partner, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), secured victory in Jalandhar West. In Tamil Nadu also, INDIA alliance partner DMK secured a win from Vikravandi.

In all four seats of West Bengal, the All India Trinamool Congress, which is the partner in the INDIA alliance, secured victory and defeated the BJP. In Bihar, neither the JDU of the BJP-led NDA nor the RJD of the INDIA alliance managed to secure a victory. (ANI)

ALSO READ-For SP, mafia was a vote bank, Yogi cleaned them up: Modi

Categories
-Top News Politics

Priyanka thanks SP for INDIA bloc’s historic performance in UP

INDIA bloc, led by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, did a remarkable performance giving a significant blow to the BJP-led NDA’s target of securing ‘400 seats’…reports Asian Lite News

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday expressed “heartfelt thanks” to Samajwadi Party leaders Akhilesh Yadav, Dimple Yadav and Ram Gopal Yadav over the INDIA bloc’s historic performance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The SP, under Akhilesh Yadav’s leadership, secured a record-breaking 37 seats in Parliament, marking a significant moment in UP politics.

In a post on X Priyanka congratulated SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, his wife Dimple Yadav and SP Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav.

“@yadavakhilesh ji, @dimpleyadav ji, @proframgopalya1 ji, my heartiest congratulations to you and the hardworking workers of Samajwadi Party for the results of UP. We all together fought a historic battle under difficult circumstances. On the ground, the workers of Congress and SP courageously raised their voice for the issues of the people, social justice and the Constitution. Despite all the threats and repression, they united and became the sentinels of democracy and stood at every booth, said Priyanka Gandhi.

The party alone won 37 seats this time, becoming the single largest party in the state, while its ally Congress managed to gain six seats, including regaining its bastion seat of Amethi from BJP’s Smriti Irani. Further, another politically important seat of Rae Bareli has been won by Congress with an unprecedented margin.

Meanwhile, the BJP, which won 62 seats during the 2019 elections, managed to hold their positions on 33 seats only, while its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) won two seats and Anupriya Patel-led Apna Dal (S) got one seat.

“Due to the hard work of all of you, the public has shown confidence in our unity and our commitment towards the issues. My heartfelt thanks to all of you. Hail the people. Hail the constitution,” added Priyanka.

Notably, INDIA bloc, led by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, did a remarkable performance giving a significant blow to the BJP-led NDA’s target of securing ‘400 seats’.

The BJP victory tally was much lower than its 2019 tally of 303 and the 282 seats it had won in 2014. The Congress, on the other hand, registered a strong growth, winning 99 seats compared to 52 that it had won in 2019 and 44 seats in 2014.

Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav, in a press conference, expressed his gratitude towards the public of Ayodhya for making them victorious in the seat and expressed his views on the formation of the BJP-led NDA government in the centre.

Samajwadi Party chief said, “Lok Sabha Elections in Uttar Pradesh were issues-based and the public of the state has voted on their issues and problems, which led to the massive defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party.”

After an unexpected defeat of BJP at Ayodhya, Yadav stated, “BJP could have lost more seats in Uttar Pradesh. They have done atrocities on the public of Ayodhya. The process of land acquisition was manipulated, they made false allegations about people, to grab their lands and didn’t provide proper compensation for it. They have done injustice to businessmen as well. They demolished poor families for building a holy site and I believe this is the main reason for the BJP’s defeat in Ayodhya. Also, I want to express my gratefulness towards the public of Ayodhya who voted in favour of the Samajwadi Party.”

Yadav mentioned, “If someone is trying to gratify other parties, we can also do the same. Expectations in democracy should always thrive.”

He also responded to the speculations of BJP-led NDA forming a government at the centre and said, “It’s good if they are forming the government. Oath ceremonies are always carried on. They have numbers that’s why the President has called them for an oath ceremony. After some time, if another party will have numbers, they can also make government.”

Taking a jibe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said, “If he is heading towards Delhi, stop him right there and don’t send him back to Uttar Pradesh.”

This victory marks a significant moment for Akhilesh Yadav and the party leaders as they successfully broke the record for the most seats won in Parliament. In addition to winning the highest number of seats, the party’s vote share also saw a significant jump, reaching 33.59 per cent in UP. (ANI)

ALSO READ-BJP tried to topple Himachal’s ‘honest govt’: Priyanka

Categories
India News Politics

SP-Congress alter UP’s political dynamics

The Samajwadi Party and Congress functionaries hope that the bonhomie between Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi continues till the next Assembly polls in 2027…reports Asian Lite News

The almost spectacular resurgence of the Samajwadi Party and Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh was a result of a conscious effort made by both, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, to make the alliance work.

After their alliance turned out to be a fiasco in 2017, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav worked afresh on their strategy and made sure that they emerged as political game-changers on BJP’s turf in Uttar Pradesh.

In 2017, there was a visible discomfort in their relationship which percolated down to their respective cadres and made the alliance come a cropper.

After the initial hiccups over seat-sharing Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav made sure to campaign together and, more importantly, speak in one voice on all issues.

Both the leaders chose to ignore the barbs hurled at them by the BJP on issues like appeasement and nepotism. Not once during the campaign, did they respond to the allegations. They remained faithful to their narrative on unemployment, inflation and the Constitution.

The camaraderie that the two leaders displayed in public, worked as an adhesive for their cadres who finally decided to work together in elections.

Though SP changed candidates frequently at one point in time, Akhilesh Yadav made sure that it did not develop into a revolt of sorts. He also fortified his party in segments where his MLAs had crossed over to the BJP just ahead of the elections.

Rahul Gandhi, on his part, did not allow a lack of party workers in the Congress to hamper his campaign. He did not bank on local leaders and managed things with help from his core group in Delhi.

More importantly, the two leaders did not react to issues like Ram temple and appeasement which could have communalised the entire campaign. Neither did they go overboard with their PDA — Pichhda, Dalit, Alpasankhyak formula — but addressed a broader segment of unemployed youth, BPL families and Agniveers that cut across caste lines.

“In 2017, there was a visible strain in the relationship between the two parties and we sensed it but this time, Rahul and Akhilesh got along like the proverbial house on fire. We hope that the bonhomie continues till the next Assembly polls in 2027,” said a senior SP functionary.

ALSO READ-Is a Political Shift Underway in UP’s Dalit Community

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Phase 5 to decide fate of Rahul, Smriti, Rajnath

Polling for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections began on May 20 across a total of 49 seats, including in high-profile constituencies of Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh.

The fate of five Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Smriti Irani, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be decided during the fifth phase of elections covering 14 Lok Sabha constituencies in UP.

Uttar Pradesh

The seats voting in the fifth phase are Lucknow, Mohanlalganj (SC), Rae Bareli, Amethi, Jalaun (SC), Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi (SC), Barabanki (SC), Faizabad, Kaisarganj and Gonda.

Rahul Gandhi is in the fray from Rae Bareli, which was represented by his mother and former Congress president Sonia Gandhi earlier. For the INDIA bloc, the Congress has fielded K.L. Sharma from Amethi, Tanuj Punia from Barabanki (SC) and Pradeep Jain ‘Aditya’ from Jhansi. Samajwadi Party (SP) candidates are in the poll fray on the rest of the seats.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is eyeing a fourth term from Lucknow. He is pitted against sitting SP MLA Ravidas Mehrotra from Lucknow Central. Union minister Smriti Irani has been fielded from the neighbouring Amethi constituency.

In Kaisarganj Lok Sabha seat, the contest is between BJP’s Karan Bhushan Singh, son of former MP and ex-president of Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, and SP’s Bhagat Ram.

Faizabad Lok Sabha seat, which covers the temple town of Ayodhya, will see a contest between sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh, who is seeking a hat-trick, and Awadhesh Prasad, the SP MLA from Milkipur (SC) Assembly constituency in Ayodhya district.

Maharashtra

In the fifth and last phase of general elections in Maharashtra, 13 of the total 48 seats in the State are polling today. Union ministers Piyush Goyal , Bharati Pawar and Kapil Patil are among the key nominees of the BJP, which has also fielded lawyer Ujjwal Nikam. Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde and Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad are also in the fray.

The main contest is between the ruling Mahayuti comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP, and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP).

Bihar

In Bihar, where voting is underway in five Lok Sabha seats — Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Saran and Hajipur — 80 candidates are in the fray.

Notable contestants include NDA ally Chirag Paswan in Hajipur, Lalu Prasad’s daughter Rohini Acharya, who is pitted against two-term sitting BJP MP and former Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy in Saran, and Muzaffarpur’s sitting MP Ajay Nishad, who crossed over to the Congress after being denied a BJP ticket for a third term.

Sudhir Kumar Ojha, an advocate who remains in the news for his petitions against top political figures, Bollywood stars and even foreign heads of State, is contesting from Muzaffarpur.

Odisha

Voting commenced at 7 a.m. in Aska, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Bargarh, and Sundargarh parliamentary constituencies, along with 35 Assembly segments within these Lok Sabha seats.

Prominent leaders whose electoral fate will be decided include Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who is contesting from two Assembly segments (Hinjili in Ganjam district and Kantabanji in Bolangir district), six Odisha ministers, BJP MPs Sangeeta Singh Deo and Jual Oram, and former Indian hockey skipper Dilip Tirkey.

West Bengal

Voting commenced in Bangaon (SC), Barrackpore, Howrah, Uluberia, Sreerampur, Hooghly, and Arambag (SC) Lok Sabha constituencies at 7 a.m. and will continue till 6 p.m.

A total of 88 candidates are contesting in the fifth phase, with the highest number of 15 candidates in Bongaon, where Union Minister Shantanu Thakur is contesting against TMC’s Biswajit Das.

Jammu and Kashmir

Polling began in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency where 22 candidates, including former chief minister Omar Abdullah, are in the fray.

The constituency is spread over 18 Assembly segments in the three districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora, and also includes two segments of Budgam that were included on the recommendations of the delimitation commission two years ago.

The first major political battle post the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 will decide the fate of Mr. Abdullah, the National Conference vice-president, and 21 others in the fray. Mr. Abdullah faces the biggest challenge from separatist-turned-politician and former minister Sajad Lone, who heads the People’s Conference.

However, it is the presence of jailed Awami Ittehad Party leader and former MLA Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid that has spiced up the contest.

The People’s Democratic Party has fielded former Rajya Sabha member Mir Mohammad Fayaz while Muneer Khan, the brother of jailed separatist leader Nayeem Ahmad Khan, is contesting as an Independent.

‘We expect all poll officials not to forget responsibilities’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday urged all officials on election duty not to forget their constitutional responsibilities in the face of pressure and warned of strict action against anyone who insults the constitutional oath once the INDIA bloc forms government.

His remarks on ‘X’ came over Samajwadi party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s post on the social media platform in which he shared a video purportedly showing a person voting for the BJP “eight times”.

“Seeing its defeat, the BJP wants to rob democracy by putting pressure on the government machinery to deny the mandate,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

The Congress expects all officials on election duty not to forget their constitutional responsibilities in the face of pressure from power, he said. “Otherwise, as soon as the government of the INDIA bloc is formed, such action will be taken that in future anyone will think 10 times before insulting the ‘oath of the Constitution’.”

Posting the video on X from his official account, Yadav said, “If the Election Commission feels that this is wrong then it must take some action. Otherwise, the BJP’s booth committee is actually a loot committee.

ALSO READ-.Kejriwal says Modi will follow own retirement rule

Categories
India News Politics

UP: Nomination of 104 candidates found valid, 78 rejected

Among the rejections, the nomination of BSP candidate Chhotalal Gangwar stood out due to its incomplete nature…reports Asian Lite News

After a rigorous scrutiny process for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, out of the 182 candidates who filed nominations across 10 constituencies in the third phase, the papers of 104 individuals were deemed valid, while 78 nominations faced rejection, a senior official from the Election Commission has said.

Among the rejections, the nomination of BSP candidate Chhotalal Gangwar stood out due to its incomplete nature, as observed by the Returning Officer of Bareilly Lok Sabha constituency, Ravindra Kumar.

The constituencies slated for voting in this phase include Sambhal, Hathras, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Budaun, Amla, and Bareilly. The process of filing nominations commenced on April 12, with scrutiny taking place recently, indicating the intensification of electoral activities as the polling date approaches.

The rejection of nominations, while disappointing for the candidates affected, underscores the significance of complying with electoral regulations. Incomplete nominations, as in the case of Chhotalal Gangwar, highlight the importance of attention to detail in the paperwork required for candidacy.

Notable candidates vying for seats in this phase include Union Minister and BJP candidate SP Baghel from Agra and Samajwadi Party candidate Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri. Their participation adds to the political fervor surrounding these constituencies and amplifies the stakes involved in the electoral contest.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa provided insights into the nomination process, revealing that while 182 candidates filed nominations, 104 were deemed valid after scrutiny. This scrutiny process ensures the integrity of the electoral process by vetting candidates’ eligibility and adherence to legal requirements.

The distribution of valid and rejected nominations varied across constituencies, reflecting the diverse political dynamics at play. For instance, while all 11 nominations in Agra (SC) were deemed valid, nine out of 19 nominations in Fatehpur Sikri faced rejection. Such variations underscore the unique challenges and considerations in each constituency.

Instances of nominations being rejected due to unauthorized representation, as seen in the case of Satyaveer from Aonla Lok Sabha constituency, highlight the importance of adhering to party protocols and ensuring proper authorization before filing nominations.

Rajnath to file nomination from Lucknow

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will file his nomination for the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat on April 29, BJP sources said.

Lucknow BJP Chief Anand Dwivedi said Rajnath Singh will proceed to file his nomination papers from the Uttar Pradesh BJP office opposite the Vidhan Sabha.

“From there, he would proceed on a motorised chariot to the collectorate to file his nomination along with Ministers, Mayor, senior party functionaries, and others,” Dwivedi added.

Rajnath Singh is seeking a third consecutive term as a Lok Sabha MP from Lucknow.

Before contesting his first election from Lucknow in 2014, Rajnath had won the Lok Sabha polls from Ghaziabad in 2009.

At that time, former Governor, the late Lalji Tandon, was the Lucknow MP after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee bowed out of electoral politics after serving as Lucknow MP for five consecutive terms.

Dwivedi also said that on April 26, O.P. Srivastava, the BJP candidate for Lucknow (East) Assembly bypolls, would file his nomination.

The bypoll to the seat, polling for which would also be held on May 20, was necessitated due to the demise of sitting lawmaker Ashutosh Tandon Gopal.

Lucknow will go to polls along with 13 other constituencies on May 20 in the fifth of the seven-phased 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP’s film flopped on opening day, says Akhilesh

During a spirited address at an election rally, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav made scathing remarks against the BJP, claiming that the first phase of polling had shifted the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh.

“The wind has changed. It’s not only that their film has flopped, but also no one wants to listen to their repeated story. No one wants to give them their vote,” Yadav said, addressing an election rally seeking support for the SP and INDIA bloc candidate Sunita Verma.

He dismissed the BJP’s electoral narrative as stale and reiterated that the electorate was disenchanted with their repetitive storyline, signaling a lack of support for the ruling party.

Yadav, while seeking support for SP and INDIA bloc candidate Sunita Verma, emphasized the failure of the BJP’s governance, particularly highlighting the leakage of examination papers under their watch. He portrayed the BJP’s missteps as emblematic of their broader incompetence and inability to deliver on their promises.

Responding to a query regarding BJP Lok Sabha candidate Arun Govil, Yadav humorously remarked that Meerut residents would bid him farewell, alluding to the constituency’s revolutionary spirit and urging voters to reject the BJP’s influence.

Critiquing Prime Minister Modi’s recent assurances, Yadav characterized them as deceptive tactics aimed at misleading the public. He contrasted these superficial guarantees with the foundational principles enshrined in the Constitution, emphasizing the importance of constitutional safeguards in securing dignity, employment, and reservation rights.

Yadav further lambasted the BJP, denouncing it as a haven for corrupt elements and alleging its exploitation of institutions like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for personal gain. He underscored the significance of the PDA coalition, comprising marginalized communities such as the Pichda (backward), Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (minority), portraying it as a formidable force capable of effecting meaningful change.

In his critique of the BJP’s electoral promises, particularly regarding farmers’ income doubling and job creation, Yadav dismissed them as empty rhetoric devoid of substance. He positioned the SP and its allies as the true champions of the people’s interests, contrasting their commitment to social justice and inclusive governance with the BJP’s purportedly hollow assurances.

Overall, Yadav’s address reflected a blend of political acumen and rhetorical flair, as he sought to galvanize support for his party while dismantling the BJP’s narrative and highlighting its alleged failures and shortcomings.

ALSO READ-We have the numbers to stop BJP, says Kharge  

Categories
India News Politics

Next-Gen dynasties waiting to rise on UP horizon

The latest addition to the list is Neeraj Tripathi, son of the late veteran BJP leader and former Speaker Keshari Nath Tripathi, who has been named as the BJP candidate for the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat…reports Asian Lite News

The ongoing Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh are witnessing the emergence of new generations from families with a history in politics.

The latest addition to the list is Neeraj Tripathi, son of the late veteran BJP leader and former Speaker Keshari Nath Tripathi, who has been named as the BJP candidate for the Allahabad Lok Sabha seat.

Neeraj Tripathi, a lawyer by profession and also the additional advocate general of the state government, has finally taken a plunge into politics. His wife Kavita has been actively involved in politics and is the office-bearer in the BJP Mahila Morcha.

Shreya Verma, the granddaughter of another political stalwart and former Union Minister, Beni Prasad Verma, has been fielded from Gonda as the Samajwadi Party candidate in her political debut.

She is banking on her grandfather’s influence among the Kurmi caste group.

Beni Prasad Verma had previously won the same Lok Sabha seat as a Congress candidate in 2009.

Lalitesh Pati Tripathi, the great-grandson of Congress stalwart Kamlapati Tripathi, is contesting from the Bhadohi seat as the lone Trinamool Congress candidate.

Lalitesh Pati quit the Congress in 2021 and is now seeking to revive the political fortunes of his family, which had almost faded into oblivion.

Shashank Mani Tripathi, the BJP candidate from Deoria, is also a third-generation member of his family to enter politics and contest his first election.

Shashank’s father, Prakash Mani Tripathi, was a Lok Sabha member from Deoria in 1996. He was also an ex-army officer.

His grandfather, Surat Narain Mani Tripathi, was an IAS officer and also a member of the Vidhan Parishad.

Zia-ur-Rehman Barq is the grandson of the late Shafiqur Rehman Barq, a sitting SP MP who passed away after his ticket from Sambhal was announced.

Zia has replaced his grandfather, Shafiqur, in Sambhal Lok Sabha constituency as the SP candidate.

Similarly, Iqra Hasan, the granddaughter of the late Congress stalwart Chaudhary Akhtar Hasan and the daughter of SP leader late Munawwar Hasan and Tabassum Hasan is continuing her family’s political legacy by entering the electoral arena as an SP candidate from Kairana. Her brother Nahid Hasan is currently a sitting MLA from the Kairana Assembly segment.

Another Congress MP and former UP bureaucrat, P.L. Punia’s son, Tanuj Punia, is also testing his luck in place of his father from Barabanki as the Congress candidate.

Shivpal Yadav’s son Aditya Yadav is also making his electoral debut from the Budaun seat. Aditya has waited long enough to take a plunge into politics and is being groomed by the family for his new career.

Apart from this, Arvind Rajbhar, the son of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, is making his political debut from the Ghosi Lok Sabha seat.

O.P. Rajbhar is an MLA from the Zahoorabad Assembly seat and holds a cabinet minister position in the BJP government in the state.

While, Union Minister and Apna Dal(S) leader, Anupriya Patel, is the sitting MP from Mirzapur, her estranged sister Pallavi Patel is preparing to enter the electoral fray from either Phulpur or Pratapgarh parliamentary constituency.

Pallavi, who belongs to the rival Apna Dal(K) faction of the party, will be contesting in alliance with AIMIM.

Will work to stop oppression of Muslims: Mayawati

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati, on Sunday, accused sitting MP Danish Ali who after being suspended from BSP, is now contesting on a Congress ticket, of betraying the party and people.

“We did not betray the Muslim community. When a Muslim person betrayed us, we did not punish the Muslim community, but this time also, we have given the ticket to a Muslim candidate. I am sure this time also, you will make the BSP candidate win,” she said.

Mayawati added that BJP would not be coming to power at the Centre easily this time.

“Their guarantees have no effect on ground reality. They have been engaged only in protecting some people and this information has come to light in Electoral Bond that they are running their organisation with their support. They have also politicised the Central agencies. Amroha is famous not only for workmanship but also for farming, but the present BJP government has not taken care of farmers,” she alleged.

Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati addresses a press conference at her residence, in Lucknow, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023.(IANS/Twitter:@Mayawati)

Mayawati said that the condition of the minority Muslim community remains very bad and pathetic. There is an atmosphere of panic and fear in this society because of BJP and Sangh.

She added that the free food items being given by the Central government are not going to do any good.

Mayawati reiterated that the BSP will work to stop the oppression of the Muslim community and added that strict steps will be taken for the safety of this community.

ALSO READ-‘Sudan’s war fueled by weapons from foreign supporters’

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News

23% candidates in UP LS polls have criminal cases

In a concerning revelation, a report by ADR and National Election Watch has noted an alarming prevalence of criminal cases among candidates contesting polls…reports Asian Lite News

Around 23 per cent of candidates of the second phase of Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh are facing criminal cases, while 46 per cent of candidates are crorepatis.

According to a joint report released here on Tuesday by Uttar Pradesh Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), they analyzed affidavits of all 91 candidates contesting from eight constituencies in the second phase of the polls in the northern state.

The seats going to polls in the second phase are Aligarh, Amroha, Baghpat, Bulandshahr, Gautambudh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Mathura and Meerut. The polling of the second phase will be held on April 26.

The report says 23 percent out of 91 candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves, out of which 18 per cent are facing serious criminal charges.

Party-wise details of candidates who have declared criminal cases against themselves are — Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) with three out of eight (38%), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) two out of seven (29%), and the Samajwadi Party’s (SP) all four candidates (100%). The Congress has two out of four candidates (50%), and Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party two out of three candidates (67%) with criminal cases registered against them.

Serious criminal cases declared by candidates include 25% of BSP, 29% of BJP, 50% of SP, 50% of Congress, and 33% of Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party.

Pandit Keshavdev Gautam, who is contesting as an independent candidate from Aligarh, has five criminal cases registered against him. Next is Amarpal, the Samajwadi Party candidate from Baghpat. He has nine criminal cases registered against him, while Haji Afzal, with two cases, is at the third position, who is contesting as an Independent from Meerut.

Talking about crorepati candidates, 42 out of 91 (46%) candidates fall in this bracket. All eight candidates of the BSP, seven of the BJP, four of the SP, two of the Jai Hind National, one of the Samaj Vikas Kranti Party, and three out of four candidates of the Congress (75%) fall under this income bracket.

The report also said that the average asset of the candidates is Rs 10.05 crore. Among the main parties, the average asset of eight candidates of the BSP is around Rs 10.75 crore, while that of seven candidates of the BJP is Rs 91.23 crore. The average asset of four candidates of the SP is around Rs 17.34 crore and that of four Congress candidates is Rs 3.56 crore.

UP Election Watch state convenor Santosh Srivastava said among the candidates in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections, Hema Malini, who is contesting on BJP ticket from Mathura, whose assets are around Rs 278 crore and similarly Satish Kumar Gautam, BJP candidate from Aligarh has assets worth Rs 16 crores. Devbrath contested from the Meerut Lok Sabha seat on Bahujan Samaj Party ticket, whose assets are around Rs 5 crores.

In the second phase of Lok Sabha elections in UP, 33 out of 91 (36%) candidates have declared their educational qualification between 5th and 12th. Whereas 52 (57 percent) candidates have declared their educational qualification as Graduation and above. Two candidates have declared his/her educational qualification as Diploma holders. Two candidates have declared their educational qualification as literate and 2 candidates have declared their educational qualification as illiterate.

Talking about the age of the candidates in the second phase, 31 out of 91 (34 percent) candidates have declared their age between 25 to 40 years, while 42 (46 percent) candidates have declared their age between 41 to 60 years while 18 (20 percent) candidates have declared their age between 61 to 80 years.

A total of 9 (10 percent) women candidates are contesting in the second phase of Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Chief Convener UP Election Watch ADR Sanjay Singh said that literate and intelligent people are still trying their luck in the country’s largest Parliament. He said that on one hand literacy is continuously increasing in the country. But such candidates are still seen in the country’s largest parliament. Despite many important orders of the Supreme Court, all the parties showed no hesitation in fielding candidates with criminal tendencies. It is clear that if any criminal is being given a ticket then the reason for the same will have to be explained and the reasons will have to be published in the media as well.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch have analyzed the self-sworn affidavits of 1,618 candidates out of the 1,625 candidates contesting the elections in Phase 1 on April 19.

Furthermore, the report highlights that 42 out of the 102 Lok Sabha seats slated for Phase 1 are contested by three or more candidates facing criminal charges. Additionally, 18 candidates have declared cases related to crimes against women, including one candidate facing a rape charge under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

ALSO READ-Chamoli voters to boycott polls over lack of roads

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News Politics

UP’s Political Women Power Doesn’t Belong To It

Maneka Gandhi, who originally belongs to Delhi, is the senior-most MP among these women, having won her first election in 1989 on a Janata Dal ticket. She later joined the BJP and has always chosen Uttar Pradesh to contest elections — first Pilibhit and then Sultanpur…reports Asian Lite News

Uttar Pradesh has strong and established women leaders but, ironically, the majority of this ‘Nari Shakti’ does not belong to this state.

Barring a few, most of the women leaders have come from other states and after contesting several elections, they have consolidated their position in Uttar Pradesh.

Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi leads the brigade of political talent imported from outside Uttar Pradesh. A native of Italy who was living in New Delhi with her in-laws, the Gandhi bahu made her political debut from Amethi in 1999 and then contested and won the Rae Bareli seat from 2004 to 2019.

Sonia Gandhi began campaigning in Amethi from 1984 when her husband Rajiv Gandhi made his political debut.

When Sonia Gandhi finally took a plunge in politics after the former Prime Minister’s demise, she chose the family turf, Amethi.

The former Congress President was at one time seen as a prime ministerial candidate, though she never claimed the position.

Another woman politician who was seen as a prospective prime ministerial candidate is BSP supremo, Mayawati.

Mayawati was born in Delhi but her political ‘karambhoomi’ became Uttar Pradesh when the first SP-BSP government came into existence in 1993 in the state.

Circumstances propelled Mayawati into the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s chair in 1995 and over the years, she has emerged as a politician who cannot be ignored.

Actor-turned-politician, Hema Malini, who is seeking her third term from Mathura, belongs to Tamil Nadu and has spent most of her life in Mumbai.

She contested and won the 2014 and 2019 elections from Mathura. Hema Malini calls herself ‘Krishna ki gopi’ and claims to have a divine connect with Mathura.

Among others in this list is Smriti Irani, who is seeking her second term from Amethi and originally belongs to Delhi.

However, after winning Amethi in 2019, she calls herself ‘Amethi ki bitiya’. She has even built her home in Gauriganj in Amethi and is well versed with local politics and the local people.

Maneka Gandhi, who originally belongs to Delhi, is the senior-most MP among these women, having won her first election in 1989 on a Janata Dal ticket. She later joined the BJP and has always chosen Uttar Pradesh to contest elections — first Pilibhit and then Sultanpur.

Jaya Prada, another actor-turned-politician, was born in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh but chose Uttar Pradesh to kickstart her political career even though she had earlier joined the TDP.

Jaya Prada successfully contested the Rampur Lok Sabha seat in 2004 and 2009 elections on a Samajwadi Party ticket. Later, she joined the BJP in 2019.

Dimple Yadav, senior SP leader and wife of Akhilesh Yadav, originally belongs to Uttarakhand but made Uttar Pradesh her home after her marriage to Akhilesh.

Dimple Yadav began her career by losing a bypoll to Raj Babbar of the Congress from Firozabad in 2009 but won the Kannauj seat in a 2012 bye-election. She won the Kannauj seat in 2014 but lost in 2019.

However, Dimple Yadav won the Mainpuri bye-election after the demise of Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2022.

Among all these women leaders, it is only Union Minister Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (S) who was born and brought up in Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh.

Interestingly, even in the past, several women leaders who made a mark in Indian politics were born outside Uttar Pradesh but chose to contest polls from the state.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker, Meira Kumar, made her debut in politics when she won a bye-election from Bijnor in 1985. Meira Kumar, who is the daughter of late veteran politician Jagjivan Ram, was born in Bihar.

Former Delhi Chief Minister, late Sheila Dikshit, won her first election from Kannauj in 1984. She was born in Kapurthala in Punjab.

Freedom fighter Sucheta Kripalani, the first woman Chief Minister in India, who headed the Uttar Pradesh government, also belonged to Punjab but won the Assembly polls from Mehdawal in Sant Kabir Nagar.

ALSO READ-Modi tears into Congress in Maharashtra rally