BJP: Marshals were signalled to assault MLAs
NEW DELHI: BJP on Thursday accused West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, of unleashing “anarchy” and turning the state assembly into a stage for “hooliganism”. Party spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that Banerjee had abused constitutional privilege to hurl “derogatory” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. Bhatia said the “language of indecency” in Indian politics was first set by Congress neta Rahul Gandhi and is now being carried forward by Banerjee. “Rahul Gandhi began with uncivil and indecent language… now Mamata Anarchist Banerjee is carrying that fire of anarchy forward in Bengal,” he told reporters. He alleged that BJP MLAs, the principal opposition in Bengal, were manhandled on the assembly floor at the chief minister’s behest. “Marshals were signalled to physically assault our legislators. BJP MLAs were beaten, some fainted, sustained injuries and had to be rushed to hospital in ambulances,” Bhatia claimed. The remarks come amid a heated political climate in Bengal. Bhatia demanded Banerjee’s resignation, saying, “She is no longer fit to be chief minister. The people of Bengal will teach her a lesson.” Calling Banerjee a “symbol of jungle raj”, he said, “The one who took oath to protect the Constitution is today tearing it to shreds on live television.” He further accused her of appeasement politics, alleging, “She loves Rohingyas but strikes at an honest Prime Minister. For her, their religion and future vote bank matter more than constitutional propriety.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘Collecting taxes from common people …’: Kharge’s ‘one nation, 9 taxes’ jibe at Centre over GST revamp; questions delay
NEW DELHI: Congress on Thursday took a swipe at the Centre, accusing it of “celebrating” the Goods and Services Tax “as if collecting taxes from the common people were some great achievement.” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also accused the government of turning the vision of “One Nation, One Tax” into “One Nation, 9 Taxes,” with multiple slabs. — kharge (@kharge) He said that Congress had advocated for GST 2.0 in its 2019 and 2024 manifestos, urging simplification of the complex GST compliance system that had severely affected MSMEs and small businesses. “The Congress Party, in its 2019 and 2024 manifestos, demanded GST 2.0 with a simple and rational tax system. We also called for simplifying the complex GST compliances, which had severely impacted MSMEs and small businesses,” Kharge said. “On 28 February 2005, the Congress-UPA government formally announced GST in the Lok Sabha. In 2011, when the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee introduced the GST Bill, the BJP opposed it. When Modi was Chief Minister, he vehemently opposed GST. Today, the same BJP government celebrates record GST collections, as if collecting taxes from the common people is some great achievement” he added. ‘They finally have to follow Rahul Gandhi’s advice’ Meanwhile, Congress leader Pawan Khera claimed that the government followed Rahul Gandhi’s advice after eight years. In a social media post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera pointed to a series of tweets by Rahul, in which he had criticised the previous tax structure by labelling it as “Gabbar Singh tax.” “When they finally have to follow Rahul Gandhi’s advice, why do they take so much time doing that?” Khera asked. The posts, dating back to 2016 and 2017, show leader of opposition in Lok Sabha urging the GST Council to cap the rate at 18% to benefit both industry and consumers, especially the poor. “As the GST Council begins its deliberations today I want to stress again that an 18% cap on the GST rate is in everybody’s interest,” Gandhi had tweeted in 2016. In another post, he called for a simpler GST structure. “India doesn’t need a Gabbar Singh Tax, but a simple GST,” Gandhi tweeted in 2017, stressing Congress’ long-standing demand for a single-rate GST. ‘8 years too late’ Former finance minister P Chidambaram also reacted to the Centre’s latest GST rate cuts, describing them as “8 years too late.” In a post on X, he said the prevailing taxes should not have been introduced in the first place. “The GST rationalisation and the reduction in rates on a range of goods and services are WELCOME but 8 years too late. The current design of GST and the rates prevailing until today ought not to have been introduced in the first place,” Chidambaram said. GST council approves major rate revamp, introduces two-tier structure The latest GST revamp, announced after the 56th GST Council meeting, simplifies the previous four-tier tax system of 5%, 12%, 18% and 28% into a two-rate structure of 5% and 18%. Certain high-end items, including vehicles, tobacco, and cigarettes, will attract a special 40% ‘sin tax.’ Several essential goods will now face 0% or nil tax, aiming to ease the burden on common consumers. The 10.5-hour Council meeting, attended by representatives from the Centre and states, deliberated on potential rate reductions and reclassification of numerous goods and services, marking one of the most comprehensive revisions in recent years. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Who will be the next CM of Bihar, who will become the leader of the opposition? Modi’s minister made the announcement, said a wonderful Shayari on Rahul Gandhi
Ramdas Athawale: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale reached Raipur on Wednesday to attend the Chakradhar ceremony. During this, he said that our government will be formed again in Bihar and Nitish Kumar will be the CM. Raipur: Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Ramdas Athawale reached the capital Raipur on Wednesday. He came here to attend the Chakradhar ceremony. While talking to the media, Ramdas Athawale fiercely targeted Rahul Gandhi and the opposition. Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s hydrogen bomb statement, he said that if Rahul Gandhi has a hydrogen bomb, he will have to send it to Pakistan. There is no need for hydrogen bomb here. Made a big claim regarding Bihar elections ‘राहुल गांधी हमेशा करते हैं शोर इसलिए हैं चोर’, मंत्री रामदास अठावले का बयान Ramdas Athawale said that Rahul Gandhi is saying wrong on vote theft. There is no fact in Rahul Gandhi’s statement. Leaving the issue of the Constitution, Rahul Gandhi is taking out a rally on the issue of vote theft. He claimed that our government will come in Bihar. Nitish Kumar will become the Chief Minister again and Tejashwi Yadav will become the leader of the opposition. Called Rahul Gandhi a thief Ramdas Athawale called Rahul Gandhi a thief in a poetic style. He said that Rahul Gandhi always makes noise, that’s why he is a thief. I think Rahul Gandhi has been saying such things. The Election Commission believes that you should show your presentation of how votes are stolen. If the votes of the opposition have increased, then you should also increase your votes. The opposition is provoking people Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that Narendra Modi is the strong Prime Minister of the country, an attempt was made to defeat him in the year 2024. Our party’s seats decreased, an attempt was made to create controversy. Work was done to provoke Dalit Muslims. That’s why our party’s seats were reduced. Our NDA government was formed, Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister for the third time. At the same time, Ramdas Athawale defended the Maharashtra government on Maratha reservation. He said that the demand of the Maratha community was that OBC SC ST get reservation, so Maratha community should also get reservation. Meeting with officials Ramdas Athawale held a meeting with senior officials of the Chhattisgarh government and reviewed in detail the progress of various schemes run by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government is making serious efforts towards social justice and equal opportunity. Edited by: Pawan Tiwari About the author Pawan Kumar Tiwari is a Senior Digital Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. I have 10 years of experience in journalism. I have a special interest in politics, crime, current affairs and off-beat news of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. I have done ground reporting in many important events along with elections. I have been associated with Navbharat Times Online since 2022. Courtesy: Hindi News
Did Rahul Gandhi’s Bihar visit strengthen the India Alliance?
Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav were always seen together during the Mahagathbandhan’s Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar. Congress gave the message of taking along the rest of the alliance parties as well. Political analysts believe that Congress seems to be gaining an edge in Bihar at the moment. New Delhi: India Alliance’s 16-day Voter Rights Yatra in Bihar ended in Patna on September 1. The Yatra, led by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, passed through 25 districts of Bihar. During this, the Yatra covered a distance of 1300 km with RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, CPI-ML General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Vikassheel Insaan Party chief Mukesh Sahni. At the end of the Yatra, Rahul Gandhi addressed the public meeting from the stage in Patna, saying ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’. When the crowd repeated this slogan loudly, Rahul Gandhi said – ‘This slogan worked.’ The yatra passed through more than 100 assembly constituencies The yatra, which passed through more than 100 of the 243 assembly constituencies in Bihar, has strengthened the position of the RJD-led opposition alliance ahead of the Bihar elections in November this year. The question is whether the unity of the Mahagathbandhan seen during this yatra will be able to maintain its momentum? On this question, Tejashwi Yadav says that there is no need to worry about it, we are working on it. But one question is still being asked that what was the achievement of this yatra? 1990…when Congress became politically extinct Before knowing the answer to this question, let us go back. Congress became politically extinct in Bihar in 1990, and Lalu Prasad Yadav came to power. In the 2000 assembly elections, Congress got only 23 seats. Later, the party joined the alliance with Lalu-led RJD. The country’s oldest party performed better in the 2015 elections when JDU supremo and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar joined the grand alliance. At that time, Congress won 27 seats. Congress’s weak performance responsible for the defeat of the grand alliance? However, in the 2020 elections, when Nitish returned to the NDA, the Congress contested 70 seats and won only 19 seats, while its ally RJD emerged as the largest party with 75 seats. The NDA returned to power by winning 125 seats, while the grand alliance got 110 seats. The weak performance of the Congress was blamed for this minor defeat of the grand alliance. Congress gained lead in Muslim areas Senior journalist of Indian Express Santosh Singh says on this visit of Rahul Gandhi, Congress also gained lead in many Muslim-dominated constituencies including RJD strongholds like Darbhanga, Madhubani and Araria. The decline of the Congress in the state began after its alleged failures in handling the 1989 Bhagalpur riots, which led to a large section of Muslim voters moving to the Janata Dal and later to the RJD. After becoming the chief minister for his first term in 1990, Lalu became a prominent leader of the minority community in the state. Santosh Singh says that before Rahul Gandhi started his Voter Rights Yatra, the Congress was called the ‘weak link’ of the Mahagathbandhan. But, with the huge crowds gathering in this yatra across the state, the Congress got an edge as it was mainly a demonstration of the party under Rahul’s leadership. How much does RJD need the support of the Congress? With outgoing chief minister Nitish Kumar battling health issues, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to lead the NDA’s election campaign in the Bihar elections. In such a situation, the RJD will be more dependent on Rahul to counter PM Modi’s campaign at the national level. Rahul gave a message of taking everyone along Throughout his yatra, Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by Tejashwi, the leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly, which brought him into the national spotlight, while also cementing his position as the chief ministerial face of the Mahagathbandhan for the elections, albeit unofficially. Though Rahul evaded a reporter’s question about Tejashwi’s chief ministerial candidature in Araria during the yatra, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, who joined the yatra in Ara on August 30, called for ‘supporting Tejashwi’ to build a new Bihar. Subsequently, Tejashwi also projected himself as the opposition alliance’s chief ministerial candidate in the Ara and Patna legs of the yatra and asked the crowd whether they wanted a real or fake chief minister. He targeted Nitish, saying he was allegedly ‘copying’ his various proposed welfare schemes like enhanced social security pension, free electricity and youth commission. Mahagathbandhan unity visible? Rahul made the trip to raise his allegations of “vote theft” in various elections against the ruling BJP and the Election Commission (EC) and to protest the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter list in Bihar. The SIR slogan united the entire opposition party India, which was seen throughout the trip as several faces from the alliance joined in from time to time, from DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to Akhilesh and JMM chief and Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, TMC’s Yusuf Pathan and Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut. Pappu Yadav also joined, impact on 15 seats In view of the yatra, the Mahagathbandhan has now been joined by Independent MP from Purnia, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who had bad relations with RJD despite being associated with Congress. Pappu Yadav has influence on about 15 seats including Supaul, Madhepura, Saharsa, Araria and Purnia in Kosi-Seemanchal region. Pappu had merged his Jan Adhikar Party with Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but had to contest as a rebel from Purnia after the party refused to give him a ticket under pressure from RJD. Despite this, he managed to win the seat by defeating JDU MP Santosh Kushwaha along with RJD candidate Bikram Singh. Edited by: Varun Shailesh About the author Varun Shailesh is an Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has more than 15 years of experience in current affairs, politics, social issues and features. Started career with news agency IANS
Cong launches ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ stir from Kamptee, Sapkal predicts early polls
Nagpur: The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Wednesday launched its state-wide ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ agitation from Kamptee. State president Harshwardhan Sapkal claimed that the Narendra Modi government had been rattled after Rahul Gandhi exposed the BJP’s alleged vote theft. He asserted that the PM would be forced to step down and that early elections could take place any time, urging party workers to start preparations. Addressing a rally at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) premises in Kamptee, Sapkal also warned the government against “tampering with democracy.” He alleged that the BJP came to power through vote theft and that the malpractice began in Kamptee constituency, represented by former state BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule. “Since Rahul Gandhi exposed the irregularities here, we launched our state-wide agitation from Kamptee. We will not remain silent until these ‘vote thieves’ are pulled down from power,” he said. In an apparent reference to the RSS chief’s remarks, Sapkal claimed that Nagpur had ordered leaders above 75 years of age to retire. “The ground is slipping from under PM Modi’s feet, and he will be forced to step down. A new dispensation inspired by Shiv, Shahu, Phule, and Ambedkar will replace the BJP,” he added. Congress legislature party leader in the Assembly, Vijay Wadettiwar, alleged massive irregularities in the voter lists, claiming that one house in Chandrapur showed 56 children while a 10×10 room had 109 registered voters. “The BJP won 132 seats through vote theft. The Kamptee strongman was at the forefront of this. Voters will eventually punish these thieves,” he claimed. Legislative Council group leader Satej Patil said Rahul Gandhi’s August 7 press conference on vote theft had drawn global attention and raised doubts about whether citizens’ votes were being counted correctly. “We must now take this fight to the people and strengthen Rahul Gandhi’s hands,” he added. Senior leaders Balasaheb Thorat, Sunil Kedar, Yashomati Thakur, Naseem Khan, Rajendra Mulak, Congress MPs Pratibha Dhanorkar, Shyamkumar Barve, Balwant Wankhede, Prashant Padole, as well as AICC secretaries Kunal Chaudhary and Praful Gudhde, also targeted the BJP and the Election Commission. A large number of workers and citizens attended the rally. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘She had nothing to do with politics’: Modi slams RJD, Cong over mother’s insult; women voters in focus
PATNA: Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Tuesday hit back at the RJD and Congress, saying the people of Bihar and the country must hold them accountable for humiliating “matri shakti” by using indecent language against his late mother. “Har gali mohalla se aawaaz aani chahiye: Maa ka apman.., RJD ka atyachar … ijjat par vaar nahin sahenge (every street and locality must raise its voice: mother’s humiliation, RJD’s atrocities. We will not tolerate an assault on dignity),” he said emotionally, while addressing around 20 lakh women across the state through videoconference at the launch of Bihar Rajya Jeevika Nidhi Credit Cooperative Federation Limited. Referring to the abusive language used for his mother in Darbhanga during the Congress-RJD ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ on Aug 27, Modi targeted leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for addressing him with “tu-tadak”. He said those born in a “shahi khandan” with a silver spoon could not understand a mother’s struggles in raising children. “It’s easy for them to abuse Modi’s mother, who question even the identity of Bharat Mata. They cannot tolerate a person from backward or extremely backward class running the govt. The prince thinks only the namdaar has the right to rule. Their arrogance bursts into verbal abuse when a kamdaar occupies the chair,” he said in an oblique reference to Rahul Gandhi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. With assembly elections due in Oct-Nov, Modi sought the blessings of nari-shakti for the NDA govt. He alleged that the RJD opposed women’s reservation, resisted their progress and insulted women leaders, including President Droupadi Murmu. “During the RJD rule in Bihar, women worried about the safe return of their husbands and sons because the govt then patronised criminals, rapists and murderers,” he added. The PM accused RJD and Congress of repeatedly abusing him. “They called me a drain worm and a poisonous snake. But I could never imagine what happened a few days ago in Bihar where Maai ke sthan, Devta Pitar se bhi upar hola,” he said, stressing that his late mother, who had nothing to do with politics, had been dragged into abuse. “This is an insult to the mothers, sisters and daughters of the country. Today, when I see the women of Bihar in such large numbers, I share my sorrow with you. With your blessings, I may bear this pain,” he said. RJD spokesman Shakti Singh Yadav said, “The NDA is worried by the success of the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar. The PM should not level false allegations on RJD and Congress. We always respect women and none of our leaders was on the Darbhanga stage where the incident took place.” Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘No coincidence’: Amit Malviya targets Pawan Khera’s wife over 2 voter IDs; drags in Sonia’s 1980 entry
NEW DELHI: BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya on Wednesday intensified his attack on the Congress, this time targeting Pawan Khera’s wife and Congress leader Kota Neelima. Malviya alleged that Neelima holds “two active EPICs – one registered Khairatabad and another in New Delhi.” — amitmalviya (@amitmalviya) He also hit out at Rahul Gandhi, saying the Congress leader held a press conference without “adequate due diligence.” Malviya claimed Rahul “targeted and tarnished honest voters — even putting them at risk by revealing their identities without consent. He doxxed young, upwardly mobile professionals and poor daily wagers who had moved cities in search of better opportunities.” Referring to Rahul’s earlier allegations of “vote chori” and claims that the Election Commission was “colluding with the BJP” during recent assembly elections, Malviya added: “Yet, he has maintained an equivocal silence on the shocking revelation that his close aide holds two EPIC cards. Is he the only one? Apparently not.” Also read: BJP steps up attack on Congress; claims Pawan Khera has 2 voter ID cards Malviya further alleged that “it’s now quite obvious” that Congress leaders hold multiple voter IDs across constituencies. “This is no coincidence,” he said, also drawing Sonia Gandhi into the row: “The rot isn’t limited to Pawan Khera and family. It goes back to the top — when Sonia Gandhi, an Italian, managed to get her name included in the voter list in 1980.” This fresh round of accusations comes a day after Malviya had claimed that Pawan Khera himself held two EPICs. Following that, the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of New Delhi issued a notice to Khera, stating that his name appears in both the New Delhi and Jangpura constituencies, and asked why action should not be taken against him. Khera, however, hit back at the Election Commission, alleging bias. He said the poll body functions “to support the ruling regime” and questioned why no notice had been issued to “the 1,00,000 fake voters of Mahadevapura constituency” in Karnataka, as highlighted earlier by Rahul Gandhi. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘Hydrogen bomb in Varanasi’: Rahul Gandhi’s next vote theft ‘expose’ may be on PM Modi’s seat; UP Congress chief Ajay Rai drops hint
NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai on Tuesday claimed that Rahul Gandhi’s “hydrogen bomb” will go off in Varanasi — suggesting that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha may expose alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary seat. “Like our leader (Rahul Gandhi) said yesterday, after his ‘atom bomb’ expose on Bengaluru’s Mahadevapura assembly seat, we will now explode ‘hydrogen bomb’. Which is the most powerful bomb? Hydrogen bomb. Such a bomb should explode at the most important place. Now it’s obvious what happened in Banaras (Varanasi) after 1 pm (on June 4 – day of Lok Sabha election counting). PM Modi cheated to win,” Rai told reporters. He clarified, however, that he had not spoken to Gandhi on the matter and that these were his own views. “It’s obvious, isn’t it, what he (Gandhi) was hinting at,” Rai added. Ex-Congress president Gandhi had made the “hydrogen bomb” remark at a mega rally in Patna on Monday, which marked the culmination of his 16-day state-wide tour of poll-bound Bihar. Throughout his tour, he reiterated his “vote chort” charge against the Election Commission and BJP. “I showed ‘atom bomb’ to expose the vote theft in Mahadevapura but now I am coming out soon with a more powerful ‘hydrogen bomb’ to make the whole country aware about the truth of vote theft,” he told the Patna gathering. The RaeBareli MP then directly targeted PM Modi, saying the prime minister “would not be able to face the public” after the revelation. PM Modi’s victory margin in Varanasi—where he was elected to the Lok Sabha for a third consecutive term—was his lowest so far. He secured 54 per cent of the vote, compared with 64 per cent in 2014 and 56 per cent in 2019. Rai, who contested against him, polled 41 per cent, a significant rise from just 7 per cent when he finished third in 2014. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Bihar Election 2025: What did Rahul Gandhi achieve from ‘Voter Rights Yatra’? Know all about it
Bihar Vidhan Sabha Chunav 2025: The 16-day Voter Rights Yatra of the India Alliance of opposition parties led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi ended on Monday in Bihar. This journey can prove to be an important event in Bihar politics. Patna: The ‘Voter Rights Yatra’ of the leaders of the India Alliance (INDIA bloc) in Bihar, led by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, took place. This 16-day journey passed through 25 districts and 110 assembly constituencies of the state. The purpose of this journey of about 1300 kilometers was to raise voice against the alleged removal of names of lakhs of voters from the voter list. Rahul Gandhi called it a “moral” fight. Opposition parties showed unity during the journey. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Election Commission of stealing votes. Rahul Gandhi said that this is not just an issue of Bihar, but an issue of Indian democracy. Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ started from Sasaram and ended in Patna. The aim of this yatra was to raise voice for the lakhs of voters whose names have been removed from the voter list. The names of 65.5 lakh voters of the state have not been included in the draft voter list of the Election Commission. The Yatra was presented as a moral battle The opposition presented this yatra not just as a campaign but as a “moral” battle. Rahul Gandhi said that he wants to protect the voting rights of lakhs of people whose names have been removed from the voter list. The yatra saw political drama, appeals to the constitutional system and a demonstration of opposition unity. Slogans like ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ were raised during this yatra. Many leaders of the India Alliance of opposition parties joined the Voter Adhikar Yatra at different times. This demonstrated opposition unity. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, Revanth Reddy, Ashok Gehlot, KC Venugopal, Siddaramaiah participated in the yatra. Tejashwi Yadav from RJD remained in the yatra throughout and Lalu Prasad Yadav also joined it in the middle. Akhilesh Yadav from Samajwadi Party, MK Stalin and Kanimozhi from DMK, Hemant Soren from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Yusuf Pathan and Lalitesh Tripathi from Trinamool Congress, Supriya Sule and Jitendra Awhad from NCP (Sharad Pawar), Sanjay Raut from Shiv Sena (UBT), Dipankar Bhattacharya (CPI-ML), D Raja (CPI), MA Baby (CPI-M) from Left parties and Mukesh Sahni from VIP also participated in the yatra. Message of protecting the Constitution Rahul Gandhi said that the main message of his yatra is – ‘one person, one vote’. He accused the BJP and the Election Commission of removing the names of more than 65 lakh voters from the voter list. He said that the voters who were removed include Dalits, OBCs, Muslims and poor people. Rahul Gandhi said, “This is not just about Bihar, it is about the democracy of India.” He said that this yatra was to protect the Constitution. Congress has been continuously weakening in Bihar in the last four decades. But this yatra established Rahul Gandhi as the main face of the opposition. The yatra has also encouraged Congress workers. This gave the party a chance to strengthen its organization before the Bihar assembly elections. Congress tried to regain the lost support base Congress has presented this fight as a fight for rights and democracy, different from caste politics. The party is trying to make its place again in Bihar politics on these issues. Through the yatra, the opposition made sharp attacks on the Election Commission. On the last day of the Voter Rights Yatra in Patna, Rahul Gandhi marched from Gandhi Maidan to Ambedkar’s statue. He mentioned the legacy of both Gandhi and Ambedkar. He described the yatra as a “revolution for electoral justice”. Rahul Gandhi tried to portray himself as a grassroots leader During the Voter Rights Yatra, Rahul Gandhi was wearing a gamchha over a white T-shirt. He was seen talking to people in villages while riding an open jeep. The party shared these pictures a lot on social media. He was presented as a grassroots and reach-out leader. Rahul Gandhi also visited makhana fields. He saw how this superfood is grown. He said that 99 percent of ‘Bahujan’ people work hard, while only one percent of middlemen get the benefit. He promised to fight against this “injustice”. There were some controversies during this yatra. A police constable in Rahul Gandhi’s convoy was injured. BJP attacked on this issue. Allegedly derogatory remarks were made against PM Modi during a rally in Darbhanga. BJP got an opportunity to attack the opposition from this and strongly criticized it. There was also a clash between ruling and opposition party workers in Patna, which increased the tension. Hope infused among Congress workers in Bihar The yatra has infused hope among Congress workers. Rahul Gandhi has been projected as a strong challenger to PM Modi. The yatra has sent a message of opposition unity in the state. But the question is, will this momentum continue, or will it fizzle out like Congress’ previous attempts? Rahul Gandhi has made “vote theft” a political issue. He is hoping that his yatra will be remembered not just as a roadshow, but as the start of a movement that will bring results in the upcoming elections. Many controversies during the yatra Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ was an important political event in Bihar. It was aimed at protecting the rights of voters and reinvigorating the Congress party. There were many controversies during the yatra, but it has certainly created a stir in the state’s politics. Rahul Gandhi used many symbols in the yatra. He wore a white T-shirt and gamchha. It was an attempt to look like a common man. He tried to show that he is with the poor and backward people. The gathering of opposition leaders during the yatra was important. This gave the message that all the opposition parties are united against the BJP. The yatra raised the temperature of Bihar politics Rahul
Assembly opens with uproar as Cong & BJP trade charges over ‘vote theft’
Jaipur: Fourth session of the 16th Rajasthan Assembly began Monday with chaos, as opposition Congress MLAs stormed the House, shouting “vote chor, gaddi chhod” (vote thief, vacate the chair) against the ruling BJP. Congress members signalled confrontation well before the proceedings. Arriving in white T-shirts emblazoned with the same slogan and carrying placards, they staged a coordinated protest as the session opened at 11am. The treasury benches hit back with counter-slogans of “gaali-baj Rahul Gandhi” (foul mouthed Rahul Gandhi) and “gaali-baj Congress” (foul mouthed Congress). The House quickly descended into a war of slogans, stalling the proceedings for much of the morning. Despite the chaos, several key legislations were tabled in the House. Deputy chief minister Prem Chand Bairwa tabled the Coaching Regulation Bill committee report, which will come up for discussion on Sept 3. The Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025; the Rajasthan Coaching Centre Control and Regulation Bill, 2025; the Factories (Rajasthan Amendment) Bill; and the Rajasthan Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill were also tabled. Amid the din, Speaker Vasudev Devnani announced the vacancy of Anta Assembly seat due to the termination of BJP MLA Kanhiya Lal Meena’s membership following his conviction in a criminal case. Devnani adjourned the House until Wednesday, while Tuesday was declared a holiday. The session opened with tributes to departed leaders, including former LG Satyapal Malik and those who died in the Pahalgam attack and in the cloud bursts. Outside the House, Congress members sharpened their attack. Former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot accused BJP of consistently resorting to “vote theft” to form govts. “The entire country is now standing with Rahul Gandhi against this fraud,” Pilot said. Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully alleged that BJP manipulated not just Lok Sabha elections but also several assembly and legislative constituencies’ polls in Rajasthan. He specifically named Jaipur Rural seat, accusing the ruling BJP of winning through irregularities. “Vote theft is not limited to Bihar or Karnataka. It has been done in Haryana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan as well,” Jully charged, demanding a nationwide investigation. “The Election Commission belongs to the nation, not the BJP,” he remarked. The BJP responded strongly. Govt chief whip Jageshwar Garg called Rahul Gandhi and Congress “habitual abusers,” claiming videos in circulation prove their record of offensive remarks against senior BJP members, including PM Narendra Modi. He claimed that Congress disrupted the parliament session and was now walking the same path in Rajasthan. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.