‘So-called defender of Hinduism says nothing about Sabarimala’: Rahul Gandhi takes dig at PM Modi
NEW DELHI: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of selectively raising religious issues and questioning his silence on the alleged Sabarimala gold theft case. Addressing an election rally in Kannur, Kerala, ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls, Gandhi said, “When the so-called defender (the PM) of Hinduism comes to Keralam, he says nothing about Sabarimala,” he said. He further alleged inaction over the issue and accused leaders of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) of wrongdoing. “How is the BJP supporting the CM (Pinarayi Vijayan)? First, wherever the PM goes, he talks about temples, religion and gods. But when the PM comes to Keralam, he doesn’t raise the issue of the Sabarimala temple. CPM leaders stole gold from the Sabarimala temple, but no action has been taken against them,” Gandhi said. — ANI (@ANI) Gandhi claimed that there was an underlying understanding between the BJP and the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led LDF in Kerala. He alleged that the chief minister was being shielded by the Centre. “Narendra Modi controls the Chief Minister of Kerala. The CM of Kerala knows that Narendra Modi is not acting on his cases; the CM knows that Narendra Modi has the key to putting the CM in jail right now. You will hear Congress attacking Narendra Modi, but you will never hear Kerala CM attacking Modi or Modi attacking Kerala CM,” he said. In another remark, Gandhi jibed at PM Modi. “The way Donald Trump controls Narendra Modi, the same way Narendra Modi controls the Chief Minister of Kerala,” he said while addressing the rally. The Congress leader also claimed that the BJP preferred the LDF to remain in power in the state. “Modi wants LDF to win the Assembly elections in Kerala,” he said. Sharpening his attack on the Left, Gandhi said the CPI(M) had deviated from its ideological roots. “CPI(M) no longer Left party but extreme Right wing party,” he said. He framed the upcoming election as a contest between contrasting ideologies while alleging an unusual alignment between political rivals. “This election is a fight between two ideologies. The ideology of the Left Front CPM, the ideology of the UDF and the Congress party. And for the first time, we are seeing that there is a partnership between the BJP and the Left Front. Normally, this would be quite surprising that a Left party is allying with an extreme right party,” he said. The remarks come amid an intensifying political battle in Kerala, where both the ruling LDF and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) have accused each other of acting as the BJP’s “B-team.” Earlier, Gandhi had alleged that the LDF was “completely supported by BJP” and described the Left government as a “corporate-funded government,” claiming it no longer functioned as a true Left formation. He also suggested that the BJP preferred the LDF in power as it would be easier to influence compared to the Congress-led UDF. On the other hand, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has countered by accusing Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of acting as the BJP’s “B-team,” intensifying the war of words ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections in the state. 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
BJP can only win in Kerala with Congress support, says Govindan
Thrissur: CPM state secretary M V Govindan on Tuesday said if at all BJP wins any assembly seat in Kerala, it would be at the expense of Congress. Addressing a news conference in Thrissur, Govindan said BJP had earlier won Nemom assembly seat and Thrissur parliament seat by cutting into Congress vote base. Asked whether CPM foresaw the possibilities of Congress supporting BJP in any constituency, Govindan said this would be known only after the elections. Countering the charges levelled by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that CPM leaders were involved in the Sabarimala gold theft case, Govindan alleged that it was AICC general secretary K C Venugopal who first took the controversial figure Unnikrishnan Potti to Sabarimala, when he was the devaswom minister. He also alleged that UDF convenor Adoor Prakash and Anto Antony, MP, had taken Potti and Bellary-based gold dealer Govardhan to the house of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, several times. Rahul must explain the true purpose of those visits, the CPM state secretary said. Govindan claimed that LDF has no alliance with SDPI. He, however, did not rule out the possibility of accepting SDPI votes. “Let Congress first say they will not accept the votes of Jamaat-e-Islami, then we will answer the question as to whether we will accept the votes of SDPI,” CPM secretary said. Meanwhile, CPM politburo member Brinda Karat said Rahul has shot a ‘self-goal’ by raking up Sabarimala issue during his election campaign. Rahul was asking who had stolen gold from Sabarimala, but he should have asked who had taken Potti to Sonia, Brinda told a news conference here. 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
PM controls CM, wants LDF to win elections, says Rahul
Kozhikode: Lok Sabha’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi intensified his allegation of a partnership between CPM and BJP during roadshows in Kannur and Kozhikode on Tuesday. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants LDF to win the elections in Kerala. Addressing a public meeting in Kannur and later campaigning in Kozhikode, Rahul said BJP wants CPM to stay in power because it believes it can control the party, unlike UDF and Congress. He alleged that just as US President Donald Trump ‘controls’ Modi, the PM controls chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. “The CM knows that Modi has the key to put him in jail right now but is not doing anything. That is why you hear Rahul Gandhi and Congress attacking Modi, but you will not hear the CM attacking Modi and you will never see Modi attacking the CM. If Modi says jump, the CM will jump and if he says lie down, the CM will lie down,” he said. Rahul added that while everyone who attacks BJP and RSS is not spared, they took no action in cases against Vijayan. “I have 36 cases against me, my house and my LS membership was taken away and ED interrogated me for 55 hours. If the CM opposes BJP, tell me why no action is taken on the corruption cases against him, explain why his children are not interrogated,” he asked. Modi’s failure to mention Sabarimala gold heist in his campaign speech is further proof of alleged collusion between CPM and BJP, he said. “CPM leaders stole gold from Sabarimala temple and replaced it with brass. No action was taken against them. The so-called defender of the faith came to Kerala and said nothing about Sabarimala because he wants LDF to win elections,” he said. Rahul said Modi has signed away India’s energy security and future by signing a trade deal with the US. “You will be amazed to know India can’t buy oil from who it wants. It must get US nod before buying oil,” he said. Touching upon the war in the Middle East, he warned of a financial earthquake and said fuel prices and inflation would rise. “You will see a financial earthquake in a month or two and then asked what the Centre, state govt did to protect the people,” he said. Rahul added that CPM and BJP are partnering because they are corporate parties. “Two veteran CPM leaders are sitting with us on the stage. They are here because what is today called the Left front is not the real Left party,” he said. Rahul addressed corner meetings at Kallachi, Perambra and travelled in a special bus to highlight UDF’s poll guarantees. 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
Pinarayi targets Rahul Gandhi but silent on BJP: Sachin Pilot
Pinarayi targets Rahul Gandhi but silent on BJP: Sachin Pilot
Kharge and Rahul accuse LDF of colluding with BJP
‘Universal joke’: Rahul Gandhi on PM Modi’s foreign policy, says he’s ‘compromised’
BSP’s strength benefits Dalits, OBCs, minorities, says Mayawati
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday said that whenever and wherever her party has strengthened its hold, Dalits, tribals, OBCs and minority communities have benefitted immensely. In a statement, Mayawati said that it is necessary to take the master key of power into our own hands to properly implement the legal and constitutional rights given by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar for the benefit, welfare, upliftment of the bahujan across the country and for enabling them to live in an egalitarian society with self-respect. The BSP founder, Kanshi Ram, dedicated his entire life to this cause. His unfinished mission is now being pursued with enthusiasm by Mayawati, the statement said. “The need of the hour is to work diligently to achieve the missionary objectives of security, respect and identity for the bahujan, and achieve electoral success,” said Mayawati. Whenever and wherever BSP has strengthened, Dalits, tribals, OBCs and minority communities have benefitted immensely,” Mayawati said in the statement. In the meeting of BSP State committee members of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh with Mayawati held on Sunday, guidelines given in the last All India meeting were reviewed in detail. Courtesy : The Pioneer Note: This news is originally published on https:/thepioneer.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
‘Self-boasts, silence on US’: Congress attacks PM Modi over West Asia remarks
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming he is “compromised” and cannot participate in a parliamentary debate, while criticising his recent speech on the West Asia conflict. Speaking at the Adivasi Adhikar Samvidhan Sammelan in Vadodara, Rahul Gandhialleged that the Prime Minister avoided naming the United States in his Lok Sabha address and said he was “100% under the control” of US President Donald Trump. “I’ve heard that the Prime Minister gave a 25-minute speech. But I guarantee he cannot participate in a debate in Parliament because he is compromised. Narendra Modi spoke for 25 minutes but did not say a single word against America. Narendra Modi is 100% under the control of Trump,” the Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi also criticised the government’s trade approach, claiming it would hurt Indian farmers. “Narendra Modi has opened India’s agricultural sector to America through a trade deal. Here, we have small farms, while in America, there are large farms spanning thousands of acres. Here, people work by hand, and there, work is done with large machines. If American goods start coming to India, our farmers will be ruined,” said Rahul Gandhi. He further accused the BJP and RSS of undermining tribal rights, alleging that the term “Vanvasi” was being used to dilute the identity of Adivasis. “Adivasi means the original inhabitants of India — the rightful owners of this land, water, and forests (‘jal-jangal-jameen’). But RSS-BJP has introduced a new term — ‘Vanvasi,’ which implies that you only live in forests, not that you are the rightful owners of these resources. Narendra Modi and BJP leaders fold their hands before the statue of Birsa Munda, but they attack the very ideas for which Birsa Munda fought and was martyred. When BJP takes away the land, water, and forests from Adivasis, it is not just an attack on Birsa Munda, but also on the Constitution,” he said. The remarks come after Prime Minister Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on the ongoing West Asia conflict, describing the situation as “worrisome” and outlining its economic, security and humanitarian implications for India. Congress leaders also criticised the Prime Minister’s speech. Party leader Pawan Khera questioned the intent behind the address, saying, “… Perhaps this speech was given keeping the upcoming elections in mind… The first question is, why did you go to Israel? We were hoping to get an answer to that. There was hope that the Prime Minister would make a promise that even after the elections are over, the prices of LNG, LPG, petrol, or diesel would not increase…” Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also hit out at the Prime Minister, accusing him of failing to condemn US and Israeli strikes on Iran and calling his speech a “master class in self-boasts and partisan dialogue-baazi.” “The Prime Minister’s uncharacteristically short speech in the Lok Sabha today was, as usual, a master class in self-boasts, cowardice, and partisan dialogue-baazi (dramatic dialogue). Not a single word was uttered in condemnation of the continued US-Israeli air assaults on Iran. Iran’s attack on the Gulf countries and the Strait of Hormuz is, to be sure, completely unacceptable – but so is the relentless bombing of Iran with the objective of regime change and state collapse,” Ramesh wrote on X. Responding to Modi’s reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ramesh added, “Finally, the PM’s invocation of the COVID-19 pandemic is concerning. His Government’s response was uniquely catastrophic. The nation cannot forget the deeply depressing scenes which became all too normal then – lakhs of migrants walking barefoot to their homes, thousands dying from oxygen shortages, and millions left unemployed. We can only hope there is more preparedness this time.” In his address, the Prime Minister said the conflict has posed “unprecedented challenges” for India, particularly due to its dependence on the region for crude oil and gas and its importance for global trade routes. “This war has also posed unprecedented challenges for India. These challenges are economic, related to national security, and humanitarian as well. India has extensive trade relations with the warring and war-affected countries. The region where this war is taking place is also an important route for our trade with other countries of the world. In particular, a large part of our needs for crude oil and gas is met by this very region,” he said. He added that the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers amid supply uncertainties and is working to ensure uninterrupted availability of petrol and diesel, noting that India maintains strategic petroleum reserves of over 5.3 million metric tons. The Prime Minister’s statement comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia following the February 28 killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli strikes, which triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran and disruptions in key maritime routes including the Strait of Hormuz. 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
Rahul Gandhi’s speech sparks row in Lok Sabha
NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Thursday witnessed a ruckus after Rahul Gandhi was interrupted during his speech on the energy crisis when he took a jibe at oil and gas minister Hardeep Puri for his name allegedly appearing in the files of an American sex-offender. He also attacked the govt over the US waiver to India to buy crude from Russia. “It has been a very puzzling fact why a nation the size of India would allow any other nation… the President of another nation to give us permission to buy Russian oil… I have figured the puzzle out. And the puzzle is about compromise,” he said and referred to Puri’s alleged link. This led to interruptions in the House, forcing Speaker Om Birla to intervene, saying the member cannot raise this issue, even as Gandhi insisted that he was speaking on energy and economic security. Later, opposition members entered the well of the House and Puri had to read out his statement amid sloganeering. 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