‘Modi teri kabr khudegi’: PM Modi accuses opposition of masking hate behind ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday mounted a sharp offensive against the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, accusing it of cloaking hostility and divisive slogans in the rhetoric of “Mohabbat ki dukaan,” a phrase frequently used by Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi. However, he did not provide any evidence of opposition chanting the slogan.”They are moving with the mantra of ‘Modi teri kabr khudegi’. They dream of this and speak of democracy. They put up signboards of ‘Mohabbat ki dukan’. Is such hatred harboured in public life?” PM Modi said in his motion of thanks speech. “The Congress has a deeper problem, they cannot digest how Modi has reached this position, and their worry keeps growing… For them, it seems there is only one way out: to chant, ‘Modi, teri kabr khudegi (Modi, your grave will be dug).’ They (Congress) seem to assume that democracy and the Constitution exist only for their benefit. They believe that the Prime Minister’s post belongs to their family as a matter of right. And so, they go around spreading slogans about digging Modi’s grave,” he added. — ANI (@ANI) Continuing his attack on the opposition, he said that unlike past governments run by a “remote,” his authority flowed directly from the mandate of 140 crore people. “Their govt used to operate with a remote. My govt operated with a remote too. 140 crore people are my remote,” he said. He further blamed the opposition for weakening institutions, prioritising political survival over governance, and pushing agendas that, he said, compromised national security and public trust, accusing them of shielding illegal infiltrators while ignoring the aspirations of the youth and the long-term interests of the country. “A significant part of our energy is being spent on correcting the mistakes of the past. It takes great effort to erase the image that was created in the minds of the world during that period, they left things in such a damaged state. That is why we have placed strong emphasis on future-ready policies. Today, the country is being governed on the basis of policy and strategy. Global trust in India is growing. Guided by the mantra of ‘reform, perform, transform,’ we have moved forward, and the reality today is that the nation has boarded the Reform Express,” he said. His speech comes a day after his Lok Sabha address was cancelled amid protests by the opposition inside the House. 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
‘Scared of truth, sought refuge in lies’: Rahul Gandhi reacts to PM Modi’s RS speech
NEW DELHI: Congress Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that he “sought refuge in lies” while addressing the Rajya Sabha. After PM Modi address, the Congress leader took to X and said, “Just so much panic from a few questions? Modi ji, so scared of the truth, sought refuge in lies.” “Well, did what seemed right,” he added. In his much-anticipated speech in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi targeted the UPA regime and claimed that a significant part of the NDA regime, which has been in power for over a decade now, has gone in “correcting the mistakes of the past”. As PM Modi started his speech, loud sloganeering of “Let the LoP speak” and “tanashashi nahi chalegi (dictatorship will not be tolerated) by the opposition MPs. The opposition also staged a walkout shortly after the speech began. During his nearly 100-minute speech, PM Modi took many Gandhi family and accused them of ‘stealing’ Mahatma Gandhi’s surname. “For some people, stealing is a family profession. What’s shocking is that those habitual thieves have also stolen surname of a Gujarati, Mahatma Gandhi,” PM Modi said. Further taking a “start up” dig at the Congress party, and and its leadership Rahul Gandhi, the prime minister alleged that the party “cannot even lift their own startup.””Congress never promoted startup culture… They cannot even lift the startup of their own house,” PM Modi said. He also targeted Rahul for calling BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu a traitor and accused the Congress leader of insulting the Sikhs. “What happened yesterday — the ‘Yuvraj’ of Congress, who has a ‘shaatir dimaag’ called a member of this House a traitor. His arrogance is at its peak. He did not call others who left Congress traitors, but he said it to this MP because he is a Sikh,” Prime Minister Modi said in his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address in Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi had on Wednesday exchanged barbs with former party colleague and Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu in Parliament premises. In videos released by the Congress, Gandhi was heard calling Bittu “a traitor” and the minister retorting with “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation) jibe. 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
Naravane memoir row: Kiren Rijiju cites book to target Nehru, counter Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday defended the Centre’s decision to keep the Henderson Brooks-Bhagat report on the 1962 India-China war classified, as a political row erupted in Parliament over Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi being stopped from quoting the “unpublished memoir” of former Army Chief General MM Naravane.In a post on X, Rijiju described the report as a sensitive defence document and said it should not be used for political purposes. He wrote, “Our Govt is led by a matured leader. Since 1962, the Henderson Brooks-Bhagat Commission report has remained secret. It indicted the Nehru Govt for the humiliating defeat at the hands of the Chinese PLA. Our Govt has never declassified it as a defence matter that can’t be used as a political tools.” — KirenRijiju (@KirenRijiju) The Henderson Brooks-Bhagat report was prepared by Lieutenant General Henderson Brooks and Brigadier General Premindra Singh Bhagat and was commissioned by then Acting Army Chief General JN Chaudhuri to review the Indian Army’s operations during the 1962 war with China, reported ANI. The report continues to remain classified. Rijiju also reshared a post from 2024, in which he highlighted India’s border infrastructure development. The minister’s comments follow a row that erupted after Rahul Gandhi attempted to quote from the “unpublished memoir” of former Army Chief General MM Naravane during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha. The Congress leader was referring to the 2020 India-China military standoff in eastern Ladakh when he cited the memoir, drawing strong objections from BJP members. During his remarks, Gandhi accused PM Modi of “not fulfulling responsibility” during the 2020 clashes along the Line of Actual Control Gandhi continued to raise the issue of the August 2020 India-China confrontation but was repeatedly interrupted by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and later by Home Minister Amit Shah, who asked him not to quote from any unverified source. General Naravane was the Army Chief at the time of the Ladakh standoff. The excerpts cited by Gandhi were recently published by an online portal. 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’s poster boy’: Punjab ex-minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu slams Union MoS Ravneet Singh Bittu Bittu over ‘enemy of state’ remark for Rahul Gandhi
Ludhiana: Senior Congress member and former Punjab minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu launched a blistering verbal counter-attack on Wednesday against Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, labelling his recent comments against Rahul Gandhi as “deeply irresponsible” and “unfortunate”. The friction follows Bittu’s controversial branding of the Lok Sabha’s leader of the opposition as “Desh ke Dushman” (enemy of the country), a statement that has ignited a firestorm within Punjab’s political circles. Ashu reminded Bittu, a three-time Member of Parliament, that his political foundations were built entirely on the support of the Gandhi family. Ashu noted that the Congress party had nurtured Bittu’s career, providing him with repeated opportunities and trust. “Just because you have become a poster boy of the BJP today does not mean you forget those who helped you rise in public life,” Ashu said, accusing Bittu of abusing his former mentors for “political convenience”. The Legacy Contradiction The former minister drew a sharp contrast between Bittu’s current rhetoric and the legacy of his grandfather, the late Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. “It is ironic that a person who claims to inherit Beant Singh’s legacy has abandoned the very principles his family stood for,” Ashu remarked. He pointed out that Beant Singh had sacrificed his life fighting the very “divisive forces” that the Congress alleges the BJP represents. Ashu argued that by switching sides for power and questioning the patriotism of others, Bittu has exposed a “lack of conviction.” ‘Sacrifice vs Rhetoric’ Ashu underscored the historical weight of the Gandhi family’s contributions to India, framing Bittu’s comments as a sign of political frustration rather than truth. Ashu reminded the Union Minister that both the Gandhi family and Beant Singh fought for the same cause — the unity and integrity of India. In a call for introspection, Ashu added: “Before pointing fingers at Rahul Gandhi, Bittu should remember that both Beant Singh and the Gandhi family laid down their lives for this country.” The Congress member concluded by stating that such reckless personal attacks serve only to lower the dignity of public life. 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
M R K Panneerselvam sparks row with ‘North Indians clean tables’ in Tamil Nadu remark; BJP hits back
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday hit out at a Tamil Nadu minister over remarks about North Indian migrant workers, accusing the ruling DMK of repeatedly targeting migrants and fuelling social divisions in the state. The BJP was reacting to comments made by DMK agriculture minister M R K Panneer Selvam at a party event in Chengalpattu, where he referred to North Indians working in low-paying jobs. “People from the North are coming here to clean tables, engage in construction works, sell pani puri. Because he learnt only Hindi and had no job opportunity there, he has come here,” the minister said. In a post on X, the BJP said the remarks were derogatory and reflected a broader pattern within the DMK. “At a party event in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, DMK agriculture minister Shri MRK Panneer mocked North Indian migrants as “table cleaners and pani puri sellers.” In today’s India, people from every state work everywhere – North, South, and across the world. No job is small. No citizen is inferior,” the party said. — BJP4TamilNadu (@BJP4TamilNadu) The BJP alleged that such comments were particularly dangerous at a time when incidents of violence against migrant workers were being reported in Tamil Nadu. “This isn’t an isolated slip; it’s a pattern. DMK leaders have repeatedly derided migrant workers, especially for being North Indian or for speaking Hindi. At a time when violence against innocent migrant workers in Tamil Nadu is rising, such statements are reckless and dangerous, branding an entire community as “low standard” and fuelling hate on the streets,” the post said. The party also questioned the silence of leaders from the opposition INDI alliance over the controversy. “Now a direct question to the INDI alliance: if you claim to stand for unity, human dignity, and social justice, why this deafening silence? Is alliance compulsion more important than national unity? Do Shri RahulGandhi, Priyanka Gandhi , Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav endorse this hatred by staying quiet? Is this your idea of justice which is dividing Indians for votes? Complete shame!” the BJP said. There was no immediate response from the DMK or the leaders named by the BJP on the issue. Meanwhile, Tamilnadu BJP president in a post on X said, “Leaders of Arivalayam who incite hatred against North Indians! Even as attacks on North Indians are already rampant under the DMK regime, I strongly condemn the Minister of DMK, Mr. MRK Panneer ,for mocking them at a meeting held in Maduranthakam in Chengalpattu district by saying, “North Indians come to Tamil Nadu only to sell pani puri, work in construction, or wipe tables.” The DMK Minister must immediately seek a public apology from the people for his arrogant speech. In our Tamil land, which has upheld equality and brotherhood through the life philosophy of “Yadhum Oore, Yaavarum Keleer,” it is not only deplorable but also dangerous that DMK leaders continue to sow seeds of hatred against North Indians. Do the Congress and Communist parties, as alliance partners of DMK, endorse this divisive politics of the DMK, which strives to divide people ethnically into North and South? In our Bharat, which shares a unified cultural heritage “from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari,” the people will uproot and cast away this venomous creeper called DMK—which toils to seize power and authority by using North Indian people as scapegoats—in the upcoming Assembly elections!” — NainarBJP (@NainarBJP) 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’s reply deferred as protest stalls Lok Sabha; scared Modi ran away, says opposition
NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday could not deliver his customary speech during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s address because of the adjournment forced by the opposition, whose women members charged towards the treasury benches raising slogans and holding banners. Modi was scheduled to reach Lok Sabha when presiding officer Sandhya Rai, in for Speaker Om Birla, adjourned the House for the day to avert a clash that had seemed imminent because of counter-mobilisation of members, especially women, by the governing side. Modi is now expected to speak in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The adjournment was a fallout of the stand-off between the two sides over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on citing the unpublished book of former Army chief, Gen M M Naravane. The confrontation intensified due to what was seen as a tit-for-tat response by BJP member Nishikant Dubey, who sought to quote from books replete with unflattering references to members of the Gandhi-Nehru clan. Though the chair adjourned the House for the day, several opposition MPs questioned why Dubey was allowed speak. Congress members later met Speaker Birla and demanded his suspension. Speaker slams oppn MPs for Naravane banners The House witnessed similar protests during the question hour, and amid din, Speaker Om Birla adjourned proceedings till 12 noon. When the House re-assembled, opposition MPs were on their feet raising slogans against the govt over the issue of stand-off with China in 2020, referring to certain matters related to the unpublished “memoir” of General Naravane. Congress members had brought banners and posters featuring Naravane and defence minister Rajnath Singh, while Rahul was seen flashing a book in the House. The Speaker urged members to maintain dignity of the House and slammed the opposition for displaying banners and posters. The House was then adjourned till 2 pm. Later, the House was adjourned till 5 pm following an uproar over Dubey’s remarks targeting the Gandhi family. It was adjourned for the day by Rai. Scared Modi ran away from House, claim oppn MPs After the PM’s no-show in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi said Narendra Modi feared being gifted General M M Naravane’s memoirs that narrate his account as Army chief during the 2020 Chinese aggression. Rahul remarked, “As I had said, PM will not come to LS because he does not want to face the truth.” Earlier Wednesday, Rahul dramatically posed in the Parliament complex with Naravane’s book “Four Stars to Destiny” that he was not allowed to cite in his speech on the motion of thanks to the President’s address, telling reporters, “I don’t think the PM will have the guts to come to LS today. If he comes, I will give him this book so that… he knows his reality.” After three days of logjam, the anti-BJP camp was excited that the PM had to back down from his scheduled speech for fear of disruptions. After the abrupt end to the evening’s proceedings, Trinamool Congress’ Kalyan Banerjee said, “He ran away for fear of the opposition.” Congress MP K C Venugopal said govt was making a mockery of Parliament, and the PM should be asked why he did not come for his speech. Congress MP Manickam Tagore said since the LOP was not allowed to speak in LS, the PM’s address too had to be cancelled. “This is the first time in parliamentary history… The united voice of 239 MPs will make India stronger,” he said. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also said Modi was too scared to come to the House. “The rail minister and Nishikant Dubey ran away like a bullet train,” she mocked. Quoting from the book to reporters, Rahul alleged Modi had abdicated responsibility during the Ladakh crisis. He said Naravane has said that he felt abandoned. He said the govt was now trying to deny the very existence of the book despite it being in the public domain. Rahul added that every young Indian should read the retired General’s detailed first-hand account of events in Ladakh. 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 to invoke legacy of Dalit icons, including Kanshi Ram, before UP polls
Lucknow: The BJP has identified more than a dozen prominent Dalit icons, including BSP founder Kanshi Ram, whose legacy it plans to invoke as part of a larger plan to consolidate the SC community in the run-up to the high-stakes 2027 state assembly elections. UP BJP sources said the party has prepared a calendar marking the birth and death anniversaries of at least 15 Dalit ideologues who played a key role as social reformers by awakening the consciousness of socially deprived sections of society. Besides Kanshiram, the Dalit figures who will feature in the BJP’s future Dalit-centric campaigns include Sant Ravi Das, Sant Gadge, BR Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, Gangu Baba, Uda Devi, Jhalkari Bai, Veera Pasi, Lakhan Pasi, Savitri Bai Phule, Tilka Manjhi, Rama Bai Ambedkar, Swami Acchutanand and Narayan Guru. Confirming the development, UP BJP SC Morcha chief Ram Chandra Kannaujia said the idea was to give due respect to every Dalit icon and to spread their ideas and teachings far and wide. He said that the BJP acknowledges Kanshiram as a powerful voice of Dalits, the underprivileged, and the exploited. “We also greeted BSP chief Mayawati on her birthday on January 15,” he said, while speaking to TOI. The development, experts said, aligns with the BJP’s concerted attempts to make deeper inroads into the Dalit vote base amid a steep decline in the political graph of the BSP.The move is also seen as the BJP’s bid to maintain continuous engagement with different Dalit sub-castes throughout the year, while preventing opposition parties from monopolising the social justice narrative. Analysts said that the measure marks the saffron outfit’s attempt to counter the opposition’s Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) poll narrative, which is said to have dented the saffron outfit in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, pulling its tally down from 62 to 33. On Feb 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders celebrated the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas, emphasising his teachings of equality and social harmony. PM Modi also visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab and renamed Adampur Airport after Sant Ravidas. At the same time, the BJP SC Morcha launched various programmes aimed at honouring the spiritual leader and reaching out to the Ravidasia community. The BJP, however, faced criticism from BSP supremo Mayawati, who charged the saffron outfit with not reverting the name of Bhadohi to Sant Ravidas Nagar. Ravidas is said to have been born in the Gobardhanpur village on the outskirts of Varanasi. The party next plans to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sant Gadge on Feb 23 on a grand scale. Gadge, born as Debuji Zhingraji Janorkar in Amravati in 1876, belonged to the Parit/Dhobi community. He conducted his discourses in the form of kirtans, in which he emphasised values such as service to humanity and compassion. By publicly acknowledging figures such as Kanshi Ram and even extending greetings to Mayawati, the BJP, sources said, attempts to soften its image among the BSP’s core Dalit voters. The BJP would subsequently celebrate the birth anniversary of Jyotiba Phule on April 11, BR Ambedkar on April 14, and Ahilyabai Holkar on May 31. Ambedkar was always part of the BJP’s social narrative, even as the BJP moved closer to the Dalit community since its astronomical rise under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi after 2014. The BJP also plans to invoke the legacy of Dalit leader Gangu Baba. Born in Bithoor, Baba was a participant in the India rebellion of 1857. He was hanged by the British in 1859. While his birth anniversary is now widely known, local Dalit groups and activists hold a tribute and honour ceremony for Gangu Baba in Chunniganj (Kanpur) on June 5 every year, which functions as his birth anniversary observance in community memory. 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
Shashi Tharoor trips and falls at Parliament stairs; Akhilesh Yadav helps – video
NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tripped and fell while descending the stairs at Parliament complex on Wednesday. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and other MPs along with the staff members immediately assisted him to get back on his feet. — ians_india (@ians_india) The Lok Sabha was adjourned amid persistent sloganeering by Opposition members over the suspension of eight MPs during the ongoing Budget Session, disrupting proceedings shortly after they began. The suspended MPs staged a protest outside Parliament, holding placards reading “PM is compromised,” echoing allegations made by leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi while addressing the media on the India–US trade agreement. Those suspended include Congress MPs Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and Dean Kuriakose, along with CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan. 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 didn’t fulfill his responsibility’: Rahul displays unpublished memoir of ex-Army chief Naravane outside Parliament
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday displayed excerpts from an unpublished memoir of former Army Chief General MM Naravane and accused PM Modi of “not fulfulling responsibility” during the 2020 India-China military clashes in Ladakh. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament the Congress leader said, “The speaker is saying that this book does not exist, Rajnath ji has said this book does not exist. This is Naravane ji’s book wherein he has written the account of Ladakh…Narendra Modi ji did not fulfil his responsibility.” “He told the Army Chief to do whatever he wants to do. Army Chief General Naravane has clearly written in this book that he felt really alone. This is what they are scared of me saying,” he added. “The main line is what the Prime Minister said – ‘jo uchit samjho wo karo’. When the former Chief of Army Staff General Naravane called up Rajnath Singh ji and said that Chinese tanks have reached the Kailash Ridge, so what should we do? First, Rajnath Singh did not respond to him,” he added. “I don’t think the Prime Minister will have the guts to come to the Lok Sabha today because if he comes, I am going to give him this book. If the PM comes, I will go physically and hand him this book so he can read it and the country can get to know the truth,” added Gandhi. Gandhi said the memoir of Naravane is published abroad, but the government is not allowing it to be published in India. “It’s available abroad, I think. It’s published abroad. Govt is not allowing it to be published here. That’s what I believe…The book is available…You can imagine where the book (that he is carrying today) has come from. You think about where it came from…” His remarks came after he tried to quote excerpts from the unpublished book during the Parliament session on Monday. Gandhi insisted on raising the issue of India-China confrontation of August 2020 and was interrupted repeatedly by defence minister Rajnath Singh and later home minister Amit Shah, who asked him not to quote from any unverified source. Naravane was the Army Chief at the time of the Ladakh confrontation. The excerpts cited by Rahul Gandhi were recently published by an online portal. Earlier, on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, registering his “strongest protest” over being denied the opportunity to speak on the President’s address during the ongoing Budget session. He described the restriction as a “blot on our democracy” and alleged that the government is “scared” of what is written in the book. 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
BC and Dalit voices demand fair representation in polls
Renewed political heat was witnessed here on Monday on the issue of social justice as Backward Class (BC) organisations demanded proportionate representation for all BC communities in the forthcoming corporation elections. Addressing the media at the Roads and Buildings Department premises, BC JAC Rights State Convener Sarangi Lakshmikanth said that sustained struggles by BC caste associations had paved the way for a BC leader to become the Mayor of Mahabubnagar. He asserted that the same spirit of justice must now be reflected in the upcoming elections by ensuring representation to all communities in proportion to their population. He further demanded that the post of First Deputy Mayor be allotted to Dalits, stressing the need for inclusive leadership. Adding political sharpness to the demand, BC Samaj United Mahabubnagar District President Modal Srinivas Sagar questioned the Congress party’s commitment to social justice. He asked why BCs were denied due importance in corporation elections even as the party undertakes a nationwide tour advocating social justice. Raising a community-specific concern, Kummari (Potters) Association District President Bugganna said the Kummari community had consistently been denied representation in corporation elections. He urged authorities to at least ensure due priority for the community in corporation-level posts. The meeting saw the participation of several leaders and representatives, including retired DEO Vijay Kumar, Nai Brahmin Seva Samiti Town President Ashwini Satyam, Medari Association Secretary Anjaneyulu, MRPS leader Singireddy Parameshwar, Nai Brahmin Association leader Chandramouli, and others, highlighting the broad-based support for the demand. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights