Mamata Banerjee vows to gherao EC over voter roll changes in Bihar, Bengal
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Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
BJP slams SP mosque visit, Dimple & Akhilesh hit back: Diversion bid
A visit by Samajwadi Party MPs Akhilesh Yadav, wife Dimple Yadav and others to a mosque near Parliament triggered a row Wednesday, with the BJP accusing the party of hurting religious sentiments by holding a political meeting there and also criticising Dimple's attire. BJP leaders said holding political meetings inside a mosque was prohibited as was having 'laughter and a tea party'. The SP hit back, saying it was a 'social gathering' and the BJP was 'a group of people of negative mindset' that was 'misleading' people to divert attention from 'real issues' like the Bihar electoral roll revision. Akhilesh, Dimple and at least 10 other SP MPs were at the Parliament Street mosque Monday after Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day. They included Dharmendra Yadav, Anand Bhadauria, Zia Ur Rehman and Mohibulla Nadvi, who is also Imam of the mosque. After photographs of the MPs — seated inside what appears to be the mosque's prayer area — emerged, BJP's minority wing chief Jamal Siddiqui said he would have 'welcomed' if Akhilesh had offered 'shukrana namaz (thanksgiving prayer) there. 'But they held a political meeting, had laughter and a tea party which is not allowed inside a mosque… he went there with his wife Dimple Yadav… Men and women can not sit together in a mosque. There was a separate section for women…,' he said. BJP minority wing national vice-president S M Akram said: 'There is no restriction on visiting a mosque. But that area was not supposed to be used for political discussions,' he said. When asked about the BJP's allegations, Akhilesh told reporters, 'The BJP is a group of people of negative mindset. Faith is positive, it unites. The BJP gets upset with anything that unites. They want negativity… faith unites, ensures brotherhood.' Dimple told reporters: 'Imam sahab is our MP, his wife was also there, we had gone for a social (gathering), there was no meeting.' 'The BJP always tries to mislead to divert from real issues. The government neither wants to speak on SIR nor on the intelligence failure in the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. In order to hide facts, such things are being said,' she said. Meanwhile, Akram wrote a letter to Mohibbullah, saying the BJP's minority wing wants to hold a meeting at the mosque after this week's Friday prayers. 'You are requested to make arrangements of sitting and refreshments. The meeting will start with Vande Mataram and conclude with Jana Gana Mana,' said the letter.
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
Assembly may hold spl session on ‘targeting' of Bengalis
Kolkata/New Delhi: Bengal assembly is likely to convene a special session on the alleged discrimination against Bengali-speaking migrants in different states. A source said Trinamool Congress MPs on Wednesday submitted notices in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, demanding discussion on the alleged targeting of Bengali-speakers. Notices have also been submitted to take up the issue of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll, which is taking place in Bihar and will be extended to other states. According to sources in the parliamentary office, the special assembly session may run from Aug 8 to Aug 21. In addition to the proposal concerning migrant workers, four important bills may also be presented. Talks are on between the parliamentary and legal departments on this matter. Once drafts of the bills are finalised, speaker Biman Banerjee will officially announce the session. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The steps coincide with Trinamool announcing that CM Mamata Banerjee would hit the streets in Birbhum as part of state-wide protests, which start on on July 27 and will be held every Saturday and Sunday. The CM had announced the plan for the protests at Martyrs' Day rally on July 21. Speaking to reporters, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said: "Who gives BJP the right to say that Bengalis are Bangladeshis? Why are they stoking the fire? Britishers may have introduced divide and rule, but it is BJP that is implementing it now. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unsold 2021 Cars Now Almost Free - Prices May Surprise You Unsold Cars | Search Ads Learn More Undo They are dividing society, they are dividing people. In 1947, Britishers were driven out; in 2026, BJP will be driven out of Bengal, and then India." "This is sheer anger and vengeance by BJP for being politically routed in Bengal repeatedly," he added. "If the police in BJP-governed states are not accepting Aadhaar, PAN and even EPIC, then why is the Centre issuing them in the first place? These BJP-run states are demanding proof by seeking birth certificates of parents. Can BJP netas in Bengal, or those in BJP-governed states, provide birth certificates themselves?" Ghosh said.
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Time of India
BJP using Muslim quota to scuttle BC reservations: CM
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday accused the BJP of not being in favour of enhancing BC reservations. He claimed that BJP MPs from Telangana were trying to scuttle the 42% quota for the community by demanding removal of Muslim reservation in the state. The truth, he argued, was that economically backward Muslims had been given reservation for a long time in BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. "There is no Muslim reservation at all," Revanth said while talking to reporters in New Delhi. "Reservations are based on socio-economic backwardness. Be it Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, or Buddhists, they follow their religion, and it has nothing to do with reservation." You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad He explained that besides SC and ST, reservation was extended to A, B, C, D, and E categories of socially and economically backward sections in society among BCs in Telangana. "The BJP is only trying to stop the 42% quota bills sent by the Telangana govt using the pretext of religious-based Muslim reservation," the chief minister alleged. Revanth is in New Delhi to seek the support of all the opposition parties to exert pressure on the Centre to approve its BC reservation bill in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Beyond Text Generation: An AI Tool That Helps You Write Better Grammarly Install Now Undo The state govt is keen on 42% BC reservation in local bodies, and education and employment. The chief minister, along with the deputy chief minister, Congress MPs from Telangana, and important leaders, will meet opposition leaders in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha apart from Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Thursday morning. In the evening, they will give a presentation to AICC members from various states on the caste survey and the need to exert pressure on the Centre to approve the two BC Bills. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birth state is Gujarat, PM Modi's representing Lok Sabha seat is in Uttar Pradesh, and the RSS national headquarters state is Maharashtra—in all three states, the BJP govt is providing reservations to economically backward Muslims. In an interview, Union home minister Amit Shah said they sere extending Muslim reservations in Gujarat and that they would continue it. Will they suspend Amit Shah from the BJP?" he asked. "The Centre is delaying approval of the two bills sent to it through the governor by the Telangana govt," he added. "The Telangana High Court directed the state govt to complete fixing of reservations in 30 days and the entire panchayat election process in 90 days, before September 30. The ordinance sent to the Telangana governor is aimed at removing the 50% cap on overall reservations fixed by the previous BRS govt in the Panchayat Raj Act of 2018, after which a blanket 42% BC quota can be given. " H e added that the 2029 elections will be a litmus test for all the parties in terms of BC reservations. "The credit should go to Rahul Gandhi, who raised the slogan of a caste census during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and promised the people of Telangana to do it if the Congress is voted to power," he added. "We conducted a scientific and authentic survey. We have our own strategy of making the Modi govt approve the two BC bills." Box: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said on Wednesday his govt made public the caste survey findings on the population of SCs, STs, BCs, Muslims, and others. "However, we cannot make public the personal information and data of the individuals as per the Digital Personal Data Protection Act. But the report submitted by the Justice Sudarshan Reddy-led independent group of experts, which analysed the caste survey data, would be discussed in the cabinet and the assembly, and then we will give access to it to the political parties. "
