
Gujarat Confidential: Lot's in a name
A Question of Legacy
Following the tragic death of former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in the Ahmedabad plane crash, political circles in Gandhinagar are abuzz with the question of who would be the successor of the senior BJP leader's political legacy. Following his demise, Rupani was accorded full honours by the state government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In fact, Union Home Minister Amit Shah remained present at the funeral ceremony amid rains while standing by the Rupani family in Rajkot. A political observer of state politics said that considering Rupani's popularity that the party witnessed after his death, it remains to be seen who succeeds his political legacy. Rupani's son, Rushabh, has exhibited impressive maturity in his public appearances after his father's death, the observer added.
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NDTV
33 minutes ago
- NDTV
'Dear Modi ji, Please Listen...': Naveen Patnaik, BJD On BJP MLA's Sexist Remark
New Delhi: Sexist remarks by BJP MLA Santosh Khatua - targting the BJD's Lekhasri Samantsinghar - have led to yet another fierce showdown between the ruling and main opposition parties in Odisha. The remarks have been condemned as 'misogynistic' and 'derogatory', and invited sharp responses from Ms Samantsinghar and her party boss, ex-Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. "The derogatory remarks made by BJP MLA Santosh Khatua against a respected BJD woman leader are extremely unfortunate," Mr Patnaik said, "Attempting to assassinate a woman's character.. is a reflection of a perverse mentality and aimed at suppressing women's voices." In a long and scathing X post the BJD boss also called out senior BJP members for their "profound silence", and said, "Not a single leader has come forward to condemn such reprehensible remarks... the silence clearly reveals the stance of the ruling party in public." ବିଜେପି ବିଧାୟକ ସନ୍ତୋଷ ଖଟୁଆଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ବିଜେଡିର ଜଣେ ସମ୍ମାନନୀୟା ନେତ୍ରୀଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଏପରି ଅପମାନଜନକ ମନ୍ତବ୍ୟ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖଦ ଏବଂ କଦାପି ଗ୍ରହଣୀୟ ନୁହେଁ। ରାଜନୈତିକ ପ୍ରତିଉତ୍ତର ଭାବରେ ସର୍ବସାଧାରଣରେ ଜଣେ ମହିଳାଙ୍କ ଚରିତ୍ର ସଂହାର କରିବା ରୁଗ୍ଣ ମାନସିକତାର ପରିଚୟ ଏବଂ ମହିଳାଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱର ଚପାଇ ଦେବାକୁ ଉଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ। ଏହା… — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 3, 2025 But Mr Patnaik wasn't done yet. The BJD chief - whose 24-year reign as Chief Minister crashed to a halt last year, after the BJP's shock election victory - also ripped into the saffron party for failing to respect women, and said, "Hearing such derogatory words from an MP is utterly intolerable and inhumane." 'Dear Modi ji... Please Listen...' Ms Samantsinghar responded on X too. She shared a video of Mr Khatua speaking, tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and said, "Dear Modi ji... please listen to your MLA from Odisha talking about women politicians... I know you have competent and intelligent Odia officers... please ask them to translate for you." Dear Modi Ji @narendramodi, Please listen to your MLA from Odisha talking about women politicians. This is true blood bjp neta giving true salute to women. I know you have very competent and intelligent Odia officers in @PMOIndia and Party. Pl ask them to translate for you.… — Lekha Samantsinghar (@DrLekhaShree) July 3, 2025 "After listening to it, we will see if you still have motivation to talk about 'naari ka samman' ('respect for women)', or Operation Sindoor," Ms Samantsinghar, who joined the BJD from the BJP in April last year, shortly before the Lok Sabha and Assembly election, said. The reference to Op Sindoor - India's armed response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack - was particularly fierce. Sources said the operation had been named by Mr Modi because 'sindoor' refers to the vermillion mark Hindu women wear on their forehead after marriage. Op Sindoor was meant to avenge the honour of the women whose husbands were killed in Pahalgam, most after the terrorists established their religious identity. Ms Samantsinghar also said the BJP's attitude towards women had led to an increase in levels of violent crime against in the state. "Your promise for women will sound hollow if you fail to take action against such misogynistic elected representatives," she warned the PM. Mr Kathua has not yet responded to criticism from the BJD leaders. BJP Leader Arrested The BJP-BJD tension has only been exacerbated by the Kathua-Samantsinghar row. The two parties also clashed over the horrific assault of an Odisha government officer. BJP leader Jagannath Prasad has been arrested for the attack on Ratnakar Sahoo; videos showed Mr Sahoo being pulled out of a govenment building by a mob, thrown down the stairs, and then dragged down the driveway while some of the goons kick him. I am utterly shocked seeing this video. Today, Shri Ratnakar Sahoo, OAS Additional Commissioner, BMC, a senior officer of the rank of Additional Secretary was dragged from his office and brutally kicked and assaulted in front of a BJP Corporator, allegedly linked to a defeated… — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 30, 2025 The horrific video provoked another strong reaction from Naveen Patnaik, who urged his successor, Mohan Charan Majhi, to take "exemplary action" against those responsible and, "more importantly political leaders who orchestrated and conspired this shameful attack". On Friday morning Mr Prasad surrendered before the police and was arrested. He said he had publicly condemned the attack and said, "Despite no evidence of my involvement... the OAS (Odisha Administrative Service) has been demanding my arrest."


Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Kerala oppn asks Veena George to resign over medical college collapse death
Several parts of Kerala on Friday witnessed protests by the opposition Congress, BJP and their various wings demanding Health Minister Veena George's resignation over the death of a woman in a building collapse at Kottayam Medical College. A 52-year-old woman, Bindu lost her life in the Kottayam medical college collapse on July 3.(ANI Video Grab) Bindu (52) died and three others -- Aleena (11), Amal Pradeep (20), and Jinu Saji (38) -- were injured in the incident on July 3. Protests were held in the state capital and other towns, including Kollam and Pathanamthitta, by the BJP and its youth wing, Yuva Morcha. At Thiruvananthapuram, a large number of BJP workers, including women, marched to the official residence of George, shouting slogans against her and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and chanting 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. When the workers were blocked by the barricades set up by the police, the BJP activists tried to overturn the barricades and climbed on top of them waving party flags. They also snatched away some shields and lathis of the police personnel, prompting use of several rounds of water cannons against the protestors. The state capital also saw protests by the Congress's women's wing outside the minister's office and the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, all seeking George's resignation. At Kollam, Yuva Morcha members protested at the District Hospital and shouted slogans after entering the superintendent's office, according to visuals on TV channels. The visuals also showed BJP workers protesting outside George's office at Pathanamthitta. At Pathanamthitta, Youth Congress activists carrying a coffin -- on which was written Kerala's Health Department -- marched to the family home of George there and shouted slogans demanding her resignation. At Kottayam, a large number of Youth Congress activists marched to the medical college and threw sticks at the police present there, according to visuals on TV channels. As the protestors climbed on top of the barricades, police used water cannons on them. At all places, police set up barricades to stop the protestors. Congress MLA from Palakkad Rahul Mamkootathil termed Bindu's death as "institutional murder" and alleged that George was the main person responsible for it. He also said that the probe being carried out by the District Collector was unacceptable as the Collector oversees the development of the medical college. The toilet complex adjacent to wards 10, 11, and 14 at Kottayam Government Medical College collapsed on Thursday while the hospital was in the process of fully shifting operations to the newly constructed surgical block. Following the incident, the Congress-led UDF opposition had alleged delays in launching the rescue operation and claimed that search efforts only began seriously after relatives of the missing woman raised concerns. Bindu from Thalayolaparambu in Kottayam district was pulled out from the debris more than two hours after the incident and was declared dead. She was there at the medical college as her daughter was awaiting surgery.


Hindustan Times
34 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Vijay leads TVK meeting, condemns Hindi imposition ahead of Tamil Nadu polls
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