
Cong's ‘Urban Gandhian' To Counter BJP's ‘Urban Naxal'
Devendra Fadnavis
, who was in Wardha on Monday, said he has no issues with anyone calling themselves 'Urban Gandhians', and he in fact welcomes this.
Sapkal's statement had been in response to BJP's allegations that 'urban naxals' have infiltrated many Gandhian institutions. Earlier, CM Devendra Fadnavis also said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is surrounded by people who have extreme left ideological leanings, taking the urban naxal jibe further.
Fadnavis, on Monday, said, "I am happy to hear that he (Sapkal) realised that he is an urban Gandhian. We have no issues.
We welcome urban and rural Gandhians."
A few days ago, Sapkal said, "I am an urban Gandhian. I am also an urban Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar follower." The urban Gandhian mention was specifically targeted at an accusation made by BJP MLA Sumit Wandkhede that urban naxals have infiltrated Gandhian organisations based in Wardha. The district is home to Mahatma Gandhi's Sevagram Ashram.
Fadnavis said that while not everybody can be labelled as an urban naxal, there were some specific inputs which led to these allegations being made. "In the recent past, some events were held here. And some organisations which were part of the event are known to have urban naxal connections, as per police records. So, while Sevagram Ashram is open to all, and that's the way it should always be, caution has to be taken," said Fadnavis.
Some Congress party members from Nagpur shared their photo from Sevagram Ashram on social media with comments like 'I am Urban Gandhian', thus taking the war of words to the social media space.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
41 minutes ago
- Time of India
Have 'atom bomb' to prove EC is helping BJP steal votes, says Rahul
. NEW DELHI: Congress functionary Rahul Gandhi Friday said his party has collected "atom bomb" of evidence to prove that EC is helping BJP steal votes, stepping up his attack on "vote chori" on a day he led the joint opposition in writing to Lok Sabha Speaker demanding an immediate discussion on the review of electoral rolls in Bihar. The opposition told Speaker that the issue has a direct bearing on the "right to vote" and "conduct of free and fair elections", and merits an urgent debate. Talking about Congress' probe, likely about voters' list for Bangalore Rural LS seat, Rahul told reporters, "What we found is atom bomb; I mean EC will be blown away when that atom bomb explodes". The opposition's letter to Om Birla - signed by Congress, DMK, NCP-SP, RSP, SS-UBT, SP, TMC and RJD - expressed serious concern over the Bihar poll roll revision being done just before elections. It said EC has also announced the exercise will be done nationally, despite apprehensions about "transparency, timing and intent of process". The letter said the opposition had on several occasions listed a discussion on SIR as a priority, but the Modi govt has not notified a date yet. As he doubled down on his allegations, Rahul warned that officials involved in the "theft" will not be spared. "...because you are working against India, which is treason. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Family Adopted A New 'Dog', But When The Vet Sees It He Calls The Police Undo Remember, wherever you are, whether retired or whatever, we will find you," he said. Rahul argued that Congress had suspicions after assembly polls in MP, which solidified after LS polls, and were further deepened with Maharashtra contest last year. Since EC was not helping with voters' lists, the party conducted its own deep dive into voters data. Meanwhile, BJP Friday took a swipe at Rahul's "atom bomb" claim, asking him to "flow like water" instead of "exploding like a bomb". "If they explode a bomb, we will save Constitution," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra. He said the Opposition speaks of such things because they have no faith in democracy.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Nobody will dare touch a Hindu or a nationalist Muslim Bengali: Samik
Kolkata: Nobody would even dare to touch a Hindu or a nationalist Muslim Bengali, state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said on Friday amid allegations of harassment faced by Bengali-speaking migrants in multiple BJP-governed states. Bhattacharya, who had earlier said BJP was not against Muslims, said a narrative was being crafted to create a fear psychosis. Bengal BJP netas, however, reiterated that those "faking Indian citizenship" would be identified. "There is a deliberate attempt to create fear psychosis among people. Nobody can touch even the hair of a Hindu, Hindu refugees or and Indian Muslims. BJP will stand by them," Bhattacharya said. He was answering questions regarding the "targeted harassment" of migrant workers and the alleged deletion of bona fide names from the voters' lists. "There are Hindus and Muslims who stayed back in India after the partition. They don't have to fear anything. Whichever commission comes here, the BJP will stand by them," Bhattacharya said. "Messages are being sent every day to scare migrant workers from Bengal. None of the state govts are against the Bengali migrant workers who went to those states in search of work. However, it is also true that speaking in Bangla is not the only criterion for being a voter or a bona fide resident of Bengal," he added. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Earlier in the day, Union minister and former state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said names of no genuine voter will be deleted from the electoral roll. "We are talking about those who are faking as voters in Bengal without any credentials. Their names will definitely be deleted and that cannot be altered," Majumdar said. Bengal LOP Suvendu Adhikari, in a press conference on Thursday, said names of persons under four categories might get deleted from the electoral roll. "Dead voters, double-entry voters, fake voters and illegal Muslim immigrants' names will not be on the voters' list," he said. Bhattacharya alleged Trinamool is demanding retention of names of "dead voters" in the electoral roll. "This cannot be the stand of a political party. They are trying to undermine a constitutional body and intimidate its officials," he said.


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Malegaon 'conspiracy' files unravelled
The big focus of this episode of India First is on a retired Maharashtra ATS officer's allegations that he was directed to arrest RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Retired Maharashtra ATS officer Mehboob Mujawar claimed that he was asked to arrest RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in connection with the case. He alleged that the directive came from Investigating Officer Param Bir Singh, aimed to create the narrative of 'saffron terror' in India. The discussion highlights the acquittal of seven accused in the 2008 blast case and examines the misuse of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in these investigations. It also explores claims of falsified records and shifts in investigative focus, including the Samjhauta Express blast probe, to create a 'Hindu terror' narrative. The video scrutinises the accountability of investigative agencies and the political debate surrounding the 'Hindu terror' bogey, with BJP accusing Congress of conspiracy and Congress countering with diversionary tactic claims.