A day ago, Khadse targeted Mahajan; Oppn says misuse of police machinery
After the arrest as well, Khadse, hinting at his tussle with Mahajan, said: 'I was suspecting that something like this would happen because of the prevailing political scenario.'
The Opposition leaders also linked the arrest to Khadse's allegations against Mahajan, claiming that the BJP-led government is using police to target opponents.
Meanwhile, minister Mahajan said that if Khadse believed his son-in-law would be framed, he should have alerted him.
On Saturday, at a press conference, Khadse targeted his long-time rival Mahajan asking what development has he brought to Jalgaon — both the leaders hail from the district.
'What has he brought for Jalgaon in the name of development ? Where is the textile park project. ? Tell me, which big development project has this minister brought in for Jalgaon district ?…Where is the animal husbandry college ?…For 30 years, several projects of Jalgaon district are pending…I am the only one who was raising issues of Jalgaon and issues of farmers from Maharashtra,' Khadse said.
Claiming that he will continue his work on the development front in Maharashtra , he said, 'I have never bowed before anyone and will never bow before anyone…I have always taken things to a logical conclusion.'
Challenging Mahajan, Khadse said, 'He should accept the challenge of getting a narco test on Praful Lodha…Why is he running away ?'
The Opposition had claimed that Praful Lodha, alleged to be a close aide of Mahajan once, was the alleged mastermind behind a 'honeytrap operation' which was used to bring down the MVA government in 2022.
Demanding Mahajan's resignation, Khadse said, 'Girish Mahajan should take moral responsibility and resign…Whenever there is an issue, why is Girish Mahajan's name always right upfront?'
On Sunday, Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar and six others were arrested after the Pune City police said it seized drugs during a raid at an apartment where they were allegedly partying.
Minutes after the arrest, Mahajan said, 'At yesterday's press conference Khadse had raised the question as to how drugs are making their way into Chalisgaon. And today, his son-in-law has been caught holding a rave party with drugs.'
Mahajan said if Khadse was alleging conspiracy, then he should wait for the investigation to get over. 'His son-in-law is not a small child to be taken away at night,' he said.
Slamming the state government over the arrest, Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, 'Khadse held a press conference and spoke against the state government with proof and a day later, his son-in-law was arrested. The government is not ready to investigate the allegations made by Khadse but instead it prefers to arrest those who make allegations.'
'Anything can happen during the tenure of the Mahayuti government. The police machinery is being used to target the opponents of BJP,' he alleged.
State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that the government is going behind those who bring out its wrongdoings.
'We don't trust what the police and the state government have done. They might even have planted the drugs. This government and its police machinery are highly untrustworthy. The Mahayuti government is going after the opposition leaders and their families because we are bringing out their wrongdoings,' he said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
2 minutes ago
- Hans India
BJP committed to BCs' welfare, says NR Rao; flays Cong policies
Hyderabad: BJP State president N Ramachander Rao, while addressing the community leaders and representatives from Backward Class (BC) communities, reiterated the BJP's commitment to the upliftment of BCs while sharply criticizing the Congress government's approach. On Monday, he highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to inclusive governance. He noted that 27% of the ministers in the central cabinet belong to the Backward Classes (BC) and mentioned the establishment of the BC Commission during Modi's tenure. Rao emphasized that Modi, who himself comes from the BC community, has demonstrated exceptional dedication to ensuring that BCs receive their rightful place in governance. He condemned remarks made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of insulting BCs by referring to them as 'converted BCs.' Rao stressed that BC representation and classification vary by state, citing Lambadas as Scheduled Tribes in Telangana but categorized as BCs in Maharashtra. Rao criticized former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) for merely granting official status to the BC Commission without allocating necessary funds, rendering the body ineffective. He expressed concern about the caste census initiated by the state Congress government, calling it unconstitutional and lacking transparency. He alleged that the census was conducted without oversight from constitutional institutions, and data collection was incomplete, particularly at the mandal level. Reaffirming the BJP's stance, Rao declared, 'We are not against caste census, but it must be carried out scientifically and constitutionally.' He announced that the central government is set to include caste data in the upcoming national census — the first since the British-era caste count in 1931 — which will be conducted by the Registrar General of India, a legally constituted body. Citing schemes like Vishwakarma Yojana, Mudra loans, and Startup India, Rao argued that the majority of their beneficiaries are BCs, proving the central government's focused approach towards BC development. He cautioned that Congress is trying to mislead BC voters with conspiratorial narratives and reaffirmed Home Minister Amit Shah's assurance that reservations for SCs, STs, and BCs will remain intact. The BJP, Rao stated, opposes religion-based reservations, such as the current 4% quota for Muslims, alleging they do not conform to Articles 15(4) and 16(4) of the Constitution. He accused the previous government of diverting BC-reserved seats to Muslim candidates during the GHMC elections, disadvantaging communities like Gouds, Yadavas, and Gangaputras. Rao also defended the Modi government's introduction of an additional 10% EWS reservation, emphasizing that it did not compromise existing quotas for SCs, STs, or BCs. 'Only the BJP stands firmly with the BCs,' he declared, asserting that Congress is attempting to divide OBCs from the BJP through misleading campaigns. Highlighting the BJP's actions, he cited Dattatreya's appointment as Governor and Dr. K. Laxman's role as Rajya Sabha member and National OBC Morcha President as examples of true representation. In contrast, Rao accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Congress leadership of insincerity, calling their gestures toward BC welfare a political 'drama.' Rounding off his speech, Rao urged all BC community representatives to participate actively in the upcoming elections and in the scheduled BC meeting in Hyderabad. 'BJP is the only genuine ally of the BCs,' he concluded, appealing for collective support to ensure victory in Telangana.
Hans India
2 minutes ago
- Hans India
BRS smells a rat in govt's move for Prez's assent to BC quota bill
Hyderabad: BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) leaders today alleged that despite a month having passed since the BC Reservations Bill was put forth, the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy's government has made no honest effort to ensure its passage by the President, thereby jeopardising the implementation of reservations in upcoming local body elections. Addressing a press conference, senior leader V Srinivas Goud stated that while the entire country is discussing the backwardness of Other Backward Classes (OBC) communities, and the Central government has even agreed to a caste census, creating an atmosphere where OBCs might gain reservations in legislative assemblies, 'God knows about reservations in the legislative Assemblies, but doubts are hovering over the 42 per cent reservation in the local elections in the state.' He questioned the fate of the ordinance which did not receive approval from the Governor, and the Bills with the President in Delhi, remarking on the Chief Minister's previous 'boasting' in the capital. The BRS leader alleged it was clear that both Congress and BJP were 'enacting dramas' purely for BC votes. He argued that reservations for BCs would not increase unless they were included in the Ninth Schedule, and accused the BJP of blocking the increase in BC reservations by using Muslim reservations as an excuse. He challenged this stance, asking if Muslims were not given reservations in BJP-ruled states or included in EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservations. Srinivas Goud reminded that Revanth Reddy, when in opposition, had stated that reservations were not under the state's jurisdiction and that any attempt to increase them locally would lead to imprisonment. 'Why did Revanth Reddy stop the reservation increase ordinance from the Governor?' he questioned. Srinivas Goud further alleged that Revanth Reddy was not making any genuine efforts with the Centre for the approval of BC Bills. He demanded that the Chief Minister and ministers should travel to Delhi to secure approval for the BC Bills and return to Hyderabad only after their passage. He warned that BCs are 'not ready to be deceived by Congress and BJP once again.' Questioning the Congress leaders who celebrated when the ordinance was sent to the Governor, he asked, 'What will they say now?' Goud added, 'If an all-party delegation is taken to Delhi, we will come. They are not doing that work.' Former MLA D Vinay Bhaskar reiterated that the Congress party had made many promises to the BCs during the elections, yet they were not even carrying out the necessary actions for BCs within the state government. 'As stated in the Congress manifesto, we should go to the local elections only after giving 42 per cent reservation to the BCs,' he asserted. He concluded that they would increase pressure on the government, alongside BC associations, to secure these reservations. Balaraju Yadav, K Kishore Goud, Shubhprad Patel, and Gautam Prasad were also present at the press conference.
Hindustan Times
2 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Rafale, Trump, ‘new normal' with Pakistan: Who said what in Operation Sindoor debate in Lok Sabha
The special debate on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha saw major political flashpoints between the Narendra Modi government and the Congress-led opposition. The debate will be held in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, while PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah are expected to speak too. Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE: In his Lok Sabha speech, Rajnath Singh warned Pakistan against resorting to terrorism again in the future. (Sansad TV) Here's a recap of major arguments in the Lok Sabha: Rajnath's detailed account, Rahul Gandhi's 'kyun?' interjection Defence minister Rajnath Singh detailed how the operation — India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack — was carried out. He had a ready response to questions about India's loss of military assets, particularly fighter jets: 'No important assests were damaged." He added, 'If they (opposition) must ask a question, it should be whether India destroyed terrorist bases — and the answer is yes. If you want to know whether Operation Sindoor was successful — again, the answer is yes.' Rajnath Singh stressed that India stopped the strikes upon a request from Pakistan. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi interjected with a 'why did we stop?' at this, but Rajnath said he'd already answered that. He was seemingly referring to the assertion that India did not want to escalate but only make its intentions clear. 'How many, if any, Rafales fell?' Pointed questions by Cong's Gaurav Gogoi 'The country has the courage to handle the truth. Don't worry; tell us,' Gaurav Gogoi, Congress deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, said in his speech immediately after Rajnath Singh's address. 'We want to know from Rajnath Singh ji today, how many of our fighter jets were downed. We have to tell this not just to the public but also to our jawans, as they are being lied to as well,' he said. 'There are just 35 Rafale jets in India; you thought those many were enough. And if some of them have been downed, I think it is a big loss,' he said. Gogoi also said India should not have stopped the strikes but 'finished the job' and got back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Did Trump broker ceasefire? As Jaishankar spoke, Amit Shah snapped at Oppn External affairs minister S Jaishankar, in his speech later, said that while the challenge of cross-border terrorism continues, 'Operation Sindoor marks a new phase; there is now a new normal'. He said there was no mention of trade in any phone call between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump during the time. His assertions were an apparent response to Trump's repeated claims that he brokered the ceasefire after telling Indian and Pakistani governments that the US won't trade with them if they didn't stop fighting. Trump repeated his claim late on Monday, even after the opposition had counted up to the 26th time. Also read | Jaishankar slams Opposition: 'Which one of you…' 'At no stage in any conversation with the US was there any linkage with trade and what was going on," Jaishankar said. When the opposition MPs disrupted his speech, home minister Amit Shah burst out: 'They don't have faith in an Indian foreign minister, but they have faith in some other country.' Saying 'this is the reason' why the Congress is on the opposition benches, Shah claimed, 'It will remain sitting there for the next 20 years.' Barbs and some conciliatory notes BJP MP Anurag Thakur took shots at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of being sympathetic to Pakistan, while Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee mocked PM Modi by saying 'his '56-inch chest' reduces to 36 inches in front of the American president Trump'. NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, however, while being in Opposition, lauded PM Modi for appointing leaders from across parties to lead delegations abroad to convey India's message of zero tolerance against terrorism. "When it comes to national duty, first comes the country, then the state, then party and then family. PM Modi has shown a big heart by appointing Opposition leaders to lead the all-party delegation," she said. The debate moves to the Upper House of Parliament on Tuesday.
