Shiv Sena (UBT) mounts pressure on Fadnavis govt to sack controversial ministers
The demand features prominently in Tuesday's editorial of the party mouthpiece 'Saamana', which claims Union Home Minister Amit Shah has directed decisive action over these ethical breaches.
The editorial mentions multiple allegations against cabinet members: one minister reportedly played rummy during legislative proceedings, another allegedly flaunted cash-filled bags while smoking publicly, and a third is accused of involvement in a girlfriend's murder. It further references the Nashik honey-trap scandal implicating 'fourth and fifth ministers,' asserting that such conduct violates the government's professed Hindutva principles.
Specifically named ministers facing calls for expulsion include Sanjay Shirsat, Yogesh Kadam, Manik Kokate, Dada Bhuse, and Sanjay Rathod—alongside unnamed figures linked to the Nashik case. The Thackeray faction contends that these names dominate political discourse, with Shah having "issued clear instructions" for their removal.
The editorial mocks the cabinet's spiritual pretensions, noting some ministers performed 'Aghori puja' at Assam's Kamakhya temple before taking office but "misjudged their timing" given current controversies. It alleges BJP ministers' involvement in honey-trap operations despite Fadnavis' recent Assembly denial of such schemes, claiming police seek hidden pen drives containing "government ministers' secrets" related to the case.
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The Hindu
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Malegaon blast acquittals destroyed Congress ‘conspiracy' to manufacture false narrative of Hindu terror: BJP
The acquittal of all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case 'destroyed the Congress's conspiracy to manufacture a false narrative of 'Hindu terrorism' in order to stop the rise of the BJP and its leaders Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, and to appease Muslims,' the BJP claimed on Thursday (July 31, 2025). Welcoming the court ruling, the party demanded an apology from former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. It sought compensation for those acquitted and demanded that action be taken against those involved in torturing and falsely implicating them. Among the accused were former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. Also Read | It was Congress' conspiracy to malign Hindu community: Indore man discharged in Malegaon blast case 'Accused were framed, tortured' 'It was a well calculated conspiracy of the Congress party for sheer vote bank politics. We welcome the court's decision, which has once again proved that you cannot falsify the truth by your diabolical design for too long; truth has the uncanny habit of reappearing with alarming regularity,' former Union Minister and senior BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference. 'Colonel Purohit, a highly decorated army officer who fought against terrorism in Kashmir, was framed... Pragya Thakur, a very good leader, was accused of bringing a bomb on her motorcycle. She was tortured for 10 to 11 days to the extent that it became difficult for her to walk later,' he said. 'Saffron terror' Mr. Prasad said that under the Congress-led UPA regime, the then-Home Minister P. Chidambaram had spoken about 'saffron terror' at a Director-Generals of Police conference in 2012. 'Another Home Minister, Sushilkumar Shinde had also talked about 'saffron terror'. Rahul Gandhi, during a conversation with the American Ambassador, had said that 'Hindu terror is more deadly than Lashkar-e-Taiba'... It is still there in the Wikileaks files,' he said. The BJP leader recalled that he had held a press conference at that time to counter Mr. Chidambaram's remarks, and had pointed out that there was saffron in India's tricolour, and that the Indian saints also wore saffron. 'This is the colour of India's cultural and spiritual tradition, isn't it?' he said. 'Appeasement politics' Mr. Prasad cited several other instances to allege that the Congress indulged in appeasement politics. He said that a Commission appointed by the then-Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had ruled out any conspiracy behind the fire that killed Hindu pilgrims on the Sabarmati Express at Godhra in Gujarat in 2002. In the Ishrat Jahan case, Union Home Minister Amit Shah — who was then a Minister in the Gujarat government led by Mr. Modi as the Chief Minister — was framed on the basis of two 'sold-out' witnesses and had to remain in jail for several months without any evidence, he added. The BJP leader also listed the bomb blasts on the Samjhauta Express, at the Mecca Masjid, and at the Ajmer Dargah, as well as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks cases, in support of his allegation that the Congress could go to any extent for the sake of a 'Muslim vote bank'. The attempts to build a 'false narrative of Hindu terrorism' were aimed at halting the rise of BJP, Mr. Modi, and Mr. Shah, he said.
News18
an hour ago
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‘From 33% To 50%': At SheShakti, CM Fadnavis Says Women's Representation Will Rise Beyond Quotas
From 'sarpanch-patis' to self-driven leaders, Fadnavis traced how women reshaped Maharashtra's local politics and why he believes Parliament is next. At the News18 SheShakti West summit in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said India's women-led transformation in politics is entering a new phase and that the next decade will see them surpass the 33% reservation mandated by the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. He said that the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, passed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term, is a landmark reform. 'The maturity of our democracy and of our women has brought us here. Sometimes the law forces us to act, but once people see the change, they understand it was the right thing to do." 'In 2029, when it becomes compulsory to give tickets to women, I don't think we will stop at 33%. Within ten years, it will be 50%," Fadnavis said, in conversation with Palki Sharma, Managing Editor at Network18. The BJP stalwart, who first won a municipal election in 1992, recalled how the initial wave of reservations for women in local bodies often led to male relatives operating behind the scenes. 'At that time, women had 33% of the seats. But many were stand-ins. The terms 'sarpanch-pati' and 'corporator-pati' came into existence because men felt it was their role," he said. But a shift began around 1997, he added. 'Women started performing in those roles. By 2002, that completely changed." Today, Fadnavis said, Maharashtra's civic bodies reflect the shift. 'We have 50% reservation, but in many corporations and panchayats, women's representation is at 52–55%, even in unreserved seats." Despite this progress at the grassroots, he acknowledged that women remain underrepresented in Parliament. 'When we meet to decide tickets, our party makes it a point to prioritise women candidates. But the problem is, we still don't have enough contenders." Fadnavis also spoke about workplace reforms in Maharashtra. 'In 2015, we amended night shift rules. Women can now work night shifts, but pickup, drop and safety is the employer's responsibility," he said. Corporate India, he noted, is moving ahead of regulations. 'I meet business owners who tell me 30–40% of their workforce are women. They've done it without being told to. They say women are sincere, don't fight, and there are no strikes," he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience. 'Industries are realising that women increase workforce efficiency," he said. 'We will bring regulation if needed, but so far, we haven't had to." view comments First Published: July 31, 2025, 21:16 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
an hour ago
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Malegaon blast verdict: M.P. BJP leaders seek apology from Congress, Digvijaya Singh
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday (July 31, 2025) demanded apologies from the Congress for 'crafting narratives like Hindu terrorism' after a court acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. A special NIA court in Mumbai, in its judgment, said that the prosecution 'failed to prove the case' and that the accused 'deserved the benefit of doubt' while acquitting Ms. Thakur, Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit and five others. Six people had lost their lives in the blast on September 29, 2008, in Malegaon city of Maharashtra's Nashik district. Former M.P. Chief Minister Uma Bharti welcomed the verdict and said that the case was used to 'draft a theory of saffron terrorism' while accusing Congress leader and former CM Digvijaya Singh of being its 'originator'. 'The definition of saffron terrorism was coined during this case. Its originator was Digvijaya Singh ji and he was doing this work at the behest of [Congress leader] Rahul Gandhi. To defame Hindutva all over the world, the term saffron terrorism was coined in comparison to Islamic terrorism. And to prove the term, innocent people were made victims,' Ms. Bharti said, while claiming that Ms. Thakur and Lt. Col. Purohit faced severe torture in prison. While specifying that terrorism has no colour, Ms. Bharti claimed that the term 'saffron terrorism' was coined by those who were trying to appease the minorities. She asked what action will be taken against those who 'conspired against the Hindu community'. M.P. CM Mohan Yadav also took to X to hail the verdict and said that it is a 'blow to the Congress' narrow-minded mentality'. 'This verdict is a strong response to those who insult Sanatan Dharma, sadhus-saints, and the saffron flag. The Congress should publicly apologise to all Sanatani people,' he wrote. Meanwhile, Shyam Bhavarlal Sahu, an Indore-based businessman who was discharged from the case in December 2017, said that all the accused had been 'framed in a fabricated case'. 'I was framed under 25-30 charges in the case but we have received justice now. The Congress' conspiracy has been exposed. The party should apologise for its conspiracy, though I don't think it will,' Mr. Sahu said, speaking to news agency PTI. 'While I was in jail after my arrest, my elder brother Mohan Sahu used to come and support me during court appearances. During an appearance, he suffered a heart attack in front of my eyes and died about half-an-hour later. I could not do anything to save him,' said Mr. Sahu, who was arrested in October 2008.
