Latest news with #Rathore
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
After video with ‘second wife', Uttarakhand's ex-BJP MLA suspended by party for ‘indecent conduct'
Former BJP MLA from Jwalapur, Suresh Rathore, has been expelled from the party for six years for alleged 'indecent conduct'. According to the state media in charge of the BJP, Manveer Singh Chauhan, the party had taken cognizance of a viral video on social media showing Rathore with his second wife, without having divorced his first wife. Calling it 'indecent conduct', he said the party had issued him a show-cause notice, seeking an explanation for his conduct. The video of the former MLA went viral on social media, wherein he is with the Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar, introducing her as his second wife. This had led to objections from the Congress after they called it a violation of the Uniform Civil Code. The code prohibits polygamy. Chauhan said that the response submitted by Rathore was not satisfactory to the organisation. 'He was found guilty of repeatedly violating the party's code of conduct and social decorum. Acting on the directions of state president Mahendra Bhatt, he has been expelled from the party for six years,' Chauhan said. After his video had stirred controversy, Rathore backtracked from his statement and said that it was part of a film. The Congress spokesperson, Garima Dasauni, said that this was an example of the BJP's immoral politics and double standards. 'If it was truly an act, then should we now believe that every public behaviour of BJP leaders is scripted like a film? And if it was real, then was the party's show-cause notice nothing but a farce?' Dasauni had said earlier this week. She added that the BJP initially remained silent, and only when public outrage grew over the former ruling party MLA's violation of the Uniform Civil Code did the party issue a notice. 'This once again exposes the BJP's opportunistic politics and its pretense of seriousness towards women's dignity,' she added. Aiswarya Raj is a correspondent with The Indian Express who covers South Haryana. An alumna of Asian College of Journalism and the University of Kerala, she started her career at The Indian Express as a sub-editor in the Delhi city team. In her current position, she reports from Gurgaon and covers the neighbouring districts. She likes to tell stories of people and hopes to find moorings in narrative journalism. ... Read More
India Today
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
BJP expels Uttarakhand ex-MLA over second marriage, Congress seeks action under UCC
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) expelled its former MLA from Jwalapur, Haridwar, Suresh Rathore, for six years over allegations of entering into a second marriage. The Congress criticised Rathore's second marriage and demanded action against him under recently implemented Unionform Civil Code law in the state by the Uttarakhand BJP's action came after Rathore recently made his marital relationship with Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar response to the controversy, the BJP issued a show-cause notice to Rathore, citing indiscipline and damage to the party's reputation. He had been asked to submit a clarification within seven days. However, after failing to provide a satisfactory response within the stipulated time, the party took strict action and expelled him for six years. The state general secretary of the party said Rathore's conduct was 'against the discipline and decorum of the party' and that it had harmed the BJP's public Congress has strongly criticised the BJP, accusing it of double standards on the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). 'The BJP is not implementing the law on its own leaders and is only using the UCC as a weapon against the opposition,' the Congress said. 'If the law is equal for all, then why is no legal action being taken against Rathore?' the party Rathore, a veteran leader in the Uttarakhand BJP, was elected MLA from the Jwalapur assembly constituency in 2017 and held considerable influence at both district and mandal levels. However, his political career has not been free from 2021, a female BJP worker accused him of rape and blackmail, which led to a formal investigation. Again in 2024, he faced legal proceedings on charges of dowry harassment and violations under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Uttarakhand
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
U'khand BJP expels ex-MLA accused of ‘double marriage' from party for 6 yrs
Haridwar: Former BJP MLA from Jwalapur in Haridwar, Suresh Rathore, was on Saturday expelled by his party for six years. The move followed controversy over the ex-legislator's "second marriage" to Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar, even though he was still legally wedded to his first wife. The issue gained traction after opposition Congress accused the govt of turning a blind eye to its own partymen who were violating the recently-rolled out Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which criminalises polygamy. Notably, some days ago, Rathore, 60, had purportedly publicly introduced Sanawar as his "second wife". But after receiving a disciplinary notice from BJP's Uttarakhand unit, Rathore seemed to make a U-turn. Earlier this week, he claimed that the widely-shared images of what appeared to be his wedding with Sanawar were actually scenes from a film project 'Bhabhi Ji Vidhayak Hai', "which he was producing". BJP state general secretary Rajendra Bisht told TOI: "We were not satisfied with his explanation, and therefore the party decided to expel him for six years with immediate effect." Rathore, meanwhile, said, "I gave 45 years to the party, and the state unit did not listen to my side and took a biased action. I'll appeal before the central leadership against my expulsion." A veteran Dalit leader in the party, Rathore had fought three assembly polls in the past. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Forget Furosemide, Use This Household Item To Help Drain Edema Fluid WellnessGuide Learn more Undo In 2017, he won from Jwalapur (reserved) seat. A few years ago, he proclaimed himself as "Guru Ravidas Acharaya", and sought to become mahamandleshwar of Niranjani akhara during the Kumbh Mela 2021. In 2021, ahead of the 2022 assembly polls, a woman party worker levelled rape charges against him, but at that time, he filed a case against that worker for blackmailing, and police arrested her. Taking a dig at the latest controversy involving the ex-MLA, Congress spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni said, "Uttarakhand is the first in the country to implement UCC and BJP's ex-MLA is the first person who violated the UCC norms. This shows that the UCC's clauses are completely impractical, and BJP govt should analyse it seriously."
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No ‘conspiracy' to remove CM: Madan Rathore
Udaipur: BJP state president Madan Rathore told the media in Udaipur Thursday that there was no "conspiracy" within the BJP to remove Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, as alleged by former CM Ashok Gehlot in Jodhpur a day ago. Rathore said there was strong coordination between the Bhajan Lal govt and the BJP state organisation, just like the effective double-engine coordination between BJP's central and state govts. Rathore described Gehlot as a three-time chief minister who was democratically elected but was now supporting the "murderers of democracy" who imposed the Emergency in 1975. Rathore also targeted Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra, recalling conflicts within the Cong during Dotasra's tenure as education minister. He contrasted these past disputes with the current harmony within the BJP, and accused Dotasra of disregarding past issues and attacking others without self-reflection. tnn Udaipur: BJP state president Madan Rathore told the media in Udaipur Thursday that there was no "conspiracy" within the BJP to remove Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, as alleged by former CM Ashok Gehlot in Jodhpur a day ago. Rathore said there was strong coordination between the Bhajan Lal govt and the BJP state organisation, just like the effective double-engine coordination between BJP's central and state govts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Rathore described Gehlot as a three-time chief minister who was democratically elected but was now supporting the "murderers of democracy" who imposed the Emergency in 1975. Rathore also targeted Congress state president Govind Singh Dotasra, recalling conflicts within the Cong during Dotasra's tenure as education minister. He contrasted these past disputes with the current harmony within the BJP, and accused Dotasra of disregarding past issues and attacking others without self-reflection. tnn
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
After admitting ‘2nd wife', ex-BJP MLA now claims she's film co-star
Haridwar: Former BJP MLA from Jwalapur constituency, Haridwar, Suresh Rathore, on Wednesday refuted claims that he married Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar, a week after publicly introducing her as his second wife. He said the widely-shared images of what appeared to be his wedding were actually scenes from a film he is producing. The assertion followed a disciplinary notice from BJP's state unit, asking him to explain how this public display squared with the state's Uniform Civil Code , which criminalises polygamy (Rathore hasn't divorced his first wife). At a press event in Saharanpur just days earlier, the Rathore had declared, "Urmila's love has won," and described her as part of his family. The moment was captured on video and shared widely on social media, prompting Congress to accuse BJP of shielding its own leaders from UCC provisions while using them against others. The actress, too, updated her social media profile to "Urmila Suresh Rathore" and posted visuals of Rathore acknowledging their relation. Rathore now insists the entire episode was cinematic. "There is no certificate, no vermilion, no garland. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending Local Enterprise Accounting Software [Click Here] Accounting ERP Click Here Undo The visuals of the marriage are from 'Bhabhi Ji Vidhayak Hain', a film I am producing," he told TOI. Sanawar, however, maintained that they were married in Nepal. The dispute traces back about a year, when Rathore, presenting himself as a self-proclaimed religious leader of Dalits, introduced Urmila as his disciple. Shortly after, she claimed they had wed. Rathore filed a complaint of blackmail; she responded with allegations of assault. Rathore now says those issues have been "settled". Uttarakhand Congress spokesperson Garima Mehra Dasauni criticised BJP's inaction. "He accepted the woman, now says it was a film. Is this a joke?"
