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Indian Express
3 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
3 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
NDTV
9 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Uttarakhand BJP Expels Ex-MLA From Party Over Alleged Second Marriage
Dehradun: The ruling BJP in Uttarakhand expelled former MLA Suresh Rathore from the party for six years on Saturday following a controversy over his alleged second marriage. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had issued a notice to the former MLA from the Jwalapur constituency in Haridwar, seeking an explanation from him after a video went viral on the social media, in which he was seen introducing Saharanpur-based actress Urmila Sanawar as his second wife. Suresh Rathore's alleged second marriage, without divorcing his first wife, has caused much embarrassment to the party as the Uniform Civil Code implemented by the BJP government in the state in January criminalises polygamy. "The party leadership is not satisfied with your clarification. You have continuously violated party discipline and norms of social conduct," the expulsion letter said. "You are being expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years on the directions of Pradesh BJP president," the letter signed by state BJP general secretary Rajendra Bisht said.
Time of India
11 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
HC reserves verdict on plea challenging formation of UCC panel
Ahmedabad: Justice Niral Mehta of the Gujarat high court on Thursday reserved his verdict on a petition challenging the formation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) committee after hearing arguments from both sides. The petition sought directions to the state govt to include members from different religious communities and to ensure the process was consultative in nature. The petitioner, Abdul Vahab Sopariwala, through his counsel Zamir Shaikh, argued that the five-member panel formed to examine the need for a UCC lacks representation from Christian, Muslim, Parsi, Sikh, or Jain communities. He further contended that the committee members lacked expertise in personal laws, and alleged that some were politically appointed and therefore interested parties. The state govt defended the formation of the committee, stating it was an administrative decision made under powers granted by Article 162 of the Constitution. It further argued that there is no statutory provision mandating the composition of such a committee in any particular manner, and therefore, the petitioner's demands were unfounded. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Responding to allegations that the committee's process was not consultative, the state maintained that the panel was tasked with considering representations from all sections of society. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The petitioner specifically raised concerns over the qualifications of the members, stating that retired IAS officer C L Meena is not a jurist and had no experience with the Law Commission. Another member, advocate R C Kodekar, was said to primarily practice criminal law rather than civil law. The third member, Dakshesh Thakkar, was a former university vice-chancellor who, the petitioner claimed, was closely aligned with the ruling party. Similar concerns were raised about the fifth member, Gita Shroff, who was also alleged to have close ties to the party in power.
