Tag: BJP

JAMMU (TIP): After two-month suspense, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has said that she is not ‘stubborn’ and hinted that the party would be going ahead with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the government in Jammu and Kashmir if the latter ensures that aspirations of people were met.

Speaking during a party function on March 4, Mehbooba claimed that she was not afraid of criticism on the issue but wanted a signal from the BJP-led NDA Government at the Centre that it will do everything for the welfare of people of the state. “I am not a stubborn person, if I feel that the Centre is working for the welfare of the state then surely the government will be formed,” she said. “However, if it is only for the sake of government formation, or to delay polls, or to provide some work to MLAs, let me make it clear that I am not ready,” she added.

Mehbooba, whose party has 27 MLAs in the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, said if the promises are not fulfilled the formation of the government meant to keep away from the elections for five years.

Source: ANI

Purno Agitok Sangma, that legendary politician from Meghalaya, nay the northeast, who once controlled the proceedings of the Lok Sabha as its Speaker, is no more . It is difficult to associate this vibrant personality, gifted with wit and humour, with death and its stillness.

His name is familiar to every Indian, yet he came from an obscure village called Chapahati in West Garo Hills. Sangma with his never-say-die spirit struggled his way up the political ladder, going on to become the presidential candidate in 2012 although he knew that he was up against a formidable foe–the Congress party.

Sangma’s baptism in politics was through the Indian National Congress. He was anointed vice president of the Youth Congress in Meghalaya in 1973, two years after the state took birth. His political skills were honed by Meghalaya’s first chief minister Capt Williamson Sangma, a veteran in his own right.

He fought the 6th Lok Sabha election in 1977 from Tura constituency, which was virtually his pocket borough. He never lost a single election hence, whether for the Lok Sabha or the state assembly. Sangma was MP for nine terms with brief stints in state politics during 1988-90 and 2008-12. As we all know, he held the reins of several key ministries.

Ironically, Sangma entered state politics with the idealism of one who wanted to change the political history of Meghalaya.

Little did he know that state politics does not lend itself to dynamic changes such as the one he nurtured then, which was to purge Meghalaya of corruption and to do away with the politician-contractor-engineer nexus. Land acquisition had become a huge business for the land mafia. Land compensation far exceeded the actual cost of the road.

Sangma exhorted villagers that if they wanted roads, they should donate land to the government. This made him very unpopular. Sangma’s own party colleagues abandoned him and his government.

So disillusioned was he with state politics that he resigned his MLA seat and went back to central politics in 1991, only to return in 2008 to contest as an NCP candidate.

Sangma won that election and ensured the win of 14 NCP candidates. But he still could not become chief minister. He headed the Planning Board and helped prepare a plan document for Meghalaya after consulting experts from various fields, including famed economist NJ Kurian.

As is the political history of Meghalaya, the government of which Sangma was a part was toppled in 2010 by the Congress. A frustrated Sangma again returned to central politics. The current chief minister, Mukul Sangma, remained PA Sangma’s chief political rival.

His sons who too were in state politics have carried forward this animosity, thereby depriving Meghalaya of the best brains to add to its political capital.

Every icon has feet of clay, we are told. Sangma’s attempts to create a political dynasty did not go down well with the people of Garo Hills. His sons Conrad Sangma, who graduated from the Wharton School of Business, and James Sangma, who passed out of a media school in the UK, and his daughter Agatha, who did her masters in environmental science, were all pushed into politics; in the case of Agatha, it could be said, much against her natural inclination.

Conrad was finance minister between 2008 and 2010 and proved his mettle but lost the 2013 elections. His brother James continues as an MLA in the opposition.

Sangma often recalled his own naivety in agreeing to move the anti-Sonia Gandhi campaign in 2004. When the plot was hatched, there were several senior Congressmen who pushed him to lead the charge. Sangma trusted them and even believed Sonia Gandhi would step down voluntarily because of the internal pressure.

As it turned out, the Congress split and the NCP was born. Some senior members of the Congress virtually let him down. But that is politics. The “tribal” instinct in Sangma could not read the signs of the times.

Sangma’s proclivity to change parties also took a toll. People were no longer ready to jump fences with this veteran politician. The Congress benefited from this and Sangma had no other option but to align with the BJP. He continued to nurse a fond hope that the BJP would award him with a ministry, considering his vast experiences. But that remained only a dream.

Source: HT

NEW DELHI (TIP): In one of the fieriest debates in the recent times, the issue of Rohit Vemula, Dalit scholar who committed suicide, and JNU episode rocked both the houses of the parliament as Opposition and the treasury benches traded charges.

Also Read – Watch: The Queen’s Speech – Smriti Irani’s Explosive Speech In Lok Sabha On Rohith Vemula And JNU Row

While, emotionally charged HRD minister Smriti Irani attacked opposition, particularly Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, of politicising the death of a student and siding with those opposed to India, the united opposition pilloried the government for playing partisan politics. Congress, TMC, BJP, Left while denouncing anti-national slogans in JNU, they charged government was gunning against students opposed to their ideology.

Full Coverage of the JNU ROW : Read ON

Aggressive Irani took on the united Opposition in Lok Sabha head on while speaking during the discussion, saying she would leave politics if anyone of the vice chancellors appointed were to suggest she was indulging in saffronisation.

“I am not certifying your patriotism. But don’t demean mine. I am not certifying your idea of India, but do not demean mine,” she said even as opposition parties staged a walkout.

Rubbishing opposition charges over for her handling of Vemula’s death. Irani said, “My name is Smriti Irani. I challenge you to tell me my caste.”

“No one can raise a finger against me on this issue. I am taking it personally as woman who gives birth can break from inside,” Irani said choking with emotion while referring to her criticism over Vemula’s death while adding “Our children are not vote-banks.”   She said Rohith Vemula said that no one was responsible for his death and even added that the executive council that took the decision to suspend Rohith was appointed by Congress.

In Rajya Sabha, BSP supremo Mayawati clashed with Irani as her party members forced adjournments over non-inclusion of a dalit in the inquiry panel to probe Vemula’s death, and even insisting on separate discussion into Vemula’s death rather than clubbing it with the JNU issue. She also accused government being anti-dalit, even as no business could be conducted for the first day. responded to Mayawati by saying, “I am ready to reply to all questions. First you allow the discussion… You are senior to me. You are a woman. If you want, I am ready to reply. If you are not satisfied with my reply, I am ready to behead myself and lay it on your feet.”

In Lok Sabha, Irani turned emotional several times as she read out from the posters and slogans used in the JNU against India, questioning the death penalty of Afzal Guru and even some uncharitable remarks against Goddess Durga. She questioned why was Rahul Gandhi siding with the anti-nationals and if attack on her was because she was Congress VP’s rivel in Amethi.

“Even Indira Gandhi lost power. But her son never supported slogans demanding destruction of India,” Irani said targeting Rahul for supporting JNU students.

Reffering to some in JNU also praising Yaqub Menon, she said bomb blasts took place in Mumbai on March, which is my mother’s birthday, how can i forget. They questioned Supreme Court and India, she added. Irani named all the student mentioned in the JNU report and said”Umar Khaild misled the university administration saying that he was organising a poetry reading event”.

Referring to Rohit Vemula case, she said even other MPs had written to him several times, like Congress Hanumantha Rao, Assadudin Owasi, as it was her duty. “My ministry handled 61,000 complaints we never asked the caste or religious of them,” she charged. She accused Telangana government of playing politics over the death of a child. “

Have you seen Rahul Gandhi going to a spot twice. He went there, as he was playing politics. Earlier gandhio speaking to reporters outside the parliament had said he was willing to speak but he was not being allowed to voice his opnion. Rajnath Singh responded with saying government will not stop anyone.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the Lok Sabha that no innocent student will be harassed and said the issue of sedition charge slapped against some students should be left for the courts to decide.

Earlier during the day, Congress MP Jyotiradtiya led the attack on government for death of Vemula and crushing dissent in JNU. “Bandaru Dattaterya in his letter had called Rohith a castiest and an anti-national. Where in the world can you see a HRD minister writing five letters in any case,” he said.

While attacking BJP and RSS, Scindia also raised the issue of FTII, IIT Madras and JNU and said, “the government was trying to muzzle the voice of the youth.”

He alleged that the government was angry with JNU because it stood against “saffron terrorism”, Dadri lynching, RSS and the suicide of Rohith Vemula in the Hyderabad University.

From BJP side, Anurag Thakur raised the nationalist pitch over the JNU issue and attacked Congress, saying for the party, “it is ‘family first’, ‘party next’ and ‘nation last’. For us, it is ‘nation first’, ‘party next’ and ‘family last’.”

He alleged that Rahul Gandhi went to the university to support such outfits which were named by the previous UPA government as “frontal organisations” for Maoists. “I want to ask Sonia ji, why your young leader was standing with those who stand with Afzal Guru,” Thakur said addressing the Congress President who was present there.

TMC MP and former Harvard professor Sugata Bose accused the government of being “heartless” in dealing with the students and said the situation in the JNU should have been handled with sensitivity. He said BJP’s definition of nationalism was
“narrow, selfish and arrogant” and even warned them for raising this pitch while qoting Tagore, Netaji and Aurobindo. He was heard with rapt attention. After his speech even Sonia and Rahul went to congratulate him.

BJD member Tathagata Satpathy described Azfal Guru as a “scoundrel” and said the system gave the dreaded man full chance to defend himself. But he added, the government should have handled the JNU episode with care and the Home Ministry should not have made a statement on the basis of tweets.

CPM MP M B Rajesh said the BJP was branding JNU as a centre of anti-national activities.

Congress leader M Mallikarjun Kharge said nobody should politicise the issues of Hyderabad central University and JNU. “You have 80,000 constables and you are not able to catch 8-10 students and instead you are defaming all the people,” Kharge said and asked whether it was Congress’ fault.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday, Feb 22, accused BJP of unleashing its “divisive agenda by generating a wholly unwarranted debate on patriotism and nationalism” and said it was the government’s responsibility to ensure that parliament functions.

Gandhi’s strong attack on the government came at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) here ahead of the budget session of parliament that begins on Tuesday, Feb 23.

“To cover up its many failures, the ruling establishment has once again unleashed its divisive agenda by generating a wholly unwarranted debate on patriotism and nationalism. Simply put, democratic and liberal value are under severe assault. The freedom to think and speak are being drastically curtailed,” Gandhi said.

Meanwhile PM Modi said “some people” were not able to digest the fact that a “chai wala” (tea seller) has become the Prime Minister and hence were conspiring all the time to bring him down.

“You would have seen in the recent past, there is attack on me all the time. Some people are continuously at it. They are not able to digest how Modi became the Prime Minister, how a ‘chai wala’ became the Prime Minister, they cannot swallow it,” a combative Modi said addressing a farmers’ rally in Odisha.

Without naming anybody or any specific instance, he said he had taken some steps because of which “these people are facing problems”.

Is Another Stormy Parliament Session in Store for bjp?

Opposition parties led by the Congress have promised to cooperate with the government in passing Bills if issues that they want to raise are first discussed thoroughly in the Budget session of Parliament that begins Feb 23.

The session is set to be stormy from right after the President’s Address to both Houses on Tuesday morning, with the opposition saying it favours a “disruption-free session,” but also making it clear it that it will not pause for breath as it attacks the government on issues like the JNU controversy, the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula in Hyderabad last month, protests for reservation in Haryana and the Pathankot terror attack.

“Contrary to what the government has been saying, let me once and for all make it absolutely clear — we want parliament to function, to legislate.

“The problem is not with us, it is with the government which refuses to accept that the democratic right of the Opposition is to raise burning public issues.

“It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that parliament functions,” Sonia Gandhi said.

Making a veiled reference to the controversies surrounding Jawaharlal Nehru University, the suicide of a Dalit youth in Hyderabad university and the violence in a Delhi court ahead of proceedings concerning JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, Gandhi said the CWC meeting took place in a “disturbing background” to take stock of what was happening on various fronts.

She said universities were places where young people must have the fullest freedom to express themselves.

The opposition says debate on these issues must precede bringing legislation over which there are differences – like the Goods and Services Tax bill which is crucial to the government’s reforms plans. Those Bills it suggested at a meeting of all parties today, can be  deferred to the second half of the budget session, which will see a recess this year of over a month.

The government asserted that it is as eager to discuss issues like the controversy over an event at the prestigious JNU or the Jawaharlal Nehru University earlier this month where anti-India slogans were raised and urged Parliament to thoroughly discuss their causes and consequences and show the way forward.

“The government is committed to uphold the Constitution in letter and spirit and firmly believes in peace, unity and integration of the nation as the key operational principles for delivering on the development promised to the people,” said Mr Naidu, in a clear indication that the government will counter the opposition’s attack over JNU students being charged with sedition with the nationalism argument that ruling party BJP has used.

The Congress, the Left and others have pushed for a debate on JNU on Wednesday, the second day of the session. The government said it is willing to consider that. If that happens, a motion of thanks to the President’s address may take place only around March 1, after the rail budget, economic survey and the union Budget, which is scheduled for Monday, February 29.

Regional parties like the Akali Dal, Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Janata Dal (United) have urged the Congress to let the houses function, allowing them as to raise issues critical to them. The last several parliament sessions have been washed out by opposition protests.