source: Indian Express

Party feels has momentum in rural areas with air strikes, wants leaders to reach out to urban voters.

WITH the February 14 Pulwama attack and the series of incidents in its aftermath bringing national security to the centre of political discourse, the BJP is going back to the drawing board to ensure that the “diplomacy gains” made by the government are a part of the narrative for the Lok Sabha elections.

Sources in the party say BJP leaders believe national security is an issue that has the potential to paper over differences of caste, religion and class among voters, and blunt the Opposition’s attack on the government for its alleged failures on other fronts. They also believe the issue of national security can replace the development agenda that had worked well for Narendra Modi in 2014.

Party leaders say their assessment of the current political situation is that the government’s handling of the situation post-Pulwama has got the BJP some momentum among rural voters, but the party wants its talking heads to communicate to urban voters some of its achievements. Among these:

‘Pakistan threat dismissed’: With its decision to strike inside Pakistan, India has “called Pakistan’s nuclear threat bluff”, say BJP leaders. “It was this nuclear-power status that had made India hesitant in taking strong action against Pakistan even after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack because the international community always expected India to be mature and patient. But this February 26 pre-emptive strike has dismissed that threat,” said a party office-bearer.

 

‘Support from world leaders’: BJP leaders say they want to talk about how the government could get other countries, especially the US, to rally behind India, and how the international community had stood by India’s right to retaliate despite Islamabad’s attempts to project the air strikes as “an act of aggression”. These are the countries, party leaders point out, that imposed sanctions after India’s nuclear test in Pokhran during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure. The party also wants to send out the message that it could get Pakistan to “rein in terrorist activities on its soil” and how China signed off on a UNSC resolution condemning the Jaish-e-Mohammad. The party wants its spokespersons to keep talking about these diplomatic efforts, making sure that they credit External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj too.

 

 

Invitation to Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC): India was invited to the OIC meeting, considered “Pakistan’s playground” for long, for the first time since 1969.

‘Exposing Pak’: The party wants to talk about how it has “foiled Pakistan’s attempts” to project itself as a “victim of terror”, instead exposing it as an “incubator of terror”. They point to how the government took a number of symbolic measures after the Pulwama attack, including the withdrawal of the Most Favoured Nation status and the use of coercive diplomacy, to create an impression that strong action has been taken against Pakistan. This, according to a senior party leader, is in line with the party’s strategy to project Modi as “a strong, decisive and daring administrator.”

 

Bringing back Abhinandan: The BJP wants to tell its voters that it was Narendra Modi’s efforts that brought back the IAF pilot two days after he was captured by Pakistan. A party leader claimed Modi had “refused to speak to his Pakistan counterpart Imran Khan when he called” as he wanted Khan to announce Abhinandan’s release first. On Friday, speaking at a book release function, Union minister Smriti Irani said that the country can be happy that the “aggressive efforts of a swayamsevak have brought back India’s son in 48 hours”.

 

Despite criticism from the Opposition which has been accusing the BJP of “cashing in on the sacrifice of the soldiers”, there have been consistent attempts by the BJP to buttress its nationalist credentials — its leaders, right from Union ministers to booth workers, were asked to be present at the funeral of the CRPF men who were killed in Pulwama; workers were directed to organise programmes to pay tributes to the slain soldiers; and all public rallies had in the backdrop photos of these soldiers.

 

The Prime Minister and his Cabinet have also made it a point to highlight the steps taken by the government post-Pulwama.

 

A day later, BJP president Amit Shah cited the pre-emptive strike to make a strong pitch for a second term for Modi, claiming “no other leader in the world has such zero tolerance for terrorism”. Later, addressing a party programme in Ghazipur, hours after Pakistan retaliated by targeting Indian military installations, Shah also asked the voters to decide who, whether Modi or the gathbandhan, can keep the country safe, signalling that his party would paint itself as the most aggressive anti-Pakistan party among its support base in the coming days.

***

 

Pakistan as poll pitch

References to the neigbouring country have featured in the BJP’s campaign rhetoric since 2014. Some instances:

Raxaul, October 29, 2015
Bihar Assembly elections
Speaking in Raxaul, in Bihar’s East Champaran district, BJP president Amit Shah said: “If BJP loses Bihar elections even by chance, though victory or defeat will happen in Patna, firecrackers will be burst in Pakistan.” He appealed to people to ensure the BJP’s victory “so that disappointment descends on Pakistan”. A day later, he defended his remark and said he had not named any community, and was referring to “anti-national forces”.

 

Palanpur, December 10, 2017
Gujarat Assembly elections
While addressing a rally, PM Modi alleged that Pakistan was interfering in the Gujarat polls. He quoted “media reports” to say top leaders of the Congress had met leaders from Pakistan at Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar’s residence. “(The meeting) was attended by Pakistan’s high commissioner, Pakistan’s former foreign minister, India’s former vice-president and former prime minister Manmohan Singh,” Modi said, a day before Aiyar waded into a controversy terming Modi “neech”.

Modi later tweeted: “The same Mani Shankar Aiyar, who insulted Gujarat, held secret meetings with Pakistan High Commissioner… Why are people who previously held high posts in military-intelligence establishment of Pakistan writing that we should help make Ahmed Patel the CM?”

 

October 5, 2016
UP state elections
Days after the surgical strikes against Pakistan following the Uri terror attack, with BJP in campaign mode for the UP polls, then BJP state chief Keshav Prasad Maurya told The Hindu: “I have requested the honourable PM to grace us with his presence on Vijayadashami… The government is deserving of all accolades for responding strongly to threats by Pakistan.”

May 7, 2018
Kairana by-poll
Campaigning for the May 31, 2018, bypoll, BJP leader Manoj Kashyap asked voters to ensure victory for Mriganka Singh, the BJP candidate. “You will cry if she loses while there will be Diwali in Pakistan, J&K and in anti-Modi camps,’’ he was purportedly heard saying in a video while addressing workers in Kairana. He also reportedly said: “When our leader goes to the US, the American president hugs him… But when Pakistan’s PM goes there, he is frisked…”

source: Indian Express

The BJP has around two lakh Shakti Kendra workers involved in organising, coordinating and managing programmes at about 10 lakh polling booths across the country.

AROUND 12,000 callers spread across 170-odd call centres reaching out to BJPworkers on a daily basis.

Heading into the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the party has set into place call centres to keep in touch with grass-root party members. This is a change from 2014 when the BJP campaign and preparations had been centralised. The idea is to help the workers spread the word regarding government-run schemes.

The BJP has around two lakh Shakti Kendra workers involved in organising, coordinating and managing programmes at about 10 lakh polling booths across the country. Each call centre is covering a thousand such kendras, manned by 70-75 callers, a supervisor and a data-entry operator each, and equipped with laptops, printers and high-speed Internet.

The callers include a mix of professionals and workers trained by the party, fluent in the local language.

The staff at the call centres have been given a daily target of around six lakh ‘completed calls’, say sources, with the performance to be monitored at the central level. For example, there have been days when the callers have made over 10 lakh calls daily to party and booth workers, but got through to a little over three lakh.

“Unlike leaders, our booth and Shakti Kendra-level workers are attached to the party emotionally. Apart from communicating party-related messages such as campaign material and tour programmes of leaders, these calls help them feel connected and motivated,” a party leader said.

Sources said after evaluating their performance, the BJP may retain the centres even after the elections.

A team of 20 party leaders headed by general secretary Bhupender Yadav is monitoring the call centres, sources said, and has been visiting the Shakti Kendras by rotation — around 80 a week.

In turn, the call centres would convey back to the central leadership feedback regarding possible candidates, speeches of national leaders, and campaigning methods.

One of the coming events for which the call centres have been set in motion is the BJP’s ‘Kamal Jyoti programme’ starting February 26. As part of it, the party is encouraging lighting of lamps in houses and localities that have benefited from government schemes. The BJP estimates the number at 22 crore.

The call centres are already coordinating ‘Mera Parivar Bhajapa Parivar’ programme, where the party is putting up flags and Modi photos at homes of workers and supporters.

The call centres have also been coordinating the speeches being made by Modi to booth-level workers across the country via the NaMo app. On February 28, at an interactive programme called ‘Mera Booth, Sabse Mazboot’, Modi is expected to respond to queries sent to him from across the country.

BJP sources say the party next plans to call up prospective supporters. “In many states, especially where the party is yet to come up as a strong political force, we will call up people who have got in touch with us at any time,” said a leader.

In 2014, the BJP had polled 17.17 crore votes, after a massive campaign that had seen at least 9.5 crore registered with it as members after verification. “We have developed such a strong data base that no other party can match it,” the leader added.

source: Indian Express

“Farmers will get money in their accounts. We will tell farmers it’s just the beginning and there will be a series of programmes. The state government cannot match it because their assistance should be above Rs 6,000,” says Shobha Karandlaje, BJP general secretary, MP from Uduppi Chikmagalur, Karnataka.

Is the BJP trying to come to power in Karnataka by mustering numbers to topple the JD(S)-Congress government?

Currently, there are no such efforts. We have been asked to concentrate on the Lok Sabha elections. Our leader B S Yeddyurappa will soon announce our campaign plans.

The Congress and JD(S) have been circulating audio clips to show the BJP is trying to create problems for their coalition government.

The Congress and JD(S) have been circulating audio clips to show the BJP is trying to create problems for their coalition government.

But what about the rumours that B S Yeddyurappa thinks it is his last chance to become CM and so has been trying to lure MLAs from the JD(S) and Congress?

It’s a lie. Yeddyurappa was CM and can become CM again. Who says it is his last chance? Right now he is the leader of opposition which is equivalent to CM.

What would the BJP campaign highlight in Karnataka?

The fact that the JD(S)-Congress government does not have anything to show as far as development or initiatives go. Both the parties have serious internal issues and have been busy resolving these the last six months. They have forgotten the people. They gave elaborate speeches on farm loan waivers, claimed 49 per cent of the loans had been waived off, but the reality is not even 10 per cent benefited.

In 2014, we had promised a corruption-free government at the Centre, raising India’s glory and honour in the world, welfare of the armed forces and development. We have succeeded a great deal. Everyone knows that five years is not enough to achieve all this.

Will the PM-KISAN scheme will help?

Definitely. Farmers will get money in their accounts. We will tell farmers it’s just the beginning and there will be a series of programmes. The state government cannot match it because their assistance should be above Rs 6,000 (the annual allotment to marginal farmers under the KISAN scheme).

Caste is likely to play a key role in the elections in Karnataka. How does the BJP plan to attract other groups besides the Lingayats, known to be its strong base?

It’s so in state elections, but in the Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka will vote to elect the Prime Minister. The BJP has always won votes from across communities in parliamentary elections. The party had won 17 seats which included constituencies where the Vokkaligas have a strong presence in 2014. We won three seats in Bengaluru.

Will issues like the terror attack in Pulwama have an impact?

We have to do something about it. We have to teach Pakistan a lesson. Whatever has to be done at the border will be done by our forces. What our government will do is get the international community’s support for our decisions. We have full faith in our Prime Minister, who holds influence in the global community.

The BJP Karnataka unit is battling inner-party differences. How will you resolve these ahead of polls?

The party is united. We are fighting elections led by Yeddyurappa in the state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi  at the Centre. Yeddyurappa will soon take out a yatra  to cover all constituencies.

Karnataka is the only state in the south where the BJP has high hopes of winning seats. Is it putting pressure on you?

Not at all. In the past, the BJP has won 19 seats in the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Even in 2014, in the three constituencies we lost, we lost with a small margin. The atmosphere now is such that the party can win 20 seats.

source: The Indian Express

We supported the Union government on issues that were pro-India. We opposed wrong policies like the Land Acquisition Bill, violence by cow vigilante groups, the JNU issue and many more, says Tathagata Satpathy.

How would you describe the BJD’s performance in the 16th Lok Sabha?

Being a regional party, the BJD performed sincerely and in a restrained manner. Our MPs never obstructed the functioning of Parliament. They have not only raised issues exclusive to the state but also participated in discussions that had national impact. Under the leadership of Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik, who has a national outlook, we have tried to perform as a responsible party.

Was the BJD an opposition party or an ally of the ruling BJP?

We supported the Union government on issues that were pro-India. We opposed wrong policies like the Land Acquisition Bill, violence by cow vigilante groups, the JNU issue and many more.

In the last few months, many regional party leaders including some CMs have been trying to stitch a coalition of opposition parties. But Patnaik has not stepped out of Odisha. What does it mean in the context of the upcoming election?

I have not spoken to Patnaik regarding this matter. But if every CM took the responsibility for the well-being of their citizens, there will be effective governance. This is not to say that Patnaik has resolved every problem. He has focussed on providing clean and effective governance and has been successful to a great extent. That is why the people of the state have repeatedly elected him. Patnaik is not a run-of-the-mill politician. He has carved out a niche for himself. As far as the upcoming elections are concerned, Patnaik is focussing only on the state. The BJD will continue to work for the development of Odisha.

Is the Lok Sabha election not your priority?

Politically, Patnaik moves with equal vigour for both (Assembly and general elections). His campaign style is unique — he spends a day at a parliamentary constituency and during that time he covers all the assembly areas in it. He travels by helicopter and the Lok Sabha candidate accompanies him. The candidate for the particular Assembly seat joins him at the venue.

What will the BJD focus on in its election campaign

The pro-poor and pro-farmer policies and their implementation. We will also show to the people that whenever the Congress and the BJP were in power at the Centre, Odisha was neglected even though it contributed substantially to the exchequer. We are not considered politically powerful because we have lesser number of seats in the Lok Sabha.

Who is the BJD’s primary opponent?

The BJP is facing a downward slide at the national level. I can see a perceptible change in the popularity of the party in Odisha also. The BJP is on a decline and the Congress is not gaining. So the fight will be against the BJP and Congress.

If no party manages to get a majority in the Lok Sabha polls, what will be the BJD’s stance?

As far as I know, Patnaik will always try to maintain an equidistance. But I would also underline that he will ensure a stable government at the Centre. He will not maintain equidistance at the cost of the Union of India. Whichever government comes to power, if it serves the people of this country and takes care of the interests of Odisha, the BJD will support.

Do you think the KALIA (Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation) scheme can resolve the agrarian crisis in the state?

The Kalia scheme is a meticulously planned programme. It covers farm labourers, sharecroppers and landowning farmers. In fact, farm labourer will get more money than land-owning farmers. But I am aware that the scheme alone cannot resolve the crisis. It’s true that we have been in power for nearly two decades. The allegation that we have not created enough cold storage is not acceptable. These time-consuming and capital-intensive projects cannot be built by the states alone.

source: The Indian Express

Party sources said the leadership was upset with Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik’s statement that there was intelligence failure from the Indian side.

Conscious of the public anger over the Pulwama attack, the ruling BJP is treading cautiously and has asked its leaders to share the emotions and sorrow of the families of security personnel killed in the attack.

It began with Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman briefing the party’s spokespersons at the BJP headquarters immediately after the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Friday. According to party sources, Jaitley told them that no one should make “war-mongering” or “political” statements over the terror attack. “The spokespersons have been strictly told they should handle it sensitively,” said a source.

With the Congress also choosing to react in a measured way, the BJP spokespersons were asked not to make any statements about the attack and almost all party programmes were cancelled on Friday. “No politicising the issue,” said a party leader.

Union ministers have been asked to be present at funeral ceremonies of all the victims in their respective states and state unit leaders and morcha office-bearers have been asked to “join the families to share their grief”. “The party’s presence in sharing their pain should be visible. People should feel that the BJP is with them,” said a party leader. BJP chief Amit Shah, who was at the party headquarters on Friday after his programme in Patna was cancelled, is also learnt to have spoken to chief ministers and state unit heads about it.

“We have been asked to convey to the state units that no one from the state should make any statement calling for war with Pakistan. But party workers have been asked to join if there is an exhibition of sentiments by the people,” said a leader.

With the BJP banking on national security, the party would have to take all steps to see that the gravity of the Pulwama attack and the anguish among the people against it should not affect their approach to the party. Public anger should be directed at Pakistan only and it cannot be allowed to turn against the party-led government. In his first address after the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked every political leader to stand united.

It is learnt that leaders of BJP as well as Sangh Parivar have been urged to handle the situation keeping in mind that national security is a major plank of the party. Party sources said the leadership was upset with Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik’s statement that there was intelligence failure from the Indian side. “It was a rubbish statement. Intelligence has to be lucky every time while terrorists have to be lucky once. Such a statement should have been avoided,” a senior party leader said.

BJP leaders admitted that there is no “clarity” on how the country should respond to the attack. “There is not much scope for another surgical strike. We have had it, and we have made them heroes,” said a leader. Another added, “What will we attack in another surgical strike? There are no concrete structures across the border (or LoC) to destroy. So, the first step would be to get all the nations, including China, with us.”

Earlier in the day, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav told The Indian Express, “The priority will be this — how will you make Pakistan accountable for it. For that, whatever steps needed, tactically, strategically and diplomatically, will be taken.”

source: The Indian Express

The committee also resolved to summon officials from other social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and other tech platforms on the issue of “Safeguarding Citizens Rights on Social/Online News Media Platforms”.

The Parliamentary Committee on Information Technology Monday decided to summon Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and top company officials to appear before it on February 25, it is learnt. The committee also resolved to summon officials from other social media platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and other tech platforms on the issue of “Safeguarding Citizens Rights on Social/Online News Media Platforms”.

The decision to summon top Twitter executives comes after the microblogging platform declined to send Dorsey or global executives to appear before the parliamentary committee Monday and sent instead officials from Twitter India.

Sources said the parliamentary committee did not call Twitter India executives for deliberations Monday when they reached the meeting venue. Twitter India Director of Policy Mahima Kaul and Twitter India Government and Policy official Payal Kamat were seen outside the venue.

It is learnt that committee chairman Anurag Thakur read out a letter from Twitter that company officials in India were not authorised to take enforcement decisions. He is learnt to have said that there was no point in the committee meeting Twitter officials from India, to which the members agreed.

The committee, it is learnt, was informed that the CEO (Dorsey) could not appear before it on such short notice. The members, it is learnt, agreed with Thakur that the committee could not accept that the Twitter CEO could not oblige Parliament.

Twitter sources said a letter from the committee on February 1 asked for “representatives of Twitter” to attend the parliamentary hearings and on February 7, another letter changed the request to “the CEO or at least the next senior most functionary in the hierarchy”.

Pointing out that the committee should not give the impression that it was targeting Twitter, one member, it is learnt, suggested that other social media players like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram should be called before the panel. Senior BJP leader L K Advani wanted to know, it is learnt, the steps taken by the government to ensure social media follows the rules of the land. The committee unanimously agreed that Twitter cannot be isolated and the others too will be asked to appear before the panel.

Members, particularly those from the BJP, wanted to know if social media players would be considered as media or a tech platform. Some members pointed out that since such companies had the power to select the content that appeared on their platforms, this makes them an algorithmic editor. Therefore, they should be considered media and potentially follow all rules meant for foreign media in the country, they said.

Among the questions sent to Twitter before Monday’s meeting were the number of bot accounts, the number of suspended and fake accounts and efforts to curb “anti-social elements”. Twitter was also asked its views on the need for a regulator in India, whether it uses automation to combat fake news and trolls and its remedies against complaints in India about a lack of fairness in suspension of accounts.

source: The Indian Express

CPM Pinarayi Vijayan criticises the Congress-led Madhya Pradesh government for its move to invoke the stringent National Security Act against those arrested on charges of cow slaughter, calling it “against the secular character” of India.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Kerala Chief Minister and senior leader of CPM Pinarayi Vijayan criticises the Congress-led Madhya Pradesh government for its move to invoke the stringent National Security Act against those arrested on charges of cow slaughter, calling it “against the secular character” of India, and speaks about the Left’s political strategies for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Excerpts:

Kerala is in a rebuilding state after the floods. What has been the progress?

United Nations agencies have assessed that Kerala requires Rs 31,000 crore (for the rebuilding exercise). Of this, Rs 5,000 will be from the Central government; we will have to mobilise the rest of the money. The World Bank is expected to help, and the Centre should cooperate with us in getting this support, especially because there is no special package announced (for Kerala) in this (Union) Budget. I am optimistic all work will be completed in three years.

Amid the recent violent agitation over women’s entry into Sabarimala shrine, the LDF government came under criticism from some Hindu outfits. Does CPM fear a consolidation of Hindu voters against it?

Do you think Muslim voters will stand by CPM in the Lok Sabha elections?

The minority community will see who is opposing the BJP strongly, and who can defeat the BJP (in Kerala). There is a general feeling that the Left are a credible opposition to BJP…. The Left’s presence has made Kerala’s atmosphere different for them. So they will support the Left. They had seen how the Left could influence decisions during the UPA-1 government. There are some parties representing those (minority) communities and they oppose the Left. But they are getting weak, which in turn will strengthen the Left. The Congress has become a party that does not have any community with it (in Kerala).

What do you think of what is being called the Congress’s soft-Hindutva stand? The MP government’s charges under NSA for cow slaughter, for instance.

If the Congress tries to follow RSS or Sangh Parivar stand on every issue, how can it strengthen secularism? It will, in fact, breed communalism. Take the case of Sabarimala, the Congress joined ranks with the RSS and BJP. If you want to strengthen secularism, you cannot adopt a communal stance.

Do you think CPM should have an understanding with the Congress in states such as West Bengal to oppose the BJP?

The Left’s stand is, the country will perish if the BJP returns to power for another five years in India (in 2019) — the country’s democracy, secularism and democratic institutions will be destroyed. If we want to keep the country in its present form, the BJP should not return to power. We need to ensure the BJP’s defeat everywhere. The Left will take a stand for that accordingly. We have not discussed any understanding with the Congress in West Bengal. Let them (party’s West Bengal unit) consider their issues and discuss the matter.

source: The Indian Express

Speaking Thursday in what could be his last speech in the 16th Lok Sabha, Modi accused the Congress of bullying the judiciary, compromising with the national interest and humiliating the Army.

SHARPLY drawing the battlelines for the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress party, framing his government’s 55 months against its 55 years in power, and warned against a “mahamilavat” (highly adulterated) government if his party wasn’t voted back.

Speaking Thursday in what could be his last speech in the 16th Lok Sabha, Modi accused the Congress of bullying the judiciary, compromising with the national interest and humiliating the Army.

He also presented a report card of his government trying to rebut the criticism on his government on job creation and measures for farmers. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to President’s address in Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister turned to the BC, AD nomenclature to take a swipe at the Congress and the Gandhi family: “BC stands for Before Congress, AD for After Dynasty.”

“I am making a serious charge against the Congress,” he said in his 100-minute-long speech. “Congress party does not want the Indian Air Force to be strong. Why do you want the Rafale deal to be cancelled? Who is going to benefit out of it? For which company you are playing this? You played this kind of game with the Army? Why?,” he said.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi his target, he went on: “History is witness to the (fact) that Congress and its power hungry allies have never done anything without middlemen? I used to wonder how can he (Rahul Gandhi) say lies with such confidence over Rafale? When I started looking into the details, I realised that in the last 55 years, in the saga of power-hungry rule, no deal was done without middlemen.”

To the charge that he and his Government are undermining institutions, Modi said: “Ulta chor chowkidaar ko dantte hain”. He said: “Congress imposed Emergency but they say Modi is destroying institutions. Congress insults Army, calls the Army chief a ‘goonda’ but they say Modi is destroying institutions. It creates stories that Army is doing a coup but Modi is destroying institutions,” he said.

He also said Indira Gandhi dismissed elected governments “over 50 times”, charged Congress with making defence deals with “Chachas and Mamas”, and with having “benami properties” abroad, an apparent reference to the ED’s allegations against Robert Vadra.

As the Opposition benches started protesting, Modi warned: The public knows what happens when there is a milawat ki sarkar (adulterated government)”. Then, gesturing to the Treasury benches, he said, “Don’t worry, the Grand Adulteration people won’t come here…The voters understand how a maha milavat government can be harmful for the country… When the government has majority, the performance is undoubtedly different,” he said. Then he added specifically, “The voters do not want a Mahamilavat government of those who assembled in Kolkata,” referring to the coming together of 23 parties in Kolkata.

source: The Indian Express

Targeting the TMC, BJP’s Nishikant Dubey alleged that the West Bengal government under the TMC is protecting illegal migrants from Bangladesh, which has changed the demography in several places, including some districts of Jharkhand, from where he is an MP.

With the political slugfest between the BJP and opposition parties intensifying, several MPs of the ruling party on Tuesday sought dismissal of the state governments of West Bengal and Delhi.

Targeting the TMC, BJP’s Nishikant Dubey alleged that the West Bengal government under the TMC is protecting illegal migrants from Bangladesh, which has changed the demography in several places, including some districts of Jharkhand, from where he is an MP.

“Just like how they have taken the Central government head on, they have been protecting illegal migrants for vote bank. There should be an NRC (National Register of Citizens) for all states,” Dubey said.

Amid uproar by Trinamool MPs, he said, “The Mamata Banerjee government should be suspended.” Fourteen BJP MPs associated with him on the issue.

BJP member from West Delhi Parvesh Sahib Singh said the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi should also be dismissed, as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is calling up “lakhs of people” and telling them that their names had been “cut away” from voters’ list, and that “Kejriwal added them back.”

Singh alleged that the Delhi Education Department had collected telephone numbers of parents and are “misusing” the numbers for political purpose.

“Kejriwal says around 30 lakh names were missing on voters’ list, but if we go to the Election Commission’s website we don’t find anything like that. This is misleading the voters. There has to be an FIR, and such a government should be dismissed,” Verma said.

Among other issues raised during Zero Hour on Tuesday, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) member B Mahtab wanted to know whether reciting something in Sanskrit is not secular, as “certain entities” disagree with the decision for compulsory recitation of common prayers in Sanskrit by students in Kendriya Vidyalayas.

Mahtab pointed out that a petition has been filed in Supreme Court regarding the revised education code for Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) Sangathan on compulsory recitation of common prayers in Sanskrit by students. “This should have been avoided at the Supreme Court’s level in the beginning. Some parents, children and organisations from certain communities do not agree with this common prayer,” he said.

source : The Indian Express