Tag: BJP

Telangana: Fate of BJP MLA Raja Singh’s suspension still unclear

[ad_1]
Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana may be in a sticky wicket over suspended Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh’s fate in the coming days. While his supporters and a section of leaders from the BJP want his suspension to be lifted, the state leadership however cannot do much as Singh isn’t alone in his transgression of passing derogatory remarks against the Prophet Muhammad.
According to BJP leaders from Telangana, Raja Singh will have to wait till the BJP’s central leadership takes a call with regard to his suspension. The Goshamahal MLA was suspended last year in August after he passed derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad in response to the state government allowing comic Munawar Faruqui hold a show in Hyderabad.
Raja Singh was soon arrested by the Hyderabad police under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act, and is currently out on bail he received from the Telangana high court. However, he has a gag order placed on him, as the court placed certain conditions for his release, including not passing inflammatory comments in public (and also from holding public meetings in general).
Section among BJP wants him reinstated
However, Raja Singh may have landed himself in bigger soup than he would have thought of. Before Singh, now suspended party spokesperson Nupur Sharma also passed similar comments on TV, which led to the BJP-run central leadership facing international condemnation from Muslim majority nations, especially from the middle-east. It led to an international backlash, after which the party promptly suspended Sharma.
Similarly, Raja Singh was also immediately suspended after he passed such comments. “Definitely there are demands to reinstate him, but there are other persons also who are suspended from other states. He is our party MLA and we will try to get him out of the issue,” said a senior BJP from Hyderabad.
After being released from jail, Raja Singh has continued to do what he wants. In spite of the gag order from the Telangana High Court, he BJP MLA seems to be subverting his restrictions by passing communal and inflammatory remarks from outside the state. A case has already been registered against him in recent times for violating the court orders (with the Mangalhat police station).
Raja Singh undeterred by gag order
He was served another notice by the Mangalhat police in Hyderabad on January 29 for a hate speech he gave at a public meeting in Mumbai. In response to the notice, Raja Singh denied making any provocative speeches and asked the Hyderabad police which issued him a show cause notice to drop the same. “I reasonably believe, it is an act of political vendetta and your esteemed machinery is put into action under force,” he stated.
When asked if the BJP here will try and restrain him until his issue is sorted out, the part leader said that won’t be possible. “He is a second time MLA so we cannot tell him anything,” he added. It is to be seen whether Raja Singh is able to get out of the gag order, given that elections are approaching in Telangana. The state goes to polls later this year in about six months time.

In the 2018 Telangana state elections, Raja Singh was the only BJP leader who managed to win. He retained the Goshamahal seat. The ruling TRS, which has now changed its name to Bharata Rashtra Samithi (BRS), had won the election with a big margin. It secured 88 Assembly seats out of 119, while the opposition Congress (which had an alliance with the TDP and other parties), won 19 seats, and the Telugu Desam party won 2. The AIMIM retained all of its seven seats in Hyderabad.
Prophet row
The suspended BJP MLA was detained under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act by the Hyderabad police last year. After spending nearly three months in the Central Prison, Cherlapally, he was released after the High Court quashed his detention orders.
Cops take hold of a man protesting against BJP MLA Raja Singh last year. (Image: Siasat)
Cases were registered against Raja Singh for passing derogatory statements against Prophet Muhammad that brought the city to the verge of a communal riot last year. Raja Singh released a video with his objectionable remarks after the state government allowed comedian Munawar Faruqui, who had performed a comedy set about Hindu gods earlier, to hold a show in the city.
The BJP MLA’s video led to several protests for over two days, after which the Hyderabad police put him in prison. Senior police officials said that they are keeping tabs on him after his release as well.
[ad_2]
#Telangana #Fate #BJP #MLA #Raja #Singhs #suspension #unclear
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023
AAP alleges BJP got MCD budget passed ‘unethically’ through officials

[ad_1]
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday accused the BJP of “backstabbing” Delhiites by making officials “unethically” pass the budget of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) even before the elections of mayor and deputy mayor could take place and demanded that the budget be withdrawn.
However, a senior MCD official said the budget had not been passed.
AAP Chief Spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that they learnt through newspaper reports that the budget had been passed by the MCD and since this was the objective, the elections of the mayor and deputy mayor were deliberately delayed.
“The budget of the MCD is a very important document that gives the detailed breakup of how much money the elected government hopes to spend in the fulfillment of its promises. This is where all the planning of the team is reflected and then work begins in mission mode to deal with the problems that the people of the city are facing.
“But what has happened now is the betrayal of the citizens of Delhi by the BJP. Despite losing the elections to the Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP-ruled central government has illegally passed the budget of the MCD through officials…,” he said.
The AAP won 134 wards in the MCD polls in December while the BJP won 104 wards.
“The bureaucrats of the MCD who have passed the budget should be asked to fight the MCD polls the next time. This is a betrayal of the people of Delhi. It is AAP that has been elected by the people to run the MCD, but the people passing the budget are bureaucrats of the MCD, what sense does this make?” he said.
Accusing the BJP of using similar tactics wherever it loses polls, he said it uses governors to obstruct the works of the elected governments.

“They have always said that ‘Delhi is not a full state’ and tried to obstruct all the developmental works of the Aam Aadmi Party. But they are doing the same in Tamil Nadu and Telangana, where the governors have tried to overshadow the elected governments. The Congress party also until now blamed the AAP for not working with the central government, but look at what their MLAs are doing in other states,” he said.
Citing examples of states such as Telangana and Tamil Nadu, he alleged the “dirty politics of the BJP” has led to the derailment of key political institutions in the country.
“One of the key reasons, after the partition in 1947, India went on to become a robust nation and Pakistan lies in such shambles is the importance these two countries gave to political institutions in their respective country. In India, key institutions such as the Supreme Court, the elected government and its role were formed and given importance. But now the BJP and its leaders have made a mockery of these institutions and this is something that we will strongly fight against,” he said.
Senior party leader Dilip Pandey echoed similar sentiments and accused the BJP of bypassing the elected government of Delhi and passing the budget before the mayor’s election. He demanded that the budget be withdrawn.
“BJP has forcefully passed the budget before the mayor’s election. They must withdraw this budget,” he said.
A senior MCD official denied the allegations.
“No such development has taken place. I do not know where this has come from. No budget has been passed,” he said.
Another official also said that budget had not been passed. “There was a discussion recently but it is wrong to claim that budget has been passed,” he said.
[ad_2]
#AAP #alleges #BJP #MCD #budget #passed #unethically #officials
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023
BJP slams AAP for questioning ED over excise policy case

[ad_1]
New Delhi: The BJP on Friday slammed the Aam Adami party and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning the Enforcement Directorate’s supplementary chargesheet filed in connection with the excise policy case.
Addressing a press conference here, BJP leader and Union minister Meenakshi Lekhi said, “Anyone trying to question the ED is trying to question the apex court. The judiciary has upheld that ED’s job is to mitigate corruption in the country. The way the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is questioning the ED, it is becoming clear that Arvind Kejriwal is with those who indulge in corruption. Kejriwal does not want corruption to end in this country.”
She also alleged that the ED chargesheet makes it clear that “AAP has an alliance with unregulated businesses”.
“The ED has proved through its investigation that AAP was indulging in corruption under the guise of liquor policy. Along with this, the agency also revealed that Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia were also involved in this,” Lekhi said.
The court on Thursday took cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against five individuals and seven companies in connection with alleged irregularities in Delhi excise policy, which was withdrawn last year by the AAP government after a CBI probe was recommended into the matter.
Subscribe us on
[ad_2]
#BJP #slams #AAP #questioning #excise #policy #case

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 3, 2023
Act of political vendetta: BJP MLA Raja Singh on police notices

[ad_1]
Hyderabad: Suspended Goshamahal BJP MLA T Raja Singh denied making any provocative speeches and asked the Hyderabad police which issued him a show cause notice to drop the same.
The Mangalhat police had issued a notice to Raja Singh for a provocative speech he made at a rally in Mumbai on Sunday. The police cited the conditions of the Telangana High Court while granting him bail in connection with a case booked for making derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad last year. The court, while giving him bail, said that the MLA should not make provocative speeches or post on social media.
In his reply to the notice served on him by the Mangalhat police, Raja SIngh said these actions are expected in the light of fact that elections are approaching and to create fear in the mind of political opponents. This, he said, is evident from the series of actions since the “malicious invoking of Preventive Detention Act” was made against him. “I reasonably believe, it is an act of political vendetta and your esteemed machinery is put into action under force,” he stated.
He further stated that the contents of the notice express that the Hyderabad police took “suo –motu cognizance” of his speech at Mumbai. He said it was beyond the jurisdiction, and that it was taken without any complaint from anybody to the said effect.
Singh denies all wrongdoing
“I categorically deny having made any provocative statements or speech, deny having violated the Honourable High Court orders and well deny all adverses allegations levied against me under the show cause notice under reply. The notice is an act of creating unwarranted pressure on me and an attempt to meddle with my fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression and my right to public meetings and gatherings and my duty as a public representative. The rally was held under due permission and no complaint as such till the day the notice under reply is issued is known to have been lodged anywhere in context to alleged speech you refer to in your notice,” Raja Singh added.
Singh asked to explain statements in notice
The high court had quashed his detention under the PD Act and released him in November on bail after his arrest. The court however imposed certain conditions for his release, including that Raja Singh should not make any provocative speeches against any religion or post any derogatory or offensive posts on any social media platforms.
“But on January 29 your speech during ‘Janakrosh Morcha’ at Dadar was circulating in social media. In the video your speech is very much provocative to a particular community regarding demands of laws on love jihad, cow slaughter, conversion and a few other words,” the notice issued to Raja Singh by the Mangalhat police stated.
It further added, “Your speech with potential to provoke a particular religion is violation of conditions imposed by the HC.” The police has asked Raja Singh to explain why action should not be initiated against him for violating the conditions imposed by the High Court.

[ad_2]
#Act #political #vendetta #BJP #MLA #Raja #Singh #police #notices
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 2, 2023
Not afraid of jail: BJP MLA Raja Singh on Telangana HC gag order

[ad_1]
Hyderabad: Openly defying his gag order, suspended Goshamahal BJP MLA T Raja Singh took a dig at the Telangana government and city police for issuing him a show cause notice over his provocative comments made at a rally in Mumbai last week. The Mangalhat police issued Raja Singh the notice after his speech since he is currently out on bail, and has restrictions placed on him by the Telangana high court.
The suspended BJP MLA released a video after the police issued him a notice and asked why the Hyderabad or Telangana police is bothered when he made the comments at a meeting in Mumbai. He was arrested for a few months and was lodged in the Cherlapally jail under the Preventive Detention Act last year. Raja Singh had passed derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad in a video, as a reaction to the state government allowing comedia Munawar Faruqui to hold a show in Hyderabad.
“I demanded the central government and the state government (Maharashtra) bring in laws to stop love jihad, religious conversions and cow killings. The Telangana is ruled by Nizam government and VIII th Nizam and his slaves working in police are issuing notices,” said Raja Singh in the video.
The MLA further said “I am not a political leader, I fight for ‘dharma’ and live for dharma. When I am not afraid of going to jail, do you think I will get afraid of a notice?”. Raja Singh also challenged the ruling BRS government saying, “Now I will see if you would send to me to jail, or extern me from Telangana. I am ready for anything.”
Singh asked to explain statements in notice
The high court had quashed his detention under the PD Act and released him in November on bail after his arrest. The court however imposed certain conditions for his release, including that Raja Singh should not make any provocative speeches against any religion or post any derogatory or offensive posts on any social media platforms.
“But on January 29 your speech during ‘Janakrosh Morcha’ at Dadar was circulating in social media. In the video your speech is very much provocative to a particular community regarding demands of laws on love jihad, cow slaughter, conversion and a few other words,” the notice issued to Raja Singh by the Mangalhat police stated.
It further added, “Your speech with potential to provoke a particular religion is violation of conditions imposed by the HC.” The police has asked Raja Singh to explain why action should not be initiated against him for violating the conditions imposed by the High Court.

[ad_2]
#afraid #jail #BJP #MLA #Raja #Singh #Telangana #gag #order
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 2, 2023
Futuristic, growth-oriented: Karnataka BJP leaders on Union Budget 2023

[ad_1]
Bengaluru: Leaders of the ruling BJP, including chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and his cabinet colleagues, on Wednesday, hailed the Union budget 2023-24, while the opposition termed it “promises” to fool the people.
The first budget of Amrit Kaal presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is futuristic, growth-oriented and has laid a strong foundation for India@100 in 2047. It has focused on every sector and will benefit every section of society giving an impetus to the Aatmanibhar Bharat vision, Dr K. Sudhakar, State Minister for Health, said.
“I thank PM Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for central assistance of Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project.
This will immensely benefit the people of Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Tumkur and Davangere districts by providing irrigation facilities to farmers and recharging the groundwater table to provide -drinking water in drought-prone taluks of these districts,” he said.
“The Economic Survey 2023 tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday showed that the central and state governments’ budgeted expenditure in the health sector reached 2.1% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022-23.
This is in the direction of the vision of National Health Policy – 2017, which has envisaged increasing the government’s health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025. The share of the government’s health expenditure in total health outlay has increased from 28.6% in 2014 to 40.6% in 2019.
Thanks to Ayushman Bharat, the out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) as a share of total health expenditure has come down to 48.2% in 2019 from 64.2% in 2014,” he said.
The budget proposal to establish 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with the existing 157 medical colleges established since 2014 is a welcome move to address the increasing human resource needs in the healthcare sector, he said.

The special focus on promoting millets will not only ensure better nutrition and health among citizens but will also boost our fight against climate change. This is a great step towards ensuring food and water security for our future generations, Minister Sudhakar stated.
Karnataka Minister for Power, Kannada and Culture V. Sunil Kumar described the Union budget as balanced and prepared keeping the interests of the middle class in mind.
Seven priority zones have been identified as ‘Saptahrshi’ against the backdrop of Azadi Amrit Mahotsav. To ensure a green revolution, the PM Pranam scheme has been announced. The proposal to invest Rs 6,000 crore will play an important role in the development of the coastal region, minister Sunil Kumar explained.
The target set for the state governments to produce five MMT green hydrogen by 2030 and the decision to invest Rs 25,000 is welcome. This has increased the responsibility of the states, he explained.
Meanwhile, JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy dubbed the budget as a lure to fool people. “It seems the projects have been announced to fool people in the election year,” he said.
The projects announced would be implemented only after a change of government at the centre. “I had written a letter long ago to consider projects announced in the budgets as national projects. When will the programmes announced in the election year be implemented? Kumaraswamy questioned.
People know how much of the announced fund for the Upper Bhadra project would be given to the state once BJP is defeated in the state.
[ad_2]
#Futuristic #growthoriented #Karnataka #BJP #leaders #Union #Budget
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 1, 2023
BJP plans nationwide campaign on Union Budget

[ad_1]
New Delhi: The BJP will start a 12-day nationwide campaign on Wednesday to make people aware of the “pro-people” measures that are to be announced in the Union Budget, party leaders said.
The campaign will be coordinated by senior BJP leader Sushil Modi and conclude on February 12, they said.
BJP president J P Nadda has formed a task force comprising nine members, including party general secretary Sunil Bansal and heads of its farmer and youth wings, to organise discussions, press conferences or seminars on the Union Budget in all districts of the country, they said.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for 2023-24 in Parliament on Wednesday.
A day after the Union Budget is presented in Parliament, chief ministers of all BJP-ruled states, as part of the campaign, will hold press conferences, party leaders said, adding that in states where the party is not in power, BJP unit heads and leaders of opposition in the assembly will hold press conferences.
In 50 major cities of the country, ministers of the Narendra Modi government will hold press conferences to highlight the “pro-people” measures announced in the Union Budget, they said.
After the budget is presented, the BJP is also expected to hold a meeting of its spokespersons.
To finalise programmes and decide the blueprint of the BJP’s campaign on the Union Budget, the task force constituted for it met at the BJP headquarters here on Monday.

This Union Budget will the last full-fledged budget of the second term of the Narendra Modi government as the general elections will be held in 2024. Hence, the ruling BJP at the Centre wants to make the most out of this campaign.
Earlier too the BJP has organised nationwide public awareness exercises to make people aware about various reforms and initiatives announced by the Modi government in its budgets.
[ad_2]
#BJP #plans #nationwide #campaign #Union #Budget
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 1, 2023
Scandal-hit BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi holds long meeting with CM Bommai

[ad_1]
Bengaluru: A day after accusing Congress state president D K Shivakumar of being involved in a conspiracy behind the sex scandal that led to his resignation as minister in 2021, BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi on Tuesday held a lengthy discussion with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, sources said.
Jarkiholi had on Monday demanded that the sex scandal case should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation as a “big racket” is involved in which politicians and bureaucrats are honey trapped and blackmailed.
Calling for the arrest of the young woman in the case and her accomplices including two people from Mandya, the BJP MLA had charged that Shivakumar was behind the scandal.
“Today, Ramesh Jarkiholi had a long meeting with the Chief Minister. He met him at his residence for 10 minutes, then travelled with him in the flight till Hubballi,” sources close to the Chief Minister told PTI.
The sources also said the meeting revolved mainly around the sex scandal and the alleged role of Shivakumar and a few others from Belagavi district.
Jarkiholi had insisted that the case should be handed over to the CBI for thorough investigation. It was not clear whether the Chief Minister heeded to the demand.
In a press conference on Monday, Jarkiholi had claimed that there are at least 120 sleaze video clippings available involving various officers and politicians who are being blackmailed.
He said the issue is very serious and the government should get it investigated by the premier investigation agency.

Subscribe us on
[ad_2]
#Scandalhit #BJP #leader #Ramesh #Jarkiholi #holds #long #meeting #Bommai
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 31, 2023
Those criticising Hinduism shouldn’t seek Hindu votes: BJP Karnataka chief

[ad_1]
Belagavi: Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel said on Tuesday that those who criticise Hindu religion and say the word ‘Hindu’ has a different meaning, should say that they don’t want Hindu votes.
Addressing a public rally here, Kateel slammed Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Satish Jarkiholi for his statement regarding the origin and meaning of the word ‘Hindu’.
Jarkiholi had said that the word Hindu had its origin in Persia, and it meant ‘slave’. The statement had stirred a big controversy, forcing the Congress to distance itself from the remarks.
Kateel, who was attending the Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra in Yamakanamardi constituency represented by Jarkiholi, dared him (Jarkiholi) to announce that he does not want Hindu votes.
“The Hindu community has woken up. This time he can’t contest from this constituency, he will have to search for another,” he said.
Subscribe us on
[ad_2]
#criticising #Hinduism #shouldnt #seek #Hindu #votes #BJP #Karnataka #chief

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 31, 2023
How BJP MLA Raja Singh is bypassing his gag order on hate speech

[ad_1]
Hyderabad: Hit with a gag order from the Telangana High Court, suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA T Raja Singh seems to be subverting his restrictions by passing communal and inflammatory remarks from outside the state. The legislator is currently out on bail after he was arrested for his derogatory remarks in Prophet Muhammad last year, which led to several protests.
The High Court had ordered Raja Singh while quashing his detention in jail under the PD Act last year. As part of its bail order, the BJP MLA was told not to make provocative speeches or speak in public. So far, a case has already been registered against him in recent times for violating the court orders (with theMangalhat police station). He was served another notice by the Hyderabad police on January 29 for a hate speech in Mumbai.
His statements come just months ahead of the Telangana state elections, which are due this year. With restrictions on him, Raja Singh is currently unable to carry out political campaigns or hold public rallies as he would have ideally done in the run up to the polls. It is unsure how the state judiciary will react to him making speeches outside, with the logic that it is beyond the HC’s jurisdiction.
The suspended MLA represents the Goshamahal constituency under the GHMC area in Hyderabad.
When asked if the party will lift Raja Singh’s suspension, BJP leaders from Telangana remained tight lipped and said that the decision is for the central leadership to make. “He is popular among some people and they want his suspension to go, so we have to wait and see,” said one leader.
After his Mumbai speech, it is to be seen what Raja Singh does next or if he legally challenges his current inability to speak in public in Hyderabad and Telangana.
Raja Singh’s hate speech came at a rally in Mumbai at a programme organised by the Sakal Hindu Samaj, a conglomerate of Hindutva organisations under the banner of the Hindu Jan Aakrosh Morcha. It commenced from Shivaji Park in Dadar and ended at Kamgar Maidan in Parel.
The Sakal Hindu Samaj is an organization comprising of various groups like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha. As of now, the MLA has not made any plans public, neither is the Telangana unit of the BJP saying anything on the issue.

However, one can expect some fireworks from his side in the upcoming state polls.
During his speech in the public meeting held at T Kamgar Maidan, Raja Singh used repeated his typical aggressive rant and provocative language. This time around his comments were about the inter-faith love affairs. “The chingari (spark) that is lit here will turn into a jwalamukhi (volcano) if love and land Jihad is not stopped. Be aware about ‘love jihad’ and (religious) conversions,” he said while addressing the gathering.
The MLA targeted Muslims and demanded for a financial boycott, “Do not buy goods with ‘halal’ tags on them. Even in Ola, Uber and Rapido check if the driver is a Muslim or a tilakdhari. Doesn’t matter if the commodity is of Rs 1 or Rs. 1 lakh, buy it from a Hindu. If the word halal is mentioned in any product, it should not be purchased,” he said demanding that even Ramdev baba remove the word from the products he sells.
“Why should we have rules that are meant for Islamic countries,” he questioned. He spoke in praise of Shivaji Maharaj, his son Sambhaji and the late Shiv Sena head Bal Thackeray.
The suspended BJP MLA was detained under the Preventive Detention (PD) Act by the Hyderabad police last year. After spending nearly three months in the Central Prison, Cherlapally, he was released after the High Court quashed his detention orders.
Cases were registered against Raja Singh for passing derogatory statements against Prophet Muhammad that brought the city on the verge of a communal riot last year. Raja Singh had released a video with his objectionable remarks after the state government allowed comedian Munawar Faruqui, who had joked about Hindu gods earlier, to hold a show in the city.
The BJP MLA’s video led to several protests for over two days, after which the Hyderabad police put him inside prison. Senior police officials said that they are keeping tabs on him after his release as well.
[ad_2]
#BJP #MLA #Raja #Singh #bypassing #gag #order #hate #speech
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

January 31, 2023