Tag: Cong

Hyderabad: Bajrang dal, BJP activists recite Hanuman Chalisa at Cong office; detained

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Hyderabad: Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) activists who were a part of Bajrang Dal gathered outside the Congress party office in the city on Friday and recited Hanuman Chalisa following which they were detained by the cops.
The crowd were protesting against the Congress’s manifesto mentioning the ban on Bajrang Dal, while they cried out the description, calling themselves devotees of lord Ram and Hanuman.
#WATCH | Police detained BJP workers who gathered outside the Congress party office in Hyderabad to recite Hanuman Chalisa amid a row over the Congress manifesto mentioning the ban on Bajrang Dal pic.twitter.com/VFM3Xl4UD9
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2023
Shouting out loud, the activists lay on the road while police tried to stop them. The cops faced a tough time as they had to drag the activists into a DCM truck as they refused to move from their place.

Additionally, lady constables also interfered to move the female activists who were among the protestors while their companions cried out, ‘Ram ki jai’.
Congress members respond
Countering the BJP members and the Bajrang dal, the Telangana Congress Women wing members on Friday said that even they are devotees of lord Ram, asserting that Hanuman Chalisa can be recited by anyone and it doesn’t have to do anything with a particular party.
Stating that there is no significance in linking the Hanuman Chalisa, (one of the popular Hindu devotional hymns dedicated to Lord Hanuman) with the ban, one of the members of the Telangana Congress women’s wing read out the entire Chalisa while her fellow mates accompanied her.
Bajrang Dal announced a nationwide protest
The Karnataka Congress unit in its manifesto stated that it would ban the Bajrang Dal and compared the group to the PFI. The PFI was recently banned by the Union government for its alleged anti-national activities.
The Bajrang Dal announced a nationwide protest and protests are held across the country for the past couple of days.

On Wednesday, the Telangana Bajrang Dal activists held protests in all districts and the city. The Bajrang Dal workers stormed the Gandhi Bhavan on Wednesday.
The police took over 300 of the activists into custody and shifted them to various police stations. All of them were let off later.
Following the developments, the police pickets continued at the Gandhi Bhavan on Thursday as well.

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#Hyderabad #Bajrang #dal #BJP #activists #recite #Hanuman #Chalisa #Cong #office #detained
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 5, 2023
Say ‘Jai Bajrangbali’ while casting vote, PM says in Karnataka; Cong calls it attempt to polarise

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Ankola: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the people of Karnataka to say ‘Jai Bajrangbali’ when they cast their vote to “punish” the Congress for its “culture of abuse”, as BJP leaders stepped up attack on the opposition party over its election manifesto promise of banning the Bajrang Dal.
Hitting back, the Congress alleged that Prime Minister Modi and his party are refusing to speak about the “scam-ridden” BJP government in Karnataka and are “merely looking for lame-duck excuses to polarise the election”. The party defended its stand against the Bajrang Dal, saying the Constitution prescribes action against any individual and organisation spreading hatred or enmity.
Addressing a public meeting in Uttara Kannada district, Modi said the Congress and its leaders hate and abuse him because he has crashed their “corrupt system”.

“In this election, Congress is seeking votes in the name of its leader who is retiring…the other way in which they are seeking votes is by abusing Modi… .
“Will anyone in Karnataka accept this culture of abuse? What will you (people) do this time? Will you punish them? Will you punish the abusers?… When you press the button in the polling booth, punish them by saying ‘Jai Bajrangbali’,” he added.
Prime Minister Modi also urged the audience at all his rallies to raise the chant of ‘Bajranjbali ki Jai’ with him, besides his usual slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘ Vande Mataram’, hailing the motherland.
Modi had come down heavily on the Congress on Tuesday after its poll promise of banning Bajrang Dal, saying the Congress in its manifesto “has decided to lock up Lord Hanuman. Initially, they locked up Prabhu Shri Ram (Lord Ram). And now they want to lock up people who say ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’ (Hail Hanuman).”
On Wednesday, he made it a point at the beginning as well as at the end of his speech to raise the slogan praising Lord Hanuman in Mulki in Dakshina Kannada district, Ankola in Uttara Kannada and Bailhongal in Belagavi.

The BJP, its Karnataka unit and other party leaders also tweeted on Wednesday with the hashtag ‘HanumaBhaktaModi’.
The BJP had termed the Congress move as an “insult” to Lord Hanuman and the ‘height of appeasement”.
The Bajrang Dal has, meanwhile, announced it will conduct ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ recital programmes across Karnataka on Thursday.
“This is the time when ‘Dharma’ is in danger and standing together is the only way forward. We should set aside our differences and come together to protect dharma, and hold hands together,” the right-wing organisation said in a statement.
However, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the Constitution and law “are clear – any individual or organisation spreading hatred or enmity must be proceeded against in accordance with law”.
“The duty to follow Raj darma is of the prime minister and chief minister but they refuse to do so,” he tweeted.
He said Lord Hanuman depicts piousness, service and sacrifice. Comparing him “as synonymous to any individual or organisation is an insult, the Congress leader said and asked the prime minister to apologise.
“Kannadigas are ready for 40% Bhrastasura Dahana!,” he tweeted.
However, Karnataka Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar, who was the state convenor of Bajrang Dal, said the Congress’ move is aimed at appeasing the Muslims.
In a series of tweets, the minister said Bajrang Dal is not an anti-social organisation and it strives for the protection of the Hindu community and “gomata” (mother cow). He wondered whether the Congress wants to ban Bajrang Dal just because the BJP banned the Popular Front of India last year.
The political row over the issue has spread to other states too.
In BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and state home minister Narottam Mishra said Congress’ state chief Kamal Nath should clarify his stand on the issue as he is a devotee of Lord Hanuman.
“What is its (being a Hanuman devotee) relation with this (banning Bajrang Dal)?” Nath retorted when reporters asked him about the BJP leaders’ remarks.
Asked if a similar poll promise will be made by the Congress in Madhya Pradesh, he said, “That will be decided by the manifesto committee. Even the Supreme Court and the entire state are saying that those who spread hatred and create controversies should face action. This is a matter of our social unity.”
In a letter to Nath on Wednesday, Mishra said, “The Congress may go to any extent for the politics of appeasement.”
“I have written a letter to Kamal Nath. I have seen his many tweets in which he posed himself as a Hanuman devotee. Congress equated Bajrang Dal with PFI. Nath should clarify his stance,” he said.
He said that this politics of appeasement of Congress has hurt the sentiments of “Rashtra bhakts” and devotees of Ram and Hanuman.
Chouhan called Bajrang Dal a “staunch nationalist organisation”.
Asking Nath to clarify his stand, he said, “No one will forget those who were pampering the network of SIMI in Madhya Pradesh. Those who opposed the surgical strike and glorified terrorists are now talking about banning Bajrang Dal.”
“They are talking of banning Bajrang Dal, which is a staunch nationalist organization, opposes terrorism and love jihad’. The organisation that creates a sense of patriotism, is involved in social service, works for self-respect and awareness towards one’s religion and culture is being compared with a terrorist organisation like PFI?”
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh too posted several tweets targeting Bajrang Dal.
“Modi ji’s Religion is Hindutatva’ and not Hindu or Sanatan Dharm. As Savarkar ji has said Hindutva has nothing to do with Hindu Religion’ Bajrang Dal has nothing to do with Lord Hanuman. It is an organisation of goons (sic),” Singh alleged.
Rajasthan minister Govind Ram Meghwal said the Congress is not against ‘Bajrangbali’ (Lord Hanuman), but is against the people who are committing a crime by forming an organisation in the deity’s name.
Rajasthan Food and Civil Supplies Minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that he is an ardent devotee of lord Hanuan.
“The Congress itself is a devotee of Bajrangbali. It bans those who try to create a situation of conflict in the name of religion,” Khachariyawas said.
Chouhan said that Congress was opposed to the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and had called Ram-Setu imaginary. The Congress opposed Hindutva on every occasion and now it stands exposed, he said.
Union Minister Anurag Thakur also targeted the Congress.
“For vote bank, they used to say that Lord Ram is imaginary… On the other hand, under the Narendra Modi government, Kartarpur Corridor was opened, ropeway reached Hemkunt Sahib…and now a grand Lord Ram temple is being built in Ayodhya. No power in the world has been able to stop Bajrangbali or his followers,” he said.
The Congress, in its election manifesto for the May 10 Karnataka polls, on Tuesday said it will take decisive action as per law including imposing a ban on organisations like Bajrang Dal and PFI and alleged that they were promoting enmity among communities.
Bajrang Dal is a right-wing Hindu outfit and has often courted controversies over vigilante action. Bajrang is another name for Lord Hanuman and the outfit’s insignia carries the picture of the Hindu deity.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by Siasat staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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#Jai #Bajrangbali #casting #vote #Karnataka #Cong #calls #attempt #polarise
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 3, 2023
If you won’t vote for Cong, Yogi’s bulldozer will come to haunt Karnataka: Kharge

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Kalaburagi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday that if the people of Karnataka do not vote for the party, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths bulldozer will come to haunt the southern state as well.
Addressing a huge public rally in Aland in Kalaburagi district, Kharge stated that these days the UP CM is coming to Karnataka frequently. Giving the appearance of a saint, wearing saintly clothes, instead of showing the good path of humanity he instigates clashes between the people. CM Yogi says jo hamare baat nahi manenge, use bulldozer lagake nikal denge. Is desh mein nahin rah sakte. (whoever doesn’t listen to us, we will get rid of them through the bulldozer, they can’t live in this country), said Kharge.
“I think those who are foreigners should be asked to leave the country, not us who are the natives of this country. So I want to tell you, if you won’t give the vote to the Congress party then Yogi’s bulldozer will come here also,” Kharge stated.

Chief Minister Bommai should beware of Modi ji and Amit Shah. The BJP claims they will give a “Mazboot Sarkar” in Karnataka, but they changed multiple CMs. It is an important ‘do or die’ election for Karnataka. The 40 per cent commission state government is damned. It has cheated our people, Kharge said.
This election is not only significant for Karnataka, but for the nation. Karnataka must become corruption free. It must be freed from the 40 per cent BJP misrule, Kharge stated.
Modi ji often says in his speeches that ‘na mein khaunga, na khane dunga!’ (I won’t take bribes, I will not let others take bribes). But Bommai sits next to him. The PM should ask him for a 40 per cent commission, Kharge taunted.
“Modi ji complains about me, baap aur bete ne kuch kaha! (father and son duo have said something against me) He is our Prime Minister, how can we insult him? Irrespective of the party he belongs to, we accept our Prime Minister! We have not insulted him, instead Modi ji has insulted Karnataka, he said.
We brought a Central University in this area. We spent Rs 400 to Rs 500 crore for the building. But teachers are not in full strength. There are vacancies and the number of departments have gone down, he alleged.

We have constructed a Mega ESI hospital here. Later I requested the BJP government to start an AIIMS here. We had spent a thousand crores on the infrastructure. In the main hall in the hospital, 5,000 people can sit, it is such a grand building. But the BJP government does not care. The hospital is not being maintained. Now it has slowly started to turn into a cowshed, Kharge charged.
We had taken approval for the highway from Solapur to Bengaluru, from Bidar to Hiriur, and from Bidar to Mysuru. But the present government has halted all this work. Instead, they spent crores of money to inaugurate the old, already existing Bengaluru-Mysuru express corridor, Kharge alleged.
“Coming back to the issue of our area (Kalaburagi), Article 371(J) is my contribution to the people of this region and therefore, today they can enjoy the privileges in the education and employment sector,” he said.
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#wont #vote #Cong #Yogis #bulldozer #haunt #Karnataka #Kharge
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 3, 2023
Hyderabad: Cong slams Telangana govt over rain-related deaths

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Hyderabad: Senior Telangana Congress leader Mohammed Shabbir Ali on Wednesday accused the state government, and Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) in particular, of ‘negligence’ leading to the loss of three innocent lives in rain-related incidents in the past four days.
He asserted that the government’s failure to address critical infrastructure issues, such as open drains and electrical safety, has resulted in these preventable tragedies.
“The first incident took place on 29 April when Mounika, a 10-year-old girl, fell into an open drain in Secunderabad due to alleged civic authority negligence. Despite the Disaster Response Force’s efforts, her life was cut short. While two GHMC officials were suspended, no senior officials faced any consequences,” he said.

On 30 April, 44-year-old Greyhounds constable Solem Veeraswamy died of electrocution at the Jubilee Hills Checkpost. The tragedy occurred when Veeraswamy lost control of his motorcycle near a rainwater-filled puddle, which may have concealed a faulty electrical leakage from a nearby pole. Shabbir said this death could have been prevented had proper safety measures been in place.
The third incident saw six-year-old Vivek drown after falling into an open pit filled with rainwater in the Jubilee Hills area. GHMC has denied responsibility for this incident, claiming the site was on private property and not under its jurisdiction. However, Shabbir Ali argued that the government still has a duty to protect its citizens from such hazards.
Shabbir Ali criticized minister KTR for not visiting the victims’ families or the sites of these incidents, choosing instead to focus on inaugurating the new Secretariat. He pointed out the ‘recurring pattern of similar tragedies’ in Hyderabad over the years, with numerous citizens losing their lives due to open drains, house collapses, or electrocution. “Notable past incidents include the September 2016 heavy rains that claimed at least three lives, the August 2017 monsoon rains that led to at least two fatalities, and the October 2020 unprecedented rainfall resulting in an estimated death toll of at least 50,” Shabbir stated.
The former minister has written an open letter to Minister KTR calling for accountability and demanding that Minister KTR take responsibility for these incidents and hold concerned officials accountable. He has also demanded that the minister conduct a review meeting to address these infrastructure problems and prevent future tragedies.

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#Hyderabad #Cong #slams #Telangana #govt #rainrelated #deaths
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 3, 2023
Hyderabad: Cong slams Telangana govt over rain-related deaths

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Hyderabad: Senior Telangana Congress leader Mohammed Shabbir Ali on Wednesday accused the state government, and Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao (KTR) in particular, of ‘negligence’ leading to the loss of three innocent lives in rain-related incidents in the past four days.
He asserted that the government’s failure to address critical infrastructure issues, such as open drains and electrical safety, has resulted in these preventable tragedies.
“The first incident took place on 29 April when Mounika, a 10-year-old girl, fell into an open drain in Secunderabad due to alleged civic authority negligence. Despite the Disaster Response Force’s efforts, her life was cut short. While two GHMC officials were suspended, no senior officials faced any consequences,” he said.

On 30 April, 44-year-old Greyhounds constable Solem Veeraswamy died of electrocution at the Jubilee Hills Checkpost. The tragedy occurred when Veeraswamy lost control of his motorcycle near a rainwater-filled puddle, which may have concealed a faulty electrical leakage from a nearby pole. Shabbir said this death could have been prevented had proper safety measures been in place.
The third incident saw six-year-old Vivek drown after falling into an open pit filled with rainwater in the Jubilee Hills area. GHMC has denied responsibility for this incident, claiming the site was on private property and not under its jurisdiction. However, Shabbir Ali argued that the government still has a duty to protect its citizens from such hazards.
Shabbir Ali criticized minister KTR for not visiting the victims’ families or the sites of these incidents, choosing instead to focus on inaugurating the new Secretariat. He pointed out the ‘recurring pattern of similar tragedies’ in Hyderabad over the years, with numerous citizens losing their lives due to open drains, house collapses, or electrocution. “Notable past incidents include the September 2016 heavy rains that claimed at least three lives, the August 2017 monsoon rains that led to at least two fatalities, and the October 2020 unprecedented rainfall resulting in an estimated death toll of at least 50,” Shabbir stated.
The former minister has written an open letter to Minister KTR calling for accountability and demanding that Minister KTR take responsibility for these incidents and hold concerned officials accountable. He has also demanded that the minister conduct a review meeting to address these infrastructure problems and prevent future tragedies.

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#Hyderabad #Cong #slams #Telangana #govt #rainrelated #deaths
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 3, 2023
There’s no politics in ‘Mann Ki Baat’, abusing PM Modi part of Cong DNA: Sitharaman

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke like a “pradhan sevak” during the 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’ and there is no politics in the radio broadcast, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday, countering the Congress’ criticism of the programme.
Now if the Congress is “obsessed” with talking about the agenda set by its first family, it’s up to the party, she said.
Earlier in the day, the Congress took a swipe at Modi over his 100th ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio broadcast, saying there was much fanfare in the run-up to the episode but it was “maun ki baat (silence)” on critical issues such as the border dispute with China, stock manipulation allegations against the Adani Group, “increasing” economic inequalities and the wrestlers’ protest.

Hitting back, Sitharaman said, “He (Modi) talks about everything. Now if the Congress is obsessed with talking about the agenda that the first family of the party sets, it’s up to the party.”
“There is no politics in Mann Ki Baat… There is positivity in the spirit of Mann ki Baat,” the finance minister told reporters after listening to the radio broadcast with BJP leaders and others in Preet Vihar here.
In the 100th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Sitharaman said, Modi spoke to the people like a ‘pradhan sevak’ and not a prime minister, and the common people also spoke confidently about the core issues.
“So, I am very much impacted, inspired and feeling humbled,” she said.
“Such a pradhan sevak is leading our country despite problems that arose due to the spread of COVID-19 in 2020 and the Russia-Ukraine (conflict) later. All of us are safe under his leadership and India is the fastest growing economy today,” the minister added.

On Congress leaders calling Modi names, Sitharaman said “abusing” the prime minister is “part of the Congress DNA”.
“But they never seem to realise that every time they abuse Prime Minister Modi, people recognise him much more for his positive and constructive work in building India. It doesn’t benefit them in any way or win them any brownie points but they still want to do it because they are full of hate,” she said.
“Despite Rahul Gandhi going around setting up ‘mohabbat ka dukan’, his own party’s president is spewing venom. He is talking about a poisonous snake. So, you understand where Rahul is going and where his party is. Rahul is talking about something that his party doesn’t believe in,” she added.
It is the “nature” of the Congress to abuse those it cannot defeat but people’s support is with Prime Minister Modi.
“The more they accuse the prime minister, the more people will bless him,” she added.
Through ‘Mann Ki Baat’, Sitharaman said, the prime minister has brought out the good in Indian citizens.
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#politics #Mann #Baat #abusing #Modi #part #Cong #DNA #Sitharaman
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 30, 2023
‘Maun ki Baat’: Cong dig at PM Modi’s 100th radio episodes

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New Delhi: The Congress took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday over his “Mann ki Baat” radio broadcast, saying the occasion of its 100th episode was heralded with great fanfare but it was “maun ki baat (silence)” on critical issues such as China, Adani, increasing economic inequalities and the wrestlers’ protest.
Modi’s monthly “Mann ki Baat” programme completed its 100th episode on Sunday.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Union ministers, listened to the prime minister’s address at different places across the country as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect.

Just ahead of the airing of the programme, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Today is FekuMaster Special. The 100th day of Mann ki Baat is heralded with great fanfare. But it is Maun ki Baat on crucial issues like China, Adani, increasing economic inequalities, price rise of essential commodities, terror attacks in J&K, insults to women wrestlers, non-fulfilment of promises made to farmer organisations, corruption in so-called double-engine state governments like Karnataka, conmen with close links to BJP, etc.”
Today is FekuMaster Special.
The 100th day of Mann ki Baat is being heralded with great fanfare. But it is Maun ki Baat on crucial issues like China, Adani, increasing economic inequalities, price rise of essential commodities, terror attacks in J&K, insults to women wrestlers,…
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 30, 2023
“IIM Rohtak does some doctored study on Mann ki Baat’s impacts while its Director’s academic credentials have been questioned by the Ministry of Education itself,” Ramesh said.
The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, also took a dig at Modi, alleging that he has been silent on issues such as Chinese aggression, unemployment, price rise, charges against industrialist Gautam Adani’s business conglomerate and women’s security.

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#Maun #Baat #Cong #dig #Modis #100th #radio #episodes

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 30, 2023
UP: Cong leaders booked for assaulting party worker for donning saffron kurta

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Amethi: The Amethi district Congress chief has been booked for allegedly abusing and beating up a party worker for donning a saffron kurta to the party office here, police said on Friday.
On the complaint of Akhilesh Shukla, an FIR has been lodged against Congress district unit president Pradeep Singhal, Youth Congress district president Shubham Singh and others for abusing and beating Shukla and issuing life threats to him, Station House Officer of Amethi Kotwali police station Arun Kumar Dwivedi said.
Shukla, a former vice president of the Amethi Congress unit, said when he visited the party office at Durgapur Road here wearing a saffron kurta and white pants on Thursday evening, party workers accused him of supporting the BJP through his attire instead of campaigning for the Congress for the upcoming municipal elections here, the police officer said.

The argument escalated soon and a dozen people, including Singhal and Singh, thrashed him fiercely and tore his clothes, he said quoting the Shukla’s complaint.
Subsequently, a case was registered late Thursday evening under the Indian Penal Code, Dwivedi said.
Dismissing Shukla’s allegations as “baseless”, Singh said it was a conspiracy to tarnish the Congress’ image.
He added that Shukla was making “wild allegations” as he failed to get a position in the district party leadership.

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#Cong #leaders #booked #assaulting #party #worker #donning #saffron #kurta
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 28, 2023
BJP, Cong attack Odisha govt over missing keys of Puri Jagannath temple Ratna Bhandar’

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Bhubaneswar: The BJP and the Congress on Thursday separately demanded that the Biju Janata Dal government in Odisha open the Ratna Bhandar’ of the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri, and make public the report of a judicial commission formed to probe into the issue of missing keys of the 12th-century shrine’s treasury.
The demands were raised two days after the Orissa High Court asked the state government to file its response by July 10 on a petition praying for making public the report of Justice Raghubir Das Commission of Inquiry on the missing Ratna Bhandar keys.
“The judicial panel submitted its report to the state government in November 2018, about five years ago. The government has not taken any action on it and kept it in cold storage,” BJP spokesperson Pitamber Acharya said.

If the government believes in transparency, the judicial commission report should be made public without further delay, senior Congress leader Bijay Patnaik said.
The ruling BJD in a statement said the Ratna Bhandar was not opened for 38 years since 1985 and the opposition should refrain from indulging in politics in the name of Lord Jagannath.
The Ratna Bhandar, located in the basement of the temple, has two parts. The outer chamber of the Ratna Bhandar stores ornaments used by the deities on a daily basis, while many pieces of jewellery are kept in the inner chamber of the treasury.
While the keys to the outer chamber are available, the keys to the inner chamber are missing.
Acharya said the people have serious doubts about the assertion made by the government for the last five years that it has a duplicate key.

An attempt was made to open the inner chamber of Ratna Bhandar’ in April 2018 following a directive of the Orissa High Court, but it was not successful as keys were not found at that time. A team, comprising ASI officials, priests and others, then carried out an inspection from outside.
However, a few days after the inspection, the government said a duplicate key of the inner chamber has been found.
“The state government must give a clarification on the issue of missing keys and how a duplicate was found,” he said.
The BJP leader also sought to know why the government is reluctant to open the Ratna Bhandar if it has a duplicate key.
Acharya also wondered why the state government is not opening the inner chamber even after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in an affidavit to the court mentioned that there is a threat to Ratna Bhandar and urgent repair work is required.
He claimed that people across the country suspect that the valuables of the Ratna Bhandar have been looted.
“It is the responsibility of the state government to make the Commission of Inquiry report public,” Congress leader Bijay Patnaik said.
The BJD government is not maintaining its own policy of maintaining transparency, he said.
“I had seen huge quantities of gold, diamond and ornaments wrapped in clothes and kept in wooden boxes,” former temple administrator Rabindra Narayan Mishra, who was part of a team that inspected the inner chamber in 1978, said.
All the precious items have been listed and weighed properly during the last inspection, he said, adding that the valuation of the asset could not be ascertained as goldsmiths from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat were not able to calculate the actual value of the ornaments at that time.
In 1985 when the Ratna Bhandar was opened again, no fresh inventory was made.
Mishra supported the demand for a fresh inventory of the ornaments stored in the Ratna Bhandar and allow the ASI to inspect its condition.
In 2021, then law minister Pratap Jena informed the assembly that according to the 1978 inventory, the Ratna Bhandar had 12,831 bharis’ of gold and 22,153 bharis’ of silver (one bhari is equal to 11.66 grams).
The treasury also had 12,831 grams of gold ornaments with precious stones and other valuables, he had said.
As much as 22,153 grams of silver with expensive stones, silver utensils and other valuables were found there, Jena had mentioned, adding that due to various reasons, 14 gold and silver items could not be weighed during the inventory process.
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#BJP #Cong #attack #Odisha #govt #missing #keys #Puri #Jagannath #temple #Ratna #Bhandar
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 27, 2023
Karnataka: Kharge likens Modi to ‘poisonous’ snake, BJP hits out at Cong chief

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Gadag: Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a poisonous snake, drawing the BJP’s ire.
Addressing a public meeting at Ron in Gadag district, as part of the party’s campaign for the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka, he said: “don’t make a mistake. Modi is like a poisonous snake. If you say, ‘no, it’s not poisonous. let’s lick it and find out.’ Don’t go to lick it. If you lick, you die.”
Kharge further added, “(if you think that) No, no, this is not a poison because Modi has given it, ‘good man’ Prime Minister has given it, let’s try it and lick it’. If you lick that poison then you will sleep forever”.

BJP IT department chief Amit Malviya, who also shared the video where Kharge made those comments, on Twitter, said: “Now Congress President Kharge calls Prime Minister Modi poisonous snake’ What started with Sonia Gandhi’s maut ka saudagar’, and we know how it ended, the Congress continues to plummet to new depths. The desperation shows Congress is losing ground in Karnataka and knows it”.
Kharge later told reporters he only said the BJP was like a snake, and that party’s ideology is like a poison. “If you support that ideology and lick (try) it, death is certain.”
“I did not speak against him (Modi) because I have already said that I never make personal comments,” he said.
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#Karnataka #Kharge #likens #Modi #poisonous #snake #BJP #hits #Cong #chief

( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 27, 2023