The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Kerala&#39;s Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday staged a protest with a symbolic body on shoulders over the death of a tribal youth.&nbsp;

The 27-year-old was beaten to death after being attacked by a group of people in Palakkad&#39;s Attappadi on Thursday evening.&nbsp;

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BJP workers stage protest in Trivandrum with a symbolic body, over death of a tribal youth, who died after being beaten up in Palakkad&#39;s Attappadi. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a> <a href="https://t.co/ABNB1ITozu">pic.twitter.com/ABNB1ITozu</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/967332898092150785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He was attacked with sticks for allegedly stealing valuables and food items from the house of a local person.

After his health started deteriorating, the police took him to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

The incident came to light after the mob shot videos and clicked selfies of the brutal incident, which went viral on social media on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to his Twitter handle and condemned the cruel lynching of the dead tribal youth.

&quot;I am deeply disturbed by the savage and cruel lynching of a tribal in Kerala yesterday, captured on camera,&quot; Rahul said.&nbsp;

&quot;We must guard against growing intolerance in our society &amp; speak out in one voice to condemn these acts of mindless violence, &quot; he added.

The Kerala government has announced a relief of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the tribal youth.

An investigation is underway and search is on to nab all the culprits.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

He was attacked with sticks for allegedly stealing food items

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday staged a protest with a symbolic body on shoulders over the death of a tribal youth. The 27-year-old was beaten to death after being attacked by a group of people in Palakkad's Attappadi on Thursday evening. BJP workers stage protest in Trivandrum with a symbolic body, over death of a tribal youth, who died after being beaten up in Palakkad's Attappadi. #Kerala pic.twitter.com/ABNB1ITozu — ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2018 × He was attacked with sticks for allegedly stealing valuables and food items from the house of a local person. After his health started deteriorating, the police took him to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. The incident came to light after the mob shot videos and clicked selfies of the brutal incident, which went viral on social media on Friday. Earlier in the day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi took to his Twitter handle and condemned the cruel lynching of the dead tribal youth. "I am deeply disturbed by the savage and cruel lynching of a tribal in Kerala yesterday, captured on camera," Rahul said. "We must guard against growing intolerance in our society & speak out in one voice to condemn these acts of mindless violence, " he added. The Kerala government has announced a relief of Rs 10 lakh to the family of the tribal youth. An investigation is underway and search is on to nab all the culprits.

BJP protests lynching of tribal youth in Kerala

BJP leader Vikram Saini triggered a controversy on Saturday when he asked&nbsp;Hindu communities to produce more children until the population control law gets passed.

The notable irony of the statement is that Saini gave the statement in a public event organised for family planning under the government&#39;s population control programme.

Saini said that &quot;until a law on population control comes into existence, my Hindu brother, you should &nbsp;keep producing babies.&quot;

The BJP legislator represents Khatauli constituency in Muzaffarnagar district.

According to media reports Saini further continued with giving his example that when he had two children his wife wanted to stop but he said to have four to five children.

On two-children policy, he&nbsp;said that law should be equal for everyone and only Hindu communities are following two-children policy.&nbsp;

Last month Saini said that as the country is called Hindustan, it belongs to Hindus.

Vikram Saini also caused controversy during the Muzaffarpur riots after he addressed people at a gathering in asking them to physically assault people who harass women.

Currently, India is suffering from high population issue; it stands at second spot after China in terms of population.

Saini said that 'until a law on population control comes into existence, my Hindu brother, you should keep producing babies'

BJP leader Vikram Saini triggered a controversy on Saturday when he asked Hindu communities to produce more children until the population control law gets passed. The notable irony of the statement is that Saini gave the statement in a public event organised for family planning under the government's population control programme. Saini said that "until a law on population control comes into existence, my Hindu brother, you should keep producing babies." The BJP legislator represents Khatauli constituency in Muzaffarnagar district. According to media reports Saini further continued with giving his example that when he had two children his wife wanted to stop but he said to have four to five children. On two-children policy, he said that law should be equal for everyone and only Hindu communities are following two-children policy. Last month Saini said that as the country is called Hindustan, it belongs to Hindus. Vikram Saini also caused controversy during the Muzaffarpur riots after he addressed people at a gathering in asking them to physically assault people who harass women. Currently, India is suffering from high population issue; it stands at second spot after China in terms of population.

BJP leader asks Hindus to produce more babies at 'family planning' event

The BJP on Saturday asked Congress leader Shashi Tharoor to apologise for comparing the party to a dog.

Shashi Tharoor had said that the Meghalaya&rsquo;s regional National People&#39;s Party (NPP) was allied to the BJP just like &quot;the tail that is wagging along whenever the dog barks.&quot;

&quot;NPP is saying to Meghalaya that they are independent and contesting by themselves everywhere else, but in Meghalaya they are allied to BJP and attaching themselves as the tail that is wagging along whenever the dog barks,&quot; Shashi Tharoor had said in Shillong.

An affronted BJP said it was &quot;shocked&quot; with the language used by Tharoor for political parties.

&quot;We&#39;re shocked with the language used by Shashi Tharoor for political parties in terms of referring to a regional party as the wagging tail of a dog and by implication referring to the BJP literally as a dog. We demand an apology from Shashi Tharoor and the Congress,&quot; said BJP leader Nalin Kohli.

In an indirect reference to Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leader said, &quot;Shashi Tharoor&#39;s political master may have special affinity for certain pet dog Pidi (Rahul Gandhi&#39;s pet dog) may also prefer spending time feeding Pidi than attending to senior political functionaries. It doesn&#39;t mean you&#39;ll reduce political parties to be referred to as dog and insult voters.&quot;

BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav called the remarks &quot;indecent&quot;. 
&nbsp;

An affronted BJP said it was 'shocked' with the language used by Shashi Tharoor for political parties

The BJP on Saturday asked Congress leader Shashi Tharoor to apologise for comparing the party to a dog. Shashi Tharoor had said that the Meghalaya’s regional National People's Party (NPP) was allied to the BJP just like "the tail that is wagging along whenever the dog barks." "NPP is saying to Meghalaya that they are independent and contesting by themselves everywhere else, but in Meghalaya they are allied to BJP and attaching themselves as the tail that is wagging along whenever the dog barks," Shashi Tharoor had said in Shillong. An affronted BJP said it was "shocked" with the language used by Tharoor for political parties. "We're shocked with the language used by Shashi Tharoor for political parties in terms of referring to a regional party as the wagging tail of a dog and by implication referring to the BJP literally as a dog. We demand an apology from Shashi Tharoor and the Congress," said BJP leader Nalin Kohli. In an indirect reference to Rahul Gandhi, the BJP leader said, "Shashi Tharoor's political master may have special affinity for certain pet dog Pidi (Rahul Gandhi's pet dog) may also prefer spending time feeding Pidi than attending to senior political functionaries. It doesn't mean you'll reduce political parties to be referred to as dog and insult voters." BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav called the remarks "indecent".

BJP asks Shashi Tharoor to apologise for comparing party to dog

In normal circumstances, neither the Congress nor the Bharatiya Janata Party would fret much over the electoral outcome of a small state such as Meghalaya. Both have larger national goals to achieve, and an assembly election in this northeastern state, which contributes just two seats to the Lok Sabha, should be no big deal for either of the national parties. But these are not normal circumstances. They are so far from normal that the parties&rsquo; tallest leaders, Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, have addressed public rallies there and aggressively wooed the voters.

What makes the situation so important?&nbsp;

For the Congress, Meghalaya represents one of the very few states in the country that it still rules. A loss here would be a double body blow. First, it would concede yet another state to the BJP. Second, it would embolden the BJP to pursue its political dominance in a region where until a couple of years ago, it was on the margins. The Congress has already lost vast ground across the country to the BJP, and while it is hoping to recoup in the coming State elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan &mdash; and retain Karnataka &mdash; that possibility remains in the realm of speculation for now.&nbsp;

The party has been reduced to such a state that even small wins in small states are to seized upon with glee. It has already lost Assam, where the BJP handed over a drubbing in the last assembly election. The Congress had failed to form governments in both Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. It has little prospect of doing well in Tripura, where voting has already taken place. Meghalaya, then, is its only hope in the North-East.&nbsp;

As far as the BJP is concerned, the battle for Meghalaya is an opportunity for the party to expand its footprints even more dramatically in the region. If it wins, it will have hit two birds with one stone: snatching yet another state from the Congress, and reinforcing its ambitious plans for the North-East through its special purpose political vehicle, the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which it heads.&nbsp;

The BJP does not have smooth sailing, though. The challenges are many, but the foremost is the demographic profile of the State. Meghalaya may derive its name from Sanskrit, meaning the &lsquo;abode of clouds&rsquo;, but this is not going to come to the party&rsquo;s aid. Instead, the religious composition can cloud the BJP&rsquo;s chances in the state.

More than 80 per cent of the population is Christian, and the religious affiliation is spread across the most predominant Khasi and Garo communities. The Hindu faith is the major one among minor tribes such as the Hajong and the Koch. Christians are not known to be the most ardent admirers of the BJP anywhere in the country, and it remains to be seen if the voters of this faith go against the currently prevalent trend elsewhere in the country.

BJP leaders, both at the national and state levels, believe they can reverse the situation in Meghalaya through appeals in favour of development and against parochial considerations. They also feel that the sting can be later managed through post-poll understandings with regional parties which are not just more rooted to the socio-cultural ethos of the state but also command a significant amount of loyalty among the Christian community. For instance, while the National People&rsquo;s Party (NPP), founded by the late PA Sangma, is contesting on its own, the possibility of its aligning with the BJP after the election in government formation, cannot be ruled out. The NPP is fighting the electoral battle on its own for tactical reasons &mdash; it does not want to alienate the section of its voters that is uncomfortable with the BJP.

Meanwhile, the BJP&rsquo;s cause has been somewhat helped by the migration of leaders in the past months away from the Congress. Besides, the party has kept away from contentious issues like the beef ban, which it belligerently promotes in other parts of the country, and even that of illegal migration with a view to appeasing the non-tribal voters.&nbsp;

The Congress is, on the other hand, banking on the very issue that is a challenge for the BJP &mdash; the demographic composition. It has over the years build a solid support base among the Christians and is not hesitant to exploit it. During one of his recent trips to the state, party president Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of trying to &lsquo;purchase&rsquo; the loyalty of the Church there.&nbsp;

Interestingly, while a good part of the local BJP leadership in Meghalaya has come from other parties, the Congress too established its base in the state in a similar fashion some 40 years ago, when an influential organisation, the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), merged lock, stock and barrel, with the national party. The APHLC had spearheaded the formation of Meghalaya as a separate entity. From then on, the Congress had been on a roll, at times tying up with regional outfits to govern.

The 2018 election will, in many ways, be its first real test in many years. Given how the BJP upstaged the Congress in Manipur despite not even being the party with the largest number of seats, the state Congress leadership does not want to take chances with a hung assembly and is going all out to secure a clear majority.

In this regard, there is much at stake for the local leadership led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma. Not only is he contesting from two constituencies, but his wife too is seeking re-election. Besides, the Chief Minister&rsquo;s brother and the brother&rsquo;s wife too, are contestants. To be fair to the Chief Minister, his is not the only family in the fray; the NPP too is involved in family politics. If all goes well for the Congress, the dynasty issue will not be relevant; if the party fares badly, then he will have to take the rap for brazenly promoting his family.&nbsp;

In the midst of all these calculations, are the real issues of development. Here, while the Congress is on slippery ground, the BJP cannot take it for granted that the promise of inclusive development and growth will necessarily lure voters to its side. Road connectivity in shambles, the primary education system in rural Meghalaya is creaking, basic healthcare in far-flung regions is poor, the power supply is erratic in small towns and villages, agriculture which is the mainstay for a large section of population is in a bad shape, and there is a grave scarcity of potable water. It can be argued that these malaises are not unique to Meghalaya. Even other states, including BJP-ruled ones, suffer similarly. The question is: Will voters buy the reasoning?&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

BJP leaders believe they can reverse the situation in Meghalaya through appeals in favour of development and against parochial considerations.

In normal circumstances, neither the Congress nor the Bharatiya Janata Party would fret much over the electoral outcome of a small state such as Meghalaya. Both have larger national goals to achieve, and an assembly election in this northeastern state, which contributes just two seats to the Lok Sabha, should be no big deal for either of the national parties. But these are not normal circumstances. They are so far from normal that the parties’ tallest leaders, Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, have addressed public rallies there and aggressively wooed the voters. What makes the situation so important? For the Congress, Meghalaya represents one of the very few states in the country that it still rules. A loss here would be a double body blow. First, it would concede yet another state to the BJP. Second, it would embolden the BJP to pursue its political dominance in a region where until a couple of years ago, it was on the margins. The Congress has already lost vast ground across the country to the BJP, and while it is hoping to recoup in the coming State elections in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan — and retain Karnataka — that possibility remains in the realm of speculation for now. The party has been reduced to such a state that even small wins in small states are to seized upon with glee. It has already lost Assam, where the BJP handed over a drubbing in the last assembly election. The Congress had failed to form governments in both Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. It has little prospect of doing well in Tripura, where voting has already taken place. Meghalaya, then, is its only hope in the North-East. As far as the BJP is concerned, the battle for Meghalaya is an opportunity for the party to expand its footprints even more dramatically in the region. If it wins, it will have hit two birds with one stone: snatching yet another state from the Congress, and reinforcing its ambitious plans for the North-East through its special purpose political vehicle, the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which it heads. The BJP does not have smooth sailing, though. The challenges are many, but the foremost is the demographic profile of the State. Meghalaya may derive its name from Sanskrit, meaning the ‘abode of clouds’, but this is not going to come to the party’s aid. Instead, the religious composition can cloud the BJP’s chances in the state. More than 80 per cent of the population is Christian, and the religious affiliation is spread across the most predominant Khasi and Garo communities. The Hindu faith is the major one among minor tribes such as the Hajong and the Koch. Christians are not known to be the most ardent admirers of the BJP anywhere in the country, and it remains to be seen if the voters of this faith go against the currently prevalent trend elsewhere in the country. BJP leaders, both at the national and state levels, believe they can reverse the situation in Meghalaya through appeals in favour of development and against parochial considerations. They also feel that the sting can be later managed through post-poll understandings with regional parties which are not just more rooted to the socio-cultural ethos of the state but also command a significant amount of loyalty among the Christian community. For instance, while the National People’s Party (NPP), founded by the late PA Sangma, is contesting on its own, the possibility of its aligning with the BJP after the election in government formation, cannot be ruled out. The NPP is fighting the electoral battle on its own for tactical reasons — it does not want to alienate the section of its voters that is uncomfortable with the BJP. Meanwhile, the BJP’s cause has been somewhat helped by the migration of leaders in the past months away from the Congress. Besides, the party has kept away from contentious issues like the beef ban, which it belligerently promotes in other parts of the country, and even that of illegal migration with a view to appeasing the non-tribal voters. The Congress is, on the other hand, banking on the very issue that is a challenge for the BJP — the demographic composition. It has over the years build a solid support base among the Christians and is not hesitant to exploit it. During one of his recent trips to the state, party president Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of trying to ‘purchase’ the loyalty of the Church there. Interestingly, while a good part of the local BJP leadership in Meghalaya has come from other parties, the Congress too established its base in the state in a similar fashion some 40 years ago, when an influential organisation, the All Party Hill Leaders Conference (APHLC), merged lock, stock and barrel, with the national party. The APHLC had spearheaded the formation of Meghalaya as a separate entity. From then on, the Congress had been on a roll, at times tying up with regional outfits to govern. The 2018 election will, in many ways, be its first real test in many years. Given how the BJP upstaged the Congress in Manipur despite not even being the party with the largest number of seats, the state Congress leadership does not want to take chances with a hung assembly and is going all out to secure a clear majority. In this regard, there is much at stake for the local leadership led by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma. Not only is he contesting from two constituencies, but his wife too is seeking re-election. Besides, the Chief Minister’s brother and the brother’s wife too, are contestants. To be fair to the Chief Minister, his is not the only family in the fray; the NPP too is involved in family politics. If all goes well for the Congress, the dynasty issue will not be relevant; if the party fares badly, then he will have to take the rap for brazenly promoting his family. In the midst of all these calculations, are the real issues of development. Here, while the Congress is on slippery ground, the BJP cannot take it for granted that the promise of inclusive development and growth will necessarily lure voters to its side. Road connectivity in shambles, the primary education system in rural Meghalaya is creaking, basic healthcare in far-flung regions is poor, the power supply is erratic in small towns and villages, agriculture which is the mainstay for a large section of population is in a bad shape, and there is a grave scarcity of potable water. It can be argued that these malaises are not unique to Meghalaya. Even other states, including BJP-ruled ones, suffer similarly. The question is: Will voters buy the reasoning? (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Will Meghalaya prefer BJP over Congress's Mukul Sangma?

A few days back, there was a very interesting news piece. In the town Shamli of western UP,&nbsp; two dreaded criminals walked into the office of Police Superintendent and handed over an affidavit stating that they were leaving the crime world once and for all and going forward they would earn their bread with honesty and hard work.

This very clip manifest the changes which are ushering in the largest state of the country ever since Yogi Adityanath took over the reign around 11 months back. For someone like me who was born and brought up in UP, this is news of huge significance.

In 2005, when Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister of Bihar for the&nbsp;first time, my friend from college, who is from Bihar called me and said: &ldquo; we finally have our man, when will you have?&rdquo;.

There is a background to the question asked by my friend. UP and Bihar&nbsp;are two of the largest states in India. Combined together, these two states are 1/4th&nbsp;of India. Regretfully, these are the two states, who paid the hefty price for the political turmoil over the past three decades. Both states were left lurching and in the abysmal state on all indexes of development and human life.

For UP, it was a sorry figure for a state which has spearheaded the political, social and even&nbsp;economic&nbsp;activities of the country since the colonial times.

The process of decline started in 1985 when a few months after Indira Gandhi&rsquo;s assassination, Congress swept the assembly polls in Bihar and UP (with other states as well) with Rajiv Gandhi as the Congress supremo and Prime Minister. Rajiv Gandhi subverted constitutional values in a very big way and state governments were only interested in keeping their master happy. In UP and Bihar, Congress governments were jaded and with pathetic or say nil governance. The game of musical chair for chief ministership was on as Rajiv Gandhi was sacking and appointing them&nbsp;on&nbsp;his whims. The result, Congress lost base rapidly and voters alienated with Congress.

1990 was one plummeted steeply in the five years during 1985-90, lost its total voter base in UP and Bihar. In UP, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kanshiram made most of this situation and UP just got entrapped in caste-based politics with clear compartments of votes.

In UP, the deterioration was thick and fast in the new millennium. Mayawati had some hold on the governance during 2007-2012 but transparency was completely missing, financial irregularities were pervasive, and BSP cadre was busy in the organised loot from top to bottom.

But it was the rule of Samajwadi Party during 2003-07 and 2012-17, which hit UP the most. Corruption was rife and so was nepotism. Criminals got brazen political protection. As the epitome of worst of cast appeasement, each and every institution like Police, Public Service Commission, Public Works Department, etc, were disrupted and were flooded with people of just one caste. Once a transporter told his plight to me that how goons backed by political dispensation were robbing their fleets and drivers with sheer impunity. The corruption was at an unthinkable peak. A few years back, during the discussion with one supplier who used to supply consumables to UP&rsquo;s health department, it came out that he had to dole out Rs. 55,000 to babus and brokers for a billing of Rs. 1 Lakh. You can imagine what stuff a supplier would deliver after paying a 55% commission. This will also throw some light that how so many kids died in Gorakhpur Medical College a few months back.

The sign of revival was palpable, soon after Yogi took the reign in March 2017. He first attacked the UP&rsquo;s road, which was full of potholes. Then he came hard on illegal butcheries, which were an absolute menace and polluting environment in a big way (liberals ranted though on this and tried to give this a communal twist).

But Yogi&rsquo;s crackdown on criminals is his biggest achievement. Liberals are again ranting on possible human right&rsquo;s violation by Police but these liberals have little idea that how deep-rooted the problem of crimes is in UP. It warrants radical steps and Yogi is just doing that. It needs the shock therapy, which Yogi is providing.

Yogi is the man of action and his actions are decisive and bold. He recently cracked down on blatant cheating in UP Board examinations. To my surprise, I read a piece by a famous liberal, wherein Yogi was criticised that how Yogi is ruthless on cheaters and playing with the future of youth.

His investor summit in Lucknow has been encouraging on the first day itself on 21st&nbsp;Feb 2018. Narendra Modi who is the originator of this very Idea with his &ldquo;Vibrant Gujarat&rdquo; initiatives when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat himself was present and presided over.

So, finally, UP has its man, bit late albeit. Yogi has shown the glimpse that he can reinstate the lost glory of the largest state of the country.

Last but not the least, as UP send almost 15% of representative in the Lok Sabha, he is all important man for Modi and BJP as well in its run up to 2019. For the second term of Modi, UP would again play a decisive role and Yogi has the onus to deliver it, which he will.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Since Yogi Adityanath took the reign in March 2017, he has shown that he can reinstate the lost glory of the largest state of the country.

A few days back, there was a very interesting news piece. In the town Shamli of western UP, two dreaded criminals walked into the office of Police Superintendent and handed over an affidavit stating that they were leaving the crime world once and for all and going forward they would earn their bread with honesty and hard work. This very clip manifest the changes which are ushering in the largest state of the country ever since Yogi Adityanath took over the reign around 11 months back. For someone like me who was born and brought up in UP, this is news of huge significance. In 2005, when Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time, my friend from college, who is from Bihar called me and said: “ we finally have our man, when will you have?”. There is a background to the question asked by my friend. UP and Bihar are two of the largest states in India. Combined together, these two states are 1/4th of India. Regretfully, these are the two states, who paid the hefty price for the political turmoil over the past three decades. Both states were left lurching and in the abysmal state on all indexes of development and human life. For UP, it was a sorry figure for a state which has spearheaded the political, social and even economic activities of the country since the colonial times. The process of decline started in 1985 when a few months after Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Congress swept the assembly polls in Bihar and UP (with other states as well) with Rajiv Gandhi as the Congress supremo and Prime Minister. Rajiv Gandhi subverted constitutional values in a very big way and state governments were only interested in keeping their master happy. In UP and Bihar, Congress governments were jaded and with pathetic or say nil governance. The game of musical chair for chief ministership was on as Rajiv Gandhi was sacking and appointing them on his whims. The result, Congress lost base rapidly and voters alienated with Congress. 1990 was one plummeted steeply in the five years during 1985-90, lost its total voter base in UP and Bihar. In UP, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kanshiram made most of this situation and UP just got entrapped in caste-based politics with clear compartments of votes. In UP, the deterioration was thick and fast in the new millennium. Mayawati had some hold on the governance during 2007-2012 but transparency was completely missing, financial irregularities were pervasive, and BSP cadre was busy in the organised loot from top to bottom. But it was the rule of Samajwadi Party during 2003-07 and 2012-17, which hit UP the most. Corruption was rife and so was nepotism. Criminals got brazen political protection. As the epitome of worst of cast appeasement, each and every institution like Police, Public Service Commission, Public Works Department, etc, were disrupted and were flooded with people of just one caste. Once a transporter told his plight to me that how goons backed by political dispensation were robbing their fleets and drivers with sheer impunity. The corruption was at an unthinkable peak. A few years back, during the discussion with one supplier who used to supply consumables to UP’s health department, it came out that he had to dole out Rs. 55,000 to babus and brokers for a billing of Rs. 1 Lakh. You can imagine what stuff a supplier would deliver after paying a 55% commission. This will also throw some light that how so many kids died in Gorakhpur Medical College a few months back. The sign of revival was palpable, soon after Yogi took the reign in March 2017. He first attacked the UP’s road, which was full of potholes. Then he came hard on illegal butcheries, which were an absolute menace and polluting environment in a big way (liberals ranted though on this and tried to give this a communal twist). But Yogi’s crackdown on criminals is his biggest achievement. Liberals are again ranting on possible human right’s violation by Police but these liberals have little idea that how deep-rooted the problem of crimes is in UP. It warrants radical steps and Yogi is just doing that. It needs the shock therapy, which Yogi is providing. Yogi is the man of action and his actions are decisive and bold. He recently cracked down on blatant cheating in UP Board examinations. To my surprise, I read a piece by a famous liberal, wherein Yogi was criticised that how Yogi is ruthless on cheaters and playing with the future of youth. His investor summit in Lucknow has been encouraging on the first day itself on 21st Feb 2018. Narendra Modi who is the originator of this very Idea with his “Vibrant Gujarat” initiatives when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat himself was present and presided over. So, finally, UP has its man, bit late albeit. Yogi has shown the glimpse that he can reinstate the lost glory of the largest state of the country. Last but not the least, as UP send almost 15% of representative in the Lok Sabha, he is all important man for Modi and BJP as well in its run up to 2019. For the second term of Modi, UP would again play a decisive role and Yogi has the onus to deliver it, which he will. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Yogi Adityanath is the man to root out crime in UP

Migration from Bangladesh into India is &quot;plannned&quot;, Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday. The migration, he added, is part of a proxy war by Pakistan and is supported by China, to keep India&#39;s Northeast region on the boil.&nbsp;

&quot;Other issue is planned immigration taking place because of our western neighbour. They will always try and ensure that this area is taken over. This proxy dimension of warfare is well played by our western neighbour and supported by our northern neighbour,&quot; Rawat said.&nbsp;

Rawat was speaking in Delhi at a conference on securing borders in India&#39;s Northeast region.

To back up his argument, Rawat said the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) has grown faster in Assam than the BJP over the years. The AIUDF is led by Badruddin Ajmal.&nbsp;

&quot;When we talk of Jan Sangh with two MPs and where they have reached, AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam,&quot; said Rawat.&nbsp;

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) have grown in a faster time-frame than the BJP grew over the years. When we talk of Jan Sangh with two MPs &amp; where they have reached, AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat (21.02.18) <a href="https://t.co/XUIlBDhef6">pic.twitter.com/XUIlBDhef6</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/966478959234793472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Rawat however did concede that migration from Bangladesh also takes place because of the pressure of population.&nbsp;

&quot;Migration from Bangladesh is due to two reasons. One, they are running out of space. Large areas get flooded during the monsoon and they have constricted area to stay,&quot; said Rawat.&nbsp;

Former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon also spoke at the conference.&nbsp;

&quot;One reason why we saw that activity in Doklam last year was not because they (China) had a clear military option or superiority but because they had the political goal of splitting us from the Bhutanese,&quot; Menon said.&nbsp;

&quot;China wanted to show the Bhutanese that India could not defend their security and also to arouse Bhutanese opinion. I am glad we chose to react the way we did,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

Rawat has made a number of comments of late, for some of which he has drawn flak with commentators saying he has <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/wont-allow-anti-india-activities-in-kashmir-army-chief-29627" target="_blank">overstepped his brief</a> as army chief.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

'Other issue is planned immigration taking place because of our western neighbour. They will always try and ensure that this area is taken over. This proxy dimension of warfare is well played by our western neighbour and supported by our northern neighbour,' Rawat said

Migration from Bangladesh into India is "plannned", Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday. The migration, he added, is part of a proxy war by Pakistan and is supported by China, to keep India's Northeast region on the boil. "Other issue is planned immigration taking place because of our western neighbour. They will always try and ensure that this area is taken over. This proxy dimension of warfare is well played by our western neighbour and supported by our northern neighbour," Rawat said. Rawat was speaking in Delhi at a conference on securing borders in India's Northeast region. To back up his argument, Rawat said the AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) has grown faster in Assam than the BJP over the years. The AIUDF is led by Badruddin Ajmal. "When we talk of Jan Sangh with two MPs and where they have reached, AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam," said Rawat. AIUDF (All India United Democratic Front) have grown in a faster time-frame than the BJP grew over the years. When we talk of Jan Sangh with two MPs & where they have reached, AIUDF is moving at a faster pace in the state of Assam: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat (21.02.18) pic.twitter.com/XUIlBDhef6 — ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2018 × Rawat however did concede that migration from Bangladesh also takes place because of the pressure of population. "Migration from Bangladesh is due to two reasons. One, they are running out of space. Large areas get flooded during the monsoon and they have constricted area to stay," said Rawat. Former National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon also spoke at the conference. "One reason why we saw that activity in Doklam last year was not because they (China) had a clear military option or superiority but because they had the political goal of splitting us from the Bhutanese," Menon said. "China wanted to show the Bhutanese that India could not defend their security and also to arouse Bhutanese opinion. I am glad we chose to react the way we did," he added. Rawat has made a number of comments of late, for some of which he has drawn flak with commentators saying he has overstepped his brief as army chief.

Migration from Bangladesh part of proxy war by Pakistan, supported by China: Army Chief

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has started following some senior Congress leaders on Twitter of late, triggering speculation over his sudden interest in the party that he was once close to and had drifted away from. 
 
After following Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the party&#39;s official Twitter handle, he began following senior leaders P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot and CP Joshi from this month. 
 
He recently also started following party leaders Manish Tewari, Shakeel Ahmed, Sanjay Nirupam, Randeep Surjewala Priyanka Chaturvedi and Sanjay Jha on the micro-blogging site. 
 
Bachchan, who was once close to the Nehru-Gandhi family and a friend of Rajiv Gandhi, is currently the brand ambassador of Gujarat. He has over 33.1 million followers on Twitter and follows only 1,689 people. 
 
His sudden love for the Congress and some other opposition leaders has taken the party by surprise. 
 
Some other opposition leaders whom the actor has started following recently, include RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his daughter Misa Bharti, JD(U)&#39;s Nitish Kumar, CPI-M&#39;s Sitaram Yechury. He also followed the RJD&#39;s official Twitter handle, NC&#39;s Omar Abdullah and NCP&#39;s Supriya Sule. 
 
The AAP leaders he started following recently are Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai, Sanjay Singh, Kumar Vishwas and Ashish Khetan. 
 
Manish Tewari, who was one of the Congress leaders recently followed by the actor, thanked him but did not say anything more on its timing and political significance. 
 
&quot;Thank you Sh Amitabh Bachan for following me and it is my privilege to follow the icon of Indian cinema who we grew up watching first-day first-show every new release. Those days in late 70&rsquo;s &amp; early 80&rsquo;s a balcony ticket in Chandigarh was Rs 3. Unbelievable today! @SrBachchan,&quot; he tweeted. 
 
The superstar also follows a number of BJP leaders. Of late, he started following ministers Nitin Gadkari and Suresh Prabhu.&nbsp;

His sudden love for the Congress and some other opposition leaders has taken many by surprise

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan has started following some senior Congress leaders on Twitter of late, triggering speculation over his sudden interest in the party that he was once close to and had drifted away from. After following Congress president Rahul Gandhi and the party's official Twitter handle, he began following senior leaders P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot, Ajay Maken, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot and CP Joshi from this month. He recently also started following party leaders Manish Tewari, Shakeel Ahmed, Sanjay Nirupam, Randeep Surjewala Priyanka Chaturvedi and Sanjay Jha on the micro-blogging site. Bachchan, who was once close to the Nehru-Gandhi family and a friend of Rajiv Gandhi, is currently the brand ambassador of Gujarat. He has over 33.1 million followers on Twitter and follows only 1,689 people. His sudden love for the Congress and some other opposition leaders has taken the party by surprise. Some other opposition leaders whom the actor has started following recently, include RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, his daughter Misa Bharti, JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury. He also followed the RJD's official Twitter handle, NC's Omar Abdullah and NCP's Supriya Sule. The AAP leaders he started following recently are Manish Sisodia, Gopal Rai, Sanjay Singh, Kumar Vishwas and Ashish Khetan. Manish Tewari, who was one of the Congress leaders recently followed by the actor, thanked him but did not say anything more on its timing and political significance. "Thank you Sh Amitabh Bachan for following me and it is my privilege to follow the icon of Indian cinema who we grew up watching first-day first-show every new release. Those days in late 70’s & early 80’s a balcony ticket in Chandigarh was Rs 3. Unbelievable today! @SrBachchan," he tweeted. The superstar also follows a number of BJP leaders. Of late, he started following ministers Nitin Gadkari and Suresh Prabhu.

Amitabh Bachchan starts following Rahul Gandhi, Congress leaders; triggers speculation

Delhi BJP MLAs met with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today and demanded the &quot;dismissal&quot; of the Arvind Kejriwal government.

The delegation, led by Delhi assembly&#39;s Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, aimed at discussing the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash.

During the meeting, Gupta alleged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia of &quot;complicit connivance&quot; in the incident.

Delhi Chief Secretary, Anshu Prakash lodged an FIR with the Delhi alleging stating that he was assaulted by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and others during a meeting at Kejriwal&#39;s residence on Monday night.

The accused have been arrested by the police.

&quot;The complaint of the chief secretary clearly states that no one tried to save him during the assault. This implies that the CM and the Deputy CM along with the MLAs were equally guilty of connivance in the offence,&quot; Gupta said in a statement.

&quot;The BJP MLAs submitted before the L-G that the Kejriwal government had no right to continue in power and demanded its early dismissal,&quot; the statement said.

AAP leaders want to create an atmosphere of &quot;fear&quot; and &quot;unquestioned compliance of dictates&quot; in the mind of senior officers of IAS, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services (DANICS) and Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services (DASS) cadres, Gupta alleged.&nbsp;

The delegation was led by Delhi assembly's Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta

Delhi BJP MLAs met with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today and demanded the "dismissal" of the Arvind Kejriwal government. The delegation, led by Delhi assembly's Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, aimed at discussing the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash. During the meeting, Gupta alleged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia of "complicit connivance" in the incident. Delhi Chief Secretary, Anshu Prakash lodged an FIR with the Delhi alleging stating that he was assaulted by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and others during a meeting at Kejriwal's residence on Monday night. The accused have been arrested by the police. "The complaint of the chief secretary clearly states that no one tried to save him during the assault. This implies that the CM and the Deputy CM along with the MLAs were equally guilty of connivance in the offence," Gupta said in a statement. "The BJP MLAs submitted before the L-G that the Kejriwal government had no right to continue in power and demanded its early dismissal," the statement said. AAP leaders want to create an atmosphere of "fear" and "unquestioned compliance of dictates" in the mind of senior officers of IAS, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services (DANICS) and Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services (DASS) cadres, Gupta alleged.

Delhi Chief Secretary assault case: BJP MLAs meet Lt Governor, seek dismissal of AAP government

Polling in Tripura recorded an 89.96 % turn out. This is not exactly a record turn-out. It means 10 % of 25.73 lakh or 2.5 lakh people (approximately) never turned up to vote. Considering that Tripura is one of the few states with high voter literacy and since both the Left Front and the BJP have undertaken considerable booth management exercises, the turn-out is rather dismal. Be that as it may, Tripura&rsquo;s fate is now sealed. We have to wait till March 3 for the verdict.&nbsp;

But until yesterday, Manik Sarkar, Tripura&rsquo;s chief minister till date and for the last 20 years confidently claimed that the Left Front would return to power even as BJP stalwarts in Tripura countered his claims and say the voters will decide whether they want to be stuck with a non-delivering socialistic paradigm or a development-oriented government that people have been deprived of for several decades. Prime Minister Modi made a special appeal to the voters of Tripura to come out and vote for the BJP which promises &#39;Change&#39;.

The BJP has made a clutter of promises from the universal health insurance to farm loan waiver and smartphone for youths to direct funding for ADC &ndash; 2018 and above all implementation of the 7th Pay Commission and enhanced daily wages to Rs 340 per day. Countering the BJP claims, working president of the Congress Party (which is now reduced to a complete non-entity and which might not get even a single seat this time), Pradyot Debbarma says the BJP is promising the moon but will find it hard to deliver. &ldquo;They are talking about the 7th Pay Commission here but have not implemented the same in Assam, Madhya Pradesh and other BJP-ruled states. The daily wages under MNREGA in Assam where BJP is ruling is Rs 170, so how can they pay Rs 340 in Tripura?&rdquo; The problem is that the Congress offers nothing better except to counter the BJP&rsquo;s claims.&nbsp;

This, in fact, is the problem with the Congress Party in the poll-bound states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. The Party has no vision for the region and the states. It has just been lambasting the BJP and voters are actually tired of these political slugfests on a daily basis. Rahul Gandhi, the AICC President, came to campaign in Tripura only on the penultimate date, 48 hours before polling. This has not enchanted people to vote for Congress.&nbsp;

In fact, the rise of the Left Parties in Tripura is proportionate to the failure of the Congress Party to win hearts and minds. From a movement initiated by enlightened youth in the 1940s the CPI which later morphed into the CPI (M), went on to form the first Left Front government in alliance with two other parties - the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and All India Forward Bloc in 1978. The Congress aligned with Tripura Upajati Juba Samiti (TUJS) &ndash; a party of the indigenous people of Tripura and defeated the Left Front in 1988. But this coalition was short-lived. By the next election in 1993, the Left Front returned to power.

Much has been said about Manik Sarkar&rsquo;s honesty and him being the poorest chief minister of Tripura but this claim is busted by the Rose Valley chit fund scam where Sarkar&rsquo;s ministers were singed. The Company is alleged to have looted Rs 35 crore of public deposits, according to State Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha. No action taken against the accused has created disaffection in the depositors.

&nbsp;Moreover, the failure of the Left Front to address unemployment; its failure to attract industries for employment generation and a general sense that even the Digital India drive that has enabled the country to connect with the world, has not worked for Tripura and you have an anatomy of failed governance.

&nbsp;Then there is the infamous ruling by the Supreme Court where 10,323 government teachers were terminated because the state Education Department flouted the rules under which the teachers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan had to be recruited which required a certain qualification and three years of experience. The state created over 12 thousand non-teaching posts where they might have been rehabilitated but again the Supreme Court prevented the Government from going ahead with this plan. Hence, the 12,000 odd jobless people are bound to retaliate against the Government. Or that is what is expected in normal circumstances.

The Medical College started in Tripura, has not been functioning well and the BJP has called out all the scams that it has documented meticulously. To start industries in a Left-ruled state has always been a challenge because of the rent-seeking mafia. Hence industries that opened up with much fanfare quickly shut down because there was no scope for their enterprise to bloom in Tripura.

Tripura has about 8 lakh of unemployed youth and jobs in the government sector have stagnated. Government employees are still stuck with the 4th Pay Commission. Dissatisfaction is writ large on their faces. Meanwhile, the BJP has come in with a basketful of promises and hopes to cash in on this feeling of large-scale disaffection. The BJP used its students&rsquo; wing- the ABVP and the disciplined RSS machinery. They were able to build grassroots contact.

To add to this extensive exercise the BJP also flew in its central ministers. Prime Minister Modi flew in twice to Tripura. Amit Shah, the BJP President, organised mega rallies. Other senior ministers flew in and out of Tripura. So did the ministers from neighbouring Assam and Manipur, both BJP ruled states. It is alleged that the BJP also had the moolah which Manik Sarkar&rsquo;s Party could not afford. Political observers said, &ldquo;Never before have we seen four private planes parked at Agartala airport&quot;. Central ministers were literally flying in and out of Tripura.&nbsp;

So eager is the BJP to win this Left bastion that it has pulled out all the stops. It remains to be seen if this effort would pay dividends. The BJP has been pitching for change in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland.&nbsp;

What change party brings,&nbsp;will be revealed when and if the BJP comes to power? Until then the voters of Tripura must wait and watch. So to the two main political rivals!&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The BJP has come in with a basketful of promises and hopes to cash in on this feeling of large-scale disaffection in Tripura.

Polling in Tripura recorded an 89.96 % turn out. This is not exactly a record turn-out. It means 10 % of 25.73 lakh or 2.5 lakh people (approximately) never turned up to vote. Considering that Tripura is one of the few states with high voter literacy and since both the Left Front and the BJP have undertaken considerable booth management exercises, the turn-out is rather dismal. Be that as it may, Tripura’s fate is now sealed. We have to wait till March 3 for the verdict. But until yesterday, Manik Sarkar, Tripura’s chief minister till date and for the last 20 years confidently claimed that the Left Front would return to power even as BJP stalwarts in Tripura countered his claims and say the voters will decide whether they want to be stuck with a non-delivering socialistic paradigm or a development-oriented government that people have been deprived of for several decades. Prime Minister Modi made a special appeal to the voters of Tripura to come out and vote for the BJP which promises 'Change'. The BJP has made a clutter of promises from the universal health insurance to farm loan waiver and smartphone for youths to direct funding for ADC – 2018 and above all implementation of the 7th Pay Commission and enhanced daily wages to Rs 340 per day. Countering the BJP claims, working president of the Congress Party (which is now reduced to a complete non-entity and which might not get even a single seat this time), Pradyot Debbarma says the BJP is promising the moon but will find it hard to deliver. “They are talking about the 7th Pay Commission here but have not implemented the same in Assam, Madhya Pradesh and other BJP-ruled states. The daily wages under MNREGA in Assam where BJP is ruling is Rs 170, so how can they pay Rs 340 in Tripura?” The problem is that the Congress offers nothing better except to counter the BJP’s claims. This, in fact, is the problem with the Congress Party in the poll-bound states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. The Party has no vision for the region and the states. It has just been lambasting the BJP and voters are actually tired of these political slugfests on a daily basis. Rahul Gandhi, the AICC President, came to campaign in Tripura only on the penultimate date, 48 hours before polling. This has not enchanted people to vote for Congress. In fact, the rise of the Left Parties in Tripura is proportionate to the failure of the Congress Party to win hearts and minds. From a movement initiated by enlightened youth in the 1940s the CPI which later morphed into the CPI (M), went on to form the first Left Front government in alliance with two other parties - the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) and All India Forward Bloc in 1978. The Congress aligned with Tripura Upajati Juba Samiti (TUJS) – a party of the indigenous people of Tripura and defeated the Left Front in 1988. But this coalition was short-lived. By the next election in 1993, the Left Front returned to power. Much has been said about Manik Sarkar’s honesty and him being the poorest chief minister of Tripura but this claim is busted by the Rose Valley chit fund scam where Sarkar’s ministers were singed. The Company is alleged to have looted Rs 35 crore of public deposits, according to State Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha. No action taken against the accused has created disaffection in the depositors. Moreover, the failure of the Left Front to address unemployment; its failure to attract industries for employment generation and a general sense that even the Digital India drive that has enabled the country to connect with the world, has not worked for Tripura and you have an anatomy of failed governance. Then there is the infamous ruling by the Supreme Court where 10,323 government teachers were terminated because the state Education Department flouted the rules under which the teachers under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan had to be recruited which required a certain qualification and three years of experience. The state created over 12 thousand non-teaching posts where they might have been rehabilitated but again the Supreme Court prevented the Government from going ahead with this plan. Hence, the 12,000 odd jobless people are bound to retaliate against the Government. Or that is what is expected in normal circumstances. The Medical College started in Tripura, has not been functioning well and the BJP has called out all the scams that it has documented meticulously. To start industries in a Left-ruled state has always been a challenge because of the rent-seeking mafia. Hence industries that opened up with much fanfare quickly shut down because there was no scope for their enterprise to bloom in Tripura. Tripura has about 8 lakh of unemployed youth and jobs in the government sector have stagnated. Government employees are still stuck with the 4th Pay Commission. Dissatisfaction is writ large on their faces. Meanwhile, the BJP has come in with a basketful of promises and hopes to cash in on this feeling of large-scale disaffection. The BJP used its students’ wing- the ABVP and the disciplined RSS machinery. They were able to build grassroots contact. To add to this extensive exercise the BJP also flew in its central ministers. Prime Minister Modi flew in twice to Tripura. Amit Shah, the BJP President, organised mega rallies. Other senior ministers flew in and out of Tripura. So did the ministers from neighbouring Assam and Manipur, both BJP ruled states. It is alleged that the BJP also had the moolah which Manik Sarkar’s Party could not afford. Political observers said, “Never before have we seen four private planes parked at Agartala airport". Central ministers were literally flying in and out of Tripura. So eager is the BJP to win this Left bastion that it has pulled out all the stops. It remains to be seen if this effort would pay dividends. The BJP has been pitching for change in Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland. What change party brings, will be revealed when and if the BJP comes to power? Until then the voters of Tripura must wait and watch. So to the two main political rivals! (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Tripura is disappointed with Left but can BJP do better?

WION interviewed Kiren Rijiju in Nagaland on the eve of elections in the Northeast. He spoke on the issues ranging from Naga Accord to separate time zone for the Northeast. Kiren Rijiju, in an exclusive interview, said that talks with the Naga leaders are in the last stage and could be announced soon. However, he did not give a timeline.

Q: How important is the Northeast for BJP?

A: Any election is important but NE is important because PM has set the agenda of Act East policy which can only be implemented by an honest government. Many governments in this region in past indulged in corruption. This time BJP has gone full steam to rest the power from the Congress. We are not giving a token fight. We have made an arrangement with the newly formed NDDP. We have a seat-sharing arrangement with them. I&rsquo;m overseeing the entire election and response has been tremendous.

Q: Earlier there was an impression that BJP was primarily focused on Tripura?

A: Tripura came into focus by the national media because it has been ruled by the Left party for decades and BJP unexpectedly took CPM head on. When BJP picked up, it became a big news. In Nagaland, the talks are also going on and it is a 70-year-old political problem. We need to tell the people that we are committed to solving the Naga problem. As a minister from NE, I&rsquo;m right now concentrating on Nagaland.

Q: In NE BJP did not show a leap of faith which it showed in Maharashtra and Haryana

A: In the context of Nagaland, we could have gone alone but we took sensitivities into account. We wanted a regional party to be part of &lsquo;us&rsquo; to implement the Naga Accord as and when it is signed which we are expecting soon. If we had gone alone, it would have given the impression that we are only interested in wresting away power. In Meghalaya, we are going alone. We only have an understanding.

Q: When do you intend to announce the Naga Accord? The term of the government would expire next year?

A: It is not a question of tenure. It is a question of commitment. PM from the day one has said that he wants to solve the issue. The talks are progressing smoothly and nearing the agreement which we are looking forward too. I feel that it should not take too much time. Some critical issues remain and they need to be settled and once they get resolved, we can implement it.

Q: There is lot anxiety about the details of the draft agreement or what would the accord look like

A: It was not an agreement. It was a framework agreement on which the talk would progress. It was a confidence-building measure. It is on that basis the talks have progressed. Some political parties like Congress tried to give a spin but did not work.

Q: Are you saying that by this year it could be announced?

A: If you give a timeline, the problem starts. It is not the question of how soon. It is a question of commitment and we are committed to it?

Q: NBCC wrote a letter to various political parties referring to BJP and Hindutva. Your response on it?

A: Nagaland would be governed by the Nagas. It is a Christian state. The CM, elected representatives and ministers are all Christians, so where is the question of imposition? The Constitution would guide us. No one can be discriminated on the basis of identity. Everyone is an Indian. Bringing religion into politics is not at all appreciated. If you target BJP, then someone benefits. I have said that we are a&nbsp;secular party functioning under a constitution which is secular in nature and there is no question of imposing faith on other people. Nagaland would be ruled by Naga people and there would not be any bearing on adverse impact on faith.

Q: Are you saying that church has become a political player in Nagaland?

A: We do not blame the church as not all the churches are of the same opinion. Maybe one or two people have raked up the issue to benefit a political party but we have effectively communicated to people that politics is about governance and has nothing to do with faith which is about an individual choice. No one should interfere with people&rsquo;s faith.

Q: Lot of people would say that BJP becomes another person when in the Northeast unlike what it is in the mainland

A: Obviously, India is a large country and every community has its own say in its domain area. If someone from J&amp;K goes to Tamil Nadu to say that their customs should be followed, the people will not listen. People in Nagaland have different food habits and lifestyle and they are entitled to it.

Q: Is Congress still a force in the Northeast?

A; Congress is paying a price for its misrule. They have been in Meghalaya for a long time. In Nagaland, Congress was strong but today they are not at all in the fight.

Q: Is your Mission the Northeast in line?

A: Yes, it is. One day we will be there in all the states.

Q: Elections in the Northeast are about everything but development why? It takes 3 hours to reach Kohima from Dimapur which is only 70 km away

A: Yes, I know. It is pathetic. Development has never been the agenda in an election and it was always about identity, regionalism and emotions. We are bringing back the agenda of good governance.

Q: Should Northeast have a separate time zone? What are you doing on this front?

A: This is an issue which has been raised many times. There is a concern that 1.5-hour difference leads to daytime loss. I handle a ministry which looks into this issue, so I would not like to comment on it but as a member from NE, I would say that if all the CMs from NE come forward with a coherent plan then we can think about it. But it needs to be discussed. It will have to be managed. Bhutan is half&nbsp;an hour ahead of the Indian time and Arunachal Pradesh is on the east of Bhutan still goes with the Lucknow time.

Q: Has PNB bank scam affected BJP&rsquo;s election campaign?

A: These are the scams which have genesis in Congress&#39;&nbsp;regime. If something stumbles out from our tenure then we would be responsible. It is having a positive impact on us as it did not happen during our tenure.

 
<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oz-7mNzYuMI" width="560"></iframe> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Kiren Rijiju spoke to WION on issues ranging from the Naga Accord to separate time zone for Northeast

WION interviewed Kiren Rijiju in Nagaland on the eve of elections in the Northeast. He spoke on the issues ranging from Naga Accord to separate time zone for the Northeast. Kiren Rijiju, in an exclusive interview, said that talks with the Naga leaders are in the last stage and could be announced soon. However, he did not give a timeline. Q: How important is the Northeast for BJP? A: Any election is important but NE is important because PM has set the agenda of Act East policy which can only be implemented by an honest government. Many governments in this region in past indulged in corruption. This time BJP has gone full steam to rest the power from the Congress. We are not giving a token fight. We have made an arrangement with the newly formed NDDP. We have a seat-sharing arrangement with them. I’m overseeing the entire election and response has been tremendous. Q: Earlier there was an impression that BJP was primarily focused on Tripura? A: Tripura came into focus by the national media because it has been ruled by the Left party for decades and BJP unexpectedly took CPM head on. When BJP picked up, it became a big news. In Nagaland, the talks are also going on and it is a 70-year-old political problem. We need to tell the people that we are committed to solving the Naga problem. As a minister from NE, I’m right now concentrating on Nagaland. Q: In NE BJP did not show a leap of faith which it showed in Maharashtra and Haryana A: In the context of Nagaland, we could have gone alone but we took sensitivities into account. We wanted a regional party to be part of ‘us’ to implement the Naga Accord as and when it is signed which we are expecting soon. If we had gone alone, it would have given the impression that we are only interested in wresting away power. In Meghalaya, we are going alone. We only have an understanding. Q: When do you intend to announce the Naga Accord? The term of the government would expire next year? A: It is not a question of tenure. It is a question of commitment. PM from the day one has said that he wants to solve the issue. The talks are progressing smoothly and nearing the agreement which we are looking forward too. I feel that it should not take too much time. Some critical issues remain and they need to be settled and once they get resolved, we can implement it. Q: There is lot anxiety about the details of the draft agreement or what would the accord look like A: It was not an agreement. It was a framework agreement on which the talk would progress. It was a confidence-building measure. It is on that basis the talks have progressed. Some political parties like Congress tried to give a spin but did not work. Q: Are you saying that by this year it could be announced? A: If you give a timeline, the problem starts. It is not the question of how soon. It is a question of commitment and we are committed to it? Q: NBCC wrote a letter to various political parties referring to BJP and Hindutva. Your response on it? A: Nagaland would be governed by the Nagas. It is a Christian state. The CM, elected representatives and ministers are all Christians, so where is the question of imposition? The Constitution would guide us. No one can be discriminated on the basis of identity. Everyone is an Indian. Bringing religion into politics is not at all appreciated. If you target BJP, then someone benefits. I have said that we are a secular party functioning under a constitution which is secular in nature and there is no question of imposing faith on other people. Nagaland would be ruled by Naga people and there would not be any bearing on adverse impact on faith. Q: Are you saying that church has become a political player in Nagaland? A: We do not blame the church as not all the churches are of the same opinion. Maybe one or two people have raked up the issue to benefit a political party but we have effectively communicated to people that politics is about governance and has nothing to do with faith which is about an individual choice. No one should interfere with people’s faith. Q: Lot of people would say that BJP becomes another person when in the Northeast unlike what it is in the mainland A: Obviously, India is a large country and every community has its own say in its domain area. If someone from J&K goes to Tamil Nadu to say that their customs should be followed, the people will not listen. People in Nagaland have different food habits and lifestyle and they are entitled to it. Q: Is Congress still a force in the Northeast? A; Congress is paying a price for its misrule. They have been in Meghalaya for a long time. In Nagaland, Congress was strong but today they are not at all in the fight. Q: Is your Mission the Northeast in line? A: Yes, it is. One day we will be there in all the states. Q: Elections in the Northeast are about everything but development why? It takes 3 hours to reach Kohima from Dimapur which is only 70 km away A: Yes, I know. It is pathetic. Development has never been the agenda in an election and it was always about identity, regionalism and emotions. We are bringing back the agenda of good governance. Q: Should Northeast have a separate time zone? What are you doing on this front? A: This is an issue which has been raised many times. There is a concern that 1.5-hour difference leads to daytime loss. I handle a ministry which looks into this issue, so I would not like to comment on it but as a member from NE, I would say that if all the CMs from NE come forward with a coherent plan then we can think about it. But it needs to be discussed. It will have to be managed. Bhutan is half an hour ahead of the Indian time and Arunachal Pradesh is on the east of Bhutan still goes with the Lucknow time. Q: Has PNB bank scam affected BJP’s election campaign? A: These are the scams which have genesis in Congress' regime. If something stumbles out from our tenure then we would be responsible. It is having a positive impact on us as it did not happen during our tenure.

Regional support crucial to implement Naga Accord: BJP leader Kiren Rijiju to WION

About 65% voter turnout was recorded till 3:00 pm in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tripura-goes-to-polls-left-front-faces-stiffest-challenge-in-25-years-from-bjp-33214" target="_blank">Tripura as the state went to polls</a> on Sunday.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TripuraElection2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TripuraElection2018</a>: 65% voter turnout till 3.00pm
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/965173263159709696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency, also cast his ballot at a polling booth in Agartala.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to give the Left Front its stiffest challenge in 25 years.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter this morning appealed people to exercise their franchise.&nbsp;

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I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/965042102739415040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turn out in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections,&quot; Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted early Sunday morning.&nbsp;

The polling is scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm in evening, with 25.6 lakh voters deciding if Tripura stays with the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-20-years-in-power-tripura-cm-manik-sarkar-has-rs-2410-in-bank-31864" target="_blank"> Left Front</a> or takes a right turn.

Nearly 292 candidates are contesting for 59 of the state&#39;s 60 constituencies.&nbsp;

Voting for the Charilam Assembly constituency will be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPM candidate.&nbsp;

The BJP is contesting from 51 seats and has given nine seats to its ally, the Indigenous People&rsquo;s Front of Tripura (IPFT).&nbsp;

Congress candidates have filed nominations from 59 constituencies, while 24 Trinamool Congress members are in the fray.

The results of the polling will be declared on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya.

The polling is scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm in evening, with 25.6 lakh voters deciding if Tripura stays with the Left Front or takes a right turn

About 65% voter turnout was recorded till 3:00 pm in Tripura as the state went to polls on Sunday. #TripuraElection2018: 65% voter turnout till 3.00pm — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018 × Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency, also cast his ballot at a polling booth in Agartala. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to give the Left Front its stiffest challenge in 25 years. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter this morning appealed people to exercise their franchise. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2018 × "I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turn out in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted early Sunday morning. The polling is scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm in evening, with 25.6 lakh voters deciding if Tripura stays with the Left Front or takes a right turn. Nearly 292 candidates are contesting for 59 of the state's 60 constituencies. Voting for the Charilam Assembly constituency will be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPM candidate. The BJP is contesting from 51 seats and has given nine seats to its ally, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT). Congress candidates have filed nominations from 59 constituencies, while 24 Trinamool Congress members are in the fray. The results of the polling will be declared on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya.

Tripura records 65% voter turnout till 3 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday inaugurated Bharatiya Janata Party&rsquo;s new headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in New Delhi.

Party president Amit Shah and other senior leaders, including LK Advani were present to mark the occasion.

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PM Modi, along with BJP veteran LK Advani, inaugurates BJP&#39;s new headquarters at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>&#39;s Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg. Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj &amp; Murli Manohar Joshi also present, among others. <a href="https://t.co/eCcXbWJq0g">pic.twitter.com/eCcXbWJq0g</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/965112730557534208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&ldquo;I want to thank Amit Bhai and his entire team, that worked hard to complete the work on the BJP HQ within the desired time frame,&rdquo; PM Modi said while speaking at the inauguration event.

He also remembered the party workers who dedicated their lives to the party.

&ldquo;Ours was a journey that began with greats such as Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Generations of workers have given their lives for the party,&rdquo; PM Modi said.

The relocation makes BJP the first party to comply with the Supreme Court&rsquo;s directive to all political parties to relocate from the Luyten&rsquo;s Bungalow Zone.

The construction of the new headquarters was completed within a year. 
&nbsp;

The construction of the new headquarters was completed within a year

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday inaugurated Bharatiya Janata Party’s new headquarters at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in New Delhi. Party president Amit Shah and other senior leaders, including LK Advani were present to mark the occasion. PM Modi, along with BJP veteran LK Advani, inaugurates BJP's new headquarters at #Delhi's Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg. Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj & Murli Manohar Joshi also present, among others. pic.twitter.com/eCcXbWJq0g — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018 × “I want to thank Amit Bhai and his entire team, that worked hard to complete the work on the BJP HQ within the desired time frame,” PM Modi said while speaking at the inauguration event. He also remembered the party workers who dedicated their lives to the party. “Ours was a journey that began with greats such as Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya. Generations of workers have given their lives for the party,” PM Modi said. The relocation makes BJP the first party to comply with the Supreme Court’s directive to all political parties to relocate from the Luyten’s Bungalow Zone. The construction of the new headquarters was completed within a year.

PM Modi, Advani inaugurate BJP's new headquarters in New Delhi

As Tripura went to the polls Sunday,&nbsp;45.86% voter turnout recorded till 1.00 pm

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency, also cast his ballot at a polling booth in Agartala

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Tripura CM Manik Sarkar casts his vote at a polling booth in Agartala, he is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TripuraElection2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TripuraElection2018</a>. <a href="https://t.co/UniDo6VGIf">pic.twitter.com/UniDo6VGIf</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/965077011411668992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to give the Left Front its stiffest challenge in 25 years.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLASH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FLASH</a>: Tripura Election 2018: Polling begins for 59 out of the total 60 seats. <a href="https://t.co/KwsnGtKqtc">pic.twitter.com/KwsnGtKqtc</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/965035801741537282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter this morning appealed people to exercise their franchise.&nbsp;

&quot;I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections,&quot; Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted early Sunday morning.&nbsp;

The BJP has recently been honing in on young voters, whom the party tends to be popular with. It is thought the party expects young voters to carry the day for them in the 2019 general elections as well.&nbsp;

The polling began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm in evening, with 25.6 lakh voters deciding if Tripura stays with the Left Front or takes a right turn and responds to Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s call for change. 
&nbsp;

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I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/965042102739415040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Nearly 292 candidates are contesting for 59 of the state&#39;s 60 constituencies.&nbsp;

Voting for the Charilam Assembly constituency will be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPM candidate.&nbsp;

The BJP is contesting from 51 seats and has given nine seats to its ally, the Indigenous People&rsquo;s Front of Tripura (IPFT).&nbsp;

Congress candidates have filed nominations from 59 constituencies, while 24 Trinamool Congress members are in the fray.

The results of the polling will be declared on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya.

The polling will witness a direct battle between Left and BJP

As Tripura went to the polls Sunday, 45.86% voter turnout recorded till 1.00 pm Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, who is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency, also cast his ballot at a polling booth in Agartala Tripura CM Manik Sarkar casts his vote at a polling booth in Agartala, he is an MLA from Dhanpur constituency #TripuraElection2018. pic.twitter.com/UniDo6VGIf — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018 × The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to give the Left Front its stiffest challenge in 25 years. #FLASH: Tripura Election 2018: Polling begins for 59 out of the total 60 seats. pic.twitter.com/KwsnGtKqtc — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018 × Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his Twitter this morning appealed people to exercise their franchise. "I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted early Sunday morning. The BJP has recently been honing in on young voters, whom the party tends to be popular with. It is thought the party expects young voters to carry the day for them in the 2019 general elections as well. The polling began at 7 am and will continue till 4 pm in evening, with 25.6 lakh voters deciding if Tripura stays with the Left Front or takes a right turn and responds to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for change. I appeal to my sisters and brothers of Tripura, particularly young voters, to turnout in record numbers and cast their vote in the Assembly Elections. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 18, 2018 × Nearly 292 candidates are contesting for 59 of the state's 60 constituencies. Voting for the Charilam Assembly constituency will be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPM candidate. The BJP is contesting from 51 seats and has given nine seats to its ally, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT). Congress candidates have filed nominations from 59 constituencies, while 24 Trinamool Congress members are in the fray. The results of the polling will be declared on March 3 along with Nagaland and Meghalaya.

Tripura goes to polls, 45.86% voter turnout till 1 pm

The BJP today alleged that the multi-crore PNB scam involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi happened during the UPA rule and the Congress was spreading lies to mislead the public.

The BJP, which fielded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/demonetisation-catalyst-for-modis-friends-and-cronies-to-loot-indian-banks-rahul-gandhi-33192" target="_blank">Congress&#39;s charges</a>, claimed that it was under the NDA government that the alleged scams committed during the UPA rule were being unearthed.

The Congress has alleged that the scam took place in 2017 under the Modi government when letters of understanding were signed by Punjab National Bank in favour of the companies of Nirav Modi and his partner and uncle Mehul Choksi.

Sitharaman said Nirav Modi may have been able to run away from the country, but the government is taking action against him, and claimed that it will &quot;surely nab him&quot;.

&quot;The original sin took place during the Congress regime. It multiplied, it took traction under the Congress regime,&quot; she told reporters.

&quot;We are not conspiring to help scamsters flee the country, but the BJP government is catching them instead,&quot; she said.

Accusing the Congress of spreading lies on the issue, the minister said, &quot;As always, the Congress party indulges in such scandalous affairs, misuses positions in government, tweaks system to help themselves and quietly cover up everything that they do.&quot;

Sitharaman said the Narendra Modi government came to power with a clear commitment of unearthing scams and corrupt practices.

Instead of explaining as to why the scam happened during the UPA rule, the Congress instead is making allegations against the BJP.

&quot;I am sorry, the Congress party&#39;s allegations against this government and in misleading people is just not going to happen.

&quot;Concerted repeating of lies for misleading people may be a strategy the Congress likes to adopt. But I am sorry the facts are facing you and it is for them to answer,&quot; she said.

To a question on the offenders fleeing the country during the NDA regime, Sitharaman said, &quot;They have fled but this doesn&#39;t mean we will not catch him. But they are facing the heat. Investigation is happening.&quot;

&quot;They are probably running away but I am not saying that we are sparing them. We will surely nab them. We are the ones to nab them,&quot; she said.

She alleged that the person who was approving the LoUs was quietly allowed to retire and the BJP which is taking action is being accused instead.

&quot;We have taken action. We have sent notices, confiscated their properties and the process is still on, but allegation is on us. Shocking that the Congress party (is doing this) despite being reduced to 44 in Lok Sabha,&quot; she said.

Sitharaman also alleged that it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi.

She also claimed that the Nirav Modi-run Fire Star Diamond International has taken on lease a property of Adwait Holdings in which Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi&#39;s wife is a director.

&quot;What is important that the premises has been used by Fire Star Diamond International,&quot; she alleged.

Sitharaman also claimed that a government director of Allahabad Bank, who in 2013 had raised objections to the financial restructuring of Gitanjali Gems, was asked to resign and his dissent was not even recorded.

BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the Congress&#39;s murky links to Nirav Modi&#39;s company were coming out of the closet.

&quot;Abhishek Manu Singvi&#39;s wife purchased very pricey diamonds and jewelry worth crores and made payments of over Rs 4.8 crore as unaccounted cash. Singhvi has had wide relations with Nirav Modi both as a property lessee for Rs 30 lakh rent per month after 2015 and now show massive purchases of jewelry in 2014,&quot; he alleged in a statement.

Everyday, a new Congress leader&#39;s name gets linked to Nirav Modi, Rao said.

&quot;Firstly, Rahul Gandhi was reported to promote business events of Gitanjali Gem&#39;s owner in New Delhi days before Allahabad Bank approved fraudulently a loan of Rs 1,550 crore despite objections from a government-appointed director in the bank. P Chidambaram sacked the same director for objecting loan sanction to Gitanjali Gems.

&quot;All these developments clearly show that Rahul Gandhi, Chidambaram and Abhishek Manu Singvi have to answer for their dubious actions and association with Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi,&quot; he said.

Central probe agencies CBI and ED yesterday continued their crackdown in the Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud case involving Nirav Modi and family, registering a fresh case against Choksi.

The CBI has alleged that the new FIR pertains to 143 LOUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore fraudulently issued to three companies of Choksi -- Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra and Gili -- during the period 2017-18, officials said.

The agency had earlier registered a separate case involving Rs 280-crore fraud, which has now been expanded to cover LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued to accused companies of Nirav Modi and Choksi.

An LoU is a letter of comfort issued by one bank to branches of other banks, based on which foreign branches offer credit to buyers. PTI P

The BJP said it was unearthing the scams committed during UPA rule

The BJP today alleged that the multi-crore PNB scam involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi happened during the UPA rule and the Congress was spreading lies to mislead the public. The BJP, which fielded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter the Congress's charges, claimed that it was under the NDA government that the alleged scams committed during the UPA rule were being unearthed. The Congress has alleged that the scam took place in 2017 under the Modi government when letters of understanding were signed by Punjab National Bank in favour of the companies of Nirav Modi and his partner and uncle Mehul Choksi. Sitharaman said Nirav Modi may have been able to run away from the country, but the government is taking action against him, and claimed that it will "surely nab him". "The original sin took place during the Congress regime. It multiplied, it took traction under the Congress regime," she told reporters. "We are not conspiring to help scamsters flee the country, but the BJP government is catching them instead," she said. Accusing the Congress of spreading lies on the issue, the minister said, "As always, the Congress party indulges in such scandalous affairs, misuses positions in government, tweaks system to help themselves and quietly cover up everything that they do." Sitharaman said the Narendra Modi government came to power with a clear commitment of unearthing scams and corrupt practices. Instead of explaining as to why the scam happened during the UPA rule, the Congress instead is making allegations against the BJP. "I am sorry, the Congress party's allegations against this government and in misleading people is just not going to happen. "Concerted repeating of lies for misleading people may be a strategy the Congress likes to adopt. But I am sorry the facts are facing you and it is for them to answer," she said. To a question on the offenders fleeing the country during the NDA regime, Sitharaman said, "They have fled but this doesn't mean we will not catch him. But they are facing the heat. Investigation is happening." "They are probably running away but I am not saying that we are sparing them. We will surely nab them. We are the ones to nab them," she said. She alleged that the person who was approving the LoUs was quietly allowed to retire and the BJP which is taking action is being accused instead. "We have taken action. We have sent notices, confiscated their properties and the process is still on, but allegation is on us. Shocking that the Congress party (is doing this) despite being reduced to 44 in Lok Sabha," she said. Sitharaman also alleged that it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi. She also claimed that the Nirav Modi-run Fire Star Diamond International has taken on lease a property of Adwait Holdings in which Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi's wife is a director. "What is important that the premises has been used by Fire Star Diamond International," she alleged. Sitharaman also claimed that a government director of Allahabad Bank, who in 2013 had raised objections to the financial restructuring of Gitanjali Gems, was asked to resign and his dissent was not even recorded. BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the Congress's murky links to Nirav Modi's company were coming out of the closet. "Abhishek Manu Singvi's wife purchased very pricey diamonds and jewelry worth crores and made payments of over Rs 4.8 crore as unaccounted cash. Singhvi has had wide relations with Nirav Modi both as a property lessee for Rs 30 lakh rent per month after 2015 and now show massive purchases of jewelry in 2014," he alleged in a statement. Everyday, a new Congress leader's name gets linked to Nirav Modi, Rao said. "Firstly, Rahul Gandhi was reported to promote business events of Gitanjali Gem's owner in New Delhi days before Allahabad Bank approved fraudulently a loan of Rs 1,550 crore despite objections from a government-appointed director in the bank. P Chidambaram sacked the same director for objecting loan sanction to Gitanjali Gems. "All these developments clearly show that Rahul Gandhi, Chidambaram and Abhishek Manu Singvi have to answer for their dubious actions and association with Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi," he said. Central probe agencies CBI and ED yesterday continued their crackdown in the Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud case involving Nirav Modi and family, registering a fresh case against Choksi. The CBI has alleged that the new FIR pertains to 143 LOUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore fraudulently issued to three companies of Choksi -- Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra and Gili -- during the period 2017-18, officials said. The agency had earlier registered a separate case involving Rs 280-crore fraud, which has now been expanded to cover LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued to accused companies of Nirav Modi and Choksi. An LoU is a letter of comfort issued by one bank to branches of other banks, based on which foreign branches offer credit to buyers. PTI P

PNB scam: 'Original sin' took place under Congress, says BJP

The total voter turnout stood at 74 per cent in the single-phase Tripura Assembly polls Sunday, 17 per cent less than the last Assembly election when the polling percentage was recorded at 91.82.

Voting was&nbsp;held&nbsp;in 59 of the total 60 seats as polling could not be held in the Charilam constituency due to the death of CPI(M) candidate Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma last week.

The constituency will go to polls on March 12.

According to the figures released by the Election Commission today, the voter turnout stood at 74 per cent.

The BJP, an &lsquo;also-ran&rsquo; until now in the north-eastern state, is making a determined bid to demolish the red bastion of 25 years, with stalwarts like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah leading the charge.

The saffron party, which had forged a pre-poll alliance with tribal outfit Indigenous People&#39;s Front of Tripura (IPFT), had fielded 51 candidates. The IPFT, an anti-Left party, contested from the remaining nine seats.

The Congress went it all alone in Tripura this time and contested from 59 seats. The party had not fielded a candidate from the Kakrabon constituency in Gomati district.

There are 25,73,413 registered voters -- 13,05,375 male and 12,68,027 female -- in the state.

The number of voters under the third gender category in the state is 11 and that of the new voters 47,803.&nbsp;

Voting was held in 59 of the total 60 seats as polling could not be held in the Charilam constituency due to the death of CPI(M) candidate Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma last week

The total voter turnout stood at 74 per cent in the single-phase Tripura Assembly polls Sunday, 17 per cent less than the last Assembly election when the polling percentage was recorded at 91.82. Voting was held in 59 of the total 60 seats as polling could not be held in the Charilam constituency due to the death of CPI(M) candidate Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma last week. The constituency will go to polls on March 12. According to the figures released by the Election Commission today, the voter turnout stood at 74 per cent. The BJP, an ‘also-ran’ until now in the north-eastern state, is making a determined bid to demolish the red bastion of 25 years, with stalwarts like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah leading the charge. The saffron party, which had forged a pre-poll alliance with tribal outfit Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), had fielded 51 candidates. The IPFT, an anti-Left party, contested from the remaining nine seats. The Congress went it all alone in Tripura this time and contested from 59 seats. The party had not fielded a candidate from the Kakrabon constituency in Gomati district. There are 25,73,413 registered voters -- 13,05,375 male and 12,68,027 female -- in the state. The number of voters under the third gender category in the state is 11 and that of the new voters 47,803.

74% polling in Tripura assembly elections: Election Commission

Shiv Sena lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday stating that the party should appoint absconding Nirav Modi as the RBI Governor &quot;to finish off the country&quot;.

Editorials in Shiv Sena&#39;s mouthpieces&nbsp;&#39;Saamana&#39; and &#39;Dopahar Ka Saamana&#39; made stinging remarks on the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud which came to light earlier this week.&nbsp;

The editorial pieces alleged that Nirav Modi fled the country earlier last month along with his family and was also seen with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Davos Summit.

The Sena clarified the fact that it wasn&#39;t alleging that the Bhartiya Janta Party or its leaders facilitated the &#39;loot&#39;, however, it did mention that Nirav Modi often batted for BJP&#39;s electoral wins.

&quot;We want to know how did he (Nirav) manage to turn up at the Davos event when a complaint against him had already been lodged by the PNB?&quot; the Sena noted in another jibe.

The editorial piece pointed out that Nirav Modi&#39;s bank accounts were not linked to Aadhaar. &quot;While a common man cannot get hospital treatment or even a funeral without an Aadhaar Card, bigshots like Nirav Modi loot crores from a bank without an Aadhaar Card,&quot; noted the editorial.&nbsp;

Nirav Modi, a diamond merchant who owns a global diamond jewellery house, is accused in the Rs 11,400 scam involving the Punjab National Bank.&nbsp;

Nirav Modi, a diamond merchant, is an accused in the Rs 11,400 scam involving the Punjab National Bank

Shiv Sena lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday stating that the party should appoint absconding Nirav Modi as the RBI Governor "to finish off the country". Editorials in Shiv Sena's mouthpieces 'Saamana' and 'Dopahar Ka Saamana' made stinging remarks on the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud which came to light earlier this week. The editorial pieces alleged that Nirav Modi fled the country earlier last month along with his family and was also seen with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Davos Summit. The Sena clarified the fact that it wasn't alleging that the Bhartiya Janta Party or its leaders facilitated the 'loot', however, it did mention that Nirav Modi often batted for BJP's electoral wins. "We want to know how did he (Nirav) manage to turn up at the Davos event when a complaint against him had already been lodged by the PNB?" the Sena noted in another jibe. The editorial piece pointed out that Nirav Modi's bank accounts were not linked to Aadhaar. "While a common man cannot get hospital treatment or even a funeral without an Aadhaar Card, bigshots like Nirav Modi loot crores from a bank without an Aadhaar Card," noted the editorial. Nirav Modi, a diamond merchant who owns a global diamond jewellery house, is accused in the Rs 11,400 scam involving the Punjab National Bank.

'Make Nirav Modi RBI Governor,' Shiv Sena taunts BJP

Tripura would go to polls tomorrow with the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the ruling Left Front, which has been in power in the state for the last 25 years. 
 
Polling would be held in 59 of the total 60 seats. Voting in Charilam Assembly constituency would be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPI(M) candidate for the seat, Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma, five days ago. 
 
Twenty seats have been reserved for the scheduled tribes. 
 
The BJP held a high-voltage campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing as many as four rallies in the state. 
 
Other heavyweight leaders of the saffron party to take part in the campaign were its national president Amit Shah, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Smriti Irani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. 
 
Manik Sarkar, who is running for his fifth term as the chief minister, led the CPI(M)&#39;s campaign addressing around 50 rallies in the state. Other Left leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat lent support to the party&#39;s campaign. 
 
The Congress&#39; campaign was somewhat subdued with party president Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally at Kailashahar in Unakoti district, about 180 kms from Agartala, on the last day of campaigning. 
 
Altogether, 307 candidates are in the fray. 
 
The CPI(M) is contesting in 57 seats and while the other Left Front constituents, the RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI, are contesting one seat each. 
 
The BJP, which has forged an alliance with tribal outfit Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) has fielded 51 candidates. IPFT will contest in the remaining nine seats. 
 
The Congress is going it alone in Tripura this time and will contest in 59 seats. The party has not fielded any candidate for Kakrabon constituency in Gomati district. 
 
Of the 25,73,413 electorate, 13,05,375 are males and 12,68,027 women while the number of third gender voters is 11. There are 47,803 new voters this time. 
 
Voting would be held between 7 am and 4 pm tomorrow at 3,214 polling stations of which 47 would be managed by women, election office sources said. 
 
Tripura chief electoral officer Sriram Taranikanti said the Election Commission has appointed police observers, general observers and expenditure observers to ensure free and fair polls. 
 
He said that Director General of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) R K Pachnanda has been appointed as a special observer to coordinate the security forces deployed in the state. 
 
State Director General of Police Akhil Kumar Shukla said tight security measures are in place across Tripura for free and fair elections. 
 
Three hundred companies of central armed forces have been deployed across the state along with state armed personnel and the police, he said, adding the BSF is keeping keep close vigil along the 856 km long Indo-Bangladesh border in the state. 
 
Counting of votes will take place on March 3, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Debashish Modok said.

The Left Front has been in power in the state for the last 25 years

Tripura would go to polls tomorrow with the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the ruling Left Front, which has been in power in the state for the last 25 years. Polling would be held in 59 of the total 60 seats. Voting in Charilam Assembly constituency would be held on March 12 due to the death of the CPI(M) candidate for the seat, Ramendra Narayan Deb Barma, five days ago. Twenty seats have been reserved for the scheduled tribes. The BJP held a high-voltage campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing as many as four rallies in the state. Other heavyweight leaders of the saffron party to take part in the campaign were its national president Amit Shah, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Smriti Irani and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Manik Sarkar, who is running for his fifth term as the chief minister, led the CPI(M)'s campaign addressing around 50 rallies in the state. Other Left leaders like Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat lent support to the party's campaign. The Congress' campaign was somewhat subdued with party president Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally at Kailashahar in Unakoti district, about 180 kms from Agartala, on the last day of campaigning. Altogether, 307 candidates are in the fray. The CPI(M) is contesting in 57 seats and while the other Left Front constituents, the RSP, Forward Bloc and CPI, are contesting one seat each. The BJP, which has forged an alliance with tribal outfit Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura (IPFT) has fielded 51 candidates. IPFT will contest in the remaining nine seats. The Congress is going it alone in Tripura this time and will contest in 59 seats. The party has not fielded any candidate for Kakrabon constituency in Gomati district. Of the 25,73,413 electorate, 13,05,375 are males and 12,68,027 women while the number of third gender voters is 11. There are 47,803 new voters this time. Voting would be held between 7 am and 4 pm tomorrow at 3,214 polling stations of which 47 would be managed by women, election office sources said. Tripura chief electoral officer Sriram Taranikanti said the Election Commission has appointed police observers, general observers and expenditure observers to ensure free and fair polls. He said that Director General of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) R K Pachnanda has been appointed as a special observer to coordinate the security forces deployed in the state. State Director General of Police Akhil Kumar Shukla said tight security measures are in place across Tripura for free and fair elections. Three hundred companies of central armed forces have been deployed across the state along with state armed personnel and the police, he said, adding the BSF is keeping keep close vigil along the 856 km long Indo-Bangladesh border in the state. Counting of votes will take place on March 3, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Debashish Modok said.

Tripura goes to polls tomorrow, BJP the main challenger

For a party that started off without any base in Tripura and only made an entry as late as 2013, the BJP has come a long way.&nbsp;

In the 2013 Assembly polls, which BJP contested, it managed with a poor vote share of 1.54 per cent. On the other hand, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) won 49 out of 60 seats, leaving the Congress, its major rival, with only 10 seats.&nbsp;

Indeed Tripura is the last Left bastion after Kerala. So from a non-entity in 2013, for the BJP to have sounded the poll bugle with confidence for the past one year is some achievement. If the CPI (M) and its sister organisations are known to be cadre-based then the BJP is not far behind. Its ability to mobilise booth level volunteers and mandals is legendary.

The BJP posted RSS pracharak Sunil Deodhar, a man with a mission, who has worked silently in Meghalaya for over two decades before he was made the BJP election-in-charge in Tripura. Deodhar is a committed worker and a great community mobiliser. During his tenure in Meghalaya, he learned the local language and could speak Khasi and Pnar better than the locals here. One of the ways in which the RSS spreads its ideology is by understanding the culture and sensitivities of the people it works with.&nbsp;

Deodhar was a founder member of an organisation called, &lsquo;My Home India&rsquo; with branches across all states. Within this Organisation he set up a sister organisation called &lsquo;ONE&rsquo; an acronym for Our North East. ONE identifies people from the North East who have done exemplary work in their respective fields whether that be social work, journalism, music etc, and awards them. My Home India and ONE also assist students from the North Eastern states who go out to study and encounter problems in their respective colleges and universities. So this benign aspect of the RSS is worth mentioning when people take a dig at the organisation and call it a Hindutva task force.

So in the last one year, Sunil Deodhar has infiltrated the tribal belt and worked with their leaders particularly those with political ambitions. The BJP has tied up with the Indigenous Peoples&rsquo; Front of Tripura (IPFT), a tribal political outfit. Manik Sarkar, Tripura&rsquo;s Chief Minister, alleges IPTF to be a militant outfit that once demanded a sovereign Tripura and has now toned down its demand to a separate state. The BJP-IPFT alliance is a dichotomous one because the BJP says it is against granting statehood to the tribal areas of Tripura but the IPFT&rsquo;s major demand is a separate state. Yet the two parties shared the dais&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;when Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned in Tripura.

The major points in the BJP&rsquo;s vision document are (a) one employment per household (b) free education for women up to graduation level (what the Left Front government is already&nbsp; providing) (c) Free smartphones for the youth to further the Digital India agenda (d) 7th Pay Commission to be implemented (d) 33 Social security schemes&nbsp; amongst which pension for widows will be raised to Rs 2000 from Rs 700 (e) daily labourers to get minimum wage of Rs 340 which is the national minimum wage (f) housing to every BPL family under the PMAY (g)&nbsp; Family health Insurance of up to Rs 5 lakh for BPL families.

One important announcement that BJP made is, changing the name of Agartala airport to Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore airport in honour of the royal family of Tripura. Incidentally, the Congress Party also has promised the same &lsquo;if&rsquo; it comes to power.&nbsp;

And of course, the BJP cannot let go the one important agenda which is to investigate into the Rose Valley chit fund scam in which Chief Minister Manik Sarkar&rsquo;s name also features, amongst those of other ministers.

In Tripura, the Congress Party is reduced to a non-entity. The Party bigwigs only started fanning out to campaign about a fortnight ago. Rahul Gandhi will be campaigning in Tripura&nbsp;on Friday&nbsp;which is a tad too late. The royal family of Tripura have been traditional Congress supporters and have represented the Party in the Assembly and Parliament. But as elsewhere, the Congress which lacks the commitment of cadre-based parties is shriveling in Tripura and political analysts believe it might not even get a single seat this time.

The fight in Tripura is between the CPI(M) and BJP. While BJP claims that it will get at least 35 seats, political observers feel that this is a tall claim. They feel that the Left Front will get at least 39-40 seats.&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;It was in March last year that the saffron party first launched its massive campaign at the Swami Vivekananda multi-purpose stadium, where the BJP national general secretary, Ram Madhav, declared that the party would oust the ruling Left Front in the Assembly elections. This was a rather unusual experience for many in Tripura &ndash; a traditional Left bastion where the red flag is the only thing they are used to seeing. But last year, when I visited Tripura University for some work I was surprised to see the saffron-lotus flag flying atop rooftops and small business establishments. It was almost as if the hoi-polloi had accepted the BJP. I engaged a few university professors on this issue but they ducked my question and that is understandable since all universities are traditionally Left bastions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Since the BJP won Assam in 2016, and later formed the Government in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, the saffron party has been on a high. The formation of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) headed by Assam&rsquo;s Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who is also the BJP&rsquo;s poster boy in the North East has only emboldened the Party to make inroads into every nook and corner of the region, including Meghalaya and Nagaland where the BJP has launched a bold campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In Tripura, the BJP has been coming second in by-elections and elections to the tribal autonomous councils. They have moved from a vote share of 22% in 2015 to 36% in 2016. The fact that people want a change after two decades of the Left rule is also a reality. Bijan Dhar the general secretary of the CPI(M) unit of Agartala admits that the BJP is their main rival and that the Left cannot underestimate the rise of the BJP. But the fact also remains that the BJP has poached people from the Congress, the TMC and the IPFT because it had no known faces.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In Tripura 20 of the 60 seats are reserved for tribals. The strategic alliance with the IPFT is expected to win the BJP a few seats in these areas.&nbsp; Former MLA of the IPFT, Rajeswar Debbarma who leads the Party has been blowing hot and cold about an alliance with the BJP but even he sees the futility of relying on the Congress Party to achieve the goals of his Party; hence the last minute alliance with the BJP!

Tripura is one day away from the elections. The campaign period has seen a lot of bloodsheds, and we can only hope that polling is peaceful.

Meanwhile,&nbsp; the CPI(M)&rsquo;s main poll plank has been to ensure a climate of peace and security which has been won after a long innings provided by a stable government led by Manik Sarkar. It merits mentioning that Tripura is the first troubled state in the country where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958) has been revoked by any chief minister and that is no mean achievement.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

In the last one year, Sunil Deodhar has infiltrated the tribal belt and worked with their leaders particularly those with political ambitions

For a party that started off without any base in Tripura and only made an entry as late as 2013, the BJP has come a long way. In the 2013 Assembly polls, which BJP contested, it managed with a poor vote share of 1.54 per cent. On the other hand, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) won 49 out of 60 seats, leaving the Congress, its major rival, with only 10 seats. Indeed Tripura is the last Left bastion after Kerala. So from a non-entity in 2013, for the BJP to have sounded the poll bugle with confidence for the past one year is some achievement. If the CPI (M) and its sister organisations are known to be cadre-based then the BJP is not far behind. Its ability to mobilise booth level volunteers and mandals is legendary. The BJP posted RSS pracharak Sunil Deodhar, a man with a mission, who has worked silently in Meghalaya for over two decades before he was made the BJP election-in-charge in Tripura. Deodhar is a committed worker and a great community mobiliser. During his tenure in Meghalaya, he learned the local language and could speak Khasi and Pnar better than the locals here. One of the ways in which the RSS spreads its ideology is by understanding the culture and sensitivities of the people it works with. Deodhar was a founder member of an organisation called, ‘My Home India’ with branches across all states. Within this Organisation he set up a sister organisation called ‘ONE’ an acronym for Our North East. ONE identifies people from the North East who have done exemplary work in their respective fields whether that be social work, journalism, music etc, and awards them. My Home India and ONE also assist students from the North Eastern states who go out to study and encounter problems in their respective colleges and universities. So this benign aspect of the RSS is worth mentioning when people take a dig at the organisation and call it a Hindutva task force. So in the last one year, Sunil Deodhar has infiltrated the tribal belt and worked with their leaders particularly those with political ambitions. The BJP has tied up with the Indigenous Peoples’ Front of Tripura (IPFT), a tribal political outfit. Manik Sarkar, Tripura’s Chief Minister, alleges IPTF to be a militant outfit that once demanded a sovereign Tripura and has now toned down its demand to a separate state. The BJP-IPFT alliance is a dichotomous one because the BJP says it is against granting statehood to the tribal areas of Tripura but the IPFT’s major demand is a separate state. Yet the two parties shared the dais on Thursday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigned in Tripura. The major points in the BJP’s vision document are (a) one employment per household (b) free education for women up to graduation level (what the Left Front government is already providing) (c) Free smartphones for the youth to further the Digital India agenda (d) 7th Pay Commission to be implemented (d) 33 Social security schemes amongst which pension for widows will be raised to Rs 2000 from Rs 700 (e) daily labourers to get minimum wage of Rs 340 which is the national minimum wage (f) housing to every BPL family under the PMAY (g) Family health Insurance of up to Rs 5 lakh for BPL families. One important announcement that BJP made is, changing the name of Agartala airport to Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore airport in honour of the royal family of Tripura. Incidentally, the Congress Party also has promised the same ‘if’ it comes to power. And of course, the BJP cannot let go the one important agenda which is to investigate into the Rose Valley chit fund scam in which Chief Minister Manik Sarkar’s name also features, amongst those of other ministers. In Tripura, the Congress Party is reduced to a non-entity. The Party bigwigs only started fanning out to campaign about a fortnight ago. Rahul Gandhi will be campaigning in Tripura on Friday which is a tad too late. The royal family of Tripura have been traditional Congress supporters and have represented the Party in the Assembly and Parliament. But as elsewhere, the Congress which lacks the commitment of cadre-based parties is shriveling in Tripura and political analysts believe it might not even get a single seat this time. The fight in Tripura is between the CPI(M) and BJP. While BJP claims that it will get at least 35 seats, political observers feel that this is a tall claim. They feel that the Left Front will get at least 39-40 seats. It was in March last year that the saffron party first launched its massive campaign at the Swami Vivekananda multi-purpose stadium, where the BJP national general secretary, Ram Madhav, declared that the party would oust the ruling Left Front in the Assembly elections. This was a rather unusual experience for many in Tripura – a traditional Left bastion where the red flag is the only thing they are used to seeing. But last year, when I visited Tripura University for some work I was surprised to see the saffron-lotus flag flying atop rooftops and small business establishments. It was almost as if the hoi-polloi had accepted the BJP. I engaged a few university professors on this issue but they ducked my question and that is understandable since all universities are traditionally Left bastions. Since the BJP won Assam in 2016, and later formed the Government in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, the saffron party has been on a high. The formation of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) headed by Assam’s Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who is also the BJP’s poster boy in the North East has only emboldened the Party to make inroads into every nook and corner of the region, including Meghalaya and Nagaland where the BJP has launched a bold campaign. In Tripura, the BJP has been coming second in by-elections and elections to the tribal autonomous councils. They have moved from a vote share of 22% in 2015 to 36% in 2016. The fact that people want a change after two decades of the Left rule is also a reality. Bijan Dhar the general secretary of the CPI(M) unit of Agartala admits that the BJP is their main rival and that the Left cannot underestimate the rise of the BJP. But the fact also remains that the BJP has poached people from the Congress, the TMC and the IPFT because it had no known faces. In Tripura 20 of the 60 seats are reserved for tribals. The strategic alliance with the IPFT is expected to win the BJP a few seats in these areas. Former MLA of the IPFT, Rajeswar Debbarma who leads the Party has been blowing hot and cold about an alliance with the BJP but even he sees the futility of relying on the Congress Party to achieve the goals of his Party; hence the last minute alliance with the BJP! Tripura is one day away from the elections. The campaign period has seen a lot of bloodsheds, and we can only hope that polling is peaceful. Meanwhile, the CPI(M)’s main poll plank has been to ensure a climate of peace and security which has been won after a long innings provided by a stable government led by Manik Sarkar. It merits mentioning that Tripura is the first troubled state in the country where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (1958) has been revoked by any chief minister and that is no mean achievement. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

BJP's gain in Tripura comes from understanding local culture

The BJP on Saturday alleged that the multi-crore PNB scam involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi happened during the UPA rule and the Congress was spreading lies.

The BJP fielded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter the Congress charge that the scam took place in 2017 under the Modi government when the letters of understanding were signed by the Punjab National Bank in favour of Nirav Modi.

She said Nirav Modi may have been able to run away from the country, but the government is taking action against him.

&quot;We are not conspiring to help scamsters flee the country, the BJP government is catching them instead,&quot; she told reporters.

She accused the Congress of spreading lies on the issue.

Sitharaman also alleged that it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi.

She also cited the example of a government director of Allahabad Bank, who in 2013 had raised objections to the financial restructuring of Gitanjali Gems, saying he was asked to resign and his dissent was not even recorded.

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Fire Star Diamond I&#39;nal Pvt Ltd is one of the companies that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NiravModi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NiravModi</a> runs. They&#39;ve taken on lease property which belongs to Advait Holding Ltd in Trade Point Building in Lower Parel. From 2002 Anita Singhvi is one of the shareholders. You know who&#39;s wife she&#39;s:Defence Minister <a href="https://t.co/irTcVza1PT">pic.twitter.com/irTcVza1PT</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/964808562341040130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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And also has Avishkar Manas Singhvi, possibly his son. But wife of one of the senior Congress leaders is here as a property shareholder, she is a director by designation: Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PNBFraudCase?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PNBFraudCase</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NiravModi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NiravModi</a> <a href="https://t.co/0dwT4gynmE">pic.twitter.com/0dwT4gynmE</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/964808565465780231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Responding to&nbsp;Sitharaman&#39;s allegations, Congress&#39;Abhishek Singhvi said&nbsp;Nirmala Sitharaman and&nbsp;her colleagues are liable for civil and criminal defamation for making ignorant and patently false allegations.

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I intend to file a civil and defamation case against the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her colleagues who are spreading the defamatory allegations, I also intend to take action against the sections of media who are spreading the same: Abhishek Singhvi, Congress <a href="https://t.co/oaRjbQEwSW">pic.twitter.com/oaRjbQEwSW</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/964833033441464322?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

&quot;I reserve my rights to take all such appropriate legal action against the latter and all parts of media which carry such allegations,&#39;&#39; Singhvi added.

Adwait Holding owns a commercial property at Parel, as it does elsewhere, which was rented by Firestone many years ago. Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or Firestone. Firestone vacated Parel Kamla Mills premises in December 2017, Singhvi added.&nbsp;

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Neither my wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gitanjali?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gitanjali</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NiravModi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NiravModi</a> companies. The company was a tenant of a Kamla Mills property owned by Adwait holdings in which my wife &amp; sons are a director: Abhishek Singhvi
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/964813860774535175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Central probe agencies CBI and ED yesterday continued their crackdown in the Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud case involving Nirav Modi and family, registering a fresh case against his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi,

The CBI has alleged that the new FIR pertains to 143 LOUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore fraudulently issued to three companies of Choksi -- Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra and Gili -- during the period 2017-18, officials said.

The agency had earlier registered a separate case involving Rs 280-crore fraud, which has now been expanded to cover LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued to accused companies of Nirav Modi and Choksi.

An LoU is a letter of comfort issued by one bank to branches of other banks, based on which foreign branches offer credit to buyers.

Sitharaman alleged that it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi.

The BJP on Saturday alleged that the multi-crore PNB scam involving billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi happened during the UPA rule and the Congress was spreading lies. The BJP fielded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to counter the Congress charge that the scam took place in 2017 under the Modi government when the letters of understanding were signed by the Punjab National Bank in favour of Nirav Modi. She said Nirav Modi may have been able to run away from the country, but the government is taking action against him. "We are not conspiring to help scamsters flee the country, the BJP government is catching them instead," she told reporters. She accused the Congress of spreading lies on the issue. Sitharaman also alleged that it was Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who attended a promotional event hosted by Nirav Modi. She also cited the example of a government director of Allahabad Bank, who in 2013 had raised objections to the financial restructuring of Gitanjali Gems, saying he was asked to resign and his dissent was not even recorded. Fire Star Diamond I'nal Pvt Ltd is one of the companies that #NiravModi runs. They've taken on lease property which belongs to Advait Holding Ltd in Trade Point Building in Lower Parel. From 2002 Anita Singhvi is one of the shareholders. You know who's wife she's:Defence Minister pic.twitter.com/irTcVza1PT — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018 × And also has Avishkar Manas Singhvi, possibly his son. But wife of one of the senior Congress leaders is here as a property shareholder, she is a director by designation: Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister #PNBFraudCase #NiravModi pic.twitter.com/0dwT4gynmE — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018 × Responding to Sitharaman's allegations, Congress'Abhishek Singhvi said Nirmala Sitharaman and her colleagues are liable for civil and criminal defamation for making ignorant and patently false allegations. I intend to file a civil and defamation case against the Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her colleagues who are spreading the defamatory allegations, I also intend to take action against the sections of media who are spreading the same: Abhishek Singhvi, Congress pic.twitter.com/oaRjbQEwSW — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018 × "I reserve my rights to take all such appropriate legal action against the latter and all parts of media which carry such allegations,'' Singhvi added. Adwait Holding owns a commercial property at Parel, as it does elsewhere, which was rented by Firestone many years ago. Neither Adwait nor my family has any interest with Modi or Firestone. Firestone vacated Parel Kamla Mills premises in December 2017, Singhvi added. Neither my wife, sons nor me have anything whatsoever to do with #Gitanjali or #NiravModi companies. The company was a tenant of a Kamla Mills property owned by Adwait holdings in which my wife & sons are a director: Abhishek Singhvi — ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2018 × Central probe agencies CBI and ED yesterday continued their crackdown in the Rs 11,400-crore bank fraud case involving Nirav Modi and family, registering a fresh case against his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi, The CBI has alleged that the new FIR pertains to 143 LOUs worth over Rs 4,886 crore fraudulently issued to three companies of Choksi -- Gitanjali Gems, Nakshatra and Gili -- during the period 2017-18, officials said. The agency had earlier registered a separate case involving Rs 280-crore fraud, which has now been expanded to cover LoUs worth Rs 6,498 crore issued to accused companies of Nirav Modi and Choksi. An LoU is a letter of comfort issued by one bank to branches of other banks, based on which foreign branches offer credit to buyers.

PNB scam: Sitharaman drags in Abhishek Singhvi, who says 'I'll sue you'

Even a year ago, it would have been outlandish to suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party had any prospect in the Tripura. The State has been a Left stronghold where the communists have been ruling for more than two decades. The only other major party, the Congress, has been pushed to the margins. Besides, its general demographic does not lend itself to the kind of political ideology the BJP pursues. However, the situation has changed dramatically over the last few months, and the BJP now senses a real chance at toppling the Left regime. Even those political observers who are doubtful of a BJP win in the State, concede that the party will emerge as a strong force in the Assembly election.

&nbsp;

What has brought about this change?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The anti-incumbency factor is certainly one reason. In the absence of a viable opposition, the Left had a clear field and it made most of it in the last 20 years. With the BJP&rsquo;s emergence, the ground situation has altered. The second reason is the BJP&rsquo;s relentless focus on the North-East &mdash; politically and otherwise. Its victory in the Assam Assembly election, where it demolished the ruling Congress, had set the tone for its push in the region. It managed to form the Government in Arunachal Pradesh through deft manoeuvrings, and then in Manipur where it was not even the single largest party, when it outfoxed the Congress by stitching an alliance in double quick time.

&nbsp;

The third reason is that the BJP has shown remarkable flexibility in dealing with ground realities in the region. For instance, while it aggressively pursues the cow agenda across the country, it has toned down the rhetoric in the North-East, saying that it does not want to interfere in the eating habits of the people there. The party has also been prompt in having an understanding with regional outfits that wield influence over tribes and communities specific to the region. And so, while it was at the helm of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which it formed a couple of years ago, the real players are the regional parties. The BJP realises that it cannot make an impact on its own in many parts of the region.

&nbsp;

The BJP&rsquo;s pre-poll surge in Tripura is even more remarkable when one looks back at its past performance. In the 2013 Assembly election, the party had less than two per cent of the vote-share. There was a significant improvement in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, when the party gained a six per cent share. But even that was less than half of the Congress&rsquo;s 16 per cent and the Left&rsquo;s overwhelming 65 per cent. Going by these figures, the BJP ought to have conceded the present contest even before it began. But the change in the public mood &mdash; at least the one gleans through media reports from the ground &mdash; has been so remarkable that the old numbers don&rsquo;t count.

&nbsp;

As has been its habit, the BJP has gone for the kill. Party president Amit Shah has camped in Tripura for long periods, overseeing the election campaign and, in his characteristic style, delving into the micro-management of the process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invested politically too, addressing far more rallies than would be normally necessary for a small State such as this. The BJP in charge of the North-East, Ram Madhav, virtually resides in Tripura. Everybody understands that, for public sentiment against the Left regime to be converted into votes for the BJP, the party&rsquo;s poll machinery has to work without tripping &mdash; more so at the last moment.

&nbsp;

The BJP is dependending heavily on the 30 per cent of the tribal votes, and keeping that in mind, is pushing the development agenda call. The tribal regions are among the most affected by non-development. It has tied up with a regional outfit, the Indigenous People&rsquo;s Front of Tripura, that commands some standing among the tribals. But the party is not ignoring the other voters, reminding them that decades of Left rule had pushed the State back while BJP-ruled parts of the country had surged ahead in the last four years of the NDA rule.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Left understands the challenge, and it has fallen back on the tried and tested formula of &lsquo;communism versus communalism&rsquo; narrative. The communists have warned the voters against the dangers of social unrest and communal strife that could come along with a BJP win. They have highlighted the various pro-poor measures that the Manik Sarkar Government has taken over the years. The Left&rsquo;s desperation to retain Tripura is understandable. It has lost its earlier citadel, West Bengal, and rules only in Kerala &mdash; and even there the BJP has begun breathing down its neck, although the Congress still remains the main opposition.

&nbsp;

The Left&rsquo;s track record of development in Tripura is being severely tested. Both the plains and hills have their own sets of problems. Unemployment, lack of road and rail connectivity, poor industrial development, and lack of avenues of opportunities for tribals to improve their living, are some of the major issues. But the communists have some positives going for them. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar enjoys a clean personal image. He has steered Tripura to political stability and has ensured that basic social indices remain decent. No major scandal has hit his regime in the two decades of its rule. Besides, the Left has a strong cadre in the State and its supporters have seeped into nearly every institution, and have the capacity to turn things around.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

On the personality front, the BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s charisma, while the Left has its old warhorse and Chief Minister Sarkar. Left leaders on the national scene, such as Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat, hardly have any sway in Tripura. The BJP-led Government at the Centre has gone all out by way of its own contribution to the party&rsquo;s fortunes in the region. For instance, the Union Ministry of Textiles has planned a big push to textile manufacturing in the North-East, which would naturally include Tripura. Other Central ministries have promised loads of development work to the region. Underlying all these assurances is the thrust that a BJP regime in Tripura can gel better with the BJP-led Government at the Centre and, thus, expedite development.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If the Left can stave off this new and unexpected challenge, it will not just retain power but also perhaps cause a dent in the BJP&rsquo;s drive to politically secure the North-East.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

In the upcoming Tripura election, BJP's trump card is development while Manik Sarkar's is that of a scandal-free clean image.

Even a year ago, it would have been outlandish to suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party had any prospect in the Tripura. The State has been a Left stronghold where the communists have been ruling for more than two decades. The only other major party, the Congress, has been pushed to the margins. Besides, its general demographic does not lend itself to the kind of political ideology the BJP pursues. However, the situation has changed dramatically over the last few months, and the BJP now senses a real chance at toppling the Left regime. Even those political observers who are doubtful of a BJP win in the State, concede that the party will emerge as a strong force in the Assembly election. What has brought about this change? The anti-incumbency factor is certainly one reason. In the absence of a viable opposition, the Left had a clear field and it made most of it in the last 20 years. With the BJP’s emergence, the ground situation has altered. The second reason is the BJP’s relentless focus on the North-East — politically and otherwise. Its victory in the Assam Assembly election, where it demolished the ruling Congress, had set the tone for its push in the region. It managed to form the Government in Arunachal Pradesh through deft manoeuvrings, and then in Manipur where it was not even the single largest party, when it outfoxed the Congress by stitching an alliance in double quick time. The third reason is that the BJP has shown remarkable flexibility in dealing with ground realities in the region. For instance, while it aggressively pursues the cow agenda across the country, it has toned down the rhetoric in the North-East, saying that it does not want to interfere in the eating habits of the people there. The party has also been prompt in having an understanding with regional outfits that wield influence over tribes and communities specific to the region. And so, while it was at the helm of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) which it formed a couple of years ago, the real players are the regional parties. The BJP realises that it cannot make an impact on its own in many parts of the region. The BJP’s pre-poll surge in Tripura is even more remarkable when one looks back at its past performance. In the 2013 Assembly election, the party had less than two per cent of the vote-share. There was a significant improvement in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, when the party gained a six per cent share. But even that was less than half of the Congress’s 16 per cent and the Left’s overwhelming 65 per cent. Going by these figures, the BJP ought to have conceded the present contest even before it began. But the change in the public mood — at least the one gleans through media reports from the ground — has been so remarkable that the old numbers don’t count. As has been its habit, the BJP has gone for the kill. Party president Amit Shah has camped in Tripura for long periods, overseeing the election campaign and, in his characteristic style, delving into the micro-management of the process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invested politically too, addressing far more rallies than would be normally necessary for a small State such as this. The BJP in charge of the North-East, Ram Madhav, virtually resides in Tripura. Everybody understands that, for public sentiment against the Left regime to be converted into votes for the BJP, the party’s poll machinery has to work without tripping — more so at the last moment. The BJP is dependending heavily on the 30 per cent of the tribal votes, and keeping that in mind, is pushing the development agenda call. The tribal regions are among the most affected by non-development. It has tied up with a regional outfit, the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura, that commands some standing among the tribals. But the party is not ignoring the other voters, reminding them that decades of Left rule had pushed the State back while BJP-ruled parts of the country had surged ahead in the last four years of the NDA rule. The Left understands the challenge, and it has fallen back on the tried and tested formula of ‘communism versus communalism’ narrative. The communists have warned the voters against the dangers of social unrest and communal strife that could come along with a BJP win. They have highlighted the various pro-poor measures that the Manik Sarkar Government has taken over the years. The Left’s desperation to retain Tripura is understandable. It has lost its earlier citadel, West Bengal, and rules only in Kerala — and even there the BJP has begun breathing down its neck, although the Congress still remains the main opposition. The Left’s track record of development in Tripura is being severely tested. Both the plains and hills have their own sets of problems. Unemployment, lack of road and rail connectivity, poor industrial development, and lack of avenues of opportunities for tribals to improve their living, are some of the major issues. But the communists have some positives going for them. Chief Minister Manik Sarkar enjoys a clean personal image. He has steered Tripura to political stability and has ensured that basic social indices remain decent. No major scandal has hit his regime in the two decades of its rule. Besides, the Left has a strong cadre in the State and its supporters have seeped into nearly every institution, and have the capacity to turn things around. On the personality front, the BJP is banking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma, while the Left has its old warhorse and Chief Minister Sarkar. Left leaders on the national scene, such as Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat, hardly have any sway in Tripura. The BJP-led Government at the Centre has gone all out by way of its own contribution to the party’s fortunes in the region. For instance, the Union Ministry of Textiles has planned a big push to textile manufacturing in the North-East, which would naturally include Tripura. Other Central ministries have promised loads of development work to the region. Underlying all these assurances is the thrust that a BJP regime in Tripura can gel better with the BJP-led Government at the Centre and, thus, expedite development. If the Left can stave off this new and unexpected challenge, it will not just retain power but also perhaps cause a dent in the BJP’s drive to politically secure the North-East. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Modi vs Manik Sarkar battle about to start in Tripura

The BJP is no stranger in Nagaland. Nor is the RSS. There are RSS functionaries who have worked for decades in that state trying to lay the foundation for the saffron party. The BJP was part of the outgoing Naga People&rsquo;s Front (NPF) led government. In fact, this time the BJP has set up twenty candidates to contest the upcoming polls on February 27. Senior RSS functionary Ram Madhav has been spending considerable time in Nagaland to prepare the field for the BJP to play a more pro-active role in the next government after having made a pre-poll alliance with the Nagaland Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) led by Neiphiu Rio.

&nbsp;

But a missive from the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) General Secretary Dr Zelhou Kelho to all political parties, literally pointing at the anti-Christian agenda of the BJP, could spoil the carefully prepared menu of Ram Madhav. The church has never been so outspoken in the past. It has never directed its adherents to vote for a particular party or candidate. So what has suddenly prompted the NBCC to issue what is nothing short of a diktat to its followers against the BJP?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Dr Keyho pointed at the BJP&rsquo;s direct assault on Christians by declaring Christmas Day as Good Governance Day where offices had to be kept open. While this has subsequently been toned down and exempted for the North Eastern states but the damage to the Christian psyche is complete.

&nbsp;

Dr Keyhou in his letter said, &ldquo;India has experienced worst persecution ever in 2015-2017. You will be fully aware that persecutions have tripled in recent years. Pastors, evangelists and missionaries are dragged openly in the streets, harassed and insulted and many made to suffer. Their homes destroyed and children discriminated in schools. Worship places were burnt down and believers are often disturbed and harassed. God must be weeping when Naga politicians are running after those who seek to destroy Christianity in India and our land.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

Such a letter coming from a church pulpit is bound to have a lasting impact on the voters&rsquo; mind. At least this is what anti-BJP forces in Nagaland hope. However, the Catholic Church which also has a significant presence in Nagaland has chosen to remain silent and let its followers make an informed choice.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Keyho also made an issue of the denial of visa to the President, Baptist World Alliance, Rev Paul Msiza was who was scheduled to attend the 150th year celebration of the Baptist Church in Garo Hills, Meghalaya last week. Since Msiza&rsquo;s status is equivalent to that of the Pope in the Catholic Church this is seen as a direct affront to the Baptist Church and on Christians in general. Whether the visa was rejected on grounds that it did not fulfill certain criteria or if the rejection is nuanced is hard to understand at this juncture. But considering that this is election time, the damage done can hardly be repaired.

&nbsp;

It is hard for the BJP to acquit itself this time around what with its so-called &ldquo;fringe&rdquo; wanting to do Saraswati Puja in a Christian school or its student wing the ABVP asking the UP Government not to allow Christmas celebrations in school in Uttar Pradesh.

&nbsp;

The beef ban and atrocities on those carrying or storing beef at home and the hyper-ventilated actions of the Gau rakshaks across the country are being viewed by Christians in the North Eastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya with fear and trepidation. They are unsure what agenda other than development will be unleashed in these states.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It is difficult for the BJP to allay these fears since the Party has remained a silent spectator to all the goings-on, including the latest one by the Rajput Karni Sena which stood in the way of the film Padmavat being shown in several states. That the Rajput Karni Sena was allowed to go berserk and even stone a school bus has created a general sense of apprehension about the future of India itself under the present dispensation. And it will be difficult to blame the Christian minority groups for harbouring those fears. The fears are real and present and the BJP&rsquo;s damage control machine seems to be on the back-foot.

&nbsp;

Interestingly, in 2015, when Prime Minister Modi visited Nagaland and Meghalaya there was enthusiasm that he would bring in better governance and change for the better. But the fact that the Framework Agreement signed with the Naga rebels in August 2015 is yet to be concluded has also created some resentment. On the whole, there is a general sense of dismay about this one big unkept promise of the BJP government at the Centre.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

People are apprehensive that the next government in Nagaland might concede too much or that the Framework Agreement which has been built brick by brick in consultation with several Naga civil society groups might fall apart. No one can blame the Naga people and the churches for the current antagonism they harbour against the BJP.&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp;

The fears of Christian minority voters are real and present and the BJP’s damage control machine seems to be on the back-foot.

The BJP is no stranger in Nagaland. Nor is the RSS. There are RSS functionaries who have worked for decades in that state trying to lay the foundation for the saffron party. The BJP was part of the outgoing Naga People’s Front (NPF) led government. In fact, this time the BJP has set up twenty candidates to contest the upcoming polls on February 27. Senior RSS functionary Ram Madhav has been spending considerable time in Nagaland to prepare the field for the BJP to play a more pro-active role in the next government after having made a pre-poll alliance with the Nagaland Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) led by Neiphiu Rio. But a missive from the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) General Secretary Dr Zelhou Kelho to all political parties, literally pointing at the anti-Christian agenda of the BJP, could spoil the carefully prepared menu of Ram Madhav. The church has never been so outspoken in the past. It has never directed its adherents to vote for a particular party or candidate. So what has suddenly prompted the NBCC to issue what is nothing short of a diktat to its followers against the BJP? Dr Keyho pointed at the BJP’s direct assault on Christians by declaring Christmas Day as Good Governance Day where offices had to be kept open. While this has subsequently been toned down and exempted for the North Eastern states but the damage to the Christian psyche is complete. Dr Keyhou in his letter said, “India has experienced worst persecution ever in 2015-2017. You will be fully aware that persecutions have tripled in recent years. Pastors, evangelists and missionaries are dragged openly in the streets, harassed and insulted and many made to suffer. Their homes destroyed and children discriminated in schools. Worship places were burnt down and believers are often disturbed and harassed. God must be weeping when Naga politicians are running after those who seek to destroy Christianity in India and our land.” Such a letter coming from a church pulpit is bound to have a lasting impact on the voters’ mind. At least this is what anti-BJP forces in Nagaland hope. However, the Catholic Church which also has a significant presence in Nagaland has chosen to remain silent and let its followers make an informed choice. Keyho also made an issue of the denial of visa to the President, Baptist World Alliance, Rev Paul Msiza was who was scheduled to attend the 150th year celebration of the Baptist Church in Garo Hills, Meghalaya last week. Since Msiza’s status is equivalent to that of the Pope in the Catholic Church this is seen as a direct affront to the Baptist Church and on Christians in general. Whether the visa was rejected on grounds that it did not fulfill certain criteria or if the rejection is nuanced is hard to understand at this juncture. But considering that this is election time, the damage done can hardly be repaired. It is hard for the BJP to acquit itself this time around what with its so-called “fringe” wanting to do Saraswati Puja in a Christian school or its student wing the ABVP asking the UP Government not to allow Christmas celebrations in school in Uttar Pradesh. The beef ban and atrocities on those carrying or storing beef at home and the hyper-ventilated actions of the Gau rakshaks across the country are being viewed by Christians in the North Eastern states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya with fear and trepidation. They are unsure what agenda other than development will be unleashed in these states. It is difficult for the BJP to allay these fears since the Party has remained a silent spectator to all the goings-on, including the latest one by the Rajput Karni Sena which stood in the way of the film Padmavat being shown in several states. That the Rajput Karni Sena was allowed to go berserk and even stone a school bus has created a general sense of apprehension about the future of India itself under the present dispensation. And it will be difficult to blame the Christian minority groups for harbouring those fears. The fears are real and present and the BJP’s damage control machine seems to be on the back-foot. Interestingly, in 2015, when Prime Minister Modi visited Nagaland and Meghalaya there was enthusiasm that he would bring in better governance and change for the better. But the fact that the Framework Agreement signed with the Naga rebels in August 2015 is yet to be concluded has also created some resentment. On the whole, there is a general sense of dismay about this one big unkept promise of the BJP government at the Centre. People are apprehensive that the next government in Nagaland might concede too much or that the Framework Agreement which has been built brick by brick in consultation with several Naga civil society groups might fall apart. No one can blame the Naga people and the churches for the current antagonism they harbour against the BJP. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Are fears of Christian voters real in Nagaland?

The Lingayat movement for separate religion status is likely to become one of the deciding factors in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.&nbsp;

With Assembly elections just a few months away, the demand for separate religious status for the Lingayats, a community that claims a historicity that separates them from the broad fabric of Hinduism, has started gaining ground in Karnataka again.&nbsp;

The community is believed to be the single largest in Karnataka accounting for around 18% of the state&rsquo;s population.&nbsp;

BJP&#39;s CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa is the tallest leader for the Lingayat community, which is the largest vote bank in the state.

In 2013, Lingayat voters didn&#39;t vote for BJP as the party removed BS Yeddyurappa from CM post. As a result, Congress made a &nbsp;comeback.&nbsp;

Now, if Congress becomes successful in getting a good share of Lingayat votes, it will prove to be troublesome for BJP.

Who are the Lingayats?

The tradition of Lingayatism is known to have been founded by social reformer and philosopher Basavanna in 12th century Karnataka.&nbsp;

Followers of the sect continue to revere him as the founder and prime philosopher of their religion.

The community instead of temple worship and casteism were taught to worship Shiva with great rigour and gave up the ritualistic brahmin practices.&nbsp;

The Lingayats are what political scientists call a &lsquo;caste-sect&rsquo;, and fall within the OBC category in the state.

The community is believed to be the single largest in Karnataka accounting for around 18% of the state’s population

The Lingayat movement for separate religion status is likely to become one of the deciding factors in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. With Assembly elections just a few months away, the demand for separate religious status for the Lingayats, a community that claims a historicity that separates them from the broad fabric of Hinduism, has started gaining ground in Karnataka again. The community is believed to be the single largest in Karnataka accounting for around 18% of the state’s population. BJP's CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa is the tallest leader for the Lingayat community, which is the largest vote bank in the state. In 2013, Lingayat voters didn't vote for BJP as the party removed BS Yeddyurappa from CM post. As a result, Congress made a comeback. Now, if Congress becomes successful in getting a good share of Lingayat votes, it will prove to be troublesome for BJP. Who are the Lingayats? The tradition of Lingayatism is known to have been founded by social reformer and philosopher Basavanna in 12th century Karnataka. Followers of the sect continue to revere him as the founder and prime philosopher of their religion. The community instead of temple worship and casteism were taught to worship Shiva with great rigour and gave up the ritualistic brahmin practices. The Lingayats are what political scientists call a ‘caste-sect’, and fall within the OBC category in the state.

Karnataka elections: Demand for Lingayat as separate religion creates trouble for BJP

Four people, including a relative of a BJP MLA, have been arrested for allegedly extorting money from truckers in the Naraini police station area here.

&quot;Four people were arrested near the Kartal road barrier for extorting money from sand truckers yesterday,&quot; Superintendent of Police Shalini said today.

One of them, Srivishal, is believed to be a cousin of Naraini MLA Rajkaran Kabir, the SP said.

When contacted, the MLA alleged that the SP had been targeting people close to him and had recently got a fake case filed against his representative Nand Kishore Brahmchari.

&quot;Now, she has arrested my cousin,&quot; he said.

&quot;I will meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and tell him the truth,&quot; Kabir said.

The SP said rules were followed and a few BJP leaders who had come to meet her in this regard were apprised of the situation.&nbsp;

'Four people were arrested near the Kartal road barrier for extorting money from sand truckers yesterday,' Superintendent of Police Shalini said today

Four people, including a relative of a BJP MLA, have been arrested for allegedly extorting money from truckers in the Naraini police station area here. "Four people were arrested near the Kartal road barrier for extorting money from sand truckers yesterday," Superintendent of Police Shalini said today. One of them, Srivishal, is believed to be a cousin of Naraini MLA Rajkaran Kabir, the SP said. When contacted, the MLA alleged that the SP had been targeting people close to him and had recently got a fake case filed against his representative Nand Kishore Brahmchari. "Now, she has arrested my cousin," he said. "I will meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and tell him the truth," Kabir said. The SP said rules were followed and a few BJP leaders who had come to meet her in this regard were apprised of the situation.

4, including BJP MLA's cousin, held for extorting money from truckers

Rahul Gandhi tweeted Tuesday that the PDP says &quot;talk&quot; with Pakistan, the BJP says the country will &quot;pay the price&quot;, while &#39;our soldiers pay with their blood&#39;. &nbsp;

&quot;Modi Ji dithers&quot;, he added. &nbsp;

&quot;1. PDP says &#39;talks&#39; with Pakistan. 2. BJP Defence Minister says &#39;Pakistan will pay the price&#39;,&quot; Rahul tweeted.&nbsp;

&quot;While our soldiers pay with their blood for BJP/ PDP&rsquo;s opportunistic alliance and non-existent Kashmir policy; Modi Ji dithers,&quot; Rahul added.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
1. PDP says &ldquo;talks&rdquo; with Pakistan. 
 
2. BJP Defence Minister says &quot;Pakistan will pay the price&quot;. 
 
While our soldiers pay with their blood for BJP/ PDP&rsquo;s opportunistic alliance and non-existent Kashmir policy; Modi Ji dithers.
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/963365828681924608?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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After the attack on the Sunjuwan army camp in Jammu &mdash; which left five soldiers and one civilian dead and 11 injured -- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had said the situation cannot be allowed to continue and that India and Pakistan would have to talk to each other. She had added then that she knew she would be branded as &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/no-solution-other-than-dialogue-with-pakistan-mehbooba-mufti-32602" target="_blank">anti-national</a>&quot; for her comments.&nbsp;

The PDP and the BJP are in &nbsp;power in Kashmir.&nbsp;

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had on Monday said Pakistan &quot;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-live-defence-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-says-pakistan-will-pay-for-misadventure-32636">will pay for the misadventure</a>&quot;. She added that the men who attacked the army camp seemed to have &quot;local support&quot;.&nbsp;

Pakistan has since said &quot;any Indian aggression shall be met with an <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-warns-india-over-sunjuwan-army-camp-attack-media-reports-32741" target="_blank">equal and proportionate response</a>&quot;.&nbsp;

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Any <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indian?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Indian</a> aggression, strategic miscalculation or misadventure regardless of its scale, mode, or location will not go unpunished &amp; shall be met with an equal &amp; proportionate response. We will defend robustly every inch of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a>&#39;s soil. 
~Khurram Dastgir, Minister for Defence <a href="https://t.co/EqfgiP0lHk">pic.twitter.com/EqfgiP0lHk</a>
&mdash; Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) <a href="https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/963355552695967744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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'While our soldiers pay with their blood for BJP/ PDP’s opportunistic alliance and non-existent Kashmir policy; Modi Ji dithers,' Rahul tweeted

Rahul Gandhi tweeted Tuesday that the PDP says "talk" with Pakistan, the BJP says the country will "pay the price", while 'our soldiers pay with their blood'. "Modi Ji dithers", he added. "1. PDP says 'talks' with Pakistan. 2. BJP Defence Minister says 'Pakistan will pay the price'," Rahul tweeted. "While our soldiers pay with their blood for BJP/ PDP’s opportunistic alliance and non-existent Kashmir policy; Modi Ji dithers," Rahul added. 1. PDP says “talks” with Pakistan. 2. BJP Defence Minister says "Pakistan will pay the price". While our soldiers pay with their blood for BJP/ PDP’s opportunistic alliance and non-existent Kashmir policy; Modi Ji dithers. — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 13, 2018 × After the attack on the Sunjuwan army camp in Jammu — which left five soldiers and one civilian dead and 11 injured -- Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had said the situation cannot be allowed to continue and that India and Pakistan would have to talk to each other. She had added then that she knew she would be branded as "anti-national" for her comments. The PDP and the BJP are in power in Kashmir. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had on Monday said Pakistan "will pay for the misadventure". She added that the men who attacked the army camp seemed to have "local support". Pakistan has since said "any Indian aggression shall be met with an equal and proportionate response". Any #Indian aggression, strategic miscalculation or misadventure regardless of its scale, mode, or location will not go unpunished & shall be met with an equal & proportionate response. We will defend robustly every inch of #Pakistan's soil. ~Khurram Dastgir, Minister for Defence pic.twitter.com/EqfgiP0lHk — Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) February 13, 2018 ×

PDP says 'talk', BJP says 'Pak will pay price' while 'soldiers pay with their blood': Rahul Gandhi

Bhartiya Janata Party reacted to the allegations of indulging in &#39;cheap politics&#39; after Rahul Gandhi was seen sitting in the sixth row during the Republic day parade.

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Rahul Gandhi was given the seat during Republic Day parade as per the protocol, rules &amp; traditions. The controversy created by Congress party is unwarranted &amp; an example of cheap politics. It shows that Congress party still believes in aristocracy and not in democracy : <a href="https://twitter.com/GVLNRAO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GVLNRAO</a> <a href="https://t.co/eSWgJcJbrL">pic.twitter.com/eSWgJcJbrL</a>
&mdash; BJP (@BJP4India) <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India/status/957142249682345986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said, &quot;democracy workes&nbsp;around rules and not people, it shows that Congress party still believes in aristocracy and not in democracy.&quot;

Rao further asked the Congress if they don&#39;t believe in democracy?

On January 26, during the Republic Day celebrations, Rahul Gandhi took the designated seat in the sixth row which prompted an uproar among Congress leaders.

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मोदी सरकार की ओछी राजनीति जग ज़ाहिर! 
 
कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष श्री राहुल गांधी को गणतंत्र दिवस के राष्ट्रीय पर्व पर अंहकारी शासकों ने सारी परंपराओं को दरकिनार करके पहले चौथी पंक्ति और फिर छठी पंक्ति में जानबूझकर बिठाया। 
 
हमारे लिये संविधान का उत्सव ही सर्व प्रथम है। <a href="https://t.co/8bRi017G8J">pic.twitter.com/8bRi017G8J</a>
&mdash; Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) <a href="https://twitter.com/rssurjewala/status/956789223910137856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Gandhi was seated along with the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Congress sources said the party presidents, including Sonia Gandhi, were always seated in the front row at the Republic Day parade.

During last year celebrations, Sonia Gandhi was seated in the first row with BJP president Amit Shah.

India celebrated its 69th Republic Day on Friday with a grand display of the country&#39;s military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from the ASEAN nations.&nbsp;

During the 69th Republic Day celebrations, Rahul Gandhi took his designated seat in the sixth row

Bhartiya Janata Party reacted to the allegations of indulging in 'cheap politics' after Rahul Gandhi was seen sitting in the sixth row during the Republic day parade. Rahul Gandhi was given the seat during Republic Day parade as per the protocol, rules & traditions. The controversy created by Congress party is unwarranted & an example of cheap politics. It shows that Congress party still believes in aristocracy and not in democracy : @GVLNRAO pic.twitter.com/eSWgJcJbrL — BJP (@BJP4India) January 27, 2018 × BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said, "democracy workes around rules and not people, it shows that Congress party still believes in aristocracy and not in democracy." Rao further asked the Congress if they don't believe in democracy? On January 26, during the Republic Day celebrations, Rahul Gandhi took the designated seat in the sixth row which prompted an uproar among Congress leaders. मोदी सरकार की ओछी राजनीति जग ज़ाहिर! कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष श्री राहुल गांधी को गणतंत्र दिवस के राष्ट्रीय पर्व पर अंहकारी शासकों ने सारी परंपराओं को दरकिनार करके पहले चौथी पंक्ति और फिर छठी पंक्ति में जानबूझकर बिठाया। हमारे लिये संविधान का उत्सव ही सर्व प्रथम है। pic.twitter.com/8bRi017G8J — Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) January 26, 2018 × Gandhi was seated along with the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad. Congress sources said the party presidents, including Sonia Gandhi, were always seated in the front row at the Republic Day parade. During last year celebrations, Sonia Gandhi was seated in the first row with BJP president Amit Shah. India celebrated its 69th Republic Day on Friday with a grand display of the country's military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from the ASEAN nations.

Rahul Gandhi's seating row: 'Democracy works around rules and not people,' retorts BJP

The Gujarat poll outcome has instilled the belief in Congress workers that the BJP can be defeated, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said today and exuded confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the 2019 general elections under Rahul Gandhi&#39;s leadership.

Patel, who had won the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat last year in a close contest, also said the poll verdict in Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s home state was a &quot;moral victory&quot; for the Congress as the BJP, which had talked about getting 150 seats, was wrapped up under 100.

&quot;Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed so many meetings and used all sorts of tricks from bringing Pakistan...To even saying that someone in Pakistan wants me to be the chief minister, but failed to polarise the voters,&quot; Patel told PTI in an interview.

&quot;Gujarat poll results have boosted the morale of Congress workers, not only in Gujarat but all over India, and given them the belief that the BJP can be defeated,&quot; the 68-year-old leader said.

The Assembly election outcome would definitely help the Congress party in the 2019 elections, he said.

&quot;The way Rahul Gandhi has campaigned in Gujarat, his hard work and the way he drew huge crowds were very encouraging and helped us win the seats we finally did,&quot; said Patel.

The BJP won 99 seats in the 182-member Assembly, its tally dipping from 115 in the last elections.

Had the BJP not &quot;used their gimmicks&quot;, they would have been defeated in Gujarat, Patel claimed.

He said the Congress was constantly improving and would do well in the upcoming state elections this year.

The &quot;young and dynamic&quot; party president, Rahul Gandhi, would lead the Congress to victory in the 2019 polls, he held.

Asked if Gandhi, who took over as the party chief last month, would build a new team, Patel said, &quot;The Congress president is consulting seniors; he is using youngsters also.&quot;

&quot;He has a slot for everyone. He knows where to utilise whose expertise,&quot; the veteran Congress leader said.

On whether the Congress would stitch up an alliance for the 2019 elections, Patel said the ultimate goal was to defeat divisive and communal forces.

&quot;We are prepared to take the support of like-minded parties, but it is too early to talk of alliances. Congress president and senior leaders will decide later,&quot; said Patel, who served as Sonia Gandhi&#39;s political secretary for about 15 years during her time as Congress chief.

Asked if the Congress was going through its worst phase electorally, Patel said, &quot;When Soniaji had taken over, the Congress was (in power) in a few states; similarly under Rahul ji, we will get more states. It&#39;s a question of time.&quot;

On the BJP projecting itself as championing the cause of Muslim women and the Mehram issue, Patel said women could proceed for haj without mehram (male guardian) because of a change in rules in Saudi Arabia.

Talking about the triple talaq bill, which has been passed by the Lok Sabha and is awaiting the Rajya Sabha nod, he said the Congress had demanded that the bill be forwarded to a select committee, so that all its provisions could be scrutinised.

Asked if the Congress was guilty of causing too many disruptions in Parliament in recent times, Patel said the party was only raising &quot;genuine&quot; issues.

Patel said that Gujarat poll verdict in PM Modi's home state was a moral victory for the Congress

The Gujarat poll outcome has instilled the belief in Congress workers that the BJP can be defeated, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said today and exuded confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the 2019 general elections under Rahul Gandhi's leadership. Patel, who had won the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat last year in a close contest, also said the poll verdict in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state was a "moral victory" for the Congress as the BJP, which had talked about getting 150 seats, was wrapped up under 100. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed so many meetings and used all sorts of tricks from bringing Pakistan...To even saying that someone in Pakistan wants me to be the chief minister, but failed to polarise the voters," Patel told PTI in an interview. "Gujarat poll results have boosted the morale of Congress workers, not only in Gujarat but all over India, and given them the belief that the BJP can be defeated," the 68-year-old leader said. The Assembly election outcome would definitely help the Congress party in the 2019 elections, he said. "The way Rahul Gandhi has campaigned in Gujarat, his hard work and the way he drew huge crowds were very encouraging and helped us win the seats we finally did," said Patel. The BJP won 99 seats in the 182-member Assembly, its tally dipping from 115 in the last elections. Had the BJP not "used their gimmicks", they would have been defeated in Gujarat, Patel claimed. He said the Congress was constantly improving and would do well in the upcoming state elections this year. The "young and dynamic" party president, Rahul Gandhi, would lead the Congress to victory in the 2019 polls, he held. Asked if Gandhi, who took over as the party chief last month, would build a new team, Patel said, "The Congress president is consulting seniors; he is using youngsters also." "He has a slot for everyone. He knows where to utilise whose expertise," the veteran Congress leader said. On whether the Congress would stitch up an alliance for the 2019 elections, Patel said the ultimate goal was to defeat divisive and communal forces. "We are prepared to take the support of like-minded parties, but it is too early to talk of alliances. Congress president and senior leaders will decide later," said Patel, who served as Sonia Gandhi's political secretary for about 15 years during her time as Congress chief. Asked if the Congress was going through its worst phase electorally, Patel said, "When Soniaji had taken over, the Congress was (in power) in a few states; similarly under Rahul ji, we will get more states. It's a question of time." On the BJP projecting itself as championing the cause of Muslim women and the Mehram issue, Patel said women could proceed for haj without mehram (male guardian) because of a change in rules in Saudi Arabia. Talking about the triple talaq bill, which has been passed by the Lok Sabha and is awaiting the Rajya Sabha nod, he said the Congress had demanded that the bill be forwarded to a select committee, so that all its provisions could be scrutinised. Asked if the Congress was guilty of causing too many disruptions in Parliament in recent times, Patel said the party was only raising "genuine" issues.

Rahul will lead Congress to victory in 2019: Ahmed Patel

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said Tuesday that the next general elections and the elections to the Maharashtra state assembly could be held in December 2018.&nbsp;

Thackeray was speaking at a national executive meet of his party. The Sena also announced Tuesday that it would contest the elections <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-not-align-with-bjp-in-2019-lok-sabha-assembly-elections-shiv-sena-30469" target="_blank">on its own</a>, not in alliance with the BJP.&nbsp;

Addressing the meet, Thackeray said that &quot;we should bring down this self-advertising government&quot;.&nbsp;

And that &quot;we will come to power in Maharashtra on our own&quot;.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Shiv Sena&#39;s Uddhav Thackeray speaking at Party&#39;s national executive meeting in Mumbai <a href="https://t.co/0sqKAuSckG">https://t.co/0sqKAuSckG</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955701707429703680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The Sena has so far been a difficult BJP ally, taking the ruling BJP to task both in Maharashtra and at the Centre.&nbsp;

The last general and Maharashtra assembly elections were held in 2014. Which means they should be going to the polls again in 2019.&nbsp;

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is currently in Davos, reacted to the announcements saying &quot;let&#39;s wait, they have been saying many things&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He added that his government would &quot;complete its term&quot;.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> &#39;Lets wait, they have been saying many things, as of now we are in alliance in the Govt and this Govt will complete its term&#39; says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Davos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Davos</a> on Shiv Sena going alone in 2019 <a href="https://t.co/JEPm6Wcy5g">pic.twitter.com/JEPm6Wcy5g</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955719332553568256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The Shiv Sena announced Tuesday that it would contest the elections on its own, not in alliance with the BJP.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said Tuesday that the next general elections and the elections to the Maharashtra state assembly could be held in December 2018. Thackeray was speaking at a national executive meet of his party. The Sena also announced Tuesday that it would contest the elections on its own, not in alliance with the BJP. Addressing the meet, Thackeray said that "we should bring down this self-advertising government". And that "we will come to power in Maharashtra on our own". #WATCH Shiv Sena's Uddhav Thackeray speaking at Party's national executive meeting in Mumbai https://t.co/0sqKAuSckG — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018 × The Sena has so far been a difficult BJP ally, taking the ruling BJP to task both in Maharashtra and at the Centre. The last general and Maharashtra assembly elections were held in 2014. Which means they should be going to the polls again in 2019. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is currently in Davos, reacted to the announcements saying "let's wait, they have been saying many things". He added that his government would "complete its term". #WATCH 'Lets wait, they have been saying many things, as of now we are in alliance in the Govt and this Govt will complete its term' says Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in #Davos on Shiv Sena going alone in 2019 pic.twitter.com/JEPm6Wcy5g — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018 ×

Uddhav Thackeray: Lok Sabha, Maharashtra elections could be held in 2018

Reacting to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-not-align-with-bjp-in-2019-lok-sabha-assembly-elections-shiv-sena-30469" target="_blank">Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray&#39;s announcement</a> of breaking the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming 2019 general elections,&nbsp; BJP minister Ashish Shelar said that the ultimate damage will rest on the Shiv Sena.

&quot;We are ready to contest 2019 alone, just want to make it clear to Shiv Sena that it will be ultimately damaging for you,&quot;&nbsp;Shelar said

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We are also ready to contest 2019 alone, just want to make it clear to Shiv Sena that it will be ultimately damaging for you: Ashish Shelar, BJP <a href="https://t.co/Qr7WE7Hfw0">pic.twitter.com/Qr7WE7Hfw0</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/955789258656133120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Shiv Sena today&nbsp;said that it will not align with BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

The party passed the resolution at its national executive meet in Mumbai.

The announcement was made by party leader Sanjay Raut who moved the resolution, stating that the BJP had been demoralising the party for the last three years.

The Sena has so far been a difficult BJP ally, taking the ruling BJP to task both in Maharashtra and at the Centre.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

He said 'We are ready to contest 2019 alone, just want to make it clear to Shiv Sena that it will be ultimately damaging for you'

Reacting to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's announcement of breaking the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming 2019 general elections, BJP minister Ashish Shelar said that the ultimate damage will rest on the Shiv Sena. "We are ready to contest 2019 alone, just want to make it clear to Shiv Sena that it will be ultimately damaging for you," Shelar said We are also ready to contest 2019 alone, just want to make it clear to Shiv Sena that it will be ultimately damaging for you: Ashish Shelar, BJP pic.twitter.com/Qr7WE7Hfw0 — ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2018 × Shiv Sena today said that it will not align with BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The party passed the resolution at its national executive meet in Mumbai. The announcement was made by party leader Sanjay Raut who moved the resolution, stating that the BJP had been demoralising the party for the last three years. The Sena has so far been a difficult BJP ally, taking the ruling BJP to task both in Maharashtra and at the Centre.

Breaking alliance with BJP will be ultimate damage for Shiv Sena : BJP leader

An Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) worker was hacked to death in Kannur on Friday, the Peravoor police said.&nbsp;

As per the police, the man was hacked to death by a gang of masked men who stopped him mid-way while he was on his bike on Friday evening.&nbsp;

The victim has been identified as Shyam Prasad, 24, who was studying at the Industrial Training Institute in Kakkayangad. He was the mukhya sikshak of a local RSS shakha.&nbsp;

Reports say that Prasad tried to escape and run away but the attackers chased him down.&nbsp;

As per media reports, Prasad was heading home to Chittaruparamb from Kankkayangad when he was attacked.&nbsp;

Four Social Democratic Party of India (<a href="https://www.aninews.in/search?query=%3Ca%20href=" search="">SDPI</a>)&nbsp;activists have been arrested by police in Kannur in connection with Prasad&#39;s murder.

After the news of the incident broke out, the BJP in the district has called for a dawn to dusk hartal on Saturday. The party has stated that vehicles will be exempted from the hartal.

The police said he the doctors declared him brought dead.

&nbsp;

As per the police, the man was hacked to death by a gang of masked men who stopped him mid-way while he was on his bike on Friday evening

An Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) worker was hacked to death in Kannur on Friday, the Peravoor police said. As per the police, the man was hacked to death by a gang of masked men who stopped him mid-way while he was on his bike on Friday evening. The victim has been identified as Shyam Prasad, 24, who was studying at the Industrial Training Institute in Kakkayangad. He was the mukhya sikshak of a local RSS shakha. Reports say that Prasad tried to escape and run away but the attackers chased him down. As per media reports, Prasad was heading home to Chittaruparamb from Kankkayangad when he was attacked. Four Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists have been arrested by police in Kannur in connection with Prasad's murder. After the news of the incident broke out, the BJP in the district has called for a dawn to dusk hartal on Saturday. The party has stated that vehicles will be exempted from the hartal. The police said he the doctors declared him brought dead.

ABVP worker hacked to death in Kerala, four activists arrested

The ruling BJP and opposition Congress today won nine posts of presidents of local bodies each in Madhya Pradesh.

The elections to 19 local bodies were held on January 17.

One seat was won by an independent, a State Election Commission officer said here.

BJP candidates for president&#39;s post won at Peethampur Municipality and Nagar Parishad of Dahi, Kukshi, Dhamnod, Pansemal, Rajpur, Palsud and Omkareshwar. The BJP also won, unopposed, the post of president of Sendhwa Municipality.

Congress won the president&#39;s post at the municipalities of former chief minister Digvijay Singh&#39;s stronghold Raghogarh, Barwani, Manawar and Dhar, besides nagar parishads at Anjad, Khetia, Sardarpur, Rajgarh and Dharmapuri.

The president&#39;s post in Jaithari Nagar Parishad was won by an independent candidate.

Across these 19 local bodies, BJP won 194 seats of corporators while the Congress won 145. Independent candidates claimed 13 seats.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attributed his party&#39;s disappointing performance to rebel candidates.

Rebel candidates marred the BJP&#39;s chances in many places, Chouhan told reporters at Mandsaur.

Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said the Congress has snatched seven local body seats from the ruling BJP.

&quot;These results have shown that people are disillusioned with the BJP government. The BJP failed despite misusing government&#39;s money in fighting the elections,&quot; he alleged.&nbsp;

Across these 19 local bodies, BJP won 194 seats of corporators while the Congress won 145. Independent candidates claimed 13 seats

The ruling BJP and opposition Congress today won nine posts of presidents of local bodies each in Madhya Pradesh. The elections to 19 local bodies were held on January 17. One seat was won by an independent, a State Election Commission officer said here. BJP candidates for president's post won at Peethampur Municipality and Nagar Parishad of Dahi, Kukshi, Dhamnod, Pansemal, Rajpur, Palsud and Omkareshwar. The BJP also won, unopposed, the post of president of Sendhwa Municipality. Congress won the president's post at the municipalities of former chief minister Digvijay Singh's stronghold Raghogarh, Barwani, Manawar and Dhar, besides nagar parishads at Anjad, Khetia, Sardarpur, Rajgarh and Dharmapuri. The president's post in Jaithari Nagar Parishad was won by an independent candidate. Across these 19 local bodies, BJP won 194 seats of corporators while the Congress won 145. Independent candidates claimed 13 seats. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan attributed his party's disappointing performance to rebel candidates. Rebel candidates marred the BJP's chances in many places, Chouhan told reporters at Mandsaur. Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said the Congress has snatched seven local body seats from the ruling BJP. "These results have shown that people are disillusioned with the BJP government. The BJP failed despite misusing government's money in fighting the elections," he alleged.

Madhya Pradesh civic polls: BJP, Congress win equal number of local body president's posts

Even ordinarily, every Union Budget is important. But the Budget for 2018-19 has an added significance for a number of reasons, which is why February 1 is being so keenly anticipated. External factors, as certainly as internal economic dynamics, have always influenced Budget proposals. This time will be no different, except that those external factors, given the way they have got arranged, should have a greater political import than would normally have been the case.

&nbsp;

Many people had hoped to get a teaser on the Budget in Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s first interview of this year, given to Zee News recently. But he did not oblige, merely reiterating that the forthcoming Budget would proceed in the direction of reforms that his Government had initiated and carried forward since May 2014. In a subsequent interview to another television channel, the Prime Minister was no more forthcoming &mdash; he only said that people were not enamoured of sops; they preferred to be gainfully empowered.

&nbsp;

The Union Budget 2018-19 will be interesting for the following reasons. It will be the first national Budget since the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime and the disruption in the economy that resulted as a consequence. It will also be the last full Budget before the Lok Sabha election in mid-2019. It comes soon after the Gujarat Assembly election result, which offers many lessons to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre. And, it shall be presented months before a spate of Assembly elections that are scheduled in the major States, the outcome of which could depend, inter alia, on what the Budget offers.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Union Budget for 2018-19 will also, incidentally, be placed just days after Prime Minister Modi returns from the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, where the Indian business story gets hard-sold to an international audience. This cocktail of circumstances makes the coming Budget special.

&nbsp;

There is speculation on what the Budget does to counter the disruption in economic growth consequent to GST &mdash; and, earlier, demonetisation. It is true that the BJP has through its recent electoral wins demonstrated that the people have by and large endorsed the twin measures. But economic management is a different kettle of fish.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

While international agencies, such as the World Bank have hailed GST and demonetisation, they have also pointed to the immediate after-effects that need fixing. GDP growth is expected to be about seven per cent, down from&nbsp; 8.6 per cent in 2015. The best case scenario projects growth to touch 7.3 per cent by this year-end. Sustained growth is essential to both the reduction of poverty and enhancement of employment opportunities. The contraction in manufacturing and to an extent the services sector is seen as a fallout of the GST.

&nbsp;

Given that the most affected have been businessmen and small traders &mdash; both being strong vote-banks of the BJP &mdash; the Budget is expected to address the concerns. How this would be done, remains in the speculative realm. There is also talk that the Government may bite the bullet by drastically overhauling the personal income tax system to provide a big relief to the salaried middle class, yet another important constituent of the ruling party.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Post Davos, international investors will watch carefully the Budget proposals to see whether further concrete steps are taken to enhance the ease of doing business. Now that India has moved several places high to be among the 100 top nations in the &lsquo;ease of doing business&rsquo; ranking of the World Bank, expectations are higher.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It&rsquo;s true that the Government has abolished dozens of archaic laws that impeded business growth, relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in various sectors, and established a rule-based transparent mechanism in dealings. But investors will would want to know if the Government is willing to put its own money where its mouth is &mdash; that is, show the way to the private sector through massive public investments without compromising on its fiscal deficit target.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

But the real challenge before the Modi Government is to fix the crisis in the rural sector (with the agricultural component being the most essential). The BJP may have won the Gujarat election but that came with a wake-up call from the rural voters. The India-Bharat divide was evident, with urban Gujarat voting solidly for the BJP and the rural regions shifting away &mdash; even if not very decisively for now &mdash; from the ruling party. The obvious cause was the perception that the BJP had failed to address rural distress. In the recent interview, Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the problem of rural distress and stressed on the need to tackle it.

&nbsp;

Three major States with an overwhelming rural population &mdash; Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh &mdash; vote for new Assemblies later this year. The last two are ruled by the BJP and there has been unrest among the farmers over a variety of issues. The Congress has naturally been quick to cash in on the discontent and is busy burnishing its image as a farmer-friendly party. The last time the Congress had sought to pin down the Modi regime on the India-Bharat narrative was two years ago, when Rahul Gandhi had floated the &ldquo;suit boot ki sarkar&rdquo; jibe at the Government. In response, the Government presented its &lsquo;credentials&rsquo; of being pro-poor/pro-farmer in the Union Budget for 2016-17. The Prime Minister himself went to town, calling it &ldquo;pro-village, pro-poor, pro-farmer&rdquo;. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) schemes was rewarded with a higher outlay, and the Pradhan mantra Krishi Yojana was announced. Will we see the revival of a similar spirit in the coming Budget?

&nbsp;

Admittedly, the task of setting right the agrarian/rural crisis is enormous, and the Government has additionally raised the bar of performance. It promised to double farmer income in five years. That and other assurances are what it will have to keep, besides offering tangible solutions, for the rural voters in the States going to polls soon. The distress, in short, has arisen from two factors. The first is that the remuneration the farmers get for their produce from Government agencies does not even on occasions cover the input cost. The second, often related to the first, is that farmers have fallen in a cycle of debt from which they are finding it exceedingly difficult to extricate themselves. Farmer suicides have only worsened an already bad situation. Then there is the difficulty of selling their produce in the markets at acceptable prices. Placating the rural voter has never been an easy task.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Today, according to provisional estimates of the Central Statistics Office, agriculture accounts for less than 20 per cent of the nation&rsquo;s economy &mdash; the services sector has 54 per cent while industry is close to 29 per cent. This despite the fact that 44 per cent of the country&rsquo;s workforce is employed in agriculture (according to the World Bank and International Labour Organisation).

&nbsp;

The 2018-19 Union Budget is the last big chance for the Government to tweak its priorities so as to be seen as being pro-rural. Chandrababu Naidu had once lost Andhra Pradesh despite being hailed the world over for his administrative skills; the rural voter was turned off by the glitz and glamour which seemed so alien to his living conditions. In 2004, the BJP&rsquo;s Indian Shining campaign failed to give the party a second consecutive chance to rule &mdash; again because rural India refused to endorse the optimism. Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley has a good memory. Let&rsquo;s see if the lessons of the recent months and of the past years get reflected in the coming Budget.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The 2018-19 Union Budget is the last big chance for the Government to tweak its priorities so as to be seen as being pro-rural.

Even ordinarily, every Union Budget is important. But the Budget for 2018-19 has an added significance for a number of reasons, which is why February 1 is being so keenly anticipated. External factors, as certainly as internal economic dynamics, have always influenced Budget proposals. This time will be no different, except that those external factors, given the way they have got arranged, should have a greater political import than would normally have been the case. Many people had hoped to get a teaser on the Budget in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first interview of this year, given to Zee News recently. But he did not oblige, merely reiterating that the forthcoming Budget would proceed in the direction of reforms that his Government had initiated and carried forward since May 2014. In a subsequent interview to another television channel, the Prime Minister was no more forthcoming — he only said that people were not enamoured of sops; they preferred to be gainfully empowered. The Union Budget 2018-19 will be interesting for the following reasons. It will be the first national Budget since the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime and the disruption in the economy that resulted as a consequence. It will also be the last full Budget before the Lok Sabha election in mid-2019. It comes soon after the Gujarat Assembly election result, which offers many lessons to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre. And, it shall be presented months before a spate of Assembly elections that are scheduled in the major States, the outcome of which could depend, inter alia, on what the Budget offers. The Union Budget for 2018-19 will also, incidentally, be placed just days after Prime Minister Modi returns from the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, where the Indian business story gets hard-sold to an international audience. This cocktail of circumstances makes the coming Budget special. There is speculation on what the Budget does to counter the disruption in economic growth consequent to GST — and, earlier, demonetisation. It is true that the BJP has through its recent electoral wins demonstrated that the people have by and large endorsed the twin measures. But economic management is a different kettle of fish. While international agencies, such as the World Bank have hailed GST and demonetisation, they have also pointed to the immediate after-effects that need fixing. GDP growth is expected to be about seven per cent, down from 8.6 per cent in 2015. The best case scenario projects growth to touch 7.3 per cent by this year-end. Sustained growth is essential to both the reduction of poverty and enhancement of employment opportunities. The contraction in manufacturing and to an extent the services sector is seen as a fallout of the GST. Given that the most affected have been businessmen and small traders — both being strong vote-banks of the BJP — the Budget is expected to address the concerns. How this would be done, remains in the speculative realm. There is also talk that the Government may bite the bullet by drastically overhauling the personal income tax system to provide a big relief to the salaried middle class, yet another important constituent of the ruling party. Post Davos, international investors will watch carefully the Budget proposals to see whether further concrete steps are taken to enhance the ease of doing business. Now that India has moved several places high to be among the 100 top nations in the ‘ease of doing business’ ranking of the World Bank, expectations are higher. It’s true that the Government has abolished dozens of archaic laws that impeded business growth, relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in various sectors, and established a rule-based transparent mechanism in dealings. But investors will would want to know if the Government is willing to put its own money where its mouth is — that is, show the way to the private sector through massive public investments without compromising on its fiscal deficit target. But the real challenge before the Modi Government is to fix the crisis in the rural sector (with the agricultural component being the most essential). The BJP may have won the Gujarat election but that came with a wake-up call from the rural voters. The India-Bharat divide was evident, with urban Gujarat voting solidly for the BJP and the rural regions shifting away — even if not very decisively for now — from the ruling party. The obvious cause was the perception that the BJP had failed to address rural distress. In the recent interview, Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the problem of rural distress and stressed on the need to tackle it. Three major States with an overwhelming rural population — Karnataka, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh — vote for new Assemblies later this year. The last two are ruled by the BJP and there has been unrest among the farmers over a variety of issues. The Congress has naturally been quick to cash in on the discontent and is busy burnishing its image as a farmer-friendly party. The last time the Congress had sought to pin down the Modi regime on the India-Bharat narrative was two years ago, when Rahul Gandhi had floated the “suit boot ki sarkar” jibe at the Government. In response, the Government presented its ‘credentials’ of being pro-poor/pro-farmer in the Union Budget for 2016-17. The Prime Minister himself went to town, calling it “pro-village, pro-poor, pro-farmer”. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) schemes was rewarded with a higher outlay, and the Pradhan mantra Krishi Yojana was announced. Will we see the revival of a similar spirit in the coming Budget? Admittedly, the task of setting right the agrarian/rural crisis is enormous, and the Government has additionally raised the bar of performance. It promised to double farmer income in five years. That and other assurances are what it will have to keep, besides offering tangible solutions, for the rural voters in the States going to polls soon. The distress, in short, has arisen from two factors. The first is that the remuneration the farmers get for their produce from Government agencies does not even on occasions cover the input cost. The second, often related to the first, is that farmers have fallen in a cycle of debt from which they are finding it exceedingly difficult to extricate themselves. Farmer suicides have only worsened an already bad situation. Then there is the difficulty of selling their produce in the markets at acceptable prices. Placating the rural voter has never been an easy task. Today, according to provisional estimates of the Central Statistics Office, agriculture accounts for less than 20 per cent of the nation’s economy — the services sector has 54 per cent while industry is close to 29 per cent. This despite the fact that 44 per cent of the country’s workforce is employed in agriculture (according to the World Bank and International Labour Organisation). The 2018-19 Union Budget is the last big chance for the Government to tweak its priorities so as to be seen as being pro-rural. Chandrababu Naidu had once lost Andhra Pradesh despite being hailed the world over for his administrative skills; the rural voter was turned off by the glitz and glamour which seemed so alien to his living conditions. In 2004, the BJP’s Indian Shining campaign failed to give the party a second consecutive chance to rule — again because rural India refused to endorse the optimism. Union Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley has a good memory. Let’s see if the lessons of the recent months and of the past years get reflected in the coming Budget. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: BJP should focus on winning rural India in Budget 2018

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