Breaking News HIGHLIGHTS: West Bengal BJP Suspends Leaders Ritesh Tiwari, Jaiprakash Majumdar
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Kolkata, Jan 24 (PTI) The ongoing feud in West Bengal BJP intensified on Monday after it suspended its senior leaders Ritesh Tiwari and Jaiprakash Majumdar, who were earlier show caused, for violating the party discipline.
A statement issued by the West Bengal BJP unit said Tiwari and Majumdar have been "temporarily suspended" till the party's disciplinary committee completes its investigation under instructions of BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar.
Reacting to his suspension, an infuriated Tiwari told a news channel that "a coterie of leaders" who had joined BJP in recent times are acting as "agents of TMC" and are harming its interests.
"The show cause was given to me with malafide intentions. I have been a loyal BJP worker for more than 35 years. I have neither any grievances against the party nor against the state president. But a few leaders are acting as agents of Trinamool Congress and are trying to capture the party. My fight is against them and I will not stop till these leaders are ousted from BJP," he said.
Virtually throwing out a challenge to the BJP state leadership, Tiwari said "Let them expel me from the party if they can .... Some people who had joined the party after the 2019 Lok Sabha poll are calling the shots and are insulting old timers. Let them first prove where I said anything against the party".
Continuing his tirade against the state BJP, he said "I was served a show cause notice without doing anything, that too by a disciplinary committee which was itself dissolved a few days ago."
When contacted Majumdar declined to comment but said he will clear his stand on the issue in a press conference on Tuesday.
The two senior BJP leaders, who were dropped from the new office bearers committee last year, were on Sunday issued a show cause notice by the state unit. Both were vice-presidents of the state unit in the previous committee and Majumdar was named one of the spokespersons in the new state committee announced a month ago. Tiwari was not included in the committee.
Earlier in the day Majumdar had told reporters that Tiwari and he had been served the show cause notice on Sunday.
The two leaders had participated in a meeting convened by union minister Shantanu Thakur, an influential leader of the sizeable Matua community in the state, over a week ago in Kolkata.
They were present when Thakur, the union minister of state for ports, shipping and waterways, castigated a section of the state leaders who had allegedly overlooked 90 per cent loyal BJP leaders, including backward caste members, while forming the new committee.
The union minister had held a picnic with several disgruntled BJP leaders in his Bongaon constituency a few days ago.
He told reporters on Sunday that several disgrutled leaders of the party are in touch with him. "So how many can the party show cause ?"
BJP adversary TMC took a dig at the ongoing tiff in the saffron camp.
"The BJP is a sinking ship in West Bengal. They were thinking of conquering Bengal (in the state poll in 2021) but cannot keep their own house in order," TMC MP Sougata Roy said.
Chandigarh, Jan 24 (PTI) The Election Commission of India has sought AAP's explanation over its chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann allegedly holding a roadshow in Sangrur on Sunday in violation of the model code of conduct.
The poll panel has imposed some restrictions on holding rallies and other electioneering activities in a bid to check the spread of Covid during the assembly elections in the five states.
Mann along with his party's supporters had allegedly held a roadshow at Dhuri in Sangrur district on Sunday.
Dhuri Returning Officer Ismat Vijay Singh on Monday said the show cause notice was issued to the AAP's district chief, asking him to explain why no action should be taken against the party for violating the model code.
COVID19 protocol to be implemented again in the Budget Session of the Parliament. Rajya Sabha proceedings will begin from 9 am & that of Lok Sabha from 4 pm. The new protocol will come into effect from February 2. President's address to be presented on Jan 31 and Budget on February 1.
Congress CEC approves names of candidates for 11 of the remaining 17 seats(for which names yet to be announced). Harish Rawat likely to contest from Ramnagar, Anukriti Gusain from Lansdowne. Names for Salt, Chaubattakhal, Tehri, Haridwar Rural pending, ANI reported sources as saying.
Republic Day, Independence Day & Gandhi Jayanti shall be observed as "Dry Day" in the NCT of Delhi by all the licensees of the Excise Department and opium vends located in Delhi for the year 2022: Office of the Commissioner of Excise, Govt of Delhi.
Delhi: 'Bulli Bai' app case accused Niraj Bishnoi today moved a bail petition in a session court. Earlier his bail plea was dismissed by the Magistrate court. Sessions court to hear his bail plea tomorrow, ANI reported.
New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) A Delhi court on Monday framed charges under sedition against JNU student Sharjeel Imam and denied him bail in a case related to alleged inflammatory speeches made by him during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2019.
Accused is directed to be charged for the offences under sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity on grounds of religion), 153B (assertions prejudicial to national integration), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), of Indian Penal Code and section 13 (punishment for unlawful activities) of UAPA. Vide separate order, the application filed by Sharjeel Imam for grant of regular bail is dismissed, Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat ordered.
As per the prosecution, Imam had allegedly made speeches at Jamia Millia Islamia on December 13, 2019, and at Aligarh Muslim University on December 16, 2019, where he threatened to cut off Assam and the rest of the Northeast from India.
Imam, while seeking bail, said that his speeches do not fall within the meaning of Sedition. Where is the call of violence? How does Sedition come into play? The context is to block the roads. How is this seditious? He called for a greater federal structure. That was the intent, his lawyer had argued before the court.
Whereas, the prosecution claimed that his speeches incited hatred, contempt, and disaffection towards the Central Government and instigated the people which led to the violence in December 2019.
In the garb of CAA, he (Imam) exhorted people of a particular community to block highways leading to major cities and resort to 'chakka jaam'. Also, in the name of opposing CAA, he openly threatened to cut off Assam and other Northeastern states from the rest of the country, the Delhi Police's charge sheet stated.
Imam is in judicial custody since January 2020. He is also one of the accused in the Delhi riots conspiracy case.
In his defense, Imam had earlier told the court that he is not a terrorist and his prosecution is a whip of a monarch rather than a government established by law . Whereas, the prosecution claimed that violent riots took place pursuant to Imam's speech.
Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against Imam in the case, in which it alleged that he allegedly gave speeches inciting hatred, contempt, and disaffection towards the Central Government and instigated the people which led to the violence in December 2019. PTI AAK
New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among the prominent personalities who spoke with Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday, who has tested positive for coronavirus, and enquired about his health.
According to officials in the Vice President Secretariat, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, several Cabinet ministers, chief ministers and leaders of various political parties also spoke to Naidu, who is in home isolation in Hyderabad.
Naidu had tested positive for the virus on Sunday.
This is for the second time the vice president, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, has been infected with the virus.
Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao writes to PM Narendra Modi expressing "strong protest" against IAS cadre rule changes.
Punjab and Haryana High Court has cancelled Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Majithia's anticipatory bail. Majithia was out on interim bail in the drugs racket case.
Kolkata, Jan 24 (PTI) The Calcutta High Court on Monday dismissed a PIL seeking direction to the Centre to allow West Bengal's tableau on Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26.
Observing that the petitioner has approached the court at a late stage, a division bench presided by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava said that no effective direction can be issued now with the Republic Day celebration to be held on Wednesday.
The bench, also comprising Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, noted various defects in the petition, which were pointed out by the additional solicitor general.
"Hence, no case for interference in the present writ petition is made out which is accordingly dismissed," the bench said in its order.
The petitioner, an advocate of the high court, prayed for issuance of a direction to the central government to permit the West Bengal tableau of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for the ensuing Republic Day parade.
The petitioner submitted this is the year of the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji and that the Centre has "wrongly rejected" the state's tableau for the Republic Day parade themed on the great patriot and Indian National Army (INA) without assigning any reason.
Appearing for the central government, Additional Solicitor General Y J Dastoor submitted that the petition is not maintainable citing technical defects in it.
He also submitted that "though Netaji was ignored by the earlier governments, the present government is treating Netaji as icon and recognising his contribution in hastening the process of Independence".
Dastoor said in his submission that January 23, the birth anniversary of Netaji, has already been declared 'Parakram Diwas' and the central government is celebrating it from January 23 to 30.
"Hologram of Netaji has been put at India Gate which will be replaced by statue of Netaji in August, 2022," he stated before the court.
The ASG also submitted that as far as reasons for rejection are concerned, if the state wants, the same can be supplied and the decision to exclude a tableau is taken as per the rules.
Advocate General S N Mookherjee, representing the state, stated that he has no instruction if the reasons for rejection have been communicated to the West Bengal government.
Air India disinvestment has been decided to take place on Jan 27th 2022. Closing balance sheet on Jan 20 is to be provided today, Jan 24 so that it can be reviewed by Tata & any changes can be made on Wednesday: Vinod Hejmadi, Director Finance, Air India in an email to employees
India's Smriti Mandhana wins International Cricket Council's Women's Player of the Year
There is no rain predicted in Delhi, Punjab & Haryana till 2nd Feb now. The western disturbance has moved further east. In these areas, the temperature will remain around 15-17 degrees Celcius. Cold wave will intensify in Delhi after 26th January: RK Jenamani, IMD-sr scientist
All-Metro parking lots will remain closed from 6 am on 25th January to 2 pm on 26th January, as part of security arrangements (for Republic Day). Metro train services to be regulated at select metro stations: Delhi Metro
Fire breaks out at a chemical factory in Kolhapur, Maharashtra.
Punjab Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh urges Congress chief Sonia Gandhi "to intervene into the allotment of party ticket from Bholath to Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
India withdraws from AFC Women's Asia Cup 2022, their remaining matches stand canceled: Asian Football Confederation
The BJP's Miranpur candidate for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls has been booked for allegedly giving an inflammatory speech at an election meeting and violating EC guidelines on physical campaigning, police said on Monday.
Pershant Gujjar and his 40 supporters have also been booked for holding the meeting without permission on Sunday, Kakroli Station House Officer (SHO) Sunil Sharma said.
He said that the meeting took place despite the Election Commission (EC) banning all kinds of physical poll public meetings and rallies in view of the Covid situation.
Gujjar, in a video clip, is heard appealing to people in Chorawala village to support him in the elections as the BJP is of Hindus and the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) is a Muslims' party.
Sharma said Gujjar and his supporters were booked after investigation of the video, which has gone viral on social media.
The election meeting, which Gujjar is addressing, was organised without the permission of district authorities and in violation of EC guidelines, he said.
Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh appears before the Chandiwal Commission Dismissed Mumbai Police officer Sachin Vaze's counsel will cross-examine him (Deshmukh), in connection with the corruption charges leveled against him by former Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh
AAP co-in charge Raghav Chadha will meet the Governor of Punjab at 12:30 pm today on the issue of illegal sand mining and recent ED raids at CM Channi's nephew's residence
Maharashtra | Five people were killed, five got injured after a truck rammed into a car and two motorcycles on Pune-Ahmednagar road yesterday evening: Pune Rural Police officials
We are the ones who supported them (BJP). We had an alliance for 25 years. BJP used Hindutva for power. We left BJP but will not leave Hindutva. BJP is not Hindutva. Tactics were used against us when we challenged them: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday held a marathon meeting of its core members to discuss the finalisation of remaining candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. According to the sources in the party, the Central Election Committee meeting is likely to be held soon.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar (PMRBP) awardees today at 12 noon via video conferencing. According to a press release by the Prime Minister's Office, digital certificates will be conferred on PMRBP awardees for the years 2022 and 2021 using Blockchain Technology.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar is given as recognition to children residing in India, above the age of 5 years and not exceeding 18 years (as on August 31 of respective year) with exceptional abilities and outstanding achievement in 6 fields of innovation, scholastic achievements, sports, arts and culture, social service and bravery, which deserve recognition.
"This year, 29 children from across the country, under different categories of Bal Shakti Puraskar, have been selected for PMRBP-2022. The awardees also take part in the Republic day parade every year. Each awardee of PMRBP is given a medal, a cash prize of Rs 1 Lakh and a certificate. The cash prize will be transferred to the respective accounts of PMRBP 2022 winners," said the press release.
These awards are conferred by President Ram Nath Kovind in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Prime Minister also interacts with these awardees every year. The children along with their parents and concerned District Magistrate of their respective district would join the event from their district Head Quarters.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati took a dig at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and said that he should tell the people of the state that the monastery where he lives most of the time in Gorakhpur, his constituency where he is set to contest from in the upcoming Assembly polls, is "not lesser than a big bungalow."
In a series of tweets in Hindi on Sunday, the former chief minister said, "Probably the people of western UP do not know that the monastery where Yogi ji lives most of the time in Gorakhpur, is no lesser than a big bungalow. It would have been better if he had told about this."
Mayawati also said that the Chief Minister should have mentioned the work done by her when she was in power.
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