For an average Indian voter, the phenomenon of a handful of powerful political families wielding disproportionate influence over their lives hasn't been much of an anathema, at least until recent times.
Despite owning a distinct political history, the people of Jammu and Kashmir, too, are not strangers to dynasts.
Former Maharashtra Minister of State for Home, and veteran BJP leader Madhavrao Kinhalkar joined the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) at the massive Vijayi Sankalp Melava organised by the party in preparation for the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections.
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NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar appealed to the people to unite and make Maharashtra a "premier destination" for trade and industry. Speaking at a party rally in neighbouring Pimpri-Chinchwad on Saturday, he recalled how this area on the outskirts of Pune city emerged as an industrial hub due to the initiative taken by late Y B Chavan, the first chief minister of the state.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "People have very less expectations from the government. The public has realised that the government cannot reduce inflation. There will be nothing for the common man in the budget."
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari arrived for all-party meeting in Parliament Annexe called by the government ahead of the Monsoon Session. He said "Murder of Constitution, constitutional values, constitutional traditions is being done. Statue of BR Ambedkar were displaced. There has been a misuse of constitutional agencies. Inflation and unemployment are being increased in government's protection. Attacks are happening in J&K. China is making its base in Ladakh. The martyrdom of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi is being insulted. There has been no decision on MSP, farmers are anguished. The government is nonchalant, there has been solution to Manipur. False cases have been implicated on elected leaders. There are many issues, we will be raising these issues."
"In today's all-party meeting of floor leaders chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the JD(U) leader demanded special category status of Bihar. The YSRCP leader demanded special category status for Andhra Pradesh. Strangely, the TDP leader kept quiet on the matter."
Congress leaders are absent during the all-party meeting called by Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy ahead of the upcoming Budget Session of 17th Odisha Assembly.
Credit: PTI Photos
We said the UP govt's order about Kanwar Yatra is unconstitutional. It promotes untouchability. We also said that UAPA charges were imposed on waving the flag of Palestine. Israel flag was waved in Delhi, nothing happened. American flag was waved in Dharamshala. I asked the government to take note of itAIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi after all-party meeting
“Some very important issues were raised by the opposition in the all-party meeting. One of those issues is the UP government’s order to display the names of the owners of the eateries along with Kanwar Yatra route. This government is directly targeting Muslims,” says Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav while addressing a press conference after the all-party meet. In a later ANI interview, he added, "Uttar Pradesh government's decision is unconstitutional, it is a way to torture the Muslims of Uttar Pradesh. We oppose this...The entire opposition is with us..."
Soeaking to the press, AAP leader Sanjay Singh explained that among the “many issues" raised in the all-party meeting today, there was special focus on "the misuse of investigative agencies against opposition leaders". He added that AAP was facing the "worst brunt" of this with their "Chief Minister, Education Minister and Health Minister" put in jail, making it difficult to keep the Delhi government running. "Powers given to ED under PMLA should be taken back,” he demanded.
This meeting should have been presided over by the Prime Minister but he did not come. Our basic insistence was that there are some issues which are related to our states and in general with the country but we are not allowed to speak. We said that short duration discussions should be allowedDMK leader Tiruchi Siva
It seems there is a stormy Budget session ahead with both Opposition leaders and allied parties in the NDA government having key demands that they expect to be fulfilled.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge emphasised that not having a separate and focused budget for the Railways has 'weakened' it. "Train accidents are happening because the railway department has been weakened. There are lakhs of vacancies in the railway department... The railway department is not getting money on time... When the railways were not merged in the Finance department, they used to function on their own and whenever they needed anything, they asked the central government for it... Hundreds of people have died, the government should think about this otherwise the people will teach them a lesson," Kharge said.
He also said the BJP-led NDA govt 'consult no one'. "They do whatever they want to do. And then when the budget is presented, everyone comes to know which state got what and what the government gave to the people. BJP does not have the tradition of asking anyone about their thoughts..." he said.
Meanwhile, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur brought up the MSP prices, one of the key demands in the farmers' protests. "...promises made by the PM on MSP was not fulfilled. There are other issues of farmers as well, there is flooding, there is water shortage. The politics should end over the canals. There were many issues. Law and Order and drugs issues are also there. Government should answer. There should be a discussion between ruling parties and the opposition in the Parliament," said Harsimrat Kaur.
Karnataka minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, "We thought they would at least change the attitude. Looks like they are going on in the same manner... Our wish is that the union government realizes that Karnataka is one of the biggest contributors to the central government. We are the second in contributions in GST and FDI. If they do discriminatory budgets like they have done earlier, it is going to affect them only. Hopefully, this time they would be fair and not try to promote only the BJP-ruled states and see that equitable distribution of funds takes place..."
Meanwhile, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are asking for special status.
JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha said, "Bihar should get the status of a special state, this has been the demand of our party (JDU) since the beginning. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has held big rallies for this demand. If the government feels that there is a problem in doing this, then we have demanded a special package for Bihar. We have also raised the problem of floods in Bihar... these are the two main issues we have raised."
“BJP has been continuously taking such decisions to divide the country on the basis of community and this is the reason why they have shrunk from 73 to 33 seats in Uttar Pradesh. However, they refuse to learn a lesson from this,” said Samajwadi Party Spokesperson Abbas Haider on the Kanwar Yatra row.
"What's the point in it? Has there been any such problem in Bihar? I don't think we need to do something like that in Bihar," says Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary on Bihar implementing an order for Kanwar Yatra like UP, Uttarakhand.
“It has been seen earlier also that rumours are spread during such events. So, we have requested (service providers) to suspend internet services in the district from 6 pm today till 6 pm tomorrow. Its sole purpose is to control rumours and false propaganda,” said Nuh SP Vijay Partap on preparations for the yatra which begins on July 22.
Earlier, mobile internet and bulk SMS services were temporarily suspended in Nuh district till 22nd July, 18:00 hrs, as per the Government of Haryana orders.
"...There is an apprehension of causing tension, annoyance, agitation, damage of public & private property and disturbance of public peace & tranquility in the district Nuh. And whereas, there is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in district Nuh on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours...," read the order by the Haryana government.
"The Monsoon Session of Chhattisgarh Assembly will begin tomorrow and it will continue till July 26. They (Congress) don't have an issue to raise because of the historic development we have done in the last six to seven months. They are only playing the role of an opposition," said Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai
"There have been nearly 26 times when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's sugar levels were around 50 mg/dL between June 3 and July 7, according to the report of jail doctors in Tihar. If someone's sugar levels drop to 50 from 80-70, they can slip into a coma," claimed Aam Aadmi Party. "Some of the days when his sugar levels were around 50 were June 3 at 3 pm, June 4 at 2.30 pm, June 6 at 12 noon, June 7 at 3 pm, June 16 at 3 pm, June 17 at 1 pm. On July 1 at 1 am, July 3 at 12 midnight and 2 am, July 5 at 4 am, his sugar levels were around 50," the party added further.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini has called for peace as the Kanwariyas pass through the state. "We have alerted the officials. I want to appeal to the people that this is a religious event. We live in a society of harmony... The yatra passes through the Braj Mandal by the devotees of Lord Krishna. There should be cooperation during the yatra to make it successful," he appealed.
After TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday demanded the arrest of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET UG paper leak issue at the party’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata, Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar hit back.
"Abhishek Banerjee has been lying continuously. There has been no claim about corruption. I challenge him to give proof...Abhishek Banerjee had gone to the court to stop the CBI inquiry," said Majumdar.
Banerjee had claimed that TMC is only one who doesn't shield criminals or those accused in scams from their own party, giving the example of former state education minister Partha Chatterjee. "We don’t shield anyone who has made mistakes and we don’t allow injustice. But if Partha Chatterjee’s house can be raided by the central agencies in the SSC recruitment scam and he can be arrested, then why shouldn’t Dharmendra Pradhan be arrested and his house be raided for the NEET scam, which is the biggest scam in India since Independence. Why this discrimination?” the TMC’s Diamond Harbour MP had asked.
Mamata Banerjee has invoked the United Nations resolution that allows neighbouring regions to assist those in trouble to justify sheltering refugees fleeing violence in Bangladesh.
"Don't worry if any of your family members or relatives are in Bangladesh for work or study. We're ready to help them in return back… I can't comment on Bangladesh (issue), as it’s a separate country. Whatever needs to be said, the Indian government will say. These are matters which are handled by the Indian Government. But if helpless individuals knock on Bengal’s door, we will shelter them because a United Nations resolution allows neighbouring regions to assist those in trouble. I urge everyone not to comment on Bangladesh (issue), to avoid falling into provocations. We feel compassion and sympathy for those whose blood is shed," Banerjee said.
As per ANI, Central government sources have commented on Mamata Banerjee's remark on helping refugees fleeing violence in Bangladesh. "These are matters which are handled by the Union Government. A State Government has no locus standi on the issue and as such their comments are totally misplaced," they said.
The MEA also released a statement saying, "So far, over 4500 Indian students have returned to India. The High Commission has been making arrangement for security escort for safe travel of Indian nationals to the border-crossing points. 500 students of Nepal, 38 of Bhutan and 1 of Maldives have also arrived in India."
Maharashtra did not bow down in front of Adil Shah 400 years ago and it will not bow down today in front of Amit Shah. Even after taking away the election symbol and the party, Maharashtra gave them only 17 seats... Today, Sharad Pawar is the kingpin of corruption for them and his nephew Ajit Pawar is a saint for them... Uddhav Thackeray becomes Aurangzeb if he stands against them... BJP does a politics of pressure... This is dirty politics and they will get the answer in the Vidhan Sabha elections...Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey
"Mamata Banerjee knows that immigration and citizenship are not under the state's domain. She says that she won't allow the implementation of CAA at a time when Hindus are being persecuted in Bangladesh. However, she has given full freedom to Muslims just for her vote bank," said BJP leader RP Singh