India Political Highlights: Alliance talks going on well but can't give ball-by-ball commentary, says AAP's Raghav Chadha

Thumbs down for a few sitting MPs at Karnataka BJP meet

The two-day marathon meeting of the BJP called to discuss candidates for the Lok Sabha elections saw opposition to renominating some of the sitting party MPs in Karnataka.

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BJP can't hand out certificates on devotion: Sachin Pilot

Pilot was talking to reporters in the background of Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Wednesday declining the invitation to attend the Ram Temple consecration ceremony.

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Nirmala, Jaishankar to contest Lok Sabha polls from Karnataka?

The BJP wants Union ministers who are currently Rajya Sabha members to contest the Lok Sabha polls.

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Bengal BJP counters Mamata's stance on 'One Nation, One Election'

The reasons why it is delayed have been explained to me, says Bengal Guv CV Ananda Bose on Sheikh Sahajahan not been arrested

On why Sheikh Sahajahan has not been arrested yet in connection with attack on ED matter, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose says, "My statement is on record. The reasons why it is delayed have been explained to me. I am convinced. Since investigation is going on I don't want to reveal the details...Action will be there. This is fact-finding, data gathering, analysing time is over, action will be there."

Ex-litigant in Ayodhya land dispute case, Iqbal Ansari says, 'People should come and seek Lord's blessings.'

On Congress MP Digvijaya Singh's statement on Ram Temple pranpratishtha, former litigant in Ayodhya land dispute case, Iqbal Ansari says, "I belong to Ayodhya and the land of Ayodhya is religious, people place their devotion into the city. All (Opposition) parties are opposing it. But we are not opposing it, we are clearly saying that come to Ayodhya and take holy dip in Saryu river - cleanse your body and mind. There is no need to oppose it, pranpratishtha is going to take place. People should come and give an account to the Lord, of whatever they did in their lives, and seek his blessings."

On Digvijaya's remarks on Ram temple pranpratishtha, Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, Kaushalya Nand Giri says, "Such statements are foolish. I don't agree with such statements.

Kaushalya says, "Lord Ram belongs to every Sanatani. So, everyone should welcome this temple ceremony. The temple is being built on a grand scale so everyone should be happy. They are looking at it from a political point of view...If they look at it as a common citizen, the temple is being built very well."

She also says, "Our 500-year-long wait is coming to an end. When the temple was not built, questions were being raised then too - when will it be built, where will it be built, and what will be its date. Now, when there is a date and temple is being built a controversy is being stoked, I don't think this is appropriate. May Lord Ram give wisdom to such people..."

On Banerjee rejecting 'One Nation, One Election', Adhikari says, 'Her job is to let Rohingyas trespass in West Bengal and rob. Let her rob..."

On West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee rejecting 'One Nation, One Election', West Bengal Legislative Assembly LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, "That means nothing. PM Modi will do what the nation wants. What is she? She is the owner of a Private Limited party. PM Modi is there to think about the nation. 'Abki baar, 400 ke paar'. Mamata should stop thinking about all of this. This is not her job. Her job is to let Rohingyas trespass in West Bengal and rob. Let her rob..."

On ED raids underway, TMC General Secretary Kunal Ghosh says, "What ED is doing is a politically vindictive attitude and it is happening on BJP's instructions."

On ED raids underway at the premises of TMC leaders Tapas Roy and Sujit Bose, Ghosh says, "BJP has lost and they have no power to face the TMC. Hence, they are misusing the agencies... Suvendhu is a thief. CBI has registered an FIR against him. BJP released his video in the market. BJP called him a thief..."

On ED raids, TMC leader Shashi Panja says, "Wait for a statement from the party. But it is as clear as water that there is political vendetta behind such activities..."

'Two days ago, a meeting was held at PMO. All the land-owning agencies were called and asked to remove slums from across Delhi,' alleges AAP's Atishi

VHP International Working President Alok Kumar says, "Digvijiya Singh's statement that the temple is incomplete, is not true.'

Kumar says, "Ram Lalla is to be settled on the ground floor, which is complete... A 'muhurat' (auspicious time) has been decided at 12.20 pm. The Pranpratishtha is going to take place in a complete temple with all rituals... I have never seen such a reason to decline the invitation stating that the temple is incomplete except from the Head of Jyotish Peeth. Three Shankaracharyas have expressed joy at the completion of the temple and welcomed the Pranpratishtha..."

"He (Digvijaya) mentioned the names of the parties which are partners of the INDIA Alliance. 'Mausere bhai' (maternal cousins) have decided to not come... VHP spearheaded this movement. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra does not have such machinery to invite people from 10 crore houses. VHP workers acted as postmen... This help should have been offered by everyone, but they didn't because of minority votebank," VHP's Kumar says.

Congress' Pawan Khera slams BJP over Ram temple pranpratishtha

Congress leader Pawan Khera says, "There is a system and set of rituals to perform Pranpratishtha... If this event is religious, then is it happening under the guidance of the Shankaracharyas of the four Peeths? All four Shankaracharyas have said clearly that the pranpratishtha of an incomplete temple cannot be done."

"If this event is not religious, then it is political... It is not acceptable that people of a political party are sitting as middlemen between me and my God... A political group is acting like a 'Thekedar'... Which 'Panchang' has the BJP referred to before finalising the date? The date has been chosen keeping the elections in mind."

Karnataka BJP leader Umesh Jadhav says, 'They (Congress) discussed for almost 20 days whether to attend or not (Ram Temple pranpratishtha)...'

NCP leader (Ajit Pawar faction) Praful Patel says, 'Nobody has the authority to comment on the Speaker's decision.'

On Mumbai's Atal Setu inauguration to be done by PM Modi later, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut says, 'PM doesn't get time (to inaugurate projects) till elections are near.'

AAP Rajya Sabha candidates set to be elected unopposed

On Congress declining the invitation to Ram temple pranprtistha, Union Minister Narayan Rane says, 'Congress boley toh tedhi chaal..."

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav says, 'The path chosen by BJP today is to divide the society.'

Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai says, 'People have no faith in the Hangal police..."

On alleged gangrape in a hotel in Karnataka's Haveri, Bommai says, "I demand an investigation into the matter by a higher police officer...It's totally unfortunate and people are really fed up with this government and especially women are not safe in this state..."

On alleged gangrape in K'taka hotel, State Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara says, 'The police are already looking into it seriously. Once the investigation is completed, we will know the truth.'

'They are frustrated that the matter, which they kept delaying by creating several hurdles, has now been resolved,' says BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Congress refusing to attend Ram temple Pranpratishtha

On 'Annapoorani' movie, BJP leader T Raja Singh says, 'An apology will do nothing...I appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ban Zee Studios...'

Singh says, "I have heard that Zee Studios has apologised but an apology will do nothing. We have seen many times that such films are being made to hurt the sentiments of Hindus...I appeal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ban Zee Studios and take action against such directors, actors who make such films..."

Congress party's Chairperson Social Media & Digital Platforms Supriya Shrinate says,'We are not going to the 22nd January event in Ayodhya.'

Shrinate says, "All four Shankaracharyas have decided to not visit Ayodhya (for pranpratishtha of Ram Temple). But there is no outrage over this. Does this not hurt religion? It is absolutely wrong to do politics over religious rituals. We are not declining a visit (to Ayodhya). We are not going to the 22nd January event in Ayodhya that is being held in the presence of PM Modi and RSS chief. Shankaracharyas are not going to that event either. We don't want to be a part of the disgusting politics that is being done..."

'The CM is mum, he hasn't spoken a word,' says former Karnataka CM Bommai on alleged hotel gangrape case

TMC leader says Suvendu's repeated threats point to deep-rooted ploy by BJP using central agencies

BJP's Suvendu Adhikari is repeatedly issuing threats. He is giving predictions that something big would happen and thereafter ED and CBI raid takes place against the Trinamool Congress leaders. So, it is crystal clear by now that it's a deep-rooted conspiracy against the Trinamool Congress, being engineered and monitored by the central leadership of the BJP," says TMC leader Santanu Sen on ED raids on party leaders.

MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav with BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur during a 'Surya Namaskar' event in Bhopal

D Raja calls Ram temple consecration 'state-sponsored political event', says CPI won't participate

CPI General Secretary D Raja says, "Our party will not participate in that event (pranpratishtha ceremony). It is a state-sponsored political event organized by the BJP and RSS combined. It is known to the whole world and all countries. BJP and RSS have combined, making it a political event for their own electoral gains. There are many issues which I do not want to raise because it violates the spirit of the constitution which we have today. The Constitution makes it clear that the Indian state should remain a secular democratic state. Indian state should be neutral to all religions. Indirectly, directly it should not take steps to provide de facto official religion status to any particular religion. But here, what we are witnessing is the PM is going and along with him, there will be RSS's chief participating in that event. What is happening in our country? It is being done keeping elections under consideration because they think they can convert this into a huge electoral campaign, a political campaign to hoodwink people in the name of a temple at the time of elections. And we are not for such things. So we will not participate."

Virtual meeting of I.N.D.I.A bloc leaders to be held tomorrow at 11.30 am. The name of the convener will be discussed in part from alliance/seats sharing

BJP and Uddhav Thackeray faction workers come face to face over Digha railway station credits

Shivraj says people's love 'my real wealth', will stay active in politics

Former Madhya Pradesh CM and BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan says, "People call me former Chief Minister but I am not a rejected (CM)....people's love is my real wealth. I have left the (CM) post, but it doesn't mean that I will not stay active in politics

Will BJP accuse Shankaracharyas of not being Sanatani if they don't attend Ayodhya event, asks Akhilesh

Bengal BJP sending list to Delhi & ED, CBI acting accordingly: TMC's Kunal Ghosh

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says, "This action of ED is politically motivated and scripted by BJP. In Bengal, they (BJP) will lose...West Bengal BJP is sending lists to Delhi and accordingly, central agencies are acting as BJP cadres

Congress denied Lord Ram's existence, have no faith in temple, says Vijayvargiya

AAP leaders meet Congress leader Mukul Wasnik for Congress Alliance Committee meeting in Delhi

Congress leader Sukhu slams BJP over 'anti-Hindu' statement, says dont need permission to visit any temple

On BJP terming Congress as anti-Hindu on Ram temple, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says, "The party didn't reject the invitation but said that it will not attend the ceremony being held under the banner of BJP...We don't need an invitation to visit any temple."

AAP leaders Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi have reached residence of Congress leader and convener of Congress National Alliance Committee Mukul Wasnik for meeting

Lord Ram is faith, dignity & virtue but not topic of politics, says Cong's Surjewala

I request BJP and its friends with folded hands, Lord Ram is faith, Lord Ram is dignity, Lord Ram is Purshottam, Lord Ram is virtue; how can Lord Ram be a topic of politics? Since when is the BJP's permission required to visit the temple, asks Congress senior leader Randeep Surjewala

Ball-by-ball commentary on alliance talks can't be given but talks going on well, says Raghav Chadha after meeting

AAP leader Raghav Chadha has said that the discussions on alliance is going on very well, but ball-by-ball commentary cannot be done on the same. Chadha was among the Aam Aadmi Party leaders who attended the Congress Alliance Committee meeting at Mukul Wasnik's residence in the national capital on Friday.