Indian Political Highlights | Hemant Soren accuses BJP of spreading poison to break families & parties apart

This is a conspiracy of BJP. They want to weaken the Congress govt, says UP Congress chief Ajay Rai as Karnataka Governor sanctions prosecution of CM Siddaramaiah in alleged MUDA scam

"How many scams did BJP's Karnataka CM (former) Yediyurappa do... nothing happened...BJP is trying to torture and defame Congress, " said Rai.

UP Congress chief Ajay Rai.

I tried my level best to strengthen the party alliance and tried to make even the last person understand the values of the party, says former Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) president Rajesh Thakur

Former Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee (JPCC) president Rajesh Thakur.

They are unnecessarily politicising the program...This is not a good tradition in parliamentary democracy, says Odisha minister Mukesh Mahaling on Oppn MLAs boycotting an orientation program for Odisha Legislative Assembly

Odisha Minister Mukesh Mahaling.

Unfortunately, the account "CM of Karnataka" has been converted into a Congress mouthpiece by CM Siddaramaiah's relatives, says BJP's C T Ravi

Ravi said, "This account is being used to insult the Prime Minister @narendramodi and criticise the Honorable Governor."

Decision of direct recruitment to 45 high posts of Joint Secretary, Director and Deputy Secretary at the Centre is not correct, says BSP chief Mayawati

Former RLJP (Paras camp) MLA Sunil Pandey joined BJP today

Copies of complaint seeking sanction to prosecute cases against BJP and JD(S) leaders are languishing in Raj Bhavan. What magnifying glass Siddaramaiah was wearing so that Governor could only see a copy of the complaint against him? asks Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao

Telangana farmers organise CM's 'savayatra' with funeral marches, effigy burnings and dharnas over loan waiver scam

Congress scam government is neck deep in corruption charges over government funds and resources meant for tribal, SC communities, being swindled, says BJP national spokesperson C R Kesavan

Kesavan also said, "CM Siddaramaiah even conceded that Rs 89 crores meant for the tribal community has been syphoned. The MUDA scam has very serious allegations against the CM's family."

BJP national spokesperson C R Kesavan.

We are in election mode, we hope that the elections conclude properly, and the BJP emerges as the biggest party, says BJP leader Kavinder Gupta

BJP leader Kavinder Gupta.

They are trying to put Hemant Soren in trouble. They are trying to poach JMM MLAs, says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on assembly elections not being announced for Jharkhand and Maharashtra

Number of deaths in Odisha due to lighting strikes are increasing, says Odisha Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Suresh Pujari

Odisha Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management Suresh Pujari.

Three MVA parties (Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP- SCP, Congress) are working hard to change the state government, says Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut (L).

Mayawati slams Rajasthan govt over bulldozing of stabber's house in Udaipur; communal tensions simmer

An election committee has been formed in J&K by the BJP, says Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana

Champai Soren to join BJP today? JMM leader reportedly headed to Delhi

According to multiple reports, Soren might be joining BJP. But the former Jharkhand CM has denied the rumours saying, "I don’t know what rumours are being spread. I don’t know what news is being run so I cannot tell whether it’s true or not, I don’t know anything about it...Hum jahan par hain vahi par hain."

Fake case...CM Siddaramaiah received these flats through compensation, says Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on Karnataka Governor sanctioning prosecution of CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA scam

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit.

Rahool N Kanal appointed as Shiv Sena's social media head

Rahool N Kanal.

BJP will contest elections with full strength...The public of Jammu and Kashmir will vote overwhelmingly for BJP and we will form the government, says J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina

He is trying to create confusion among the public...The public has already given them a crushing defeat, says BJP in-charge of Jammu & Kashmir, Tarun Chugh on Omar Abdullah's remarks

Been called today for an election committee and manifesto meeting, says BJP leader Dr Darakhshan Andrabi

Congress candidate for Rajya Sabha by-election in Telangana, Abhishek Manu Singhvi reaches Hyderabad and was welcomed by party leaders

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar talks about Congress’ plan of action following prosecution order by Governor T C Gehlot against CM Siddaramaiah

In 2020, the scheme brought by the BJP government in Karnataka was corrupt, as part of which, the land was interchanged, says Congress leader Pawan Khera

Have come to Delhi for personal work, says Champai Soren amid buzz of joining BJP; after arriving in Delhi

Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) issues a circular to address rumours around its merger with the Congress

BJP's policies attracted me, and we are going to form the government comfortably, says Former J&K Minister, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali

This is not the decision of Governor Thawarchand Gehlot. The people sitting at the helm of the government have decided that they will not fight political fights the way they should be, says RJD MP Manoj Jha

We have provided jobs to crores of youth...The UP government will launch a mega police recruitment drive in which more than 60 thousand youth will be recruited, says Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath

Hemant Soren insulted Champai Soren by forcing him out after five months of being the CM, despite Champai Soren saying that he wanted to work more, says BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo

Former Jammu and Kashmir Minister, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali joins BJP at the party office in Jammu

JJP District President Randeep Kaul didn't support the party and me during the elections, says Jannayak Janta Party leader Palaram Saini after resigning

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has resolved to plant 30 lakh trees in 100 days. I have also joined this campaign, says Home Minister Amit Shah in Gujarat

We are preparing for the elections and will field our candidates and hopefully, we will win, says J&K National Conference leader Omar Abdullah

We have the best constitutional experts being flown in. We have a lot of people within the state who are helping the government with this, says Priyank Kharge on Karnataka Governor granting permission to prosecute CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA scam

CAA is not just for giving citizenship to people, it is also to give justice and rights to lakhs of people, says Home Minister Amit Shah

I would like to make it clear to my Muslim brothers and sisters that CAA is about granting citizenship, not taking it away: Amit Shah

No one will lose citizenship as CAA is about granting rights to Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain refugees: Shah at event in Ahmedabad

I have been in Congress for 45 years and for some reasons I had gone out but now I am returning home, says DPAP leader Taj Mohiuddin on joining Congress

'Privatisation of IAS' is 'Modi's guarantee' to end reservation: Narendra Modi attacking Constitution by recruiting public servants through 'RSS' instead of UPSC, says LoP Rahul Gandhi

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday termed as an "anti-national step" the government's move of recruiting public servants through lateral entry, alleging that the reservation of SCs, STs and OBCs is being "openly snatched away" by such an action.

The former Congress president also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is 'attacking the Constitution by recruiting public servants through the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh instead of the Union Public Service Commission'.

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Karnataka Assembly LoP R Ashok says, 'Tomorrow we (BJP and JDS) will stage a protest with all MLAs, MLCs and MPs in front of the Gandhi statue demanding the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah.'

Karnataka Assembly LoP R Ashok

Bangladesh had 27 per cent Hindus at the time of partition, today they are 9 per cent; where have others gone? Shah at programme in Ahmedabad

'Urgency to implement the Manu Smriti social order': Sitaram Yechury attacks Modi govt on plans to hire 45 specialists from private sector

Modi led ND alliance govt’s decision to induct 45 lateral entry officers of the rank of Jt. secys/ Directors/ Dy. Secys across 24 ministries is a clear attempt to infiltrate RSS personnel to further its agenda to subvert our Constitutional Scheme. This negates the Constitutional mandate for Reservations. If done through the normal practice of UPSC selection then at least 23 of 45 would be competent SC/ST/OBC candidates. Modi urgency to implement the Manu Smriti social order.

Sitaram Yechury on NDA govt’s decision to induct 45 lateral entry officers in administrative posts

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma meets Governor of West Bengal Dr C V Ananda Bose

Samajwadi Party women workers give ‘Raksha Sutras’ to party supremo Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow, ahead of Raksha Bandhan on August 19.

Refugees denied citizenship rights due to appeasement policy of Cong-led govts: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah hands over the citizenship certificate under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, (CAA) to a beneficiary during a programme, in Ahmedabad, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024.

Addressing a gathering in Ahmedabad after handing over citizenship certificates to 188 Hindu refugees in Gujarat, Shah said the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is about giving rights and justice to lakhs of refugees.

"Because of the policy of appeasement of past governments run by the Congress and its allies, those who came to the country for refuge did not get rights and justice," the minister said.

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BJP did what they (Congress) were not able to do: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Article 370 abrogation

From the start, we were in favour of the abrogation of Article 370. And we did that as we got the majority...Congress leaders should be thankful to BJP because we did what they were not able to do

Dr Jitendra Singh after BJP's meeting on J&K Assembly elections

BJP is ready for the elections 24*7: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on BJPs J&K assembly poll preparations

We will not be free from corruption and poverty until we are not free from BJP: Akhilesh Yadav on teachers' appointment row

These are all rumours: Keshav Mahto Kamlesh, President of Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee on reports of JMM leader Champai Soren mulling defecting to BJP

Bajrang Dal holds a protest rally demanding justice for the Hindu community and condemning the vandalism of Hindu temples in Bangladesh

Mahayuti govt 'selfish', sees brother-sister ties through prism of money: Supriya Sule

Targeting the Maharashtra government over its Ladki Bahin scheme, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Sunday accused the ruling dispensation of being "extremely selfish" and seeing the brother-sister relationship through the "prism of money".

Addressing a party rally in Dhule district, Sule claimed the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, aimed at providing financial assistance to women in the state, has been launched because of the Lok Sabha poll "shock" for the ruling Mahayuti, comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP.

The state assembly polls are due later this year.

Sule said Rs 200 crore was being spent for the promotion and advertising of the Ladki Bahin scheme.

If the money was given to ASHA (accredited social health activist) workers, it would have sustained them for next 10 years, she said.

"Women tell me that more than the Ladki Bahin scheme, they want good MSP (minimum support price) for soybean and cotton, jobs for the unemployed and a check on inflation. An ASHA worker said a GR (government resolution) is yet to be issued for a salary hike announced for them," Sule said.

The state government has not understood what women want, the NCP (SP) Rajya Sabha member said.

"You have to take a decision on whether you want a government elected by the people or the one which has come by breaking two political parties," she said.

Sule also claimed that the state assembly elections, due in October this year, were being postponed to November because the government was scared.

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Those who give pain can't give medicine: Akhilesh's dig at Keshav Maurya on teacher recruitment

In a post on X in Hindi, the SP chief said the "favoured deputy chief minister" was part of the government which snatched reservation from the youth and when they got justice after a long fight, he came forward to show himself as sympathetic. The Al...

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CM Siddaramaiah convenes CLP meeting in wake of Guv granting permission to prosecute him

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened a Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting on August 22 in the wake of Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot granting permission to prosecute him in the alleged site allotment scam in Mysuru Urban Development Authority.

Meanwhile, after Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot granted permission to prosecute Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the MUDA site allotment scam, senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal will arrive in Bengaluru on August 19, sources in the chief minister's office said on Sunday.

"Well the strategy... we have the best constitutional experts being flown in, we have lots of people within the state who are helping the government with this," said Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge.

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Corruption flourished during previous Congress govt, no development work done: Haryana CM

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday alleged that corruption flourished under previous Congress governments and was that the party is "known to work for commissions".

Hitting out at the Congress's 'Haryana Maange Hisab' campaign, Saini accused the party of land grab and said the Congress had no development work to speak of.

"When the opposition has no issue to raise, they are taking out 'hisab yatra'. Hooda sahab, we give account to people regularly," said Saini stepping up his attack on the Congress following the announcement of the assembly polls in Haryana.

"I have asked Hooda ji many things, including questions pertaining to farmers, but he has not answered even one of them," the chief minister said addressing a rally in Yamunanagar district.

"I want to tell Hooda ji that he can keep dreaming about coming to power, but on October 4, BJP will form the government for the third time with a big mandate," he said.

The Election Commission announced on Friday that assembly polls will be held on October 1 and results will be declared on October 4.

Gautam Adani, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel attend the prayer meeting for late Rameshchandra Sanghavi, father of Gujarat’s Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, who died yesterday

'Kashmir, has always been ignored by the parties. The local issues (in Srinagar) are also being ignored. There is no control over traffic issues or drug management': says Jammu and Kashmir Awami National Conference Muzzafar Shah after J&K Assembly elections were announced.

After so much insult and contempt, I was forced to look for an alternative path: Champai Soren

Amid rumours of him joining BJP, Former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Champai Soren tweets, "...After so much insult and contempt, I was forced to look for an alternative path. With a heavy heart, I said in the meeting of the legislative party that "A new chapter of my life is going to start from today." I had three options in this. First, to retire from politics, second, to form my own separate organization and third, if I find a companion on this path, then to travel further with him. From that day till today, and till the upcoming Jharkhand Assembly elections, all options are open for me in this journey..."

If stayed with them, then party would have ended: Maharashtra CM Shinde opens up on split with Uddhav Thackeray

Arvind Kejriwal has been the CM for 9.5 years, and he has done a lot of work in the last 7.5 years. The BJP, however, has not been able to do the same amount of work where they have CMs for 20 years: AAP's Manish Sisodia on Delhi padyatra

Temple politics? Slamming the 'beautification' plans for Mumbaidevi temple area, Aaditya Thackeray tweets about how the temple trust and locals are being sidelined by BJP, local MLA to favour 'bulldozer' contractors

In a long tweet, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray alleged that "bjp want to remove the local shopkeepers and bring their 'corridor' bulldozer onto the heritage/ old shops and old buildings, which builder/ contractor will be favoured...' in the Mumbaidevi temple precinct in the name of "beautification". He wrote, "Yesterday, along with South Mumbai MP Arvind Sawantji, I visited the Mumbaidevi temple precinct. The local MLA had apparently called for a meeting for “beautification” and random proposals of destabilising the entire temple vicinity were put forward. What’s shocking is that the temple trust itself and the shops of families who have been there for 150-200 years, were not taken into consideration! While it seems that the mindhe regime and bjp want to remove the local shopkeepers and bring their “corridor” bulldozer onto the heritage/ old shops and old buildings, which builder/ contractor will be favoured, is what remains to be answered. Right behind the temple, the BMC has created a junkyard- garbage, khatara cars and bikes. The temple has written to the BMC many times to clear it, but it isn’t being cleared. More so the administration, had cleared a parking building of 17 floors behind the temple. This not only will overshadow the temple, but also create a security risk for the temple. The garbage dump and the proposed car park (under construction) is where the temple arranges convenience and queues for devotees during festivals. We demand that the garbage and vehicle dump be removed right away by the BMC, and that the car park be converted into a ground floor only sabha mandap for the temple! Why is the local MLA and the BJP so against Mumbai that even the Mumbaidevi vicinity isn’t spared?"

Kumaraswamy challenges Siddaramaiah to approach SC in Janthakal mining case against him

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday challenged the state government to approach the Supreme Court against him instead of seeking Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s permission to prosecute him.

“What is the need to prosecute me? For how long have you been doing this drama?” Kumaraswamy asked, reacting to Siddaramaiah’s accusation. The chief minister in a press conference on Saturday said that on November 23, 2023, the Lokayukta sent a report to the governor seeking permission to prosecute Kumaraswamy, who presently holds the steel and heavy industries portfolio at the Centre, but no permission was granted in a 2007 mining case. The union minister said the Supreme Court has said that in the Janthakal mining case that “no other court shall pass any other order with regard to these matters till the matters are finally decided by the honourable Supreme Court”.

“Who is stopping you from approaching the Supreme Court? Why this drama of sending the file to the governor seeking permission for my prosecution — to scare me and to silence me? Is this what you have done?” Kumaraswamy asked. He said the present government had sent the report to the governor to prosecute him when it was clear that one has to approach the Supreme Court.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren accuses BJP of poaching MLAs amid speculation of Champai Soren switching sides

Amid speculation that JMM leader Champai Soren could join the BJP, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday accused the saffron camp of "poaching" MLAs and "dividing society".

Soren's statement came hours after JMM legislator and former chief minister Champai Soren reached Delhi.

Addressing a government function in Jharkhand's Godda district, Hemant Soren alleged that the BJP brought people from Gujarat, Assam and Maharashtra to "spread poison among the tribals, Dalits, backward classes and minorities and make them fight with each other".

"Forget about society, these people work to break families and parties. They poach MLAs. Money is such a thing that it doesn't take long for politicians to move here and there," he said.

Notably, Champai Soren left for Delhi on Sunday, amid speculations that he is likely to join the BJP, sources said.

M K Stalin thanks Rajnath Singh for having 'maintained positive relations' with leaders of other political parties at event to unveil commemorative coin to mark birth centenary of the late DMK president and former chief minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai

After M K Stalin's 'compliment' about him, Rajnath Singh tweets from Defence Ministry's X handle about how NDA Government 'under PM Modi also believes in the power of democracy and cooperative federalism'

In a series of tweets from the official Defence Ministry's X handle, Rajnath Singh seemed to quell any possible misunderstandings about M K Stalin 'preferring' him to PM Modi as the guest of honour at the event to unveil commemorative coin to mark birth centenary of the late DMK president and former chief minister M. Karunanidhi in Chennai.

Stalin had complimented Rajnath, saying he (unlike other BJP leaders) was someone who 'maintained positive relations' with leaders of other political parties.

Rajnath after saying that Karunanidhi had also "maintained strong relationships with national leaders from various political parties," he also said that "the NDA Government under PM Modi also believes in the power of democracy and cooperative federalism."

Telangana: CLP meeting underway at the Sheraton Hotel. Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, MLCs and other leaders arrive for the meeting.

Congress MP Mallu Ravi says, "The main agenda of this meeting is to introduce Abhishek Singhvi, who is the Rajya Sabha candidate, to the MLAs and Congress party leaders..."

'Actions will be taken': Odisha Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena on 'expensive' helicopter tours by former bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian

Jharkhand LoP and BJP leader Amar Kumar Bauri comments on Champai Soren’s 'emotional and heartfelt post'

AAP to announce Haryana Assembly poll candidates soon, seek people's feedback for CM face

The Aam Admi Party's Haryana unit chief Sushil Gupta Sunday said his party would soon declare its candidates for the October 1 Assembly polls with screening and survey for the purpose underway.

He said the AAP will put up a strong fight in all 90 Assembly segments and asserted that the countdown to the end of the BJP government in the state has begun.

"We will build a new Haryana sans goonda raj, unemployment and criminal incidents," Gupta said at a press conference here.

"Candidates will be declared soon. We will try to declare the candidates by August 31. The AAP will give tickets to those whom people want," he said at a press conference here.

The AAP leader said screening and survey of candidates is underway.

Asked about the AAP's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming polls in Haryana, Gupta said people will decide that. The party leadership and the political affairs committee will seek feedback from the people at an appropriate time, he said.

To a question about any possibility of a tie-up with the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), Gupta said there has been no talk in this regard.

Slamming the Dushyant Chautala-led party, the AAP's Haryana unit chief alleged that the JJP was in alliance with the BJP when the state government had rained lathis on farmers.

I give you the assurance that no matter what the circumstance is we will not let them touch the Dharavikars: Aaditya Thackeray at 'Dharavi Bachao Andolan’ meet

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Padnavis addresses ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ event organised in Mumbai

BJP spreads poison, works to break families and parties: Hemant Soren

These people (BJP) bring people from Gujarat, Assam, Maharashtra and spread poison among the tribals, Dalits and backward people here...Forget about society, these people (BJP) work to break families, they work to break parties. They are continuously poaching MLAs. Money is such a thing that it doesn't take long for politicians to move here and there...

Hemant Soren