Bihar: NDA govt failed to deliver on its promises, INDIA bloc will, says Kharge
Sasaram (PTI): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday accused the BJP of failing to fulfil its promises in Bihar, asserting that if voted to power, the INDIA bloc government will implement whatever it has promised in its manifesto.
Addressing a public rally in Chenari assembly segment, Kharge alleged, "Modi ji does not hesitate to lie; his friend Amit Shah is also like him.”
"Modi ji said a katta (countrymade handgun) was put on Congress' temple by the RJD to steal the CM candidature from the Congress. Actually, it is the BJP which is the real thief," he added.
He also accused the BJP of misleading the people, claiming that the party has failed to deliver on commitments such as providing Rs 2 crore annually to farmers and one crore houses for the poor.
"Modi ji said he will give Rs 2 crore each year to farmers. Did he? No. He said he will give 1 crore houses to the poor. Did he? No," the Congress leader claimed.
Kharge also criticised the NDA leadership for targeting former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, saying, "Nehru ji gave the country HMT, BHEL and many other factories and industries. But the BJP has only erected an army of RSS to run the country on the basis of Manusmriti."
Kharge claimed that the Congress is "committed to safeguarding democracy, justice and fraternity" and that it works for "farmers, Dalits, women and backward classes" instead of focussing on "securing the chair."
"Nitish ji gave women a debt of Rs 10,000 and asked for votes in return. What is he actually concerned with - votes or uplift of women?", Kharge asked.
He alleged that there has been no development in Bihar in 20 years of Nitish Kumar's rule.
Kharge said the INDIA bloc has decided to make Tejashwi Yadav the chief minister to curb unemployment, stop outmigration, and ensure rural development.
He pledged that an INDIA bloc government would provide a job in every household, regularise Jeevika workers, give Rs 2,500 monthly to women, and provide 200 units of free electricity.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
