BJP member in Bihar announces resignation over Manipur violence, party says he wasn't active
Patna, Jul 27: A political activist in Bihar on Thursday put up a poster announcing his resignation from "all posts in the BJP" in protest against the ethnic strife in Manipur.
Vinod Sharma, who identified himself as a spokesman cum media panelist of the BJP, also shared with the press copies of his resignation letter addressed to the party's national president JP Nadda.
However, state BJP spokesperson Arvind Kumar Singh asserted that Sharma, who had joined BJP four years ago, "never became an active member".
"Anybody can become a primary member of the party by giving a missed call. Only those are considered active members who go a step further and deposit the membership fee. I challenge Sharma to show his membership slip," Singh told PTI.
He pointed out that Sharma's name did not figure in the party's authorised list of spokespersons and media panelists.
Interestingly, Sharma was last in the news in the thick of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls when he had announced his resignation from the Congress over Rahul Gandhi's stance on Pulwama terror strike.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) chuckled at the development.
"The resignation of senior spokesman Vinod Sharma shows cracks appearing in the BJP's rank and file as a result of the Narendra Modi government's mishandling of the Manipur issue," JD(U) state unit chief Umesh Singh Kushwaha said in a statement.
VIDEO | "I have resigned from BJP with a heavy heart. Manipur situation has defamed India," says BJP leader Vinod Sharma after resigning from the party over Manipur issue. pic.twitter.com/QUwhrG92Tx
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 27, 2023
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UP: Over 60 people fall sick after eating prasad at religious ceremony
Kannauj (UP) (PTI): Sixty-two people fell sick allegedly after earing 'prasad' during a religious ceremony being held here at a private residence, officials said on Saturday.
The 'prasad' consisting of 'panchamrit' and 'panjiri' was distributed on Friday night during a 'Satyanarayan Katha' organised at the residence of Munna Lal Kashyap in Simuapur village, Kannauj.
After eating the 'prasad', several people's health began to deteriorate during the night. Initially, they were taken to private practitioners but eventually all of them were shifted to the district hospital, they said.
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Dr Akanksha at the district hospital said that 62 patients had arrived by 10.30 pm. Among them, 14 patients whose condition was critical were referred to the Medical College in Tirwa (in Kannauj district).
The remaining patients are currently undergoing treatment involving IV drips and medications. The condition of most patients is reported to be stable, officials said.
Upon receiving information about the incident, District Magistrate Ashutosh Mohan Agnihotri, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Swadesh Gupta, and Additional Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar arrived at the district hospital.
The officials inquired about the patients' health and issued directives for their proper medical care.
