Congress hits out at YSRCP for supporting NDA nominee C.P. Radhakrishnan in VP polls
New Delhi (PTI): Ahead of the vice presidential poll, the Congress on Tuesday attacked YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy for supporting NDA nominee C.P. Radhakrishnan and accused him of betrayal for not standing with democratic forces.
In a post on X, Congress leader Manickam Tagore said the people of Andhra Pradesh will not forget his "betrayal" by choosing to support an RSS candidate out of "fear" of CBI cases over the interests of Andhra Pradesh.
"History won't forget Mr @ysjagan's betrayal. By supporting an RSS-backed candidate for Vice President, he has chosen fear of CBI cases over the interests of Andhra Pradesh," he said.
"This is not about strategy. This is about surrender - surrendering to Modi - Babu's pressure, instead of standing with democratic forces," Tagore said.
The Congress leader said Jagan's "compromise" today will be remembered as the day "he placed his personal survival above people's mandate."
"Andhra deserved courage. He chose cowardice," he alleged.
"When leaders bend before Delhi out of fear, they betray the people who trusted them. Jagan will be remembered not as a fighter, but as a politician who sold his spine to escape CBI courtrooms," Tagore said.
In another post, Tagore made a fervent appeal to all MPs to vote for a candidate supporting the Constitution and not an RSS candidate.
"My dear colleague MPs, an important decision is before us. Let us choose wisely with unity, courage, and commitment to the values we uphold. The path we take today will be remembered tomorrow. RSS candidate vs Candidate with Constitution," he said in his post.
The stage is set for a direct contest between ruling NDA nominee Radhakrishnan and joint opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy for Tuesday's vice-presidential election, with the BJP-led alliance having a clear edge in the poll necessitated due to the sudden resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad claimed that, "In this election, on one side are those who want to protect the Constitution, and on the other are those who weaken and attack it. One side respects Baba Saheb Ambedkar, while the other disrespects him...This election will be interesting."
Ahead of the vote, BJP MP Anurag Thakur asserted that Radhakrishnan is a strong contender and will win with a huge majority.
"We are all working to ensure his victory. If Opposition members also want to support him because he represents the nation's interest, they are welcome," Thakur said.
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Road crash in UP leaves 10 dead
Lakhimpur Kheri (UP) (PTI): Ten people were killed when a van collided head-on with a truck on the Sisaiya-Lakhimpur national highway on Monday, police said.
The van was going to Sisaiya from Lakhimpur when the accident took place between Unchgaon and Bharehta villages.
Circle Officer of Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, said all nine passengers travelling in the van and the driver were killed.
District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters that the van collided with a truck coming from the opposite direction, leading to nine casualties on the spot, while one succumbed to injuries at the district hospital.
Circle Officer, Dhaurahra, Shamsher Bahadur Singh told PTI, "Efforts are on to establish the identity of other deceased persons."
The seven of the deceased have been identified as Jaideep Singh (25), Pawan (23), Sohan (21), Ram Goyal (42), Sahajram (35), Pappu (18), all residents of Bahraich district and Adnan Khan (15), a resident of Lakhimpur Kheri district, police said.
Condoling the loss of lives in the accident, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in a post on X, said, "The loss of life in the unfortunate road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply distressing and heart-wrenching. My condolences are with the bereaved families."
"I have directed the local administration to provide prompt and adequate assistance to the injured and the victims. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His divine feet and to bestow a speedy recovery upon the injured," Adityanath said on X.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak too condoled the loss of lives in the accident.
"The loss of lives resulting from the road accident in Lakhimpur Kheri district is deeply tragic and heart-wrenching. My deepest condolences go out to the bereaved families," Maurya said.
