Join Ajit, Shinde instead of dying with Congress: PM Modi tells Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray
Nandurbar (Maharashtra), May 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday advised the NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) to join hands with Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde after Lok Sabha poll results instead of “dying by merging” with the Congress.
“A big leader here who is active for 40-50 years is worried after polling in Baramati (Lok Sabha seat). He says that after June 4, smaller parties, in order to survive, will merge with the Congress,” Modi said, without naming Sharad Pawar.
“This means the nakli NCP and nakli Shiv Sena have made up their minds to merge with the Congress,” Modi said, addressing an election rally in Nandurbar district of north Maharashtra.
“But instead of dying by merging with the Congress, come to Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde,” Modi said.
In the Nandurbar seat, the BJP has renominated incumbent MP Heena Gavi, who is pitted against Gowaal Padavi of Congress. The constituency will go to polls in the fourth phase of the general elections on May 13.
“In the next couple of years, several regional parties will associate more closely with the Congress. Or they may look at the option of merging with the Congress if they believe that is the best for their party,” NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar had told The Indian Express.
Speaking at the rally, Modi also accused the Congress of conspiring to end “Hindu aastha" (faith). The guru of Congress’ 'shehzada' has told the US that Ram temple and Ram Navmi festivities are against the idea of India, he said, targeting Sam Pitroda, former chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress.
Pitroda on Wednesday resigned after stoking controversy with his remarks that cited ethnic and racial identities like Chinese, Africans, Arabs and Whites to describe the physical appearance of Indians.
“Congress calls people with Lord Krishna’s colour as Africans. So they didn't want Droupadi Murmu to be the President of India. Isn't it an insult of adivasis,” he asked.
The PM said that the Congress’ agenda is so dangerous that if it terms Ram temple construction and Ram Navami celebrations against the idea of India. “They may say my going to temple is anti-India. See the Congress mindset, that in the land of Ram, a temple is anti-India.”
These people organise “sarkari Iftar” and beautify graves of terrorists, he said.
In an apparent reference to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s alleged comment about “burying him in Maharashtra just like Mughal emperor Aurangzeb”, Modi said, those from the duplicate Sena are speaking of burying him alive.
They have also got a bomb blast accused for election campaigning, he said, referring to the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. “These people have lost public support and their political space has eroded. People of India are my security cover. These people can't bury me alive or dead," he said.
Providing quota benefits on the basis of religion is against the very values and principles enshrined in our Constitution, he said. As long as he is alive, Modi said, he won't let an "inch" of reservation of Dalits, adivasis and OBCs be taken away on the basis of religion.
Extending Akshaya Tritiya greetings to the people, he said, “Your blessings to me on this occasion shows that a third term for me is guaranteed.”
Modi said service to adivasis and deprived sections is like serving family members for him.
“I am not like Congress’ ‘shahi parivar’ but was raised in a poor family. Adivasis and the poor had suffered a lot in terms of lack of access to housing, electricity and water even after 60 years of independence. But my government has worked hard to improve their lives,” said the BJP’s star campaigner.
He said the Congress has no concern for adivasis and did nothing to eradicate sickle cell anemia, prevalent among tribals.
Modi said his government has initiated steps in that direction to secure the future generations of tribals.
He said the Congress knows it cannot match Modi over development. “So it has opened a factory of lies on reservation and Constitution.” Their ecosystem is filled with rumours, he said.
“On the Constitution change rumour, it is nothing but a ‘chor machaya shor’ (thieves creating noise) situation for Congress. It wants to introduce reservations based on religion which is against the Constitution. Making such an attempt is like stabbing the maker of the Constitution in the back,” he said.
Alleging that the Congress wants to replicate its “Karnataka model” across the country by snatching quotas from SC, ST and OBC and giving those to their minority vote banks, Modi cautioned people to be alert.
In Karnataka, the Congress turned Muslims into OBCs overnight and now it wants to snatch quotes from tribals and Dalits, he said.
“The Maha Vikas Aghadi is running a ‘maha abhiyan’ (mega drive) to finish off quota while I am doing ‘maha rakshan ka maha yagna’ (grand ritual for protection) to save it,” he said.
“I have been challenging the Congress to give in writing that it will not end the SC and ST quota and give it to Muslims. But the Congress is not replying. They have a hidden agenda to loot your rights. But they are spreading rumours by being hand in glove with anti-national elements,” he said.
“Modi is the ‘chowkidar’ (watchman) to protect the rights of the deprived sections of society,” he said.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
