May 23 should be celebrated as 'Modi Diwas': Baba Ramdev
Haridwar, May 27: Describing May 23, when the BJP rode back to power with a massive mandate, as a "historic" day, Yoga guru Ramdev Monday said it should be celebrated either as "Modi Diwas or public welfare day".
The BJP won 303 of the 542 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls this time while the opposition was left way behind with the Congress winning only 52 seats.The results for the seven-phase general elections were announced on May 23.
"May 23 is a historic day. It should be celebrated either as Modi Diwas or Jan Kalyan Diwas (public welfare day)," Ramdev told reporters here on the sidelines of a programme to launch milk and dairy products of Patanjali.
Narendra Modi is the third prime minister of the country who has been able to retain power for a second term with full majority in Lok Sabha after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Speaking about Patanjali Ayurved Limited's latest line of products, the Yoga guru, who is the co-founder of the company, said Patanjali's toned milk, butter, paneer, lassi and chach were made from pure cow milk without any chemicals.
"These are cheaper and better than those of Mother Dairy and Amul," Ramdev said, without elaborating how Patanjali's products were better than those of its rivals.
He claimed other companies used a "chemical colour" in its butter which was injurious to health.
The dairy and milk products of Patanjali are being supplied to Delhi-NCR, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Mumbai and Pune in the first phase and plans are underway to supply these soon to other states, Ramdev said.
On Sunday, Ramdev addressing a press conference had opined that India is not ready to deal with its population explosion and suggested some measures like denying voting rights and other government services to the third children onwards.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
