Modi government 'unnerved' by Bharat Bandh, says Congress
New Delhi, Sep 10: On a day the Delhi High Court dismissed Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi's plea challenging the IT notice seeking tax reassessment for fiscal 2011-12, the party said the Narendra Modi government is "unnerved" by the Bharat Bandh and "is blinded by personal vendetta".
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday said: "Unnerved, perturbed and scared by the successful Bharat Bandh on fuel prices, Prime Minister Modi was forced to call a 'foolish press conference' and making stupid remarks which have no basis.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson was asked by Modi to do a press conference and level allegations about which he has neither comprehension nor knowledge," he said.
Surjewala said: "Facing imminent defeat in Assembly polls in four states and 2019 general elections, Modi Ji directed the Income Tax Department to reopen IT returns of the Congress leadership after a period of eight years."
"The malafice and mala fide are apparent in the fact that all these IT returns have already been scrutinized in the past and we have no issues with that. A notice was also issued," he added.
The party said it takes great pride in that fact that it gave Rs 90 crore as loan to National Herald and Navjivan.
"This is first time in the history of India that corporate law has been rewritten by Modiji...that a non-repayable loan becomes profit in the hands of the shareholders of the company," said Surjewala.
"Modiji is talking as if they knew about what the verdict was going to be. The argument of BJP that Bharat Bandh was called because of judgement of this case... Did Modiji know what judgement was going to be?
"Did the judge tell them what the judgement was going to be? Bharat Bandh was announced a week earlier so did you know what the judgement was going to be?" the Congress leader asked.
He said: "What kind of stupidity and foolishness is this? We humbly tell Modiji if you want to fight Rahulji, we dare you to fight a political battle with him. Don't hide behind a petty revenge through the IT Department."
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.
Bengal: On way to PM's rally, 3 mowed down by train amid dense fog
Kolkata (PTI): Three persons died and three others were injured after being hit by a train amid dense fog on Saturday, while travelling to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Taherpur in West Bengal's Nadia district, a senior official said.
The incident occurred between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations under the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section of Eastern Railway, he said.
Modi, whose helicopter could not land at Taherpur due to dense fog and low visibility, condoled the death of the “BJP workers” in his virtual address from Kolkata airport.
“I have come to know that some BJP workers, while travelling to the rally, lost their lives in a rail accident. My condolences are with the families of those who have lost their loved ones, and I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured,” Modi said.
The Eastern Railway official told PTI that the incident occurred in the morning when these people, who were travelling by a bus, had stopped the vehicle and walked to the railway tracks to answer nature's call.
"While three persons died on the spot, two others with injuries were admitted to a local hospital," he said.
Another person with minor injuries was released after having been administered first aid, the official said.
The deceased have been identified as Ramprasad Ghosh (74), Shaktipada Sutradhar (55) and Gopinath Das (38).
Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra, Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar constituency in Nadia district, alleged that the BJP ignored the incident and went ahead with the rally.
"Terrible tragedy hushed up at altar of @narendramodi ego. @BJP4India supporters brought from far Murshidabad for PM rally in Ranaghat today," she said in a post on X.
"4 went to answer nature's call and were killed by 31814 down local train near Taherpur. BJP ignored, blacked out & went ahead with rally," Moitra claimed.
Reacting to her remarks, the West Bengal BJP, in a post on X, asserted that the TMC "has always been adept at milking tragedies", and was being "disrespectful to the unfortunate victims of this tragedy".
The TMC alleged that BJP leaders have not shown "neither concern nor compassion" over the mishap.
"The loss of three lives in Taherpur should have united everyone in grief. But @BJP4India leaders showed neither concern nor compassion," it said in another post on X.
"At this painful moment, Smt @MamataOfficial and Shri @abhishekaitc put humanity above party lines and stood beside the families of the deceased," the party said.
TMC’s on-ground leaders promptly reached out to the grieving family members, ensuring them of help and assistance, it said.
"While Delhi’s rulers chase Bengal with arrogance, our leadership chose empathy. This is the difference between politics of power and politics of people!" the TMC added.
