Dalit BJP MP complains against Yogi Adityanath to Narendra Modi
LUCKNOW: Chhotelal, a Dalit MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has complained to Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saying the latter scolded and shunted him out when he met him over a party-related problem.
In a letter to Modi written last month, Chhotelal, an MP from Robertsganj in Uttar Pradesh, complained about a local party functionary helping the rival Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in a block-level election and undermining his efforts. He said attempts were being made to induct the BSP rival into the BJP.
Chhotelal said the apparent grudge was that a Dalit had been elected from a general seat.
Chhotelal said he met state BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey thrice "to save his dignity". He also met state BJP General Secretary Sunil Bansal and other party functionaries, but there was no help.
"So, I met the Chief Minister twice but did not get any help. I was scolded and shunted out," Chhotelal said.
The BJP MP also said he was threatened with a pistol by an opponent who used abusive, casteist language against him, but the police did not register a case.
"Tired over lack of response, I wrote to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes," he said.
"I request you to protect the honour of Dalits and adivasis...," he said in his letter to Modi.
Chhotelal, a film artiste and Bhojpuri singer, also sought registration of a case against those who he claimed had attacked him.
The letter has surfaced at a time when the Congress and other opposition parties are seeking to target the BJP over the "dilution" of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
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Adequate LPG stock in Chhattisgarh, no need to panic, says CM Sai
Raipur (PTI): Amid reports of shortage of commercial LPG cylinder in several parts of the country due to the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday assured people that they need not worry about the availability of cooking gas in the state.
He asserted that adequate stock of LPG as well as petrol and diesel was available in the state.
Sai said in a statement that authorities have been directed to regularly monitor stock at gas agencies and keep a close watch on the supply chain. Necessary instructions were issued to officials in all districts to ensure a smooth supply of LPG.
The chief minister instructed officials to take strict action if any complaint of black marketing or hoarding of LPG cylinders is received.
Sai urged state residents not to pay attention to rumours and to book cooking gas cylinders as per their actual requirement.
The government was fully alert to ensure the availability of essential commodities to citizens, he emphasised.
Meanwhile, the Chhattisgarh Hotel and Restaurant Association has issued an advisory to hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food businesses across the state, urging them to maintain calm and avoid panic buying.
In the advisory, Taranjeet Singh Hora, president of the association, asked members to maintain coordination and immediately inform it about any major disruption in LPG supply.
He cautioned businesses against hoarding cylinders, saying such practices could worsen the situation for the entire hospitality sector.
The association advised hotels and restaurants to prioritise essential kitchen operations, core menu items and already committed banquet events.
Use electric cooking equipment wherever possible for emergency and staff kitchens such as induction cooktops, electric hot plates, electric rice cookers and kettles, the advisory stated.
