Shah meets Rajasthan BJP leaders to chalk out polls strategy, stresses unity
New Delhi, June 13: BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday asked the party's Rajasthan leaders to keep their internal fights aside and prepare for the upcoming assembly elections in the state unitedly.
According to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Shah gave these tips to the state unit leaders during a meeting with Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje and several senior party leaders.
The BJP Chief also held discussion over the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 and asked the party leaders to take the achievements of the Narendra Modi government to the people of the state.
Beside Raje, the meeting was attended by party Vice President Om Mathur, General Secretary Bhupendra Yadav, Union Ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Arjun Meghwal, C.R. Choudhary and the state General Secretary (organization) Chandrasekhar.
Discussions were also held on the selection of party's state President, which is lying vacant since April this year after Ashok Pranami, a Raje lloyalist stepped down, after the party's stunning defeat in two Lok Sabha and one assembly by-polls earlier this year.
According to party leaders, Shah wanted to name Shekhawat, an MP from Jodhpur as the new state party President, a move opposed by Raje.
Raje had floated the names of Urban Development Minister Srichand Kriplani and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Arun Chaturvedi for the post, but the party leadership had rejected the nominees.
BJP's national Vice President and state in charge Avinash Rai Khanna told media after the meeting that there is no rift in the party over the state President's post. "Soon a decision would be taken on the name of the state party President," he said.
He also said that during the meeting, discussions were held on the party's preparation in the state for the coming assembly polls and Lok Sabha elections.
The party leaders have decided to begin a state wide Yatra covering entire assembly constituencies.
Sources also said that before meeting Shah, Raje along with her close aides held a meeting at the Bikaner House.
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Waqf (Amendment) Act will not be implemented in West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee
Kolkata, Apr 12 (PTI): The Waqf (Amendment) Act will not be implemented in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday amid violent protests in the state.
Banerjee said the law was made by the Centre and answers should be sought from it.
"My sincere appeal to people of all religions, please remain calm, remain restrained. Do not engage in any irreligious behaviour in the name of religion. Every human life is precious; do not incite riots for the sake of politics. Those who are inciting riots are harming society," she said in a post on X.
Several vehicles, including police vans, were set on fire, stones were hurled at security forces, and roads were blocked as violence rocked Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts during protests over the new legislation on Friday.
"Remember, we did not make the law over which many are agitated. The law was made by the central government. So the answer you want should be sought from the central government," the CM said.
"We have made our position clear on this matter -- we do not support this law. This law will not be implemented in our state. So what is the riot about," she asked.
Banerjee said legal action will be taken against those inciting riots.
"We do not condone any violent activity. Some political parties are trying to misuse religion for political gain. Do not give in to their persuasion," she said.
"I think religion means humanity, goodwill, civilisation and harmony. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and harmony," she added.
