Aditya Thackeray meets Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal; says need clarity on poll process
New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, days after their losses in the Delhi assembly polls, with a message to strengthen the fight for free and fair elections.
Aditya Thackeray on a whirlwind tour of the national capital also met the party's parliamentarians amid reports of dissent in the ranks and some leaders planning to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
He met Gandhi late on Wednesday and called on Kejriwal, the former Delhi chief minister, whose party faced defeat in last week's assembly elections on Thursday.
"Is there any difference between the BJP and the Election Commission (EC)?... I don't even know where my vote goes. There needs to be more clarity on EVMs (electronic voting machines) and VVPATs (voter-verifiable paper audit trail)," Aditya Thackeray said.
After calling on Kejriwal, Aditya Thackeray described the meeting as a gesture of friendship.
“It is clear in the heart of the Shiv Sena (UBT) Party that governments come and go, but our relationship will continue as it is. That is what we came here to convey, a gesture of friendship. The work that Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP have done for Delhi over the past 10 years is well known to the people of Delhi,” Thackeray said after the meeting.
He was accompanied by party MPs Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Sanjay Dina Patil and Bhausaheb Wakchaure among others.
Thackeray raised concern over "electoral irregularities" blaming the BJP and the Election Commission of India (ECI).
"In this election, the Election Commission played a significant role. The BJP had the blessings of the Election Commission, and the BJP should be grateful for that,” he said.
Meanwhile, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, “It is commendable that, regardless of the election results, the foundation of our relationship remains strong. With this unity, we will move forward and work for the nation. Based on the public mandate and the irregularities in the elections, we are formulating our future strategy.”
Thackeray also accused the Election Commission (EC) of large-scale manipulation in voters' lists in multiple states, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Odisha and Delhi.
“We are raising the issue of how Maharashtra’s voter count suddenly increased by 47 lakhs. Who cast the 76 lakh votes after the final deadline? The Election Commission is completely unwilling to discuss this. This pattern has been in elections across Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi, and Maharashtra. This is proof that free and fair elections no longer exist in our country,” he said.
Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister further claimed that the EC has snatched people's right to vote and emphasised that free and fair elections were "necessary for the country."
The Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and the NCP (SP) had alleged irregularities in the conduct of last year's Maharashtra Assembly elections, claiming that there were more registered voters in the state than its total adult population.
The three parties, which formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) grouping, claimed 39 lakh new voters were added between the Lok Sabha elections in May and the November assembly polls.
"We believe we are in a democracy but perhaps we are robbed of democracy. It is a pretentious democracy," Aditya Thackeray said, adding that the opposition parties should rally together on the issues of "voter and EVM fraud".
Aditya Thackeray's meeting with Gandhi also came against the backdrop of rumblings within the MVA after NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar felicitated Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shinde, who had toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government.
In 2022, Shinde walked away with the majority of legislators of the then-undivided Shiv Sena to topple the MVA government.
Shinde became the chief minister with support from the BJP and subsequently gained control of the Shiv Sena.
The Mahayuti alliance of the BJP, Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) won the November assembly election, dealing a body blow to the MVA, which was hoping for an encore after virtually sweeping the state in the Lok Sabha polls.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena has dubbed Shinde a "traitor" and was shocked to see Sharad Pawar felicitate him with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar instituted by Pune-based NGO Sarhad.
Aditya Thackeray also held a meeting of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs amid reports of dissent in the party ranks and some leaders trying to join the Shiv Sena or the BJP.
BIG BREAKING
— Ravinder Kapur. (@RavinderKapur2) February 13, 2025
United INDIA alliance will raise voter list and EVM fraud by the BJP on a large scale.
" What happened with us and Congress in Haryana Maharashtra and Delhi, could happen with Nitish Kumar, RJD and Chandrababu Naidu in in future."
Aditya Thackeray SS MP pic.twitter.com/oeEoQeqzpu
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Rajnath, Shah, other Union ministers change social media profile photos to 'Op Sindoor' logo
New Delhi (PTI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other top ministers on Thursday changed the display pictures on their social media profiles to mark the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor following a call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The prime minister, earlier in the day, shared a digital poster depicting the now widely recognised logo of Operation Sindoor and urged others to do the same as a mark of respect to the armed forces.
Operation Sindoor was launched in response to the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, with Indian forces conducting precision strikes on multiple terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK).
After launching the military operation, the Indian Army, in a post on X, at 1:51 am on May 7 had said, "Justice is served. Jai Hind!"
On its first anniversary, the Indian military on Thursday said, Operation Sindoor -- "precise in action, eternal in memory" -- reflected the country's determination to defend its sovereignty with courage, coordination and strength.
The Army, the Navy, the Indian Air Force, the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) and the defence ministry also updated the display pictures on their social media profiles to mark the anniversary.
Defence Minister Singh, while updating his profile photo on X, said Operation Sindoor stands as a "powerful symbol" of national resolve and preparedness, and that their actions reflected unmatched precision, and set a "benchmark" for modern military operations.
"On the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, we salute the valour and sacrifices of our armed forces, whose courage and dedication continue to safeguard the nation. Their actions during the operation reflected unmatched precision, seamless jointness and deep synergy across services, setting a benchmark for modern military operations," he wrote.
"Operation Sindoor stands as a powerful symbol of national resolve and preparedness, showing that our armed forces are always ready to act decisively when it matters most. It also stands testament to India’s steady advance towards achieving #Atmanirbharta, enhancing capability while reinforcing resilience," he added.
The Ministry of External Affairs, led by its minister Jaishankar, also marked the anniversary, and reasserted and amplified India's diplomatic stand on this operation.
"A year ago, #OperationSindoor demonstrated the nation's resolve to defend itself against cross-border terrorism from Pakistan. With its decisive actions, India ensured accountability for terrorist actions. And underlined that such a serious threat to peace and security will be effectively countered. Under the leadership of PM @narendramodi, India stands strong and determined to convey a message of zero tolerance for terrorism," the EAM posted on X.
Earlier in a separate post, Jaishankar too changed his profile picture and posted an image of the Operation Sindoor logo on the timeline.
Home Minister Shah, in a post on X, said, "Operation Sindoor stands as an epochal mission of India that will always remind our enemies of the infallible striking power of our armed forces."
After Indian forces had launched the operation in the early hours of May 7, Pakistan later also launched offensives against India, and all subsequent counter-offensives by India were also carried out under Operation Sindoor.
The military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, lasting nearly 88 hours, halted after they reached an understanding on the evening of May 10.
Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi and Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil too updated their profile photos.
The Indian Army in an early morning post wrote, "#OperationSindoor India's resolute response calibrated and precise. Committed to safeguarding sovereignty and its people. #JusticeServed Jai Hind".
It also shared a video clip encapsulating the circumstances that led to the decisive military action in the early hours of May 7 last year, as well as some footage offering a glimpse to the military might of India.
"India will identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers," PM Modi had earlier said in his address, whose excerpt is part of the widely shared clip.
Recalling the military action launched on the intervening night of May 6-7, the Indian Air Force put out the anniversary post on X at 1:05 AM.
"Operation Sindoor Justice served. Precise in action, eternal in memory-Operation Sindoor continues. India forgets nothing-India forgives nothing. #operation #Sindoor #operationsindoor #IAF," the IAF posted.
The Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS) also posted the anniversary message at 1:05 AM, saying, "Symbol of national resolve #OpSindoor JAI HIND #OpSindoor #indianarmedforces #NationalSecurity".
The Indian embassies in the US, the UK, Spain, France, Germany and Italy also updated their display pictures on their social media profiles.
The embassies in France, Germany, Spain and Italy posted on X in French, German and Italian, amplifying the message of the Indian leadership on Operation Sindoor's anniversary in the respective countries.
The Indian Embassy in the UK posted on X, "One year of #OperationSindoor A tribute to India’s resolve, unity, and unwavering stand against terrorism. Saluting the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces who protect the nation with pride and honor. #OpSindoor #IndiaAgainstTerrorism #IndianArmedForces #NationalSecurity #IndiaFirst #SaluteOurForces #JaiHind #OperationSindoorContinues".
The Indian embassy in Israel also changed its profile photo on X and reposted PM Modi's post, and the X account of the embassy in Iran too changed the display picture to the logo of Operation Sindoor.
The Indian Navy in an early morning post on X said Operation Sindoor reflected India's determination to defend its sovereignty with courage and strength.
"Nation's Resolve. Forces United In moments that test a nation's will, the Indian Defence Forces stand united - resolute in purpose, precise in action and unwavering in commitment. #OperationSindoor reflects India's determination to defend its sovereignty with courage, coordination and strength. #OpSindoor #NationFirst #IndianNavy @HQ_IDS_India @adgpi @IAF_MCC," the Navy posted and changed its profile photo.
