B.L. Santosh appointed BJP General Secretary
New Delhi, Jul 14: BJP president Amit Shah Sunday elevated party's joint general secretary (organisation) B L Santosh as its general secretary (organisation), a day after Ramlal was moved back to the RSS after holding the post for over 13 years.
Santosh, a RSS 'pracharak' working in the BJP since 2006, is considered an ideologue who is equally well-versed with the dynamics of electoral politics.
The BJP said in a statement that he will assume his new responsibility with immediate effect.
It is considered that he enjoys the trust of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah. His views have often played a key role in the party's decisions related to southern states, especially Karnataka, a place he hails from and where he was the BJP's general secretary (organisation) for eight years from 2006.
In 2014, the BJP gave him a national position, making him one of the associates of Ramlal as a joint general secretary (organisation). He was given the charge of southern states.
An assertive leader who can effectively espouse the party's Hindutva ideology, Santosh's appointment to the second most powerful post in the party assumes extra significance at a time when it is set to undergo organisational changes.
Ahead of the recent Lok Sabha elections, he had strongly defended the BJP's surprise decision to not give ticket to its senior leader Ananth Kumar's widow Tejaswini Ananth Kumar from her husband's pocket borough of Bangalore South.
The party cannot give poll ticket on the basis on DNA and genes, he had said.
Though the move had ruffled the feathers of a section of the state leaders, BJP candidate Tejasvi Surya easily won from the seat.
The BJP also improved its show in the general election in southern states like Telangana and Karnataka but could not make much headway in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
As organisational elections in the BJP are due in the coming months and speculation rife that Shah, who is also the home minister, may relinquish his party post, Santosh's role will be crucial in steering the organisation through these changes ,while keeping it battle-ready for the assembly elections ahead.
Santosh's predecessor Ramlal was moved back to the RSS after holding the position for over 13 years.
The post of general secretary (organisation) is always kept by a leader with the RSS background as it allows the Hindutva organisation to have an important say in its affairs while allowing him to serve as a bridge between the BJP and its ideological parent.
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Bondi Beach shooting: EAM Jaishankar speaks to Australia's Wong
New Delhi (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday conveyed to his Australian counterpart Penny Wong India's "fullest support" to Australia in the wake of a deadly shooting incident at the iconic Bondi Beach targeting a Jewish celebration that left 15 people dead.
In a phone conversation with Wong, Jaishankar also condoled the death of innocent people in the attack.
"Just spoke to Australian Foreign Minister @SenatorWong.Conveyed our deepest condolences about the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and offered our fullest support," he said on social media.
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Fifteen people were killed and over 40 others injured in the attack by two gunmen on Sunday, according to Australian authorities.
Hours after the incident, Jaishankar condemned the terror attack.
Condemn in the strongest terms the terror attack on Hanukkah celebrations in Bondi Beach, he said on Sunday.
"Our thoughts are with the victims and their families," he said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the attack as a "dark moment" for the country.
"This is a targeted attack on Jewish Australians on the first day of Hanukkah, which should be a day of joy, a celebration of faith," he told reporters.
"At this dark moment for our nation, our police and security agencies are working to determine anyone associated with this outrage," he said.
The shooting at Bondi followed a wave of antisemitic attacks in the country.
The attackers were identified as father and son duo of Sajid Akram and Naveed Akram. The father was shot dead by police while the son sustained injuries and he is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the world leaders who condemned the attack.
"Strongly condemn the ghastly terrorist attack carried out today at Bondi Beach, Australia, targeting people celebrating the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah," Modi said on X on Sunday.
"On behalf of the people of India, I extend my sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. We stand in solidarity with the people of Australia in this hour of grief," he said.
The prime minister said India has zero tolerance towards terrorism and supports the fight against all forms of terrorism.
