BJP hits out at Vajpayee's niece for 'politcising his death'
Shillong, Aug 24 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday hit out at Karuna Shukla, the niece of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, accusing that she was politicising his death.
The BJP charge came a day after Shukla accused the ruling BJP of politicising the former Prime Minister's death by carrying the ashes across India for electoral gains in 2019 general elections.
"She (Shukla) is with the Congress and had also contested elections on their ticket. She is trying to politicise it (Vajpayee's death). It is unfortunate... We believe this far beyond and above politics," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told journalists here.
"But we don't see it as a political exercise. Some people have also pointed out why BJP is taking Atal's ashes across the country. This is not the first time this has happened...it's happened with several Prime Minister before Atal -- Nehru's ashes and Indira Gandhi's ashes also went to several states," Kohli said.
"I think that opportunity to people to offer their homage is not a political opportunity but a mark of respect," he said.
Meanwhile, several leaders across party lines and religious leaders of various faith offered floral tribute to the urns containing the ashes of former Prime Minister at BJP headquarters in Shillong.
Kohli said the idea of taking Vajpayee's ashes to different states across the country was an opportunity for those who loved him and wish to pay their respects now that he is no longer with us. "It was opportunity for that."
"Vajpayee was the longest serving non-Congress Prime Minister. He was a person who was loved across party lines," Kohli said.
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SC refuses to entertain plea to impose ban on social media usage for children below 13 years
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking to impose a statutory prohibition on social media usage for children below 13 years.
"It is a policy matter. You ask Parliament to enact the law," a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih told the counsel appearing for the petitioner.
"We are not inclined to entertain the present petition in as much as the relief sought is within the domain of policy," the bench said.
While disposing of the plea, it granted liberty to the petitioner to make a representation to the authority.
The bench said if such a representation was made, the same be considered in accordance with law within eight weeks.
The plea, filed by Zep Foundation, sought directions to the Centre and others to mandate the introduction of robust age verification system, such as biometric authentication, to regulate children's access to social media platforms.
The petition, filed through advocate Mohini Priya, also sought to implement strict penalties for social media platforms failing to comply with children protection regulations.
