BJP MP calls Masood Azhar 'ji' in LS
New Delhi, July 24: Bharatiya Janata Party MP in Lok Sabha Vishnu Dayal Ram on Wednesday, in a slip of the tongue, added "ji" after the name of dreaded terrorist Masood Azhar while participating in a discussion on a bill to amend Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
He, however, realized this in seconds and corrected himself before speaking further on the bill that gives government power to designate individuals as terrorist.
"...I want to also add that Shafi Arman who is recruiter of IS and the one who comes from Karnataka, the one who comes from Bhatkal. Masood Azhar ji... Masood Azhar is the Chief of Hizbul Mujahideen. If they would not be declared as terrorist, then what will they be declared as," Ram said while speaking in the Lok Sabha.
It is a well-known that Masood Azhar is the head of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Vishnu Dayal Ram is the member of Parliament from Jharkhand and a former Director General of Police (DGP).
In a video earlier fished out by opposition Congress, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad was heard referring to terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed as "Hafiz ji". This had triggered a spat between the BJP and Congress.
Congress has been the favourite punching bag for "being respectful to terrorists" but it now seems that BJP also has its own share of leaders for suffixing "ji" after names of terrorists.
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh had earlier come under attack by BJP for calling Osama ji. Rahul Gandhi too has been attacked by rivals for making the mistake.
A"Come on Rahul Gandhi ji! Earlier it was the likes of Digvijay ji who called Osama ji and Hafiz Saeed ''sahab''. Now you are saying Masood Azhar ji. What is happening to Congress Party?" Ravi Shankar Prasad had written on Twitter criticizing Rahul Gandhi for calling Masood Azhar ''ji''.
But Congress did not miss the opportunity when it got hold of the video of Ravi Shankar Prasad. With the latest blooper by Vishnu Dayal Ram, the two parties seem to have scored equally on it.
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PM unveils connectivity projects worth Rs 18,680 crore in West Bengal
Kolkata (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled connectivity projects worth Rs 18,680 crore in West Bengal on Saturday, and said a new chapter of India's development was being written from the state.
He laid the foundation stone for five sections of the 231 km-long four-lane Kharagpur-Moregram economic corridor, which will reduce the distance by around 120 km and save nearly seven to eight hours.
The road, which is part of the economic corridor between Kharagpur and Siliguri, will pass through Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts, officials said.
The corridor will integrate key national highways, including NH-16, NH-19, NH-14 and NH-12, thereby strengthening multi-corridor connectivity, they said.
The PM also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 5.6-km-long four-lane Dubrajpur Bypass and additional four-lane major bridges over the Kangshabati and Shilabati rivers on NH-14.
He flagged off the Purulia-Anand Vihar Terminal Express and unveiled six railway stations that were redeveloped under the Amrit Station scheme. These stations are Kamakhyaguri, Anara, Tamluk, Haldia, Barabhum and Siuri.
Modi also dedicated two railway projects to the nation -- the 16-km-long third rail line between Belda and Dantan and the automatic block signalling system between Kalaikunda and Kanimohuli in the South Eastern Railway zone.
The PM said a mission has been undertaken to modernise India's railways.
Modi also inaugurated sections of NH-19 and NH-114, which will enhance road safety, reduce travel time, ease congestion and pollution, improve regional connectivity, and boost tourism and economic growth in the region.
The PM also inaugurated the mechanisation of Berth 2 at Haldia Dock Complex, which will enable efficient, faster and environment-friendly cargo handling, and the rejuvenation project at Khidderpore Docks (Dock 1 - West).
He laid the foundation stones for multiple port infrastructure projects, including the mechanisation of Berth 5 at Haldia Dock Complex and the renovation of the Bascule Bridge in Kolkata.
The PM laid the foundation for a river cruise terminal and river tourism facility near the Indenture Memorial in the city.
Assembly elections are expected to be held in the state in April.
