BJP veteran V K Malhotra cremated with full state honours
New Delhi, Oct 1 (PTI): BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra was cremated with full state honours at the Lodhi Road crematorium here amid the chanting of mantras on Wednesday afternoon.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva and other senior leaders of the party, including MPs, MLAs and functionaries, bid adieu to the Jana Sangh-era party stalwart.
The last rites were performed by Malhotra's son, Ajay.
Earlier in the day, Malhotra's mortal remains were carried from Rakabganj Road, where he lived, to the Delhi BJP office on Pant Marg. A large number of party leaders and workers paid homage to the late leader.
Besides Gupta and Sachdeva, Delhi ministers Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Parvesh Verma, MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat and other senior leaders paid floral tributes to him.
The Jana Sangh-era politician was the first president of the Delhi BJP after the saffron party was founded in 1980.
Malhotra's 45-year political journey was marked by his work as an RSS swayamsevak and a Jana Sangh and BJP leader who kept the party afloat and worked tirelessly for its growth in the national capital, leaders of the saffron outfit said.
He was elected to Parliament five times and also to the Delhi Assembly. Malhotra defeated Congress candidate Manmohan Singh from the South Delhi constituency in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls. Singh went on to become the prime minister in 2004.
Incidentally, Malhotra was the only BJP candidate to win the Lok Sabha polls from Delhi in 2004.
In the 2008 Delhi Assembly polls, he was projected as the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) chief-ministerial candidate but had to settle with the leader of opposition's post as the Congress, led by former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, formed its third consecutive government in the capital.
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BJP urges Bengaluru Police Commissioner to cancel event supporting Umar Khalid
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka BJP on Monday petitioned Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh to cancel an event supporting activist Umar Khalid.
A delegation of BJP leaders led by Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan met the Commissioner and submitted a memorandum in this regard.
According to sources, the editors of the book "Umar Khalid and His World" will read excerpts from the book on April 28 in Bengaluru, followed by a discussion in which some "historians and intellectuals" are likely to participate.
Khalid is in jail in connection with allegations of conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots.
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"In Bengaluru city, an event has been organised under the platform "Umar Khalid Prapancha" to express support for Khalid, who is currently under arrest under anti-terrorism laws," the BJP said in its memorandum.
"Across the country, the Central Government has taken strict action against Naxalites. However, urban Naxal elements are still active and are indirectly supporting anti-national activities," it alleged.
Further stating that Khalid is facing very serious charges, the memorandum said, the fact that courts have denied him bail for the past three years stands as an indication of his alleged criminal activities.
"Glorifying such an individual would amount to encouraging criminal elements. It is shocking that such an event is being held in our city. It is also a matter of serious concern that pro Umar Khalid slogans and wall writings have already appeared across the city, indicating the spread of such networks," it said.
"In the interest of maintaining peace in the city, we request that the permission granted for this event be withdrawn. If the event proceeds and any law and order situation arises, the BJP will not be responsible for it. We urge you to consider our request in the interest of the city and cancel the event," it added.
The Supreme Court on April 20 dismissed activist Khalid's plea seeking a review of a verdict denying him bail, while observing that there are reasonable grounds to believe the allegations levelled against him in connection with a conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots.
There was a prima-facie case against Khalid and Sharjeel Imam (another accused) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the top court had earlier said, noting that prosecution material suggests that they were involved in the "planning, mobilisation and strategic direction" of the riots.
The February 2020 riots in northeast Delhi broke out during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), leaving 53 people dead and more than 700 injured.
