Congress leadership is missing Ahmed Patel's advice: Former Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela
Decision to give Priyanka Gandhi charge of UP was a 'political misfire'
Gandhinagar, Mar 17: Former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela on Thursday said that after Ahmed Patel's death there is no leader in Congress who can guide the party's top leadership, and the party is suffering because of that.
Vaghela, who attended the meeting of dissident G-23 leaders in Delhi the day before, was speaking to reporters at his residence here. He himself is not associated with any political party now, having quit Congress in 2017.
The veteran leader termed the Congress' decision to give the responsibility of Uttar Pradesh elections to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as "misfire".
"The recent performance of Congress in elections shows the party is suffering because of Ahmed Patel's absence. After his demise, there is no one to take his place and guide the leadership. If the party had found his replacement, there was not reason to form this G-23," he said. Patel, a trusted confidante and advisor of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, died in 2020.
"Asking Priyanka Gandhi to head (Congress' campaign in) Uttar Pradesh was a misfire. Now there is a blot on her career. It happened because there was no proper advisor. G-23 wants the leadership to listen to them. This group is not revolting against the party. Their only problem is that no one listens to them," said Vaghela.
On the party's debacle in Punjab, Vaghela said even a political novice would know that a sitting chief minister should not be removed just months ahead of elections.
"The problem lies with the leadership. Politics is a full-time job. It is not a part-time job. Rahul Gandhi's advisor should have told him this," he said.
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Saffron shawls not allowed in schools in K'taka, clarifies CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday clarified that saffron shawls would not be allowed in educational institutions under the state government’s order on religious symbols, while practices already in existence such as hijab, turbans, rudraksha beads and sacred threads (Janeu) would continue to be permitted.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, the Chief Minister clarified that those religious attire which are in practice will be allowed.
The Karnataka government on Wednesday passed an order allowing students to wear Hijab, sacred thread, Shivadhara, Rudraksha in schools. The order scrapped the BJP government’s 2022 order, banning Hijab in government schools following the Hijab versus saffron shawl controversy.
The opposition flayed the move and termed it "appeasement politics".
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A section of Hindu right wing organisations even threatened to wear saffron shawls in the schools.
Now the Chief Minister has clarified that saffron shawls will not be permitted.
“Saffron shawls are not allowed. Those shawls cannot be worn. Turbans, sacred thread, Shiva dhara, rudraksha, and hijab can also be worn,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.
“See, it is not just the hijab. People can also wear sacred threads, Shivadhara rudraksha beads — everyone can wear things according to their beliefs. This is allowed up to Class 12, whether it is high school, college or primary school. It applies to all.”
Asked whether saffron turbans representing saffron identity would be permitted, the Chief Minister said only practices already in existence would be allowed and no new practices could be introduced.
“When we say turbans, we mean practices that already exist. Nothing new can be introduced. Only those practices and beliefs that already exist till now are allowed,” he said.
Responding to questions on Prime Minister Narendra Modi reducing his convoy to conserve diesel, Siddaramaiah said such measures would only have a temporary effect. “What the Prime Minister has said is not the right step. Instead, it would be better to speak with other countries and bring awareness and consciousness among them,” he said.
Replying to questions on the controversy surrounding the NEET examination, Siddaramaiah criticised the conduct of the exam and said students should not suffer because of lapses in the system. “Look, we conducted CET, and they introduced NEET. If they fail to conduct it properly, what will happen to the students who studied hard and wrote the exam? What about their future?” he asked.
