Nadda targets Sonia, Rahul over Sanatan Dharma row, accuses Baghel govt of corruption
Jashpur (PTI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda on Friday hit out at opposition alliance INDIA and claimed the agenda of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, top leaders of its key constituent Congress, was to "abuse and disrespect" Sanatan Dharma.
Addressing a rally at Jashpur in north Chhattisgarh held to flag off the second 'Parivartan Yatra' (March for Change) of the opposition BJP ahead of assembly polls, he also targeted Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and asked him to clarify his stand on anti-Sanatan Dharma remarks made by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, whose party DMK is a member of INDIA.
He accused the Congress government of indulging in scams and said those who didn't spare 'gau mata' (cows) in corruption (referring to alleged scam in cow dung procurement scheme), will they spare people?
"Indi alliance... ghamandiya (arrogant) alliance held a meeting in Mumbai on September 1. On September 3, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin's son Udhayanidhi Stalin, whose party DMK is a key partner of the alliance, disrespected Sanatan Dharma by linking it with serious diseases. He left no stone unturned in disrespecting Sanatan Dharma in every way," Nadda said.
The next day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge, who is a minister in the Karnataka government, attacked Sanatan Dharma and subsequently another minister from Tamil Nadu, too, targeted the ancient faith, he said.
"What should we understand from this? Sonia Gandhi is silent till today on the issue. Rahul goes all over the world and talks about the
Constitution, but avoids saying even a single word on it (Sanatan issue), said the BJP president.
"My allegation is that the mother-son duo handed over the agenda abusing and disrespecting Sanatan Dharma in the Mumbai meeting to the DMK and other parties (of INDIA). Actually, it is the agenda of Sonia and Rahul," he said, attacking the two former Congress presidents.
The BJP chief sought to know if the Constitution has given the right to anyone to disrespect a religion.
"Is it written in the Constitution that any religion, any idea, any belief should be abused or has the Constitution given the right to disrespect any religion? You (Rahul) say that you run 'mohabbat ki dukan' (shop of love), but hatred is being sold in your shop," Nadda said.
He also slammed Chief Minister Baghel, a senior Congress leader, for skipping the G20 dinner hosted by the President on September 9 in New Delhi during the summit of the influential global forum.
"The President, a woman who hails from a tribal community, had invited CM (Baghel) to G20 (dinner) but it is very unfortunate he didn't accept the invite. Is this his respect towards a President who comes from a tribal community? Is your honour bigger than the
President's honour? Kharge sahab (Congress chief) didn't attend flag hoisting at the Red Fort. Will you allow such people to continue to rule your state," he said, urging people to vote out the present government in Chhattisgarh.
He said the Bhupesh Baghel government has been indulging in corruption and making false promises for the last five years.
The BJP president asked people at the rally whether or not the Baghel government had committed corruption in coal transportation, liquor, urea fertilizer, cow dung procurement scheme and other sectors to which they replied in the affirmative.
He said, "Those who didn't spare 'gau mata' (in committing corruption), will they spare you,"
The BJP's Parivartan Yatra is aimed at exposing corruption of the Baghel government and removing the Congress from power in the state, Nadda said.
"Do you allow a government to remain in office whose CM is on bail in the CD case and his personal secretary is in jail, the BJP chief asked people at the rally.
He was referring to a case of alleged circulation of a "sex CD" lodged in 2017 (when BJP was in power) being probed by the CBI and arrest of a bureaucrat in December last year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged coal levy scam in the state.
Hailing the success of the G20 summit held in New Delhi, he said Bharat is now no more a 'pichhlaggu' (follower) of other countries.
Rather Bharat is now giving the message of marching ahead to the world under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP leader said.
In 2014, when the BJP came to power at the Centre, 92 per cent of the mobile phones (used in India) were manufactured in China, but now 97 per cent of such devices, including Apple, are being made in the country, Nadda said, highlighting achievements of the Modi government.
The BJP chief flagged off the party's second Parivartan Yatra which will cover 1,261 km distance in 13 days across districts in the Bilaspur and Surguja divisions.
On the occasion, Nadda also remembered former BJP MP and Union minister late Dilip Singh Judev, who was hailed by right-wing groups for his ghar wapsi' campaign, homecoming of tribals who converted to Christianity back to Hinduism, in the Jashpur region of Chhattisgarh.
The BJP president said "Judev ji was not only a great politician and soul, but also a great social reformer who worked for uniting people of the country. Through his ghar wapsi' campaign Judeo united society against conversion."
The former Union minister dedicated his life for truth, honesty, morality and religion, Nadda said and asked people to fulfil his wish by ousting the Congress from power in the state.
The first Parivartan Yatra, which was rolled out from Dantewada district in south Chhattisgarh on September 12, will cover a distance of 1,728 km and traverse Bastar, Durg and Raipur divisions in 16 days.
Both the Yatras will culminate in Bilaspur on the same day (not yet finalised) after covering a distance of 2,989 km across 87 assembly segments (out of the total 90). PM Modi is expected to attend the concluding function of the march, party leaders had said.
In 2018, the Congress handed a massive defeat to the BJP which had been in power for 15 years under the leadership of former Chief Minister Raman Singh. The Congress had won 68 seats and the BJP just 15.
The saffron party last month released its first list of 21 candidates in the state, where the Election Commission is yet to announce the poll schedule.
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Akhilesh claims BJP failed to ensure women's safety in UP, just raised slogans
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav launched a scathing attack on Wednesday against the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government over Uttar Pradesh's law-and-order situation, saying the ruling party's claims of women empowerment have become "mere slogans".
Just a week ahead of the bypolls to nine Assembly seats in the state, the former chief minister highlighted the efforts made by the Samajwadi party when it was in power in Uttar Pradesh that included the distribution of over 18 lakh laptops to students for free to improve the educational standards.
Noting that the BJP had promised laptops and WiFi in its manifesto, Yadav claimed that the party failed to deliver on its promises. "They distributed a few tablets which are barely functional, whereas the laptops given under our administration are still being used," he claimed.
In a press statement, the SP chief said, "The BJP's claims about ensuring women's safety are false. The government cannot point to a single accomplishment based on facts and reasoning. Any attempt to discredit the initiatives undertaken during the Samajwadi Party's tenure will not succeed."
He highlighted several incidents, including the Hathras rape case, to question BJP's commitment to women's safety. Yadav claimed that the "family of the Hathras rape victim was denied the right" to perform her last rites.
"The incident of a gang rape in BHU involving individuals connected to the BJP IT cell was hushed up and efforts were made to protect the accused," Yadav alleged.
Citing NCRB statistics, he claimed that incidents of crimes against women are highest in Uttar Pradesh, indicating the state's failure to curb these crimes. "Women are unsafe even within police stations and several cases of female police officers facing assault have emerged," Yadav added.
To underline his government's initiatives in support of women's education and empowerment, Yadav mentioned the initiation of unemployment allowances, financial support for girls' education, and free textbooks for students from Classes one to eight.
"Our government's record in promoting educational and financial support for female students remains a challenge for the BJP dispensation," he claimed.
The Samajwadi Party's statement also made references to schemes such as the 1090 service for women's safety, and the 108 Ambulance Service that provide quick hospital transport for accident victims.
"The BJP has turned the international-standard Dial 100 service, launched to ensure immediate police response, into a corrupt system under '112,'" Yadav alleged, adding that BJP's "Romeo Squad" initiative for women's safety is nowhere to be seen today.
Referring to the dismissal of female workers engaged in the Dial 100 service last year, he termed it "inhumane", adding that these workers were "forced to sit in protest under cold and rainy conditions during Diwali.
"The Samajwadi Party stood with them during those difficult times," he said.
The Samajwadi Party chief slammed the BJP for its "false promises" and alleged that in Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh, women's lives remain precariously insecure. He asserted that attempts to mislead the public would not succeed, as "the truth is that daughters are most fearful under the BJP's rule."
Taking to social media, Yadav shared a report that cited comments of women protestors in Prayagraj who are staging a sit-in against the UP Public Service Commission (UPPSC) and lauded them for their bravery.
Bypolls will be held on nine assembly seats of the state on November 20 and the Samajwadi Party is contesting all of them as it takes on the BJP in eight seats and its ally Rashtriya Lok Dal in one. The Bahujan Samaj Party was also in the fray. The Congress is not contesting the bypolls and supporting its INDIA bloc partner Samajwadi Party.
Votes will be counted on November 23.
Eight of these seats fell vacant after their MLAs were elected as Lok Sabha MPs. The bypoll in the Sisamau seat is being held as Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki was convicted in a criminal case.
