People have got into habit of 'begging' from govt: MP minister Prahlad Patel
Opposition hits out
Bhopal: Former Union Minister Prahlad Patel is receiving severe criticism for his comments on citizens during a public event in Rajgarh district, where he called petitions by the people as an act of ‘begging’.
Patel, who is Panchayat and Rural Development Minister of Madhya Pradesh, was speaking during the unveiling ceremony of Veerangana Rani Avantibai Lodhi's statue in Rajgarh on Saturday. Citizens begged from the government for fulfillment of their requirements, handing ‘a basketful’ of petitions to every leader who came to their place, the minister said, reports NDTV.
Referring to freebies, the minister said that society only turned weaker instead of stronger when people started depending excessively on freebies and become an army of beggars. Also opining that a preference for free things was not a mark of respect for brave women, Patel said that martyrs are truly honored when they live by their values and did not beg.
The Opposition party Congress, however, has hit out at Patel for his statement. The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee President Jeetu Patwari opined that it was the height of arrogance of the BJP if it insulted people who struggled to overcome hurdles by calling them beggars. He said that the BJP made hollow promises during campaigns but refused to fulfill them, adding that when people reminded the party of this failure, they were called beggars by the BJP leaders.
Patwari has also pointed out that it was ironic that the BJP leaders would soon come begging for the votes of citizens.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
