Video of Rajasthan Congress leader targeting party 'rival' triggers controversy
Jaipur (PTI): A controversy has erupted over a video in which Congress leader Archana Sharma, who is said to be in the race to get a party ticket for the upcoming assembly polls, is purportedly speaking about a party "rival" striking up a "Rs 40-crore deal" to "stop her".
Speaking to PTI, Sharma, who is the chairperson of the Social Welfare Board, said she has not named anyone in the video.
After the video surfaced on social media, Congress leader Rajiv Arora, in a veiled attack at Sharma, said, "You can never win by playing dirty".
Sharma is to be eyeing a Congress ticket from Malviya Nagar constituency, responded saying Arora was targeting her due to a "misunderstanding".
In the video, Sharma is purportedly telling a group of people that a "rival within the party" held a meeting with her "rival", indirectly referring to the sitting BJP MLA from Malviya Nagar constituency.
"When my rival felt that he was losing, he thought of making an alliance with my rival within the party, and both had a meeting in a hotel. But walls have ears. It came out that a deal worth Rs 40 crore has been made. Such a big deal to stop me," Sharma is seen to be saying.
BJP MLA Kalicharan Saraf has been representing the Malaviya Nagar seat since 2008.
Arora, who is the chairman of Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation and Export Promotion Council, is among the Congress leaders vying for a ticket from the Malviya Nagar assembly constituency, and is said to be lobbying in Delhi ahead of the announcement of the list of candidates.
After the video emerged, Rajiv Arora wrote on X on Wednesday evening, "You can never win by playing dirty. Karma is real. You reap what you sow. The ill-will of taking ticket even after losing twice is hurting the Congress party from Malviya Nagar."
When contacted, Sharma said she had not named anyone at the gathering.
"Rajiv Arora is like my elder brother. I did not name anyone. When he contested the election from this seat, I supported him. He should also support me," she said.
Polling for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will be held on November 25, and the counting of votes will be taken up on December 3.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
