JD-U slams Rahul Gandhi over ‘crime capital’ remark, says ‘people of Bihar will see through his old tactics’

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Janata Dal United (JD-U) took strong exception to Rahul Gandhi’s recent statements targeting Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in Bihar, with its senior leaders launching a sharp counterattack at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) on Sunday.

The JD(U) leaders accused Gandhi of political immaturity and termed his ‘selective criticism’ as contradictory and politically motivated.

Rahul Gandhi, addressing a public gathering at the ‘Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan’ in Rajgir, Nalanda, on Friday, alleged that Bihar under the NDA regime had become the “crime capital of India.” The comment drew strong criticism from JD(U) leaders, who dismissed it as a recycled political tactic.

Speaking to IANS, JD-U senior leader K.C. Tyagi said, “Rahul Gandhi is resorting to old tactics, but the people of Bihar are more politically aware today.”

Sharing his reaction to Rahul Gandhi’s op-ed in which the Congress leader alleged ‘match-fixing’ in the Maharashtra Assembly elections and accused BJP of manipulating electoral outcomes, the JD (U) leader advised the Congress MP to engage constructively instead of resorting to public accusations.

“I want Rahul Gandhi to meet the Election Commission with his team instead of giving speeches or writing articles and get answers to his questions,” Tyagi said.

JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar was even more scathing in his remarks, questioning Gandhi’s inconsistency in reacting to election outcomes.

“Rahul Gandhi, as the Leader of the Opposition, you should act like a serious politician. When you win elections, you don’t give credit to the Election Commission, but you do enjoy the power that comes with that success. However, when you’re in the opposition and lose, you start raising questions,” Neeraj Kumar said.

In a satirical tone, he added, “So, may I ask what medicine are you taking? Because when you win, you praise the EVMs and the EC, but when you lose, you blame both. Kindly let the nation know what is the name of this medicine? Is it Ayurvedic, Homeopathic, Allopathic, or imported from Italy?”

–IANS

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Harish Choudhary is new in-charge of MP Cong, fourth reshuffle in three years

Bhopal, Feb 15 (IANS) In the fourth reshuffle in the party’s state unit in the past three years, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has appointed Rajasthan-based party leader, Harish Choudhary, as the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) in-charge.

He has replaced Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, who was appointed in-charge for Madhya Pradesh Congress after the party witnessed an embarrassing defeat in the Assembly elections in 2023.

Sitting MLA from Baytoo Assembly seat in Rajasthan, Choudhary was in-charge of Punjab from November 2021 to December 2023. Earlier, he was also minister for revenue in ex-CM Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan.

Earlier, Choudhary (55) served as national secretary for the All India Congress Committee (AICC) between 2014 and 2019.

On his appointment as in-charge for Madhya Pradesh, state Congress chief Jitu Patwari and several other leaders congratulated him through social media posts, stating that his experience will be used in rebuilding the party in the state.

“Congratulations and best wishes to Harish Choudhary on being appointed in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee. Your ground-level experience will give new heights to the ideology of Congress in the state,” Jitu Patwari said.

Before Choudhary, Alwar (Rajasthan) MP, Bhanwar Jitendra Singh was appointed as in-charge of Madhya Pradesh Congress in December 2023, days after the party witnessed a stunning defeat at the hands of the BJP in the Assembly elections.

Singh had replaced Haryana-based leader Randeep Surjewala, who was in-charge of the MP Congress during the state Assembly elections.

However, the party could win only 66 out of 230 Assembly seats, and, he was replaced along with former state unit chief Kamal Nath.

Notably, before Surjewala, Delhi-based senior leader Jai Prakash Agarwal was made in-charge of the state in September 2022, one year before the state Assembly elections.

Agarwal, who had replaced Mukul Vasnik as in-charge for Madhya Pradesh Congress, was replaced with Surjewala.

–IANS

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SC to hear on Jan 15 Cong plea challenging amendments to Conduct of Election Rules

New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) The Supreme Court is slated to hear on Wednesday a plea filed by senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh challenging the amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which restricts public access to election materials, such as CCTV footage unless explicitly listed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench of CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar will take up the matter for hearing on January 15.

In his plea filed on December 24 before the top court, the general secretary of the grand old party contended that the ECI cannot be allowed to unilaterally amend the 1961 Conduct of Election Rules in such a brazen manner and without public consultation.

“A Writ has just been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The Election Commission, a Constitutional body, charged with the conduct of free and fair elections cannot be allowed to unilaterally, and without public consultation, amend such a vital law in such a brazen manner,” said Ramesh, in a post on social media platform X.

Ramesh, the Rajya Sabha MP, added that the amendment, introduced on December 21 following recommendations from the ECI, does away with “public access to essential information that makes the electoral process more transparent and accountable”.

“The integrity of the electoral process is fast eroding. Hopefully the Supreme Court will help restore it,” he asserted.

The amendment was apparently seen as a reaction to a Punjab and Haryana High Court directive to provide CCTV footage of an election booth.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin strongly criticised the amendment and called it an undemocratic assault on free and fair elections. In a post on X, CM Stalin said that democracy was facing its gravest threat under the BJP-led Union Government.

Voicing his objections, he said, “Democracy is facing its gravest threat under the BJP-led Union Government, with the reckless amendment of Section 93(2)(a) of the Conduct of Election Rules designed to undermine transparency in elections.”

CM Stalin added that the move undermines one of the Constitution’s fundamental features — transparency. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister called on all political parties, including those aligned with the Union Government, to unite against what he termed an undemocratic assault on free and fair elections.

–IANS

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‘BJP’s Hindutva is election-driven’: Aditya Thackeray on ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ campaign

Mumbai, March 25 (IANS) The minority wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched the ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ campaign, aiming to distribute special kits to 3.2 million underprivileged Muslim families across India in time for the Eid celebrations.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former Maharashtra minister Aditya Thackeray reacted to the initiative on Tuesday, making a pointed remark about the BJP’s approach.

Thackeray said, “Yehi baat hai agar koi doosra kare to kehte hain character dheela hai khud kare to sab chal jaata hai. (This is the thing, when someone else does it, they say their character is weak, but when they do it, everything is fine).”

He further remarked, “Mujhe lagta hai BJP ki jo Bhumika hai sab chunaavo ke liye hoti hai. BJP ka Hindutva chunaavi hota hai. (I believe that the role of the BJP is always for elections. The BJP’s Hindutva is election-driven).”

Talking to the media, Aditya Thackeray continued: “I’m not saying whether they are doing right or wrong, but if you observe every time, when someone (BJP leader) goes out to watch a match of Pakistan, that’s fine. But what happens in our country, or what other parties do in our country, is considered wrong.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ campaign aims to ensure that economically weaker Muslim families celebrate Eid without difficulties.

As part of the campaign, 32,000 Minority Morcha workers will collaborate with 32,000 mosques nationwide to reach and assist those in need.

The ‘Saugat-e-Modi’ campaign will officially begin in Nizamuddin, Delhi, on Tuesday under the leadership of BJP President J.P. Nadda.

The initiative would not only focus on Eid but also extend its support during other key events such as Ramzan, Good Friday, Easter, Nauruz, and the New Year.

–IANS

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