Punjab CM Mann making derogatory remarks against PM Modi, says BJP leader Chugh

New Delhi, May 5 (IANS) Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s, comments on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, made during an interaction at Brown University in the US, have ignited a political firestorm, with the Congress projecting him as a statesman in the mould of Mahatma Gandhi and the BJP accusing the party of staging a “drama” and perpetuating a decades-long cover-up.

While responding to a question on the Congress’ role during the 1984 riots, LoP Gandhi said, “A lot of those things happened when I was not there, but I am more than happy to take responsibility for everything the Congress party has ever done wrong in its history. I have publicly stated that what happened in the 80s was wrong. I have been to the Golden Temple multiple times; I have extremely good relationships with the Sikh community in India.”

His remarks came in response to a Sikh attendee questioning the Congress party’s treatment of Sikhs in the past and a perceived lack of freedom for the community under its rule.

The Congress, along with the INDIA bloc, swiftly rallied behind the LoP.

Senior leader Husain Dalwai told IANS, “Rahul Gandhi’s politics is truly like Mahatma Gandhi’s. One needs a big heart to accept mistakes. During the UPA tenure, Dr Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi admitted the wrongs done to Sikhs. That statement changed the atmosphere in Punjab, and the Congress came to power.”

“Many mistakes are made while running a government, but one needs to have a big heart to accept and correct them. We are not like the BJP, which says that they do not make any mistakes. Politics doesn’t work like this. It is important to be generous in politics,” Dalwai said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut, also backed LoP Gandhi, stating, “Rahul Gandhi is a politician with a clean heart. He accepts his mistakes. In politics, that is a big thing. PM Modi and Amit Shah should learn from him.”

RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari called Rahul Gandhi’s acceptance a mark of “greatness” and “maturity.”

“He did not blame others but took it upon himself. He has set an example,” Tiwari told IANS.

However, the BJP launched a scathing counterattack, slamming the Congress’ hypocrisy of “giving shelter” to those convicted in the Sikh riots.

BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh accused the Congress and the Gandhi family of shielding the perpetrators of the 1984 carnage.

“In 52 cities, Sikhs were selectively burnt alive, Gurudwaras were torched, and the Congress leaders behind it were awarded Padma awards and given political shelter,” he told IANS.

“Rahul Gandhi should be ashamed that Sajjan Kumar, convicted for the 1984 massacre, is still associated with the party. His comments are like rubbing salt in the wounds of the widows living just a short distance from his residence,” Chugh added.

Madhya Pradesh Minister Sarang termed Gandhi’s remarks “a drama,” questioning why he chose a foreign stage to make such a statement.

“If he was sincere, he should have admitted this in India, not in America,” Sarang told IANS.

“The Congress does nothing but divide society based on religion and caste. Since coming to power after Independence, it has only spread anarchy and created divisions within the community. This party engages in politics solely in the name of religion,” he added.

BJP leader Parinay Fuke asserted that the Congress’ complicity had long been evident.

“The massacre forced Sikh families to flee their homes. Rahul Gandhi’s admission shows Congress lied for 40 years,” he said.

Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the LoP’s apology for what happened in 1984 shows “his immaturity.”

“Rahul Gandhi should learn from Amit Shah and Narendra Modi. If he is apologising for decisions taken in the 1980s, those who made those decisions must apologise too,” he added.

–IANS

sd/rad

Raipur, June 30 (IANS) In a surprise turn of events, the Chhattisgarh government has decided to extend the tenure of Chief Secretary Amitabh Jain, who was to retire on Monday.

The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai at Mahanadi Bhawan in Raipur, following approval from the central government earlier in the day, government sources said.

A formal announcement will be made soon. This is the first time a chief secretary rank officer has been given an extension in Chhattisgarh. He has been given an extension for a period of three months.

Jain, a 1989-batch IAS officer, was slated to receive a formal farewell on Monday, marking the end of his tenure as the state’s top bureaucrat. However, with the Centre granting permission for an extension, the cabinet swiftly endorsed the proposal, allowing him to continue in office until further notice. This move has temporarily paused the succession race for the coveted post of Chief Secretary.

Had Jain retired as scheduled, senior IAS officers Subrat Sahu and Manoj Kumar Pingua were considered the leading contenders to become the 13th Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh. While Sahu, a 1992-batch officer, was reportedly the frontrunner, Pingua’s name had also gained traction in administrative circles.

Pingua, currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary, holds charge of key departments including Home, Jail, Forest, Health and Family Welfare, and Medical Education. He is also the President of the Chhattisgarh IAS Association.

The cabinet meeting also touched upon the possibility of an upcoming reshuffle, with discussions underway about inducting new ministers into the state cabinet.

On Sunday evening, Chief Minister Sai met Governor Ramen Deka at Raj Bhavan. While the official statement described the meeting as a discussion on matters of state interest, political observers believe it may have included deliberations on the cabinet expansion.

Jain’s extension is being viewed as a move to maintain administrative continuity amid ongoing policy transitions under the BJP-led government.

–IANS

sktr/uk

Kolkata, July 7 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Monday clearly stated that the candidates already identified as “tainted” should be excluded from the fresh selection process of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) for filling up the vacant posts for teachers arising out of cancellation of 25,753 school jobs following an order of the Supreme Court in April.

The single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya also said that if any such candidate who had already been identified as “tainted” had submitted his application for the fresh recruitment process, his application should be summarily rejected.

The bench also made it clear that allowing candidates who are already identified as “tainted” to participate in the fresh recruitment process should be treated as a violation of the Supreme Court order in April, which also barred such candidates from participating in the fresh recruitment process.

Although the WBSSC’s counsel argued that the Supreme Court’s April order had nowhere specifically stated that candidates already identified as “tainted” could not participate in the fresh recruitment process, Justice Bhattacharya did not accept the argument.

Rather, he observed that such an argument from the commission was not acceptable. Justice Bhattacharya also observed that those who got teaching jobs through unfair means should not get another chance. According to him, it was not acceptable to the court that the “tainted” candidates would appear for the fresh recruitment process and also take advantage of the new weightage criterion carrying 10 marks for prior teaching experience.

The notification for the fresh recruitment was challenged at the Calcutta High Court on the grounds that it violated the Supreme Court order. The petitioners claimed that the procedure to be followed in the fresh recruitment process should have followed the same rules which were followed in 2016, the entire panel of which was cancelled by the apex court in April.

On April 3, a Supreme Court bench comprising then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar upheld a previous order of the Calcutta High Court that annulled 25,753 school appointments made through the WBSSC.

The apex court observed that the panel had to be scrapped entirely due to the authorities’ failure to distinguish between “tainted” and “untainted” candidates.

The state government and the WBSSC have since filed review petitions in the Supreme Court seeking reconsideration of the order.

–IANS

src/vd