Category: Politics

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Saurabh Bhardwaj recently criticized BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri for making insulting comments about Delhi Chief Minister Atishi. Bhardwaj said, “When the election results come, we will see who is really in charge.” This was in response to Bidhuri, who, while speaking at a public event, made disrespectful remarks about Atishi’s surname and family background, implying she had changed her identity.

Atishi, formerly known as Marlena, has taken on the last name Singh. After hearing Bidhuri’s comments, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal also condemned him, stating on social media that BJP leaders have gone too far in insulting Chief Minister Atishi. Kejriwal expressed that the people of Delhi will not accept such behavior and will respond during the upcoming assembly elections, emphasizing that women will stand up for their leader.

Saurabh Bhardwaj noted that he was surprised the Congress party had not spoken out against Bidhuri’s comments about Priyanka Gandhi, where he suggested BJP could make roads in Kalkaji as smooth as her cheeks if they won power. Bhardwaj insisted that Bidhuri should apologize for his statements, as such language is unacceptable in a civilized society.

In response to the backlash, Ramesh Bidhuri expressed regret over his earlier remarks about Priyanka Gandhi, clarifying that his comments were related to past statements made by Lalu Prasad Yadav. He claimed that Congress had remained silent on similar remarks previously. Congress leaders have criticized Bidhuri’s comments, accusing the BJP of promoting an anti-women mentality.

The assembly elections in Delhi are expected to take place in February 2025. The Congress party, which had ruled for 15 years, has struggled in the last two elections. In the 2020 assembly polls, AAP won 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP secured 8 seats.

Thane, Maharashtra: On Sunday, Eknath Shinde, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, celebrated the results of the 2024 assembly elections, calling them a big surprise for his critics. He said that people who spoke against the Election Commission and the Supreme Court were clearly rejected by voters.

Shinde, who leads the Shiv Sena party, welcomed many leaders from the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) party into his group. He noted that his party, along with its allies BJP and NCP, won a total of 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while Uddhav Thackeray’s party only secured 20 seats.

In 2022, Shinde’s actions led to a split in the Shiv Sena party and ended the government formed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi. He emphasized that this election showed that people do not support the views of his opponents. Shinde also reminded everyone of his time as chief minister, saying that Maharashtra has made great progress in development and governance under his leadership.

He pledged to return to farming if his coalition did not win more than 200 seats, but they surpassed that with 230 victories. The recent addition of former UBT leaders into the Shiv Sena shows the growing influence of his party. Shinde mentioned that the ideas of Shiv Sena’s founder, Bal Thackeray, have guided their path. He also paid tribute to his mentor, the beloved late Anand Dighe, a popular Shiv Sena leader from Thane. Shinde assured that they will focus on helping society first, prioritizing 80% social work and only 20% politics.

Ramesh Bidhuri, the BJP candidate for Kalkaji assembly, recently apologized for his controversial remarks about Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The comments had sparked outrage from Congress. In an interview, Bidhuri explained that he made his comments in response to remarks made by Lalu Yadav. He pointed out that Congress did not speak out when similar things were said during Yadav’s time as a minister.

“I regret if my words hurt anyone, and I take them back,” said Bidhuri. This apology came after a video was shared by AAP MP Sanjay Singh, where Bidhuri commented that if the BJP wins, they would make the roads in Kalkaji as beautiful as Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate strongly condemned Bidhuri’s remark, calling it shameful and accused the BJP of having an anti-women attitude. She pointed out that Bidhuri had used offensive language against another MP before and never faced any consequences. “BJP’s behavior shows their true colors,” she said.

On Sunday, Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy accused the Congress government in Karnataka of taking bribes as high as 60%. He claimed that even Congress party workers openly talk about this high percentage of corruption. Kumaraswamy shared that bribes are being collected not just for government projects but also for housing allocations meant for poor people.

He pointed out that while before it was typically lower-level officials, now even ministers in the Vidhana Soudha (the state legislative assembly) are reportedly accepting bribes. Kumaraswamy criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, questioning whether he is truly following the principles of truth and honesty, which is symbolized by the phrase “Satyameva Jayate” (Truth Alone Triumphs). He asked if there is no end to their greed for stealing public money.

Kumaraswamy referred to the difficult situation faced by contractors in the state, mentioning that even those supporting the Congress believe the previous BJP government was better. He warned that the Congress party and Siddaramaiah will face serious consequences for this corruption in the future.

In response, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed Kumaraswamy’s allegations as baseless. He claimed that if the opposition makes accusations, they need to provide real proof to support their claims. The Congress party won the elections in May 2023 after accusing the former BJP government of demanding 40% kickbacks from contractors for awarding government projects.

A big argument happened after Ramesh Bidhuri, the BJP candidate for Kalkaji, made rude comments about Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi. The Congress party and AAP criticized BJP for what he said. A video posted by AAP MP Sanjay Singh showed Bidhuri saying that if BJP wins, they would make all the roads in Kalkaji as nice as Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks. Congress leader Shrinate took to X (formerly Twitter) to call Bidhuri’s comments shameful and a sign of his disrespectful attitude towards women. She pointed out that the BJP party seems to have a history of being against women. She also reminded everyone that this is typical of a man who used bad language against another MP in Parliament and didn’t face any consequences. This shows the true nature of the BJP, she said.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the importance of keeping peace in villages, saying some people are causing trouble by focusing on caste politics. He urged everyone to work together to maintain social harmony in rural areas of India.

While launching the Grameen Bharat Mahotsav, Modi expressed his belief that villages will be crucial in achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047. He did not name anyone, but he mentioned that certain individuals are creating unrest and spreading negativity about caste. According to him, it’s important to strengthen the peaceful traditions of village life.

Modi highlighted the efforts his government has made since 2014 to improve the lives of people in rural areas. He shared a report from SBI, stating that poverty in rural India has dropped from 26% in 2012 to below 5% now. He noted that previous governments ignored rural citizens, leaving them without basic needs for many years. Now, his government is committed to empowering these villages and giving support to those who were previously overlooked.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also spoke at the event, mentioning that banks are working hard to promote 16 government schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Mudra, and PM SVANidhi. The Mahotsav aims to improve rural infrastructure, create self-reliant economies, and promote innovation. Its goals include ensuring financial stability and security for rural communities, with a special focus on the North-East India, while also supporting sustainable farming practices.

On Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made a statement saying that the Congress party only talks about four leaders in its history. During a press conference, BJP spokesperson and former minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar pointed out that Congress seems to only remember Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and the Gandhi family, which includes Rahul, Sonia, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Chandrasekhar made these comments while discussing the recent decision to open a college at Delhi University in honor of Veer Savarkar, a prominent figure in Indian history. He suggested that Congress should update their history books because they seem to focus only on these four leaders. He also noted that many colleges and universities are already named after members of the Gandhi family.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari has accused the BJP of trying to divide people as the Delhi assembly elections approach, likely set for February 2025. His comments came as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to lay the foundation stone for a college named after Veer Savarkar at Delhi University. Tiwari pointed out that Savarkar did not have a significant impact in Delhi, questioning why the college is named after him. He claimed that the BJP’s actions are aimed at stirring up division among people.

BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan responded to Tiwari’s comments, defending the honor given to Savarkar. He called Savarkar a brave patriot who fought against British rule and inspired future generations, especially the youth. Kesavan criticized Rahul Gandhi from Congress, suggesting that he spreads lies about Savarkar and questioned Gandhi’s credibility due to legal troubles he faces.

Earlier, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain also criticized the decision to name the college after Savarkar, stating that many freedom fighters deserve recognition for their sacrifices for India’s independence. He argued that naming the college after one of them would have been a true tribute.

PM Modi has plans to visit the new homes for residents of slum areas in Ashok Vihar, Delhi, as well as to inaugurate various development projects throughout the city.

Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently gave a mysterious answer when asked about RJD leader Lalu Prasad’s suggestion to join the INDIA bloc again. When reporters questioned him, he simply replied, “What are you saying?” This raised eyebrows because Lalu Prasad had offered to reopen the doors for Nitish to join the alliance they were part of before.

Lalu’s son, Tejashwi Yadav, tried to downplay this situation. He said that Lalu was just responding to the media’s curiosity and that it didn’t mean anything serious. Lalu had mentioned, “Our doors are open, and he should unbolt his gates too,” suggesting they could work together again.

Nitish Kumar, who has partnered with Lalu twice in the last 10 years, was at an event where Arif Mohammad Khan became the new governor. When reporters asked him about Lalu’s comments, he smiled and didn’t give a clear answer. Assistant Khan told reporters that this was a happy day and it wasn’t the right time for tough questions.

Tejashwi, who used to be the Deputy Chief Minister, said the new year would bring changes and hinted that the current NDA government, led by Nitish, might not last. He insisted that his father’s comments were just to help with reporters’ curiosity.

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan also commented on Lalu’s remarks, stating that the NDA is strong and that there’s unity between JD(U) and BJP. He added that anyone could voice their opinions freely, allowing Lalu to say what he wants. Lalan is seen as having a close connection with Lalu, especially when Nitish was not part of the NDA.