Category: Politics

A Congress worker named Mridul Islam sadly died during a big protest in Guwahati. The police used tear gas to stop protestors who were trying to march towards the Raj Bhawan. Mridul Islam, who was a lawyer, was part of the demonstration and got exposed to the tear gas. The police said they did not use force and claimed that Mr. Islam was not feeling well.

Many journalists at the protest also complained about feeling irritation from the tear gas. According to party spokesperson Bedabrat Bora, Mr. Islam felt suffocated when a tear gas shell landed near him. A senior police officer mentioned that Mr. Islam was quickly taken to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for help but was declared dead by the doctors.

The protest was part of a larger nationwide event called “Raj Bhavan Chalo,” where many Congress members and supporters marched to express their disagreement with various issues. They were voicing concerns about the installation of smart meters, the BJP-led government not discussing the Manipur issue in Parliament, corruption accusations against the Adani Group, and the proposed One Nation, One Election Bill.

Several Congress leaders, including Debabrata Saikia, APCC Chief Bhupen Borah, and senior leader Ripun Bora, were arrested during the protest. There was even a scuffle where some leaders fell to the ground but were released later.

In response to Mr. Islam’s death, Congress has filed a police complaint in Guwahati. They plan to hold sit-in protests across the state as a sign of respect for him and are calling for an investigation into what happened.

Guwahati Police Commissioner Diganta Barah stated that they did not fire the tear gas shells aggressively. They only rolled a few on the road to create smoke to disperse the crowd. He added that Congress did not ask for permission to hold the protest and that the protestors broke through some barricades. He insisted that there was no use of force and that a check on Mr. Islam showed no visible injuries. The real cause of death will be known after the autopsy results come in.

On Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the Indian National Congress party has not given Dr. B.R. Ambedkar the respect he deserves. Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, he made serious allegations against Congress, which has been protesting his earlier comments made in Parliament.

Shah said that Congress is misrepresenting facts and called their actions anti-Ambedkar, anti-reservation, and against the Constitution. He also accused them of insulting Veer Savarkar and violating constitutional values by imposing the Emergency in the past.

Shah defended his comments from Parliament and suggested Congress is using artificial intelligence to twist his words, misleading the public. He urged everyone to listen to his full statement to understand his actual views. “First, they insulted Ambedkar and then misrepresented what I said,” he stated.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized the Congress party for interrupting a parliamentary meeting about Home Minister Amit Shah’s comments on B.R. Ambedkar. Congress members held up posters of Ambedkar and chanted for Shah to apologize in the Lok Sabha. Rijiju explained that a short clip of Shah’s speech was causing confusion and that it was misleading. According to Rijiju, Shah pointed out that Congress disrespected Ambedkar while he was alive, and now they are using his name for their own political gain.

Rijiju emphasized that the current Modi government has worked hard to honor Ambedkar. He asserted that Congress cannot hide its past mistakes by twisting the facts. Rijiju asked Congress to explain why Ambedkar had to leave Nehru’s cabinet, insisting that Nehru insulted him, leading to his resignation and causing him to lose elections in Lok Sabha.

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav spoke on Tuesday about how the Constitution of India is a special gift to all citizens. He praised the people of India for upholding its values, even as the country has rapidly grown from a population of 40 crore to 140 crore. Yadav proudly mentioned that India is now considered one of the strongest democracies in the world.

He also criticized some opposition members, saying that they carry copies of the Constitution that are not even real. While showing the original Constitution, he highlighted that it has beautiful illustrations across its pages.

He quoted the famous phrase “Satyamev Jayate,” which means “truth will prevail,” and noted that the people have fully embraced this idea by voting for the BJP in the last three elections.

Yadav talked about the illustrations in the Constitution. He explained that Part-I shows “India that is Bharat” and represents the country’s federal structure with a picture of India. Part-II features a Vedic Gurukul illustration, reflecting India’s ancient culture and values. Part-III includes an image of Lord Ram and Sita, emphasizing that the Constitution protects the rights of everyone.

Yadav pointed out that some people in the past tried to take these rights away. He mentioned that during the emergency period, the Congress party had a Chief Justice who aimed to limit citizens’ fundamental rights. He concluded with Part-IV, which talks about governance and shows Lord Krishna and Arjun in a chariot, symbolizing how Indians have governed since ancient times.

In New Delhi, a discussion in the Rajya Sabha marked 75 years of India’s Constitution. Members from the ruling party talked about the negative effects during the Emergency and praised the removal of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. They claimed this change, among other benefits, helped improve the rights of Dalits.

Opposition members argued that the current government is breaking important rules of the Constitution. They suggested that the rights of minorities are under threat, elected governments are falling, and governors are misusing their power.

Union Minister Hardeep Puri explained that Article 370 was not in line with the ideas of India and was introduced without Parliament’s help. He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi bravely removed it despite fears that this could cause trouble. Puri also praised government efforts to protect Sikh rights and named December 26 as Veer Bal Diwas.

Sanjay Jha from JDU spoke about the struggles during the Emergency when people’s rights were taken away. He reminded everyone of the serious riots in Bihar during the Congress party’s rule.

In contrast, Congress members claimed the current government threatens important institutions. MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the Indian Constitution has succeeded for decades, while many other nations have struggled. He emphasized that the Constitution supports diversity and unity, but today there is fear and division among people.

Singhvi criticized the government’s “bulldozer politics,” which targets specific communities. He claimed governors are acting against elected officials, turning the Constitution’s solid foundation into something weak.

Mukul Wasnik, a former minister, countered claims about Nehru’s work in Jammu and Kashmir, saying he improved conditions there.

Independent MP Kapil Sibal raised a big question: “Has the Constitution failed us or have we failed the Constitution?” He pointed out that a small number of people in India hold most of the wealth. He questioned how political justice can exist when governments are dismissed quickly. Sibal also called for a review of how the Election Commission is working

Guwahati: Manipur’s Chief Minister N Biren Singh has said that some groups are sending misleading information to the government in New Delhi. But the Central government has figured this out and is now gathering facts directly from local sources.

Recently, two migrant workers from Bihar were killed, and seven people have been arrested in connection with these murders. These workers were shot by unknown gunmen in Kakching district on December 14. The Chief Minister suspects that political groups might be involved and stated that they will find out who is responsible.

Biren Singh condemned the killings, calling them a terrible act of terrorism. He expressed his condolences to the victims’ families, saying that this act goes against our values. The government has announced a payment of Rs 10 lakh (about $12,000) to each family of the victims.

If necessary, the case will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to ensure a complete and fair investigation.

Recently, after finding the bodies of six missing women and children in Jiribam district, there have been violent reactions. In a separate incident, about ten armed militants were killed in a firefight, leading to injuries among two CRPF officers. A security advisor mentioned that since May 3 last year, 258 people, including militants, have died in the ongoing ethnic conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo communities. This conflict started after the Meitei community sought more rights, causing unrest in the region.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has decided to keep its membership drive open until December 31. State President Sukanta Majumdar announced that they have so far signed up about 24-25 lakh people, but this is much less than the target of one crore members set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Majumdar said they will see after December if they need to extend it again. He mentioned that the membership drive has seen good support, especially in the Nadia district of South Bengal and Alipurduar in North Bengal.

People involved in the party, including current and former Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), have been given goals to help reach the one crore target.

Alipurduar MP Manoj Tigga reported strong interest in his area. However, the BJP lost an important seat in a by-election to the Trinamool Congress, which raised concerns about internal conflicts in North Bengal.

Another BJP MP, Jytorirmoy Singh Mahato, mentioned that support for the membership campaign is growing in his areas, including Howrah and Midnapore. Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Sunil Bansal recently reviewed the membership drive and expressed disappointment with some politicians for not gaining enough new members.

On Sunday, Maharashtra’s new government added more leaders to its team in a ceremony held in Nagpur. Some important leaders who took an oath included Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the state chief of the BJP, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakant Patil, and Hasan Mushrif from the NCP. This cabinet expansion comes right after the BJP and its allies won the 2024 assembly elections, marking a big step for their teamwork in governing the state.

Earlier that day, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis honored Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the creator of India’s Constitution, by paying tribute in Nagpur. After this tribute, he held a roadshow, which was his first public event since the election results. Joined by his wife, Amruta Fadnavis, and BJP state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the roadshow attracted excited crowds. Amruta Fadnavis shared her joy with ANI, saying, “It feels great to see the people’s love. Our responsibilities have increased, and we must accept them.”

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar from the NCP also visited Nagpur before the cabinet meeting, showing everyone how the coalition leaders are working together. This cabinet expansion aims to share power fairly and keep the promises made to the people of Maharashtra. Details about what roles the new ministers will have are expected to be announced soon.