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Punjab: Pro-Khalistanis attack retired Army officer after he removed Bhindranwale’s portrait from Gurdwara

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Pro-Khalistanis attack retired Army officer after he removed Bhindranwale’s portrait from Gurdwara

On 28th January, pro-Khalistani elements attacked the president of the Gurdwara management committee, Col Harsimran Singh (retd), after he removed Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale’s portrait from Gurdwara premises. The incident occurred on the birth anniversary of Sikh warrior Baba Deep Singh in Gurdwara Janam Asthan Baba Deep Singh at village Pahuwind in district Tarn Taran of Punjab.

Following the clash, the police somehow managed to rescue the severely injured Col Singh (retd) in his car. The said Gurdwara is not under Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).

A video of Col Harsimran Singh (retd) went viral on social media, where he was seen asking a group of pro-Khalistanis to remove a portrait of Bhindranwale from Gurdwara premises. When they refused, Col Singh (retd) removed the portrait himself. In the viral video, Col Singh (retd) was seen asking the group of pro-Khalistanis not to place the portrait on Gurdwara premises. His supporters also objected to the poster and stood by his decision. When the group of pro-Khalistanis did not pay heed to his requests, Col Singh (retd) removed the portrait himself, and it was taken away. He was heard saying, “It will not be allowed to put up this poster here”.

After the video went viral, Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar’s leader, Harpal Singh Bler, reached the Gurdwara and accused the administration of hurting Sikh sentiments. He said, “We demanded registration of a first information report (FIR) against the president for allegedly hurting Sikh sentiments.” By that time, a large group of pro-Khalistanis reached the Gurdwara with batons and swords. The police sensed the troubling situation and tried to escort the Gurdwara committee president safely from the spot.

However, pro-Khalistanis attacked Col Singh (retd) and were severely injured. In follow-up videos that went viral on social media, police were seen trying to save Col Singh (retd) sitting in his car from the attackers. There was blood on the spot. The cops somehow managed to escort him to a safer place. Reports suggest that people from both sides got injured in the clash. Police refused to provide details into the matter.

In a statement, Col Singh (retd) said, “We objected to displaying of Bhindranwale’s portrait near ‘joras’ (shoes of devotees) were kept. Besides, the Sikh volunteers had set up a tent without the permission of the gurdwara management.”

Bhikhiwind Deputy Superintendent of police (DSP) Preetinder Singh said that some persons attacked the vehicle when police took Col Singh (retd) to a safer place. He said, “When the police were taking the president to a safer place, some persons attacked the vehicle. Persons from both sides were injured. An inspector-rank official has also sustained injuries. Talk between both the parties is going on to settle the dispute.”

It is unclear if any FIR was registered in the matter or not. OpIndia tried contacting DSP Singh but could not connect.

Who is Col Harsimran Singh (retd)?

Col Harsimran Singh (retd) served in the Indian Army for 31 years. He authored a book on Sikh warrior Baba Deep Singh titled “Deep Singh Shaheed – The Man in the Legend”, published in 2022. Col Singh (retd) retired from the Army in 2011.

Maharashtra: Union Minister Narayan Rane says Maratha reservation announcement by CM Shinde is problematic, may upset backward caste communities

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Maharashtra: Union Minister Narayan Rane says Maratha reservation announcement by CM Shinde is problematic, may upset backward caste communities

Union Minister Narayan Rane has said that he does not agree with the decision taken by the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on reservations stating that it may create dissatisfaction among other backward communities in the State.

The Union Minister of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) said that he will hold a press conference on this issue later today.

Rane on Sunday in a post on social media platform X said, “I do not agree with the decision taken by the state government and the hope given regarding the reservation of the Maratha community. This may lead to discontent in the state as the Maratha community with historical traditions will be disappointed and this will lead to encroachment on other backward communities. Tomorrow is Monday. On January 29, I will hold a press conference and talk about it.”

“On Monday, January 29, at 4 PM, I will be addressing a press conference at the Credit Hall (Ground Floor), Yashwantrao Chavan Centre, Nariman Point, Mumbai,” Rane said.

On January 27 activist Manoj Jarange Patil who had gone on a fast broke the fast by accepting a glass of juice from Shinde, who promised to accept all the demands. Shinde and Patil together offered garlands to the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Navi Mumbai.

Shinde had held meetings with officials over the activist’s demands and sent a delegation with a draft ordinance on Friday night after which Patil said he was calling off his protest.

Congratulating the Maratha community for the “peaceful protest,” Shinde said that Patil and his supporters showcased a lot of patience. “Everyone was looking forward to this protest and you all have shown a lot of patience and made this protest successful,” Shinde said. “I congratulate you all for the same,” the Chief Minister said on Saturday.

Shinde also emphasised his commitment to the Maratha reservation. “I am the son of a farmer and I know how it feels. I had taken a pledge to give reservations to Marathas and I kept my word. This is an historic moment.”

The chief minister highlighted how his government is working for the welfare of all. “We have never taken any decision for votes but for people’s benefits.”

Shinde emphasised that Patil’s demand was not to take away the reservation for the OBC. “OBC and Marathas live together in villages. Manoj Jarange Patil is of the view that reservations for any community must not be taken,” he said.

Patil in his address to the gathering said, “This struggle was for reservation for Marathas. We came here to give 54 lakh Kunbi certificates. We have been struggling for the past four months. My generation struggled to get this reservation. More than 300 people killed themselves during the struggle.”

On May 5, 2021, the Supreme Court struck down reservations for the Maratha community in colleges, higher educational institutions, and jobs, after noting that there was no valid ground to breach 50% reservation while granting Maratha reservation. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Paris: Activists throw pumpkin soup at iconic Mona Lisa painting to save the planet

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Paris: Activists throw pumpkin soup at iconic Mona Lisa painting to save the planet

Protesters targeted the iconic Mona Lisa painting in Paris on Sunday, hurling soup in an act of vandalism, CNN reported.

Fortunately, the famous artwork, displayed at the Louvre Museum, remained unharmed as it is protected by a clear casing.

An environmental group, Riposte Alimentaire, claimed responsibility for the incident on X (formerly Twitter). The group stated that two individuals involved in their campaign were responsible for spraying soup on the world-renowned Mona Lisa, according to CNN.

Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, a small portrait measuring just over 2.5 feet tall and under 2 feet wide, attracts millions of visitors annually. Despite its fame, the Mona Lisa has faced previous incidents of vandalism and theft.

In 1911, it was stolen by a Louvre employee, gaining international attention. Protective measures were subsequently heightened, including the installation of bulletproof glass, after an acid attack in the 1950s damaged the bottom of the canvas.

The Mona Lisa has endured various attempts at vandalism over the years. In 2009, a woman threw a ceramic cup at the painting, causing damage to the cup but leaving the artwork unscathed. In 2022, a visitor smeared frosting on the protective glass surrounding the Renaissance-era masterpiece, as reported by CNN. (ANI)

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Drone attack kills 3 US troops in Jordan, leaving dozens injured

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Drone attack kills 3 US troops in Jordan, leaving dozens injured

Three US Army soldiers lost their lives in a drone attack on a small US outpost in Jordan, with at least two dozen service members sustaining injuries, CNN reported.

The incident occurred overnight, marking the first instance of US troops being killed by enemy fire in the Middle East since the commencement of the Gaza war.

The attack targeted Tower 22 in Jordan, near the Syrian border, escalating an already precarious situation in the region. According to US officials, the drone responsible was launched by Iran-backed militants and seemed to originate from Syria, according to CNN.

US Central Command officially confirmed the casualties, stating that three service members were killed and 25 were injured in a one-way drone attack that struck a base in northeast Jordan.

President Joe Biden vowed to hold those responsible to account, asserting that the attack was carried out by radical Iran-backed militant groups operating in Syria and Iraq.

“These service members embodied the very best of our nation: unwavering in their bravery, unflinching in their duty, unbending in their commitment to our country — risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism,” President Biden remarked.

He emphasised that the responsible parties would be held accountable at a time and in a manner chosen by the United States.

As of last Friday, over 158 attacks had been reported on US and coalition forces in Iraq and Syria. Despite the constant barrage of drones, rockets, and missiles, most have been deemed unsuccessful, causing minimal injury or damage. It remains unclear why air defences failed to intercept the drone in this particular incident.

The attack on Tower 22 is the first known assault since the onslaught on U.S. and coalition forces began on October 17. US forces at the outpost are part of an advise-and-assist mission with Jordan. Officials reiterated their reluctance to see heightened tensions evolve into a regional war, despite the increasing frequency of attacks.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen CQ Brown, in a previously recorded interview, emphasized the US goal of preventing the conflict from broadening in the Middle East. He stated, “The goal is to deter them, and we don’t want to go down a path of greater escalation that drives to a much broader conflict within the region.”

While there have been numerous injuries reported since the attacks began, the Pentagon has classified most as minor. A senior military official mentioned roughly 70 injuries, with only one U.S. soldier critically injured in an attack on Christmas Day in Iraq. Chief Warrant Officer 4 Garrett Illerbrunn, from the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, was set to be sent back to the U.S. for further treatment after being critically injured in a drone attack on Erbil Airbase.

In response to the escalating threat from Iran-backed groups, the US has taken several retaliatory actions in Iraq and Syria. The most recent strike occurred last week, targeting three facilities used by Kataib Hezbollah and other Iran-affiliated groups, CNN reported. (ANI)

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Rajasthan: Kashmiri student Sohrab Qayoom enrolled at Mewar University on Indian Army scholarship arrested over objectionable comments on Babri structure and Ram Mandir

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Kashmiri student Sohrab Qayoom enrolled at Mewar University on Indian Army scholarship arrested over objectionable comments on Babri structure and Ram Mandir

A Mewar University student named Sohrab Qayoom from Jammu and Kashmir was arrested by the Chittorgarh police in Rajasthan after he allegedly made an offensive social media post on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and the demolished Babri structure. The accused student was reportedly arrested on 26th January.

In the words of Gangrar police station SHO Jayesh Patidar, 21-year-old BPharm student Sohrab Qayoom posted some offensive remarks in a story on Instagram. On January 25, an FIR was filed at the station on the complaint of a local resident under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and so on) and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting their religion or religious beliefs). SHO Patidar said that the accused student is under police custody.

Mewar University Director Harish Gurnani stated that “all possible punishments have been initiated” against Qayoom, adding that he has been ousted from the university.

Notably, the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA) “vehemently condemned” Qayoom’s outrageous actions while requesting leniency “considering his immaturity and lack of political awareness.”

“Such behavior is not only unacceptable but also undermines the principles of coexistence in our diverse and democratic nation. While not seeking to justify his actions, the association believes that the charges brought against him could have severe consequences for his academic as and future prospects. The association unequivocally condemns the student’s actions and urges all Kashmiri students to refrain from writing provocative content on social media that could add fuel to the fire.,” JKSA national convenor Nasir Khuehami said.

According to the association, Sohrab Qayoom, a student from Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, is a student at Mewar University through the Indian Army’s Special Scholarship Scheme, which was introduced as part of Operation Sadbhavana to provide academic opportunities to underprivileged students.

In separate letters dated 27th January to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Khuehami has asked that Qayoom’s case be reviewed on “humanitarian grounds.” The charges and FIR against him could ruin his future, and the association believes that offering an opportunity for rehabilitation is critical for the youth’s growth and development, hence the FIR against Qayoom should be dropped.

Khuehami defended the accused Qayoom, claiming that his actions were motivated by immaturity rather than malice and that the association believes in the possibility of change and forgiveness. The implications of these allegations on his academic and future job aspirations cannot be overstated, and there is concern that it may do lasting harm to his life.”

“Why don’t you have relationship with me”: Mehzabin Mohsin throws acid on her 51-year-old ex-boyfriend Rakesh in Ahmedabad, also accused of forcing him to convert to Islam

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“Why don’t you have relationship with me”: Mehzabin Mohsin throws acid on her 51-year-old ex-boyfriend Rakesh in Ahmedabad, also accused of forcing him to convert to Islam

An incident of acid attack came to light from Ahmedabad where a woman named Mehzabin Mohsin along with her friend threw acid on a Hindu man named Rakesh Brahmbhatt who is reportedly her ex-boyfriend. Based on the victim’s complaint, the police registered a case under Sections 326(A), 333, and 114 of the IPC at Kalupur Police Station. A copy of the FIR is available with OpIndia. The victim also alleged that Mehzabin was forcing him to convert to Islam. 

As per reports, the accused Mehzabin Mohsin threw acid on her ex-boyfriend Rakesh in Ahmedabad. The 38-year-old girl, along with her friend, threw acid on the victim saying, “Why don’t you have a relationship with me?” 

The victim suffered serious burn injuries in the acid attack and has been hospitalised. Following the attack, Kalupur police registered an FIR and are investigating the case. 

Notably, Rakesh Brahmbhatt (51 years of age) lives in the Bapunagar area of Ahmedabad. He is currently a controller in AMTS and has been working there for 26 years. Five years ago when he was working as a bus conductor, he fell in love with Mehzabin who hails from the Anjum Park near Ayesha Masjid in Juhapura. Both were reportedly in love for around four years. But a year ago, Rakesh’s family members including his wife came to know about their love affair. Afterwards, Rakesh broke his relationship with Mehzabin. 

Upset over the development, Mehzabin carried out an acid attack on Rakesh last evening (27th January) at around 8 pm. At that time, Rakesh was on duty at Amdavad Municipal Transport Service Control Cabin 7 near Kalupur railway station in Ahmedabad. During the attack, she came to that place with one of her friends named Mit Sharma, as per media reports. She had a plastic bucket in her hand. She asked Rakesh, “Why don’t you have a relationship with me?” She then threw a bucket full of acid on him.

Rakesh suffered burn injuries on his right eye, back, and private parts and was rushed to GCS Hospital for treatment by people who had gathered there. Following the incident, the accused fled the scene and Kalupur police are in search of Mehzabin and her friend. 

OpIndia tried to contact the victim but he could not be contacted as he is currently in hospital. Rakesh’s wife told OpIndia, “He (Rakesh Brahmabhatt) has got a very serious eye injury, we are praying that his eye will be saved. Now he has been admitted from GCS Hospital to Civil Hospital.” 

According to Bhaskar’s report, the victim, Rakesh Brahmabhatt said that Mehzabin harassed him a lot. He can’t even see anything with his eyes now. 

He also said that Mehzabin had tried to break the engagement of his daughter. He along with his family had filed a complaint against her. He also added that Mehzabin was also forcing him to convert to Islam. 

‘No reserved teacher post will be de-reserved’: Union Education Ministry and UGC clarify amid reports on draft guidelines for de-reservation

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‘No reserved teacher post will be de-reserved’: Union Education Ministry and UGC clarify amid reports on draft guidelines for de-reservation

The Ministry of Education and University Grant Commission (UGC) on Sunday clarified that no reserved post for faculty members in higher education institutions will be de-reserved.

This comes amid a report that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued draft guidelines for de-reserving vacancies in higher education institutes (HEIs).

Talking to ANI, Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman of UGC, clarified that it is only a draft guideline and was released for public feedback.

“Let me clarify that we will put out a final document that will not have any de-reservations. There has been no de-reservation of reserved category positions in Central Educational Institutions (CEI) in the past and there is going to be no such de-reservation,” Kumar said.

In a post on X, the Ministry of Education also said it has given directives to all the Central Educational Institutions to fill up the vacancies strictly as per the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019.

“Reservation in Central Educational Institutions (CEI) is provided for all posts in direct recruitment in Teacher’s cadre as per the Central Educational Institutions (Reservation in Teachers’ Cadre) Act, 2019,” the ministry said in the post.

“After enactment of this Act, no reserved post is to be de-reserved. The Ministry of Education has given directives to all the CEIs to fill up the vacancies strictly as per the 2019 ACT,” it added.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah justifies pulling down Hanuman flag from 108 feet pole in Mandya, says national flag should have been hoisted

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah justifies pulling down Hanuman flag from 108 feet pole in Mandya, says national flag should have been hoisted

On 28th January (Sunday), Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah justified the administration’s actions in Mandya where Police pulled down a Hanuman flag from a 108-foot pole. He argued that instead of the saffron flag, the national flag should have been hoisted. 

Speaking on tensions in Mandya, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said, “It is not right to fly the saffron flag instead of the national flag. They should have hoisted the national flag.”

Notably, tensions have been high in Mandya’s Keragodu village following the administration’s action with opposition parties BJP-JDS and Hindu organisations accusing Congress of taking an anti-Hindu stance and deteriorating the law and order situation. 

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said, “When the Gram Panchayat board decided to hoist the Hanuman flag in the village of Keragodu in Mandya district, the state government showed the audacity to bring down the flag through the police force. The Congress government is the reason behind the deteriorating law and order situation of the state.”

Further, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka slammed the Congress government for taking “anti-Hindu stance”. He said, “What was the need for police action? Why didn’t the administration speak to the villagers? There was a gram panchayat resolution to allow the flag.” 

“The Congress is against Ram and the Hanuman temple. They are doing this because of the Parliamentary election. They did this during the Ram temple inauguration also. I strongly oppose this. I will go to Mandya and protest. The Congress is provoking Hindus,” R Ashoka was quoted saying by Indian Express.

The administration pulled down the Hanuman Dhwaja arguing that it should be replaced by Indian flag

Tensions erupted in the region over the removal of the Hanuman flag by police on the 27th of January night in Karnataka’s Mandya district.  

Last week, youngsters of Keragodu village had erected a 108-foot pole and hoisted a saffron flag bearing the image of Lord Hanuman near a Ram temple with permission from the village Panchayat. However, some villagers did not like this and complained about the matter. 

As per the news agency PTI, the people of Keragodu and 12 neighbouring villages had collected money for the installation of the flag. Additionally, BJP and JD(S) workers were also actively involved in this initiative. 

A local source said, “Ahead of the Ram temple inauguration in Ayodhya, BJP and JD(S) workers collected money and installed a 108-ft flagpole and hoisted a saffron flag with pictures of Hanuman in Keragodu village on January 19. However, a section of people filed a complaint with the taluk administration and local officials were given a direction to remove it.” 

Earlier, the villagers had gathered at the place as the panchayat officials arrived to remove the flag. They held a demonstration against the government and chanted “go back” slogans.

The people insisted that they had raised the flag in concert with one another, but the authorities refused to listen to them. A protest broke out when the village panchayat took down the flag. The police employed lathi-charge to drive the locals out after they continued to resist. Hindus had been gathering there since the previous evening and on 28th January the environment grew more intense.

The flag was taken off by the cops which fumed the protestors who raised slogans against CM Siddharamaiah and Congress MLA Ravi Kumar. His banners were broken. They also called for a bandh (shutdown). Stores were voluntarily closed down in opposition. People began preparing food on the main thoroughfare and utilised the banners of Ravi Kumar to light a fire.

On its part, Mandya Superintendent of Police claimed that the chief executive officer (CEO) Sheikh Tanveer Asif of the Gram Panchayat made the decision to pull down the flag and the inhabitants of the village objected to it. According to the CEO of Mandya District Panchayat, the trust had asked for authorisation to put up a pole to fly the flag of the country. Permission to fly the national flag on government property was granted in accordance with protocol, but thereafter a saffron flag was raised in its place which has been taken down legally and everything is under control.

Release of Marathi movie ‘Chhatrapati Sambhaji’ delayed as Censor Board refuses certificate demanding written evidence against Aurangzeb

OpIndia Staff
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Release of Marathi movie ‘Chhatrapati Sambhaji’ delayed as Censor Board refuses certificate demanding written evidence against Aurangzeb

The much anticipated Marathi and Hindi film “Chhatrapati Sambhaji” could not get released on the scheduled date of 26th January as it failed to get timely certification from the Censor Board. On 27th January, director Rakesh Subesingh Dulgaj called a press conference to address the matter. He revealed that despite several attempts, the Censor Board is yet to issue the certificate for the movie. Notably, the filmmakers said regional CBFC officer from Mumbai, Sayyid Rabeehashmi, demanded written evidence against Aurangzeb, claiming that the film portrayed inaccuracies in historical events.

On 26th December, Dulgaj submitted an application to the Censor Board seeking certification for the film. However, the board asked for evidence and further information about the historical events mentioned in the movie. The makers submitted the required documentation, including viewpoints from historians, but failed to get the certification in time.

During the press conference, Dulgaj stated, “On 12th January 2024, we received a late-night call from the Censor Board, instructing us to come for a screening at 9 AM the next day, preparing a DCP file. After the screening, Vinay Kelkar assured us that a UA certificate would be granted, and any changes made to the film would be communicated via email.”

As the Censor Board had assured them that the certification would be provided, the filmmakers finalised the release date for the film for 26th January. The officials assured the makers that the certificate would be provided by 25th January at all costs. However, even after confirming the release date, the Censor Board officials didn’t issue the certificate. He added, “We kept trying to contact Censor Board officials, but no one was available. Before this, the Censor Board had raised objections to certain scenes in the film, and we had promptly submitted evidence and testimony regarding those objections.”

Reportedly, the film accused Aurangzeb of forcing Chhatrapati Sambhaji to convert to Islam. Regional officer Sayyid Rabeehashmi asked for evidence for the same. Dulgaj submitted letters of historians and required documents for the same. However, the certificate was not provided in time, and therefore the movie could not be released on 26 January. Now, the film is set for release on 2nd February, provided it gets the certification from the board.

Notably, the film was announced back in 2014. It took over nine years to make the film, and it is still facing challenges in reaching the theatres.

This is not the first time censor officer Sayyid Rabeehashmi has come up in a controversy. In 2023, despite a ban, FTII students screened a BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where it was claimed PM Modi was involved in the Gujarat riots of 2002. At that time, PM Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat. Despite the Supreme Court’s clean chit on PM Modi, BBC released the documentary which the government of India banned. Rabeehashmi was FTII’s registrar and said the institution would “look into the matter”. He said, “It is being reported that a group of students screened the documentary. The matter will be looked into.”

Earlier, he was a nodal officer at the Election Commission of India in 2019 when an order was passed instructing Twitter (now X) to take down a satirical account, “PadhaLikha”, accusing the account of defaming Islam. Rabeehashmi signed the order.

Now there is no question of going anywhere else, we will stay together: Nitish Kumar after taking oath as Bihar CM from NDA

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Now there is no question of going anywhere else, we will stay together: Nitish Kumar after taking oath as Bihar CM from NDA

After snapping ties with “Mahagathbandhan” and taking oath for the ninth time as Bihar Chief Minister, CM Nitish Kumar on Sunday asserted that his alliance with NDA will remain forever adding that now there is no question of going anywhere else.

“I was with them (NDA) earlier too. We went on different paths, but now we are together and will remain so. Today, eight people have taken oath as ministers, the rest will take oath soon. Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha have been appointed as Deputy Chief Ministers,” Nitish Kumar told reporters on Sunday.

When asked about RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s statement that “JDU will be finished in 2024”, Bihar CM said that our party will work for the development and progress of the state.

“We work for the development and progress of Bihar. We will keep doing the same, nothing else. Tejashwi was not doing anything. Now I came back to where I was (NDA) and now there is no question of going anywhere else,” he added.

After days of speculation, JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar resigned as the Chief Minister of Bihar on Sunday, his second volte face in less than 18 months. Snapping ties with the RJD and Congress, Nitish will now be forming a government with BJP’s support, the oath-taking of which is going to take place shortly.

Nitish Kumar cited the state of affairs being “not right” under the Mahagathbandhan as his reason for quitting. He said that he has been receiving suggestions from everywhere, including his party workers, and he listened to all of them to come to this decision.

Despite turbulence in state politics, Nitish, whether with the Mahagathbandhan or the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has managed to retain the CM’s chair and ensured that his party has not split over his repeated flip-flops.

In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP’s 78; the JD(U)’s 45′ the Congress’s 19, the CPI (M-L)’s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)’s four seats, and the AIMIM’s one, plus one Independent legislator.

Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election.

In 2000, Nitish became CM for the first time after campaigning against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav’s ‘Jungle Raaj’. Till now, he has been Bihar’s CM on eight occasions.

In 2013, Nitish broke ranks with the NDA after a 17-year alliance following the announcement of Narendra Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.

He expressed his displeasure to the BJP over Modi’s selection as the PM face, and after the BJP decided to not change its decision, Kumar left the alliance.

In 2017, Nitish forged a grand alliance with the RJD and Congress and returned as chief minister in 2015.

He walked out of the grand alliance in 2017, accusing the RJD of corruption and choking governance in the state.

In 2022, Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP once again, alleging the BJP was conspiring against him and trying to influence JD-U MLAs to rebel against him.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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