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NDTV’s Ravish Kumar seen on the stage of a SP-BSP rally in UP attended by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati

OpIndia Staff
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NDTV’s Ravish Kumar seen on the stage of a SP-BSP rally in UP attended by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati

With only two phases remaining in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, political leaders are giving their best in the campaigning. In Uttar Pradesh, Mahagathbandhan partners SP and BSP organised a joint rally at Jonpur today, which was addressed by Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati.

Although the SP and BSP leadership was present in full strength in the rally, an unexpected presence in the program has surprised many. While the mahagathbandhan leaders were addressing the rally, NDTV India journalist Ravish Kumar was seen standing on the stage. There is no news of Ravish Kumar joining either SP or BSP, hence it has raised the question of what was he doing on the stage of an election rally.


The presence of journalists in elections rallies is expected, because they have to attend such rallies to report them for their media houses. But for that journalists take the place reserved for the press at such events, and they don’t take note of speeches by standing on the stage. Hence it clearly suggests that Ravish Kumar was attending the rally as a participant, not as a journalist.


It may be noted that Ravish Kumar had never hidden his hatred for BJP, so it should not be a big surprise in seeing him participating in an SP-BSP rally. Last year at an event moderated by Kumar, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav had said that he regretted not killing a journalist who had criticized him. Ravish Kumar had started the show by showering praises on Akhilesh Yadav’s tolerance.

Ravish Kumar can be seen on the stage in the video of the rally given below:

Swaraj Express and Vinod Dua publish exit poll result of first three phases of election in violation of rules

OpIndia Staff
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Swaraj Express and Vinod Dua publish exit poll result of first three phases of election in violation of rules

Swaraj Express, an online media portal, appeared to air an exit poll of elections in a gross violation of Election Commission regulations. Vinod Dua, who had allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him in the past, was anchoring the show. The video has apparently been removed from YouTube. The link of the deleted video is here.


It remains to be seen whether the ECI will take any action against Dua and the portal for violating their rules. As per ECI regulations, exit polls cannot be aired until voting in all the phases have been completed.

Using powers under the Representation of People Act, 1951, EC banned exit polls from the time the poll begins till half-an-hour after the polling ends since 1998. Barring a couple of parties, all other political parties wanted restrictions on such polls and the dissemination of their results.

The ECI observed while issuing its order, “Such dissemination, particularly on the eve of polls or when the polling process is still in progress, has the potential to influence the electors when they are in the mental process of making up of their minds to vote or not to vote for a certain political party or a candidate.”

From what’s visible, the Swaraj exit poll appears to give only 66 seats to the NDA after 3 phases while giving 137 to the UPA. The polls appear significantly inconsistent with the Opinion Polls that were conducted prior to the polls. Dua appears to have taken the numbers from a report published on propaganda website NewsClick that was published on April 28, 2019, based on the projection of Assembly election results.

Recently, another seat prediction was published in an article by a British journalist which violates ECI regulations. That prediction, too, suggested that Rahul Gandhi was poised to win the elections. The article itself, apart from spreading extremely dangerous ideas, came across as a paid advertisement of the Congress party rather than an objective analysis of the situation.

Vinod Dua’s own track record has been that of a habitual offender. In December last year, he maliciously edited a video to claim that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had spoken out against the Modi government. Two months before that, when allegations of sexual harassment were levelled against him and numerous others were outed for harassing women, he had likened the allegations to Keechad (mud), insinuating that the women were engaging in mudslinging. He had also suggested that the allegations were not ‘real issues’ and should not deflect attention from the Lok Sabha Elections.

Sadhus present in Computer Baba’s Maha Yagna say they didn’t know it was done to pray for Digvijay Singh’s victory in election

OpIndia Staff
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Sadhus present in Computer Baba’s Maha Yagna say they didn’t know it was done to pray for Digvijay Singh’s victory in election

Today Congress leader Digvijay Singh performed a Yagna in Bhopal where several Sadhus were invited. A Hath Yoga was conducted by Computer Baba, seeking success for Digvijay Singh in the Lok Sabha elections. But now the Sadhus who were present in the ritual have revealed that they had nothing to do with the Congress election campaign, and they did not know that the program was organised for political purposes.

Computer Baba, originally Namdeo Das Tyagi, was accorded ministerial position under the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, but he had left the post after six months and had become a critic of BJP during the assembly elections. He was seen getting closer to Congress party at that time. After Congress came to power, he was appointed as the chairman of the River Trust by the Kamal Nath government. Computer Baba led the Hath Yoga to pray for the victory of Congress leader Digvijay Singh from Bhopal, where he is facing Sadhvi Pragya from BJP.

Computer baba said that “these Sadhus are not for Congress but against BJP. Everyone refused to contest against Digvijaya Singh so the BJP found a sacrificial lamb in Pragya”. He also chanted the slogan “Ram Naam Abki Baar, Badal Ke Rakh do Chowkidar”.

“The BJP has fooled not just the public but the community of seers as well. All sadhus who are with me unanimously say that without a Ram Mandir there will not be a Modi government again. We are holding the Yagna to ensure Digvijay Singh’s win,” Computer Baba said.

But the sadhus who participated in the event said that they didn’t about its real purpose before they attended the same. They said that after coming to the venue they got to know that they have to speak for the Congress party and ensure the victory of Digvijay Singh.

One of the Sadhus said, “We are here because Computer Baba has asked us to be here. We live life of hermits. We are not here for campaigning for any party. It doesn’t bother us who wins the elections, we will only vote for those who work for us.”

Another Sadhu said, “We are here for Computer Baba. We are not aware of the other things happening here. We are not here for campaigning.”

Digvijaya Singh has been one of the earliest proponents of the ‘Hindu Terror’ theory which was postulated by the Congress party to frame Sadhavi Pragya in the Samjhauta Express case. Sadhavi Pragya was also allegedly tortured by the officers on the directions of Congress leaders. Even the NIA had given a clean chit to her in the case.

Twist in the tale: Now 121 DU professors write letter extending their support to PM Modi over his remarks on Rajiv Gandhi

OpIndia Staff
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Twist in the tale: Now 121 DU professors write letter extending their support to PM Modi over his remarks on Rajiv Gandhi

Hours after Congress put up a letter where over 200 Delhi University (DU) Professors had allegedly condemned PM Modi’s ‘Bhrashtachari no 1’ comment against Bofors scam accused Rajiv Gandhi, another list has come out where the DU professors have backed PM Modi’s statement.

According to Republic TV, as many as 121 DU professors have signed a letter condemning Congress for addressing PM Modi in the foulest language on a daily basis.

Letter written by DU Professors (image: Republic TV)

In the letter, the professors express their concern over the ‘anti-historical’ narrative Congress is trying to set that Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure cannot be critically analysed. They condemn how certain DU professors don’t want anyone to point fingers at Rajiv Gandhi while referring to the incumbent PM in a foul language.

The professors mention that the fact that Jawaharlal Nehru, his daughter Indira and his grandson Rajiv, are not beyond critique just because they were awarded Bharat Ratna. Especially about his role in the Bofors scam and 1984 anti-Sikh riots. They further add that they fully support Narendra Modi in bringing to fore the corruption cases during Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure.

The scathing letter further reads, “‘Bofors deal’ became a symbol of official corruption; it initiated a trend which had consistently been followed by Congress-led governments. Scandals like 2G, Coalgate, CWG, and now Scorpene Submarine scandal directly involving Rahul Gandhi are all the natural corollaries of Bofors tradition. The subsequent remote controlled Manmohan Singh UPA government even defroze the accounts of Gandhi’s family friend swindler Ottavio Quattrocchi.”

The letter further states Rajiv Gandhi’s public address where he justified the 1984 riots by saying that when a big tree falls, the earth shakes and condemns the officially sponsored pogrom.

The DU professors then point out Rajiv Gandhi’s alleged involvement in the escape of Warren Anderson, Union Carbide chief, right after the Bhopal gas tragedy. “Rajiv Gandhi as PM was responsible for letting Warren Anderson Chairman of Union Carbide escape justice in the Bhopal Tragedy episode. His company was responsible for the death of thousands of poor Bhopal residents- most died instantaneously and thousands later owing cancer and other diseases caused by poisonous gas leaks.”

The letter then puts out pointed questions to Congress.

  1. Rajiv Gandhi’s role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
  2. Rajiv Gandhi’s role in the escape of Quattrocchi from Bofors investigation and why was the case against him diluted.
  3. Why was Warren Anderson allowed to escape through a special plane.

The letter is signed by Delhi University professors.

Earlier in the day, Sam Pitroda, Congress leader, had shared a letter by DU professors where they had condemned PM Modi’s remarks on Rajiv Gandhi. However, later on, some of the teachers had denied signing any such letter.

Since the election campaign gained momentum, letters are emerging from various quarters where self-proclaimed intellectuals, film artists, army veterans are reportedly urging the voters not to vote for Prime Minister Modi. However, in such letters too, signatories have later claimed that they were not aware of such letters and had simply denied signing such letters.

Lack of voters’ faith forces AAP Panaji candidate to sign affidavit swearing not to join BJP or BJP-backed govt if elected

OpIndia Staff
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Lack of voters’ faith forces AAP Panaji candidate to sign affidavit swearing not to join BJP or BJP-backed govt if elected

The Aam Admi Party (AAP), which was founded on the pretext of fighting corruption, now finds itself on slippery terrain. Today, while it is fighting hard to retain its political identity, the party has landed a new challenge- the lack of faith of voters. Unable to convince his voters that he would not switch parties or be part of the BJP if elected, AAP candidate for Panaji bypoll Valmiki Naik, had to take another recourse.

Naik, on Monday, displayed his affidavit to the reporters where he has sworn to not join the BJP-led government or support the current ruling dispensation if elected to power.

“I, the undersigned, if elected as MLA with the blessings of the people of the Panaji constituency in the bypoll of May 19, swear I will not join BJP. I will not support a BJP-led government. I make these two promises on this notarized affidavit,” the affidavit read.

The affidavit duly signed by AAP leader Valmiki Naik

“During my election campaign for the Panaji bypoll, I noticed that people are anxious about the deplorable trend of elected MLAs across party lines joining the BJP. This is why I came up with the affidavit, with the promise that I will not join the BJP or be a part of their government in any way if I am elected as MLA,” Naik said.

The Panaji bypoll was necessitated due to the death of sitting MLA and former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. The BJP has fielded Sidharth Kuncalienkar, a top aide of Parrikar and former MLA from the seat.

Meanwhile, Naik urged rival candidates, Antanasio Monserrate of Congress and Subash Velingkar of Goa Suraksha Manch, also to swear on an affidavit that they would not switch sides if elected. He, however, claimed that they intend to be a part of the BJP post elections.

Naik added further that as an AAP candidate, the question was not just about becoming an MP or MLA but raising the political standard. He said the current standards have taken a beating due to increase in the spate of defections and rampant poaching of MLAs.

AAP is in disarray. The party, which was launched with great fervour and zeal five years ago, has lost its charm. AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is known to repeatedly take U-turns. Corruption charges against party leaders, the lack of performance in Delhi and failing peoples’ expectations has invited an unprecedented backlash for the party.

Recently, Fatehgarh Sahib MP Harinder Singh Khalsa, who was suspended from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2015, joined the BJP in New Delhi. Khalsa, the former IFS officer had called Kejriwal a ‘dictator’ and had accused him of acutely interfering in state affairs. Another suspended MP Dharamvir Gandhi, who was elected from Patiala, has started his own party the Nawan Punjab Party.

One of the MLAs had accused the party of arrogance, sexual exploitation of women and corruption. Several MLAs, including Sukhpal Khaira and HS Phoolka, have quit the party in recent months. A week after senior leader Ashutosh quit the party, another senior leader Ashish Khetan, followed suit. AAP Punjab was also widely criticized for its alleged association with Khalistani elements.

Kejriwal has been literally pleading with Congress to form an alliance in Delhi. Apparently, he is aware that he can not defeat the BJP alone in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. Notably, BJP had won all the seven seats in Delhi during the 2014 elections.

Recently, AAP in its last punch to save its relevance went to the extent of publicly admitting that AAP s willing to dissolve and merge with Congress party.

A divided history: Resurgence of Hindutva politics in West Bengal

Ishaan Sengupta
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A divided history: Resurgence of Hindutva politics in West Bengal

British India

In 1946, when the Muslim League proposed and advocated the inclusion of entire Bengal into Pakistan, a safe haven for the Muslims in British India, the Hindu minority of Bengal fearing the subversion of human and constitutional rights, decided to agitate and advocate a separate state which would join India, namely West Bengal. These concerns were justified by a series of events under Chief Minister Suhrawardy’s rule, where a communal agenda was at play. The police in the then, Bengal Province comprised of Punjabi Muslims, concentrated primarily in Calcutta, had been blamed for extrajudicial proceedings including, kidnappings, rape and other excesses on the local Hindu population. (Bandyopadhyay, Sandip (2010), ইতিহাসের দিকে ফিরে: ছেচল্লিশের দাঙ্গা [The Calcutta Riots, 1946] (in Bengali), Kolkata: Radical. p. 73. ISBN 978-81-85459-07-3). On the 16th of August 1946, after a Muslim league address, violence broke out in Calcutta, namely the “Great Calcutta Killings’ termed also as ‘Direct Action Day‘. Hindu shops were looted and the Hindu population was lynched. While the riot inflicted deaths on both sides, various editorials had claimed that it was primarily targeted towards the Hindu population. The riots fell off into Orissa as well. A death toll of 7000-10,000 was realized. (Read here)

Immediately between the riots, The Bengal Provincial Hindu Mahasabha called for a separate Hindu Homeland for the Bengali Hindus, as claimed by Historian Amlendu De. The prospect was supported by Congress. Towards the end of 1946, the Bengal Partition League was formed (Sanyal, Sunanda; Basu, Soumya (2011), The Sickle & the Crescent: Communists, Muslim League and India’s Partition. London: Frontpage Publications. p. 154. ISBN 978-81-908841-6-7) and worked in agreement of the proposal of the Hindu Mahasabha and comprised of fervent Bengali intellectuals like – Dr Shayama Prasad Mukherjee (Who later joined the Hindu Mahasabha and further founded the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Dr. Hemanta Kumar Sarkar (A close associate of Subhash Chandra Bose, Founder of the Labour Swaraj Party with the likes of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Muzaffar Ahmed, A peasant leader who later entered founded the partition league) , Lt. Colonel A.C. Chatterjee ( A member of the INA) and other eminent politicians like Dr. Bidhan Roy Chowdhury who later became the chief minister of West Bengal on a Congress ticket after having contested various elections independently and under the Swaraj Party. The Hindu Mahasabha along with the Indian National Congress conducted a huge number of rallies to rally support for a separate Hindu Homeland for the Bengal Hindus. Support was garnered for the same and a proposal was submitted to the British for consideration after the Muslim League reluctantly agreed.

Current Situation

Mamata Banerjee is an all-pervasive matriarch figure in the West Bengal Political sphere. Her struggle against the left in the left bastion was well acknowledged and with a huge majority in the legislative assembly has made her as powerful as the Central Government is the state. Her strength in using the state instruments to her advantage has been well documented. Her support base in Southern Bengal  remains intact but she is facing a huge backlash as well in various districts for reasons varying between subversion of democratic rights of people especially at the Panchayat and Municipal Corporation level, which is responsible for actualizing various state and central government schemes, as well as her ‘alleged’ involvement in not checking the entry of Bangladeshi immigrants, evident from her fervent ‘warnings’ to the BSF for their ‘excesses’.

In the Northern Districts and Constituencies where there was a strong Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) support, namely Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri. It stemmed from the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government’s alleged implicit solidarity with economic refugees from Bangladesh. This support has increased due to the rampant complaint of ‘Hindus’ being allegedly denied to vote by Muslims. A recent video on ABP Ananda and Times Now shows women who were allegedly being denied a passage to vote and were ‘allegedly’ beaten by ‘goons’ from the TMC. Other than that Darjeeling’s Gorkha population has been traditionally a BJP vote bank.

In Raiganj, the fight is extremely polarised. The Hindu population here again had been allegedly blockaded from voting during panchayat elections. In Malda, the Muslim vote bank has been gravitating towards from Congress which enjoyed a good secular vote bank for years owing the love for Ghani Khan Chowdhury. In response to this polarization, the Hindu vote bank is primarily shifting towards the BJP. However, the support for Mamata Banerjee has been more or less secular further south. Where the Mamata Banerjee government has reduced its popularity is the Hindi speaking populace in constituencies like Asansol (currently a BJP base) and Barrackpore (where a TMC MLA has switched over to the BJP and is likely to defeat Dinesh Trivedi in the 2019 election).

However, a very important constituency is Bangaon where the Matua scheduled caste community which has been a traditional TMC vote bank has seen a split due to the Citizenship Amendment Bill passed in the Lok Sabha. Matua’s are a community which include Hindu refugees from Bangladesh suffering religious persecution. A lot of whom still do not have citizenship in India. And are quite upset about the TMC, Congress and the left not supporting the bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Clearly, the electorate of the state of West Bengal is extremely complicated but what is a fact is that this election will be an extremely polarised election. Polarised on both sides. The portrayal of this battle as propagated by the BJP is primarily a battle for democracy (saving the right to vote) and a protest against preferential treatment of Muslims (citing events of stalling the Durga Visarjan for the recognizing Muharram) whereas the TMC is propagating it as an election to save democracy (a secular democracy which the BJP has allegedly been a threat to).

1984 anti-Sikh riot victims write to Rahul Gandhi, say they will never forgive Rajiv Gandhi for murder of 10,000 Sikhs

OpIndia Staff
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1984 anti-Sikh riot victims write to Rahul Gandhi, say they will never forgive Rajiv Gandhi for murder of 10,000 Sikhs

Even as Congress continues to stay in denial about the party and its leaders’ role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots which took place following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, 1984 riot victims have written to Congress President Rahul Gandhi asserting that they will never be able to forgive Rajiv Gandhi and Congress.

Letter written by 1984 victims to Rahul Gandhi (numbers blanked out to protect individuals’ privacy)

In a letter, the anti-Sikh riot victims condemn the use of the word ‘shaheed’ (martyr) for Rajiv Gandhi. “Rahul ji, the whole country knows Rajiv Gandhi was responsible for the bloodshed that took place in 1984. The Sikh community will never forgive Rajiv Gandhi for the murder of 10,000 Sikhs. Rajiv not only got Sikhs killed but even rewarded the perpetrators of violence Jagdish Tytler, Sajjan Kumar and Kamal Nath by making them ministers and members of the parliament. To call such a man a martyr is an insult to the ones who lay down their lives for the nation,” the letter reads.

When OpIndia contacted one of the signatories, Gurjeet Singh, he said that Sikhs and even non-Sikhs who were victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots will never be able to forgive Rajiv Gandhi and Congress.

The victims further ask Rahul Gandhi to withdraw his words of referring to Rajiv Gandhi as martyr or face opposition from the entire nation for it.

Another scathing letter was also posted by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manjinder Sirsa where he asked Rahul Gandhi a few pointed questions about his father Rajiv Gandhi’s involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh riots.


In the letter, the victims ask Rahul Gandhi if he is aware that the 1984 anti-Sikh riots were carried out on the behest of his father, Rajiv Gandhi, by making use of the Congress party machinery? “Are you unaware that your father then justified the anti-Sikh riots by publicly proclaiming that ‘when a big tree falls, the earth shakes’? The country is a witness that your grandmother Indira Gandhi led an attack on the Akal Takht Sahib and killed many innocent people by sending the army in the Darbar Sahib (during Operation Blue Star). The policy your grandmother adopted to eliminate the Sikh was very well implemented by your father. After your father’s death, your mother also rewarded those in Congress responsible for the slaughter of Sikhs by giving them high posts and making them ministers,” the letter states.

Referring to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath as a murderer, the victims write, “Shockingly, when you became the party president, you continued your family policy and made Kamal Nath a chief minister which was nothing short of rubbing salt on the wounds of the Sikhs.”

The victims remind Rahul Gandhi how he has not even condemned, let alone apologised, on behalf of his father and grandmother for destroying the lives of the Sikhs.

The controversy about the actions of Rajiv Gandhi during his tenure as the prime minister started afer Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a rally, referred to him as ‘Bhrashtachari no 1‘ over his involvement in the Bofors scam. That opened a can of worms where other allegations against Rajiv Gandhi were raked up including his involvement in 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Bhopal gas tragedy.

‘Since election is over, matter is resolved’, says Election Commission grievance portal responding to vote rigging complaint in West Bengal

OpIndia Staff
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‘Since election is over, matter is resolved’, says Election Commission grievance portal responding to vote rigging complaint in West Bengal

The Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal have witnessed large scale violence and electoral malpractices. Dozens of videos have emerged on social media which who ruling Trinamool Congress indulging in vote rigging during the elections. In several videos, TMC workers are seen casting votes on behalf of genuine voters, in presence of poll officials and security personnel, including from central forces. Many people also have alleged that when they reached poll booths for voting, they were told that they have already voted.

Election Commission is accused of being a mute spectator to such large-scale vote rigging in West Bengal, and now a bizarre incident has happened where the EC has said that since the polls are over, they will not take action on allegations of rigging.

The Election Commission made this statement responding to a complaint filed online through its National Grievance Service portal. In a screenshot from the EC portal which was posted on Twitter by the complainant, it can be seen that on 6th May, a complaint was registered regarding poll rigging in Bangaon Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal. It says that when few women went to cast their votes, they were sent back saying that they have already voted. The Complaint also noted that TMC agents across West Bengal along with polling officials are capturing booths in favour of TMC.

The EC  portal shows the status of the complaint as ‘resolved’, which was forwarded to Bogaon Uttar 95 for necessary action. And in the action taken section, it makes the shocking claim that since the election is over, the issue is resolved. On 6th May evening, the matter was forwarded to Bongaon polling station. And in the afternoon today, the matter has been marked as resolved, with the comment, “since the election is over, it is thus resolved”.

This means according to Election Commission, the poll panel is not liable to take any action on complaints of electoral malpractices after the polls are over.

The complainant had filed another complaint with the EC portal regarding TMC men voting on behalf of elderly women, in the guise of helping the senior citizens. But instead of taking any action on the issue, the EC asked him to contact the concerned ARO.

Go teach abuses to children in Italy: Yogi Adityanath slams Priyanka Gandhi for video where kids abused PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Go teach abuses to children in Italy: Yogi Adityanath slams Priyanka Gandhi for video where kids abused PM Modi

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a dig at Congress General secretary for UP East Priyanka Gandhi for her behaviour when children were being encouraged to abuse Prime Minister Modi.

Recently a video of Priyanka Gandhi had gone viral in which she was seen cheering and giggling when a bunch of children were made to make derogatory remarks and shout abusive slogans against Prime Minister Modi.


Yogi Adityanath slammed Gandhi for teaching abuses to innocent children. He said that she should instead teach such abuses in Italy. “Congress has failed, Shehzada (Rahul Gandhi) also failed so they brought in their Shehzadi (Priyanka Gandhi). She was teaching abuses to innocent children in Amethi, please go and teach these abuses in Italy”, said the Chief Minister.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had written to the Election Commission (EC) regarding the video of Priyanka Gandhi and had requested to ensure that children are not involved for election purposes. Later, she was served a notice by the NCPCR regarding the video.

Priyanka’s behaviour at the incident had resulted in widespread condemnation. Union minister Smriti Irani had stated that Priyanka should know that children cannot be used for political activities. She had also added that cultured families should keep their children away from Priyanka.

Kamal Nath concedes that Rahul Gandhi’s promise a mere lie? Says complete loan waiver for farmers not possible in 10 days

OpIndia Staff
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Kamal Nath concedes that Rahul Gandhi’s promise a mere lie? Says complete loan waiver for farmers not possible in 10 days

The Congress party and Rahul Gandhi specifically has been repeatedly promising that farmer loan waivers will be granted to all farmers within 10 days of Congress coming to power. In fact, Rahul Gandhi has touted this as one of his achievements through the campaigning for 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Now, Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, a senior leader of the Congress party has conceded that complete loan waiver for farmers is not possible in 10 days because nobody has a magic wand.


Today, Congress apparently handed over a list of 21 lakh farmers whose loans had been waived off by Congress state governments as BJP, in their ‘aarop patra’ had mentioned non-fulfilment of this promise as one of the accusations against the MP government.

In a press briefing held by Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath, Nath mentioned that after promising the loan waiver, 21 lakh farmers’ loans had been waived off, however, a complete loan waiver is not possible within 10 days because the government does not have a magic wand.

He said there would be farmers who would say that their loans haven’t been waived off yet, but the fact remains that there would be some who would say that they have got the benefit from the Congress government of loan waiver. He also reiterated that the farmers whose loans have not been waived off would know that eventually, the Congress government would deliver because they can see that some of the farmers are saying that their loans have indeed been waived off.


Essentially, Kamal Nath drew a distinction between the Congress government’s intent to waive off loans of farmers and their intent to waive off loans. However, that is not how Congress or even Rahul Gandhi had projected the promise and its delivery.

Rahul Gandhi has repeated several times that as soon as the Congress government comes to power, all loans taken by all farmers would be waived off.

He has even taken to Twitter several times to claim that the promise has been fulfilled by Congress state governments in its entirety.

On 19th December 2018, Rahul Gandhi had taken to Twitter to say “It’s done! Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh have waived farm loans. We asked for 10 days. We did it in 2.


In 2016, he also “urged the Prime Minister” to waive off farmer loans.


It is evident that Rahul Gandhi had declared in absolute terms that the Congress governments in the states have fulfiled their promise of loan waiver. While everyone knew that farmer loans have not been waived off by the governments in the states, Rahul Gandhi clearly kept lying to assert in absolute terms that Congress has fulfiled its promise. Now, Kamal Nath has conceded that full loan waiver in 10 days in an impossibility.

There have several incidents that prove the failure of the Congress government to deliver on its much-touted promise. In Madhya Pradesh, there have been several farmer suicides due to the failed promise. Several farmers had discovered fake loan waivers being registered in their names. The farmers had threatened to commit ‘mass suicide’ after their names appeared on the state government’s loan waiver list even though they do not have any dues or have loans far smaller than the ones that are listed.

A farmer from MP got a loan waiver of Rs 13 against a loan of Rs. 24,000. Further, many farmers discovered Rs. 25-30 or a few hundred rupees of loan waiver over their substantial loans. In fact, non-existent farmer loan of Rs. 120 crores were “waived off” by the Madhya Pradesh government.

While that would prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Rahul Gandhi’s promise was a mere “jumla”, one can expect Rahul Gandhi and the Congress to continue spreading this lie further.

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