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Gujarat: Congress leader Ahmed Patel not to contest from Bharuch constituency following an internal rift within the party

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Congress leader Ahmed Patel not to contest from Bharuch constituency following an internal rift within the party

In a massive setback for the Congress leadership, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, a close aide of the Sonia Gandhi has decided not to contest fearing a loss amidst a serious internal rift within the Gujarat unit of the party. The Congress party has now fielded another candidate from Baruch Lok Sabha constituency ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

According to the reports, the Congress leadership had earlier urged the senior leader Ahmed Patel to contest the Lok Sabha election from Bharuch in Gujarat. The party had felt that with Ahmed Patel’s candidature, it had a chance to win Bharuch as well as improve its performance in other constituencies in the state.

However, according to Republic TV, an internal rift in the Congress erupted within the Congress party regarding the issue of Ahmed Patel contesting from Bharuch constituency. Recently, few senior party leaders were also seen raising slogans against Ahmed Patel, calling him a ‘villain’ and had protested against his candidacy from Bharuch. Following the protests, Ahmed Patel seems to have unnerved of a defeat and reportedly has backtracked now from contesting, said Republic TV report.

In addition to that, Congress is also facing stiff opposition in Bharuch constituency as Chhotu Vasava led by Bhartiya Tribal Party (BTP) is also set to contest from the Bharuch, furthering the fear of loss for Ahmed Patel. Chhotu Vasava, who had helped Ahmed Patel in securing a victory in Rajya Sabha elections was expected to be the joint-candidate from the Bharuch constituency. However, Congress party’s reluctance to cede the seat to BTP has made Vasava contest against the Congress from Bharuch.

Following Ahmed Patel’s decision not to contest fearing a defeat, the Congress party on Thursday announced Sherkhan Abdul Shakur Pathan as the party’s candidate from the Bharuch Lok Sabha constituency in Gujarat. 

Bharuch constituency is one of the 26 Lok Sabha constituencies from the state of Gujarat. Ahmed Patel had been a member of Parliament from the Bharuch constituency three times before in 1977, 1980 and 1984. Bharatiya Janata Party has been winning the Bharuch Lok Sabha seat continuously from 1989. BJP has fielded Mansukhbhai Vasava, who is a five-time incumbent MP from Bharuch.

BBM chairperson Prakash Ambedkar threatens to send election commission to jail for two days if voted to power

OpIndia Staff
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BBM chairperson Prakash Ambedkar threatens to send election commission to jail for two days if voted to power

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) chairperson, Prakash Ambedkar has stirred a controversy by passing an outrageous remark against the Election Commission. Addressing a rally in Yavatmal, Ambedkar said that he would jail the EC officials for two days if voted to power.

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India. The commission has the powers under the Constitution, to act in an appropriate manner when the enacted laws make insufficient provisions to deal with a given situation in the conduct of an election.

The Election Commission taking note of Ambedkar’s remark has asked the District election officer to submit a report on the same.


Ambedkar had further, addressing the crowd in Yavatmal said that we are told to not talk about Pulwama but I would like to know why we shouldn’t talk about it when the constitution permits us to say what we want.

Prakash Ambedkar, who has tied up with Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Maharashtra, filed his nomination papers from Solapur, the district from where BJP has fielded the Lingayat spiritual leader, Jai Siddheshwar Shivacharya and also from Akola Lok Sabha constituencies as a Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) nominee.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) is an alliance of Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and Janata Dal(S) in Maharashtra.

This is, however, not the first time Prakash Ambedkar has meted out such veil attacks. In a similar display of animosity, Ambedkar had in October last year, lashed out at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, claiming that he possessed illegal weapons and also demanded his arrest under the Arms Act.

In a protest rally against the RSS in Mumbai, Ambedkar speaking to the party workers had said that along with its chief Bhagwat, the organisation should also be booked for possessing such weapons.

Prakash, the grandson of BR Ambedkar, heads a Dalit political outfit called Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh in Maharastra and intends to contest in the upcoming elections to be held in the state. Ambedkar, a controversial man has been caught live threatening a TimesNow journalist, Anand Narasimhan after his channel had exposed the role of Urban Naxals in creating unrest in the country. Agitated by this expose, Prakash Ambedkar had abused the journo and warned him of consequences once the present government loses power.

Sheikh Khalifa awards Prime Minister Modi the prestigious Zayed Medal

OpIndia Staff
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Sheikh Khalifa awards Prime Minister Modi the prestigious Zayed Medal

The United Arab Emirates has awarded Prime Minister Modi with the highest civilian honour for boosting the relations between India and the Emirates.

Taking to Twitter to congratulate Prime Minister Modi, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said the Indian Prime Minister had played a pivotal role in enhancing bilateral ties to the level of comprehensive strategic relations. The Zayed Medal is the highest decoration awarded to kings, presidents and heads of states.

Bihar: A former JDU leader’s teenage son abducted for ransom murdered, body recovered in Siwan

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: A former JDU leader’s teenage son abducted for ransom murdered, body recovered in Siwan

A 14-year-old teenage son of former JDU leader, late Surendra Patel, who was abducted last evening for a ransom of Rs 50 lakh was found murdered on Thursday in Bihar’s Siwan district.


Rahul Kumar’s body, who was a class 7 student of Kendriya Vidyalaya school, was recovered from a farm in the Mufassil area at around 2 am, Siwan Superintendent of Police Navin Chandra Jha said.

“Abductors killed him fearing arrest after a search and rescue operation was launched,” he said.

The victim’s cousin Rajeev Ranjan informed the police that he received a call from the kidnappers demanding a ransom of Rs. 50 lakh, police added.

KK Mishra, ASP, Siwan confirmed that four people have been arrested in connection and further investigation is underway.


Bihar has always been a witness to several gruesome crimes. The deteriorating law and order scenario in the state has always been a cause of concern.

Along with other crimes, such high profile murder cases ahead of general elections has raised the political temperature in Bihar.

In February, at least three persons including Yusuf, a nephew of former RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin, were killed in Bihar. Alert was sounded in Siwan and adjoining districts following the murder.

According to reports, Yusuf was close to Shahabuddin and his son Osama. The incident occurred a few days after the court framed charges against Shahabuddin in connection with journalist Rajdeo Ranjan murder case.

Mafia don and four-term former MP of Lalu Prasad’s RJD, Mohammad Shahabuddin facing trial in over 40 criminal cases, was sent to Tihar jail in February 2017 after he was found controlling his gang from inside Siwan prison.

Two other incidents which highlight the crumbling law and order scenario in the state was the killing of a councillor in Buxar and a police encounter with hardened criminal Kundan Singh in Muzaffarpur.

In another gruesome incident, a four-year-old girl was brutally raped and strangulated in Siwan district, Bihar around midnight on Saturday. A partly buried body of the girl with undergarments stuffed in her mouth was recovered in the maize field and the accused, Mohammad Ziauddin has been arrested, who has confessed to the crime.

Kashmir: Lashkar terrorist who stole AK-47s from the house of a Congress leader arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Kashmir: Lashkar terrorist who stole AK-47s from the house of a Congress leader arrested

A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was arrested by Jammu and Kashmir police today for allegedly stealing weapons from the residence of a Congress MLC Mohammad Muzaffar Parray in the month of December last year.

The terrorist has been identified as Danish Haneef Wani son of Mohammad Haneef Wani. Wani, a resident of Azad Basti Natipora, was an active member of the terrorist organisation LeT. He was arrested after inputs about his movements near Kusroo, Rajbagh in Srinagar were received by the police.


“We were tracking him and he was arrested by a special police team,” told Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal.

The terrorist had reportedly looted four AK 47s from the official residence of MLC Muzuffar Parray located at Jawahar Nagar in Srinagar. Parray was not present in his official resdience at the time of the theft and was in Jammu along with his family.

The security guard present in the house was overpowered by the terrorist. An FIR was registered in the matter under Arms Act. Four police personnel who were appointed to guard the MLC’s house were dismissed after the theft.

According to police, Wani had joined the LeT soon after conducting the theft. “Wani is the main accused in the weapons loot case. He had joined LeT soon after looting weapons from the MLC’s house. Further questioning of the arrested accused is on so as to advance the investigation in the case”, said SP Mughal. Another terrorist named Showket Ahmed Khan who was also an accused in this case was arrested by the police last month.

A number of cases of weapon looting were reported last year. In October 2018, two weapons were snatched by some unidentified gunmen from policemen guarding the house of a retired police officer. A month before that, seven rifles and a pistol were stolen by a personal security officer from the house of a political leader named Ajaz Ahmad Mir in Srinagar while he was away.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi takes a helicopter ride to file his nomination from ‘safe seat’ Wayanad

OpIndia Staff
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Congress President Rahul Gandhi takes a helicopter ride to file his nomination from ‘safe seat’ Wayanad

Congress President Rahul Gandhi today filed his nomination from the second constituency, Wayanad, Kerala, which is considered a ‘safe seat’ for Rahul Gandhi. He reached Calicut last night to file his nomination for Wayanad where he is expected to win safely as against Amethi where he faces a tough challenge from BJP’s Smriti Irani.

Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by his sister and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi in his helicopter ride from Calicut to Wayanad.


A sting operation conducted by Times Now had thrown up some startling admissions by a Congress MLA regarding why Rahul Gandhi would be choosing Wayanad as his safe seat. In the sting video, a senior Congress Party leader could be seen saying Congress President Rahul Gandhi is facing pressure in Amethi and has to find a safe seat, implying that he should contest from Wayanad as Hindus form a minority in Wayanad constituency which will ensure an easy victory for Rahul Gandhi.

“The total Christian-Muslim vote is about 50%. It comes to around 54% which makes easier for Rahul. And the thing is there are 8% Adivasis who are with us. Actually, Wayanad has been a Congress stronghold since 1957,” said the Congress leader in Times Now sting video. He also spoke about the Tribal votes that would go in Rahul Gandhi’s favour (and hence the jump from 50% to 54% in his previous statement).

Meanwhile, CPI(M) ex-General Secretary Prakash Karat cried foul over Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy from Wayanad, Kerala. Karat claimed that the Congress party’s decision indicated that the party’s priority has now become to fight the Left, contrary to Congress’ national commitment to fight BJP.

“To pick a candidate like Rahul Gandhi against Left means that Congress is going to target the Left in Kerala. This is something which we will strongly oppose & in this election we will work to ensure the defeat of Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad,” lamented Prakash Karat.

PM Modi lashes out on opposition in Kolkata rally, says they lacked political will for airstrikes and ASAT test

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi lashes out on opposition in Kolkata rally, says they lacked political will for airstrikes and ASAT test

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Ground yesterday, the same venue where leaders of the Mahagathbandhan had gathered in January. It was Narendra Modi’s second rally in West Bengal yesterday after the first at Siliguri.

The Prime Minister picked up from where he left it at his previous rally, attacking the Opposition for their comments on the Surgical Strikes and the Army. He asked the huge crowd that had gathered, “Some people have started going against Maa Bharati in their fight against Modi. Who is doubting the Air Strikes? Who is demoralizing the Armed Forces? Who demanded to see the corpses of terrorists? Who is committing the sin of demanding proof from the Armed Forces?”


PM Narendra Modi reiterated that the Armed Forces had the ability to conduct air strikes earlier as well and our scientists had the ability to hit satellites in space but it was the political establishment that lacked the will for it.


Appealing for votes, Modi said that the country which has been in despair and backwardness for the past 72 years must surge ahead of the entire world.


“Opportunities must be created for every talent, whether rich or poor. We have to modernize infrastructure across the lengths and breadths of this country. We have to double the income of our farmers. We have to modernize the Armed Forces. Whether it be Space or Science, we have to compensate for the shortcomings of 72 years and race ahead of the world,” he said.

A day after PM Modi’s massive rally, a man’s body found hanging at BJP office in Siliguri

OpIndia Staff
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A day after PM Modi’s massive rally, a man’s body found hanging at BJP office in Siliguri

West Bengal has been constantly on news for political violence and murders. Barely a day after PM Modi’s huge rally in Siliguri, the body of a man has been found at the BJP booth office there.

The body of a 42-year-old man was found hanging at BJP booth office in Siliguri early morning today, reports ANI.


According to the reports, the incident took place in the Municipal Corporation Ward Number 36. The deceased has been identified as Nitya Mandal who worked as a laborer. The police are yet to confirm the nature of death and have launched an investigation to probe the same.

The incident comes after a day after both PM Modi had launched a scathing attack on Mamata Banerjee for her stance on Balakot strikes and accused her of acting like “Speedbreaker” to the development of the state.

The state of West Bengal under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is notoriously known for serious political violence against opposition parties especially the BJP. Recently, a BJP worker Apurba Chakraborty was brutally beaten up by TMC goons in Islampur, West Bengal. Chakraborty’s condition is critical and he is currently admitted in Uttar Banga Medical  College. He is a BJP leader from North Dinajpur district in West Bengal.

Last week in Malda, Patanu Mondal, the brother of a BJP gram panchayat member Utpal Mondal, was shot dead in his home, allegedly by TMC goon.

Another TMC MLA  Sovan Chatterjee and his friend Baishakhi Chatterjee were allegedly confined to a bungalow as there were speculations of them joining the BJP.

Last year in the month of May, a 6-month pregnant woman who was relative of a BJP candidate in Panchayat Elections in West Bengal was allegedly raped by TMC activists in Nadia district.

Last year TMC had won 20,000 seats uncontested in West Bengal Panchayat elections amidst the allegations that the party which fielded its candidates on all rural seats, had prevented the filing of nominations by resorting to violence. The BJP had moved the Supreme Court to interfere in the matter of its party workers not being allowed to file nominations for the Panchayat elections.

With the entry of the BJP in the state and the party making inroads in the rural Bengal has surely unnerved Mamata Banerjee. The BJP, once a non-existent party in the West Bengal has now successfully captured the political space vacated by the Left Front, positioning itself to be an alternative to both the Mamata led TMC and the left.

The upsurge of the BJP has pushed Mamata Banerjee into a corner. The anxiety of Mamata Banerjee has been manifested lately as she has often resorted to personal attacks against the BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

Do not be selfish, prepare for more taxes to fund NYAY scheme: Rahul Gandhi’s aide Sam Pitroda’s advise to Indian middle class

OpIndia Staff
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Do not be selfish, prepare for more taxes to fund NYAY scheme: Rahul Gandhi’s aide Sam Pitroda’s advise to Indian middle class

Ever since the Congress announced their proposed minimum basic income scheme NYAY, there have been speculations that it will mean increased taxes and a strain on India’s economy. Former NITI Ayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya has even stated that the scheme is fiscally imprudent and will cost more than India’s defence budget.

Abhijit Banerjee, the economist who has been advising Congress in the formulation of the scheme had also stated that NYAY will have to be funded by rising inflation and new taxes.

The NYAY scheme promises a Rs 72,000 per anum basic income for 20% of India’s population.

Now, a video has surfaced on social media where Sam Pitroda, veteran Congress ideologue and Rahul Gandhi’s advisor, has stated in an interview with India Ahead News yesterday that the NYAY scheme will have to be funded by raising taxes for the middle class.


In the video clip, the interviewer is seen asking Pitroda that the middle class is worried about the NYAY scheme as it might mean more taxes. To which Pitroda replies that the under a Congress government at the center, the middle class will have more opportunities and more jobs. He claimed that now there are no jobs.

Pitroda said that taxes will go up a little bit ‘it is nothing to worry about’. He added, “It is not a major issue”.

Going further, Pitroda added that the middle class should not be selfish, they should have a ‘big heart’. Putting the onus of guilt on the middle class for worrying about taxes, Pitroda said, “How can you see poor people around you and worry that somebody might take a 10 paisa from you. That is not India.”

When the interviewer asked if this is his message for the middle class, Pitroda said, “Yes, if you and I have to tighten our belt a little, there is nothing wrong with it. They are our cousins, they are our brothers, sisters, and nephews.”

Social media has been reacting strongly to Sam Pitroda’s statements.


It is notable here that Abhijit Banerjee, the economist advising Congress, had also stated that Inflation is good for the economy. Congress has not been very clear on how the estimated 3.6 lakh crores will be made available to fund the NYAY scheme. But the statements by their advisers make it clear that they intend to fund it by burdening the taxpaying masses with more taxes and raised inflation.

Nothing heroic about surgical strikes, previous governments did it too: Congress Leader Nagma Morarji

OpIndia Staff
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Nothing heroic about surgical strikes, previous governments did it too: Congress Leader Nagma Morarji

Actor-turned-politician and Congress leader Nagma on Wednesday questioned the heroics of the armed forces who conducted the Surgical Strikes on the terrorist camps inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Nagma went to claim that previous governments had also carried out similar surgical strikes.

Nagma, who was the part of a show along with actor Vivek Oberoi, downplayed the valour of the Armed Forces as she asserted that there was nothing heroic about carrying out surgical strikes. Interestingly, Nagma seems to be following a trend like other Congress leaders who had questioned the strikes by demanding proof. She also claimed that the previous governments have had also conducted surgical strikes on Pakistan soil.


In a hurry to discredit the armed forces and PM Modi, Nagma went on to propagate false facts regarding her claim of previous government conducting the surgical strike. In fact, the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of the Indian Army had categorically said that there were no surgical strikes took place before September 2016.

Soon after the surgical strikes, the Congress President Rahul Gandhi along with other senior leaders of the party had united in asking the government and the army for ‘proof of surgical strike’. Rahul Gandhi had even hurled allegations that the strikes were being announced because the Modi government wanted to do “khoon ki dalaali’ and that even Congress had conducted surgical strikes but had never announced the same.

Congress party had even questioned the recent Balakot air strikes and some of its leaders had demanded proof by the Indian government. The Congress ideologue and advisor to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda had questioned the casualty count of the Balakot airstrikes, carried out by the Indian Armed Forces.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had questioned the strikes by referring to international media outlets, claiming that they are citing no evidence of the strikes. Another Congress leader Digvijay Singh had called the terror attack an ‘accident’. He said that reports in various foreign media regarding the “air strike” have created a doubt in our minds. Madhya Pradesh CM Kamalnath had also raised doubts about the authenticity of the attacks.

The disdains of the Congress party towards the security forces is being increasingly manifested lately. In the Lok Sabha election manifesto released by the Congress, the Congress party has also promised to review the deployment of forces in the valley if voted to power and has also accused the Indian Army of heinous crimes like sexual violence in the Valley owing to AFSPA similar to the claims of Pro-Pak Kashmiri separatists.

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