Nitish responds to Modi’s accusations
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav of sacrificing the legacy of socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan by aligning with the Congress for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. At a Bharatiya Janata Party rally in Bhagalpur, Modi said that the two leaders had spread the “poison of casteism and communalism” during their combined 25-year-long rule in the state. Kumar later responded to Modi’s accusations, saying that the Prime Minister was “definitely disturbed” as the country’s economy and stock markets were weakening.
Patidar leader to organise march for OBC reservations
Patidar community leader Hardik Patel will organise a march from Dandi to Ahmedabad in Gujarat later this week in an attempt to escalate the community’s demand for reservations under the Other Backward Class category. Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti core committee member Dinesh Patel said that the march would be organised on the same route where Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March was held in 1930. Dinesh added that the PAAS would also call on all Patel community MLAs in Gujarat to clarify their position on reservations for the Patidars. Maharashtra leader Jitendra Ahwad claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was behind Patel's agitation. The OBC leader said that the protests were a “precursor to an anti-reservation campaign” being planned by the RSS.
BJP, VHP criticise Ansari
The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Tuesday criticised Vice-President Hamid Ansari for suggesting that Muslims need an affirmative action programme. BJP General-Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya accused Ansari of crossing “constitutional limits” and said that his remarks had lowered “his prestige in the eyes of the people”. VHP spokesperson Surendra Jain also criticised the Ansari, saying that the outfit condemned his “communal statement”.
Defence Council approves purchase of Rafale jets
The Defence Acquisition Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. Defence Ministry officials said that the approval of the purchase meant that India and France could go ahead with negotiations on the deal, which had stalled due to several factors, including India’s insistence on investing 50% of the value of the contract in the country and the sharing of weapons technology. The purchase of the 36 jets was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande in Paris in April.
Congress criticises Modi for Mehrishi appointment
The Congress on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the appointment of Rajiv Mehrishi as Union Home Secretary. Congress leader Anand Sharma accused Modi of centralising power, saying that he was functioning in an anti-democratic manner. He said that Modi had undermined the “authority of the cabinet” by appointing Mehrishi as Home Secretary and removing the 16 other officials".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav of sacrificing the legacy of socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan by aligning with the Congress for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. At a Bharatiya Janata Party rally in Bhagalpur, Modi said that the two leaders had spread the “poison of casteism and communalism” during their combined 25-year-long rule in the state. Kumar later responded to Modi’s accusations, saying that the Prime Minister was “definitely disturbed” as the country’s economy and stock markets were weakening.
Patidar leader to organise march for OBC reservations
Patidar community leader Hardik Patel will organise a march from Dandi to Ahmedabad in Gujarat later this week in an attempt to escalate the community’s demand for reservations under the Other Backward Class category. Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti core committee member Dinesh Patel said that the march would be organised on the same route where Mahatma Gandhi’s Dandi March was held in 1930. Dinesh added that the PAAS would also call on all Patel community MLAs in Gujarat to clarify their position on reservations for the Patidars. Maharashtra leader Jitendra Ahwad claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was behind Patel's agitation. The OBC leader said that the protests were a “precursor to an anti-reservation campaign” being planned by the RSS.
BJP, VHP criticise Ansari
The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Tuesday criticised Vice-President Hamid Ansari for suggesting that Muslims need an affirmative action programme. BJP General-Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya accused Ansari of crossing “constitutional limits” and said that his remarks had lowered “his prestige in the eyes of the people”. VHP spokesperson Surendra Jain also criticised the Ansari, saying that the outfit condemned his “communal statement”.
Defence Council approves purchase of Rafale jets
The Defence Acquisition Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. Defence Ministry officials said that the approval of the purchase meant that India and France could go ahead with negotiations on the deal, which had stalled due to several factors, including India’s insistence on investing 50% of the value of the contract in the country and the sharing of weapons technology. The purchase of the 36 jets was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande in Paris in April.
Congress criticises Modi for Mehrishi appointment
The Congress on Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the appointment of Rajiv Mehrishi as Union Home Secretary. Congress leader Anand Sharma accused Modi of centralising power, saying that he was functioning in an anti-democratic manner. He said that Modi had undermined the “authority of the cabinet” by appointing Mehrishi as Home Secretary and removing the 16 other officials".
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