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Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Tejashwi Yadav claims ₹20k crore spent on PM Modi's rallies in Bihar
Patna, Jun 21 (PTI) RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday continued with his "pickpocket" jibe, claiming that a staggering ₹ 20,000 crore has been spent on rallies addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bihar so far. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav claimed that PM Modi had spent ₹ 20,000 crore of public money in rallies in Bihar(ANI) Also Read: Declined US President Trump's invite to Washington to come to Odisha: PM Modi The BJP also sharpened its counter-attack, with posters being put up across the state capital bearing the slogan "Mera baap chaara chor, mujhe vote do" (my father stole fodder meant for cattle, vote for me), belittling the leader of the opposition who leads the INDIA bloc in the upcoming assembly polls. The young leader, who had a day ago raised the hackles of the ruling NDA by alleging that exorbitant ticket fares of Vande Bharat made Modi look like a "pocketmaar" (pickpocket), used the expression again in a stinging social media post. Also Read: PM Modi's quote, 'kamal' removal: 5 changes made to Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par He alleged that rallies of Modi in Bihar, since 2014, have cost " ₹ 100 crore each" and there have been "200 such public meetings" so far. Also Read: In Bihar, PM Narendra Modi slams RJD over Lalu Yadav's feet near Ambedkar photo row: 'No respect for Dalits' "So the total amount splurged during the period, which has also seen five elections (three Lok Sabha and two Vidhan Sabha), is ₹ 20,000 such meetings have been organised by the government even though the objective has been, clearly, electoral," the former Bihar deputy CM claimed. Notably, Modi was in Siwan district on Friday, which was his fifth visit to the state this year, the second in less than a month, and said to be "51st" since taking over as the prime minister. Yadav, who seemed to be in no mood to give up his tirade, alleged, "What should we call a person who cleverly uses public money on his own pretends to be a man of integrity?... Of course, pocketmaar, not madadgaar (a helper of the people)." The BJP, which takes on the RJD in the assembly elections due in just a few months, retaliated with full force. A day after BJP's former state unit president and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary had sought to berate Yadav by using the famous line from the blockbuster 'Deewaar' - Mera baap chor Hai (my father is a thief) - in an obvious dig at RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's corruption taint, the party engaged in a "poster war". In the posters, which the party has not officially owned, the colourful slogan is inscribed next to a caricature that shows the father-son duo riding a buffalo, an obvious reference to the fodder scam. The conviction in the fodder scam has left Prasad, a former chief minister and an ex-Union minister, disqualified from contesting the elections.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Amid Bihar nepotism row, a look at LJP's churn: Paswan's brothers to rise of Chirag's brothers-in-law
The brothers-in-law of RJD president Lalu Prasad, Aniruddh Prasad or Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav, were once known as influential RJD leaders in Bihar. Both Sadhu, former Lok Sabha member, and Subhash, ex-Rajya Sabha MP, are the younger brothers of Lalu's wife and ex-Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi, who fell out with Lalu after 2010 and were since marginalised in state politics. With RJD leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, recently raking up the issue of nepotism while alleging that several NDA leaders have cornered various plum government positions for their relatives, such as brothers-in-law or sons-in-law, the political ascendancy of some of them has come into focus now. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founder and ex-Union minister, late Ram Vilas Paswan, had often drawn criticism for promoting his younger brothers and ex-MPs, Pashupati Kumar Paras and Ramchandra Paswan (who passed away in 2019), in state politics. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the LJP won six seats in Bihar, three of which were bagged by the members of the Paswan family, which included Paswan from Hajipur, son Chirag Paswan from Jamui, and Ramchandra from Samastipur. Paswan's first wife Rajkumari Devi lives in his ancestral Shaharbanni village in Khagaria. Their two daughters, Asha and Usha, are married, respectively, to Dhananjay alias Mrinal Paswan and Anil alias Sadhu Paswan. Must R LJP(Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister Chirag Paswan and his elder sister Nisha are the children of Paswan and his second wife Reena. Following Paswan's demise in 2020, Chirag suffered another setback in 2021 when his uncle Pashupati split the LJP with the party's five out of six Lok Sabha MPs joining him. Pashupati became the head of the breakaway party outfit called National Lok Janshakti Party (NLJP) with Chirag taking charge of the LJP(RV). Subsequently, Chirag started visiting Shaharbanni more frequently to meet his stepmother Rajkumari. When she had been engaged in a property dispute with Pashupati early this year, Chirag made it a point to visit her in the village. This sent out a signal to Pashupati that Chirag was backing his stepmother. Chirag also distanced himself from his cousin Prince Paswan, who had become the Samastipur MP after the death of his father Ramchandra. Prince had also turned a rebel by joining the NLJP, which is now struggling for survival after being snubbed by the NDA. When Chirag, after his return to the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, looked to contest from his father's traditional constituency Hajipur, he decided to give the LJP(RV) ticket to his brother-in-law Arun Bharti, husband of Nisha, from Jamui – the seat Chirag represented for two terms from 2014 to 2024. While Chirag clinched his father's bastion Hajipur by a huge margin, Arun Bharti also had a smooth sailing in Jamui. Bharti, who has an MBA degree, also belongs to a political family with his mother Jyoti having been an MLC twice. Bharti had been working as a business entrepreneur in Delhi till Chirag convinced him to contest the 2024 parliamentary polls. After the LJP(RV)'s success in the Lok Sabha polls, with the party winning all five seats it contested, and Chirag's induction into the Cabinet of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government 3.0, Bharti became a close confidant of the party chief. Recently, it was Bharti who first said, in a social media post, that the LJP(RV) workers wanted Chirag to contest the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections and that too from a general seat 'so that the message goes out that he is now ready to lead the entire Bihar and not just one section'. While Chirag kept people guessing, a buzz was created around the LJP (RV)'s projection of 'nav netritva (new leadership)' for Bihar. On June 8, addressing a rally in Arah, Chirag announced that he would contest the Bihar Assembly polls from a seat that 'people decide for him', ending weeks of speculation over his return to state politics. LJP(RV) sources said Bharti is likely to play a 'bigger role' in the Bihar polls. 'While Bharti has been asked to keep focusing on his Jamui constituency, he has also been given additional responsibility to strategise for the party for the Assembly polls', said an LJP (RV) leader. On his part, Bharti calls himself a 'soldier of LJP(RV) and Chirag Paswan'. In the spotlight now, is also Chirag's another brother-in-law Mrinal Paswan, who has been the LJP(RV) national general secretary after having been a government employee in the excise department for 26 years. As part of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government's recent move to reconstitute several commissions, Mrinal Paswan was appointed as the Bihar State Scheduled Caste Commission's chairperson. Devendra Kumar Manjhi, son-in-law of HAM (S) chief and Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, was made this Commission's vice chairperson. Amid Tejashwi's bid to attack the Nitish government over nepotism, Mrinal said: 'I now hold a responsible position and would not react to any political allegations'. Hailing Chirag, he also said that he would try to redress the grievances of Dalits in his role as the SC panel head.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
On relations with Sachin Pilot, Ashok Gehlot says, 'When were we ever apart?'; hints at possible thaw with ex-deputy
NEW DELHI: Hinting at a possible thaw with his arch-nemesis and one-time deputy , and former Rajasthan chief minister on Wednesday said the two leaders were never far apart from each other. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "When were we ever far apart? The love and affection will continue to remain between us," news agency PTI quoted Gehlot as saying in Dausa, where he attended a memorial event marking the death anniversary of ex-Union minister and Sachin's father Rajesh Pilot. The ceremony, which included a tribute and an exhibition on Rajesh Pilot's life and legacy, was attended by several Congress leaders including Congress' Rajasthan in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa; its state unit chief Govind Singh Dotasra; leader of opposition in Rajasthan assembly Tikaram Jully, and others. The Gehlot-Pilot feud dates back to December 2018, when Congress unseated BJP from power in the western state. As the-then state Congress chief, the latter was widely credited with the victory. However, the grand old party picked Gehlot for chief minister, while Pilot was made deputy CM. In July 2020, Pilot led an unsuccessful rebellion against Gehlot, who managed to save his government. However, the Congress removed Pilot both as deputy CM and its Rajasthan unit head.
Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Proud of manner in which multi-party delegations put India's voice forward: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday praised the work of multi-party delegations that travelled to over 30 countries in the recent weeks to convey India's position on terrorism in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. The delegations, involving over 50 members including sitting parliamentarians, former lawmakers, and diplomats, was intended to project a message of national unity and reaffirm India's commitment to global peace. 'Met members of the various delegations who represented India in different countries and elaborated on India's commitment to peace and the need to eradicate the menace of terrorism,' Modi said in a post on X. 'We are all proud of the manner in which they put forward India's voice.' The delegations visited 33 foreign capitals and the European Union. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had previously met with the members and commended their efforts, stating that they had effectively conveyed India's strong position against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Four delegations were led by MPs of the ruling alliance, including two from the BJP, one from JD(U) and one from Shiv Sena, while three were led by opposition MPs, one each of the Congress, DMK and NCP(SP). BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijyant Panda, Congress' Shashi Tharoor, JD(U)'s Sanjay Jha, Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde, DMK's Kanimozhi, and NCP (SP)'s Supriya Sule led their delegations to different parts of the world. The government had sent the multi-party delegations to portray a message of national unity in the fight against terrorism, with the likes of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi joining the ruling alliance members in conveying the Indian cause abroad. Prominent former parliamentarians in the delegations included ex-Union ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Salman Khurshid. 'We apprised the Prime Minister of the overwhelming support extended by these friendly nations for India's resolute fight against terrorism and our unwavering commitment to global peace,' Shinde, who led the delegation to the United Arab Emirates, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, said in a post on X. 'The Prime Minister lauded our efforts and shared his inspiring vision for enhancing India's stature on the world stage,' he added. 'His words have further motivated us to work tirelessly for the nation.'
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi to meet Operation Sindoor multi-party delegations on June 10
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet members of multi-party delegations, who had travelled to world capitals to convey India's stand following Operation Sindoor, on Tuesday evening, sources said. Official sources said the members will be sharing their feedback with the prime minister, whose government has praised the work of the seven delegations comprising over 50 persons, mostly current MPs. Former parliamentarians and ex-diplomats were also part of these delegations that visited 33 foreign capitals and the European Union. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already met the delegations and praised their efforts in conveying India's strong stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Four delegations were led by MPs of the ruling alliance, including two from the BJP, one JD(U) and one of Shiv Sena, while three were led by opposition MPs, one each of the Congress, DMK and NCP(SP). The government sent the multi-party delegations to portray a message of national unity in the fight against terrorism, with the likes of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi joining the ruling alliance members in championing the Indian cause abroad. Prominent former parliamentarians in the delegations included ex-Union ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Salman Khurshid.
