Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Union Minister Smriti Irani held a special interaction with businessmen in Bengaluru, Karnataka on April 05. In this special meeting, she urged the audience to vote for BJP in order to make India a developed country and the third-largest economy in the world. She also took a dig at the opposition, the Gandhi family and their politics over the years. She went ahead and also criticized them for rejecting the invitation to the inauguration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. During her address, the Union Minister took a jibe at the opposition and said “Gandhi family looted and cheated the citizens of India by smiling and clicking pictures.” She lambasted Rahul Gandhi for his divide India statements and for taking help of a terrorist organization’s leader’s support to win the election. She further said, “Our ancestors had seen those days when, if they needed a phone or gas cylinder then they had to be familiar with a politician and they don’t want today’s youth to face the same."
06 April,2024 02:10 PM IST
Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani while addressing Namo Yuva Mahasammelan in Nagpur, challenged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. She asked Rahul Gandhi to choose a ground where BJP’s Yuva Morcha will be debating on 10 years (of UPA rule) and PM Modi’s 10 years of tenure. Smriti Irani said, “Every Ram devotee who has shown patience (for Ayodhya Ram temple), it is time to show patience again. We will be provoked, some will be deepfake. If Rahul Gandhi is listening to me, then you chosoe a field, we will give you workers. Let’s debate on your (Rahul Gandhi) 10 years (of UPA rule) and PM Modi’s 10 years of tenure. If any worker of BJP Yuva Morcha starts speaking then he cannot say a single word against them.”
05 March,2024 12:54 PM IST
Six members of an independent fact-finding committee, on their way to Sandeshkhali, were arrested at Bhojerhat in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on February 25. Following the arrest, the committee members were brought to PHQ Lal Bazaar Kolkata. The Fact-Finding Committee members were stopped by police at Bhojerhat, South 24 Parganas, while they were proceeding to the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas to investigate alleged incidents of atrocities and Sandeshkhali violence on women there. Saikat Ghosh, Deputy Commissioner, Bhangar Division, Kolkata Police, said while speaking to the media, “We were requesting them to not cross from here, but they were trying to break the police barricade unlawfully. So, we had to arrest them under Preventive Sections. If there is information of a ‘breach of peace’, police can arrest them under preventive sections.” Narasimha Reddy, Former Chief Justice of Patna High Court, said, “We sat here but it seems they've a problem with this also. Now, we will seek the appointment of the governor and explain the situation to him. Later we'll talk about this to the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi...”
25 February,2024 06:32 PM IST
Tensions remained high in the region on Feb 23 as protests flared up for a 10th consecutive day in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali. Locals of Sandeshkhali and BJP’s Mahila Morcha on Feb 23 protested against the TMC Govt in the Bermajur village of the region. The protestors are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides. A clash broke out between locals and the police after the police halted the protest. Some female villagers got injured during the Sandeshkhali Violence. Falguni Patra, West Bengal BJP Mahila Morcha President also protested against the Police in Bermajur village. "The people who are being looted, Police are committing atrocities against them. This is the truth of Bengal...nobody is safe...we are being stopped from going there because they don't want the truth to come out...women here are trying to speak to us but Police are scaring them away," said Falguni Patra.
24 February,2024 01:58 PM IST
BJP MP and Union Minister Smriti Irani performed 'Griha Pravesh' rituals along with her husband Zubin Irani at their new residence in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. Griha Pravesh is a Hindu ritual that encompasses a puja ceremony on an auspicious muhurta when a person moves into a new house. Visuals emerged of Smriti Irani Griha Pravesh ceremony where she was seen performing rituals along with her husband. In 2019, the minister announced that she would get a permanent house in Amethi, Uttar Pradesh. She has challenged Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi seat this Lok Sabha Elections 2024. Notably, Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani in the 2019 elections from Amethi.
22 February,2024 03:55 PM IST
Union Minister Subhas Sarkar on Feb 20 said that Bengal people want presidential rule in the state amid the Sandeshkhali violence. Subhas Sarkar said, “People in West Bengal wants Presidential rule to be implemented in the state. NCW chief Rekha Sharma also suggested the same. He (Suvendu Adhikari) should have gone that’s why he went. No one is being allowed to go there. There is no democracy in the state.”
21 February,2024 06:06 PM IST
Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked CM Mamata Banerjee over Sandeshkhali violence in a recently held press conference. While attacking Mamata Banerjee, Ravi Shankar Prasad said “to save her political reputation, a woman CM is risking the honour of women, and she will have to pay for it.” He further said, “Sandeskhali issue is serious...What is emerging about the blatant assault, humiliating treatment and sexual assault of women is a shame on our society and democracy. Mamata Banerjee is still defending it. Why?...One journalist was also arrested. What does Mamata Banerjee want to hide, and why? To save her political reputation, a woman CM is risking the honour of women. Why? Where has her conscience died?...Why are the parties silent? I heard that a woman leader of the CPI(M) visited the area but the CPI(M) has not opposed it (the incident), it has not made a public comment. Rahul Gandhi is silent.”
21 February,2024 04:22 PM IST
On 20th of February, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra’ reached UP’s Raebareli. Congress and BJP workers confronted each other with loud slogans during the rally. During his speech, Rahul Gandhi made a derogatory remark that sparked controversy. While addressing the public in Amethi, he said that "the youths of UP were on a trip after boozing by night. I went to Varanasi and I saw people lying on roads drunk. Furious by his remark BJP workers purified Rahul Gandhi’s speech area with ‘Ganga Jal’. On the other hand, UP Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh lambasted Rahul Gandhi and also appealed to him to apologize. Meanwhile, agitated WCD Minister Smriti Irani raised questions on Congress MP’s upbringing. Notably, a massive protest was staged by BJP workers during his rally in Amethi too on Feb 19. Carrying Lord Rama’s flags, the workers raised ‘Modi-Modi’, ‘Jai Shree Ram’ and ‘Rahul Gandhi Go Back’ slogans.
21 February,2024 11:42 AM IST
National Commission for Women's (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma met CV Ananda Bose in Kolkata on Feb 19 amid the Sandeshkhali violence issue. She demanded the arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan. Addressing at a Press Conference held after the meeting with Governor, Rekha Sharma said, “Today I visited Sandeshkhali and several women came forward and complained about molestation...Those who sit far away and comment that it is a political agenda should once visit here... A home has been built by the Governor for the women of Sandeshkhali. Those who feel that they are not safe in their homes can come here and live... The demand of the women of Sandeshkhali is safety and we will ensure that. I want to request the state police to work without getting afraid and by staying away from the political agenda. In the state, the police are not able to work. They can't do anything without a political agenda despite their willingness to work. Only two people have been arrested, we want the main culprit Shahjahan should be arrested.”“She (Mamata Banerjee) should resign from her post and should go there (Sandeshkhali) as a woman, then she will be able to see the pain of the people,” she added.
20 February,2024 12:44 PM IST | Mumbai
On the Sandeshkhali horror, veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty expressed his anguish over the incident. Union Minister of State of Social Justice Pratima Bhoumik on February 18 attacked West Bengal Chief Minister saying that Mamata Banerjee has made thousands of ‘Sandeshkhali’ in West Bengal. Speaking to ANI, she said, “Sandeshkhali is just one but Mamata Banerjee has made thousands of 'Sandeshkhali' in West Bengal. Women of Sandeshkhali have courageously shown the exploitation they're facing. We also tried to go there but were allowed only till Rampur then stopped. West Bengal police are working as TMC cadres. The situation in Sandeshkahali isn't good. I want to assure them (women of Sandeshkhali) that we are with you and they don't need to fear. We’ll submit the report tomorrow.”
18 February,2024 01:15 PM ISTADVERTISEMENT
