Bharatiya Janata Party Archives

Manik Saha: Man Who Steered BJP To Power In Tripura Again

By LokMarg 7th March 2023

Manik Saha, a dentist-turned-politician who steered the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to come to power in Tripura for a consecutive term, is all set to become the Chief Minister of the northeast state for the second time.

Prior to becoming the Chief Minister, Saha was a Rajya Sabha MP and chief of the party in the state.

The change of guard took place last year when Saha replaced Biplab Kumar Deb to steer the party in the Assembly polls amid a multi-cornered contest in the northeast state.

Saha, a dental surgeon, joined the BJP in 2016 after quitting Congress. He was made party chief in 2020 and elected to Rajya Sabha in March 2022.

After BJP’s victory in the recently-held Tripura Assembly polls, Manik Saha will take oath as the Chief Minister of the northeast state for the second time on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda will attend the swearing-in ceremony tomorrow. The mega event will be held at Swami Vivekananda Maidan in Agartala.

Amit Shah and Nadda already arrived in Agartala on Tuesday. They were received at Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport by Manik Saha.

Chief Minister-designate Manik Saha on Monday called on Governor Satyadeo Narain Arya to stake claim to form the government in the Northeast state.

Earlier on Monday, there was a general meeting of all the newly elected BJP MLAs who unanimously proposed the name of Manik Saha for the leader of the legislature party.

“My sincere gratitude to all for electing me as the leader of the legislature party. Under the guidance of PM Narendra Modi ji, we shall work together to build ‘Unnata Tripura, Shrestha Tripura’ and ensure the welfare of all sections of people,” tweeted Saha after the meeting.

Manik Saha on Friday submitted his resignation to Governor Satyadev Narayan Arya at Raj Bhavan in Agartala. The Governor asked him to continue until the new government is sworn in.

Speaking to the media, Saha said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend the event on March 8.

“Last time, the oath-taking ceremony took place at Assam Rifles Ground and this time it will take place at the Swami Vivekananda Maidan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will remain present in the ceremony,” Saha told reporters.

He further said that BJP president JP Nadda will also visit the state to take part in the oath-taking ceremony. “Union Home Minister Amit Shah will also be there during the Oath taking ceremony along with various other leaders of the party,” he added.

He said several chief ministers of BJP-ruled states will also join the event.

BJP returned to power in the state by winning an absolute majority.

According to the Election Commission of India, BJP won 32 seats with a vote share of around 39 per cent. Tipra Motha Party came second by winning 13 seats. Communist Party of India (Marxist) got 11 seats while Congress bagged three seats. The Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) managed to open its account by winning one seat.

The CPI(M) and the Congress, arch rivals in Kerala, came together in the Northeast this time in a bid to oust the BJP from power. The combined vote share of CPI(M) and Congress remained around 33 per cent.

Chief Minister Saha defeated Congress’ Asish Kumar Saha from the Town Bordowali seat by a margin of 1,257 votes. In the 60-member Tripura assembly, the majority mark is 31.

The BJP, which had never won a single seat in Tripura before 2018, stormed to power in the last election in alliance with IPFT and had ousted the Left Front which had been in power in the border state for 35 years since 1978.

The BJP contested on 55 seats and its ally, IPFT, on six seats. But both allies had fielded candidates in the Ampinagar constituency in the Gomati district.

The Left contested 47 and Congress on 13 seats, respectively. Of the total 47 seats, the CPM contested 43 seats while the Forward Bloc, Communist Party of India (CPI) and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) contested one seat each.

The CPI(M)-led Left Front ruled the state for nearly four decades, with a gap between 1988 and 1993 when the Congress was in power but now both parties joined hands with the intention to oust BJP from power. (ANI)

VP Dhankar Cautions On George Soros Agenda, BBC Documentary On Modi

By LokMarg 28th February 2023

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar urged Indians to be cautious of billionaire investor George Soros’ agenda and BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked them to be on guard from those “who are playing politics another way around.”

Addressing the inauguration of the Center for Innovation Facility at IIT Madras, Dhankhar said that the Supreme Court of India had given its judgement on PM Modi and his role in the 2002 Gujarat riots but “in the name of expression, can you run down the Supreme Court and the two decades of a thorough investigation.”
“For two decades. The issue was deliberated in judicial quarters. It was thoroughly investigated at all levels. The highest court of the land, the highest court of the largest democracy, pronounced on all fronts in 2022. Finally, we have a narrative being set up, float by a documentary. And some people say this is an expression, saying the name of the expression can you run down by Supreme Court? Can you run down two decades of thorough investigation? This is playing politics the other way around. When people choose to play politics the other way around, the young minds here and outside are intellectually equipped to challenge them.”

He further stated that there was one gentleman, who was using some money, and power. “He has some backers, he has some beneficiaries, he has some fiscal parasites. And they talk about our country’s democracy. I have been appalled, and pained. How can a sane mind compare us with a southern country without neighbours?” Vice President wondered.

Earlier, at the Munich Security Conference, Soros said, “Adani is accused of stock manipulation and his stock collapsed like a house of cards. Modi is silent on the subject, but he will have to answer questions from foreign investors and in Parliament.”

Terming Modi and Adani as “close allies,” whose “fate is intertwined”, the 92-year-old billionaire investor said, “This will significantly weaken Modi’s stranglehold on India’s federal government and open the door to push for much-needed institutional reforms.” “I may be naive, but I expect a democratic revival in India,” Soros said in his remarks delivered at the 2023 Munich Security Conference.

“I would therefore appeal to you if you have to take this country to 2047, vindicate the trust of the Founding Fathers, Please be on guard. Those who play politics, the other way around. They need to be combated and neutralized, and they must face your rational salvos,” Vice President added.

UK’s National broadcaster BBC aired a two-part series attacking PM Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The documentary sparked outrage and was removed from select platforms. (ANI)

No Scope Of Complacency, Take Budget To Masses: Modi Tells MPs

By LokMarg 7th February 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs not to show any complacency and reach out to people on the ground.

Prime Minister Modi participated in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday. BJP national president JP Nadda felicitated Prime Minister on arriving for the meeting.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was also felicitated by Nadda for presenting the Union Budget 2023.

The weekly meeting of the BJP in the Parliament takes place every Tuesday when the House is in function.

Addressing fellow party MPs, PM Modi lauded his government’s effort to bring in a budget at a very difficult time, said sources.

He said the budget has something for every stratum of society. PM asked party MPs to take the budget to the people.

“It is a huge responsibility on behalf of the MPs to talk about the budget to their constituency and tell people what is in the budget for them and how this budget comes in at a time in the world is going through a major economic crisis,” sources said quoting PM Modi.

Prime Minister also asked BJP MPs to continue participating in various activities, including contests and sports to reach out to the youth and also to reach out to people in border district areas.

“Even if the BJP has been able to get a majority in 2014 and 2019 and public at large is happy with the efforts of the party. But, there is no scope for any complacency, and one must keep ear to the ground,” PM advised to party MPs.

The budget session of Parliament started on January 31 this year with the joint Address by President Droupadi Murmu. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget 2023-24 on February 1.

Since then there has been no business in Parliament because of the continued logjam over the Adani issue. The Opposition has demanded that the government should come up and respond in Parliament about the Adani stock issue following which disruption has been witnessed in both Houses.

Opposition parties are demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the allegations of stock manipulation against the Adani Group.

The opposition parties also held a meeting on Tuesday to “decide the day’s strategy” regarding their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) into the Adani Issue.

However, the opposition parties are expected to end the deadlock in the Parliament today. After placing their demands, they can participate in the discussion on the President’s address, the final decision will be taken in the meeting of the opposition parties on Tuesday. (ANI)

Modi, Shah Pay Tribute To Mahatma Gandhi On Martyrs’ Day

By LokMarg 30th January 2023

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary and also remembered those who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation.

The Prime Minister said that the sacrifices of the martyrs will keep strengthening the country’s resolve to strive for a developed India.
“I bow to Bapu on his Punya Tithi and recall his profound thoughts. I also pay homage to all those who have been martyred in the service of our nation. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten and will keep strengthening our resolve to work for a developed India,” PM Modi tweeted.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also paid tributes to Gandhi and said that he inspired the country to make it Atmanirbhar.

“Millions of salutes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary, who inspired us to make the country Atmanirbhar by following the path of indigenous and self-reliance. It would be a true tribute to Gandhi ji to adopt the ideas of cleanliness, indigenous and self-language of respected Bapu in the Amrit Kaal,” Shah tweeted (roughly translated from Hindi).

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh bowed down to Mahatma Gandhi in tribute and said that the path shown by him for world peace is relevant even today.

“I bow down to respected Bapu on his death anniversary and pay my humble tributes. The path shown by him for world peace and India’s progress is very relevant even today. Due to his inspiration, the construction of a new and self-reliant India is progressing today,” Singh tweeted in Hindi.

Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda, in his tribute said that the Mahatma paved the way for peace and welfare of humanity through truth and non-violence.

“I bow down on his death anniversary to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who paved the way for peace and welfare of humanity through truth and non-violence. Your ideal life and welfare thoughts will always inspire us to serve the nation and society,” Nadda tweeted roughly translated from Hindi).

Martyrs’ Day, which is also known as Shaheed Diwas, is observed on January 30 every year in the country to pay tributes to the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation. (ANI)

Tripura Polls: Jolt To Oppo As Former State TMC Chief, CPI(M) Leader Join BJP

By LokMarg 27th January 2023

In a major jolt to the Opposition in Tripura ahead of the Assembly polls, former Tripura TMC chief Subal Bhowmik and CPI(M) leader from the state Moboshar Ali joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in the national capital on Friday.

Chief Minister Manik Saha was also present on the occasion.
The Chief Minister, on the occasion, welcomed the leaders into the party and said that they will strengthen the party.

“In wake of the upcoming polls, the joining of these two leaders will strengthen the party. Owing to the BJP leadership both at the Centre and in the State, there is a lot of public support and trust in us. BJP will definitely form the Government in Tripura once again,” Saha said.

Addressing after assuming the primary membership of the party, Bhowmik lauded the development in the Northeast during the past eight years and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the region to the international forum.

“After PM Modi came to power at the Centre, Tripura has been recognized and development of the state has taken place. The work of 6 National Highways is underway in a small state like Tripura. Tripura has also got an international airport under the leadership of the Prime Minister. PM Modi took the Northeast to the international platform,” he said.

Stating that the two leaders will work for the further development of the state, Bhowmik exuded confidence that the BJP will repeat its government in Tripura.

“The Northeast has got an emotional connection with the Prime Minister. We are glad that we have joined the development of Tripura today. We will further develop Tripura. I have confidence that the BJP will repeat its government in Tripura with a thumping majority,” he said.

The BJP is likely to finalize the names of the candidates for the Tripura Assembly polls in the party’s election committee meeting which was held today in the national capital.

The Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in Tripura on February 16 this year. (ANI)

PFI Has ‘Killer Squads’ To Establish Islamic Rule By 2047: NIA Chargesheet

By LokMarg 21st January 2023

As part of its agenda to create terror, communal hatred, and unrest in society and to further its agenda of establishing Islamic rule in India by 2047, the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) formed secret teams called ‘Service Teams’ or ‘Killer Squads’ to carry out killings of its ‘perceived enemies’ and targets.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) made these revelations in a charge sheet filed on Friday before a special court in Bengaluru pertaining to the killing of BJP’s Yuva Morcha district committee member Praveen Nettaru on July 26 last year in Bellare village of Sullia Taluk in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district. Nettaz was killed in full public view with lethal weapons to create terror among the people at large and especially among members of a particular community.

The charge sheet, which was filed against 20 PFI members, further mentions that “these ‘Service Team’ members were given arms as well attack training and surveillance techniques training in order to identify, list out and to mount surveillance on individuals and leaders belonging to certain communities and groups”.

“These ‘Service Team’ members were further trained to assault and kill identified targets on the instructions of senior PFI leaders,” said the NIA in the charge sheet.

In furtherance of conspiracy meetings by PFI members and leaders held at Bengaluru city, Sullia Town and Bellare village, said the charge sheet, adding “the head of district Service Team Mustafa Paichar was instructed to recce, identify and target a prominent member of a particular community”.

“As per instructions, four persons were recced and identified, and among them, Praveen Nettaru, who was a BJP Yuva Morcha member, was assaulted and killed on July 26 last year in full public view with lethal weapons to create terror among the people at large and especially among members of a particular community,” mentions the charge-sheet.

Of the 20 charge-sheeted PFI members, six are absconding and rewards have been declared for information leading to their arrest in the case.

The accused persons have been charge-sheeted under various sections of 120B, 153A, 302, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 16, 18 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and Section 25(1)(a) of Arms Act.

Mahammed Shiyab, Abdul Basheer, Riyaz, Mustafa Paichar, Masud KA, Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, Abubakar Siddik, Noufal M, Ismail Shafi K, K Mahammad Iqbal, Shaheed M, Mahammad Shafeek G, Ummar Farook M R, Abdul Kabeer CA, Muhammad Ibrahim Sha, Sainul Abid Y, Shekh Saddam Hussain, Zakiar A, N Abdul Haris, Thufail MH have been charge-sheeted in the case.

Among the charge-sheeted accused, Mustafa Paichar, Masud KA, Kodaje Mohammed Sherif, Abubakkar Siddik, Ummar Farook MR, and Thufail MH are currently absconding and rewards have been declared for information leading to their arrest.

The case was initially registered on July 27 by at Bellare Police Station of Dakshina Kannada district and re-registered by the NIA on August 4 last year.

The Home Ministry in September banned the PFI, its associates, and affiliates for a period of five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 by declaring it as an unlawful association.

Besides involvement in Nettaru’s murder, the PFI cadres are also accused of involvement in several terrorist acts and the murder of several persons, including Sanjith (Kerala, November 2021), V Ramalingam (Tamil Nadu, 2019), Nandu (Kerala, 2021), Abhimanyu (Kerala, 2018), Bibin (Kerala, 2017), Sharath (Kamataka, 2017), R Rudresh (Kamataka, 2016), Praveen Puyari (Karnataka, 2016), and Sasi Kumar (Tamil Nadu, 2016). (ANI)

Crores Will Be Recovered If BJP Leaders Are Raided: TMC’s Santanu Sen

By LokMarg 13th January 2023

Crores of rupees will be recovered if houses of Bharatiya Janata Party national and West Bengal leaders are raided, claimed Trinamool Congress MP Santanu Sen on Friday.

Sen’s remarks came a day after nearly Rs 15 crore cash was recovered, according to the officials, in a raid from the factories and house of TMC MLA and former minister Jakir Hossain in West Bengal’s Murshidabad and other places.
Speaking to ANI, Sen hit out at the BJP and alleged political vendetta as a cause behind the raids.

“Jakir Hossain is a businessman and money can be kept for business purpose, it’s not a big deal. Hossain should be allowed to speak in front of media rather than socially maligning,” he said.

The TMC leader further alleged that the judiciary is “not safe” under the BJP.

Reacting to BJP MP Soumitra Khan’s remarks on Swami Vivekananda, comparing him with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sen alleged that the BJP leader is insecure about his position as an MP.

“You are talking about a person who has fought election three times with three different political parties’ symbols. I think he is insecure about his MP position for 2024. Why is he acting like a brownie comparing an international icon with someone political? It is unbelievable. There are internal politics which is going on inside BJP to become brownie and blue-eyed boys. Soumitra Khan is doing this,” he said.

Khan had said that Prime Minister is the reincarnation of Vivekananda.

“PM Narendra Modi is the reincarnation of Swami Vivekananda in a new form. Swami Vivekananda is a god-like figure for us. Seeing the way PM Modi is serving the country and its people, it can be said that he is the Swami Vivekananda of modern India,” said Khan.

This came on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda’s 149th birth anniversary which is being observed as Swami Vivekananda Jayanti across the country. (ANI)

2024 LS Polls: BJP’S OBC Morcha To Launch Campaign ‘Gao-Gao Chalo, Ghar-Ghar Chalo’

By LokMarg 5th January 2023

As the countdown for the Lok Sabha elections due next year began with the start of 2023, the BJP has stepped up its preparations to reach out to all sections of society. The party’s OBC Morcha has decided to launch the ‘Gaon-Gaon Chalo, Ghar-Ghar Chalo’ program in March-April.

According to the sources, the OBC Morcha, an important part of the BJP, has started putting in efforts to reach out to the voters of the nine states that will go to Assembly elections this year.
The Assembly elections are scheduled this year in Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana.

“With the support of the OBC community, the BJP wants to form the government in the states because there is 40 to 50 per cent participation of the OBC community in all the states and the Centre,” a source said.

“The OBC Morcha will start the ‘Gaon-Gaon Chalo Ghar Ghar Chalo’ programme in the middle of March-April keeping in view the elections. Through this programme, OBC people be informed about the work done by the government for them which include decisions like 27 per cent reservation being given in NEET, and reservation being given in central education schemes,” the source added.

All the decisions pertaining to further preparations will be taken at the meeting of the OBC National Working Committee.

“All the office bearers will go to every village and distribute these achievements to the people through pamphlets,” the source said.

There will be a meeting of the national office bearers of the OBC Morcha in Haryana at the end of January in which decisions will be taken on the number of villages to be visited, the chunk of people to be contacted etc.

“The OBC morcha believes that since PM Modi came to power, the pride of OBC society has been restored and they are happy. The government has introduced many important schemes for the community. The OBC Morcha is continuously meeting intellectuals, and all BJP committees and are also engaging in public relations campaigns,” the source said.

The OBC Morcha has been given the responsibility of reaching out to the community in all the states. The Morcha members have already travelled to 25 states. It will soon travel to Jammu Kashmir and the Northeast as well. (ANI)

BJP’s Ideology Is Self-Centered: Mamata

By LokMarg 3rd January 2023

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said that the BJP’s ideology is to be “self-centered” while her party Trinamool Congress abides by the Constitution.

Addressing a convention of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers in Kolkata, Banerjee said, “CPI (M) and BJP belong to the same team…BJP’s ideology is to be self-centered…Our compulsion is to obey the Constitution. But today history, geography, and politics are being forgotten; education and culture are being changed,”
The TMC supremo spoke on Trinamool Congress’ vision as it completed 25 years on January 1, and said “the party aims at a united India with a strengthened federal structure”.

On Sunday, she took to Twitter on the occasion of the 25th foundation day of the Trinamool Congress and congratulated everyone for believing in the power of Maa, Maati, and Manush (mother, soil, and people).

She also recalled the party’s struggle through the years and the role played by the party workers in empowering people, fighting injustice, and inspiring hope among the masses.

“This day, 25 years ago, TMC came into existence. I recall our struggles through the years & the role we have played in empowering people, fighting injustice, and inspiring hope. I heartily congratulate everyone for believing in the power of MAA, MAATI, MANUSH,” tweeted Mamata.

Trinamool Congress was created over Mamata’s difference from the Congress. She left Congress and formed TMC on January 1, 1998. TMC which emerged as a regional party was elevated to a national Party in 2016.

The party ended the 34-year left regime in West Bengal in 2011 and has been in power since then, winning three consecutive assembly elections.

Currently, it is the third largest party in the parliament after BJP and the Congress with 23 members in the Lok Sabha and 13 in the Rajya Sabha. (ANI)

Thand Se Dar Nahi Lagta, Says Rahul On T-shirt Row

By LokMarg 31st December 2022

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday tackled the “T-shirt” controversy that appears to have taken the centre stage after he marched into Delhi borders on December 24 leading his Bharat Jodo Yatra with just a white T-shirt and trousers amid severe cold conditions.

Speaking to the media, the Congress MP gave an amusing response when quizzed on his winter woolen choices as the national capital saw mercury hover between 7 and 4 degrees Celsius over the past week.
In a light-hearted conversation with reporters, the Wayanad MP said that he is thinking of wearing a sweater once he starts feeling cold.

While addressing the press conference, Rahul Gandhi said, “Why is there so much hullabaloo over a T-shirt? I do not wear a sweater because I am not scared of winter. I am thinking of wearing a sweater once I start feeling cold.”

It is not like only social media users and others have raised the T-shirt issue, but several videos doing rounds have purportedly shown his mother and former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi questioning him on his winter wardrobe.

Rahul Gandhi also said he considers the Bharatiya Janata Party as his “guru” (teacher) as the BJP shows him a roadmap and teaches him “what should never be done”.

Addressing a press conference, the Wayanad MP said, “I want them (BJP) to attack us aggressively, this will help the Congress party understand its ideology. I consider them (BJP) as my Guru, they are showing me the way and training me on what is not to be done.”

While talking about the Bharat Jodo Yatra which entered New Delhi on December 24 before taking a nine-day break, he said, “When I started this, I just took it as an ordinary yatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Slowly we understood that this yatra has a voice & feelings.”

“The doors of Bharat Jodo Yatra are open for everyone, we are not going to stop anyone from joining us. Akhilesh ji, Mayawati ji, and others want “Mohabbat ka Hindustan”,” he said in an open invite to the other parties of the opposition ahead of the 2024 general elections.

Rahul Gandhi’s mass contacting campaign, Bharat Jodo Yatra, was issued cautionary notes by the Centre amid a rise in COVID-19 cases across neighboring countries.

So far, the Yatra, which started from Kanyakumari on September 7, has covered parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra, and Haryana.

It is the longest march on foot by any Indian politician in the history of India, the Congress has claimed.

With this yatra, Rahul Gandhi aims to mobilize the party cadre and unite the general public against the BJP’s “divisive politics in the country”. (ANI)