BJP Leader Archives - Lokmarg

Love Believes In No Barriers: Pankaja Munde On ‘Love Jihad’

By LokMarg 11th June 2023

Responding to a media query on ‘love jihad’, BJP leader Pankaja Munde said on Sunday it wasn’t on the agenda of the central government.

Addressing a press conference in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, Munde said, “…I believe love is love. Love believes in no barrier. If two people have come together purely out of love, it should be respected. However, if a woman is tricked into an interfaith marriage, it should be seen differently.”

To a specific question on ‘love jihad’ during the press conference, the senior BJP leader said it has never been an agenda for the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“No such subject as ‘love jihad’ has even been on the agenda of the Modi government. The discussions are always centred on development and redevelopment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s focus is to put the country on the road to development and progress in the next 25 years,” said Munde.

However, on May 16, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said his government took a serious view of ‘love jihad’, ‘religious conversion’ and promotion of ‘terrorist activities’ and won’t allow such practices in the state.

CM Chouhan made the remark while speaking to reporters on the recent action taken by the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) against members associated with the radical Islamic organisation, Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), in the state capital Bhopal.

“We are getting into the depth of the facts that have come to the fore in connection with the HuT members. What is clear is that we have taken the issue of love jihad, religious conversion and promotion of terrorist activities very seriously. I want to make it clear that neither love jihad nor the vicious cycle of religious conversion would be tolerated in the state,” CM Chouhan said earlier.

He added, “Earlier, too, we had destroyed SIMI’s (Students’ Islamic Movement of India) network in the state and will not tolerate such activities at any cost. The investigation into the arrest of HuT members is underway. Madhya Pradesh ATS is working along with the central agencies in this regard.”

Ahead of the Gujarat Assembly elections last year, the BJP had promised to bring a law against ‘love jihad’.

Meanwhile, underlining the key takeaways in 9 years of the central government under the leadership of PM Modi, Munde said on Sunday these years have been marked by all-round development and welfare policies. (ANI)

MPs Must Donate Salaries For Odisha Accident Victims: Varun Gandhi

By LokMarg 3rd June 2023

BJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday requested all the parliamentarians to donate a part of their salary to the families of those who lost their relatives in the Odisha train mishap.

“Orissa train accident is heartbreaking! We have to stand like a rock with the families who are broken by this accident. I request all fellow parliamentarians to come forward to help the bereaved families by donating a part of their salary. First, they get support, then justice,” Varun Gandhi said in a tweet.

Seventeen coaches of two passenger trains were de-railed on Friday evening in Odisha, when Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and a goods train collided at Bahanaga Bazar Station in Balasore district.

According to the latest estimates, at least 288 people have been killed and over 1000 people are injured.

The injured passengers were admitted to hospitals in Gopalpur, Khantapara, Balasore, Bhadrak and Soro of Odisha.

Seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Teams, five Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) Units and 24 Fire Services and Emergency Units are engaged in rescue operations.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed Mi-17 helicopters for the evacuation of the deceased and injured. According to the Eastern Command, IAF is coordinating the rescue efforts with the civil administration and Indian Railways.

Also, the Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the site and directed a “high level” probe and said measures will be taken to ensure such incidents do not take place in future.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also visited the accident site to take stock of the situation. (ANI)

No BJP Leader Can Walk In J-K: Rahul In Srinagar

By LokMarg 30th January 2023

A day after daring Union Home Minister Amit Shah to walk from Jammu to Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday claimed that no BJP leader can take a walk on the streets of Kashmir not because the people would not allow them to do so, but because they are scared.

Rahul Gandhi had on Sunday dared Amit Shah and other BJP leaders to take a walk from Jammu to Lal Chowk if the situation is so good in the Union Territory.
“Target killing and bomb blasts are happening in Jammu and Kashmir and if the security situation has improved then the conversation the security personnel is having with me should not have been required. If the situation is so good why don’t the BJP people walk from Jammu to Lal Chowk? Why doesn’t Amit Shah walk from Jammu to Kashmir if the situation is so secure? I don’t think that argument holds,” Congress MP had said.

Reiterating his remark during the closing ceremony of the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Srinagar where the party hoisted the Tricolour at its office, Rahul Gandhi alleged that leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah cannot understand pain.

“PM Modi, Amit Shah, and RSS have not seen violence. We walked here for four days. I can guarantee you that no BJP leader can walk like this here, not because the people of J-K will not let them walk, but because they are scared,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“Those who do violence like PM Modi, Amit Shah, Ajit Doval, and RSS, cannot understand pain, but we can. We should stand against the ideology which tries to demolish the base of India,” he said.

He also claimed that the security personnel suggested he to go to Kashmir in a vehicle and not on foot during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, and said that Mahatma Gandhi taught him to live fearlessly and hence walked on foot.

“Security people had told me to go to Kashmir in a vehicle and not on foot. 3-4 days back, the administration told me that if I go on foot, a grenade would be hurled at me. I thought to give an opportunity to those who hate me, to change the color of my white t-shirt to red,” Gandhi said.

“My family taught me, and Gandhi ji taught me to live fearlessly, otherwise, that is not living. But it happened just as I expected, the people of J&K didn’t give me a grenade but only love,” he said.

Congress had earlier claimed a security lapse in the Bharat Jodo Yatra which had entered Kashmir last week.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the police personnel who were supposed to manage the crowd during the Yatra were nowhere to be seen. (ANI)

Gujarat Polls: BJP’s Alpesh Thakor Files Nomination

By LokMarg 17th November 2022

BJP leader Alpesh Thakor on Thursday filed his nomination from Gandhinagar South Assembly constituency in the “Abhijit Muhurat” (auspicious period).

According to sources, the timing of Thakor’s nomination was set as per ‘Abhijit Muhurat’, an auspicious muhurat calculated to bring good results.
Since the word ‘Abhijit’, itself, means ‘victorious’, any activity initiated during the “Abhijit Muhurta” is believed to go well and even bring victories. It is the ideal muhurat (time as per the stars) to initiate any activity, as per astrological beliefs.

Thakor filed his nomination papers in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.

On the triangular fight in Gujarat, Thakor said, “We have no challengers. The Congress does not have any issue to fight the polls on. They only indulge in caste politics.”

After the nomination, Thakor told ANI, “The people of Gujarat are with us. They believe and have trust in BJP. We are working on protection and development in Gujarat. I am sure that the south Gandhinagar people have faith in me.”

On what he would do for the people of his constituency, if elected, Thakor, who is the BJP’s Other Backward Class (OBC) face in the state polls, said, “We will work to take all welfare schemes of the central government and their benefits to the OBCs.”

BJP has fielded Lavingji Thakor from Radhanpur while VJ Jhala has been given the ticket from Himatnagar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been Gujarat’s longest-serving chief minister from 2001 to 2014, is the top campaigner for the BJP ahead of the December 1 and 5 Assembly polls.

Gujarat has been a BJP stronghold for a long period and the party has set its sights on returning to power with a handsome majority this time as well.

However, it faces a stiff electoral challenge from the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has named Isudan Gadhvi as its chief ministerial candidate.

Congress is also hoping to put its best electoral foot forward to unseat the BJP government.

The counting of votes for Gujarat, along with that of Himachal Pradesh, which went to polls on November 12, will take place on December 8. (ANI)

Ankita Bhandari Murder: Locals Burn Down Aryas Resort in Rishikesh

By LokMarg 24th September 2022

The Vanatara resort in Rishikesh owned by expelled BJP leader Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit Arya, who is an accused in the Ankita Bhandari murder case, was set on fire by angry locals on Saturday.

Anger over the horrific crime poured onto streets in other parts of Uttarakhand as well as locals jammed the bus station in Pauri. Protestors also gheraoed District Magistrate’s office in Pauri.

In Rishikesh, locals protested against BJP MLA Renu Bisht and vandalized her car. The MLA had to be escorted away by the police to safety.

Locals also set the Vanatara resort in Rishikesh on fire. The resort is owned by BJP leader Vinod Arya’s son Pulkit Arya. Three accused, including Pulkit, have been arrested in the murder case.

The body of 19-year-old Ankita Bhandari who was reported missing a few days ago was also recovered on Saturday from the Chilla canal in Rishikesh. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to be formed to probe the case.

“The body of daughter Ankita was recovered this morning. This heartbreaking incident deeply pains my heart,” Dhami tweeted.

“In order to ensure the harshest punishment for the culprits, an SIT has been formed under the leadership of Deputy Inspector General of Police P. Renuka Devi ji and ordered an in-depth investigation of this serious matter,” Dhami wrote.

The development comes after three persons, including Pulkit Arya, were arrested on Friday after they confessed to having pushed Ankita into the canal after an altercation.

Additional Superintendent of Police Shekhar Suyal said today “The deceased’s brother and father were here and they identified the body. The body found at the barrage is of Ankita Bhandari.”

“The search operation was going on from 7 am, we took out the body of a woman, her relatives came here and identified it as the body of Ankita Bhandari. The body has been taken to AIIMS in Rishikesh,” said a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) official.

While talking to ANI, Chief Minister Dhami said, “Strictest action will be taken against all the culprits, regarding this, we have formed SIT under the leadership of DIG P Renuka Devi, which will get to the bottom of the whole matter, investigate it and work to bring the culprits to justice. The perpetrators will not be spared.”

On Friday Uttarakhand authorities had also bulldozed portions at the Vanatara Resort owned by Pulkit, where Ankita Bhandari was working as a receptionist.

CM Dhami said that district magistrates have been ordered to take action against all resorts inside Uttarakhand which have illegal construction. (ANI)