West Delhi MP sparks row with demand for SIT for action on Masjids on 'Govt land'

Actions to be taken against those not vacating 'designated accommodation': Hardeep Puri

New Delhi, Jul 31 The government on Wednesday asserted that firm actions will be taken against people "no matter who they are" and are continuing not to vacate the government bungalows allocated to them under 'designation accommodation' scheme.

"Designated accommodation is only meant for certain specified people. If certain families choose to keep on to a house or certain officials do it, I will not subscribe to that. I assure the House that if some people are utilizing loopholes in the system to do that, we will move against those people, no matter who they are, whether officials or Members of Parliament," Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said in Lok Sabha during the debate on The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill.




He said such exemplary actions were required as this is what is required to ensure "equity and justice".



"So, I am very clear that that will be done," he said in reply to questions from BJP member Rajiv Pratap Rudy.


The Bill was later passed by voice vote.




Mr Puri also said he will send "written replies" to all the questions raised during the debate when several members spoke on various issues related to eviction of the government residential buildings.



"If you want, I will even circulate them because I think we have a good story to tell them; and also,
it is in the interest of full disclosure and transparency that what we are saying should be made known to all. I will be sending the replies in writing as well," Mr Puri asserted.


Among others, BJP lawmaker Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said some people have developed a habit of not vacating government bungalows.
In this context, he sought to put the blame on Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his family members for 'occupying big bungalows'.


Though Mr Verma did not take any names, his words implied that he meant Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his family members.


In contrast amid objections from some Congress members, the West Delhi lawmaker said several BJP leaders including the likes of Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and even Late Sahib Singh Verma (the lawmaker's father) had vacated their houses soon after they ceased to be authorized occupants.
"Even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's family members had vacated the official residence within four weeks of his death," Mr Verma said.



Mr Rudy said former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan also has vacated her designated residence allocated to the presiding officer of the Lower House.



West Delhi lawmaker Verma also demanded that a Special Investigation Team - SIT - be set up to take appropriate actions against mosques, graveyards and 'Mazars' those are erected on government land without proper authorisation.

New Delhi, Jul 31West Delhi BJP lawmaker Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma on Wednesday demanded that a Special Investigation Team - SIT - be set up to take appropriate actions against mosques, graveyards and 'Mazars' those are erected on government land without proper authorisation.

Participating in the debate on The Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Amendment Bill, Mr Verma said "Such things can happen only in our country...We have a culture of appeasement politics" - and said government needs to take actions against "illegal" construction of mosques, Mazaras and graveyards.

Amid strong protest from opposition members, the lawmaker said "even in my constituency and in Delhi, there are at least 500 such places where lands belonging to DDA, Delhi government and civic bodies have been encroached and there are illegal Masjids and graveyards.

"In this context, I have written to Delhi Lt Governor with a list of 54 such spots and sought actions. When I talk to other Members also, they say it is happening all over the country," Mr Verma remarked.

He said Union Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Puri should immediately set up a SIT and "I will provide you information about encroachment on land under your ministry and under DDA".

Mr Verma, son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, also said "Whenever I raise these issues, people and even media friends ask whether I will also talk about temples and Gurudwaras".

"My answer is I do raise similar questions....You give me a list of temples and Gurudwaras. If necessary take actions," he said.

Amid repeated objections from opposition members, Rajendra Agrawal, who was on the chair, said only what is being said by Mr Verma will go on record.

"When you get chance, you will get chance to make your point," Mr Agrawal told opposition members.

But in last five years, he has not found a single spot (in his constituency) where there is case of encroachment of land for construction of temples and Gurudwaras, Mr Verma said.

"These government lands could be made use for making hospitals and schools," he said.


Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress said some of the remarks from the BJP member were not in proper tone and spirit.

"Such comments are Muslim bashing.....," Mr Roy said such remarks in House are "against the Constitution of India".

Mr Agrawal, who was on the chair, remarked he will take a closer look at the records of the speech.
and whatever objectionable will be 'expunged'.

MPs clash in LS during debate on Bill that seeks earlier vacation of Govt bungalows

New Delhi, Jul 31  The Lok Sabha on Wednesday took up a bill with the government and principal opposition Congress agreeing initially that it should be passed at the earliest to facilitate vacation of government residential buildings and bungalows occupied by unauthorised occupants.

However, the members clashed during the debate on The Public Premises Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants Amendment Bill, 2019 when BJP lawmaker Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma referred to 'three members' of a family occupying government residential buildings.

Without naming anyone, his words definitely meant Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his family members.

The BJP MP also demanded government should take appropriate actions against mosques, graveyards and 'Mazars' those are erected on government land without proper papers.


Agreeing with Urban Development and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri that the Bill concerned should be approved of by the House without much debate, Congress floor leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said - "I do not find any substantiate argument to oppose it".


Earlier, Mr Puri said the government has been "very tolerant" to those who have not vacated the houses and that includes former Members of Parliament also.

"These people need to be encouraged, the word encouraged within quotes," Mr Puri said.

Mr Puri lamented that people under various categories "even after they cease to be authorized occupant" make delay in vacating the government allocated residential buildings.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, however, narrated his own experience and said the estate officers should not be authorized with unbridled power to decide on the disputes.

However, BJP lawmaker Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma said some people have developed a habit of not vacating government bungalows.

In this context, he sought to put the blame on Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his family members for 'occupying big bungalows'.

In contrast amid objections from some Congress members, the West Delhi lawmaker said several BJP leaders including the likes of Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and even Late Sahib Singh Verma (the lawmaker's father) had vacated their houses soon after they ceased to be authorized occupants.

"Even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's family members had vacated the official residence within four weeks of his death," Mr Verma said.

Archaic, medieval practice finally confined to dustbin of history: PM on Triple Talaq Bill passage

A known Modi government baiter and Indepndent MP KTS Tulsi was not present in the Upper House even though he had given notices to move amendments to Triple Talaq Bill piloted by the Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad

NCP lawmakers Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel gave the crucial proceedings a miss. Oscar Fernandes and four other Congress MPs were absent.

Two Samajwadi Party MPs, Ram Jethmalani of the RJD, two Trinamool Congress MPs and one Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also skipped voting. 

PM Narendra Modi: 

An archaic and medieval practice has finally been confined to the dustbin of history!

Parliament abolishes Triple Talaq and corrects a historical wrong done to Muslim women. This is a victory of gender justice and will further equality in society.
India rejoices today!

-This is an occasion to salute the remarkable courage of those Muslim women who have suffered great wrongs just due to the practice of Triple Talaq.
The abolition of Triple Talaq will contribute to women empowerment and give women the dignity they deserve in our society.

I thank all parties and MPs who have supported the passage of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 in both Houses of Parliament. They have risen to the occasion and this step of theirs will forever be remembered in India’s history.

Narendra Modi

@narendramodi

·

तीन तलाक बिल का पास होना महिला सशक्तिकरण की दिशा में एक बहुत बड़ा कदम है। तुष्टिकरण के नाम पर देश की करोड़ों माताओं-बहनों को उनके अधिकार से वंचित रखने का पाप किया गया। मुझे इस बात का गर्व है कि मुस्लिम महिलाओं को उनका हक देने का गौरव हमारी सरकार को प्राप्त हुआ है।

पूरे देश के लिए आज एक ऐतिहासिक दिन है। आज करोड़ों मुस्लिम माताओं-बहनों की जीत हुई है और उन्हें सम्मान से जीने का हक मिला है। सदियों से तीन तलाक की कुप्रथा से पीड़ित मुस्लिम महिलाओं को आज न्याय मिला है। इस ऐतिहासिक मौके पर मैं सभी सांसदों का आभार व्यक्त करता हूं। - Narendra Modi

Amit Shah also tweets:

Today is a great day for India’s democracy.

I congratulate PM 

Narendra modi

 ji for fulfilling his commitment and ensuring a law to ban Triple Talaq, which will free Muslim women from the curse of this regressive practice. I thank all parties who supported this historic bill.

Shah Bano

Shah Bano of 1986 fame !! 'Woman of the week'

--- as Triple Talaq Bill gets Parliament nod finally 

- four Congress MPs abstain !!

Gamechangers  

TRS 6 TDP 2 AIADMK 11

JDU 6 BSP 4 

help modi #RajyaSabha

Number Management: A tribute to Amit Shah's politics

Govt floor managers managed BJD's seven members.  NDA ally JD- U's six  MPs and AIADMK 11 members walked out.

The ruling NDA had 107 members in the 242-member Rajya Sabha.

Passing amendment to the Right To Information (RTI) Act last week despite lacking numbers gave confidence to the ruling side!

Modi government scored a major political victory as morally opposition parties tried to play up the Triple Talaq Bill as an issue of BJP's politicisation agenda!

\

Finally, after Lok Sabha approved The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill for third time last week, Rajya Sabha gave its nod 99 members voting in favour and 84 of them voting against.

The bill will replace an ordinance promulgated on February 21 to the same effect.

Rajya Sabha on July 30, 2019 also rejected an opposition sponsored motions to send the bill to a Select Committee of the House and for making triple talaq a civil offence with 100 votes against it as compared to 84 in favour.

"I am a minister of Narendra Modi government and not Rajiv Gandhi government," Ravi Shankar Prasad said citing the Shah Bano case of 1986.

"Should I leave them (Muslim women) crying and sobbing on the foothpaths," Prasad said adding the government will not hesitate to stand by them and do justice to them.

"When Muslim world is trying to reform, why can't a democracy do the same".

Just before the voting, Ghulam Nabi Azad said the opposition has been 'forced' to vote against the bill.

The triple talaq bill makes declaration of talaq-e-biddat or pronouncing talaq three times in spoken, written or through SMS or WhatsApp or any other electronic chat in one sitting illegal.

Mr Azad and other opposition leaders said there was a move to "finish" one particular religion.

"......cat has come out of the bag," said Azad adding 

it is not just Muslim women, but also Hindu, Christian and Jain women who need empowerment.

Taking a dig at Narendra Modi, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh: said: "Would you ask the pradhan sevak to help pradhan sevika to get justice (Kya aap pradhan sevak se kahenge ki wo pradhan sevika ko nayay dilaye)." 

-

CUT ABOVE THE REST SPOKESPERSON : Jaipal Reddy - no glib talker, just a master spokesperson

IN JAIPAL REDDY'S DEATH, INDIAN POLITICAL SPACE HAS LOST A GOOD SPOKESPERSON -

Though he became a Congressman at a later stage and took part many debates cornering stalwarts such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the Prime Minister of the time, Late Reddy would be perhaps best remembered for his criticism of Arun Shourie, then Editor of a powerful newspaper.

In response Shourie’s article that claimed that V P Singh had 'approved' of removing of bricks from Ayodhya, displaying the irreplaceable gift-of-the-gab, Jaipal Reddy had said, “After excelling in journalism; Mr Shourie is now trying to excel in fiction writing”. 

Unlike today’s generation of suave and ambitious individuals, the role of spokespersons for political parties has come a full circle. But unlike the era of V N Gadgil (Congress) and K L Sharma (BJP), both deceased, there is a perceptible change in the functioning of politicians to work as party’s face before the media.

“One should have political acumen with good grasp on various issues?,” thus spoke the late Gadgil on his role and did not hesitate to describe himself as “a learned fool” – to keep the humour line open.

K L Sharma, who pioneered BJP’s media cell, along with J P Mathur, made it a point to interact informally with reporters even during late hours.
S Jaipal Reddy, who died on July 28, had excelled as spokesman for Janata Dal, used read at least 20
newspapers every morning preparing for the “afternoon onslaught” and the results
were always forthcoming.

Compared to this, a Congress spokesman in 2005 surprised scribes with feigning ignorance on which Minister was served with non-bailable warrant. “Congress or Prime Minister is second to none in upholding public accountability,” the leader had said.

Such rhetoric if part of the strategy serves no purpose for the party interest. Similar was the case when weeks after weeks stories were being taken merely on speculation – and often planted by Congress spokespersons themselves – that cabinet expansion was on cards.

Actually all key Congress media managers from Anand Sharma to Ambika Soni were seen among hopefuls.

In BJP, all blue-eyed-boys and girls (especially Sushma Swaraj) of Advan-Vajpayee era were only ambitious lot.

In later stage, some people were lucky - Nirmala Sitharaman, a former spokesperson is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'a key trusted aide'. She became first woman Defence Minister and also first woman Finance Minister.

Sushma, Nirmala - Talented but Lucky Two

The death of S Jaipal Reddy leaves a big vacuum in the political space and only highlights the great transition one sees among the political spokespersons who unlike the present generation players perfectly knew the art of giving out the knockout punch without being impolite and vulgar.
Certainly, the likes of Jaipal Reddy, who breathed last on Sunday, and veteran spokespersons of that era K L Sharma and V N Gadgil were not necessarily the camera-savvy glib talkers.

Late S Jaipal Reddy would be best remembered for his role as a spokesman for Janata Dal when India had plunged into a political whirlpool of coalition games in the corridors of power.
During those days and late evening briefings, Late Reddy would sport that infectious smile and would brief journalists sincerely and frankly.
"As spokesman of Janata Dal, I used to ready 20 newspapers in the morning preparing to field questions," Reddy had later said in 2010.

"One ought to have the political acumen....," he also had said on virtues required to be a good spokesman.
ON N T Rama Rao's death, Jaipal Reddy was again at his best with minimum words: "National Front is orphan today". N T R was the chairman of National Front that had parties such as Janata Dal, AGP, DMK and TDP as the key constituents.

Prominent editor of his time, Mr Shourie was also sacked by the newspaper for that controversial article.
The quote from Jaipal on Arun Shourie had said it all !

There was no spewing personal vitriol - no heart burning either.
Thus, senior journalists who covered Jaipal Reddy or the likes of V N Gadgil, another veteran spokesman of the Congress party in early 1990s, have good reasons to ponder at Reddy's death - when was the last time, media had such memorable quotes from the new generation political spokespersons.


There were few other occasions when Jaipal Reddy displayed his talent making use of powerful phrases and showing the faultline in the rivals camp.

In December 2000, the Lok Sabha had taken up a detailed debate on the Babri Masjid demolition.
The motion, moved under Rule 184 that entails voting had said - "This House calls upon Prime Minister (Vajpayee) to drop three ministers (L K Advani, M M Joshi and Uma Bharati)....for their involvement in demolition of Babri Masjid".

Late Reddy, then a Congress lawmaker initiated the debate attacking PM Vajpayee and said - Vajpayeeji had mounted the 'chauvanist Hindutva tiger' and completed his pilgrimage from "hypocrisy to theocracy".

Terming the demolition of the Masjid at Ayodhya a 'colossal crime', Jaipal Reddy had said - "Prime Minister is appearing neutral in a moral crisis of epic magnitude".

No pressure or influence can decide India's stance on national security: PM Modi

New Delhi, Jul 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made it categorically clear that as far as national security is concerned vis-a-vis dealing with terror menace and related challenges including from overseas forces, his government will not allow any 'pressure or influence' to decide its strategy.

blogger 

"Rashtriya suraksha ke liye na kisi ke dabao mein, na pravao mein kaam hooga (On national security, no external pressure or influence can work)," Prime Minister said.

Addressing a grand function organised to mark 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas in presence of top military and civil officials, Mr Modi said at the same time there will not be any issue of funds and arms shortage for the forces.

He paid rich tributes to valiant Indian soldiers who fought steadfastly during the Kargil Conflict of 1999 and lashed out at Pakistan for its aggressive policies while pointing out to the global community that India has never adopted such strategies.

"Our history is a witness by itself that India has never been an aggressive country. We always cherished peaceful measures in the larger interest of humankind. Our country has always remained committed to that policy," the Prime Minister said.

Referring to the Kargil Conflict of 1999, he said "previously international community had maintained
a blind eyes approach towards our neighbour" - but it was the Kargil Conflict that exposed them.

"Pakistan had experimented with Kargil, because they thought international community will come in and a new line of border - "nayi rekha" - will be created. But they did not presume that India will retaliate in the manner it was done," Prime Minister said.

Addressing a function organsied to mark the 20th Anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas, Mr Modi said
the victory also symbolises the victory of the sense of duty of every Indian.

He lashed out at Pakistan for its proxy war vis-a-vis terror menace and maintained that "those who believe in human rights must stand with the armed forces to fight the terror menace".

Mr Modi said that under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Pakistan was given a befitting response during the Kargil conflict.

"Pakistan shuru se hi Kashmir ko lekar chhal karta raha (From very beginning, Pakistan has been pursuing its well known policy of duplicity and double standards)," Mr Modi said.

He said Islamabad had tried the same games in 1947, 1965 and 1971 as well, "but in 1999 during Kargil conflict, their tricks were exposed".

Lauding the professional approach of Indian armed forces, he said the image of our soldiers at home is about providing national security, "and at the overseas and international level, our forces have an image of a credible peace keeping force".

In this context, he said Israeli leaders often refer to the valiant peace works carried out by Indian armed forces as part of the peace keeping force in that region.

This was the first time the Prime Minister has made an address on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

The genesis of the conflict lay in Pakistani intruders and regular Pakistan army personnel crossing over the Line of Control (LoC) and occupied strategic heights.

In the ultimate, the Pakistani forces and intruders were given a befitting reply and chased out of Indian boundaries.

Mr Modi reminded that though the forces in India are capable of fighting the conventional war, in modern times, things have changed.

"Proxy war has become an order of the day and humanity is a victim of the same....In this, terrorism is posing a global challenge to entire human race," he said and underlined that "some forces are trying to draw political mileage by such approaches".

"Some people are encouraging terrorism....And thus, today it is high time that all those who believe in human rights must stand with the armed forces to fight the terror menace".

The three-hour programme held at capital's spacious Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium had star singer Mohit Chauhan presenting patriotic songs.

The Shillong Chamber Choir also performed and an eight-minute film on the Kargil War was also screened.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also present on the occasion besides the three services chiefs.

People of J&K want development, no 'sinister plans' can succeed, asserts PM Modi

New Delhi, Jul 28 Amid reports that the centre could deploy 100 additional companies of para military forces in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said people of the militancy-hit state are more than keen to join development mainstream and that those creating hurdles to peace and progress will never succeed in their 'sinister plans'.

"A new resolve, a new fervor and grand results..... Our brothers and sisters in Kashmir want Good Governance and proves the dictum that the power of development is stronger than the might of bullets and bombs. It is clear that those who wish to spread hatred en route to development, pose hurdles will never succeed in their sinister plans," Prime Minister said in his monthly radio broadcast Mann-Ki-Baat through All India Radio.

Mr Modi made the remarks in reference to a missive from Shopian-based Bhai Muhammad Aslam, who had said that he likes to listen to Mann-Ki-Baat programme and he also mentioned at length about the 'community mobilisation' programme 'Back to Village' launched in the state.

"Under this programme in the state, top officials for the first time reached the villages," Prime Minister said.

"The people of Kashmir are eager to join the national main stream, their enthusiasm is reflected in the mechanism of this programme. For the first time, senior officials reached the villages, directly, even those officials who had never visited a village were available to the villagers at their doorsteps, to judge for themselves to gauge the obstacles in the path of progress," Mr Modi said.

This week long programme encompassing about 4500 panchayats witnessed the government  officials briefing the villagers about the schemes and programmes implemented by the government and also inquired whether these facilities were available to them or not.

Prime Minister said that during the special outreach prgrammes, issues related to - imparting 'more powers' to the Panchayats, how to increase their income and how the panchayats can bring changes in people's lives vis-a-vis literacy, sex ratio, health, hygiene, water conservation and senior citizen’s concerns were some of the topics those were discussed at length.

The reports that the centre could deploy additional forces have sparked off strong reactions from state leaders.

"Centre’s decision to deploy additional 10,000 troops to the valley has created fear psychosis amongst  people. There is no dearth of security forces in Kashmir. J&K is a political problem which would not be solved by military means. Govt of India needs to rethink and overhaul its policy," tweeted PDP leader and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

In his radio broadcast, Prime Minister said officials in Jammu and Kashmir also reached the panchayats on the border "which live under the shadow of cross-border firing" like the sensitive hamlets in the districts of Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag, without any fear.

"Some officers were so overwhelmed by the reception they received, that they decided to extend their stay up to two days in these villages. The organizing of Gram Sabhas in these villages, wherein the people participated in large numbers and chalked out schemes for themselves is something that is an extremely pleasant experience," he said adding this only shows there is a "new resolve" among the people and the government officials and thus "grand results" are on cards.

Mr Modi in his address at a grand function organised to mark 20th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas in Delhi on Saturday had said in presence of top military and civil officials that as far as national security is concerned vis-a-vis dealing with terror menace and related challenges including from overseas forces, his government will not allow any 'pressure or influence' to decide its strategy.

"Rashtriya suraksha ke liye na kisi ke dabao mein, na pravao mein kaam hooga (On national security, no external pressure or influence can work)," Prime Minister has said.

Lok Sabha debate on Triple Talaq Bill - July 25, 2019

MEENAKSHI LEKHI, BJP - New Delhi MP 

I want to tell that it is not just economic backwardness, but the backwardness of mind and thought and that needs to be corrected. The thinking that religious law is immutable is wrong. People, who think that religion will control every aspect of social life, are wrong in their thinking and this is what needs to be corrected.

“What has been your greatest difficulty in independent India?” - Nehru was asked by Frencj journalist Andrey Markus And his answer was, “To make a just society on the basis of just laws.” And not just this, he also said, “…perhaps to create a secular state in a religious country.” 

Kya yeh dikkatey Modiji ka nahi hae !! creating secular state in a religious community !

 People like Nehru and Ambedkar must be wondering at the kind of people who succeeded them, because their dream of making India as one nation, their dream of having equality amongst people seems to have been forgotten by the people. 

No area can be away from constitutional protection. That has been repeatedly given colour by the Supreme Court’s enactments and orders. Somebody was talking about Sharia courts. 

I think, Shri Premachandran mentioned that in Uttar Pradesh those courts existand must continue to exist. This has been the observation of Supreme Court inRaghunath vs. Union of India in 1994 on what the State’s role is, could there bea parallel judiciary in the country, how could a parallel judiciary exist when 25.07.2019 Dir (VP)/Rjn Uncorrected / Not for Publication 311judicial role is assigned to Judiciary under the Constitution of India; probably hechose not to quote it but I am just quoting it. The Constitution of India is aparamount document on the basis of which each person needs to be grantedprotection and laws. 

 P.K. KUNHALIKUTTY (MALAPPURAM)

IUML

As per the last census, the percentage of divorce among Muslim communities is very minimal.
No statistics establish your argument. I should bring to your notice that it is only
0.56 per cent, whereas, in other communities, it is much higher. So, what is the
reason for you to bring this Bill? Major minority community of the nation as well
as the whole country knows that it is nothing but your political agenda. Now, the
election is over and you have convincing majority, absolute majority. So, what is
the need for you to pass such a legislation in a hurry? What you are doing here
is you are going ahead with your political agenda, nothing else. That is the
reason for this discrimination. 

The hon. Minister has very skilfully argued his case. Unfortunately, that is not at all convincing for the stakeholders of this country, that is, the major minority community of India. Why

is the Government not at all bothered about that?

Sir, we are a minority party. We have supported the Sabarimala issue. We are believers and you are also believers. Shri Premachandran was talking about

that. So, why is this double standard? Why is this discrimination? Are you not

ashamed? Is it not shameful to have discrimination and make the argument so

convincingly? Any lawyer can make a bad issue a good issue. That is what I

should say to our hon. learned Minister. So, you have to withdraw this Bill. 

P. K. Kunhalikutty

Since you are having a convincing majority and the election is over, political agenda can be set aside. At least you should have a reconsideration about that and withdraw the Bill. 

N K Premachandran, RSP 

If the Government is so pertinent and significant in promulgating an Ordinance and to make a legislation so as to protect the Muslim women in the country, then, Sir, mob lynching is also there in the country. Last week also, three persons were killed by the mob and the hon. Supreme Court has already specifically directed the Government to have a legislation on it. 

Why is the Government not ready to initiate a legislation on mob lynching? I am not going into the history of this case. This is being done with a clear political motive – to target a particular community in the country and there is no doubt about it.Three Ordinances have been promulgated. 

The first Ordinance was promulgated on 19th September, 2018, the second Ordinance was promulgated on 12th January, 2019 and the third Ordinance was promulgated on 21st February, 2019. Consecutive Ordinances have been promulgated so as to ban Triple Talaq. I cannot understand what was the necessity and emergency for promulgating an Ordinance. There is no justifiable answer. 

I would like to know, what is the need for a new law on Triple Talaq when the

hon. Supreme Court’s verdict is the law of the land?

 I would like to quote one of the fundamental maxims of criminaljurisprudence, “Nullum crimen sine injuria”. That means, no person shall bepunished for an attack that does not prove to be significantly harmful to anyone.Here, Sir, after 22nd August, 2017, i.e. after the pronouncement of the Judgment,an act of Talaq-e-Bidat does not in any way harm or violate the rights of a Muslimwife unless the husband refuses to perform the conjugal responsibilities or dutiesupon him or the wife is forced to leave from the residential place of the husband.Only in these two circumstances, you can invoke it. If these two circumstancesexist, we have Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code which can be invoked andwe also have the provisions of the Protection of Women from Domestic ViolenceAct, 2005. You can very well invoke it. 

What is the necessity and need for another law? 

Blogger's New Book

Matters of marriage, divorce, succession, etc., are considered as civilwrongs.Imposing the punishment of imprisonment for three years for divorce isnot applicable to any other community. Why are you not imposing imprisonmentfor divorce in the Hindu community? Why are you not imposing imprisonment fordivorce in the Christian community? Why do you want to have it only in theMuslim community? That is why I say that this is a discrimination against theMuslim community. This is violation of Article 14, violation of Article 15, andviolation of Article 25 of the Constitution.  - Premachandran

DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED (KISHANGANJ): Congress 

Sir, I rise to oppose the introductionof this Bill. I would like to put forward few facts in this august House. The instant Triple Talaq has already been declared unconstitutional by theSupreme Court and is therefore non est. As per this Bill, a Muslim man can be jailed for upto three years along witha fine. This provision has the potential to destroy a marriage because of a falsecomplaint by a scheming relative. As per this Bill, the Magistrate will grant bail only after hearing the wife.This provision has far-reaching consequences as a man may get bail only onthe conditions imposed by the wife. This Bill is in violation of article 14 of the Constitution as it discriminatesMuslim women and women of other religions. Section 498A of IPC, DomesticViolence Act and Dowry Prohibition Act already apply to Muslims too. Therefore,there is no need of having an additional law to protect only Muslim women.

The Supreme Court, in the Triple Talaq Judgment, nowhere said that TripleTalaq should be a criminally punishable offence.

We have to understand what this Government wants to do through this

Bill. Imprisonment, not for abandoning his wife but merely for chanting ‘Talaq’

three times, for three years. Considering the punishment for causing death by

negligence, which is imprisonment of only up to two years, I think, the present

one is much more than what it deserves. This is more than rioting as well. This

Bill is laid with a political intention to harass the Muslim community and to portray

Islam, the religion of peace and equality, in bad light. 

Trump's Kashmir remarks: Genie out of the bottle?

No reason for Modi Govt to shed machoism on Pak, Kashmir

New Delhi, July 23 ----- US President Donald Trump might have done an unthinkable act to assert that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited him to 'mediate' on the Kashmir issue, but given the history of third party facilitation and diplomacy between India and Pakistan, such has been a consistent American policy.

The important issue is the timing and there is a school of thought-and well informed ones--both in the US and in India - which believe perhaps POTUS had done a faux pas.One US Congressman said he 'apologised' to India's ambassador to the US.

From government of India and ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's perspective - it will be "never wise" to formally agree to any third party role in Kashmir because this will immediately lead to Pakistan proclaiming victory for its long held position.
"The Modi government takes pride in its machoism vis-a-vis Pakistan. Mr Modi avoided flying over Pakistani airspace despite the offers. Thus, apart from political compulsions, New Delhi does not see enough international reasons or diplomatic pressure to kick start the dialogue with Pakistan and that too with a third party around. If (Pakistan Premier) Imran Khan thinks these tactics will work, he is in for a major setback," a key source in the know of things said. 

Lie

A Lahore-based educationist, Ishtiaq Ahmed, too, was caustic as he said, "President Trump can lie point blank.....I have always felt that Donald Trump is an embarrassment for those who believe that democracy is the best system to establish a government based on the consent of the people. After the Shimla Agreement of 1972 and the Lahore Accord of 1999, there is absolutely no scope for third-party mediation. That dispute has to be resolved bilaterally.

“At no point is it a helpful thing to suggest that the United States can mediate between India and Pakistan,”  Alyssa Ayres, a former US diplomat, has been quoted in a western magazine 'Foreign Policy'.

She averred: “One country always asks for mediation—Pakistan—and the other country (India) avowedly rejects it"-in reference to the Kashmir imbroglio.

South Block riposte

In identical statements in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar countered Mr Trump and said, "....no such request was made by the Prime Minister to the US President".

Dr Jaishankar also made it clear that, "India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally.
"... let me conclude by emphasising that the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India and Pakistan bilaterally. I hope in the view of my very specific and categorical responses that there is no confusion in the mind of anybody on this matter," he said as Opposition parties attempted to embarrass the Government and were insistent on a clarification by the Prime Minister himself.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ram Madhav tweeted: "POTUS statement on Kashmir underscores the biggest problem in the US system today" and asserted that such remarks only show there is something "fundamentally wrong" in the White House.

Down the ages

The Modi government, too, did not kowtowing to pressure tactics from Indian National Congress and other opposition parties.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said "everyone knows who took the Kashmir issue to the United Nations"-an  allusion to first Premier Pt Jawaharlal Nehru.

Key stakeholders in Washington attempted damage control after Mr Trump's remarks.

Acting Assistant Secretary Alice Wells with the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, tweeted: "While Kashmir is a bilateral issue for both parties to discuss, the Trump administration welcomes Pakistan and India sitting down and the United States stands ready to assist.'' 

Vajpayee's Trusted Foreign Minister

Brad Sherman, Congressman representing California's San Fernando Valley, tweeted : "I apologised to Indian Ambassador Harsh Shringla for Mr Trump’s amateurish and embarrassing mistake.''

Last time, the US had made such a vocal and crystal clear case for third party involvement in the India-Pakistan row over Kashmir was in July 2018 when US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, made the offer. 

She had made the remarks after the US assumed the presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of April last year.

Deliberate or bluster

Sources in the ruling BJP said President Trump's remarks could be 'deliberate' though bordering on his usual U-turns and 'bluster.'

"It may not be so much due to ignorance.....,though Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also says it is 

impossible that Prime Minister Modi will ask anyone to intervene because it's our clear policy that we do not want a third party mediation," said a BJP source.

Even National Conference leader Omar Abdullah tweeted to suggest that he does not believe Mr Trump. "Personally I think Donald Trump is talking out of his hat when he says PM Modi asked for US involvement in solving the Kashmir issue ....".

True, it is Pakistan, which from time to time seeks international mediation on Kashmir at various UN fora and India has consistently ruled out third-party mediation, including by the United Nations. 

In 1994 March, it was Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition, who led the Indian delegation in the UN when Pakistan's attempts to 'internationalise' Kashmir dispute during the stint of P V Narasimha Rao was defeated.

Rao, who personally decided to nominate Vajpayee as the delegation leader, later credited the success to perfect teamwork. The team handpicked by him also had NC statesman Farooq Abdullah. 

BJP sources say, even in 1999-2000, post Kargil conflict, the then Vajpayee government was categorically firm that it would not allow any such adventurism as the then External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and others believed that initiating such a dialogue process would bring Pakistan's isolation to an end.

The sources said,"There has never been such a situation when New Delhi will allow UN or the US to interfere on Kashmir. It cannot be imagined at this stage all the more when Pakistan is isolated more especially after Pulwama, UN listing of Masood Azhar and lately the verdict of International Court of Justice".

"Yeh na mumkin hae ki Modi aisa poocch sakta hae" - Shashi Tharoor

Taking a different line from his party and senior party colleagues, sitting Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said it is "impossible" that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would ask the US President Donald Trump or anyone else to mediate on Kashmir.
"Meri koi shikawat nahi hae (I don't have any complaint)," Mr Tharoor told reporters here.

"Yeh na mumkin hae ki Modi aisa poocch sakta hae (Impossible that Modi will ask anyone else because it's our clear policy that we don't want a 3rd party mediation. If we've to talk to Pak,we'll do that directly. Even the language between two countries is the same)," said Mr Tharoor, a former Union Minister.

Mr Tharoor's stance is different from his colleague Anand Sharma, deputy Congress leader in the Rajya Sabha, who said Prime Minister Modi should make a statement in Parliament and clarify on the matter.

Congress media in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted in the morning and said: "When will our PM ‘wake up’ and call the bluff if President Trump is lying? Or Did PM Modi ask @POTUS
to mediate?".



BJP reacted angrily to the US President Donald Trump's remarks on Kashmir and said such statements only underscores "the biggest problem in the US system".
"POTUS’ statement on Kashmir underscores the biggest problem in the US system today," tweeted BJP general secretary Ram Madhav.



Another BJP leader Sheshadri Chari and former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh have also flayed the statement from the US President.

Mr Tharoor tweeted on Monday late evening: "I honestly don't think Trump has the slightest idea of what he's talking about. He has either not been briefed or not understood what (Prime Minister) Modi was saying or what India's position is on 3rd-party mediation".

India denies Modi asked for Trump help on Kashmir: Tharoor, Omar mock at US Prez

In 2012, Cong pitted Sheila as its 'development card' against NaMo

POLITICS CAN BE HEARTLESS,

DELHIITES RETURNED SHEILA DIKSHIT'S 15 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT AND INFRA WORKS, BYT DEFEATING HER TWICE - ASSEMBLY POLLS IN 2013 AND PARLIAMENTARY POLLS IN 2019

She had almost retired from politics. But in September-October 1998, the high command of Indian National Congress then under Ms Sonia Gandhi - decided to bank on her and she was fielded against a onion price hit-Bharatiya Janata Party and disorganised saffron camp.

BJP was ousted from power in Delhi and Congress romped home. After the verdict, Sheila Dikshit called it a mandate for 'Sonia Gandhi' as she had taken charge of Congress only in 1998 March.

Skyrocketing prices of onions had brought tears in the saffron camp. With Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the helm, BJP lost power in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
An humbled BJP did not have much to say. Sushma Swaraj, then a blue-eyed girl of Atal Bihari Vajpayee-Lal Krishna Advani team, admitted that internal dissension led to BJP's loss. - Ghar ko aag lag gayi, Ghar ka chirag sey

Strength to strength

On the other hand, Sheila Dikshit did not look back. Of course, she did not have it easy always. 
Next year in 1999 Lok Sabha polls, BJP won all seven seats riding essentially a pro-Vajpayee and post-Kargil wave.

She subsequently faced dissensions led by then Congress leaders, including Subhash Chopra and a few other old timers, but Ms Dikshit managed the show well.

Her government brought in a sea change in Delhi's infrastructure starting from All India Institute of Medical Sciences circle flyover and she was given out to be the 'Congress version' of development Chief Minister.Her biggest achievement politically in 15 years had been to expose weaknesses in BJP's so-called organisational strength and the 'party with a difference' in their onetime bastion-Delhi-became a party with differences and 'power brokers'.If BJP is out of power in Delhi even now - circa 2019 - that is 21 years since 1998, the one person they can grudge is Sheila Dikshit.

"So much has been people of Delhi's faith in Sheila Dikshit that in 2018 - the voting took place a day after 26/11 terror strike in Mumbai; yet Delhiites preferred to continue to stick to Congress and BJP was humbled yet again," says an old timer in the BJP.

Photo: Getty Image: HT "woh mere sey chhoti thi - says emotional VK

In 2008 November assembly polls,  an over-confident BJP drafted in veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra as the chief ministerial face.

By then Sheila Dikshit was also useful to Congress to be pitted against Narendra Modi's idea of development in the western state of Gujarat.

In 2012, she was the chief guest from Congress high command at the release of the party manifesto at Ahmedabad for the Gujarat assembly polls. That election was billed as Modi's 'semi final' as immediately after that within nine months - in September 2013 - Mr Modi was BJP's prime ministerial candidate and the rest is history.

By 2011-12, Sheila Dikshit was haunted by worst enemy of Indian politics - the corruption bug.

India Against Corruption had hijacked all headlines and the likes of Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal took to streets. 

With BJP also cornered in their bastion, came in a little known Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party.

The Congress pet phrase of 'aam aadmi' now became a tool against the party and Sheila Dikshit suffered an electoral defeat in New Delhi assembly constituency in December 2013 at the hands of Kejriwal.

The victory margin was huge--a difference of 24 per cent.

Power play : Heartless Politics

Irony is the way of politics.

Delhiites continued to remain indifferent to her - despite her works in the city - even when she contested the last elections of her life - against Manoj Tiwari in North East Delhi.

She was humbled by a margin of over three lakhs.

And no wonder, within an hour of her demise on Saturday-July 20-Vijay Malhotra told this blogger:  "Her death is a personal loss to me, Delhi and the entire nation. She was younger to me, and she would always acknowledge that. We spoke about ten days back and I told her contesting recent Lok Sabha elections at this age was uncalled. She smiled and had said you are a brother-  I understand what you are  saying,  but my party took a decision and I had to respect that.''

ends 

Guest Column: Andhra Pradesh : A new Political lab....Telangana too not far !

Swati Deb

Talking about Andhra Pradesh politics, the first thing to note is that the process of bifurcation of the state was badly executed by the Congress. The bloods shed have dried; but tears have not and some would say paradoxically that Andhra Pradesh has been a political lab for quite some time now.

N Chandrababu Naidu has been the chief protagonist, but his problems have been that much of it focused on power lobbying. But his opportunism and sheer family-centric approach was generally made out to be pragmatic politics. There was an element of selfishness and governance got neglected. Thus, electorally he was routed both in the state polls and also parliamentary polls.
The Lok Sabha mandate in the Deccan state made it clear that it was end of the road for a PM-aspirant – Naidu – who ironically had declined the offer in 1996 knowing pretty well that such an arrangement would have been a ‘temporary’ affair.

But his troubles are far from over. On June 20, 2019 - the politics seem to have come full circle for Chandrababu Naidu. Away in London on holidays, Naidu got a major jolt as four of his MPs in the Rajya Sabha including onetime trusted aide YS Chowdary quit his outfit and joined the BJP. Ironically, Chowdary even admits that Naidu has been his political guru.

Old timers in Andhra quickly termed the TDP revolt and desertion as the  'coming of age' of what had happened way back in 1995 when Chandrababu Naidu himself staged a 'coup' against his father-in-law NT Rama Rao and took control over the TDP.

Way back in 2016, Mr Naidu had started playing double games with BJP trying to put pressure on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and shift the ‘responsibility’ of his governance failure on Andhra Pradesh.

He kept on demanding Special Category Status provoking the then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley repeatedly write blogs or make statement in Parliament that – “we are doing everything possible under the rule book to help the state of Andhra Pradesh”.

E. Sujata, a district president of TDP Vishakhapatnam unit, told this writer at Tirupati in May 2016 - “It is high time we get the Special Category Status as was promised during the division of the state. We are with the TDP supremo and the BJP-led Narendra Modi government should deliver”.

Demands kept on increasing. Other TDP workers insisted for a railway zonal headquarters at Visakhapatnam.

Of course, ultimately TDP walked out of the NDA in March 2018 and the subsequent electoral mandate is a testimony that Naidu’s move was erroneous. He has lost his base.

Now, the TDP Rajya Sabha wing split and four lawmakers coming out and joining BJP have made observers believe that henceforth the Lotus party would mean more aggressive and businesslike political actions in Andhra Pradesh.

In the words of J P Nadda, BJP’s new Working President, “The positive approach shown by Y S Chowdary and others in joining BJP would definitely contribute in strengthening our party in Andhra Pradesh.”

Mr Nadda, known for simple and candid observation, went onto say: “We will make use of their services and in full steam would expand the base of BJP in Andhra Pradesh”.

Y S Chowdary, former Union Minister, who was reluctant to resign even in 2018 had in fact cautioned Chandrababu Naidu that perhaps he would be ‘wrong’ in quitting NDA as Prime Minister Modi remained the ‘most popular’ leader in the country notwithstanding whatever his detractors have said.

But somehow, sources said, Chandrababu was adamant and even did not mind joining hands with Rahul Gandhi-led Congress total oblivious of the fact that NT Rama Rao had founded TDP as a solid anti-Congress outfit.

“We have decided to join BJP to work for the nation and particularly for the state of Andhra Pradesh. We want to emphasize on all issues raised in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act to be implemented as early as possible,” Chowdary said on the day he and his colleagues quit TDP.

Answering questions, he waxed eloquently to suggest - "the BJP and the Modi government is the best platform we thought to work with cooperation and coordination. We will avoid competition and confrontation".

Fast Paced Actions:

The political development of June 20, 2019 in more ways than one reflects the stamp of Amit Shah-J P Nadda duo. The quickness with which they worked in coordination with Y S Chowdary camp actually caught the entire political circle and the capital’s self-styled ‘know all media’ unaware. The move certainly had green signal from Prime Minister and hence it also went on hurdles free.

In a fast paced development on a day President Ram Nath Kovind addressed the Joint Sitting of Parliament, four dissident MPs - Y S Chowdary, C M Ramesh, Garikapati Mohan Rao and T G Venkatesh met in the capital and adopted a resolution to write to the Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to allow the merger.

They also decided to write to BJP Chief Amit Shah to accept the merger.

Acting quickly, all four rebel MPs rushed to BJP chief Amit Shah for his 'acceptance' and later called on the Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha Mr Naidu. Former minister Y S Chowdary and others in a resolution said the 'merger' of rebel wing of TDP Legislature Party can be done under the provisions of Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.

''TDP has six MPs in Rajya Sabha and four rebels make it two-third and that is why the merger is possible under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution,'' Mr Chowdary said. The rebel MPs met Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in presence of BJP working president J P Nadda and Leader of the Rajya Sabha Thawar Chand Gehlot with an "acceptance" letter from the BJP allowing the merger.

It meant – to use a journalistic cliché – everything was well planned and only better executed.

Finally, Nadda was at party headquarters along with TDP MPs and announced that the merger is a done thing.

BJP at present is the single largest party in the Rajya Sabha with 71 MPs in the 245-member Upper House of Parliament and four additional numbers only adds to its strength.

“This is a vital development politically as it speaks of PM Modi’s popularity and how political adversaries are being attracted to Modi’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. No one wants to miss the development bus,” says a BJP Minister on the condition of anonymity and mentioned that this is in sharp contrast to the politics of 1990s when ‘everyone tried to join the secular bus’.

Blow hot-Blow Cold:

Closer scrutiny of Andhra Pradesh politics and BJP’s acceptability in the state reveals that the Lotus party is in ‘resurgent mood’ following its conquest of power in the country and increase in vote share in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In fact, the foot soldiers of the saffron party and also the RSS say there are huge prospects now for “the Hindutva-ideology oriented value-based politics” in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Reasons for such optimism, according to workers both in the RSS and the BJP, are many. 

“The ideology of the RSS for a strong united India has been accepted by the people in the Deccan region and especially Andhra Pradesh. Youths and women and neo middleclass like the leadership of Prime Minister,” says a Telangana-based leader (who does not belong to BJP).

Final decision on the merger and related developments may still remain in the court of Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, also a Telegu speaking leader in his own right.

Chandrababu Naidu camp has also complained to him and said the splinter group of four lawmakers should not be treated as part of BJP members in the Upper House.