Sharad Yadav commits Bofors 'faux pas' at Kolkata rally: Such slips happen, says Mamata
Kolkata, Jan 19 Senior parliamentarian and a vocal anti-Modi leader Sharad Yadav on Saturday committed faux pas during his speech at the united opposition rally here and mixed up the infamous Bofors scam of 1980s with the Rafale row of contemporary setting.
Speaking at the rally organised by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and attended among others by former Congress stalwarts like Sharad Pawar and the present Congress leader Abhishekmanu Singhvi, the former JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav referred to the Bofors scam twice in his speech. However, at the end of the speech, Mr Yadav corrected himself and apologised and said he wanted to say "Rafale...Rafale..Rafale" and not Bofors.
The chief hostess and organiser of the mega event - Ms Banerjee later remarked that such slips do happen while making speeches and what Sharad Yadav had meant was Rafale aircraft row and not Bofors.
Mr Yadav was referring to the new article on Rafale row as reported in a leading English daily.
Ironically, Mr Sharad Yadav was part of the united Janata Dal in late 1980s and 1990s when Bofors was at the helm of defeat and the scandal had finally led to the ouster of Rajiv Gandhi government.
A massive anti-Congress rally was organised in Kolkata in 1988 wherein opposition leaders had shared stage and had given a clarion call for the ouster of Congress government in the centre.
The likes of Ms Banerjee and Sharad Pawar were all part of the Congress party then.
In fact on July 2, 1988 in 'Calcutta' (old name of Kolkata), top BJP leaders had shared stage with Jyoti Basu among others and had given a call for the defeat of Congress government in the centre.
PM mocks Opp rally with '‘bachao, bachao" & 'Kya scene hae' jibes; errs on lone Bengal MLA
New Delhi/Silvassa, Jan 19 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday was at his rhetoric best taking dig at the united opposition rally in Kolkata and threw up jibes ''Wah Kya scene hae' and '‘bachao, bachao, bachao’ at his detractors though he committed factual error in talking about 'lone' BJP legislator in West Bengal. "We have just a single legislator in West Bengal but today all these opposition leaders have got together. They have done so because our government in marching on the road map of 'satya (truth)' and they are scared of our one MLA," Mr Modi said in his inimitable style adding, "Look at the desperation, they are screaming bachao, bachao (please save us)".
"Those who curb democratic rights themselves in states....those who prevent candidates filing nominations for panchayat elections and now lecture others, I have only one thing to say....'Wah Kya scene hae'," Prime Minister said addressing a rally in Silvassa in Dadra and Nagar Haveli around the time the opposition conclave in Kolkata's Brigade ground was still on. However, the Prime Minister's observation on 'single MLA' was factually wrong as in 2016 assembly polls, three BJP legislators were elected to the state assembly.
They include state unit president Dilip Ghosh, who won from Kharagpur Sadar and two other BJP MLAs were Manoj Tigga representing Madarihat and Swadhin Kumar Sarkar, who won Baisnabnagar seat in Malda. In terms of elected MPs also - BJP has two lawmakers in Lok Sabha from Trinamool-ruled state - Babul Supriyo (Asansol) and S S Ahluwalia (Darjeeling). At a media conference in Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, however, said in reply to a question, "....they have three MLAs".
Prime Minister in his speech and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad also sought to make corruption a major issue vis-a-vis the opposition unity. "Inhe dikkat hae Modi Bhrastachar ke khilaf itni kari karwai kyon kar raha hae (They are not happy why my government is taking so much of a tough stance against corrupt people)," Prime Minister said. "My (his government's) actions against corruption have infuriated some people. It is natural for them to get angry as I have prevented them from looting public money. Consequently, they have now formed an alliance called Mahagathbandhan".
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad termed the rally organised by the Trinamool Congress as a "rally of rank opportunist elements". Mr Prasad said many of the proposed Gathbandhan leaders who shared the stage at Kolkata's Brigade ground on Saturday also face serious corruption charges. The Mahagathbandhan thus is also an effort to save the corrupt, he said.
The Trinamool regime has been under cloud over Sharada chit fund scam and its leaders have been jailed. Similarly, number of cases of corruption are against top Congress leaders and their relatives as well. Prime Minister said his government's only focused approach is development. "We want to work for 130 crore Indians," he said.
"These people are doing all sorts of things to save themselves and I have undertaken my mission of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas," Mr Modi said. The Kolkata rally saw a galaxy of opposition leaders including the likes of H D Deve Gowda, N Chandrababdu Naidu, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav and of course Mamata Banerjee among others getting together and giving a clarion call for the ouster of the Modi government.
A number of leaders including Farooq Abdullah (National Conference) and former BJP leader Yashnwant Sinha said the fight was not against an individual - that is Narendra Modi.
Sitting BJP MP and cinestar-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha also joined the opposition bandwagon and blasted the government on wide range of issues including Rafale aircraft row and for unleashing an alleged authoritarian regime. BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy, however, told reporters here that the opposition rally in Kolkata was "an anti-Modi exercise". "This is a stage of contradiction and conflict.............The rally in Kolkata is a failed front. This (front) is made in a condition of hopelessness. There has been personal hatred and selfishness on the stage," he said.
".....we can clearly see a divided leadership. It's a summit of contradictions and conflict. They talk of a new front but I am not sure if it's even the second or the third front," Mr Rudy said.
"The Left has refused their invitation. SP-BSP alliance snubbed Congress in UP which has now extended support to the rally. This is a rally of self-interest," he alleged.
On BJP's sitting Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha attending the opposition rally, he said BJP will take cognizance of it.
“They make it a point to be present at the whip so that they don’t lose their membership. At the same time, they are so opportunistic that they want to climb the stage and be present at a conclave. BJP will take cognizance of it,” BJP spokesman Rudy said.
The reference was to Mr Sinha attending the Lok Sabha proceedings during the recently concluded winter session of Parliament. Mr Sinha had attended the Lok Sabha session when it approved the Constitution Amendment Bill that ensured reservation for economically weaker sections of people from general category.
BJP takes 'cognizance' of Shatrughan Sinha's presence in Mamata-led Opp. rally
Days after senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi had told disgruntled party MP Shatrughan Sinha to 'leave' the saffron party if he was not happy, the saffron outfit on Saturday said the leadership will take cognizance of Mr Sinha attending the Mamata Banerjee-led rally in Kolkata.
“They make it a point to be present at the whip so that they don’t lose their membership. At the same time, they are so opportunistic that they want to climb the stage and be present at a conclave. BJP will take cognizance of it,” BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters here.
The reference was to Mr Sinha attending the Lok Sabha proceedings during the recently concluded winter session of Parliament. Mr Sinha had attended the Lok Sabha session when it approved the Constitution Amendment Bill that ensured reservation for economically weaker sections of people from general category.
Meanwhile, addressing the rally at Kolkata, the cinestar-turned-politician said, he did not mind being expelled from the party. "If to speak truth is being rebellion, I am a rebel.....I am answerable to the people of India," he said in presence of the likes of Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie.
He also said, "I have only tried to show mirror to the party (BJP)".
In his response to the Mamata Banerjee-organised rally, BJP spokesman Mr Rudy termed the opposition rally in Kolkata as ‘political opportunism’.
“Some people are intelligent in a different way. Some people want to carry stamp of BJP for the facilities that come as a MP,” said Mr Rudy, also an elected MP from Saran parliamentary constituency in Bihar.
Mr Shatrughan Sinha, who was Health Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee, represents Patna Sahib parliamentary constituency in Bihar.
As Mamata intensifies battle against Modi, BJP tries to identify candidates for LS polls
New Delhi, Jan 19 Amid Mamata Banerjee’s much talked about and hyped anti-BJP rally in Kolkata, BJP sources indicated on Saturday here that the party is well geared up for 2019 elections and has shortlisted a number of prominent faces for the electoral battle.
According to BJP sources, the list of candidates for the fast approaching Lok Sabha elections will include cine stars and turncoats from Trinamool Congress and even Forward Bloc.
The names like Locket Chatterjee, Moushumi Chatterjee and sitting Lok Sabha MP from Asansol Babul Supriyo figure among the names short listed to take on Mamata Banerjee’s candidates.
Mr Supriyo, Union MoS for Heavy Industries, would be in probability seek re-election from Asansol. However, there are talks that the playback singer-turned-politician may also move to nearby Bardhaman-Durgapur parliamentary seat in south Bengal.
Noted Bollywood actress Moushumi Chatterjee, who joined the BJP earlier this month, may be BJP nominee from Birbhum – which is at present being represented by actress and Trinamool lawmaker Shatabdi Roy. BJP nominee in 2014 was Bengal cinema actor-turned-politician Joy Banerjee.
Locket Chatterjee of Bengali TV and film fame is BJP Women Wing president in West Bengal and may be fielded from Bakura. At present another cine star Moon Moon Sen is representing the seat. The constituency was earlier a noted Marxists' den having returned Basudeb Acharia number of times.
“There is a possibility of fielding Locket Chatterjee from Birbhum also,” sources said.
BJP state unit chief Dilip Ghosh, sitting Kharagpur MLA, may contest from Medinipur parliamentary constituency. Prabhakar Tiway was BJP nominee in 2014 and the seat is at present being represented by actress-turned-Trinamool leader Sandhya Roy.
Another prominent face and BJP leader in the state Rahul Sinha may again try his electoral fortune from North Kolkata. In 2014, he finished second against Trinamool strongman Sudip Bandyopadhyay and importantly from the saffron party’s poll strategy – the CPI(M) nominee Rupa Bagchi in the constituency could bag only 196,549 votes to finish third. Mr Sinha had won 247,461 votes as against 33,687 votes by Sudip Bandyopadhyay.
Sources said another key leader of the party Samik Bhattarcharjee may be saffron party’s candidate from Dumdum in Kolkata. The seat is at present represented by Saugata Roy of Trinamool Congress.
For Bishnupur parliamentary seat, the saffron party in all likelihood will field the incumbent lawmaker Saumitra Khan, a former Trinamool leader who lately joined the BJP.
Sitting Trinamool MP Anupam Hazra may join the BJP and contest from the Bolpur seat. Mr Hazra was expelled by the Trinamool leadership on January 9.
The name of BJP Youth Wing chief in the state Debjit Sarkar is reportedly being considered for Raiganj Lok Sabha seat. The constituency is at present being represented by CPI-M leader Mohammed Salim. BJP nominee Nimu Bhowmick had finished third, bagging 2,03,131 votes as against 3,17,515 by Mr Salim and 315,881 by Congress leader Deepa Dasmunshi.
The victory margin for Mr Salim was mere 1634 votes and analysts say good performance by the BJP had made CPI-M’s task easier to win the seat.
The nominated member Anglo Indian George Baker, also a former cine star, may be fielded from Howrah or Barasat parliamentary constituency. He had unsuccessfully contested from Howrah in 2014 but could finish only number three.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s kin Chandra Bose, who was BJP nominee against Mamata Banerjee in 2016 assembly polls from Bhawanipur constituency may be fielded from Jadavpur or South Kolkata constituency.
Humanyun Kabir, a turncoat from Congress and Trinamool Congress, may be fielded from Murshidabad. A former Trinamool Minister in the state Kabir is now a prominent face in the party from the region.
Mr Kabir had joined the Congress after he was expelled by the Trinamool leadership in 2015 for his alleged anti-party activities. He later claimed that the people in West Bengal are looking for a genuine alternative to Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool and see the BJP as a credible party to do so.
For Bakura Lok Sabha seat, another ticket aspirant is Dr Subhas Sarkar.
Former Forward Bloc leader Narhari Mahato will be likely BJP candidate from Purulia. The saffron party had put up impressive show during the 2018 local body polls in the region – adjoining Jharkhand.
The saffron party strategists are working out details for suitable candidates for seats like Bangaon, Balurghat, Jhargram and Ranaghat.
Farooq Abdullah raises EVM bogey, calls it 'chor machine'
Kolkata, Jan 19 Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Saturday sought to dump the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) calling them "chor machines" and insisted that united efforts ought to be made by opposition parties to bring back the ballot paper system in country's electioneering process.
Speaking at the united opposition rally organised by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, he said, "Yeh Chor machine hae (The EVM is chor machine)".
He said the opposition unity is not the question of ousting any single person or the Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the bigger issue at stake is the need to save the country from disasters as being brought by the Modi government.
"The EVM is chor machine. Honestly speaking, its use must be put to an end. Nowhere in the world is the machine used. The opposition parties should approach the Election Commission and the President of India to stop the use of the EVM," he said at the Brigade rally also attended by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and the stalwarts among regional party leaders such as Sharad Pawar, N Chandrababu Naidu and many others.
Mr Abdullah blamed the BJP for the 'deteriorating situation' in Jammu and Kashmir and said people are being divided on religious lines.
"I am a Muslim and I love India, my country," he said amid large applause from the gathering.
Speaking at the rally, former Union Minister Arun Shourie said the opposition leaders should be ready for making sacrifices and only then any effective fight can be launched against the BJP-led NDA.
Sitting BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha and former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha were also present at the rally.
Mukul Roy makes 'Jyoti Basu' jibe at Mamata: Supriyo raises traffic woes due to Kolkata rally
New Delhi, Jan 19 BJP leader and former Union Minister Mukul Roy on Saturday made 'Jyoti Basu jibe' at Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and termed the gathering of major regional leaders at the Kolkata rally as "jokers and lying artists coming together".
"West Bengal is again witnessing a circus under Mamata Banerjee's rule similar to what Jyoti Basu had started. Various jokers and lying artists coming together to destroy India again," Mr Roy tweeted with the hashtag 'UnitedAntiNationalsAtBrigade'.
Ms Banerjee's political career in initial years largely focused on fighting the CPI-M and the then Marxist doyen Jyoti Basu.
The ‘United India Rally’ under the aegis of Trinamool Congress is taking place at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata where several national leaders, including former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and former chief ministers are present.
In a series of tweets, Union Minister and BJP lawmaker from Asansol Babul Supriyo also took a dig at Trinamool Congress over its mega anti-BJP rally in Kolkata.
"TMC has a large fund base for the rally but not for the state? Kolkata will witness a show of hypocrisy today," Mr Supriyo tweeted.
"The people are aware and can see that the only thing Didi (Mamata Banerjee) has given is big posters and nothing else," he wrote.
He further wrote: "By putting the traffic on stand still and harassing the general public, TMC wants to stand up for the state’s well fare? How ironical! I urge all to share their today's traffic woes".
The Union Minister described the Brigade show as a "rally of unity of corrupt leaders".
"Kolkata will witness a show of hypocrisy today. It is an unholy alliance of political parties for personal survival".
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