The Bihar Legislative Assembly today witnessed an unseemly fight between two women MLAs of rival JD(U) and BJP leaving everybody befuddled.

The fight broke out between Annu Shukla of ruling Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Bhagirathi Devi during the Zero Hour.

Devi, third term MLA from Ramnagar (SC) got angry with Shukla, MLA from Lalganj in Vaishali district, for pointing her hand towards the former while she was raising the issue of non-payment of wage under MGNREGA scheme.

The BJP Legislator took objection to Shukla’s gesture and told her “haath is taraf kar lenge (I will bring your hand this side).”

This infuriated Shukla, who yelled at Devi in English “I will not accept this” and rushed into the well shouting at her. Devi also got agitated and tried to move towards Shukla in the well but Leader of Opposition Nand Kishore Yadav stopped her and asked her to be seated.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who made a suo motu statement on payment of compensation to farmers who have suffered due to hailstorm in March, had left Assembly just minutes before the fight broke out.

He was in his Assembly chamber and inquired from colleagues as to what happened.

Taken by surprise at the duel, Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary tried to pacify the agitated women but to no avail. Later, he adjourned the house till 2 PM.

The quarrel continued even after the House was adjourned.

While Shukla was walking towards the Speaker’s chamber, Devi stopped her and asked why she was behaving like that. Shukla after showing an unkind gesture went to the Speaker’s chamber to register her complaint.

Devi followed her to the Speaker’s chamber but was stopped by his staff requesting her to enter only after Shukla leaves.

Devi told reporters she would urge the Speaker to discipline Shukla or she would drag her to court

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will hold a protest against the controversial Land Bill at Jantar Mantar on Wednesday and will be joined by farmers from Delhi and neighbouring states.

“We will launch a nationwide protest against the NDA government’s Land Bill seeking its withdrawal,” party leader Sanjay Singh said during a press conference today.

Party leader Kumar Vishwas said that AAP has been opposing the attitude of the central government towards farmers affected by the crop damage.

He added that if the government fails to withdraw the bill then a nationwide protest will be launched by the party.

The AAP leaders also launched a scathing attack on Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress and said that they should not think that they have worked for the interest of farmers.

AAP is the latest political party to join the opposition against changes in Land Acquisition Bill proposed by NDA government.

Giriraj Singh regrets racist remarks against Sonia, says he did not intend to insult anyone.

Union minister Giriraj Singh on Monday expressed regret on the floor of Lok Sabha over his racist comment against Sonia Gandhi after the Congress created a ruckus over the matter and forced a brief adjournment of the House.

The expression of regret came after the opposition demanded that Singh be sacked as a minister for his comment that the Congress made Gandhi the president of the party because of ‘her white skin’.

“It was not my intention to offend anybody. If my comments have caused any hurt I express regret,” said Singh.

As soon as the House assembled for the second part of the Budget session after a month-long break, Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia raised the matter.

“People are making statements against women. Central minister Giriraj Singh had made a derogatory comment about Sonia Gandhi. These kind of comments are not only against the women of the country, but the entire country should hang their heads in shame,” said Scindia.

“It is an insult to the Nigerians also… the Nigerian high commissioner has also protested,” Scindia added.

“We not only want an apology, but also resignation of the minister. The Prime Minister should also apologise,” he said.

While rejecting a variety of adjournment motions moved by Congress, AIADMK and Left members, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed Scindia to raise the issue of Singh’s remarks.

She said she was also hurt by the remarks and such statements should not be made.

Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said Bharatiya Janata Paty (BJP) MPs and ministers have continuously been making unwarranted and irresponsible statements. Such remarks create fissures in the society and hurt the harmony, said Kharge.

At one point, Kharge got offended when his mike was switched off.

“Whenever I speak, the mike is switched off… I have to protest,” he said.

Both Gandhi and Singh were present in the House.

Parliamentary afairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu said the government and the BJP did not aprove of such remarks but there was no need to drag the Prime Minister in the picture.

Kharge said the PM was in picture as the remarks have been made by a minister which makes it a collective responsibility of the council of ministers.

“PM is the leader of the House…,” he said.

Speaker Mahajan condemned the comments, but said the issue could be discussed later.

As Mahajan took up the Question Hour, Congress members trooped into the Well and started shouting slogans forcing her to adjourn the House for 20 minutes. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi entered the House just as it was adjourned.

As soon as the House met again at 11:45am, Singh rose to say that his intention was not to insult anyone but if his remarks have hurt anyone he regretted it.

The minister of state for micro, small and medium enterprises was under fire for his racist barb at Gandhi. He had kicked up a row by asking whether Congress would have accepted Sonia Gandhi’s leadership if she were not white skinned.

“Had Rajiv Gandhi married a Nigerian woman and if she was not a white-skinned woman, would the Congress have then accepted her (Sonia’s) leadership,” Singh had said earlier this month?.

(With PTI inputs)

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said on Saturday he had “requested” Congress heavyweight Narayan Rane not to contest the Bandra (East) Assembly bypoll which the latter lost.

Ranesaheb had called me to inform me that he is contesting the bypoll. I requested him not to contest. I told him ‘you have just lost the Assembly elections (in October last year). Also, the constituency (Bandra) is new for you’.

“My personal opinion is that he should not have contested the bypoll,” he told reporters here.

The former chief minister was defeated by Shiv Sena’s Trupti Sawant, wife of MLA Prakash Sawant whose death had necessitated the April 11 bypoll, by over 19,000 votes.

A day after the bypoll result, Marathi newspaper ‘Prahar’, of which Rane is the editorial consultant, carried a piece that sought to put the onus of his defeat on senior Congress leaders.

However, Rane later distanced himself from the daily’s opinion and maintained he had no complains against Congress leaders over the poll outcome.

Last month, Rane had expressed his displeasure over the appointment of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and ex-MP Sanjay Nirupam as Presidents of Maharashtra and Mumbai Congress units, respectively.

In 2008, he was suspended from Congress for critical comments against AICC leaders over appointment of Chavan as the Chief Minister in place of Vilasrao Deshmukh, who quit following the terror attacks in Mumbai.
PTI

New Delhi: The second half of the Budget Session of Parliament, which began on Monday, is likely to be a stormy affair as the Narendra Modi government is aiming to push the controversial land acquisition ordinance in the Lok Sabha and the Congress-led Opposition is bent on scuttling the move.

Some Live updates of the Budget Session

We are ‘Team India’, States and Centre are working together. We need to together mind a lasting solution: Naidu.
What we got as viraasat has to be kept in mind: Venkaiah.
Our ministers visited various areas affected by unseasonal rain and we raised the limit for the relief: Naidu.
After Rahul Gandhi, Venkaiah Naidu speaks in LS, says the govt is sensitive to the plight of farmers.
Rahul concludes his speech.
I have one more suggestion for the PM. He should switch sides. The strength of the country is in the hands of the farmers: Rahul.
If you believe that those corporates who drive in swanky cars are India’s foundation you are gravely mistaken: Rahul.
Only one answer comes to my mind and that is – The land price is increasing at a fast rate and your corporate friends want that land. That is why you are weakening the farmers and then you will hit them with the ordinance axe: Rahul.
The PM knows political calculations. He has won the elections. 67 percent of people are dependent on agriculture. I have a question in mind. If PM understands political compulsions then why does he want to anger more than 67 percent of the people: Rahul.
You talk about defence, about fighter planes but don’t talk about the 60% of this country: Rahul.
You know it is the truth and that is why you are shouting so much: Rahul.
Uproar in Lok Sabha during Rahul Gandhi’s speech. Naidu asks MPs to remain silent.
Your government is a government of the rich and the corporates. It is the government of the ‘suit and boot’, says Rahul to BJP amid din in LS.
The agricultural growth during achche din govt is only 1%. Grains are being left at the mandi, but nobody is procuring them. There is urea shortage but farmers are being lathi charged: Rahul Gandhi.
I want to give a suggestion to the PM. He should go and visit those areas where the people and farmers are in pain: Rahul.
The biggest agricultural experts have said that 180 lakh hectares has been destroyed by the unseasonal rains but the PM says 106 lakh hectares: Rahul.
I’d like to praise Mr Gadkari, he speaks the truth, speaks his heart. He said that farmers should not rely on God or this govt: Rahul Gandhi
You talk about strengthening the country, but what is the result of all this?, asks Rahul.
The current govt has raised the MSP of wheat by Rs 10 only: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
During UPA govt agricultural growth rate was 4.2 % while during ‘India Shining’ govt it was just 2.6%: Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
Green revolution happened because farmers were given abundant credit and were given an MSP to sell his crop: Rahul.
The farmer gave us green revolution, because he was provided with the idea of MSP: Rahul.
The achche din govt has failed the people on minimum support price and agriculture credit, says Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi speaks in the Lok Sabha on Land Bill.
Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot arrives at 10 Janpath to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi with farmers.
Rahul Gandhi is also likely to attend meet
Congress leaders from Haryana, Himachal and Haryana to attend meet.
Sonia Gandhi is due to meet Congress leaders at her residence at 4 pm to chalk out strategy to counter BJP on land bill, say reports.
To cause uproar and not let leaders speak is not the way to act, not expected. Why doesn’t Cong want Parliament to work, asks Venkaiah Naidu
BJP should tell us where these industrialists will set up projects and how many people will get employed: Mulayam
SP chief attacks PM Modi, says he will ruin farmers of the country.
Govt wants to make a back door entry to pass the land bill, alleges Congress
Congress issues whip asking its MPs to be present in Lok Sabha.
TMC walks out of Lok Sabha to protest against land bill.
Opposition threatens walkout if Rahul Gandhi stopped from speaking in Parliament.
Opposition agrees to allow Rahul Gandhi to speak against land bill, address farmers’ issues.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul discuss strategy to counter govt on land bill.
Rahul Gandhi is expected to speak on the crisis facing Indian farmers after unseasonal rains, claims ANI.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi due to speak in Parliament at 4 pm.
Uproar continues in Lok Sabha, Speaker adjourns proceedings till 2 pm.
I don’t understand, what the Opposition is protesting about when the land Bill hasn’t even been tabled yet, says Sumitra Mahajan.
Opposition disrupts EAM Swaraj’s statement in Parliament on Yemen evacuations.
EAM lauds VK Singh’s role in Yemen evacuations.
Indian govt evacuated not just Indians but foreigners too, we’re keeping close watch on Yemen’s situation: Swaraj.
EAM Sushma Swaraj makes statement on govt’s successful evacuation operation in Yemen amid uproar by Opposition MPs.
Land acquisition amendment ordinance tabled in Lok Sabha by Rajiv Pratap Rudy
Govt tables land bill in Lok Sabha, Opposition MPs continue to protest.
Mallikarjun ji is a senior leader, I respect him a lot, but I haven’t made any statement against Muslims: Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena.
I express regret, If anyone has been hurt by my statement, didn’t mean to insult anyone: Giriraj Singh
BJP MP Giriraj Singh regrets making ‘Nigerian’ remark on Sonia Gandhi.
Proceedings begin in Lok Sabha.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi reaches Parliament.
Speaker adjourns Lower House till 11.45 am as ruckus continues.
Speaker rejects adjournment motion by Jyotiraditya Scindia and others.
Request the house to proceed with Question Hour, whenever you give permission we can have a discussion on this: Naidu.
No one in government approves this sort of comments: Naidu
Issue raised by Congress MP is important, needs to be responded to: Naidu
Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu responds to Congress charge.
We want the PM to apologise and seek the resignation of such ministers and MPs, says Scindia.
Jyotiraditya Scindia raises Giriraj Singh’s ‘Nigerian lady’ comment, says its is “condemnable, insults women, every Indian and every Nigerian”.
Proceedings begin in Lok Sabha. Opposition MPs create ruckus over land bill.
We will strongly raise issue of land ordinance in Parliament today, lets see: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress.
We have a clear stand, we will strongly oppose any anti-poor, farmer policy: Jyotiraditya Scindia of Congress.
I’m grateful to opposition parties for their cooperation in previous Session: PM
I am sure this leg of the session will witness even higher standards of debate to fulfil people’s aspirations: PM Modi.
PM Modi address media ahead of Parliament session, says he hopes this session will be productive.
PM Narendra Modi reaches Parliament, appeals to opposition parties for co-operation.
We have an overwhelming majority in Lok Sabha. We will see what happens: Venkaiah Naidu.
We believe in discussion. Let there be debate, discussion and then a decision will be taken: Venkaiah Naidu.

New Delhi: The high-stake Delhi mayoral polls scheduled to take place next week, seem to heading for a two-way contest between the ruling BJP and Congress, even as the saffron party exuded confidence of repeating its electoral triumph for the top municipal posts.

Candidates from both the parties are set to file nominations for the polls, while the Aam Aadmi Party, which staged a stunning comeback to power in last Delhi Assembly polls, has so far not figured on this polling arena.

The erstwhile unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was trifurcated in 2012 into — North, East and South Delhi Municipal Corporations (NDMC, EDMC and SDMC).

The elections, slated to be held on April 24 will elect new mayors, deputy mayors and members of the standing committees of the three civic bodies. Today is the last date to file nominations.

All three corporations are BJP-led and the party had swept the mayoral polls last year.

“BJP and Congress candidates are both scheduled to file nominations today for the three posts at the north corporation. The final list of candidates would become clear by evening,” a senior official of the NDMC said.

The two big parties are also set to enter into a contest in the EDMC as well, which last year elected its youngest mayor Meenakshi.

Meanwhile, party functionaries at AAP, however, have said that the new political party is not contesting the mayoral polls.

“We are fighting the mayoral polls with confidence and fielding candidates We are fighting the mayoral polls with confidence and fielding candidates for the mayor, deputy mayors and members of the standing committee posts,” Delhi BJP Chief and councillor Satish Upadhyay said.

Upadhyay, former chairman of the SDMC’s Standing Committee exuded confidence on BJP’s performance in this poll.

The five-year tenure for the Mayor post sees five single- year terms on a rotation basis, with the first year being reserved for women, the second open category, third for reserved category, and the remaining two also being in open category, Director (Press & Information), NDMC, Yogendra Singh Mann said.

The last mayoral poll won by BJP saw, Yogender Chandolia, Khushi Ram and Meenakshi winning the post of mayors for NDMC, SDMC and EDMC respectively.
PTI

Congress on Thursday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks in Canada about the “mess” left behind by others, saying they were in “poor taste” coming on foreign soil and show that he still carries the “hangover of the election campaign”.

“The prime minister’s statement on foreign soil, both in Germany and Canada, has been in poor taste. It is clear that (Modi) carries a hangover of the 2014 election campaign.

“He is talking on foreign soil to malign his predecessors and the present opposition. No prime minister of India in its history has ever done so,” said Congress spokesman Anand Sharma.

Charging that Modi had painted a picture which suggested that the country was known only for corruption and scams before he came to office, Sharma said the prime minister had “lowered the dignity” of his office.

Sharma, a former Commerce Minister in the UPA government, said Modi needs to be reminded that he inherited a strong economy and a vibrant India. He also claimed that the country’s GDP had quadrupled under the Congress-led government.

“The last government had left a foreign exchange reserve of USD 310 billion and the country’s exports had gone up to USD 315 billion. Throughout the period of the financial crisis, India remained one of the most-favoured destinations for foreign investors.

“If Modi thinks that the world is recognising India’s potential, strength and demography for the first time, then he is either ill-informed or being delusional.

“By such remarks, he is denying the achievements of the Indian people. He has insulted those who made the country what it is today. With Modi’s government completing 11 months in office, it’s time that he gave an account of the lofty promises and dreams he sold to the people,” he said.

Contending that development was the only answer to India’s problems, Modi today said in Toronto that he would clean up the “mess” created by others and change the country’s image from one where it is identified with “scams” to that of a “skilled” nation.

Taking an apparent dig at the previous governments, Modi said, “Jinko gandagi karni thi, woh gandagi kar ke chaley gaye, par hum safai karenge (Those who had to create a mess, they have done so and left. We will clean it up).”

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh and party spokesman Sanjay Jha, too, targeted the Prime Minister through posts on twitter.com.

“When a Head of State visits abroad he represents the whole Nation. Modi’s speech is divisive, defamatory, malicious and not based on facts,” tweeted Singh.

Jha said that Modi was making India a laughing stock through his “pathetic diatribes” against political opponents.

“PM Modi through his pathetic diatribes against political opponents abroad is making India into a laughing stock. Doing an IPO, Sir???” Jha said on the micro-blogging website.

New Delhi: A day after the rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faction led by Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan stopped sort of splitting the party by floating a new group, the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party will meet on Wednesday amidst indications of strong action against the dissident leaders.

The panel is expected to refer the case of Yadav and Bhushan to the disciplinary committee of the party’s Delhi unit after the duo organised Swaraj Samvad convention at Gurgaon.

Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Political Affairs Committee (PAC) is scheduled to meet this evening at Arvind Kejriwal’s residence. Interestingly, Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan will also hold a press conference at 4 pm today.

The senior part leaders had already warned of taking serious action against those attending the Swaraj Samvad convention.

Yesterday, in the convention, the leaders announced floating of a new group and also lashed out at the party leadership, questioning inner party democracy and transparency in the party.

The party is also expected to crack the whip on Anand Kumar and Ajit Jha, who were ousted from the party along with Yadav and Bhushan

Speaking to reporters, AAP leader Ashutosh had said the party will “soon” sit down to discuss the developments at the dissident-led convention and take an “appropriate” decision in this regard.

On Monday, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh too had warned of action against those attenting the meeting, saying the PAC will decide on their fate.

“Today’s developments clearly indicate that they (rebels) have decided to break the party. Now they will perhaps decide what future course they should chart out,” Ashutosh said.

Shiva Sena Candidate, Trupti Sawant won the Bandra East by elections by 52,711 to her rival candidate Narayan Rane of Congress who got 33,703 votes for the Maharashtra Assembly. Bypoll was necessitated in the Bandra East constituency following the death of Shiv Sena MLA Bala Sawant, husband of Mrs Trupti Sawant.

A week ago Real News had already predicted Shiva Sena’s victory on the basis of all round survey done. Narayan Rane with a long political history of almost 32 years faced a major setback in a small constituency like Bandra East. When Rane was interviewed by Real News of India he had stated that his party chose him to stand for the by elections when asked why he chose such a small sized constituency.

The public of Bandra East just could not relate to his candidacy. He was too big a heavy weight. However Bala Swawant’s excellent public relations with the public was the real factor of Shiva Sena’s victory.

Massive victory celebrations were seen outside Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray’s residence ‘Matoshree’ as party workers waived the saffron flag and shouted party slogans. They also busted fire crackers and distributed sweets among people.

Former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who was forced to quit two months ago after falling out with the JD(U) leadership, Monday said he was likely to float a political party and ruled out any pre-poll alliance for the state Assembly elections, due this year.

While making it clear that he will not under any circumstances join the formation led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar or RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, Manjhi said he was “not averse” to giving or taking support from the BJP if the situation warranted.

Discounting chances of his entering into a pre-poll alliance with any party, Manjhi said at a meet-the-press here that he may even contest the Bihar polls alone.

“We have formed a social organisation called Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM), which is holding a big public rally on April 20 in Patna to decide the future course of action. About five lakh people are likely to attend it and if the response is good, I may form a new party and contest elections on my own,” Manjhi said.

However, he did not dismiss either offering support or taking support from the BJP to form the next government, but was averse to striking a deal with any formation having Nitish and Lalu.

The new alliance of Lalu, Nitish and Mulayam Singh is short of any ideology, he said, alleging them as “opportunists”.

“Nitish had termed Lalu’s rule as ‘jungle raj’ and Lalu, while accusing Nitish of sending him to jail, had once vowed to be a saviour of Dalits like me…yet he betrayed me,” Manjhi alleged.

Asked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Manjhi said he is a person with secular credentials.

“Modi cannot be called communal. I find nothing wrong with his secular credentials since he has pledged trying to take along all sections of people with him,” he said.

Manjhi, who was expelled from the JD (U) before he resigned as the chief minister ahead of the crucial trust vote in the state Assembly, had claimed that he formed the new front to ‘expose’ Nitish and the party.

He was later declared as an unattached member in the Bihar Assembly.

Manjhi also came out in defence of Modi vis-à-vis delivery of promises and secularism.

Talking to media persons in ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by Nagpur Union of Working Journalists, here Monday, Manjhi said, “It is true that different people are talking different things like voting rights of Muslims be taken away, Article 370 be scrapped, common civil code be implemented and Ram temple be built. But Modi’s recent statements and position has shown clear departure (“fluctuation”) which is reassuring” Manjhi said.