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Tag: bjp

  • Four Dead, 14 Injured In Karol Bagh Building Collapse, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj Blames Delhi’s AAP Govt |

    Demanding the Delhi government to take cognisance of old structures in bad state to avoid such incidents in the future, BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj attacked AAP, saying that the carelessness of the Delhi government is causing such tragedies in the national capital. Bansuri Swaraj was in Karol Bhag when she addressed the media after meeting people at the hospital who were injured due to the collapse of a portion of an old building at Bapa Nagar in Karol Bagh on Wednesday. Four people have died and more than 14 were injured due to the building collapse incident, she said.

    “Delhi government needs to take cognisance of structures that are in a bad state,” Swaraj told the media. “So far, four people have lost their lives and more than 14 are injured. Some are undergoing treatment in the RML Hospital and some in Lady Hardinge Hospital… Till when will the people of Delhi keep facing such tragedies due to the carelessness of the Delhi government?…” she asked.

    She further said that the Delhi government is only blaming the authorities. According to Atul Garg, Director of Delhi Fire Services, the DFS received information about the building collapse in Karol Bagh’s Bapa Nagar at 9.10 am. “As soon as they received the information, the officials from the Delhi Fire Services, with 5 fire tenders, rushed to the site.

    On Wednesday, Delhi Chief Minister designate and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to the bereaved families affected due to the incident. The Delhi Minister also met the injured persons and the families of the deceased at the RML Hospital evening and assured financial assistance, saying that legal action would be taken against the building owner.

    Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi should provide Rs 1 crore compensation to the people who lost their lives due to the building collapse in the Bapa Nagar in Karol Bagh. He also said that Rs 5 lakh should also be provided to the people who were injured in the incident.

  • Leaked Video Of Conversation Between Tamil Nadu’s Restaurant Owner, FM Sitharaman Lands BJP In Soup- All About The GST Apology Row |

    Tamil Nadu GST Row: The Goods and Services Tax has been a bone of contention between the BJP and the Congress. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had once termed it ‘Gabbar Sing Tax’. The Congress got fresh ammunition after a video of a conversation between Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharama and Tamil Nadu’s famous restaurant chain owner was shared on X mistakenly by a BJP worker. The Congress slammed the Finance Minister for her arrogance. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai apologised for the incident.

    What Is The Issue All About?

    The root of the row goes back to the September 11 event attended by several businessmen and Finance Minister Sitharaman. During the event, Annapoorna chain of restaurants owner Srinivasan expressed his concerns related to the GST in front of FM Sitharaman. 

    The hotel chain owner mentioned that sweets are subject to a 5% GST, while savouries are taxed at 12%. “There is 18% GST on cream-filled buns, whereas there is no GST on buns. Customers often complain, saying, ‘Just give me the bun, I will add the cream and jam myself’,” said Srinivasan.

    He is Coimbatore’s pride Annapurna Group Head Srinivasan.

    Yesterday he was forced to apologise to FM Nirmala Sitharaman on camera.

    His crime? To ask a genuine question on GST from FM during an event.

    This not only exposes BJP leaders’ arrogance but is also an insult of the… pic.twitter.com/MJ6sRj6wyD
    — Ankit Mayank (@mr_mayank) September 13, 2024

    A day later, Srinivasan met FM Sitharaman during which he reportedly apologised to the minister saying that he is not a member of any political party. In a video shared by the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit, Srinivasan, the owner of Annapoorna, is captured standing and folding his hands while interacting with Sitharaman. “Please pardon me for my comments. I do not belong to any political party,” he was heard saying in the video.

    Rahul Gandhi Ji in Coimbatore — Goes to a sweet shop, buys some sweets for TN CM @mkstalin, greets the staff of the shop and gets clicks with them.

    Nirmala Sitharaman in Coimbatore — Forced the owner renowned Annapoorna group to apologise & released the video to humiliate him. pic.twitter.com/AKhnTiJwLZ
    — Shantanu (@shaandelhite) September 13, 2024

    Congress Slams BJP

    A businessman apologising to the FM for his genuine concerns sparked a row with people terming it bad optics while Congress slammed the ruling party and its minister for ‘arrogance’. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said, that when the owner of a small business like Annapoorna restaurant asks public servants for a simplified GST regime, their request is met with ‘arrogance and outright disrespect’. 

    “Yet, when a billionaire friend seeks to bend the rules, change the laws, or acquire national assets, Modi Ji rolls out the red carpet. Our small business owners have already endured the blows of demonetisation, an inaccessible banking system, tax extortion and a disastrous GST. The last thing they deserve is further humiliation. But when the fragile egos of those in power are hurt, it seems humiliation is exactly what they’ll deliver. MSMEs have been asking for relief for years. If this arrogant government would listen to the people they would understand that a simplified GST with a single tax rate would solve the problems of lakhs of businesses,” said the LoP.

    When the owner of a small business, like Annapoorna restaurant in Coimbatore, asks our public servants for a simplified GST regime, his request is met with arrogance and outright disrespect.

    Yet, when a billionaire friend seeks to bend the rules, change the laws, or acquire…
    — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 13, 2024

    Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader Of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, “‘Tax Terror’ for Poor & Middle Class, while ‘Tax Cuts’ for Modi ji’s Crony Friends!  The disgraceful humiliation of a small businessman, the owner of Sree Annapoorna restaurant in Coimbatore by the Finance Minister and the BJP, smacks of arrogance of power. She has been a repeated offender in such public interactions.”

    ‘Tax Terror’ for Poor & Middle Class, while ‘Tax Cuts’ for Modi ji’s Crony Friends!

    The disgraceful humiliation of a small businessman, the owner of Sree Annapoorna restaurant in Coimbatore by the Finance Minister and the BJP, smacks of arrogance of power. She has been a…
    — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) September 13, 2024

    BJP Apologises To Businessman

    While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is yet to respond to the issue, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai apologised for the leaked video. “On behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu, I sincerely apologise for the actions of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner and our Hon. FM. I spoke with Thiru Srinivasan Avl, the esteemed owner of the Annapoorna chain of Restaurants, to express regret for this unintended breach of privacy,” said Annamalai.

    On behalf of @BJP4TamilNadu, I sincerely apologise for the actions of our functionaries who shared a private conversation between a respected business owner and our Hon. FM.

    I spoke with Thiru Srinivasan Avl, the esteemed owner of the Annapoorna chain of Restaurants, to express…
    — K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) September 13, 2024

    The state BJP president further said, “Annapoorna Srinivasan Anna is a pillar of Tamil Nadu’s business community, contributing significantly to the state’s and nation’s economic growth. I request everyone to lay the matter to rest with due respect.”

  • On Opposition’s Concerns Over PM-CJI Meet, BJP’s ‘Iftaar Party’ Counter |

    New Delhi: As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s casual visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s residence on Ganesh Puja, faced a significant backlash from the opposition, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has responded by reminding Congress of a similar incident concerning former PM Manmohan Singh.  

    BJP’s spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala shared some old pictures of Manmohan Singh with the then CJI KG Balakrishnan laughing at an Iftar party in 2009. 

    Poonawalla circulated old photographs of the 2009 Iftar party showing then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh together with then Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan. Poonawalla remarked that during that period, the Opposition believed the “judiciary was safe.” He compared this with the current situation, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at Ganesh Puja at the Chief Justice’s residence has led to claims that the “judiciary has been compromised.” 

    2009- PM Manmohan Singh’s Iftaar Party was attended by then CJI KG Balakrishnan- Sshhhh – Yeh Secular hai.. judiciary is safe!

    PM Modi attends Ganesh Puja at current CJI House – oh God Judiciary compromised pic.twitter.com/vhkUdRRVHI
    — Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 12, 2024

    ‘Should they be enemies?…’ said BJP’s Sambit Patra on Opposition’s remarks. He said that this is the beauty of democracy that the different ‘pillars’ maintain different courtesy’s when on-duty and when off-duty. 

    Patra asserted, “The leaders of the Opposition are doing politics over the Ganesh prayers offered by PM Modi at CJI Chandrachud’s residence yesterday… Should the different pillars of democracy not converge? Should they be enemies?… Should they have no courtesies towards each other?” 

    The speaker questioned the inconsistency in objections, pointing out that while there are concerns about the Prime Minister meeting the Chief Justice of India, similar meetings involving Rahul Gandhi with figures like Ilhan Omar, the Chinese Premier, and George Soros, as well as signing MoUs, have been ignored. 

    He noted that there was no objection to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh attending Iftar parties, suggesting a double standard regarding the significance of these interactions. 

  • Smriti Irani To Enter Delhi Politics? Ex-Amethi MP’s Activities In Capital Create Buzz |

    New Delhi: The growing involvement of former Amethi MP Smriti Irani in BJP activities in Delhi has created a buzz within the party’s city unit over her possible “role” in local politics ahead of next year’s assembly elections. Born and raised in Delhi, the former Union minister has been actively involved in programmes related to the party’s membership drive in the city that was launched on September 2.

    She has been assigned “supervision” of the membership drive in seven out of the Delhi BJP’s 14 district units, party leaders said. Party insiders also claimed Irani had purchased a house in south Delhi, hinting at her further involvement in the city unit’s activities.

    “These developments come amid a section of party leaders pushing for the projection of a face who would lead the charge in the Delhi Assembly polls to give a tough fight to AAP led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,” said a senior BJP leader.

    In the 2020 assembly polls, the BJP contested without a face or declaring any leader as its chief ministerial candidate. It managed to win eight out the 70 seats while AAP won the remainder, he noted.

    Another top Delhi BJP leader said if the idea of going to the polls with a chief ministerial candidate gained currency in the coming weeks, the question over a suitable leader for the responsibility would naturally come up.

    “In such a scenario, Irani, along with other leaders such as MPs Manoj Tiwari and Bansuri Swaraj, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, and former West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma, could be potential contenders for the role,” he said.

    The entire party rallying behind one leader will send a message of “unity” and also streamline campaigning, he claimed.

    The BJP had contested the 2015 assembly polls with Kiran Bedi as its chief ministerial candidate but failed miserably, said some leaders who believe it was not a good idea to have a face for the elections.

    The debate is still open. The national leadership is aware of the matter and may take a call on it later on, they said.

    The party leaders maintained that the debate on a chief ministerial face could intensify in the coming days if AAP chief Kejriwal — currently under judicial custody in Tihar jail in the excise policy case — got bail.

    The Supreme Court is due to pronounce its order on Kejriwal’s bail plea on Friday.

    If Kejriwal comes out and becomes involved in political activities, the BJP’s task becomes even tougher, they added.

    Irani, who participated in a membership programme in Chandni Chowk along with local MP Praveen Khandelwal, emphasised on strengthening the BJP at the ground level, calling booth-level workers the source of power behind the party’s success and growth.

    Earlier, she made a three-day organisational visit to the Delhi BJP under the membership campaign, attending programmes and addressing party workers and supporters in Naveen Shahdara, Karol Bagh and New Delhi, the leaders added.

  • Who Is Captain Yogesh Bairagi, BJP Pick Against Vinesh Phogat From Julana? Modi’s Masterstroke Or Mistake In Haryana? |

    Haryana Vidhansabha Chunav 2024: The BJP has nominated Captain Yogesh Bairagi from Haryana’s Julana seat. Bairagi, a 35-year-old former army officer and commercial pilot, hails from Paanju Kalan village and resides in Safidon. Bairagi plays an active role in the BJP, serving in various capacities such as state vice president of the youth wing, state co-convener of the sports cell, and a member of the state executive committee for the youth wing in Haryana. He is married, has one son, holds a Bachelor’s degree, and is currently engaged in business.

    Bairagi served in the Indian Army as a Captain for nine years before transitioning into aviation and eventually politics. His father, Narendra Kumar, also pursued a political career and previously sought a BJP ticket.

    Bairagi gained attention for his involvement in relief and rescue operations during the Chennai floods and for participating in the Vande Bharat Mission during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Julana, a constituency with a majority Jat population, consists of about 81,000 Jat voters, along with significant Backward Class (33,608) and Scheduled Caste (29,661) communities. In a strategic decision, the BJP has chosen to field Bairagi, a non-Jat candidate from the backward class, aiming to expand its reach across various voter groups. Now, it will be interesting to see whether fielding a non-Jat candidate against former wrestler and Congress candidate Vinesh Phogat proves to be a masterstroke by Narendra Modi-led BJP or a mistake as Phogat enjoys a sympathy factor in this election following her unexpected exit from the Paris Olympics 2024.

    The Julana seat has been a distant dream for Congress. In the last election, the seat was won by JJP in 2019 and the Indian National Lok Dal in 2014 and 2009. The Congress last won the seat in 2005. The BJP has also not won the seat so far. 

  • Haryana Polls: BJP Releases 2nd List Of 21 Candidates; Fields This Newcomer Against Vinesh Phogat |

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday unveiled its second list of 21 candidates for the upcoming Haryana assembly polls scheduled for October 5. The list includes some prominent faces and Key assembly seats.  

    Krishna Gahlawat is running from Rai, Bimla Chaudhary has been fielded from Pataudi, Manish Grovar is leading the party’s charge in Rohtak, while Sanjay Singh and Aizaz Khan are contesting from Nuh and Punahana, respectively. 

    According to the BJP’s candidate list, Pawan Saini, a close aide of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, will contest from Naraingarh, while Satpal Jamba has been nominated for Pundri, and Devendra Kaushik will represent the party in Ganaur. 

    Who Is Against Vinesh Phogat From Julana 

    Captain Yogesh Bairagi has been named the BJP candidate from Julana and will face off against Congress candidate and former wrestler Vinesh Phogat in the upcoming elections. 

    Bairagi, a recent entrant to politics, serves as the State Vice President of the BJP’s youth wing and Co-Convenor of the party’s Haryana Sports Cell, according to his Facebook profile. His profile also identifies him as a former pilot and notes his origins in Safidon, a city in Jind district, Haryana. 

    Earlier, the BJP unveiled its first list of 67 candidates for the 90-member Assembly, announcing Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini as the candidate for the Ladwa seat and granting tickets to several new party members 

    In response, at least 12 BJP leaders, including Cabinet Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala, one sitting MLA, and six former MLAs, resigned in protest over the selections. 

  • ‘Promotes China…Undermines India’: BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sarma Rips Into Rahul Gandhi’s US Address |

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday reproached Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks delivered at the University of Texas in Dallas, USA. The speech of LoP Gandhi has prompted many reactions from the BJP, following the same, Sarma alleged that he ‘undermined India.’ 

    In his address to the gathering, Gandhi remarked that while the West faces an employment issue and India also struggles with employment problems, many countries around the world do not experience such challenges. He specifically noted, “China certainly doesn’t have an employment problem. Vietnam doesn’t have an employment problem.” 

    Reacting to the Congress leader’s remarks, the Assam Chief Minister said, “Rahul Gandhi promotes China in many ways. Undermining India, he tries to project China as the best nation. But there is no democracy and no religious freedom for people in China. But, Gandhi doesn’t talk about them.” 

    Not only Sarma, but numerous BJP leaders have also criticized Gandhi, accusing him of ‘damaging India’s reputation’ internationally. 

    BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, “Have you ever heard of George Bush, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, or Joe Biden speaking negatively about America after visiting another country? None of them criticized their own nation. Yet, Rahul Gandhi does exactly that. He speaks poorly of India, often without understanding the country, the Prime Minister, or the RSS.” 

  • After J&K, BJP Now Faces Rebellion In Haryana After Announcing First List Of 67 Candidates |

    CHANDIGARH: After being denied tickets for the October 5 Assembly elections in Haryana, scores of BJP functionaries, including a sitting minister, a legislator, former ministers, and party leaders, announced their resignation on Thursday, a day after the state’s ruling party announced its first list of 67 candidates. Power Minister Ranjit Chautala, who contested the 2019 Assembly elections as an Independent but was later inducted into the Cabinet, announced his decision to resign as Minister as well as from the primary membership of the BJP after meeting his supporters in Rania on Thursday.

    Addressing his supporters, Ranjit Chautala said that being the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal, he cannot compromise in any situation. “I will contest the elections as an Independent nominee from Rania. The BJP offered me a ticket from Dabwali, but I turned down the proposal. I am resigning from the Cabinet and the primary membership of the party,” he said.

    In the 2019 elections, Ranjit Chautala contested as an Independent candidate after the Congress denied him a ticket. In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year, he joined the BJP after resigning as an MLA. He contested the Lok Sabha polls from Hisar but lost to Congress’ Jai Parkash.

    In Ratia, the party has given ticket to former Sirsa MP Sunita Duggal. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Duggal was denied re-nomination from Sirsa where former Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar was fielded by the BJP. Tanwar, however, lost to Congress veteran Kumari Selja. Joining a league of rebels, sitting BJP legislator from Ratia (SC) Lakshman Dass Napa quit from all positions in the party after being denied a ticket. Speculation is rife that he will join the Congress after meeting former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.

    The BJP on Wednesday released its first list of 67 candidates, fielding Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini from Ladwa in Kurukshetra district. Saini, who replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as the Chief Minister in March this year, is currently the MLA from Karnal. BJP’s key OBC leader Karan Dev Kamboj, who was denied a ticket from Indri, also resigned from all party posts on Thursday.

    “Me and my family have been part of the BJP since the time of Jan Sangh. I have worked with a lot of dedication, but now the party has adopted Congress’ culture,” Kamboj told the media. Without mincing words, he said the Congress would form the next government while “BJP’s dream will just remain a dream”.

    Upset over denial of nomination from Sonipat, former minister Kavita Jain was in tears at a meeting with her supporters, giving the party high command an ultimatum to change its candidate Nikhil Madan within three days. Jain also claimed that she was cheated after senior party leaders assured her of a ticket.

    In Safidon in Jind district, former MLA Bachan Singh Arya resigned after JJP rebel Ram Kumar Gautam was fielded from the seat. Arya will now contest as an Independent. Gautam had joined the BJP earlier this week. Interestingly, Sunil Sangwan, the prison officer who granted parole to rape convict Ram Rahim six times before resigning from his position, has been given a BJP ticket, raising questions about the party’s stance on women’s safety.

    Meanwhile, supporters of former minister Savitri Jindal, mother of Kurukshetra BJP MP Naveen Jindal, met her at her residence in Hisar on Thursday and urged her to contest as an Independent after the BJP retained Health Minister Kamal Gupta as its candidate. Savitri Jindal and her son Naveen Jindal had joined the BJP in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. She was seeking a BJP ticket from Hisar.

  • J&K Polls: Mehbooba Mufti Confident Of Playing Kingmaker; Says No Alliance With BJP |

    PDP President Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday ruled out any possibility of a tie-up with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir while asserting that government formation after the assembly polls would not be possible without the inclusion of her party.

    Criticizing the National Conference (NC), she claimed the party seeks to contest elections solely for the purpose of forming a government. “They have been doing so since 1947. They do not have any aim other than that. They form alliances just for the sake of government formation, for ministerial berths,” she said, addressing workers at the party headquarters.

    Mufti emphasized that the PDP wants to contest elections with a clear agenda but insisted that no government could be formed after the assembly polls without the participation of the PDP. “We formed a government with only 16 MLAs in 2002. God willing, this time too, no government will be formed without the PDP,” she added.

    However, she clarified that the PDP’s focus is more on implementing its agenda than on forming a government. Mufti, whose party had formed a coalition government with the BJP in 2015, ruled out any future alliance with the saffron party after the polls. The PDP had previously joined hands with the BJP with the goal of resolving the Kashmir issue. Today, however, she noted, there seems to be no scope for that, as the BJP has undone all efforts in that direction.

    Responding to a question about former NC leader Devender Singh Rana’s remarks that the NC wanted to form a government with the BJP in 2014, Mufti stated that whatever her party has done, it has done openly, unlike the NC, which she accused of acting in secrecy. “When we were having talks with the Central government, not the BJP, through Ram Madhav, everyone knew it was done in the open. We brought an agenda and implemented it. We did not do it secretly like Omar [Abdullah],” she said.

    “Rana is saying it now; Ghulam Nabi Azad said before that they [NC leaders] meet with the BJP in Delhi under the cover of darkness. We do not do anything secretly,” she emphasized. “Our party does not have any contact with the BJP, and perhaps there will not be any.”

    When asked about Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s visit to J&K on Wednesday, Mufti said he is most welcome. “He wants to come to Kashmir to campaign for his party, and he has every right to do so,” she said.

  • ‘Mamata Banerjee Is A Liar’, BJP Demands Explanation For Failing To Protect Women In West Bengal |

    Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: In a heated exchange over women’s safety, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday called West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a ‘liar’ and demanded she puts forward an explanation for her government’s failure to enforce stringent protections for women. This sharp rebuke comes after Banerjee’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which she advocated for tougher central laws and faster judicial proceedings for heinous crimes like rape and murder. Amit Malviya, BJP’s co-incharge for West Bengal, accused Banerjee of not only neglecting existing legal frameworks but also failing to establish fast-track courts to address these serious issues.

    7 rapes (mostly minors) and in some cases murders too, reported from Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal in last 48 hours….

    But in last 48 hours, Mamata Banerjee has been engaged in every deplorable act, that a civilised Chief Minister would be ashamed of – from issuing open letters… pic.twitter.com/009JvQx3ld


    — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 30, 2024

    Recently, Banerjee wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating her request for stringent central legislation and exemplary punishment on heinous crimes like rape and murder. She also sought mandatory provision for time-bound disposal of cases of rape/rape and murder. “It is incumbent on Mamata Banerjee to explain why the West Bengal government hasn’t done anything for implementing the stringent rules and regulations, which exist for protecting women and girls,” BJP co-incharge for West Bengal Amit Malviya said in a post on X.

    Mamata Banerjee is a LIAR.

    Smt Annapurna Devi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, responded to West Bengal Chief Minister on 25th Aug 2024.

    In her letter, in point 4, she specifically mentions West Bengal Govt NOT setting up even a single Fast Track Court for… https://t.co/mtNgQNLlnx pic.twitter.com/bu2Tf9Ptm2
    — Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 30, 2024

    “Stop writing letters. Answer the questions. You are accountable,” he added. In her letter, Banerjee said that she was yet to receive a reply from the prime minister on the issue that she had flagged in her previous letter to him. The chief minister, however, said that she received a communication from the Union Women and Child Development (WCD) minister Annapurna Devi.

    Maintaining that the letter by the WCD minister “barely attends the gravity of the issue” raised by her, Banerjee wrote, “The seriousness of the subject and its relevance to the society have not been adequately appreciated while sending out this generic reply.”

    Banerjee, in her letter to the PM, mentioned that 88 fast-track special courts and 62 POCSO-designated courts are already functioning in West Bengal on state funding. Reacting sharply, Malviya said, “Mamata Banerjee is a Liar”.

    “Annapurna Devi, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, responded to West Bengal Chief Minister on August 25, 2024. In her letter, in point 4, she (the WCD minister) specifically mentions West Bengal government not setting up even a single fast track court for addressing rape and POCSO related cases,” the BJP leader said. He also posted on X a copy of the WCD minister’s letter to the West Bengal chief minister. Malviya said that as many as seven cases of rape, mostly of minors, and in some cases murders too have been reported in West Bengal in the last 48 hours.

    “But in the last 48 hours, Mamata Banerjee has been engaged in every deplorable act – that a civilised chief minister would be ashamed of – from issuing open letters to clarifications, from threatening and abusing doctors to inciting nationwide arson,” he said in another post on X.

    He called Banerjee a “failed Home and Health Minister” of the state and alleged that she is preoccupied with suppressing evidences of her corruption and incompetence in the RG Kar Hospital rape-and-murder case.

    “But, enough is enough. The awakened conscience of Bengal now calls for accountability,” the BJP leader added.