COMMUNAL COLOUR EVIDENT WHEN BJP IS NOT CONFIDENT’

Saffron party trying to divert people’s attention, ahead of polls, feels NCP supremo

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gives a communal colour to the political discourse when it is not confident of winning. His remarks come ahead of the Kasba Peth and Chinchwad Assembly by-elections in Pune district.

Talking to reporters here, the senior NCP leader said it is not new for the BJP to divert attention towards communal issues if it is not confident of a victory.

Bypolls to the Kasba Peth and Chinchwad constituencies, scheduled to be held on February 26, were necessitated following the death of BJP legislators Mukta Tilak and Laxman Jagtap respectively.

In Kasba Peth, Congress’ Ravindra Dhangekar faces BJP’s Hemant Rasane, while NCP’s Nana Kate will take on BJP’s Ashwini Jagtap in Chinchwad.

39 Injured After Bus Overturns While Returning From Pilgrimage

Nashik: Thirty-nine persons were injured after their bus overturned in Nashik district on Friday, a police official said. The incident took place at 5.30pm near Sendripada Phata in Kharpadi Ghat when the bus was returning from Trimbakeshwar carrying 45 pilgrims from Gujarat, he said. “The pilgrims were returning after praying at Trimbakeshwar Temple,” he said. “The bus driver lost control of the vehicle. A major incident was averted as the bus overturned and stalled near a teak tree,” he added.

HINDU

Bright Minds

Diversion

NCP chief Sharad Pawar also responded to claims about his role in the short-lived government of party leader Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis after 2019 state Assembly polls. He said that they are an attempt by the government to deflect attention as it “doesn’t have anything to show in terms of development”.

Dhangekar and Kate are backed by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Uddhav Thackeray camp of the Shiv Sena, the Congress and the NCP.

Pawar alleged that the Eknath Shinde-BJP ruling alliance is spending huge money for the bypolls.

Asked about BJP leaders’ comments that he wanted an alliance with the saffron party, but not Devendra Fadnavis as

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the chief minister, the veteran politician said, “I don’t think everyone in the BJP is likeable. I don’t think they want me in their alliance. So, all statements being made about me by BJP leaders are childish.”

The NCP chief said claims about his role in the short-lived 2019 government of Ajit Pawar and Fadnavis are an attempt to deflect attention as it “doesn’t have anything to show in terms of

St Commission Issues Warrant Against Chandrapur Collector

Nagpur: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued an arrest warrant against the collector of Chandrapur district in eastern Maharashtra for failing to respond to a summons. The NCST in a letter to the Director General of Police, stated that the collector was issued a summons on February 1, but he failed to appear before it. The case in which collector was asked to remain present related to a complaint filed by Vinod Khobragade alleging illegal encroachment of tribal land in Kusumbi village in Rajura tehsil, it said.

WESTERN RAILWAY SHIFTS TO 100% DIGITAL TICKET BOOKING ON THE GO

Mumbai: The Western Railway has transitioned to the use of hand-held terminals on all trains in order to create a more eco-friendly and digital India. This shift will provide a faster, more accurate way of ticket checking. This paperless facility will help travelling ticket examiners (TTEs) get real-time information about accommodation status en route and enable them to book tickets online on trains that have a remote location facility. It refers to an arrangement where portions of the seats are earmarked for intermediate stations falling on the train’s route.

JAN AKROSH RALLY TO BE VIDEOGRAPHED: APEX

Navi Mumbai: The Supreme Court has ordered that a Hindu Jan Akrosh rally to be held in Vashi on February 26, be recorded on video. Demonstrators plan to protest against cow slaughter, Love Jihad and religious conversions.

After Tushar Gandhi, President of the Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, sought preventive measures for the rally, Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police Milind Bharambe

COURT announced the decision for video-shooting. Gandhi wrote a letter to rally organizers and requested them to follow the apex court’s directives regarding rallies, as they can cause unrest in communities. development.”

Responding to allegations that he had made a communal statement during his party’s campaign for bypolls, Pawar said, “What is wrong in appealing to voters to come out and vote from wherever they are? It is okay to take objection if nonvoters are asked to come and vote. Taking objection to such a speech is like giving it a communal colour,” he said.

What is wrong in appealing to voters to come out and vote from wherever they are? It is okay to take objection if non-voters are asked to come and vote. Taking objection to such a speech is like giving it a communal colour.

—Sharad Pawar, NCP chief