BJP seeks action on public loo irregularities
BJP State President Nainar Nagenthiran, in a statement, said the city has about 10,000 public toilets, but many lack water, doors, and basic amenities.
"In January 2022, the cleaning cost per toilet seat was 3.18, which rose to 363.9 after privatisation. Yet, maintenance remains poor," he said, alleging that it was disappointing to see funds being misused like this.
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He said 620 crore was spent under the Swachh Bharat Mission and 430 crore on privatisation contracts, and questioned who this money was going to and where.
Former State BJP President K Annamalai, in an X post earlier, said the "loo scam" was part of a larger pattern of corruption.
"The Centre allocated 3,296 crore under Swachh Bharat Mission Urban 2.0 for 2021, 2026, and released 1,055 crore so far, yet cities like Chennai and Madurai remain at the bottom of cleanliness rankings," he said.
He accused the state of exploring "inefficient ways" to misuse remaining funds and said ordinary citizens continued to suffer due to "misgovernance".
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Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Approve BC quota bills or face ‘political tsunami' in 2029, Revanth warns Modi
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday launched a blistering attack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the Centre of deliberately stalling the approval of Telangana's 42% Backward Classes (BC) reservation bills. He warned that Telangana's BC empowerment model of a caste survey and a bold quota expansion would turn into a political tsunami and "wash away the Modi-led BJP into the Bay of Bengal." Revanth's remarks came during a high-profile dharna—dubbed 'BC Poru Bata'—held at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, which saw participation from a wide spectrum of INDIA bloc leaders, Congress ministers, MPs, MLCs, MLAs, and prominent BC leaders. While Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were not present as they had gone to attend JMM leader Shibu Soren's funeral on Tuesday night, they deputed senior party leaders and MPs to show solidarity with what Revanth described as a 'historic movement' for BC justice. In a fiery speech, Revanth declared, "If PM Modi wants to remain in office, he must ensure the approval of the two BC reservation bills. Telangana's BC community is prepared to sacrifice everything for this cause. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best-Selling Luxury Watches – Selling Out Fast Luxury Watches Buy Now Undo If Modi fails, the OBCs will bring down his govt and make Rahul Gandhi the next prime minister." You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad He went on to warn, "Don't force us to return to Delhi again in such numbers. Next time, we will confront you in Telangana. Either sign the blls while you are still PM or watch us implement them after Rahul Gandhi takes charge. You have delayed them for four months. That's why we are here—not in Hyderabad—to expose your 'anti-BC' stand on a national stage. We are vowing from Jantar Mantar on behalf of four crore people of Telangana that we will bring down Modi govt in 2029. " Revanth also questioned the rationale behind the Centre's objection to the state-specific legislation. "We are not asking for a piece of land in Gujarat or its ports. We're only demanding the right to implement 42% reservations in Telangana—for our people, in our state. Who gave you the authority to crush this mandate?" He dubbed Modi the "biggest enemy of the BCs" and didn't spare state BJP leaders either, calling out Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay, and Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao for their silence. "With what face will you go to BC voters now? You didn't even join this dharna. Have you aligned with Modi to block BC empowerment?" he asked. Revanth also targeted the BRS for its past decisions, blaming former CM K Chandrasekhar Rao for capping overall reservations at 50% under the Panchayat Raj Act, 2018. "We've moved an ordinance to scrap that cap. It's now pending with the President," he said. Taking a swipe at the BJP's 2029 ambitions, Revanth responded to party MP Nishikant Dubey's comments that Modi will again be the PM face. "Let Modi contest 2029 if he dares. Rahul Gandhi-led INDIA bloc will defeat him decisively, and the BJP won't cross 100 seats," he predicted. He invoked Rahul Gandhi's slogan 'Jitni hissedari, utni bhagedari' (proportional representation for social justice), warning political consequences for those who defy it. "No matter how powerful, if anyone opposes Rahul Gandhi's vision, Telangana will mark the political death of their career," the CM asserted. Revanth insisted that the BJP's continued delay is a deliberate attempt to suppress BC aspirations. "The BC quota bills are pending with the President for the last four months. If we don't get an appointment with her tomorrow (Thursday), it will confirm BJP's 'anti-BC' bias," he said. Calling himself as a 'crusader for social justice,' Revanth added, "Over 300 chief ministers have led different states in India, but I am proud to be the one who conducted a caste survey and passed 42% BC reservations. I thank my cabinet colleagues and Rahul Gandhi for their unwavering support."
The Print
40 minutes ago
- The Print
Row over BJP ex-spokesperson's nomination as Bombay HC judge reaches Parliament. Who is Aarti Sathe
A day after the collegium's decision, Trinalmool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale posted on X: 'Supreme Court collegium has recommended the name of lawyer Aarti Sathe for elevation as a judge of the Bombay High Court. Just curious because there's an Adv Aarti Sathe who has been a spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP.' On 28 July, the Supreme Court Collegium approved the appointment of Aarti Arun Sathe, once a Maharashtra BJP spokesperson, as a high court judge, which sparked a row as the Opposition raised concerns over whether she would be impartial as a judge. Mumbai: The controversial nomination of an advocate for judgeship at the Bombay High Court has now reached Parliament, with Congress MP Hibi Eden moving an adjournment motion to discuss the matter in the Lok Sabha. Supreme Court collegium has recommended the name of lawyer Aarti Sathe for elevation as a judge of the Bombay High Court. Just curious because there's an Adv Aarti Sathe who has been a spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP. Legal fraternity – same person or just similar names? — Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) July 29, 2025 Earlier this week, others in the Opposition in Maharashtra began voicing their concerns. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar wrote on X: 'The appointment of a person who advocates for the ruling party from a public platform as a judge is the greatest blow to democracy. The judge is a highly responsible position which should be impartial. When someone is appointed as judge from the ruling party, it raises a serious question mark on neutral position and also democratic process…' The Bharatiya Janata Party, however, clarified that the allegations are unfounded, and that her appointment is based on merit. Keshav Upadhye, chief spokesperson of Maharashtra BJP, said she had resigned from the party a year and half ago. 'She now has no connection with the BJP. The Congress party and Rohit Pawar are criticising her recommendation, which was made as per the decision of the judges' Collegium,' he posted on X. After resigning from the BJP, Aarti Sathe was recommended as a judge of the High Court after one and a half years. She now has no connection with the BJP. The Congress party and Rohit Pawar are criticizing her recommendation , which was made as per the decision of the judges'… — Keshav Upadhye (@keshavupadhye) August 5, 2025 Congress's state unit president Harshwardhan Sapkal also questioned Sathe's nomination. 'Democracy and the Constitution have been systematically sidelined in the country since 2014,' he said. 'All autonomous institutions are operating under government directives, even the Election Commission of India. But the most serious and worrying development is within the judiciary itself.' ThePrint attempted to reach Sathe via call, but she declined to comment on the matter. Also Read: Come to Maharashtra & speak—3 women MPs hold Nishikant Dubey to task over 'patak ke marenge' remark Who is Aarti Sathe? Sathe was affiliated with BJP Mumbai, and was appointed as a spokesperson in 2023. She was previously made a panelist for media interactions in 2020. She was also the head of the party's Legal cell. However, she had resigned from the position on 6 January, 2024, and also from the party's primary membership that year. 'I wish to be relieved from the responsibility as the head-legal cell BJP Mumbai for personal and professional reasons,' she had written in a letter addressed to Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar, a copy of which is with ThePrint. Sathe has been a lawyer for the last 20 years, and has mainly dealt with matters linked to direct and indirect taxes, along with issues related to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) before the Bombay High Court. As party spokesperson, she often appeared in media debates on issues related to Mumbai. In debates on television news channels, she regularly spoke about the alleged mismanagement in the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation), the condition of dilapidated buildings in the city, or the condition of roads. Back in 2016, in a conversation with Mirror Now, she had defended demonetisation, saying that it would help clean up the corruption in BMC and MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority). She had also spoken against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2021 when Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan had been arrested in a drug bust, accusing the then cabinet minister Nawab Malik of the undivided NCP of trying to influence the case. Referring to such statements by Sathe in the past, Rohit Pawar told media persons Wednesday, 'She has in the past taken the side of one party vociferously. So we want to request the Supreme Court Collegium to stop this proposal. We don't have doubt over her merit or capability. But looking at the current political scenario, question arises if common people will get justice? We as Opposition continuously speak against the government, so if our case goes in front of this judge, will we get justice?' Arun Sathe's BJP-RSS link Much like the current row, a similar controversy had erupted back in 2015, when Sathe's father, Arun Sathe, who is also the brother of former Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan, was appointed to the board of market regulator SEBI as a part-time member. Arun Sathe is also a lawyer, and has been a BJP worker with RSS background. He was a national executive member of the partyBJP, and held various positions in the student wing, ABVP. However, he had said at the time that he had been nominated by the finance ministry, and would do his job judiciously. '…I understand the differences between politics and market issues. As a lawyer, I will have views independent of biases,' he had told Business Standard in 2015. He had also said that he had been connected with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since childhood, and had been a part of the party since its Jan Sangh days. In 1989, he had tried to contest Lok Sabha polls from the Mumbai North West constituency against Congress's Sunil Dutt, but had lost. (Edited by Mannat Chugh) Also Read: Farmers' crosshairs to 'rummy' row, NCP's Kokate loses agri ministry after string of controversies
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Ganga has come to wash your feet': Uttar Pradesh minister's remark sparks controversy
Amid the flood situation in several parts of the state, Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Sanjay Nishad's remark during a visit to a flood-hit village in Kanpur Dehat district's Bhognipur tehsil has triggered strong public and political reactions. Sanjay Nishad is the Uttar Pradesh minister for fisheries and the founder-president of the Nishad Party. (FLE PHOTO) 'Ganga maiya comes to wash the feet of her sons. Just her darshan ensures direct passage to heaven,' Nishad was filmed telling residents when people raised concern over the floods. Sanjay Nishad is also the founder-president of the Nishad Party, an alliance partner of the BJP government in the state. He made the remark on Monday. The video has since gone viral, sparking criticism over the perceived insensitivity of the comment, especially in a region where people have lost homes, livestock and crops to the floodwaters. Locals, however, were quick to point out that Bhognipur is situated near the Yamuna river, not the Ganga. 'At the very least, a minister should know which river is flowing here,' one villager was heard saying. In another clip from the same visit, BJP district president Renuka Sachan, who accompanied the minister, purportedly told an elderly woman that it was her 'good fortune' that 'Yamuna maiya' came to give her darshan. The woman sharply replied, 'Then why don't you stay here and enjoy it every day?' Her reply too was widely shared on social media platforms. Reacting to Nishad's remark, UP Congress president Ajay Rai said, 'Mother Ganga is respected by all, including Hindus and Muslims. This statement has just made fun of the people's faith.' Much of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh has been affected by a flood-like situation due to the rising level of major rivers, including the Ganga and the Yamuna. In Bhognipur, many villages remain submerged, farmlands have been inundated and livestock swept away. Several residents have taken shelter on higher ground or temporary relief camps. In response, the state government has activated its emergency response strategy and formed 'Team 11' of ministers, assigning specific responsibilities to them. Ministers and legislators have also been asked to monitor relief efforts on the ground. Nishad's remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the Opposition parties. Samajwadi Party youth wing national president Dr Imran said: 'This government's ministers and officers have become completely insensitive. While people are suffering immensely, such careless remarks are being made instead of providing real help.' Congress Mahanagar president Sandeep Shukla said the comments were 'like rubbing salt into the wounds.' 'People are waiting for relief that hasn't reached them, and instead the minister is giving sermons. Rather than holding those responsible accountable, he is offering mythology in place of action,' Shukla said. Nishad later told a news agency that the remark was made in a lighter vein. 'I was on a visit to a flood-hit area of Nishads where while interacting with them I said that for seeking salvation, people from far away places come to take the holy dip in Ganga and here Ganga 'maiya' was right at their doorstep,' the minister said. 'We Nishads worship rivers, our source of life and livelihoods. So the remark has its own context,' the minister said. Earlier, videos of an Uttar Pradesh police sub-inspector worshipping the Ganga waters at his doorstep in Prayagraj and swimming in the flood waters had gone viral.
