Ahmedabad Diary: Calls for Khabad to quit grow amid NREGA scam
Calls for Khabad to quit grow amid NREGA scam
The arrest of Gujarat minister Bhachubhai Khabad's two sons in a Rs 75-crore MGNREGA scam has kicked up a political storm in the state. The scandal has put the saffron party-led government in the firing line of the Congress. As news of the arrest broke out, leaders of the grand old party were quick to question PM Narendra Modi's hardline anti-corruption stance and his pledge of 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga'.
They also rued how people in power have been brazenly siphoning off funds meant for public welfare. Ahead of the PM's Gujarat visit, the Congress party has sought time for an audience with Modi to discuss the matter.
Congress flags inordinate delay in panchayat polls
The Congress has sharply criticised the BJP-led Gujarat government and State Election Commission for delaying elections in over 5,400 panchayats, describing it as a direct attack on democracy.
Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi has accused the state government of using the 'One Nation, One Election' narrative to stall local polls, leaving rural areas without elected representatives for three years. Leaders of the grand old party say the inordinate delay violates constitutional norms, as elections are supposed to be held within six months of the end of a panchayat's term. He also alleged corruption in MGNREGA and Nal Se Jal schemes.
SC MLA from Saurashtra to be Gujarat BJP chief?
For months, the Gujarat BJP has struggled to appoint a new state president, entangled in caste equations and ideological friction. According to party insiders, the RSS is firm on choosing a loyalist, while the BJP leadership seeks a candidate with consensus.
Amid internal pressure from party bigwigs like Amit Shah, Anandiben Patel, and CR Patil, an SC MLA from Saurashtra has emerged as the frontrunner. His squeaky clean image and deep organisational connect have bolstered his chances. Sources indicate an announcement in this regard may be made within 72 hours, possibly reshaping the saffron party's caste strategy in Gujarat.
Dilip Singh Kshatriya
Our correspondent in Gujarat
dilipsingh@newindianexpress.com
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The Wire
25 minutes ago
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Justice, Speech and Selective Outrage: The Supreme Court's Contempt Dilemma
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Law Justice, Speech and Selective Outrage: The Supreme Court's Contempt Dilemma Rekha Sharma 4 minutes ago The Supreme Court's swift move to initiate contempt proceedings against journalist Ajay Shukla for a critical YouTube video contrasts sharply with the way BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was handled. Nishikant Dubey (left) and Ajay Shukla in the background. In the foreground is the Supreme Court. Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now On May 30, a Supreme Court bench headed by the Chief Justice of India initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against Ajay Shukla, a Chandigarh-based journalist, for posting a video on YouTube allegedly containing scathing and scandalous remarks against some senior judges of the Supreme Court. 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Time of India
28 minutes ago
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31 minutes ago
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While BJP, which is the principal opposition party in Karnataka, flayed the ruling Congress for giving the nod to victory celebrations at such a short notice despite being warned against the same by the police, the ruling party allowed the situation to go from bad to worse by suspending top police BJP flayed the Congress for turning the event into a virtual 'photoshoot' with most of their barbs aimed at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar. Videos and photos showing family members of Congress leaders posing with RCB cricketers on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha added more fuel to the fire. Regional imbalance questions also popped up as to whether the government would have accorded a similar reception to a Ranji-Trophy-winning state team instead of arranging a grand welcome with pomp and splendor for a city-based franchise club , that too in front of the Vidhana Soudha. Though the government did do some knee-jerk action by ordering a CID probe and detaining four people, including RCB's marketing manager, the damage is beyond control. The suspension of top police officials including the city pole commissioner who netizens claim have been made a scapegoat, has drawn flak from many circles. As cricket fans became cannon fodder, questions like what was the need to organise an event at such a short notice despite police warning and measures about better crowd-control management will remain open to debate for far across the Vindhyas, a political slugfest broke out between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress after Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'surrendered' following a call from US President Donald Trump during the India-Pakistan military conflict."A call came from Trump and Narendra ji immediately surrendered - history is a witness, this is the character of BJP-RSS, they always bow down," Rahul posted on taking potshots at the PM, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also recalled the bravery of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971 when she held her fort despite the US sending its Seventh Fleet. The Raebareli MP also went on say that India, under Indira Gandhi's astute leadership, held on its conviction and did not yield to US pressure at that was quick to pounce upon the 'surrender barb' and flayed Rahul saying his comments were an insult to the armed forces. While alleging that Rahul's comments undermined the success of Operation Sindoor, it also said that it makes one suspect if he is a "paid agent" of China and Pakistan. The saffron party also went on to add that it was the Nehru-Gandhi family which surrendered Indian interests. Governor vs since Arif Mohammed Khan was shunted out of Kerala Raj Bhavan, the equation between the state government and the governor had been reasonably good. But it looks as though the face off between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and the Governor is set to resume. In a latest twist, a political row erupted after Kerala's agriculture minister P Prasad boycotted a sapling plantation function at the governor's house on World Environment Day, apparently for using a photo of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag. The minister's contention was that gubernatorial offices should not be used as a platform to promote religious causes, in an apparent reference to the portrait, which is mostly used in RSS 'shakhas'.Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar refused to budge though and defending it by saying that the picture of Bharat Mata could not be removed as 'we can't not do away with the ideals for which we're living'. Though the function was moved out from the central hall of Raj Bhavan to the Durbar Hall inside the state secretariat, the damage had been done by that time as the LDF government stuck to its stand of boycotting the function unless the portrait was removed. The latest row happened close on the heels of another controversy over a programme of RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy on 'Operation Sindoor' being held at the Raj Bhavan, with both Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition parties chiding Arlekar for what they called attempts to 'saffronise' the Raj Bhavan. It looks as though there is no end in sight to the Governor vs Govt face off in the left-ruled Kerala. Out of context!.'Misinterpreted', 'taken out of context' --- these are certain euphemisms that politicians usually use when they are in trouble after making controversial comments. It looks as though Tamil film icon Kamal Haasan, who nurtures political ambitions, is the latest to follow the trend. The 'Ulaganayagan' is in the eye of a storm following his comments that Kannada was born out of Tamil during an event to promote his film Thug Life, which he made in the presence of Kannada star Shiva Rajkumar. He faced heavy backlash from all quarters, with even Karnataka High Court pulling up the 70-year-old and asking him to apologise. But Kamal remained defiant and said that though there was no dispute or debate over the rich legacy of Kannada language, he would not apologise as demanded by Kannada outfits. But to calm down the issue, Haasan came up with a 'classic' justification, saying that his comments on Tamil and Kannada while talking about his association with thespian Dr Rajkumar's family have been 'misunderstood' and 'taken out of context.''It pains me that my statement at the Thug Life audio launch spoken out of gent affection for the legendary Dr Rajkumar's family, especially Shiva Rajkumar been misunderstood and taken out of context. My words were intended only convey that we are all one and from the same family and not to diminish Kannada any way,' Kamal said, in a belated attempt to douse the fire. After all, actors too can turn into good politicians, right?Billionaire break-up!.Across the globe, the week ended on high drama with dirty linen being washed in public by US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The public feud between the two most influential figures in the United States reached a crescendo, with Trump suggesting that he may terminate US government contracts and subsidies given to Musk's companies after the latter blasted Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' as fiscally reckless and a "disgusting abomination."When Trump met privately with White House officials, there was little to suggest that the US president was close to a public spat with Musk, the billionaire businessman who helped him win a second term in office. But things took a diabolic twist as Trump called Musk volatile and the latter retaliated through a barrage of posts on his own social media platform 'X'.As the public feud between the two billionaires escalates over the tax and spending bill, the Musk-Trump break-up also sent Tesla's stock price plunging while keyboard warriors went berserk with a wave of memes and viral one-liners across the world of concludes the (political) entertainment for this week folks! We will be back next week with more. Till then, stay tuned to Stage Left,DH Newsletters Team
