Congress, CPI(M) slam Sadanandan Master's RS nomination
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Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
'Will be cancelled': Maharashtra CM Fadnavis warns against fraudulent SC certificates
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said that if a person belonging to a religion other than Hinduism, Buddhism or Sikhism has obtained a Scheduled Caste certificate fraudulently, it will be cancelled. Fadnavis also said the state government intends to bring in strong provisions to deal with cases of religious conversion(ANI) Action will be taken against such a person if he or she has secured reservation benefits, such as government jobs. If such a person has won an election using a fraudulently obtained SC certificate, their election will be declared null and void, Fadnavis said in the legislative council. Replying to a calling attention motion, he also said the state government intends to bring in strong provisions to deal with cases of religious conversion through coercion and cheating. Amit Gorkhe (BJP) had claimed that freedom of religion was being misused by "crypto Christians", and some people benefit from reservations under the SC category while professing other religions. "Crypto Christians" was an apparent reference to people who discreetly follow Christianity while belonging to a different religion on paper. On the face of it, they belong to an SC community and get reservation benefits like government jobs, he had said. Fadnavis said that the Supreme Court, on November 26, 2024, gave a verdict in which it made it clear that the Scheduled Castes category reservation can be availed only by Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs, and not by those belonging to other religions. "If anyone from religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism has availed an SC certificate or reservation, their validity certificates and caste certificates will be cancelled with due procedure. If anyone has availed benefits like government jobs, action will be taken against them," he said. "Recovery (of monetary benefits) will be recommended from those who have availed benefits using fraudulently obtained caste certificates," he said. BJP leader Chitra Wagh said there have been cases where women were duped into marriage by hiding the husband's religion. She cited a case in Sangli where a woman married into a family which secretly followed Christianity. The woman suffered torture and was forced to change her religion, leading to her death while she was seven months pregnant, Wagh said. A person can follow any religion and convert another person with consent, but law does not permit the use of force, cheating or enticement for conversion, the chief minister said. "Complaints of coercion or inducement for conversion will lead to investigation and action against the concerned organisation," Fadnavis added. The state government had formed a panel headed by the Director General of Police (DGP) to make recommendations to deal with such cases, and it has submitted its report, he said. The government will study it and bring in new (legal) provisions so that conversions do not happen by force or cheating, he said. "Action can be taken under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in such cases. But a panel was formed to suggest strict provisions. The state government intends to bring in strong provisions to deal with such cases, and we will take a decision on this soon," he said. On Monday, Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Home, said that the state will bring an anti-conversion law during the winter session of the legislature, and it will be more stringent than similar legislations in other states. Pravin Darekar (BJP) claimed a secret campaign to lure people into converting was being carried out in poor localities and slums. Fadnavis acknowledged that such things take place in slums. He, however, said the government has no intention to ban religious conversions that take place consensually.
Indian Express
16 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘Hounded by this govt for 10 years': Rahul Gandhi defends Robert Vadra as ED names him accused in Gurgaon land deal case
A day after the Enforcement Directorate named Robert Vadra as an accused in a money laundering case linked to a land deal in Gurgaon, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi came forward to defend his brother-in-law. Rahul said that Vadra has been hounded by the government for the last ten years. Robert Vadra is the husband of Congress leader and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. 'My brother-in-law has been hounded by this government for the last ten years. This latest chargesheet is a continuation of that witch hunt. I stand with Robert, Priyanka and their children as they face yet another onslaught of malicious, politically motivated slander and harassment,' Rahul wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He added: 'I know that they are all brave enough to withstand any kind of persecution and they will continue to do so with dignity. The truth will eventually prevail.' My brother-in-law has been hounded by this government for the last ten years. This latest chargesheet is a continuation of that witch hunt. I stand with Robert, Priyanka and their children as they face yet another onslaught of malicious, politically motivated slander and… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 18, 2025 Besides filing a chargesheet in the case, ED has also attached 43 immovable properties linked to Vadra and his entities including M/s Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd and others. On Thursday, Vadra's office said that the present proceedings were 'nothing more than an extension of the political witch hunt by the present government.' 'Vadra is aware of reports suggesting that the Directorate of Enforcement has filed a Prosecution Complaint naming him as an accused before the Rouse Avenue Courts, Delhi. As the Court is yet to even take cognizance of the matter, he has not had the opportunity to examine the Prosecution Complaint. As a law-abiding Indian citizen, he has always and will continue to extend his fullest cooperation to the authorities and he is confident that at the end of it all, the truth will prevail and he will be cleared of any wrongdoing. He is looking forward to the opportunity to defend himself and clear his name in Court,' it stated. The ED investigation was based on an FIR, registered on September 1, 2018 by Gurgaon police, alleging fraudulent purchase of 3.53 acres of land situated in village Shikohpur, Sector 83, Gurgaon by Vadra through his entity M/s Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd from M/s Onkareshwar Properties Pvt Ltd on February 12, 2008.
NDTV
16 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Hounded By This Government For 10 Years": Rahul Gandhi Defends Robert Vadra
New Delhi: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has backed his brother-in-law - businessman Robert Vadra - after the Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet in a money laundering case linked to a Gurugram real estate deal. "My brother-in-law has been hounded by this government for the last 10 years... this latest chargesheet is a continuation of that witch hunt," Mr Gandhi said on X. "I stand with Robert, Priyanka (Gandhi Vadra, the Congress MP from Wayanad) and their children as they face yet another onslaught of malicious, politically motivated slander and harassment." "I know they are all brave enough to withstand any kind of persecution and they will continue to do so with dignity. The truth will eventually prevail," Rahul Gandhi said. My brother-in-law has been hounded by this government for the last ten years. This latest chargesheet is a continuation of that witch hunt. I stand with Robert, Priyanka and their children as they face yet another onslaught of malicious, politically motivated slander and… — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 18, 2025 Mr Gandhi's social media post follows the Congress party also backing Robert Vadra. General Secretary Randeep Surjewala told reporters " there is not an iota of illegality" in the land deal in question, and demanded to know when buying and selling land had been made illegal. The Enforcement Directorate filed its chargesheet Thursday afternoon. It names Mr Vadra and his company, Sky Light Hospitality Pvt Ltd, and is in reference to the alleged fraudulent purchase of 3.53 acres of land in Gurugram's Sector 83 in February 2008. The federal agency claims fake documents were used to facilitate and complete the purchase, and Mr Vadra then secured a commercial licence thanks to his position of power. On July 16 the agency had attached 43 properties - worth approximately Rs 37.64 crore - belonging to Mr Vadra, Sky Light Hospitality, and others named in the chargesheet. In a brief but forceful statement, Mr Vadra's office called the chargesheet "an extension of the political witch hunt by the present government against him", and said the businessman would nevertheless, as he always had, "continue to extend his fullest cooperation to the authorities". "... he is confident the truth will prevail and he will be cleared of wrongdoing... he is looking forward to the opportunity to defend himself and clear his name in court," the statement said.
