'Priyanka, Don't Control Me': Jaya Bachchan Snaps At Shiv Sena MP During Op Sindoor Debate
Samajwadi Party MP and actor Jaya Bachchan sparked a row in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday when she questioned the name of Operation Sindoor and said the 'sindoor" of several women was 'wiped off" during the Pahalgam terror attack, drawing a sharp response from the BJP.
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, Bachchan started by paying her condolences to the families of the people who were killed in the Pahalgam attack on April 22. 'It looks like fiction to me… the way they (terrorists) came and killed so many people, and no action was taken. It was unreal," she added.
'I must congratulate you (the ruling party) on appointing such writers who give such grand names. Why did you name it 'Sindoor'? The sindoor has been wiped off the foreheads of women whose husbands were killed," she further said, sparking strong reactions from other leaders in the House.
Jaya Bachchan was visibly irked as BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabha started interrupting her speech. BJP MP Surendra Singh Nagar, who was presiding over the House, said, 'Jaya ji, you address the Chair. Whatever you say will go on record."
'Either you speak or I will speak. I will not allow this. When you speak, I never interrupt. When a woman speaks, I never interrupt. So please, mind your tongue," said Bachchan.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who was sitting beside Bachchan, attempted to calm her down. However, this attempt backfired as the veteran actor snapped back by saying, 'Priyanka, don't control me." Chaturvedi responded with an embarrassed laugh.
The Samajwadi Party MP also lashed out at the government for an intelligence failure and for not keeping people safe. 'You have destroyed the faith and trust of the people you made promises to," she said in the Rajya Sabha
Bachchan's remarks on Operation Sindoor's name have now drawn the BJP's ire. 'Just see their mindset. Jaya Bachchan ji, the terrorists destroyed sindoor, but sindoor is not just for embellishment; it is also a symbol of strength and capability," BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla was quoted as saying by NDTV.
'The name Operation Sindoor was chosen to send a message: you wipe off sindoor, we will destroy you. This was achieved," he added.
Operation Sindoor, a reference to the vermilion used by Hindu women as a display of the sanctity of their marriage, was chosen as the name of the operation as a symbol of the women who lost their husbands at the hands of terrorists in cold blood.
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
26 minutes ago
- NDTV
Bhupesh Baghel, Son Move Supreme Court Over CBI, Probe Agency Role In Liquor Case
New Delhi: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his son Chaitanya Baghel have approached the Supreme Court, seeking the legal authority and jurisdiction of central investigative agencies-the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED)-in probing alleged irregularities linked to the multi-crore liquor scam in the state. The petition, according to reports, filed amid escalating political tensions, seeks clarity on whether the agencies have overstepped their mandate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and other statutes. The matter is scheduled for hearing on Monday before a bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. The move comes days after Chaitanya Baghel was arrested by the ED in connection with a Rs 2,160 crore liquor scam that allegedly operated during Bhupesh Baghel's tenure as Chief Minister. The ED claims that a parallel liquor distribution network siphoned off massive sums through unaccounted sales and illegal commissions, implicating several political and bureaucratic figures. Bhupesh Baghel has publicly denounced the arrest and subsequent raids at his Bhilai residence, calling them politically motivated and designed to suppress dissent. "The ED is being used as a tool to target opposition leaders," Baghel said, alleging that the timing of the arrest-on his son's birthday-was symbolic of the Centre's vendetta politics. The Congress party has backed Baghel's stance, staging protests across Raipur, Jagdalpur, and other districts, accusing the BJP-led Centre of weaponising investigative agencies to intimidate political opponents. Chaitanya Baghel, son of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 18, 2025, which was also his birthday. The arrest was part of an ongoing investigation into a Rs 2,160 crore liquor scam allegedly involving a nexus of politicians, bureaucrats, and liquor contractors operating during Bhupesh Baghel's tenure. ED officials conducted raids at the Baghel family residence in Bhilai, Durg district, early in the morning on July 18. Chaitanya was taken into custody under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED cited non-cooperation during the search as grounds for immediate arrest. Bhupesh Baghel publicly condemned the timing, calling it a "birthday gift" from the Central government and alleging political vendetta. The first ED raid at Bhupesh Baghel's Bhilai residence occurred on March 10, 2025. Baghel claimed that this earlier raid was timed to prevent him from participating in the state budget session, alleging that it was politically motivated and aimed at silencing opposition voices. Between the March raid and the July arrest, Baghel stated that no formal notice or inquiry was issued to his son, raising questions about procedural fairness. The ED alleges that Chaitanya Baghel received Rs 16.70 crore in illicit funds and played a key role in laundering over Rs 1,000 crore through real estate and other channels. The case has since become a flashpoint in the broader debate over the use of central agencies against opposition leaders.
The Hindu
38 minutes ago
- The Hindu
O. Panneerselvam: Friendless in Dravidian politics
Three-time Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and former coordinator of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), O. Panneerselvam, could scarcely have imagined, even at the time of his expulsion from the party in July 2022, that he would one day visit the residence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and interact with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president twice in 12 hours. On July 31, both met at the historic and salubrious Theosophical Society in Adyar during their morning walk. In the evening, accompanied by his son and former Theni MP P. Ravindhranath Kumar, Mr. Panneerselvam held discussions with the Chief Minister and his son and Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin for about 45 minutes at Mr. Stalin's residence in south Chennai's upmarket Alwarpet. The actions of the tea seller-turned-politician raised many eyebrows because he had all along fashioned himself as a quintessential loyalist of Jayalalithaa, who wore anti-DMKism on her sleeve on the lines of the AIADMK's founder and former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. For the 74-year-old, who hails from the caste and communally sensitive southern region of the State, time seems to be running out for stitching the right alliance to face the Assembly election, due for April-May next year. Mr. Panneerselvam, widely known as OPS, is still considered a persona non grata, as far as the AIADMK general secretary, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, is concerned. As for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a party which Mr. Panneerselvam and his son had assiduously cultivated after Jayalalithaa's death in December 2016, the 'spell of love' towards the septuagenarian does not appear to exist any more. It has been sometime since Mr. Panneerselvam met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah. When Mr. Modi visited Tamil Nadu to take part in the Aadi Thiruvathirai festival in Gangaikondacholapuram on July 26-27, Mr. Panneerselvam's request for a meeting was not granted. But Mr. Palaniswami, once a colleague-turned-foe of Mr. Panneerselvam, met PM Modi at the Tiruchi airport, along with his senior colleagues. At the time of announcing the revival of ties between his party and the AIADMK in April, Mr. Shah made it clear that the BJP would not like to 'interfere in the internal affairs' of the Dravidian party. In the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, Mr. Panneerselvam contested unsuccessfully from the Ramanathapuram constituency as part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. Before holding the July 31 evening meeting with Mr. Stalin came the announcement that the 'OPS' camp had decided to exit the Alliance, a move that was attributed to the Union government's refusal to provide funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. Modi's man All the recent developments must have been odd for the Mr. Panneerselvam, who was not long ago seen as Mr. Modi's loyal supporter. He was present when Mr. Modi filed his nomination papers in Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency in 2019. He surprised many in November 2020 when he used a government function, where Amit Shah and Mr. Palaniswami were present, to announce that the AIADMK, for which he was the coordinator then, and the BJP would continue their alliance for the 2021 Assembly polls. At the function, the veteran political leader, who joined the AIADMK in 1977, had hailed the Union Minister as a 'modern day Chanakya'. The gist Panneerselvam was the AIADMK's 'natural choice' for the CM post in September 2001 after the Supreme Court unseated Jayalalithaa; in September 2014, when Jayalalithaa was convicted in a disproportionate assets case; and in December 2016, after her death After his resignation, he patched up with Palaniswami and became the Deputy Chief Minister. He was seen as a close supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Late last month, the 'OPS' camp decided to exit the NDA, a move that was attributed to the Union government's refusal to provide funds to Tamil Nadu under the Samagra Shiksha scheme The perception generated by Mr. Panneerselvam's meetings with Mr. Stalin may be hard to digest for the traditional supporters of the AIADMK, who have been schooled in viewing the DMK as an 'evil force'. But he seems to be having limited options. Even though he still has the option of going along with the fledgling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay, the seasoned leader knows fully well that given the grip of the bipolar system in the State, it is next to impossible for a third force to capture even a handful of seats. Not everyone views Mr. Panneerselvam sympathetically and there are critics who say he has 'proved yet again' that he is 'unreliable'. Originally, he drew his strength from his proximity to former interim general secretary of the AIADMK V.K. Sasikala, who had served as an aide of Jayalalithaa for about 30 years, and her nephew T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who is now heading the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). All of them belong to the same caste group — Mukkulathor — though they are from different sub-groups: Mr. Panneerselvam from Maravar and Ms. Sasikala and Mr. Dhinakaran from Kallar. Once called 'Mr. Faithful', Mr. Panneerselvam, who was with the Janaki Ramachandran group of the party at the time of the party split in 1988, came to be noted for qualities such as humility and fierce loyalty. No wonder, he became the party's nominee for the chairmanship of the Periyakulam Municipality in 1996. His stock in the party began growing, particularly after he served as a key member of the campaign team when Mr. Dhinakaran contested from the Periyakulam Lok Sabha constituency in 1999 and won. Next year, Mr. Panneerselvam became the Theni district secretary of the AIADMK. His qualities and the reputation of an archetypal feudal supplicant had stood him in good stead. He was the party's 'natural choice' for the CM post in September 2001 after the Supreme Court unseated Jayalalithaa; in September 2014, when she was convicted in a disproportionate assets case; and in December 2016 after her death. In Jayalalithaa's Cabinet, he was, at one time, Minister in charge of 13 portfolios. 'Righteous war' The high point in his political career came in February 2017 when he went out all guns blazing against Ms. Sasikala. After quitting the CM post and a 40-minute long 'meditation' at the Jayalalithaa mausoleum on the Marina, he made a dramatic announcement, claiming that he was 'compelled to quit the post'. This marked the launch of his 'dharmayudham' (righteous war) against the 'domination' of Ms. Sasikala's family in the party affairs. In no time, he patched up with Mr. Palaniswami, and became the Deputy Chief Minister six months later. Feeling that he had only a limited space to operate in the party and the government under Mr. Palaniswami, he swiftly re-established ties with Mr. Dhinakaran. At the time of the 2021 Assembly polls, he tried hard for the AMMK's accommodation under the AIADMK fold, but to no avail. As he seems to have exhausted the 'goodwill of his benefactors', including Mr. Modi, Mr. Panneerselvam, a survivor of many trials, is now at the mercy of Mr. Stalin to keep himself and his loyalists afloat. The traditional supporters of the AIADMK may not like it, but for Mr. Panneerselvam, it is a matter of life and death in electoral politics.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
4 of total 16 elections held for vice-president posts won uncontested
NEW DELHI: Four of the total 16 elections held so far to the office of Vice-President of India were won uncontested, three due to rejection of nomination papers of the rival candidates and one due to lack of any opponent. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While S Radhakrishnan was elected unopposed as Vice-President twice, first in 1952 after the only other nomination paper filed was rejected and then in 1957 as he was the only validly nominated candidate; Mohammad Hidayatullah was elected unopposed in 1979. In 1987, Shankar Dayal Sharma was also elected unopposed, but only after the nomination papers filed by 26 other candidates were found to be invalid. There were two contestants in 10 of the Vice-Presidential elections held so far, and three and six contestants in one each. Five Vice-Presidents exited the office before the end of their term - Krishna Kant due to his untimely demise in 2002; V V Giri, R Venkataraman and Shankar Dayal Sharma resigned from the post of Vice-President to become President in 1969 (Giri filled up the vacancy created by the death of his predecssor Zakir Hussain),1987 and 1992 respectively. Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned due to "medical reasons" last week. These interesting details on 16 Vice-Presidential elections held so far can be found in a booklet put together by EC ahead of the 17th Vice-Presidential election, summarising the Constitutional provisions relating to the election, system of voting, and details of past elections in simple language, to enhance public awareness. Though the electoral college for the Vice-Presidential election is small, comprising only members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated ones, invalid votes were reported in almost all the elections that witnessed a contest. While 14 votes were declared invalid in the 1962 Vice-Presidential poll, the number was 3 in 1967, 10 in 1974, 30 in 1984, 10 in 1992, 46 in 1997, 7 in 2002, 10 in 2007, 8 in 2012, 11 in 2017 and 15 in 2022.
