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Abhishek Choudhary

Abhishek Choudhary

Scroll.in21-07-2025
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From the biography: How Atal Bihari Vajpayee tried to balance Pakistan, USA, Europe and China
An excerpt from 'Believer's Dilemma: Vajpayee and the Hindu Right's Path to Power, 1977-2018', by Abhishek Choudhary.
Abhishek Choudhary
· 12 minutes ago
In his early days in the RSS, Atal Bihari Vajpayee wanted minors to be banned from watching films
An excerpt from 'Vajpayee: The Ascent of the Hindu Right, 1924-1977', by Abhishek Choudhary.
Abhishek Choudhary
· May 10, 2023 · 08:30 am
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Remarks against Savarkar, jibe against ‘Modi' surname and more: A look at defamation suits against Rahul Gandhi
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Indian Express

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  • Indian Express

Remarks against Savarkar, jibe against ‘Modi' surname and more: A look at defamation suits against Rahul Gandhi

The Supreme Court recently pulled up Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his alleged remarks against the Indian Army following the 2020 Galwan clash with Chinese troops. In strong observations, the court told the Congress leader, 'If you are a true Indian, you would not say all these things.' While the top court granted a three-week stay on proceedings in the criminal defamation case related to the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Gandhi was granted bail by an MP-MLA court in Jharkhand's Chaibasa on Wednesday in a separate case concerning his remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2018. Over the years, Gandhi has faced multiple criminal defamation cases. Here is a look at the key suits filed against him: VD Savarkar defamation case In January this year, Rahul Gandhi pleaded not guilty before an MP-MLA court in Pune in a defamation case filed by Satyaki Savarkar, the grandnephew of Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar. The complaint, filed on April 12, 2023, alleged that Gandhi had claimed in a London speech that Savarkar and a group of friends beat up a Muslim and were 'delighted' about it. Satyaki asserted that no such book was written by Savarkar and no such incident ever occurred. He sought maximum punishment under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. Modi surname case In August 2023, the Supreme Court stayed a Surat court's conviction of Rahul Gandhi, which had sentenced him to two years' imprisonment for remarks made in 2019 about the 'Modi' surname. The comments were made at a rally in Kolar ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The case was filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi. Following the conviction, Gandhi was disqualified from the Lok Sabha but returned after the stay by the top court. Shortly after, BJP leader Sushil Modi also filed a criminal defamation case over the same issue in a Patna court. RSS as '21st Century Kauravas' A case was filed against Gandhi in Haridwar CJM court for allegedly calling the RSS the '21st century Kauravas' during his Bharat Jodo Yatra stop in Kurukshetra. The complaint was lodged by the RSS volunteer Kamal Bhadoria. Another Savarkar-related case In November 2022, Vandana Dongre filed a defamation complaint over Gandhi's alleged remarks that Savarkar wrote mercy petitions to the British 'out of fear', betraying freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. 'Murder accused' remark against Amit Shah In May 2019, BJP member Krishnavadan Brahmbhatt filed a case in an Ahmedabad magistrate court over Gandhi calling Amit Shah a 'murder accused' during a rally in Jabalpur ahead of the 2019 general election. ADC Bank case over demonetisation remarks In April 2019, the Ahmedabad District Co-Operative (ADC) Bank and its chairperson Ajay Patel filed a defamation case in Ahmedabad, accusing Gandhi of defaming Amit Shah by alleging money laundering during the 2016 demonetisation period, when Shah was a director of the bank. Rafale deal case in Mumbai BJP leader Mahesh Shrishrimal filed a defamation case in 2018 at the Girgaon magistrate court in Mumbai over Gandhi's allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi concerning the Rafale fighter jet deal. Bhiwandi case over Gandhi's RSS remark In 2014, Rajesh Kunte, claiming to be an RSS worker, filed a complaint in Bhiwandi, Thane, after Gandhi allegedly said in a rally that Mahatma Gandhi was killed by people associated with the RSS. Kunte alleged that the comment was aimed at harming the RSS's reputation. Gauri Lankesh murder case connection Another case was filed in Mumbai in 2018 by RSS worker Dhrutiman Joshi against Gandhi and the late CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury. Joshi objected to their alleged attempts to link the RSS to the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh. Gandhi had reportedly said that 'anybody who speaks against the ideology of the BJP, of the RSS, is pressured, beaten, attacked and even killed' following her assassination in September 2017. Ranchi defamation case over BJP remarks In 2018, BJP worker Navin Jha filed a defamation case in Ranchi's CJM court over Gandhi's alleged derogatory statements against the BJP at an internal All India Congress Committee (AICC) meeting. RSS defamation suit in Guwahati Anjan Kumar Bora, an RSS worker, filed a criminal defamation case in 2016 at a CJM court in Kamrup, Guwahati. He accused Gandhi of making false claims that RSS workers prevented him from entering a Barpeta monastery during a visit in December 2015 — a claim denied by the monastery.

‘Seeds of communal poison sown by RSS, BJP' blamed for poisoning drinking water in school
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‘Seeds of communal poison sown by RSS, BJP' blamed for poisoning drinking water in school

Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and IT, BT Priyank Kharge has said that the seeds of communal poison being sown by the BJP and the RSS in the minds of the people are the reason for poisoning drinking water for the sake of getting a headmaster transferred in Saundatti taluk of Belagavi district. Speaking to presspersons at the Hubballi Airport on Wednesday, Mr. Kharge sought to know whether such people who poison children for the sake of getting a headmaster from another community transferred can be called human beings. 'The office-bearers of Sri Ram Sene are involved in the heinous act of poisoning children. Why are the leaders are not speaking on it? BJP leaders like R. Ashok and Arvind Bellad seek answers from the Congress on every issue. Why are they silent now. Why can't they speak on the issue now?' he sought to know. On the Supreme Court's observation on Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Khage said that the BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh himself has made a statement on the floor of the House in Parliament mentioning about Chinese forces occupying Indian territory and locals themselves have conveyed the same to Rahul Gandhi. 'If you don't believe it, then what to do. Should we bring certificate of patriotism from the BJP. What have the BJP and the RSS done for the country?' he asked. Mr. Kharge also said that they have objection to those passing judgments without considering facts. To a query, Mr. Kharge said that the process of finalising reservation for zilla and taluk panchayat elections is under way and a notification will be issued in two-three months and subsequently, elections will be held.

Pakistan-born woman ties handmade rakhi to PM Modi every year
Pakistan-born woman ties handmade rakhi to PM Modi every year

Time of India

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Pakistan-born woman ties handmade rakhi to PM Modi every year

Qamar Mohsin Shaikh , a Pakistan-born woman, residing in Gujarat 's Ahmedabad after her marriage since 1981, ties handmade rakhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi every year since 2001. This year, Shaikh has prepared two handmade rakhis with designs of Lord Ganesh and Om. She is waiting for an invitation from the Prime Minister's Office. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program — ANI (@ANI) First met Modi when he was an RSS volunteer Shaikh was born in Pakistan's Karachi and moved to India after her marriage in 1981. She has been tying rakhi to PM Modi for more than 30 years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo She said she first met the prime minister in Delhi when she accompanied her husband for a painting exhibition. Recalling the first meeting she told ANI, "He said, 'how are you, sister?'... When I tied a rakhi to him for the first time, I told him that I prayed he would become the Chief Minister of Gujarat. He said, laughing, 'I am happy with my work at the Sangh. Why do you curse me?' After that he became the Chief Minister." "He said, 'Your wish came true'... Then he asked me what I would wish now, so I said, 'I pray that you become the Prime Minister of the country'... After that, when I tied a rakhi to him after he became the PM, I told him that I prayed he would rule the whole world... Now India has made a name for itself in the world, and it has happened due to his hard work... Now I pray that all his problems go away," she added. Live Events Shaikh could not travel to Delhi for Raksha Bandhan , but this year, she is hopeful that an invitation from the Prime Minister's Office will allow her to visit again. She plans to go to Delhi with her husband and continue the tradition by tying her handmade rakhi to Modi.

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