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Hans India
a day ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BJP dismisses report on using Col Sofiya Qureshi, Wg Cdr Vyomika Singh as faces of women-centric campaign
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday strongly refuted a media report claiming that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh -- who have been in the spotlight for leading press briefings on Operation Sindoor -- would be featured as the faces of a women-centric campaign marking 11 years of the Modi government. Describing the report published in a leading daily as "fake news", BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya clarified that the party has no such plans involving the two women officers. Tagging the article in his post on X, Malviya wrote, "This is Fake News. The BJP has no plans to use either Col Sofia Qureshi or Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as campaign faces." The article had quoted BJP Minority Morcha chief Jamal Siddiqui, stating that the party's minority wing would hold 'chaupals' -- public gatherings -- outside mosques, dargahs, churches, and gurudwaras as part of the celebratory campaign. The first of these was reportedly slated to be held in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. According to the report, "Political experts said that the selection of Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh as the face of a women-centric campaign by the BJP marks a strategic move that seeks to blend military valour, national pride and gender empowerment into a powerful political narrative." It further claimed that the BJP had directed its minority wing to highlight Qureshi and Singh as "role models" for women, particularly from minority communities. Malviya responded to these claims by asserting that the report had misrepresented the comments made by Siddiqui. "The comments made by BJP Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui have been misconstrued. He simply made a limited point about highlighting Col Qureshi as an example of an empowered Muslim woman within the community," Malviya said. Siddiqui had noted that the purpose of the campaign was to encourage women, especially from the Minority Morcha, to feel empowered and to consider enrolling in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) or joining the armed forces through the Agniveer scheme. "The idea is to mobilise women and make them feel empowered," Siddiqui was quoted as saying.
The Print
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
‘Be the next Colonel Sofiya'—BJP's Muslim women outreach, with chaupals; 1st one at Shaheen Bagh
Speaking to ThePrint, Jamal Siddiqui, national president of the BJP's Minority Morcha, said the first chaupal will be held in Shaheen Bagh, which had become the epicentre of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). As part of the chaupal, the morcha will also distribute copies of the Constitution and discuss Operation Sindoor. Colonel Qureshi, who along with IAF Wing Commander Vyomika Singh led India's press briefings on Operation Sindoor, will be the face of the campaign through which the success of Operation Sindoor will be conveyed to the public. New Delhi: Colonel Sofiya Qureshi will be the 'focus' of BJP chaupals, to be organised across the country by the party's minority wing to celebrate 11 years of the Narendra Modi-led government. The first chaupal will take place in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, on 9 June. 'We will be organising a number of chaupals, with the first one starting on 9 June from Shaheen Bagh. This chaupal is part of the '11 Years of Modi Government—Sankalp Se Siddhi' programmes. We will be especially reaching out to women and encouraging them to join the NCC and Agniveer scheme of the Modi government. They have a fine example of Colonel Sofiya in front of them who told the world what strength Indian women have,' he added. The morcha will also distribute pamphlets during the chaupals. 'The bravery exemplified by Colonel Sofiya is a message for all Muslim women that they too can become the next Colonel Sofiya. She's an idol for Muslim women. Whether it is in the Army, in their everyday lives, or while dealing with domestic violence, military training can come handy in every possible way and we will encourage them to join NCC,' said Siddiqui. The chaupals will be held at dargahs, outside mosques and tombs, among other places. The morcha is hoping to organise at least 20,000 such gatherings. 'Whether it is Operation Sindoor, or reservation provided by the Modi government or even Agniveer, our women are being encouraged in every field by the government and we will highlight how Islam too will gain from this,' he added. Siddiqui said it is vital that the importance of the Agniveer scheme is also understood by the people. 'We will tell our sisters through the chaupal to become Agniveers, join NCC and take training. Training is very important, it will make you physically strong and in difficult times, when needed, you can protect yourself and your people.' Siddiqui further said that a narrative is often built among minorities that women should remain confined to their homes, but women like Colonel Sofiya have helped break that stereotype, which is why their campaign will focus on her. As part of the chaupal, Ayushman cards will also be prepared and distributed among senior citizens who attend. The Minority Morcha president also said that if required, it will request the government to implement training sessions for women in madrasas and schools. The BJP has launched a programme to celebrate the achievements of the Modi government as it is set to complete 11 years on 9 June, when Modi took oath as prime minister for the third time last year. Party president J.P. Nadda has come up with a number of guidelines for organising various events including chaupals, registration camps for centrally sponsored schemes, digital competition, panel discussions etc. (Edited by Gitanjali Das) Also Read: Khattar protégé, serial poll loser—BJP's Jangra who said Pahalgam victims' wives 'lacked warrior spirit'
The Print
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Khattar protégé, serial poll loser—BJP's Jangra who said Pahalgam victims' wives ‘lacked warrior spirit'
According to a senior BJP leader who did not want to be identified, he was chosen as a 'perfect dhoti-wearing BC leader' to represent the Backward Classes. He was finally elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in March 2020 because he was seen as the party's Backward Classes (BC) face in the state. Gurugram: Ram Chander Jangra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana who sparked a storm with his remarks on the victims and survivors of the Pahalgam terror attack, has never won an election. The 75-year-old fought many assembly and Lok Sabha polls, starting 1982, but never made it, despite trying for nearly 40 years. The leader told ThePrint, 'The BJP needed a BC leader to be sent to the Rajya Sabha, and it found a perfect candidate in him since he wears a dhoti-kurta, and looks like a perfect example of the artisan class of carpenters he represents.' However, Jangra has long been a polarising figure in Haryana politics, known for his outspoken nature. On Saturday, Jangra triggered a new controversy by suggesting that the women who lost their husbands in the 22 April attack 'lacked the warrior spirit', and that training under the Modi government's Agniveer scheme could have reduced casualties. The victims died 'with folded hands', he claimed. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and others party leaders labelled his remarks during the BJP's Ahilyabai Holkar Tricentenary Memorial Campaign event in Bhiwani as 'utterly disgraceful' and a 'grave insult' to the grieving women. The Congress demanded accountability, questioning whether the BJP endorsed Jangra's views, warning that inaction would imply Prime Minister Modi's endorsement. The BJP distanced itself, with Haryana spokesperson Sanjay Sharma saying that the remarks were Jangra's personal opinion. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who is said to have got Jangra the Rajya Sabha seat, also made his disapproval known. Also Read: 'Pahalgam women lacked bravery, that's why 26 died with folded hands'—BJP MP Jangra sparks storm Political journey Jangra's political journey began in Haryana's agrarian heartland in Meham, Rohtak district. He initially aligned with the Haryana Vikas Party (HVP) under former chief minister Bansi Lal, before joining the BJP after HVP's dissolution in 2004. After years of electoral losses, he was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha in March 2020. His term ends in April 2026. The BJP leader quoted above said that although Jangra has contested half a dozen assembly elections and two Lok Sabha elections from multiple state districts, and finished poorly every time, he has had his 'political strengths'. Jangra's parliamentary record is excellent, with 98 percent attendance rate, surpassing the national 80 percent and state 88 percent average, according to the PRS Legislative Research data. He chairs the Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Welfare Committee. 'In politics, it's not always merit that determines a person's rise—sometimes luck plays a role, too. That seems to be the case with Ram Chander Jangra, who lost eight elections badly, but was eventually elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha,' Kushal Pal, former professor of political science and principal of Indira Gandhi National College, Ladwa, Kurukshetra, told ThePrint. 'That said, one must admire his resilience. He didn't give up despite repeated setbacks.' Jangra's career is marked equally by a history of electoral struggle and provocative statements that kept him in the spotlight. According to information available with the Election Commission of India, his first contest was in 1982, when he ran as an Independent for the Meham Assembly seat, securing a mere 113 votes, or 0.2 percent of the total, putting him in ninth place. The graduate contested Meham again in 1987 as an Independent, slightly improving to 229 votes (0.34 percent), and climbing to sixth place. By 1991, Jangra had joined Bansi Lal's HVP and ran as its official candidate in Meham, significantly boosting his performance to 4,842 votes, or 7.08 percent, finishing third. In 1996, he returned to contesting as an Independent, this time from the Safidon Assembly seat, but his performance plummeted to 130 votes, landing him in 15th position. Jangra's ambitions grew to the national stage in 1998, when he contested the Rohtak Lok Sabha seat against heavyweights, like Bhupinder Singh Hooda and former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal. He secured 4,628 votes (0.7 percent), putting him in fourth position. In 2004, representing HVP, he ran for the Karnal Lok Sabha seat, achieving 21,371 votes, but finishing seventh. His final electoral bid before his Rajya Sabha elevation came in 2014, when he contested the Gohana Assembly seat as a BJP candidate, securing a respectable 28,365 votes (24.23 percent), but still finishing third. His success finally came not through popular vote, but through BJP's strategic selection for the Rajya Sabha. Past controversies Jangra's penchant for controversy rivals his political persistence. During the 2020-21 farmers' protests, he claimed 700 girls went missing from the Delhi border due to 'drug addicts from Punjab', a baseless allegation he later attributed to 'people's gossip', drawing backlash and an alleged attack on his car in Hisar. In 2021, his Rajya Sabha anecdote about a patient uplifted by a 'young, beautiful nurse' was deemed 'indecent' by the Haryana Nursing Welfare Association, and his apology failed to appease critics. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he stirred outrage by suggesting Muslim artisans could have made India an AK-47 producer, a remark criticised for communal undertones. His comments on women wearing torn jeans as 'Europe's garbage' further invited criticism. Jangra's anecdotes, often targeting Haryanvis—like a story about a Haryanvi tying a thief's feet—have drawn accusations of perpetuating stereotypes. Close to former Haryana chief minister Khattar, but lacking a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh background, Jangra stands out in the BJP. The list of controversies sparked by him contrasts with his advocacy for the Backward Classes, making him a complex figure in Haryana politics. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also Read: For Haryanvi YouTubers, Pakistan is an ancestral pilgrimage. Jyoti Malhotra isn't alone
NDTV
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
'Got Married Quietly Because Of India-Pak Clash': Popular Teacher 'Khan Sir'
Patna: Internet sensation 'Khan Sir', whose "classes" on YouTube are raved about, claimed that he kept his marriage, solemnised earlier this month, a hush-hush affair because of the military conflict between India and Pakistan. The Patna-based teacher, who has been alleged to be the man behind the protests against the Agniveer scheme a couple of years ago and the more recent stir by BPSC candidates, made the claim in a video he posted on Monday. In the video clip, he was seen telling students of his class, "I did not tell you guys one thing: when the war was on, I got married." The students can be heard erupting into cheers at the news as Khan Sir had a tough time making them hold their horses. He said, "Initially I wanted to put off the wedding and go and help the soldiers fighting the enemy at the borders. But things had been planned by my parents and they were distraught." "Finally, I relented. I cursed the Pakistanis for their sudden attack and agreed to tie the knot, but on the condition that nobody will be invited," the famed YouTuber said. "My contention was that I owe my standing to my students. And if any function were to be held, they must be invited. Now that the war is over, I promise you all a treat," he added.
Deccan Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
'I got married quietly because of Indo-Pak clash': Khan Sir
The Patna-based teacher, who has been alleged to be the man behind the protests against the Agniveer scheme a couple of years ago and the more recent stir by BPSC candidates, made the claim in a video he posted on Monday.
