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Time of India
2 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Rajya Sabha member exposes bribe-taking by Class II officer
Rajkot: BJP Rajya Sabha member Ram Mokariya exposed corruption in the administration, issuing a press release about a Class II officer of the weights and measures department taking a bribe of Rs 25,000 from a trader, despite Mokariya asking the officer not to harass the trader. He also appealed to citizens to contact him if a govt officer demands a bribe. The weights and measures department is a part of the controller of legal metrology, under the director of consumer affairs, in the state govt's food, civil supplies, and consumer affairs department. In a press statement, Mokariya said, "An officer from a govt department located on University Road raided a unit on the outskirts of the city. He made a settlement for the alleged irregularity, collected a fine, and also took Rs 25,000 as a part of the 'settlement'. " He added, "The owner of the unit informed me about this. I reprimanded the officer who took the bribe, and the officer returned the money to the unit owner in 10 minutes." Speaking to TOI, Mokariya said, "It was a Class II officer of the weights and measures department. I informed the minister of the department concerned and superior officers of anti-corruption bureau (ACB) about this incident." He said that he received a call from the industrialist saying officials arrived to raid his unit. "I told the unit owner to pass the phone to the officer. I told the officer to impose the legal fine if the unit owner is at fault but not to harass him. The officer took the official fine of Rs 12,000 from him and issued a receipt for it, while also taking Rs 25,000 in cash. The unit owner called me after the officer left," Mokariya said, adding, "I then called that officer and told him to return the money, which he did. " Mokariya appealed to citizens to not tolerate corruption and to inform representatives or the ACB if anyone demands a bribe, and to not encourage these kinds of officers.
NDTV
28-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"44 MLAs Agreed To Form Government": Manipur BJP MLA After Meeting Governor
Guwahati/Imphal: In a big political development in Manipur, BJP MLA and former minister Thokchom Radheshyam on Wednesday said "all 44 MLAs" have agreed to form the government as per the wishes of the people, but the final decision will be taken by the central leadership. Mr Thokchom made the statement after he along with nine other MLAs met with Governor AK Bhalla at the Raj Bhavan in Imphal. "All 44 MLAs have agreed to form a popular government as per the wishes of the people. MLAs are ready to form the government. We have conveyed this to the Governor. We also discussed what solutions can be there for the issues," Mr Thokchom told reporters. He said the 10 MLAs met the Governor as representatives of all other MLAs to explain their position. "The Governor noted what we informed and will initiate actions in the best interests of the people," the MLA from Heirok assembly constituency said. On when would the BJP MLAs stake claim to form a government, Mr Thokchom said a decision will be taken by the central leadership. "We are a national party. However, to inform you that we are ready is similar to staking a claim to form the government. The Speaker has individually and jointly met with all the MLAs as well. There is no one who opposes the formation of a government," Mr Thokchom said. He said people are facing too much hardship. "In the previous term, two years have been lost due to Covid and in this term, another two years lost due to the conflict," the MLA said. Former chief minister N Biren Singh also met the Governor on Tuesday. BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Manipur, Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, earlier this month expressed hope that a popular government would be formed in the state within the next two months. He asked all political leaders to unite in dealing with the challenges the state has been facing. "The President's rule alone cannot resolve the prevailing issues. A popular government can function closely in tandem with the people and find a solution to the present ethnic crisis," he had told reporters. The BJP's northeast In-charge Sambit Patra earlier this month visited the state's Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts and met Kuki BJP MLAs Vungzagin Valte and Nemcha Kipgen. Ms Kipgen was the only woman minister in the then Biren Singh government.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP MP Ram Chander Jangra apologises for controversial remarks on Pahalgam attack victims
Credit-X NEW DELHI: BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra faced backlash from opposition parties on Sunday for his controversial remarks about the Pahalgam terror attack victims. After claiming his comments were distorted, he issued an apology through a video message while opposition parties demanded his removal and Prime Minister Modi's apology. Jangra's remarks that the tourists in Pahalgam should have fought back against terrorists, and women who lost their husbands should have acted like 'veerangna' (warrior women). The comments were made during an event celebrating Maratha ruler Ahilyabai Holkar's 300th birth anniversary. BJP leader and union minister Manohar Lal Khattar distanced the party from Jangra's comments, calling them wrong and inappropriate. "He presented these in the wrong context. Those sisters who have lost their husbands, to say this about them is wrong and inappropriate," Khattar stated, adding that the matter should be closed since Jangra expressed regret. In his video message, Jangra attempted to clarify his position: "I do not treat women of my country weak in any manner. I believe they are brave and we only need to ignite the spirit of Ahliyabai and Jhansi ki Rani so that if such circumstances arise, like in Pahalgam, they can fight with the spirit of bravery." The Congress party linked Jangra's comments to other recent controversial statements by BJP leaders, including Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah and deputy chief minister Jagdish Devda. The Trinamool Congress expressed outrage on their X handle: "How dare BJP MP @rcjangrabjp say the women in Pahalgam lacked bravery? 26 people lost their lives, and he blames the women. This isn't just insensitive, it's vile and inhuman." Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the BJP, stating: "Instead of honouring women, insulting them, condemning them and exploiting and harassing them in every possible way is the real face of the BJP, which is both disgusting and extremely shameful. BJP is not a party but a swamp of anti-women mentality." Congress senior leader Sachin Pilot expressed sadness over BJP leaders using indecent language regarding Army officers and Pahalgam attack victims. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda questioned why the State Women's Commission hadn't taken cognizance of these statements. Jangra had suggested that casualties would have been lower if the tourists had undergone Agniveer training. He also claimed the women lacked the spirit of warrior women. The terror attack in the meadows of Baisaran in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 resulted in 26 deaths, mostly tourists. The controversy also involved remarks by MP minister Vijay Shah, who had to apologize for comments linking terrorists' religion with Col Sofiya Qureshi. Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had briefed media alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri about Operation Sindoor. Jangra defended his statements saying they were being twisted for political purposes: "Our armed forces avenged the Pahalgam attack and taught Pakistan a lesson that it could not imagine. We can never call our sisters weak and I believe we only need to ignite the spirit of Jhansi ki Rani and Ahilyabai in them. Those who are making it a political issue, God give them 'sadbuddhi' (better sense). It only harms the country and society. "
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP disrespecting armed forces, their families: Cong MP on Jangra's remarks
Nagpur: The political storm triggered by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ram Chander Jangra's remarks on the April 22 , which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, has now reached Nagpur, drawing sharp responses from opposition leaders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Congress Rajya Sabha MP Imran Pratapgarhi, addressing the media outside Nagpur Airport on Sunday, strongly condemned Jangra's alleged comments and accused the BJP of repeatedly showing disregard for the armed forces and their families. "At first, a minister from Madhya Pradesh used disrespectful words for Col Sofiya Qureshi, following which both the high court and the Supreme Court reprimanded him, and an FIR was also filed," said Pratapgarhi adding, "Yet, no action was taken by BJP. He was neither removed from the cabinet nor was he suspended." Pratapgarhi also pointed out that a deputy chief minister said the army bows at the feet of the Prime Minister. "And now this Rajya Sabha member from Haryana (Jangra). Derogatory language was used against the women from martyr families, and those who lost their husbands — I want to ask the Prime Minister: what kind of language are your leaders using?" he said. Union minister for women and child development Annapurna Devi, who was in Nagpur on Sunday for an event marking the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyabai Holkar, too was asked about Jangra's comments. She did not address the issue directly but spoke on the status and strength of women in India. "From the very beginning, the culture and civilisation of our country has had a tradition of worshipping women. We do not just worship them, our brave women stand strong wherever they go. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Women have helped move the country forward," she said. The minister stressed that women are increasingly taking key roles in the army. "Whenever they get an opportunity, they manage both home and the world outside — and they've proven it time and again," she said, Devi also highlighted India's recent economic milestone, referencing the country's new ranking as the world's fourth-largest economy. "During the UPA tenure, we were at 11th. Under PM Modi's leadership, we moved up to 5th, and now 4th. It's clear we are aiming for 3rd, and that goal is within reach," she said adding, "We also saw how our army took swift revenge for the Pahalgam attack under PM Modi's leadership." On the other hand, Pratapgarhi questioned the real progress under the 'Viksit Bharat' vision discussed at the recent NITI Aayog meeting. "That is something we've been hearing about for 11 years. But when will it become reality? That's the real question," he said. The Congress MP also commented on the push for modern education in madarsas. "If the agenda is to provide modern education, then it should be implemented across all madarsas. But the intent must be pure — it must genuinely be about education," he said.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Lacked spirit of warrior women': BJP MP's remark on Pahalgam widows sparks outrage
1 2 3 Bhiwani: A fresh controversy has erupted after BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Haryana, Ram Chander Jangra, made a remark on the women who lost their husbands in the recent Pahalgam terror attack . Speaking at a public event, Jangra said the women lacked the courage and spirit of warrior women, "and that is why the death toll was high". He further claimed that the victims died "with folded hands" and suggested that if they had received training under central government schemes, they might have been able to resist the attackers and reduce the number of casualties. The MP was addressing a district symposium organised in Bhiwani's panchayat bhawan as part of Ahilyabai Holkar tricentennial memorial campaign on Saturday. Jangra said PM Modi launched a significant initiative (referring to Agniveer) to instill a sense of bravery among the youth. "After the Pahalgam attack, the entire country feels that if the kind of training PM Modi wants to provide to the youth was available to the tourists, then three terrorists could not have killed 26 people," he said. "If the tourists had even sticks or rods in their hands and charged at the terrorists from all sides, I claim that perhaps only five or six would have died, but all three terrorists would have been killed as well," he said. The Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22 in Baisaran Valley, where terrorists opened fire and killed 26 tourists. After the symposium, the MP avoided answering questions about the identification and arrest of the attackers. He said that even if the attackers were not caught, the Army destroyed their bases and handlers. Reiterating his statements given while addressing the gathering, he added that if the women present at the scene fought back like Rani of Jhansi or Ahilyabai Holkar, the number of casualties would have been less. Recently, BJP minister Vijay Shah from Madhya Pradesh, also came into the spotlight after making comments on Colonel Sophia. However, he tendered an apology after the Supreme Court took up the matter.
