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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann again guns for BJP's ‘Operation Sindoor' narrative: ‘Victory speaks for itself, why send delegations abroad?'
Chandigarh: on Wednesday took another jibe at the 's ' ' narrative, stating that it was unprecedented for the Centre to send delegations abroad merely to convey it had won a conflict with Pakistan. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The AAP leader's statement came a day after he drew sharp criticism from the BJP over his claim that the saffron planned to send 'sindoor' (vermilion) to every household and asked whether it was part of a "one nation, one husband" scheme. Speaking to media after chairing a meeting of the Punjab cabinet, Mann said a victory spoke for itself and did not need to be announced. Replying to a question about Union minister of state Ravneet Singh Bittu accusing him of speaking Pakistan's language by making the 'one nation, one husband' remark, Mann said, "It's the first time that representatives are being sent abroad just to say, 'We have won, we have won.' It should be evident how much enemy land was taken, and from which point the forces returned… Whoever raises questions is asked to move to Pakistan. " Mann added that Bittu had forgotten that his own party had backtracked from its decision to send sindoor to every household. "It is unfortunate that Bittu has issued such an irrational statement whereas his masters sitting in Delhi have been giving hypothetical and baseless statements," he said, adding, "There is no need to tell anyone about the victory as speaks for itself." Mann reiterated Lok Sabha leader of opposition 's accusation that Pakistan was informed about Operation Sindoor in advance, a charge that has already been dismissed by external affairs minister S Jaishankar as "utter misrepresentation of facts and events". "If Pakistan had known, would they have let the terrorists remain there? In that scenario, we would have only demolished buildings," Mann said. He also referred to chief of defence staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan's statement at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where Chauhan remarked, "What is important is not the jet being down, but why they were being downed." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "They find a reason to criticise me; let them do so," said Mann. On Tuesday, Mann had accused the BJP of turning "sindoor" (vermilion) into a joke and asked if it was a "one nation, one husband" scheme. Bittu had demanded an apology from Mann for his remark. 'CENTRE REGULATES SOCIAL MEDIA' Asked to comment on the arrest of a YouTuber in Punjab on the charge of espionage, Mann said the Union government regulated social media channels. However, he said, if any anti-national activity came to the notice of law-enforcing agencies in the state, appropriate action was taken against them. "Anyone involved in crime against the country cannot be spared and exemplary action is taken against them," he said. MSID:: 121625558 413 |
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Punjab CM draws flak for ‘one nation, one husband' remark post Operation Sindoor
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday hit out at the BJP, accusing the saffron party of politicising Operation Sindoor for electoral gains. The BJP was quick to get back at him and demanded he apologise and resign for making light of the military operation launched on May 7 to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which the husbands of Hindu women tourists, identified by their sindoor, were targeted. Replying to a question about the BJP campaign for the June 19 Ludhiana West assembly byelection, Mann accused the party of making a mockery of Indian traditions and seeking votes in the name of Operation Sindoor for the bypoll in Ludhiana West assembly constituency. Alluding to reports that BJP workers are distributing sindoor (vermillion) to households following the success of Operation Sindoor, Mann remarked: 'Will you wear sindoor in (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi's name? Is this One Nation, One Husband?' They (BJP) are sending sindoor to every household, will you apply that,' he asked the reporter. The BJP denied any such drive to win over voters and its leaders, including the party's state unit's spokesperson Pritpal Singh Balliawal, termed the CM's remarks 'shameful'. BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta is contesting against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominee and MP Sanjeev Arora, Congress's Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parupkar Singh Ghumman for the Ludhiana West assembly seat. Describing Mann's remarks as 'vulgarity dressed as leadership', the BJP demanded Mann's resignation. 'He didn't insult the BJP. He insulted every widow of a soldier, every mother of a martyr, every woman of Bharat. And now a question to (AAP national convener) Arvind Kejriwal: Do you support your CM mocking sindoor, a sacred symbol worn by your own wife? Or will you stay silent just to protect your politics? Mann must resign and apologise to the nation,' the party posted on X, adding 'He can't grasp the meaning of sindoor — a symbol of love, sacrifice, and strength for every Indian woman.' Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu also slammed the remarks terming it a 'cheap political commentary' on a sensitive national security issue and demanded an unconditional apology from Mann for his 'crass' remarks. 'I never expected that Bhagwant Mann would stoop so low by mocking the widows of Pahalgam. You may be a former comedian, but that doesn't give you the right to mock the widows of martyrs or the valour of our armed forces,' Bittu said in Ludhiana. Bittu also accused Congress of politicising the army's brave actions and undermining the sacrifices of soldiers and their families. Taking a jibe at Punjab Congress state chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Bittu said that he has joined the AAP in questioning the legitimacy of the army's actions. 'Warring asked for proof of the operation's success by suggesting that the army should display the remains of Pakistani fighter jets. This shows a deep mistrust in our own armed forces and is a disgrace to the nation,' Bittu said. He alleged that Congress has long taken a soft stance on Pakistan and its sympathisers. 'Questioning the army only emboldens our enemies. Warring's comments are not just shameful, they are deeply damaging,' Bittu said Mann must apologise: Cong's Ashu Congress' Ludhiana West bypoll candidate and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu slammed Mann for making fun of 'sindoor'. 'It has become a fashion to make fun of and mock the Hindu customs and rituals and CM Mann proved to be no exception', Ashu said. The senior Congress leader said such insulting remarks about Hindu practices are unacceptable and the CM must tender an unconditional apology. Under Operation Sindoor, the Indian armed forces carried out pre-dawn missile strikes on May 7 on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba's base in Muridke, in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BJP's Jiwan Gupta files papers for Ludhiana West bypoll
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Jiwan Gupta filed his nomination papers on Monday for the Ludhiana West bypoll scheduled for June 19. He was accompanied by state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries Ravneet Singh Bittu, and senior BJP leaders Vijay Rupani, and Rajneesh Dhiman. The district BJP president was also present. Jakhar said the Ludhiana West bypoll is an opportunity for voters to 'give a fitting reply to the anti-people policies of the AAP government.' He stated, 'Punjab wants change once again, and this change will start from Ludhiana West. What's happening today is not governance for Punjabis—it's remote-controlled from Delhi. Corruption is rampant under AAP.' Bittu echoed Jakhar's sentiments, saying, 'This time, the BJP high command has placed its faith in a grassroots-level leader with over 35 years of service in the party. If Jeewan Gupta wins, no one can stop the developmental wave in Ludhiana West.' Gupta, BJP candidate and a long-time party worker, expressed confidence about winning the seat by a significant margin. 'We will win with a big lead. For three and a half years, people have seen nothing but corruption, the rise of drugs, and unchecked sand mining under the current regime. The people are ready to write a new chapter from Ludhiana West,' he said, while highlighting the public's warmth and support during his door-to-door campaign. Jakhar alleged that 'Delhi's people have hijacked Punjab's government,' referring to the increasing influence of AAP's Delhi leaders in the state. Bittu, urged voters to deliver a decisive victory for BJP candidate Gupta in the upcoming byelection. Bittu emphasized that a win here could set the momentum for forming a BJP government in Punjab in 2027. Speaking at a gathering of party workers and leaders in Ludhiana, Bittu called the byelection a golden opportunity for BJP to demonstrate its growing strength in Punjab. 'This election is our chance to send a clear message to both the party leadership and the people of Punjab that the state is aligned with the vision and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' he said. Addressing the delay in ticket declaration, Bittu explained that the party's central leadership was focused on 'Operation Sindoor' against Pakistan. Eventually, Gupta — a loyal party worker with over 30 years of grassroots service — was chosen. Highlighting ongoing central government support, Bittu reminded the people that even during his tenure as a Congress MP, Ludhiana benefited from significant development initiatives like the Smart City project, an international airport, and a world-class railway station — all funded by the Centre. Criticising AAP, Bittu remarked on the party's inability to field a local volunteer, and instead opting to award the ticket to political heavyweights. 'It's ironic — AAP couldn't find a single committed volunteer from Ludhiana,' he said. He also took a swipe at Congress, highlighting the party's 'internal disarray after controversial inductions of certain leaders'. 'Even the Punjab Congress president denied being informed about the new joinings,' Bittu added. While addressing the media, Bittu said that under 'Operation Sindoor' the Indian forces have targeted terrorist establishments 300 km inside Pakistan under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'To pay gratitude for the 'Operation Sindoor' we can cast our vote for the BJP candidate,' he said. Former cabinet minister Dr Harbans Lal was also present on the occasion. To bolster the campaign, BJP has deployed a team of star campaigners including Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Anurag Thakur, along with senior leaders, including former MP Avinash Rai Khanna, ex-state president Ashwani Sharma, former minister Manoranjan Kalia, MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and party co-incharge Narinder Singh Raina.
Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Speeding vehicles snuff out four lives across tricity
Unchecked speeding by vehicles left four people dead — three of them riding motorcycles — in separate road accidents across the tricity. On Thursday afternoon, a 27-year-old sanitation worker was killed after being hit by a car in Sector 77, Mohali. According to police, the car was speeding, killing the victim on the spot. The deceased, identified as Vinod Kumar, 28, was a resident of Dhanas, Chandigarh. Investigating officer Major Singh said Vinod, who was deployed in Sector 71, was travelling to Sector 77 on a motorcycle to have lunch with his parents. On the way, Vinod was hit by a speeding Hyundai Verna. The impact tossed Vinod in the air and he landed on the car's windshield, leading to grievous injuries. He was rushed to the civil hospital in Phase 6, where doctors declared him dead. The body was sent for a post-mortem examination. Following the incident, sanitation workers gathered outside the police station to protest, demanding that a case be registered against the car driver, who fled the scene on foot, leaving his vehicle behind. Pawan Godiyal, state general secretary of the Punjab Safai Mazdoor Federation, said Vinod was on duty at the time of the incident. His parents also work as sanitation workers in Sector 77. The federation demanded ₹10 lakh as compensation for the victim's family in line with accident insurance guidelines. On Wednesday night, a collision between a speeding KTM and a Royal Enfield Bullet near Sai Mandir in Chandigarh's Sector 29 claimed the life of one of the bikers and left two others critically injured. The deceased, Vinay, 29, who worked at a private hospital, was riding the KTM. He succumbed to serious head injuries on the spot. His pillion rider, Bittu, a resident of Ram Darbar, and the Bullet rider, Shashank from Baltana, were also seriously injured and rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32. Bittu sustained multiple leg fractures, while Shashank remains unable to speak due to his critical condition. According to police, the collision, which took place around 11.30 pm, was so forceful that the helmets of all three riders were shattered. The bikes reportedly skidded for nearly 30-35 metres after the crash. Initial investigations revealed that the KTM was headed from Sector 29 towards the Sector 29/30 light point, while the Bullet was approaching from the opposite direction. While overtaking vehicles at a high speed, the KTM struck the Bullet head-on. Another accident, near the Chandimandir light point in Panchkula, also on Wednesday night, left a 30-year-old motorcyclist dead. The victim, Hitesh, had dinner at a dhaba in Chandimandir around 10 pm with his friend Sunny, said police. Sunny narrated in his complaint that after dinner, they were riding back to their village on a motorcycle. As they reached the Chandimandir light point around 10.30 pm, a rashly driven four-wheeler struck their motorcycle from behind and drove off. The impact of the collision caused Hitesh, who was riding pillion, to be thrown violently on the road, causing serious head injury. He was immediately taken to the civil hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula, from where he was referred to GMCH, Chandigarh. But he died during treatment late at night. The Chandimandir police have registered a case and are actively working to trace and arrest the absconding driver. Earlier, on Wednesday evening, a daily wage labourer was killed after being hit by a truck moving on the wrong side near Mubarikpur. The deceased, Rinku, suffered a fatal head injury and a fractured arm in the incident that occurred around 7.30 pm. According to police, Rinku was walking back home when a tipper truck came from the wrong direction and hit him. Passers-by took Rinku to GMCH, Chandigarh, where he was referred to another facility. However, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The driver fled the scene after the accident. The truck was seized by police and a case was registered.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘CISF at Bhakra for infra security; act as CM, not comedian': Bittu hits out at Mann
1 2 Chandigarh: Accusing Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann of "unnecessarily politicising" the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at Bhakra dam, Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries Ravneet Singh Bittu, on Thursday, called "a routine measure aimed at securing critical national infrastructure". "The CISF deployment has no connection with water-sharing decisions, which remain under the jurisdiction of irrigation and power department officials and administrative authorities. These deployments are solely for the protection of infrastructure and have no bearing on inter-state water distribution," Bittu said in a written statement, terming Mann's objections as "irresponsible" and "politically motivated". He stated, "Mann needs to understand he is no longer a comedian but a CM of a sensitive border state. Security of vital projects like Nangal and Bhakra dams should not be turned into political theatre." Bittu pointed out, "Central forces, including CRPF and CISF, are already deployed for Mann's own security at multiple locations, including his official residence in Chandigarh, the Kapurthala House in New Delhi, and at various state institutions like the Punjab civil secretariat and airports. Mann has no objection to CRPF protecting him wherever he goes, or CISF securing the state's airports and secretariats. But when the same forces are deployed to protect national assets like dams, he suddenly cries foul." Slamming Mann for "trying to exploit the situation for political mileage," Bittu stated, "Security forces are not political tools. The CM must refrain from undermining their credibility." Slams Ludhiana land acquisition plan Bittu, in a separate written statement, also lashed out at the AAP govt in Punjab for "its decision to acquire 25,000 acres of agricultural land in villages surrounding Ludhiana." He demanded an immediate rollback of the land acquisition proposal. He stated, "The decision to acquire nearly all the agricultural land within a 10-km radius of Ludhiana, one of the most fertile and productive regions in Punjab, will devastate the farming community." He accused the state AAP leadership of functioning like "property dealers" The minister stated, "Land in Ludhiana villages is valued between Rs 5 to 10 crore per acre. Once acquired, farmers will have no nearby alternative for relocation or continuing their livelihood in agriculture." Pointing to the "environmental cost of the move," he stated, "Punjab is already suffering from the effects of over-urbanisation. This massive land acquisition will only worsen the state's ecological imbalance." MSID:: 121341266 413 |
