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The Print
11-08-2025
- Politics
- The Print
INDIA bloc's protest against EC, why is BJP jumping to its defence, asks Uddhav Thackeray
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai about INDIA bloc members being detained during their protest march to the Election Commission's headquarters in Delhi earlier in the day, Thackeray said, 'What happened today is a blot on democracy. When we are protesting against the EC, why is the BJP defending them? Democracy is getting killed and everyone is watching it.' Raising the pitch ahead of local body polls expected across Maharashtra over the next few months, he also urged his party members to hit the street, 'not in the Shiv Sena style', but to have dialogues and corner meetings— 'Bhrashtachar pe Charcha' —with the general public to expose the alleged corruption of ministers in the Mahayuti government. Mumbai: Describing the detention of INDIA bloc MPs during their protest in Delhi as a blot on democracy, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), asking why it was 'defending' the Election Commission when it is being questioned about alleged 'vote theft'. The Delhi Police Monday detained scores of INDIA bloc MPs including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, during their protest march from Parliament to EC headquarters against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of 'vote theft' during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Thackeray also attested to the claim of NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar that some people approached him before the Maharashtra assembly elections last year with a proposal that they could 'guarantee' the Opposition win 160 of the state's 288 seats, and that the senior leader introduced them to Rahul Gandhi and the two declined their 'offer' holding 'this is not our way'. Thackeray also spoke about Rahul Gandhi's presentation last week at a press conference detailing the alleged 'vote theft', and said rather than answering the serious questions he raised, the EC is asking Rahul—an elected member of Parliament—to submit his claims on oath. The Shiv Sena (UBT) president also slammed the EC over the Bihar electoral roll revision and for telling the Supreme Court the commission was not bound to publish a separate list of persons not included in the draft voter list. 'Is the EC now above the SC, or the President? This is an insult to the Supreme Court,' Thackeray said. 'Bhrashtachar pe Charcha' Thackeray, meanwhile, also spoke at the Shivaji Park where he told his workers to hit the streets ahead of the local body polls and hold 'Bhrashtachar pe Charcha'—taking cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's highly successful Chai pe Charcha campaign before the 2014 general elections. He asked Shiv Sainiks to hit the streets now as they can meet a lot of people during the festive season including on the occasion of Dahi Handi and Ganesh Chaturthi. 'Time has come to now hit the streets, not in the Shiv Sena style, but this time it will be slightly different. You must start discussions around the corruption within the government and highlight the corrupt ministers and their misdeeds,' Thackeray said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former MP Vinayak Raut elaborated on this plan. 'What this means is that functionaries within the party—men, women, yuva sena—would organise small meetings in Mumbai to highlight the misdeeds of the government. Outside Mumbai, in rural settings, the party expects its workers to sit in farms, at chowks, bazaars, and expose the government,' he said. 'On one hand, ministers are becoming too arrogant on the back of corruption, while the government says it does not have money to give to people for welfare. Our workers would expose this, do the panchnama and start discussions around it. This is the aim of the programme,' Raut said. While the Congress led the INDIA bloc's protest in Delhi against the alleged 'vote theft', the Sena UBT held agitation at collector offices across various districts in Maharashtra. The party also talked about other issues including a video purportedly showing NCP minister Manikrao Kokate playing rummy in the legislature, minister Sanjay Shirsat purportedly seen sitting in a room with bags suspected to be full of cash, and Shiv Sena (Shinde camp) MLA Sanjay Gaikwad allegedly assaulting an MLA canteen staff. Political analyst Hemant Desai feels it is not for no reason that Shiv Sena (UBT) is putting renewed focus on street protests and organised agitation in the state separately from the Congress. 'It is a matter of their survival (for them),' he told ThePrint. 'And from what I know, this has been a longstanding demand of party leaders and workers that they should come out on roads and campaign.' 'From what I understand, they are most likely to go with Raj Thackeray in the upcoming polls and won't take the Congress along. Hence, maybe this protest was done individually by the Sena UBT and not as MVA,' he added. Targeting just Shinde or Mahayuti govt? While talking about the alleged corruption within the state government, Uddhav Thackeray specifically took the names of ministers of the Shinde Sena camp, aside from Manikrao Kokate, who is from the NCP(Ajit Pawar). The Shiv Sena (UBT) protest also involved playing cards to tease Kokate and carrying bags and boxes symbolising Sanjay Shirsat's video where he is purportedly seen with a bag of cash. They even targeted Yogesh Kadam over the alleged links of a dance bar with his mother. Desai added, 'On the surface it looks like he (Uddhav Thackeray) is targeting only Shinde. That could be possible because he will be mostly fighting against Shinde on most of the seats. But I don't think it means he is softer on (Chief Minister) Fadnavis. The other day in Delhi, he did target Fadnavis as well.' During the Monday protest, Thackeray questioned the chief minister over the issue of corruption. 'Fadnavis, you have done vote chori and for that INDIA bloc is protesting,' he said. 'In fact, the Congress has given him a good name—not chief minister but 'thief minister'. When someone was caught playing rummy, you just warned him and changed his ministry. The same is the case with others as well,' Thackeray said. 'I want to ask you,' he told the chief minister. 'Why are you not removing these corrupt ministers? Are you being pressured to do so? Then you should come out and say it. Or do you, the biggest party in the world (BJP), not have capable ministers to replace them? You should clarify.' Vinayak Raut, a former Lok Sabha MP and a part of the core leadership of Shiv Sena (UBT), told ThePrint the party aims to highlight the corruption of the entire government and not specifically one person or party. 'This is against the entire Mahayuti government. It just so happens that unfortunately, we have seen that the tainted ministers are of the Shinde faction only. That is why we had no option but to take the names of the ministers from the Shinde faction. But for us, the entire Mahayuti is a target,' Raut said. Edited by (Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Fadnavis 'invites' Uddhav to come over to ruling Mahayuti. How Shiv Sena (UBT) chief reacted
Hans India
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
BJP state chief Madhav to visit Ongole today
Ongole: BJP state president Pokala Vamsi Nagendra Madhav is visiting Ongole on Thursday, for the first time after being sworn in as the chief of the state unit, announced BJP Prakasam district president Seggam Srinivasa Rao. In a press meet held here on Wednesday, Chairman of 20 Point Programme Implementation Committee for Andhra Pradesh Lanka Dinakar and Srinivasa Rao explained that Madhav will reach Ongole from Bapatla by Wednesday night, and participate in a meeting with the seniors and members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and other organisations at AKVK College in the early morning. He will participate in 'Chai pe Charcha' with the public at 'Vindu Bhojanam' Hotel on Old Bypass Road at 8 AM, and inaugurate a rally with party members and sympathisers at Old Market to MS Function Hall, at 10 AM. He will be interacting with the party cadre at MS Function Hall from 11 AM, and with the media at 3 PM. He will then participate in 'Meeting with Intellectuals' at Delhi Highway Restaurant, near Valluramma Temple, from 7 PM. Former district president PV Sivareddy, senior leaders Yanam Chinna Yogaiah Yadav, Jillellamudi Ramadevi, and others also participated in the press meet.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
State BJP chief demands to change the name of Jinnah Tower in Guntur
Guntur: State BJP president P V N Madhav has demanded to change the names of landmarks that are remnants of colonial or oppressive past, such as the Jinnah Tower in Guntur. Madhav, who participated in a 'Chai pe Charcha' program in Guntur on Tuesday, said it is "humiliating" to continue with names like Jinnah Tower on Indian soil. "Do we really need a landmark to be called Jinnah Tower while the Indian flag is flying high across the globe under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi? We will definitely change the name," he asserted, while emphasising on the need for model colonies with modern amenities like CCTV cameras, sanitation, and lighting. He stressed on the importance of respecting individual freedom to practice one's faith. "All are free to follow their own faith, and we should respect that," he said. He also suggested that everyone should fight for public issues. "Party leaders should question the authorities and ensure that work is delivered. People always back leaders who work with them in resolving their grievances," Madhav said. He also paid a courtesy visit to the residence of Padma awardee and noted paediatric surgeon Dr Yarlagadda Nayudamma.
NDTV
25-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Meet Akhil Patel, Indian-Origin Entrepreneur Who Served Tea To PM Modi
Once a data analyst and now a full-time chai entrepreneur, Akhil Patel shot to the spotlight after he served a steaming cup of masala tea to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Thursday. The special moment occurred at Chequers, the country residence of Mr Starmer. PM Modi shared a couple of pictures of his interaction with Mr Patel on the X, writing, "Chai pe Charcha with Keir Starmer, brewing stronger India-UK ties." 'Chai Pe Charcha' with PM Keir Starmer at stronger India-UK ties! @Keir_Starmer — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 24, 2025 Who is Akhil Patel? A UK-based entrepreneur, Akhil Patel studied at the University College School, Hampstead, London, and then pursued a BSc in Management at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). During his college years, he took up various internship roles before working full-time as a data analyst for about a year and a half. In 2018, a trip to Ladakh changed everything for him. Mr Patel had grown up drinking tea, but on this trip, he saw the beverage not as a drink, but a ritual. And that's what laid the foundation for what would become Amala Chai. In 2019, inspired by his grandma's recipe, he founded Amala Chai. Described as "Chai That Feels Like Home," the brand's masala chai begins at the source, with single-origin tea and spices from family farms in Assam and Kerala. To ensure authenticity, Mr Patel returned to India and travelled through Assam and Kerala to meet farmers and build direct relationships with small-scale farms. His focus, he says, was to eliminate middlemen from the supply chain, pay fairly, invest in organic practices, and support a system that puts people and the planet first. In May, Akhil and his grandma were on the cover of the British Museum's Instagram page. He shared that his grandma, now 96, came to the UK 50 years ago to look for better opportunities. In London, where Mr Patel launched his venture six years ago, Amala Chai is now available at five different locations.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
At this library, hear stories that you won't find on shelves
Picture walking into a room full of stories and people waiting to explore them. Only, the stories aren't in any books; they're experiences shared by those who've gone through them. The human library concept offers a simple yet powerful experience wherein you sit across the table with a stranger and listen to their succinct stories. Not through pages, but through conversations. Curated conversations The human library is an intentional and curated experience. This community, that's been growing in numbers in the city, ensures that authentic voices get a platform to share what they want to. 'There's no stage, no mics, no fancy setup. The only setup is a bunch of chairs and curious minds filled with stories,' explains Sagar Sachdeva, host of Small World, a community platform that organises such events across India. 'The structure allows participants to share a brief about themselves, like the introduction chapter of a book. Then they choose who speaks, much like choosing a book you'd want to read. The idea is to keep conversations raw and real,' he asays, adding that these events are generally organised at cafes, co-working offices or intimate spaces that give participants the confidence to share their stories without fear or bias. A changing perspective by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Меките и удобни ежедневни обувки улесняват ходенето ZAROTRAVEL® КУПИ СЕГА Undo Soumya Bhattacharya, a working professional who has attended such events, shares that they helped her realise many things about the real world and also gave her the chance to share her travel experiences, something she says defines her. People share stories of what they love, what they hate and even the experiences or stories that changed their lives, at these events. Ask Soumya about an interaction she'll never forget and she says, 'I met a woman with alopecia who was bullied by people around her. But she turned her life around and went on to win a beauty pageant. This story changed my perspective towards life completely.' QUOTES The human library concept works well because everyone craves connection without judgement, and this gives us the chance to do just that -Soumya Bhattacharya, who has been part of human library experiences It's pretty easy to join these events. All you have to do is search online for the next human library meetup. The most basic expectation is for you to show up for this adventure -Fiza Tabassum, who organises such events Other similar experiences: Chai pe Charcha, Coffee Conversations, Solo Travelers Meetup, Single 's Meetup, Strangers Meet, The Cry Club
