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India Gazette
5 days ago
- General
- India Gazette
"We must show our language which is entirely different from BJP": RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Rahul Gandhi's remark
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): Commenting on Rahul Gandhi's statement in Madhya Pradesh, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha on Wednesday said the Opposition leaders must not avoid using the same language as the BJP, adding that they are currently in a fight with the ruling party on multiple fronts. Speaking to ANI, RJD MP Jha said, 'I believe there is a LoP who is also the main face of the INDIA alliance... We are fighting with the BJP on many levels. We are fighting ideological, political, theoretical, linguistic, and emotional battles with them. So, we must show that our language and expressions are entirely different from those of the BJP. Otherwise, the same things happen... 'Bhains, Mangalsutra or Mujra.' 'This is my personal opinion that criticism is the most central discussion of politics,' he added. The row began when, addressing a convention of Congress workers in Bhopal, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, 'Now, I understand RSS-BJP well. They run away out of fear if slight pressure is put on them. When Trump called Modiji- Modiji kya kar rahe ho, Narender-Surrender and with 'ji hazooor', Narenderji followed Trump. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet (which came from the US), India Gandhi said I will do whatever I have to do. This is the difference. This is their character; all of them are like this. Since the Independence movement, they have had the habit of writing letters of surrender.' This was followed by attacks from BJP leaders. Senior BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said, 'Rahul Gandhi has proved again that he does not have the ability and maturity to handle a post like the Leader of the Opposition and has shown his lack of wisdom and low standards,' said Trivedi. Reacting to Rahul Gandhi's remark on the BJP-RSS, Trivedi said, 'This is the same BJP and the same organisation that has reduced the once-invincible Congress to irrelevance in many states.' The BJP MP went on to list what he termed a series of 'surrenders' by Congress governments over the years. 'You said on 15 July 2011 that terrorism cannot be controlled -- that was a surrender to terrorism. After the 26/11 attacks, your government did not permit military retaliation. That, too, was a surrender. In 1971, despite having 93,000 Pakistani soldiers in custody, Indira Gandhi's government failed to reclaim PoK. In 1948, Nehru took the Kashmir issue to the UN and surrendered half of it. At Independence, one-third of the country was surrendered to Jinnah and the Muslim League,' Trivedi stated. BJP MP Sambit Patra said that Rahul Gandhi's speech in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday does not befit any 'civilised politician or any leader of the opposition.' On the other hand, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari defended Gandhi and said, 'Rahul Gandhi's arrow directly hit the target.' (ANI)
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka BJP stages protest after NEET aspirant asked to remove 'janeu' before exam
Screengrab: ANI NEW DELHI: The opposition BJP in Karnataka staged a protest outside an examination centre after a student was made to remove his ' janeu ' (sacred thread worn by Hindus) before appearing for a NEET examination on Sunday. Shripad Patil was asked to get rid of his ' janeu' before entering the exam hall located at St. Mary's School in Kalaburagi. Patil's father said his son handed him the ' janeu ' before entering the examination centre. "He went in half an hour ago to write the was told to remove the 'janeu' and sent back outside to leave it here...I was outside and I wasn't allowed to go placed the 'janeu' in my hand and then went in to write the is writing the NEET exam here," Sudhir Patil told news agency ANI. This comes a week after Karnataka high court issued notices to the state government and Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) on a PIL alleging that CET exam centres in Bidar, Shivamogga, and Dharwad districts forced candidates to remove their Janivara or ' janeu' . Appearing for petitioner Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha, senior advocate S Sriranga also informed a division bench of chief justice NV Anjaria and justice KV Aravind that the CET candidates were mistreated during the math exam on April 17. He submitted that the students who refused to remove their sacred threads were barred from entering the examination halls room, seeking a re-examination for the affected candidates. Sriranga submitted that KEA officials violated rights under Articles 21A (right to education), 25 (freedom to practice religion), and 29(2) (admission to educational institutions) of the Constitution. The petitioner also informed the court that after the filing of the PIL, an FIR was filed in the case. The petitioner also sought directions for the formulation of clear guidelines governing exam conduct and frisking procedures by KEA officials. The high court will hear the case on June 9. Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar also opposed the order prohibiting religious symbols in railway exam centers, stating that while checking religious items is acceptable, their removal is inappropriate. Shivakumar said that authorities can inspect religious symbols but shouldn't require their removal. "When it's a religious thing like a 'Mangalsutra' or a 'janeu' (sacred thread), they can check it if required, but removing them is not correct. We are clearly saying that any such religious symbols, earrings, mangalsutra, janeu, or a hip band, they can check it. It is not wrong. But, in the past, there have been some issues where people kept a small device in their ears. It is not right. It (the order) must be taken back... I think that anything that creates anger among the people must be removed. I demand that such rules be removed," said DK Shivakumar.
Hans India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Don't ask candidates to remove sacred thread, mangalsutra: Min
Bengaluru: Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti, V. Somanna, has issued directions to the authorities not to remove sacred threads and mangalsutras from candidates appearing for the exam for the nursing superintendent posts organised by the Railway Recruitment Board. Earlier, a circular issued by the Department of Railways, mentioned in the candidates' admission letters, had stated that individuals wearing sacred threads, mangalsutras, and other religious symbols would not be allowed inside the exam centres. Various Hindu organisations had expressed outrage over this circular A mangalsutra is a sacred necklace, usually with black beads and gold, worn by Hindu married women. It symbolises the marital BJP MP Brajesh Chowta brought the matter to the notice of the Railway Department and also spoke to the Union Minister about it. Taking to social media platform X on Monday, MP Brajesh Chowta stated, 'Glad to inform that, after we brought it to his attention, our Union Minister of State V. Somanna has intervened and instructed authorities not to indulge in any such practices that require those appearing for the examination for the post of 'Nursing Superintendent' of Indian Railways to remove religious symbols and ornaments like the Mangalsutra and Janivara, as was said to be required by the letter of admission.' Meanwhile, reacting to the development, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated, 'The BJP says one thing and does another. That is their true face. Saying that mangalsutra and janivara must be removed during the railway examination is not correct. This order must be withdrawn.' Shivakumar was responding to questions from the media near his residence in Bengaluru on Monday morning. When asked about the ban on wearing the janivara and mangalsutra during the railway exam, he said, 'Religious symbols such as earrings, nose rings, mangalsutra, janivara, sacred thread, and vermillion mark on the forehead are commonly worn. Authorities may conduct inspections, but it is not right to force their removal. In the past, we have seen instances where small devices were misused to cheat in exams. People themselves must express their outrage against this.' The department had earlier listed religious symbols, ornaments, bangles, and mangalsutras among the banned items. The list also included electronic gadgets such as mobile phones, pagers, watches, earphones, Bluetooth-enabled devices, microphones, health bands, calculators, books, pens, papers, pencils, erasers, pouches, scales, writing pads, metallic wear, belts, bracelets, and handbags. The development comes close on the heels of the removal of sacred threads from students during the Common Entrance Test (CET), a state-level entrance exam conducted by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) for admissions to various undergraduate courses, including engineering, medical, and dental programmes, which has stirred controversy in Karnataka.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
No bar on Janivara, Mangalsutra in rly exam: Min
Bengaluru/Mangaluru: Union minister of state for railways V Somanna Monday clarified that religious symbols such as Mangalsutra and Janivara (sacred thread) will be allowed at a Railway Board examination on Tuesday. The clarification on social media follows confusion about disallowing of religious and sacred symbols for the nursing superintendent post exams. Somanna said he received multiple complaints regarding Railway Board's earlier stance on candidates being prohibited from wearing religious items while entering the exam hall. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The issue was raised by MPs, MLAs and Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha, among others. They brought the matter to Somanna's attention, prompting him to discuss it with Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and senior railway officials. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo "I'm pleased to report that this confusion has been resolved. Clear instructions have been issued to ensure candidates wearing items representing their culture -- such as Janivara, Mangalyasutra -- will not face any hindrance or trouble during examination," Somanna stated. He emphasised that candidates should adhere to all other examination rules. The minister shared an amended order from Railway Board. The revised document listed the examination centre's restricted items, specifying in paragraph 7 (ii) that candidates found carrying or wearing metallic items, religious symbols, bangles, ornaments, Mangalsutra, and bracelets will be allowed inside the examination hall with appropriate endorsement on their call letters. This would ensure that invigilators remain extra vigilant for such candidates. The issue had sparked protests from Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which condemned Railway Board's original condition. The controversy had caught the attention of Congress govt in Karnataka, with deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar expressing concern. "Religious sentiments should not be hurt in the name of vigilance. We've maintained that religious symbols should not be tampered with or prohibited. Let them check, but it is wrong to ask them to remove it," Shivakumar said.
Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Railways withdraws mangalsutra ban on recruitment exam candidates after outrage
The Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) on Monday withdrew an order that barred women candidates of a recruitment exam from wearing mangalsutras and sacred threads after it drew flak. As per admission letters issued for the nursing superintendent exam, a Railways circular barred entry to individuals wearing religious symbols such as sacred threads and mangalsutras, triggering outrage from Hindu organisations as well as BJP leaders. The mangalsutra, a necklace with black beads and gold, is a sacred symbol of marriage worn by Hindu women. Brajesh Chowta, BJP MP for Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada constituency, took up the matter with Union Minister of State for Railways V Somanna. 'Glad to inform that, after we brought it to his attention, Union Minister V Somanna has intervened and instructed authorities not to enforce the removal of religious symbols and ornaments like the Mangalsutra and Janivara for candidates appearing for the Indian Railways 'Nursing Superintendent' examination,' he wrote on X. ದಿನಾಂಕ 28, 29 ಮತ್ತು 30 ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 2025ರಂದು ರೈಲ್ವೆ ಇಲಾಖೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೇಮಕಾತಿಗಾಗಿ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿಗಳು ಜನಿವಾರ, ಮಾಂಗಲ್ಯ ಸೂತ್ರ ತೆಗೆದಿಟ್ಟು ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆ ಬರೆಯಬೇಕೆಂಬ ವಿಷಯವನ್ನು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಾ ನಿಯಮದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆಯೆಂಬ ದೂರುಗಳು ನನಗೆ ಬಂದಿದೆ. ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ, ಸಂಸದರು, ಶಾಸಕರು ಇದನ್ನು ಸರಿಪಡಿಸುವಂತೆ ಮನವಿ… — V. Somanna (@VSOMANNA_BJP) April 28, 2025 Initially, the banned list included ornaments, bangles, sacred threads, mangalsutras, and electronic gadgets like mobile phones, watches, Bluetooth devices, and calculators. Somanna said he had directed officials not to prohibit candidates from wearing sacred threads and mangalsutras. The development follows a controversy during a recent Karnataka's Common Entrance Test (CET) where sacred threads were removed from candidates before they were allowed to sit for the exam. Cases were reported from Shivamogga, Bidar, and Dharwad that authorities had cut sacred threads or denied entry to students who had refused to remove them. Reacting to the fresh controversy, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar criticised the BJP, which rules the Centre. 'The BJP says one thing and does another. It's wrong to insist that candidates remove mangalsutras and janivaras for the exam. Such orders must be withdrawn,' he said.
