Latest news with #Rajbhar
Hans India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Condolences to families of deceased: Rajbhar expresses grief over RCB victory event stampede
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) President, O.P. Rajbhar, on Thursday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede that occurred during the victory event of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which left 11 people dead and several others injured. Speaking to IANS, O.P. Rajbhar said, 'It is a very unfortunate incident. The exact reasons behind the stampede are under investigation. We, along with our party, express our heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. The truth behind the incident will only come to light after a thorough enquiry.' Describing the chaos, Rajbhar added, 'No one anticipated that such a massive crowd would gather. Everyone was celebrating the RCB's victory when the stampede occurred. The news of the tragedy only became clear once the crowd began to disperse. As soon as the administration was informed, all other scheduled programmes were immediately postponed. The government, leaders, and officials swiftly got involved in rescue operations. The injured were rushed to the hospital, while efforts began for the last rites of those who succumbed.' Rajbhar reacted to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's statement on not drawing comparisons with other tragedies such as the Kumbh Mela stampede. Siddaramaiah had earlier said, 'I am not going to justify this incident by comparing it with stampedes elsewhere. Yes, similar incidents have happened, like in the Kumbh Mela, where 50–60 people died, but I didn't criticise it then. If the Congress chooses to criticise now, that is their choice. Did I or the Karnataka government criticise it back then?' Echoing Siddaramaiah's remarks, Rajbhar said, 'Criticism is one thing, but acceptance and responsibility are another. The crowd was larger than expected. That should be acknowledged. Our security arrangements were not sufficient to manage the overwhelming turnout, and that led to this unfortunate incident.' Rajbhar also commented on recent remarks made by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in relation to 'Operation Sindoor' and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tharoor had defended India's stance during the India-Pakistan tensions, refuting LoP Gandhi's 'Narendra Surrender' remark, and stating that there was no third-party intervention in the conflict. Tharoor said, 'India didn't need to be persuaded to stop. We had made it clear that if Pakistan stops, we are ready to stop too. The US telling Pakistan to stop wasn't pressure on India — it was simply relaying that we were ready for peace. It was a helpful move, not an imposition.' Responding to this, Rajbhar said, 'Shashi Tharoor is speaking the truth. When someone goes abroad and understands the situation from close quarters, they begin to see the full picture. Rahul Gandhi, on the other hand, always tries to portray India negatively on global platforms. It seems as if the leaders of the Opposition have drunk water from Pakistan, and the effect of that mindset still lingers.' When asked about the Opposition's demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and 'Operation Sindoor', Rajbhar dismissed the criticism, stating, 'When has the government ever run away from discussions?'
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rajbhar adamant to field candidate on Mau Sadar
With disqualification of MLA Abbas Ansari from UP assembly following his conviction in a hate speech case leading to two-year jail term, his vacated Mau Sadar seat could be a potential bone of contention between the ruling BJP and ally OP Rajbhar's Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP). Rajbhar is insisting to field his candidate from the seat. In fact, the seat rightfully belongs to SBSP as Ansari, though a sympathiser of SP, had contested on the symbol of SBSP which was in alliance with SP in 2022 Assembly elections. Post polls, Rajbhar parted ways from Akhilesh and joined NDA, becoming a minister in Yogi cabinet. Pitched battle between revenue officers Six days after allegedly assaulting a junior officer inside income tax office in Lucknow, Joint Commissioner of Income Tax Yogendra Kumar Mishra was suspended on Wednesday. The order said a criminal case is under investigation against Mishra, a 2014-batch IRS officer, currently posted in Kashipur, Uttarakhand. Pending inquiry, his headquarters has been shifted to Kolkata. Mishra has been directed not to leave headquarters without prior permission. The move comes in the wake of allegations levelled against him by Gaurav Garg, a 2016-batch IRS officer posted in Lucknow. Garg had filed an FIR accusing Mishra of launching a violent, premeditated attack on him. District judge issues memo over 'stale' snack Apparently, a trivial request of tea and biscuits by an Additional District Judge in an eastern UP district court drove her to issue a written memo to the attendant. The memo, needless to say, went viral. The ADJ was hosting a colleague in her chamber during lunch break and requested two cups of tea and biscuits. The attendant returned with two steaming cups, but no biscuits. The judge once asked again for the biscuits. The attendant nodded and disappeared, only to return with a small plate of 'dalmoth' (a snack). But there was a problem: the dalmoth was stale. As per the memo issued to the attendant, it was old, stale, and carried a foul smell. Namita Bajpai Our correspondent in Uttar Pradesh
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UP plans direct polls for zila panchayat chairman, block pramukh posts
The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing to overhaul the state's rural electoral system by introducing direct elections for zila panchayat chairman and block pramukhs from 2026, replacing the current indirect voting method. A formal proposal for the constitutional amendment required is set to be sent to the Centre soon. Panchayati Raj minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, who is also the chief of Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP), an ally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), said the move is being planned for the upcoming three-tier panchayat elections expected in May 2026. 'The proposal for direct elections will soon be submitted to the central government. It has been discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and chief minister Yogi Adityanath, and all have given their approval,' Rajbhar said. Currently, zila panchayat chairman and block pramukhs are elected indirectly. Voters elect zila panchayat and block development committee (BDC) members, who in turn elect the chairman and pramukhs. The state has 75 zila panchayats and 825 blocks, according to Rajbhar. The present system has repeatedly drawn criticism for being vulnerable to manipulation. 'There have been instances where candidates kidnapped members to secure votes or used pressure to block rival nominations,' he claimed. Notably, the 2021 panchayat elections were marred by allegations of forceful prevention of nominations and violence. Out of the 75 zila panchayat chairmen elected, 22 won unopposed. BJP secured 21 seats, while the Samajwadi Party won just one. Rajbhar said that indirect elections create opportunities for defection and weaken grassroots governance. 'Those elected are often loyal to whoever is in power, not to their party's ideology or the people. This hampers development,' he said. When asked why the NDA is pushing for direct elections despite having firm control over the existing three-tier panchayati raj system in Uttar Pradesh, gram panchayats at the village level, kshetra panchayats at the block level, and zila panchayats at the district level, Rajbhar said the indirect system has been a hurdle in grassroots development. 'Majority of the candidates win with the backing of money and muscle power. They shift loyalties with changing governments. This weakens both governance and political commitment,' he said, adding that direct elections would enhance public accountability. For the changes to be implemented, a constitutional amendment will be required. Rajbhar noted that panchayat elections fall under Article 243 of the Constitution, which was introduced through the 73rd Amendment and gives a constitutional framework to rural governance. 'The amendment is necessary to allow for direct public elections to these posts. The Panchayati Raj department is finalising the draft proposal,' he said. Citing urban elections as a precedent, Rajbhar said that Mayors in cities are directly elected by the people, and a similar system is needed in rural governance. 'There is no reason why zila panchayat chairman and block pramukhs should not be directly accountable to the voters,' he said. Political observers and opposition leaders have raised concerns over the move. Chaturanan Ojha, a political analyst, said the proposal may lead to an imbalance of power in rural areas. 'If these posts are directly elected, the chairman and pramukhs could become more powerful than MLAs and MPs in their jurisdiction. The current system offers a mechanism for checks and balances through no-confidence motions,' he said. He also cautioned that the constitutional amendment process would require the approval of at least half the states, making it a complex legislative task. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party leader Rajendra Chaudhary alleged that the BJP government is attempting to control local bodies through administrative means. 'This is not about reforms but about capturing zila panchayats. The government should focus on strengthening panchayats rather than creating confusion,' he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SBSP to organise Vijay Diwas to mark king Suheldev's valour against invaders
Lucknow: SBSP president and UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Monday announced that his party will organise Vijay Diwas in Bahraich on June 10 to commemorate the victory of Maharaja Suheldev over Syed Salar Masood, the general and nephew of Turkish invader Mahmud Ghaznavi, in the Battle of Bahraich in 1034 AD. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Rajbhar said that he had invited Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to the event in which a 'Shaurya Mela' would also be organised. The development comes days after the Bahraich district administration denied permission to hold 'Jeth Mela' at the shrine of Salar Masood on the grounds of law and order. "Maharaja Suheldev protected our culture and identity by ending the terror of invaders in India a thousand years ago. This fair will not only be a means of preserving our cultural heritage but will also be a good opportunity for the new generation to know and assimilate their glorious past," he said. The SBSP chief slammed the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, accusing them of trying to erase Maharaja Suheldev's contribution to history for vote bank politics. "Why did the Congress govt keep the heroic saga of Maharaja Suheldev away from history books for decades? Why did the Samajwadi Party organise a fair in the memory of invader Salar Masood Ghazi in Bahraich? Why did it forget the valour of Maharaja Suheldev on the same land," Rajbhar asked. "These questions are not political but are related to our identity, heritage, and the future of our children," he said, adding that his party always pitched Suheldev not just as a "caste hero" but as a "nationalist symbol". Rajbhar said that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav should celebrate 'Vijay Diwas' on June 10. "If they do not do so, it will be considered that they only do vote bank politics and don't want to respect great men," he said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Maharaja Suheldev's bravery and nationalist dedication should be given due weightage with construction of memorials and parks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi restored the king's historical significance through initiatives such as the installation of Suheldev's statue and a park on 5 acres near Chittora Lake in Bahraich," Rajbhar said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SBSP will contest by-election from Mau seat after Abbas Ansari's disqualification: Rajbhar
Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party ( SBSP ) on Monday said it will contest the by-election from Mau after Abbas Ansari was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly following his conviction in a hate speech case. Ansari, the son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari , became MLA for the first time in 2022 by winning the election from the Mau Sadar assembly seat on an SBSP ticket under the Samajwadi Party-led alliance. The SBSP MLA was sentenced to two years imprisonment by a special MP-MLA court on Saturday. The seat has now been declared vacant. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Melhores Pianos Acústicos e Digitais Teclacenter Compre já The SBSP has since switched sides and is now an ally of the ruling BJP government and the party president is a cabinet minister in the UP. "This was our seat. It was fought (in 2022 assembly polls) on our symbol. It was contested on our symbol. It is only fair that our party contests from the seat," SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar said while talking to reporters. Live Events Under the Representation of the People Act, membership of the legislative house is terminated if a court sentences an MLA to two years imprisonment or more. Asked if the SBSP would make a move for its disqualified MLA, Rajbhar said, "If he moves the court, the party is with him. Currently, the high court has vacations and it will be closed for a month." Following the disqualification of Ansari, the SBSP will have five MLAs in the 403-member UP Legislative Assembly. Rajbhar said that he has met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to have direct polls to elect the district panchayat chairman and head of blocks. "A proposal is being prepared to hold these elections directly from people's vote to avoid the use of money and muscle power," he said. Currently, district panchayat chairmen are elected by members of the district panchayat and block members elect the head of heads.
