POLITICS

For the first time the BJP tally in the Rajya Sabha has crossed the 100-mark. The BJP also became the first party to achieve the feat after 1988. After the recent round of election for the Upper House of Parliament held on Thursday, the saffron party tally now stands at 101. The BJP achieved this feat after winning four seats out of 13 for which polls were held on Thursday.

A day after saying that his wish to go to the Rajya Sabha was not fulfilled in his political career, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday clarified that he does not have any personal interest in going to the upper house of the Parliament. "Actually, the journalists had asked about my interest to go to the Rajya Sabha, and I replied to them that I don't have personal interest in it," he said.

Winning four Rajya Sabha seats from three northeastern states - Assam, Tripura and Nagaland, the BJP has increased its members' tally in the Upper House of the Parliament from the region. The elections for the two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam and one in Tripura were held on Thursday. BJP nominee S. Phangnon Konyak was elected unopposed to the lone Rajya Sabha seat in Nagaland last Friday.

“If someone doesn't believe in the ideals of Bapu (referring to Gandhi), then we don't even consider them an Indian...they are mahaayogya (inept), mahapaapi (sinner) who doesn't even listen to the father of the nation...” CM Nitish Kumar. Commenting on the recent deaths of people after they consumed illegal liquor (hooch), CM Nitish said that the state government is not responsible for such consequences as the individuals know that hooch is toxic and harmful to health.

The Congress MPs on Thursday staged a protest outside Parliament against the rising prices of fuel and demanded its roll back. Interacting with media after the protest, party leader Rahul Gandhi said: "The Congress is protesting nationwide against the fuel price hike and we demand a roll back as the government is filling its coffers while the comman man is suffering."

Demanding unconditional apology from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for "making fun" of genocide of Kashmiri Pandits, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national president Tejasvi Surya on Wednesday said that he and AAP are "habitual Hindu insulter". Surya said the BJYM will continue to protest till Kejriwal offers unconditional apology for "mocking" Kashmiri Pandits.

The FIR was registered under sections 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) of the Indian Penal Code and under section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.

After surgical strike on Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), BJP leaders are now directly targeting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Vinay Bihari, a BJP MLA claimed that Nitish Kumar lost his fire that he was known for, during the first tenure in 2005. "I firmly believe that the BJP top leadership should think about it and make a Chief Minister from our party," he said.

In a letter to Thackeray, state Congress President Nana Patole said that the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress - hailing from different ideological backgrounds -- had decided to run the MVA government on the basis of a CMP. "Owing to the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic since March 2020, the CMP implementation was delayed, but now as the coronavirus threat is over, the CMP should be executed for the overall development of all sections of society," Patole urged the Chief Minister.

The Chief Minister was in Rewa on Wednesday to attend a 'Rojgar Divas' programme organised by the district administration, and to inaugurate a Vaatsalya Hospital in the district. While addressing the gathering, Chouhan said, "I have read about the rape incident in Raj Niwas. The District Collector and SP, I am telling you to take strict action against those involved in the matter. When these bulldozers be used?"