THE HINDU

4 Monday, February 19, 2024

States Delhi

INBRIEF
쑽 Kejriwal meets Kharge Alliance strong,
as seat-sharing talks no threat to govt.
in Jharkhand: CM
for Delhi back ‘on track’ Press Trust of India
NEW DELHI
Delhi CM says ‘no bad blood’ between AAP, Congress ahead of Lok Sabha poll; describes move to
contest separately in Punjab ‘mutually agreed’ decision; working on 4-3 formula: Congress leader The JMM-led alliance in
Jharkhand is “strong” and
Meghalaya’s concerns over The Hindu Bureau in five of the seven Delhi
there is no threat to the
coalition government in
CAA addressed: CM Sangma NEW DELHI seats,” the Congress leader the State, Chief Minister
said, adding that his party Champai Soren said on
Concerns of Meghalaya over the Citizenship elhi Chief Minister is leaving no stone un- Sunday, amid reports of re-
(Amendment) Act (CAA) have been addressed as
most areas of the State come under the Sixth
Schedule, which exempts them from the law,
D and Aam Aadmi
Party (AAP) na-
tional convener Arvind
turned for its revival in Del-
hi, where it has not won
any seat in the Lok Sabha
sentment brewing among
a section of Congress legis-
lators over the induction of
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said. Mr. Kejriwal on Sunday said and Assembly polls after four party MLAs into the Champai Soren
Sangma, who heads the National People’s Party, seat-sharing talks with the 2013. The ruling AAP in State Cabinet as Ministers.
also stressed on the requirement for the Inner Congress are in progress as Delhi too had drawn a Mr. Soren, who is in the social justice in Jhark-
Line Permit (ILP) regime in his State, which will going solo in the Lok Sabha blank in the last two Lok national capital, made the hand,” he added.
restrict the entry of “outsiders”. Expressing poll will make the contest Sabha polls. remarks before meeting
concern over the “spillover effect” in Meghalaya easier for the BJP in the na- Congress president Malli- Nod to caste survey
if the CAA is implemented in other States, he said tional capital. Differences in INDIA karjun Kharge. The Jharkhand govern-
that “we have just requested the Government of The remarks came after Mr. Kejriwal’s statement al- He told reporters that it ment has also given the go-
India if we can still have the ILP”. PTI Mr. Kejriwal met Congress so holds significance as the was a courtesy meeting af- ahead for a caste-based
president Mallikarjun Opposition’s fragile al- ter taking charge as the survey in the State on the
e844761

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Kharge over a lunch hosted Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (left) in conversation with Congress chief liance has been beset with Chief Minister. lines of Bihar, a senior offi-
by Congress leader Abhish- Mallikarjun Kharge during a luncheon in New Delhi on Sunday. ANI differences among its On a section of Congress cial said in Ranchi.
Disqualification plea against 7 ek Manu Singhvi at his resi-
dence. Delhi Cabinet Mi- er the seven Lok Sabha Lok Sabha election.
partners, with seat-sharing
talks collapsing in some of
MLAs being disgruntled ov-
er the recent Cabinet for-
The CM has directed the
Personnel Department to
Nagaland NCP MLAs rejected nister Atishi was also seats in Delhi. Sandeep Meanwhile, a senior the States. mation, Mr. Soren said it prepare a draft [SoP for
present on the occasion. Pathak, AAP’s national Congress leader, who has Recently, the INDIA bloc was an internal matter of conducting the survey]
Nagaland Assembly Speaker Sharingain The Chief Minister also general secretary [organi- been privy to the discus- received a severe jolt as a the Congress. and place it before the Ca-
Longkumer has dismissed the disqualification told reporters that the de- sation], had blamed the sions, said AAP’s offer of key constituent — the Nit- In a post on X after the binet for approval, he said.
petition against seven Nationalist Congress Party cision to contest the elec- Congress for not coming to one seat was “mere ish Kumar-led Janata Dal meeting, Mr. Kharge said, If everything goes ac-
(NCP) legislators in the State. Hemant Takle, a tion in Punjab separately the table for talks. posturing”. (United) — deserted it to “Today, along with Jhark- cording to plan, the exer-
senior leader of the Sharad Pawar-led faction of was a “mutually agreed” He said both outfits are join the BJP-led National hand Chief Minister Shri cise will begin after the Lok
the NCP, had filed the disqualification petition one and there is “no bad Protracted discussions discussing a formula under Democratic Alliance Champai Soren ji and lead- Sabha election, he said.
against the seven MLAs — Picto Shohe, P. Longon, blood” between both IN- Discussions between both which one party will con- (NDA). Last week, the ers of the Jharkhand Con- Indicating the nod for
Namri Nchang, Y. Mhonbemo Humtsoe, S. Toiho DIA bloc partners. parties have dragged for test on four seats, leaving Chaudhary Jayant Singh- gress, we again resolved to the survey, Mr. Soren post-
Yeptho, Y. Mankhao Konyak, and A. Pongshi Phom Earlier, AAP had offered over a month now. Leaders the remaining three for the led Rashtriya Lok Dal, fight the dictatorial govern- ed on X, “Jiski jitni sankhya
on August 30, 2023 alleging that they had just one seat to the Con- of both parties had met on other. which holds influence in ment [Centre].” bhari, uski utni hissedari
indulged in anti-party activities. The legislators gress in the national capital January 12 last time, “If you look at the 2019 western U.P., also con- “We will continue our (Bigger the population,
had given a letter of support in favour of the while saying it was tired of prompting AAP to say that Lok Sabha results, the Con- firmed that it will contest journey of progressive- bigger the share). Jhark-
faction led by Ajit Pawar. PTI protracted negotiations ov- it is ready to go alone in the gress was in second place the elections with the NDA. ness, public welfare, and hand is ready.”

‘Centre trying
to stop aid by
Cong. says Kamal Nath not leaving party, Wild animal attacks: Rahul visits
deactivating ‘BJP using media to spread rumours’ victims’ kin in Wayanad; a tourist
Aadhaar cards’ Mehul Malpani
in his own constituency, says BJP
BHOPAL
Press Trust of India
SURI (WEST BENGAL) Madhya Pradesh Congress E.M. Manoj
chief Jitu Patwari on Sun- KALPETTA
West Bengal Chief Minister day said former Chief Mi-
Mamata Banerjee on Sun- nister and party veteran Congress leader and Lok
day alleged that the BJP-led Kamal Nath was not leav- Sabha MP from Wayanad
Central government “deac- ing the party. “I just spoke Rahul Gandhi paid a whirl-
tivated” the Aadhaar cards to Kamal Nathji. He told wind visit on Sunday to fa-
of people in the State be- me speculations in the me- milies who lost their bread-
fore the upcoming Lok dia are part of a conspira- winners to fatal wild
Sabha election so that they cy. He said, ‘I was, am, and animal attacks in the hill
do not get the benefits of will remain a Congress- district and listened to a li-
various social welfare man’,” Mr. Patwari said. tany of grievances against
schemes of the State go- “He also told me that he Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari. (Right) Security personnel outside Congress leader the Kerala government’s al- Rahul Gandhi meets the family of Ajeesh, a farmer trampled to
vernment through their has lived his life with the Kamal Nath's residence in New Delhi on Sunday. A.M.FARUQUI AND SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA leged failure to mitigate death by a radio-collared wild elephant, in Wayanad on Sunday. PTI
bank accounts. Congress ideology and will man-animal conflict.
Speaking at a public dis- continue to do so till his “no plans of leaving the “But Kamal Nathji’s cha- “wanted Mr. Nath to join Mr. Gandhi had taken a phant victim, at Pakkom. disbursed quickly and
tribution programme in last breath,” he said, accus- Congress”. Speculations racter has not been of bow- the BJP for the develop- break from the Uttar Pra- He also interacted with the more effectively as there
Birbhum district, Ms. Ba- ing the BJP of using the me- that Mr. Nath and his son ing down to pressure,” Mr. ment of the district”. desh leg of his Bharat Jodo family of Prajeesh, who was a delay in payment in
nerjee said her govern- dia to spread “rumours”. Nakul Nath may join the Singh said. “There is a group of 11 Nyay Yatra to visit his con- was mauled to death by a the past couple of months.
ment would continue pay- Congress Rajya Sabha BJP were further fuelled by Mr. Verma also said Mr. senior Congress members stituency, which had seen tiger in December 2023.
ing the beneficiaries of the member Digvijaya Singh Mr. Nath reaching New Del- Nath was focusing on Lok [of Chhindwara]. We all street protests on Saturday. The members of the be- BJP takes a swipe
various welfare schemes of said the leadership is in hi on Saturday. Reports Sabha poll ticket distribu- discussed and decided that Some parts of Wayanad are reaved families later told Union Minister of State for
the State government even touch with Mr. Nath. “I claimed that Mr. Nath may tion in Madhya Pradesh. if we are neglected it would under curfew after the Dis- television news reporters External Affairs and Parlia-
if a person does not have have been continuously hold talks with BJP leaders. “Kamal Nathji said I have be better to go to BJP and trict Magistrate issued pro- that they had flagged the mentary Affairs V. Mura-
an Aadhaar card. discussing things with Ka- Meanwhile, Mr. Nath- no such thought nor have I get the work done,” said hibitory orders to prevent forest department’s “inef- leedharan took a dig at Mr.
Referring to the agita- mal Nathji, the Congress said he didn’t hold talks discussed this with Mr. Saxena, claiming that public anger from spirall- fectual” response to wild Gandhi by calling him “a
tion of the farmers in Ha- leadership is also in touch with anyone. anyone,” he said. Mr. Ver- many MLAs are likely to ing out of control. animal threats and the tourist in his own consti-
ryana and Punjab demand- with him,” said Mr. Singh, Mr. Singh said the Con- ma on Saturday hinted that follow Mr. Nath if they are Mr. Gandhi reached “lack of facilities” for spe- tuency.” “Wayanad does
ing the Central adding that Mr. Nath was gress had given Mr. Nath Mr. Nath was “considering promised a ticket in BJP. Wayanad via road from cialised care in State-fund- not have a medical college
government’s guarantee also under pressure from various posts, from Union the move due to his ho- At least six MLAs, loyal Kannur around 7 a.m. He ed hospitals in the district. where such people can be
on minimum support price the ED, the CBI, and the In- Minister to CM to State par- nour and self-respect”. to Mr. Nath, have reported- first visited the house of Later in the day, Mr. treated. Rahul Gandhi
for their produce, Ms. Ba- come Tax Department. ty chief. “I don’t think that Another loyalist of Mr. ly reached Delhi, and other Ajeesh, a farmer who was Gandhi urged the adminis- should have taken care of
nerjee said farmers in Ben- Sajjan Singh Verma, Mr. he will leave the party,” he Nath and former Congress leaders have gone incom- trampled to death by a ra- tration to expedite steps to his constituency and en-
gal do not face any pro- Nath’s loyalist, said the said, adding, “Pressure of MLA Deepak Saxena, while municado, forcing State dio-collared wild elephant. mitigate the sudden spurt sured that basic medical fa-
blem. “I salute the farmers’ former CM had held talks the ED, the CBI, and the alleging that he had been Congress leaders to try and Later, he called on the next in man-animal conflict in cilities were present,” Mr.
protest. I condemn the at- with Congress leader Ra- I-T... he is under the same neglected in the party, said hold one-on-one conversa- of kin of ecotourism guide the district. He said the so- Muraleedharan told me-
tacks on them,” she said. hul Gandhi and said he had pressure as everyone else.” the people of Chhindwara tions with one another. Paul, another wild ele- latium to the kin should be diapersons in New Delhi.

In Punjab, AAP faces Oppn. heat for going back on ‘assurance’ of procuring crops at MSP
Vikas Vasudeva after coming to power”. by AAP supremo Arvind He said that Bhagwant crop below MSP in 2022 The Kisan Mazdoor Mor-
CHANDIGARH The ruling AAP, mean- Kejriwal on social media Singh Mann, before be- and 2023,” Mr. Bajwa cha and the Samyukta Ki-
while, maintained that the platform X (formerly Twit- coming the Punjab Chief alleged. san Morcha (non-political)
Even as farmers from Pun- government was doing its ter), he said, “Your boss Ar- Minister, had favoured pro- AAP’s Punjab unit chief — the two umbrella bodies
jab continue their protest, best with whatever re- vind Kejriwal also made all curing 22 crops at MSP, but spokesperson Malvinder of around 200 farmers and
seeking a legal guarantee sources the State had at its these promises. Now, has now backtracked. Singh Kang told The Hindu farm labourer unions —
for a minimum support disposal. where are those promises? “The farmers have been that the Union government had given the call for the
price (MSP) on crops from I am sharing your boss Ar- demanding MSP. So, the is the authority on MSP. ‘Delhi Chalo’ march as
the Union government, the ‘AAP failed’ vind Kejriwal’s tweet from Punjab Chief Minister must they planned to lay siege to
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Former Minister and se- 2020 where he is telling explain what has stopped ‘Centre’s call’ the national capital to
government in the State is nior SAD leader Bikram Captain Amarinder [the him from providing MSP. “The authority on MSP for press for the fulfilment of
facing heat from Opposi- Singh Majithia on Sunday then Chief Minister of Pun- After becoming Chief Mi- crops is with the Central their demands, including a
tion parties for going back said that AAP has failed to jab] to bring MSP law in nister, he persuaded farm- government. Whatever re- legal guarantee on MSP.
on its “assurance” of pro- address farmers’ issues Punjab. Now you have a go- ers to grow moong (green sources we have with us, On February 13, as farm-
curing crops at MSP in the even after two years in vernment — do it and solve gram) with the promise to we are doing our best. Last ers from Punjab arrived at
run-up to the Assembly power. Past forward: AAP’s Sanjay Singh and Bhagwant Mann protesting the issue.” ensure the purchase [of year, we made efforts to Shambhu-Ambala and
election in 2022. He said that during cam- over farmers’ issues in Parliament in 2020. FILE PHOTO Earlier, the Leader of the crop] at MSP. Contrary procure moong and maize. Khanauri-Jind, the inter-
Cornering AAP on the paigning for the 2022 As- the Opposition in the State to his commitment, he States don’t have any auth- State boundaries between
issue, the Shiromani Akali sembly election in the after forming the govern- still haven’t given MSP. No Assembly, Congress’s Par- failed to ensure MSP on ority or resources. The Haryana and Punjab, they
Dal (SAD) and the Congress State, AAP leaders had said ment, they failed to do so. promises fulfilled,” Mr. Ma- tap Singh Bajwa, also hit moong. Approximately AAP government has taken were stopped from enter-
accused the State govern- crops would be procured “It’s been two years since jithia said. out at the AAP govern- 80% of farmers were many pro-farmer deci- ing Haryana, where they
ment of “betraying farmers from farmers at MSP, but AAP came to power, you Referring to an old post ment. forced to sell their moong sions,” Mr. Kang said. have been camping.
Published by Nirmala Lakshman and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).
Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 RNI No. UPENG/2012/49940 ISSN 0971 - 751X
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