Defiant Azam Khan stands by Kargil remark; EC seeks report from UP poll authorities

April 9, 2014

Azam_KhanNew Delhi, Apr 9: The Election Commission on Wednesday sought report from UP poll authorities on controversial remarks made by Azam Khan.

The controversial Samajwadi Party leader and UP minister Azam Khan on Wednesday took a defiant stand over his ‘Kargil remarks’ as he said that he has said nothing wrong and that his “statement on the Kargil should be welcomed”.

Talking to the reporters, Khan said: “What is the harm in talking about the contributions of Muslims for the country…why can’t we talk about it? Why are the sacrifices of Muslim soldiers being ignored? What is so wrong about it? My statement on Kargil should be welcomed.”

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party will be meeting the Chief Election Commissioner to complain against the SP leader and seek action against him.

Khan has courted controversy as he dragged the Kargil conflict into the ongoing high voltage Lok Sabha campaign, saying it was “Muslim soldiers” who fought for India’s victory in the 1999 Kargil war against Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission sought details on the speech of Azam Khan over his ‘Kargil’ remarks. The Congress has already complained to the poll panel against Khan over his controversial remarks.

In a speech laced with communal overtones during an election rally in Ghaziabad on Tuesday night, Khan had said: “Those who fought for victory in Kargil were not Hindu soldiers, in fact the ones who fought for our victory were Muslim soldiers.”

Khan also went on to say that no one can guard the country’s borders better than those from the Muslim community. “Recruit us in the Indian Army. No one can guard the borders of our nation better than us,” he said.

Khan’s remarks comes at a time when he is already under fire for calling BJP general secretary Amit Shah a ‘goonda’ (thug) and ‘qatil’ (killer) and describing Narendra Modi as an ‘enemy of the Muslims’

Former Army Chief and BJP’s candidate in Ghaziabad Gen V K Singh condemned Khan’s remarks, saying the Kargil war was “won by Indians”. Singh is looking to capitalise on the significant population of ex-servicemen in the area.

Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala said action should be taken against Khan for “intemperate” remarks that could lead to division of communities based on regligion or caste.

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News Network
February 1,2020

New Delhi, Feb 1: India has uplifted 271 million people out of poverty, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.

In her second Budget presentation, the finance minister said the Budget for 2020-21, is woven around aspirational India, economic development and caring society.

The government aims to achieve seamless delivery of services through digital governance, she added.

"We shall strive to bring ease of living for every citizen," Sitharaman said.

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News Network
January 30,2020

Baharampore, Jan 30: Two persons were killed and one was injured in a clash over a protest programme against the CAA and the proposed NRC in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Wednesday, police said.

The incident occured after an argument broke out between the two sides at Jalangi over a protest programme opposing Citizenship Amendment Act.

According to the police, a scuffle broke out between the local TMC leaders and residents' forum 'Nagarik Mancha', which was observing a shutdown in the area against the amended citizenship act and the proposed country-wide NRC.

The residents' forum was asked to withdraw the shutdown and the situation turned violent as both sides came to blows and hurled bombs at each other. Several two-wheelers and cars were damaged and set on fire during the clash.

Local TMC MP Abu Taher, denied that the party was involved in the clash and alleged that the violence was by Congress and CPI(M) supporters.

"I have requested the police to look into the incident. The culprits should be immediately arrested," he said.

Senior Congress leader and MLA Manoj Chakraborty said that the party was not involved in the incident and demanded judicial inquiry into it.

The injured have been rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital here, the police said.

The Muslim-majority district had witnessed violence and arson during the anti-CAA protests across the state in December last year.

West Bengal became the fourth state after Left-ruled Kerala, and Punjab and Rajasthan, where the Congress is in power, to have passed a resolution on January 27 against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The state assembly had on September 6, 2019, passed a resolution against NRC.

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Agencies
February 16,2020

New Delhi, Feb 16: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal was on Sunday sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Delhi for the third time in a row at Ramlila Maidan here, after his party registered a massive victory in the recently concluded Delhi Assembly polls.

Kejriwal was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal.

The sprawling Ramlila Maidan reverberated with sounds of thousands of people cheering for the AAP leader.

Kejriwal who received a hero's welcome here had extended an invitation to the people of Delhi urging them to attend the swearing-in ceremony to witness "the son of Delhi" taking oath today.

The AAP nearly repeated its 2015 performance in the elections, sweeping the Assembly polls winning 62 seats in the 70-member Assembly, in the face of a high-voltage campaign by the BJP, which fielded a battery of Union Ministers and Chief Ministers in its electioneering spearheaded by Home Minister Amit Shah. 

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