Joining BJP would have been treason against Patels: Hardik Patel

News Network
March 18, 2019

Ahmedabad, Mar 18: Addressing 1,500 core members of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), its convener Hardik Patel on Sunday said, "I could have never joined the BJP, given the fact that it killed 14 youths from the (Patidar) community during the quota agitation, booked me in two sedition cases and kept me in jail for nine months. My joining the BJP would have been like treason against the community."

"I joined the Congress because of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lala Lajpat Rai, Subhash Chandra Bose, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Indira Gandhi — who divided Pakistan in two countries — and Rajiv Gandhi — who brought computers to the country," he said while speaking at an event titled "Parivar Sneh Milan: Maro Parivar Rashtra Samarpit".

"I joined the Congress because it gives me the right to come to meet you not as a party leader but as a convener of PAAS. In the BJP, I would have had to sit at the feet of (BJP president) Amit Shah to get permission," Hardik, who joined the Congress in the presence of party chief Rahul Gandhi in Gandhinagar on March 12, said.

A group of mostly youths had shouted slogans against Hardik just after he arrived for the event around 6 pm at the venue near the S G Highway in Ahmedabad.

This led to a brawl between the youths and PAAS members. Journalists covering the incident were also roughed up.

Sources said the agitators were supporters of PAAS convener Alpesh Kathiriya, who was arrested for abusing policemen in Surat last month.

Kathiriya is a co-accused in the sedition case that Hardik was charged on. A source said the youths were agitating because Kathiriya's pictures were not on the event's posters.

Hardik responded to the scuffle saying, "everyone has a right to express their opinion".

He said PAAS must continue fighting for the people, even though the Patidar quota demand has now been fulfilled. He appealed to the members there to extend their support in defeating the BJP in the upcoming elections.

"I have no ambition and will serve poor farmers, as those of us present here are the sons of farmers," he said.

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News Network
June 29,2020

New Delhi, Jun 29: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday paid tribute to the senior doctor of city government-run LNJP Hospital who died battling COVID-19, saying the society has "lost a very valuable fighter".

The 52-year-old doctor served in the front line of the war against the pandemic at the government facility, and died of novel coronavirus infection in an ICU of a private hospital on Sunday.

"Dr Aseem Gupta, a senior doctor of LNJP Hospital succumbed to Covid yday. He was known for going out of his way to serve his patients. We have lost a very valuable fighter. Delhi salutes his spirit and sacrifice...," Kejriwal tweeted.

The chief minister also said in his tweet that he has spoken to Dr Gupta''s wife and "offered my condolences and support".

LNJP Hospital is a dedicated COVID-19 facility under the Delhi government. It recently completed 100 days of being declared a coronavirus facility.

"LNJP Hospital has displayed great fortitude in the face of acute challenges. It''s recovery rate is going up, death rate is reducing, ICU capacity is being ramped up - the hospital is saving so many lives," the chief minister said.

A condolence meeting to pay respect to Dr Gupta has been scheduled at 1 pm in the office of the Medical Director of the hospital, a senior official said.

The doctor, a consultant anaesthesiologist died at the Max hospital, Saket in south Delhi, a private dedicated COVID-19 facility.

"He was a front line anaesthesia specialist who contracted COVID-19 infection while on duty. He tested positive on June 6, when he had mild symptoms and was shifted to a quarantine facility. His symptoms aggravated on June 7 and he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of the LNJP Hospital," the LNJP Hospital said in a statement on Sunday.

He was shifted to Max Hospital, Saket on June 8 on his request, it said.

The doctor was battling the disease for the last two weeks at Max Hospital, where he succumbed to the illness on Sunday, the statement said.

He was Specialist, Grade I, in the Department of Anaesthesia at the LNJP Hospital, the statement said.

Several hundreds of healthcare workers have been infected with COVID-19 till date in Delhi.

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News Network
January 12,2020

Kolkata, Jan 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that Kolkata Port Trust will be renamed as Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of 150th anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust, he said: "I announce the renaming of the Kolkata Port Trust to Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port. He is a living legend who was a leader for development and fought on the forefront for the idea of One Nation, One Constitution."

"This port represents industrial, spiritual and self-sufficiency aspirations of India. Today, when the port is celebrating its 150th anniversary, it is our responsibility to make it a powerful symbol of New India," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder had set the stone for industrialization in India. "Chittaranjan Locomotive Factory, Hindustan Aircraft Factory, Damodar Valley Corporation and several others saw active participation from him," he said.

The Prime Minister also felicitated the two oldest pensioners of the Kolkata Port Trust, Nagina Bhagat and Naresh Chandra Chakraborty.

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News Network
January 27,2020

Kolkata, Jan 27: The West Bengal government on Monday tabled a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the Assembly.

The resolution appeals to the Union government to repeal the amended citizenship law and revoke plans to implement NRC and update NPR.

As per reports, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee introduced the resolution in the House around 2 pm.

Three states - Kerala, Rajasthan and Punjab - have already passed resolutions against the new citizenship law.

The law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with the TMC opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation.

The new citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the state, with the TMC opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation.

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