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
January 21,2020

Amaravati, Jan 21: Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and at least 17 MLAs of his party were taken in police custody late on Monday as they tried to conduct a foot march from the state assembly to nearby Mandadam village in violation of prohibitory orders.

TDP leaders started off on the march after staging a sit-in near the assembly main entrance following the suspension of 17 MLAs from the House for the day.

They were protesting the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, that was passed by the assembly, enabling the establishment of three capitals for the state.

The TDP leaders were taken to the Mangalagiri police station.

Meanwhile, tensions prevailed at the Jana Sena Party headquarters at Mangalagiri as police prevented its president Pawan Kalyan from proceeding to the Amaravati region to speak to protesters fighting for the retention of only one capital for the state.

DIG Kanti Rana Tata and other senior police officials reached the Sena office and blocked the exit of Kalyan and political affairs committee chairman Nadendla Manohar, resulting in an argument.

Kalyan asked how could police impose restrictions within his own office.

Scores of Sena workers gathered outside the office even as a large posse of police was posted to thwart Kalyan and other leaders' plans.

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News Network
March 26,2020

Panaji, Mar 26: Three persons, all with travel history abroad, tested positive for coronavirus in Goa on Wednesday, health department officials said, as the tourist haven joined the states which have reported COVID-19 cases.

This is the first time the tourist state has reported coronavirus positive cases.

The Directorate of Health Services, in a late night press statement here, said three suspected cases of COVID-19 from Goa, whose test results were awaited, have turned out positive.

All three are male patients of ages 25, 29 and 55 years. They have travel history of returning to Goa from Spain, Australia and the USA, respectively, the officials said.

The condition of the trio, admitted in Goa Medical College and Hospital near here, is stable, the officials added.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the state is providing the best healthcare facility to the diagnosed patients.

I have been informed by the state Directorate of Health services that three individuals have been tested positive for #COVID19 in Goa.

"We are providing the best healthcare facility to the diagnosed patients, he said.

Their condition is stable at present. e have also traced their contacts and are quarantining them, Sawant added.

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said the government is taking all precautions and following guidelines related to the viral infection.

In view of the three positive coronavirus cases in Goa, we are following all guidelines laid down by the central government and taking all precautions with the support of chief minister Pramod Sawant, he said.

Our testing facility will be up and running in the next two days. Our team of doctors is doing its est to make sure we contain the spread of virus in the state, Rane added.

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News Network
February 5,2020

New Delhi, Feb 5: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday announced that the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra, set up by the government for construction of a temple in Ayodhya, will have 15 trustees and one of them will be from the Dalit community.

The statement comes a little over an hour after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in Lok Sabha about the constitution of the trust.

"There will be 15 trustees in the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust out of which one trustee will always be from the Dalit society," he tweeted.

Shah congratulated Modi "for such an unprecedented decision" that strengthens social harmony.

The home minister said the trust will be independent to take every decision related to the temple and 67 acres of land will be transferred to it.

"I fully believe that the waiting of millions of people for centuries will be over soon and they will be able to pay obeisance to Lord Shri Ram in his grand temple at his birthplace," he said.

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