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‘One Nation, One Solution’, Get Rid of BJP Misrule in 2024: Kharge on Simultaneous Polls Panel

In his post, Kharge said, “This gimmick of forming a committee on ‘One Nation, One Election’ is a subterfuge for dismantling the Federal Structure of India.” “Drastic actions like ‘One Nation, One Election’ would sabotage our Democracy, Constitution and evolved-time-tested procedures. What can be accomplished by simple electoral reforms would prove to be a disaster, like other disruptive ideas of PM Modi,” he said

 

Amid the government’s push for simultaneous elections in the country, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the people of India have “one nation, one solution” for 2024 and that is to get rid of the BJP’s “misrule”.

In a post on X, Kharge termed the high-level committee constituted by the Centre to examine the feasibility of ‘One Nation, One Election’ a “gimmick” and alleged the Modi government wants to slowly replace democracy in India with dictatorship.

The government on Saturday notified an eight-member high-level committee, which will be headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, to examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats.

Hours later, Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the lone opposition leader in the panel, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah declining to be a part of the committee, saying its “terms of reference have been prepared in a manner to guarantee its conclusions”.

In his post, Kharge said, “This gimmick of forming a committee on ‘One Nation, One Election’ is a subterfuge for dismantling the Federal Structure of India.” “Drastic actions like ‘One Nation, One Election’ would sabotage our Democracy, Constitution and evolved-time-tested procedures. What can be accomplished by simple electoral reforms would prove to be a disaster, like other disruptive ideas of PM Modi,” he said.

Till 1967, the Congress president said, neither did India have so many states nor did it have 30.45 lakh elected representatives in panchayats.

Noting that India is the world’s largest democracy, Kharge said, “We have lakhs of elected representatives, and their future cannot be determined in one go, now.” “For 2024, people of India only have ‘ONE NATION, ONE SOLUTION’ – To get rid of BJP misrule,” he said.

Kharge said at least five amendments to the Constitution and a massive change in the Representation of the People Act, 1951 would be required to hold simultaneous elections in the country.

The constitutional amendments shall be required to truncate the terms of the elected Lok Sabha and state assemblies, as also at the level of local bodies so that they can be synchronised, he said.

“Essential questions:- Without undermining the wisdom of any individual, is the proposed committee best suited to deliberate and decide on perhaps the most drastic disruption in Indian electoral process? “Should this huge exercise unilaterally be undertaken without consulting the political parties at the National level and at the State level,” asked Kharge, who is also the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha.

He further asked if this exercise should take place without bringing the states and their elected governments on board.

“This idea has been extensively rejected by three Committees in the past. It remains to be seen whether the Fourth one has been constituted with a pre-decided outcome in mind,” he said.

He also expressed surprise that the committee does not include a representative of the Election Commission (EC).

Kharge claimed the EC incurred an expenditure of around Rs 5,500 crore on elections between 2014-19 (including the 2019 Lok Sabha polls) and it is only a fraction of the government’s expenditure budget. This makes the cost-saving logic “penny wise, pound foolish”, he said.

“Similarly, if the Model Code of Conduct is a problem, it can be changed either by shortening the length of the moratorium or by relaxing the kinds of developmental activities permitted during the election season. All political parties can reach a wider consensus in this regard,” he said.

“The BJP has a habit of overthrowing elected governments by disregarding the mandate of the people, which has added considerably to the total number of 436 by-elections since 2014 for parliamentary and assembly constituencies alone,” the Congress president said.

“This inherent greed for power in the BJP has already vitiated our politics and has rendered the anti-defection law toothless,” Kharge said.

Besides, Congress’ Chowdhury, the government named Home Minister Amit Shah, former leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Finance Commission chairman N K Singh, former Lok Sabha secretary general Subhash C Kashyap, senior advocate Harish Salve and former chief vigilance commissioner Sanjay Kothari as members of the high-level committee.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will attend the meetings of the committee as a special invitee, while Law Secretary Niten Chandra will be the secretary to the panel.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI) 

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‘Squad’ Dem faces backlash for smearing Israel as ‘racist state’: ‘Truly disgusting’

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., was blasted on social media Saturday after she told a protester that Israel is a “racist state” and called for a two-state solution.

 

A member of the “Squad” of far-left House Democrats received backlash over the weekend on social media after she accused Israel of being a “racist state.”

The condemnation of Israel from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who heads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, came in response to outbursts from pro-Palestinian protesters who interrupted a panel she spoke on.

“As somebody who’s been in the streets and participated in a lot of demonstrations, I want you to know that we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state, that the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us, that it does not even feel possible,” Jayapal said at the far-left Netroots Nation Conference in Chicago.

“It is people that are literally trying to make sure that we do not take the positions we take, that the rest of the progressive caucus has been pushing and pushing,” she added.

 

HOUSE DEM JAYAPAL GRILLS FBI’S WRAY ON COLLECTING AMERICANS’ DATA, WARNS OF ‘DIFFICULT’ FISA REAUTHORIZATION

The video of the exchange quickly went viral, with a wide variety of criticism toward Jayapal.

“A disgraceful statement that’s particularly tone deaf when thousands of Israelis are in the streets protesting to protect their democracy,” Jason Brodsky, the policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, tweeted. “#Israel’s previous government included Ra’am in the coalition. That’s not what a racist state does.”

“You can never be extreme enough for these people,” Miranda Devine, a New York Post columnist and Fox News contributor, tweeted.

“[Rep. Jayapal], you are despicable,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., tweeted. “This is truly disgusting, especially coming from a member of Congress.”

Several members of the “Squad” have announced they will boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress this week. Jayapal has repeatedly called for a two-state solution in the region.

“There is no way in hell I am attending the joint session address from a President whose country has banned me and denied [U.S. Rep. from Michigan] Rashida Tlaib the ability to see her grandma,” Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said in a series of tweets. She also said the U.S. government should not have invited him to speak in the first place.

“Pramila Jayapal is on stage, slandering Israel, and by extension the Jewish people’s right to freedom and self-determination as ‘racist.’ This is anti-Semitism,” tweeted Caroline Glick, a senior contributing editor at the Jewish News Syndicate.

REP JAYAPAL CLASHES WITH CNN HOST OVER AMERICANS SUPPORTING SPENDING CUTS AS PART OF DEBT LIMIT DEAL

 

“Calling the only nation state of the Jews ‘racists’ when offers all its citizens, including Arabs & Muslims equality rights, is something I would expect to hear from the Ayatollahs in Iran or members of the mullah regime “parliament”, NOT a member of Congress! FOR SHAME JAYAPAL!” Karmel Melamed, a journalist, tweeted.

ILHAN OMAR SAYS ‘NO WAY IN HELL’ SHE’S ATTENDING ISRAELI PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS NEXT WEEK

 

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Jayapal released a long statement on Twitter and on her office’s website Sunday afternoon in an attempt to clarify her comments on Israel, saying she does not “believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist.” However, she accused the “extreme right-wing government” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pushing “outright racist policies.”

“I have always worked toward a two-state solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live freely, safely, and with self-determination alongside each other and that is still what I am absolutely committed to,” Jayapal said. “I also know that the many policies of the current Israeli government, including rampant settlement expansion, make it extremely difficult for Palestinians who simply want the same rights as their Israeli neighbors to believe such a solution is possible.”

 

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‘Thank You, Kharge Ji…’ Delhi CM Expresses Gratitude to Congress for Support on Ordinance Issue

The Delhi CM left for Bengaluru earlier today to attend the second mega meeting of the opposition parties to be held on July 17-18 to chalk out a strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls

 

Arvind Kejriwal on Monday thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for standing with the people of Delhi(File Image/PTI)

The Delhi CM left for Bengaluru earlier today to attend the second mega meeting of the opposition parties to be held on July 17-18 to chalk out a strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls

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Delhi CM and AAP National Convenor, Arvind Kejriwal on Monday thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for “standing with the people of Delhi” over the ordinance issue.

“Thank u Kharge ji for standing with the people of Delhi. This ordinance is anti-India and anti-national and ought to be fought tooth and nail,” Kejriwal said in a tweet. The Delhi CM has left for Bengaluru to attend the second mega meeting of the opposition parties to be held on July 17-18 to chalk out a strategy to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

On asked about the Congress party’s stand on AAP in Delhi and Punjab, Kharge said, “This is not about just one person. If the democracy and Constitution of the country suffer a blow, it becomes our responsibility to unite and work together to save democracy & Constitution. No individual is bigger than the country.”

Following a meeting of the AAP’s political affairs committee (PAC) at Kejriwal’s residence, party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha welcomed the Congress’s decision to oppose the Centre’s ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi.

“The Aam Aadmi Party’s political affairs committee met today and held an extensive discussion. On the party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s call, TMC, RJD, JD(U), DMK, BRS, NCP, SP, Shiv Sena (UBT), CPI, CPI(M), JMM – all these parties raised their voice against the black ordinance and assured of their support in defeating (the bill on it) in Parliament,” he said.

Congress extended its support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over the Delhi ordinance issue a day before the big opposition meeting.

“I think they (AAP) are going to join the meeting tomorrow. As for the ordinance (on control of services in Delhi), our stand is very clear. We are not going to support it,” Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said on Sunday.

The Congress party’s stand on the Delhi ordinance issue was a major point of contention in the first opposition meeting held in Patna on June 23. The AAP had criticized the Grand Old Party for not supporting the Delhi government over the ordinance issue.

 

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BJP’s Review Meet After Bengal Panchayat Poll Seeks to Corner TMC on Violence; Shah’s Visit to Bolster Efforts

Party sources said all leaders and cadre have been asked to focus on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls now. The BJP has also planned a mega rally on July 19 with people who were forced to flee their house due to poll-related violence

 

BJP will felicitate the winning candidates to increase their confidence. (Shutterstock)

Party sources said all leaders and cadre have been asked to focus on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls now. The BJP has also planned a mega rally on July 19 with people who were forced to flee their house due to poll-related violence

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The BJP launched into introspective mode on Sunday as top state leaders reviewed the party’s performance in the West Bengal panchayat elections. BJP won 22 per cent votes in the polls, which is less than what it won in Lok Sabha elections but more than the 2018 vote share.

The meeting, which had four important aspects and included leaders such as Mangal Pandey and Sunil Bansal, also discussed the alleged violence during the elections as is set to raise the issue as a national campaign.

Amit Shah to Visit in August

Party sources said all leaders and cadre have been asked to focus on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls now. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit Bengal in August. Sukanto Majumdar, BJP’s state president, earlier met Shah in Delhi and submitted his report on the poll performance.

Support Post-Poll Violence Victims

In 2021, BJP went to court and ensured a CBI investigation into the post-poll violence. However, there were allegations that party leaders did not stand by victims and hence, this time sources say most of the top brass is travelling to meet and understand the grievances of the people.

Felicitating Winning Candidate

Party sources said it was not easy to win any seat in panchayat polls, given the TMC’s “manipulation”. The leaders therefore feel the winning candidates must be felicitated to increase their confidence. Candidates who lost polls will also be recognised for their efforts.

Protest Against Violence

Sources say BJP has planned a mega rally on July 19 with people who were forced to flee their house due to violence during the polls and after the results.

The party has also increased its organisational districts from 42 to 43, with Jadavpur area — which used to fall under south Kolkata — now being considered a separate district.

BJP leaders will keep up the pressure on the state government, stating that law and order is in a bad shape and the Centre’s intervention is required.

After BJP leaders Shantanu Thakur and Sukanto Majumdar hinted that the Bengal government might fall, the TMC reacted strongly and tweeted: “Today, @DrSukantaBJP made suggestive remarks implying that the Government of West Bengal could collapse at any time, and MLAs might consider supporting someone else. His comments reek of a nefarious plot to topple the state government and serves as another indictment of the worrying trend under the BJP regime, that thrives on engineering defections.

“It is now a well-established fact that @BJP4India’s pan-India growth has come on the back of defections and central agencies. A 2020 report by ADR found that since 2014, 405 MLAs defected from their parties, 182 (44.9%) of whom joined BJP. Recently, nine NCP MLAs joined the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, which was hardly surprising given that @AjitPawarSpeaks, @ChhaganCBhujbal, @praful_patel and @mrhasanmushrif all face money laundering charges and are under the @dir_ed lens. It appears from Sukanta Majumdar’s comments that the BJP is hatching a similarly sinister plan in Bengal.

“The shame and guilt of losing in his own backyard, Dakshin Dinajpur, must be a bitter pill for Sukanta Majumdar to swallow! Facing a humiliating defeat in the Panchayat election, their hateful and divisive politics rejected by the people, the @BJP4Bengal karyakartas have dropped all pretense and are now making no attempts to even conceal their sinister agendas.”

The BJP for now seems to be in election mode and Shah’s visit in August is likely to bolster the morale of the workers further.

 

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OBC Leader and Ex-Samajwadi Party MLA Dara Singh Chauhan Joins BJP

Previously, Chauhan was the minister for forest and environment under the Yogi Adityanath govt before resigning from the Council of Ministers in January 2022

 

Ex-Samajwadi Party, now BJP Leader Dara Singh Chauhan. (FIle: News18)

Previously, Chauhan was the minister for forest and environment under the Yogi Adityanath govt before resigning from the Council of Ministers in January 2022

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OBC leader and former Samajwadi Party MLA Dara Singh Chauhan on Monday joined the BJP at the party office in Lucknow.

Chauhan joined the saffron party in the presence of Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and ministers Girish Yadav and Baldev Singh Aulakh.

Earlier in the day, Chauhan met Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly Satish Mahana at the latter’s office and handed over him his resignation letter. On Saturday, Chauhan, who was the MLA from Ghosi in Mau district, had tendered his resignation from the UP Legislative Assembly.

An Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader, Chauhan was the minister for forests and environment in the previous BJP government headed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He resigned from the Council of Ministers on January 12, 2022.

Chauhan represented the Madhuban Assembly constituency in Mau district from 2017 to 2022. He also represented the Ghosi seat in the 15th Lok Sabha for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he was defeated by BJP candidate Harinarayan Rajbhar by more than 1.4 lakh votes.

Chauhan had joined the BJP in 2015 and was appointed the party’s OBC Morcha president and fielded from the Madhuban Assembly constituency.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)

 

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Michigan Gov. Whitmer loosens deadlines for military, overseas voters

Michigan law will now allow overseas and military ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if received up to six days afterward.

Overseas voters and military members from Michigan will have more time to cast their absentee ballots in future elections under legislation signed Monday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

All absentee ballots were previously required to be received at local clerk’s offices by 8 p.m. on Election Day. While military and overseas voters will have to postmark their ballots on or before Election Day, their vote will count if the ballot is received up six days after the election. The legislation was granted immediate effect.

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“Michigan’s service members are the best of us,” Whitmer said in a statement. “I am proud to sign this legislation expanding absentee voter access to more service members bravely serving around the world.”

The legislation brings Michigan election law up to date with the state Constitution after voters overwhelming approved a ballot proposal last fall that significantly expanded absentee voting.

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In addition to extra time for military and overseas voters, the proposal also required nine days of early voting, ballot drop boxes for every 15,000 voters in a municipality and state-funded postage for absentee applications and ballots.

According to a U.S. Election Assistance Commission report following the 2020 presidential election, 4.6% of Michigan military and overseas ballots were rejected compared to less than 1% of all absentee ballots. A total of 21,464 military and overseas ballots were counted in Michigan in the last presidential election.

Michigan clerks are required to electronically transmit or mail absentee ballots to military and overseas voters who requested one at least 45 days before an election.

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