BJP accuses Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal of ‘Modi-phobia’ BJP leaders say it has become a "fashion" with the Delhi Chief Minister to "quarrel" with the Centre and blame the Prime Minister for "everything". - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/in...dra-modi-after-cbi-raid/#sthash.G7Ci2j5J.dpuf The BJP initially appeared taken aback by Arvind Kejriwal’s comments before it hit back at him for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “coward” and for not paying due diligence while appointing his principal secretary who, it said, has been “under shadow of suspicion”. Sources said the party leadership, however, feels the raids were wrongly timed. Party chief Amit Shah, who met cabinet ministers and senior party leaders separately, discussed it with them. The Congress has already been stalling proceedings in the Rajya Sabha alleging that the Prime Minister’s Office was behind fresh developments in the National Herald case including court summons to its top leadership - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/in...dra-modi-after-cbi-raid/#sthash.G7Ci2j5J.dpuf Asked to comment on the allegation about the Centre targeting Kejriwal, a Union minister responded with a counter-question: “Do you think the government will order this raid in the midst of a Parliament session, when its important business is stuck?” The government, however, did defend the CBI action. Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu charged Kejriwal with “Modi-phobia” and said his statements reflected “hypocrisy at its worst.” Naidu reminded Kejriwal of the AAP resolution that no prior permission from the government should be required for raiding an officer charged with corruption. In the case of bureaucrat Rajendra Kumar, the minister said, the CBI had acted on a 2007 complaint. “Arvind Kejriwal should apologise to the prime minister for using words like ‘coward’. It is totally uncalled for, unwarranted, shameful and condemnable,” Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said at a press conference held at the party head quarters. Prasad hit back at Kejriwal “who emerged as a leader with his anti-graft campaign” for not checking the past records of his principal secretary. The CBI raid was done after a search warrant was issued by the competent court, he said. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar echoed, “Arvind Kejriwal’s reaction on the CBI raid is atrocious. CBI raids only when they receive a credible complaint and they want to investigate the corruption matter. Kejriwal is protecting corruption. And instead of immediately taking action against his officials, he is accusing the prime minister. This is the worst kind of politics.” - See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/in...dra-modi-after-cbi-raid/#sthash.G7Ci2j5J.dpuf
BJP plans anti-Congress offensive if GST not passed this session New Delhi: In an effort to take the Congress on board for passing the GST bill in the current winter session of parliament, the government would soon reach out to it. But if the opposition party remains adamant and does not allow the Rajya Sabha to work, BJPleaders will take to streets to protest against it, informed sources said. The decisions were taken at a meeting between union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu. The meeting, which was also attended by BJP president Amit Shah, was held at Rajnath Singh's office in Parliament House on Tuesday. "As a last attempt to take Congress on board on GST, Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu will soon meet Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad," said a union minister, who didn't wish to be named, after the meeting. Kharge is leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha whereas Azad is Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. The Congress has deputed both the leaders to discuss the matter with the government. The minister, who is also a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, also said that the party is chalking out a strategy if Goods and Services Tax (GST) is not passed during this session of parliament. "After the session ends, a country-wide agitation programme will be launched against the Congress and its top leaders if GST does not get nod of Rajya Sabha in the winter session," the minister said. "We will inform the countrymen through these protests that to save its top leaders in the National Herald case, the Congress didn't allow the Rajya Sabha to function, and due to this attitude GST like bill of such public importance could not be passed," the BJP leader added. Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha, where the government does not have a majority, have been disrupted by the Congress over several issues in this session. However, to clear the logjam over the GST bill, the government and the opposition party held discussions on Monday. These were unsuccessful, but it was decided to hold further round of discussions soon. The Congress demands include a cap on the GST rate at 18 percent, deletion of the provision which allows imposition of 1 percent tax by additional levy and an independent dispute resolution mechanism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached out to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former prime minister Manmohan Singh last month to break the logjam. Then also no agreement was reached but the two sides agreed to continue the dialogue.
Arvind Kejriwal 'shielding corrupt', must apologise to PM Modi for 'coward' remark: BJP New Delhi: BJP on Tuesday came down heavily on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for calling PM Narendra Modi a 'coward' and blaming him for CBI raids conducted at the office of Delhi CM's secretary. "Arvind Kejriwal's 'coward' remark for popular PM Modi is totally uncalled for, unfortunate and shameful," Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said. "Arvind Kejriwal should apologise to PM for using words like 'coward," Ravi Shankar Prasad added. Also, issuing clarification over the CBI raids, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "Delhi CM's office was not raided; CBI conducted raids at Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar's office after proper search warrant from the competent court." Citing corruption allegations against Delhi CM's secretary Rajendra Kumar, the BJP leader said, "Charges against him are very serious as he favoured one private firm - Endeavour Systems - by giving a number of contracts when he held important portfolios like secretary (IT), secretary (Health), commissioner (trade and tax) to name a few. "Should we presume that Kejriwal did not undertake any due diligence while appointing the secretary," Prasad asked. Moreover, Prasad accused Kejriwal of shielding and giving shelter to corrupt people. Arvind Kejriwal had claimed that his office was raided which was denied by the CBI. A CBI spokesperson said the searches were being conducted only at the office of the Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar. Searches were being conducted at 14 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
