Yashwant Sinha quits BJP, says democracy is in danger under Modi govt

Agencies

April 21, 2018

Patna, Apr 21: Veteran BJP leader and former union minister Yashwant Sinha, who was sidelined after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, today announced that he was quitting the saffron party.

The veteran leader blamed the condition of the party to be the reason behind his decision, and said, "I am quitting the BJP because of the party's condition. As you have already seen the recent Parliament session - it was the shortest session in the history."

"Today I am ending all ties with the BJP... I am taking sanyas (retirement) from any kind of party politics", Yashwant Sinha announced during a meeting of his organization Rashtra Manch in Patna this afternoon. Leaders of the Congress, Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal were present at the meet; so was BJP lawmaker Shatrughan Sinha.

In 2014, after Prime Minister Modi's whopping victory, Yashwant Sinha was marginalized along with senior leaders including LK Advani, seen as punishment for opposing Mr Modi being named their party's presumptive prime minister. Mr Sinha's son, Jayant Sinha, is a minister in PM Modi's government.

Yashwant Sinha had held the Finance and External Affairs portfolios in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's cabinet between 1998 and 2004.

In February, Mr Sinha had claimed that he would not leave the BJP but the party could throw him out if it so wanted because of his criticisms. He had also accused the Modi government of not fulfilling the promises it had made ahead of the 2014 general elections.

"Why shall I leave BJP? What this party means to me, (it) possibly does not mean to anyone (else). I have given my blood and sweat for this party. From 2004 to 2014, we were fighting against the then ruling party (Congress)," Mr Sinha had said.

However, today Mr Sinha said that democratic institutions were being undermined under (Narendra Modi-led) NDA government and vowed to work for the protection of democracy in the country. He said that though he would work to unite non-BJP parties he himself would not join any party.

"I am not an aspirant for any top post and I am making it clear here that I am not at all interested to seek any post," he added

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Modi govt asks HC to direct Karnataka govt to vacate madrasa in Srirangapatna Jama Masjid

News Network

November 14,2024

Bengaluru: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi led union government has requested the Karnataka High Court to direct the Mandya district administration and the state government to clear a madrasa operating within the premises of the historic Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna.

The Waqf Board, opposing this move, has claimed the mosque as its property and defended the right to conduct madrasa activities there.

The matter was brought before a division bench headed by Chief Justice N V Anjaria following a public interest litigation filed by a person named Abhishek Gowda from Kabbalu village in Kanakapura taluk. The petition alleged “unauthorised madrasa activities” within the mosque.

Representing the Central government, Additional Solicitor General of India for High Court of Karnataka, K Arvind Kamath argued that the Jama Masjid was designated as a protected monument in 1951, yet unauthorised madrasa operations continue there.

He noted that concerns over potential law and order issues have so far prevented any intervention. Kamath urged the court to direct the Mandya district administration to take action and vacate the madrasa from the mosque.

In defence, lawyers for the state government and the Waqf Board contested this request, stating that the Waqf Board had been recognised as the owner of the property since 1963 and, thus, conducting madrasa activities there is lawful.

After hearing both sides, the bench adjourned the case for further arguments, scheduling the next hearing for November 20.

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