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After Youth Congress, BJP’s Shatrughan Sinha takes ‘chaiwala’ jibe at PM Modi

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After Youth Congress, BJP’s Shatrughan Sinha takes ‘chaiwala’ jibe at PM Modi

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]At an event in New Delhi, the BJP MP took several swipes at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues Arun Jaitley and Smriti Irani

Days after the Congress party and its youth wing courted controversy and beat a hasty retreat after posting a meme on Twitter that mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘chaiwala’ past, senior BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha has now used the same label to take a dig at the Premier.

Addressing a book launch event in the national capital on Thursday, Shatrughan Sinha – a senior BJP MP – said: “If ‘vakeel babu’ can speak on finance, if a TV actress can become the country’s HRD (human resource development) minister and if a ‘chaiwala’ can become… I won’t even complete that sentence… why can’t I speak about the economy.”

While Sinha didn’t take any names while making his tongue-in-cheek comment, it was easy for anyone to guess that his broadside was directed at the Prime Minister and his close cabinet colleagues – finance minister Arun Jaitley and HRD minister Smriti Irani.

Curiously, Sinha’s comments come at a time when his party’s leaders and senior ministers in the Narendra Modi-led government have been dubbing the Congress party as “arrogant, anti-poor and classist” for the controversial meme that was tweeted earlier this week from the Twitter handle of Yuva Desh, a magazine published by the Indian Youth Congress, the youth wing of the Grand Old Party.

The meme had showed Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May in conversation. The quote bubbles in the meme showed Modi telling the two world leaders: “Aap logon ne dekha vipaksh mere kaise kaise maimai banvata hai?” While Trump is shown correcting Modi, saying the word is pronounced as ‘meem’ — “usse maimai nahin, meem kehte hain”, a serious-looking British Prime Minister is seen telling Modi to go and sell — “Tu chai bech”.

As several BJP leaders, including union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and JP Nadda, lashed out at the Congress over the meme, the tweet was deleted and Youth Congress national president Amarinder Singh Raja had issued an apology for the obvious gaffe.

However, the controversy over the meme obviously didn’t stop Sinha, one of the earliest Bollywood actors to join the BJP and also serve as a Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government – from using the ‘chaiwala’ reference for Modi.

And, it wasn’t just Modi’s profession from his pre-politics days that Sinha commented on. The actor-turned-politician, who has often taken a contrarian position on issues dear to the BJP and Modi, also attacked the Centre on a slew of other issues, including demonetisation and the GST rollout.

The senior BJP MP from Patna smartly twisted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popular anti-graft slogan ‘na khaoonga, na khane doonga’, to hit out at the current political dispensation at the Centre.

“I did not join politics saying ‘na jeeoonga na jeene doonga’ (neither will I live, nor allow others to live),” Sinha said, adding: “The atmosphere nowadays is such that either you support a person or be ready to be called anti-national”.

Shatrughan Sinha also spoke about the what he felt was the norm in the Modi government today; calling the Union council of ministers “a bunch of sycophants”.

“Ninety per cent of ministers are those who you (people) don’t know. They are here not to do something creative or constructive…. they are just busy saving their jobs,” the BJP leader said.

Hitting out at the BJP government’s economic policies, Sinha claimed, “Demonetisation has rendered millions jobless, factories have been shut, small traders, hawkers are out of work and GST is like ‘neem chadha karela’. If I do not speak for the youth, for the poor and downtrodden, for the oppressed, then what am I doing in politics (sic).”

The former union minister also targeted the Modi government over the perception of “rising intolerance” in the country.

“What is happening in this country? Cow vigilantes are killing people, intellectuals, writers, journalists… and now even judges are being killed. ‘Aaj dhan shakti jan shakti par bhari hai’… if people like me come forward (to speak against these issues), we are attributed motives, we are questioned (sic),” he said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

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Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

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India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

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Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

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Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

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Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

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