India News

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

Published

9 years ago

November 24, 2017

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]

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India News

Air India sacks Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after failing drug test

Air India has terminated the Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after a confirmatory test found a psychoactive substance following the August 4 incident.

Published

8 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The pilot was in command of flight AI2379, which was travelling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude over Odisha. The incident left 24 passengers injured.

Air India said the termination was in line with its zero-tolerance policy regarding safety violations and regulatory requirements.

Air India terminates pilot with immediate effect

In a statement, the Tata-owned airline said the pilot-in-command had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The airline said that, considering its zero-tolerance approach to violations related to safety, fitness and regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect.

Air India also said it continues to cooperate fully with the investigation into the incident and has provided access to relevant operational, maintenance and technical records.

What happened on the Phuket-Delhi flight?

According to the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Airbus A320 was carrying 145 people when it experienced the near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at around 36,000 feet.

The technical failure resulted in the autopilot disconnecting and triggered a brief stall warning. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude, resulting in injuries to 24 passengers.

The preliminary report also noted that the pilot tested non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test.

However, the report did not establish that the pilot’s drug-test result caused or contributed to the hydraulic system failure or the subsequent loss of altitude.

AAIB recommends action over psychoactive substance finding

The AAIB described the confirmation of psychoactive substance use as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action against the pilot on priority.

The investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is still underway.

The preliminary report also noted that the co-pilot was flying the aircraft when the incident occurred and attempted to bring the situation under control.

Air India said safety remains its highest priority and that its pilots undergo training, proficiency checks, medical examinations and other regulatory assessments in accordance with applicable requirements.

India News

India offers forensic DNA support to identify Nepal flood victims

India will make forensic laboratory facilities available for DNA profiling of first-degree relatives of people missing after Nepal’s August 26 flash floods.

Published

13 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

India has offered forensic laboratory support to help identify people who remain missing after the devastating flash floods in Nepal.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said central and state forensic laboratories in India will make their DNA profiling facilities available for first-degree biological relatives of people missing after the August 26 flash floods in Nepal.

DNA samples can be provided by relatives in India

According to the MEA, first-degree biological relatives living in India can have their biological samples collected and DNA profiles prepared.

The relatives can include a person’s father, mother, son, daughter or sibling. DNA profiling can be carried out at Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs), State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), laboratories of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), and NABL-accredited laboratories with DNA profiling capabilities.

The initiative is intended to support Nepal’s ongoing process of identifying mortal remains recovered after the flash floods.

DNA profiles to be compared with unidentified remains

The MEA said the DNA profiling may use Autosomal STR DNA profiling, as advised by Nepal Police, subject to the technical requirements communicated by the Nepali authorities.

Once prepared, DNA profiles and the preliminary information required by Nepalese authorities can be sent to Nepal Police by email for comparison with DNA profiles obtained from unidentified mortal remains.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu will also facilitate coordination, with copies of the DNA profiles to be shared with the embassy for this purpose.

Nepal flood death toll rises

The death toll from the flash floods has risen to at least 1,259, according to Nepalese authorities, after rescue workers recovered additional bodies from affected areas.

More than 12,000 people have been rescued, while around 5,000 people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

The flash floods, which followed an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, caused extensive destruction across towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.

India News

PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F17 launch, calls it proud moment

PM Modi congratulated ISRO after GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05, calling the achievement a proud moment for India.

Published

18 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PM Modi praises ISRO’s growing capabilities

In a post on X, PM Modi said the successful mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space sector.

Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation.

The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define… https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2026

He also highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was strengthening India’s space programme and expanding capabilities across the wider space ecosystem.

The prime minister described the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 as another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a matter of national pride.

EOS-05 strengthens earth observation capabilities

According to the report, EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

The mission is expected to strengthen India’s earth observation capabilities and support advanced imaging and observation applications.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission, saying the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme. He said it was the 19th flight of the GSLV and noted that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the launch vehicle has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit.

GSLV-F17 launch vehicle details

The GSLV-F17 stands 51.7 metres tall and has an approximate liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team following the successful mission. He described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite capable of advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands.