India News

“Don’t teach patriotism” – Uddhav Thackeray lashes out against BJP at Dussehra rally

Published

9 years ago

October 1, 2017

“Don’t teach patriotism” – Uddhav Thackeray lashes out against BJP at Dussehra rally

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Shiv Sena chief made a sarcastic swipe at PM Modi saying if history of India is re-written, we will see only one person’s face

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the BJP, asking the ally to refrain from “teaching us patriotism” and hitting out at it over a range of issues from note-ban to cow vigilantism.

“Don’t teach us patriotism. The day when we need to be taught patriotism hasn’t come yet,” Thackeray said, addressing the Shiv Sena’s annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park in central Mumbai on Saturday night.

However, the Shiv Sena chief asked his party workers, who had targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi during recent demonstrations against price rise, not to make personal attacks. “We will organise more such agitations… But refrain from criticising Prime Minister Modi. No need to target one person for overall mess,” he said.

Referring to Modi’s much criticised demonetisation move which had, in a single stroke, flushed 86 per cent of the country’s currency out of circulation last year, Thackeray said, “An atmosphere was created that those who favour demonetisation are patriots and those who oppose it are traitors…Then who were the people who lost their lives waiting in queues (in front of banks)?”

The Sena leader pointed to the contradiction in the BJP sharing power with Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir, while stressing his own party’s strong belief in ‘Hindutva’ politics.

“In Kashmir, what ideological bond do you (BJP) share with the PDP? Why hasn’t special status to Jammu and Kashmir been revoked yet?” Thackeray asked in a pointed reference to its senior alliance partner of nearly three decades.

“We allied with the BJP for Hindutva when the word ‘Hindutva’ was taboo. If they (BJP) think we are of no use to them, we’ll see (what should be our course of action),” Thackeray said while throwing a question at the BJP leadership – “Let us know what your definition of Hindutva is.”

The Shiv Sena chief also sought to know from the BJP leadership what it sought to achieve from the ban on cow slaughter while asserting that his party was “not opposing the ban”.

“The BJP does not have consistency over the issues it is bringing up. It supports beef ban, but BJP chief minister (Manohar) Parrikar (in Goa) and newly inducted Union minister of state from Kerala KJ Alphons contradict the party’s line,” Thackeray said.

Thackeray also seemed to be on the same page with his cousin and political rival, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, on the issue of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train. Reiterating Raj Thackeray’s attacks against the BJP leadership that were made in the backdrop of last week’s stampede at the Elphinstone suburban rail station that claimed 23 lives, the Shiv Sena chief said: “Who wants the bullet train? Improve rail infrastructure first.”

The Shiv Sena chief also hit out at the Centre for chinks in the Goods and Services Tax regime and the unprecedented high fuel prices that have burnt a hole in the pockets of people across the country in recent weeks. “This government says GST brings uniform taxation. Where is the uniformity? Even Pakistan has cheaper petrol than us,” Thackeray added.

In a not-so-veiled attack at Modi, Thackeray said, “If the history of India is written (now), I think we will see only one person’s face alone. He will be there on the ‘Charkha’ as well as on book covers.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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LPU students protest over reported rape allegation, police call it rumour

Students at Lovely Professional University protested over a reported rape allegation involving a worker, with police describing the claim as a rumour.

Published

9 hours ago

September 27, 2026

APNLive Desk

Students of Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Punjab staged a protest after an allegation involving the reported rape of a student by a worker at the university surfaced.

The protest led to disruption around the university, with students taking to the streets and blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway, according to the report.

The allegation triggered anger among students, who demanded action over the reported incident.

Police describe rape claim as rumour

Police, however, described the rape claim as a rumour, indicating that the allegation had not been established as a confirmed incident.

The distinction is important because the reported sexual assault allegation should not be treated as a confirmed rape unless investigators or other authoritative sources establish that fact.

The protests nevertheless continued as students sought clarity and action over the issue.

Protest disrupts traffic

The student demonstration also affected traffic on the Jalandhar-Phagwara National Highway. The protest brought attention to the allegations and the concerns being raised by students at the university.

With police calling the claim a rumour, further verification and investigation would be necessary to establish what actually happened.

India News

INDIA bloc likely to meet on September 30 over Gyanesh Kumar row

INDIA bloc parties are likely to meet in New Delhi on September 30 amid growing opposition to Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Published

21 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc are set to meet in New Delhi on September 30 to discuss concerns surrounding the Election Commission, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and a proposed removal motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The proposed meeting comes amid growing coordination among opposition parties over the functioning of the poll panel and demands for action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The parties are also discussing a possible joint response to the developments.

Why is the INDIA bloc meeting being planned?

The INDIA bloc meeting on September 30 comes amid reports of objections within the Election Commission over certain decisions and orders related to the SIR exercise.

According to the report, Opposition leaders have been discussing a coordinated response to their concerns over the Election Commission and the electoral-roll revision process.

The issue is also expected to be discussed at the Congress Working Committee meeting scheduled for September 29, a day before the proposed INDIA bloc meeting.

Gyanesh Kumar removal demand in focus

The demand for the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has become a major point of contention between the Opposition and the Election Commission.

The CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML)-Liberation have demanded Kumar’s removal and an immediate halt to the SIR exercise. Congress has also intensified its criticism of the CEC.

Opposition parties are also working on a fresh removal motion against Gyanesh Kumar. The September 30 meeting is expected to finalise the strategy for the motion, including the collection of signatures. According to the report, this would be the Opposition’s third such attempt.

What is the SIR controversy?

The political dispute is linked to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, or SIR.

The controversy intensified following a report that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on several occasions concerning decisions and orders related to the SIR process.

The Election Commission has said that differing views and observations are part of normal deliberations in a multi-member constitutional body. The poll panel has also maintained that its orders have legal sanction and follow statutory procedures, while stating that the final decisions on the SIR were taken unanimously.

TMC and Left parties coordinate over the issue

The developments have also brought the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) together on the Election Commission issue, despite their political differences in West Bengal.

CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby proposed an immediate meeting to discuss a joint strategy. According to the report, Mamata Banerjee spoke with M A Baby and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, after which the leaders settled on September 30 for the meeting.

What could be discussed at the September 30 meeting?

The proposed meeting is expected to focus on:

Concerns surrounding the Election Commission
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
Opposition demands concerning CEC Gyanesh Kumar
A possible fresh removal notice against the CEC
A coordinated response by INDIA bloc parties

The exact agenda and participation will depend on the discussions among the opposition parties before the proposed meeting.

India News

“Will die but won’t give up”: Sahil Wakode’s parents urge IIT students to continue fight

Sahil Wakode’s parents have appealed to IIT Bombay students to continue their fight for justice amid the ongoing investigation into their son’s death.

Published

22 hours ago

September 26, 2026

APNLive Desk

The parents of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode have appealed to students to continue raising their voices and fighting for justice following their son’s death.

Sahil Wakode, a second-year student at IIT Bombay, died in his hostel room on September 18. His death has led to student protests and an ongoing investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch.

What Sahil Wakode’s parents have alleged

Sahil’s parents have alleged that their son faced caste-based discrimination and harassment at IIT Bombay before his death. They have sought action against those they hold responsible and have demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

The family has also called for a CBI inquiry and has sought the arrest of officials named in the case. These remain allegations and are part of the ongoing investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch took over the probe after an FIR was registered following the complaint by Sahil’s parents.

IIT Bombay’s position

IIT Bombay has said that Sahil was allegedly caught using a mobile phone during a mid-semester examination and had uploaded the question paper to ChatGPT to seek answers.

The institute has maintained that no disciplinary action had been initiated against him. It said the matter had been discussed with him by the instructor and the Head of the Department, who counselled him and assured him that the incident would not adversely affect his academic career.

The circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death are being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

Investigation continues

The case remains under investigation, with the Mumbai Crime Branch examining the circumstances surrounding Sahil’s death and the allegations made by his family.

His parents have continued to demand justice and action against those they believe were responsible, while the investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the case.