AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he sent a ‘chadar’ to Ajmer Dargah, asserting that the government should take action to prevent legal disputes over existing mosques and Dargahs.

He explained that the gesture of sending the ‘chadar’ is intended to convey that the government supports those who have faith in mosques. However, Owaisi criticised the BJP and the Sangh Parivar for challenging the status of the Khwaja Ajmeri Dargah in courts, a tactic they have employed against other mosques as well. “The government’s primary responsibility is to halt such claims,” he stated.

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju presented the ceremonial ‘chadar’ from PM Modi at Ajmer Dargah during the ‘Urs’ of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti on the same day.

When asked about the Prime Minister’s gesture, Owaisi pointed out that BJP and Sangh Parivar affiliates are initiating legal actions claiming that certain mosques are not legitimate mosques and that some Dargahs do not qualify as Dargahs.

He challenged, “If the Prime Minister desires, he can put an end to all these issues,” noting that more than seven such cases concerning mosques originate from BJP-led Uttar Pradesh.

Regarding the central government’s protest against China for establishing two counties, Owaisi remarked that the government is simultaneously seeking investments from China and tolerating trade imbalances with the country.

“This government is intimidated by China. What kind of protest is this? They are forming counties and building dams on our territory. Who will suffer from the dam’s construction?” he questioned, further asking why the government has been unable to prevent China’s actions.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, while traveling to Ajmer for the ‘Urs,’ emphasised that the Prime Minister’s message was one of unity and brotherhood. He stated, “I am visiting Ajmer Dargah to convey this message.”

Upon his arrival, he was greeted by BJP leaders from the State’s minority morcha. Rijiju expressed hopes for a harmonious atmosphere in the country during the auspicious occasion and affirmed that everyone, regardless of their faith—Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi, Buddhist, or Jain—is welcome at the Dargah. He stressed that the visiting experience should be seamless for the thousands who come to the Dargah.

In response to a legal petition alleging that the Dargah was built over a Shiva temple, Rijiju maintained, “I am here to offer a ‘chadar,’ not to engage in controversy. I come with the message from the Prime Minister that everyone in our country should coexist peacefully.”

In November, a local court had accepted a petition asserting the claim about the Dargah’s location and issued notices to the Ajmer Dargah committee, the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and the Archaeological Survey of India. The petition was filed by Hindu Sena president Vishnu Gupta, who urged the Prime Minister to refrain from sending a ‘chadar’ this year.

The ‘Urs’ is observed at the Ajmer Dargah to honour the death anniversary of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, with the Prime Minister traditionally sending a ‘chadar’ annually.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday slammed Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday for constructing a lavish “Sheesh Mahal” for himself instead of focusing on infrastructure development in the capital during his nearly decade-long tenure as Delhi Chief Minister, asserting that the AAP chief must be held accountable for this choice.

Speaking at an event to inaugurate the Sushma Bhavan, a hostel for working women managed by the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Shah highlighted a variety of luxurious items and appliances present in Kejriwal’s official residence, expressing incredulity over some of the expenditures.

Shah reminded the audience that when Kejriwal entered politics, he pledged to forgo a government car and residence, promising a new era of political accountability. However, he noted that Kejriwal instead accumulated multiple bungalows, ultimately constructing a “sheesh mahal” spanning 50,000 square yards at a cost of ₹45 crore to the people of Delhi.

The term “Sheesh Mahal,” a colloquial Hindi expression for an extravagant home, has been frequently employed by the BJP as a jab at Kejriwal. Shah pointed out that while the AAP government failed to establish a reliable water supply system for residents, Kejriwal spent ₹14 crore on a water plant intended for his family of four.

“Kejriwal Ji, you must answer to the people of Delhi who are seeking explanations,” Shah remarked. He alleged that over ₹6 crore was used for designer marble, ₹6 crore for motorized curtains, ₹70 lakh for automatic doors, ₹50 lakh for carpets, and ₹64 lakh for smart TVs at the Chief Minister’s residence during Kejriwal’s time in office.

Shah further suggested, via a post on X, that Kejriwal should allow the public to tour his “Sheesh Mahal” so they could see the lifestyle of their chief minister firsthand. He recounted an encounter with local youths who challenged his assertion that Kejriwal had done nothing for Delhi, humorously noting their acknowledgment of the extravagant palace.

The Union Minister also accused Kejriwal of being complicit in various corruption scandals related to Delhi’s liquor policy, Mohalla Clinics, CCTV installations, and bus purchases.

He praised the late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj as a “fighting opposition leader” known for her significant contributions across key ministries. In contrast, Shah claimed that Kejriwal’s legacy would be overshadowed by corruption and self-interest.

“Delhi’s citizens are wise and cannot be misled. Kejriwal needs to justify his decisions,” Shah declared, reaffirming the BJP’s commitment to “honest and accountable” governance in the national capital.

With the Assembly elections in Delhi anticipated for February, the competition between the BJP and AAP is expected to escalate, unveiling a heated campaign season ahead.

West Bengal Minister Babul Supriyo and BJP MP Abhijit Gangopadhyay engaged in a heated exchange on the Vidyasagar Bridge over the alleged honking of car horns. The video of the same has been surfaced widely on the internet.

Supriyo accused the Tamluk MP of using inappropriate language against him, while Gangopadhyay countered that it was Supriyo who resorted to unparliamentary language during their confrontation on the night of January 3, 2024.

Gangopadhyay recounted that Supriyo halted his vehicle and directed abusive language at him, asserting that the horn noise originated from a car behind his, not Supriyo’s. The former Calcutta High Court judge stated that Supriyo had exited his vehicle to confront him.

Supriyo, who serves as West Bengal’s Minister for Information Technology and Electronics, claimed his intention was simply to inform Gangopadhyay that his vehicle was speeding with the use of a hooter. “But he (Gangopadhyay) cursed at me as I approached,” added the singer-turned-politician.

Notably, Supriyo, who previously held a Minister of State position in the Narendra Modi administration, switched allegiance from the BJP to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in September 2021.

A video that surfaced later showed Supriyo demanding an apology from the BJP MP for his conduct. Although Gangopadhyay remained in his car, his security personnel were observed trying to de-escalate the situation.

Supriyo also accused Gangopadhyay’s vehicle of frequently sounding the siren, which he claimed was inappropriate since, according to him, the MP’s car lacked proper identification. However, reports indicate that the car displayed a sign reading “MP from Tamluk.”

This incident recalls previous confrontations involving Gangopadhyay, including an altercation in October last year with TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee during a parliamentary committee meeting on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

In July of the same year, he also had a fiery exchange with Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi during his inaugural speech on the Union Budget, during which some of his remarks were later expunged from the record. The dispute erupted as Gangopadhyay was urged to conclude his speech, leading Gogoi to question him about comments he had previously made regarding Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.