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Gehlot says BJP snooping on its leaders as channels air footage of Hardik Patel in Guj hotel

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8 years ago

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Gehlot says BJP snooping on its leaders as channels air footage of Hardik Patel in Guj hotel

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hotel where Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Ashok Gehlot stayed in Ahmedabad confirms it gave CCTV tapes to police

As video clips of Gujarat’s Patidar agitation leader Hardik Patel entering and exiting a hotel in Ahmedabad in which Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi stayed on Mondaywent viral on television channels, amid suggestions that the two had held a “secret meeting”, Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot has alleged that the BJP was snooping at the leaders of his party.

Gehlot’s allegations have, in a sense, been confirmed by the management of the posh Hotel Ummed. The hotel’s officials have been quoted anonymously by various media organisations as saying that they were asked to hand over the CCTV footage of the hotel by the Gujarat police and did so.

The footage that was aired on several local channels in Gujarat almost simultaneously on Monday evening and later on national channels too shows Hardik Patel entering an elevator in the hotel around 11 pm on Sunday along with some of his supporters and exiting the next day around 4.15 pm. In one grab, he is seen inside a car, holding a handkerchief to cover his face.

Rahul Gandhi had arrived at the hotel at around 1 pm on Tuesday and left at 2.30 pm for a rally.

Media channels and the political grapevine have pointed at the footage as evidence of a “secret meeting” between Rahul and Hardik Patel though there is no confirmation yet on how the TV channels received the footage that the hotel had handed over to the Gujarat police.

The purported secret meeting between the Congress vice president and the face of Gujarat’s Patel Andolan – if it did really happen – assumes political significance since the Congress party has been desperately trying to convince Hardik to either contest the forthcoming Gujarat assembly polls as its candidate or at least endorse the party publicly and solicit votes for it, against the BJP[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hardik has vehemently denied the reports of this secret meeting with Rahul but has conceded that he did hold talks with Gehlot and laid out demands of the Patidar/Patel community (reservations in government jobs in particular) before the Congress general secretary who is the party’s in-charge for Gujarat.

Gehlot has sought to turn the row over the purported meeting to the Congress’ advantage by alleging that the leaked video footage from the hotel shows that his party’s leaders were being spied on under orders of the state’s incumbent BJP government.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]“The hotel staff told me that (local) intelligence bureau and police people inquired who all came… to meet whom. Then they took away CCTV footage and gave it to the media… Whether someone met Rahul Gandhi or others, what happened… how is that any of their concern. Is anyone an absconder (sic),” Gehlot told media persons on Tuesday.

Gehlot added: “I am asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is behind all this… How did the footage come in the media… because the local IB or police, they will not do anything without a signal from the BJP government, its leaders, Chief Minister, Prime Minister or PMO… And why did they seek the footage? Are Alpesh, Hardik and Jignesh Mewani absconders (sic).”

While the Ummed Hotel’s chief security officer, Vikram Singh Shekhawat, claimed that no rooms in the hotel were searched by the police, he admitted that “there were many police and IB officials deployed in the hotel throughout the day due to VVIP visits. The police did ask for CCTV footage and, after consulting our top management, we provided it to them. This was all for security reasons.”

Denying Gehlot’s allegations, Gujarat’s deputy chief minister Nitin Patel said that there is a security protocol for a visitor like Rahul Gandhi, but the state or its police have no role in it. “VVIP security is responsibility of security agencies… to ensure sanitised venues, checking by security agencies is done. There is no role of state agencies (sic),” Patel told reporters in Gandhinagar.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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PM Modi skips Lok Sabha reply as protests force repeated adjournments

PM Modi did not deliver his Lok Sabha reply today after sustained Opposition protests led to repeated adjournments over a dispute involving Rahul Gandhi’s proposed speech.

Published

5 hours ago

on

February 4, 2026

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not deliver his scheduled reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha today after sustained Opposition protests led to multiple adjournments of the House.

The disruption followed an escalation of tensions linked to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s proposed speech and the suspension of eight Opposition MPs a day earlier. The situation worsened after remarks made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey during the proceedings.

Dispute over references to books sparks fresh ruckus

The controversy intensified when Nishikant Dubey responded to Rahul Gandhi’s demand to speak on national security and references to the unpublished memoirs of former Army chief General MM Naravane. Dubey said that while Gandhi wanted to quote from an unpublished book, he himself had brought several books that, according to him, made claims about the Gandhi family.

As Dubey began listing these books and their contents, strong protests erupted from Opposition members. Krishna Prasad Tenneti, who was presiding over the House at the time, cited Rule 349, which restricts members from reading out books, newspapers, or letters unless directly related to parliamentary business. Despite repeated warnings, the matter remained unresolved, leading to another adjournment.

Rahul Gandhi accuses government of silencing debate

Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi alleged that he was being prevented from speaking on an issue of national importance. He claimed the government was uncomfortable with references to General Naravane’s memoirs, which he said discussed the handling of the 2020 China border crisis.

In a social media post, Gandhi said he intended to present the Prime Minister with a book authored by the former Army chief, adding that some cabinet ministers had even questioned the existence of the book. He also wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the suspension of eight Opposition MPs, alleging that parliamentary debate was being curtailed.

After it became clear that the Prime Minister would not speak in the House today, Gandhi posted that PM Modi had avoided Parliament because he was “scared” to face the truth. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra echoed the allegation, claiming the Prime Minister was unwilling to enter the House.

Proceedings disrupted throughout the day

Lok Sabha proceedings were first adjourned until 2 pm amid loud protests over the issue linked to Naravane’s memoirs. Even after the House reconvened, disruptions continued, preventing normal business from resuming.

Later, Congress MPs staged a demonstration outside the Parliament complex, demanding that Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak on the President’s address.

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President’s Rule revoked in Manipur as NDA set to form new government

President’s Rule has been withdrawn in Manipur nearly a year after its imposition, paving the way for a new NDA-led government under Yumnam Khemchand Singh.

Published

8 hours ago

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February 4, 2026

By

President rule invoked in Manipur

President’s Rule has been revoked in Manipur nearly a year after it was imposed, clearing the way for the formation of a new government led by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The decision came hours before the scheduled oath ceremony of the new council of ministers.

Chief minister-designate Yumnam Khemchand Singh is set to take oath later this evening, along with other NDA legislators who will formally join the new government. The revocation brings an end to central rule that had been in place since February 2025, following the resignation of then chief minister N Biren Singh.

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According to people with direct knowledge of the matter, Nemcha Kipgen is likely to take oath from a Manipur government guesthouse in Delhi.

Key portfolios and leadership choices

Seven-time MLA from Bishnupur district, Govindas Konthoujam, said he has been entrusted with the Home portfolio. Emphasising stability and law and order, he said he remains committed to serving the state with discipline and restraint.

Sources said Khemchand Singh is viewed within the party as a non-polarising leader who is acceptable across internal factions at a time of political transition. While he is yet to be tested in governance, he is seen as a steady administrative choice capable of providing organisational discipline and continuity amid uncertainty.

Uneasy peace continues in Manipur

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A section of Kuki groups has been demanding a separate administrative arrangement, with negotiations involving multiple insurgent groups operating under two umbrella organisations that are signatories to the suspension of operations agreement.

In recent weeks, some Kuki civil society organisations have stated they would not participate in the Manipur government and have distanced themselves from Kuki MLAs expected to join the new administration.

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Diverging demands from communities

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Meitei leaders have countered this position, arguing that the demand reflects an ethnocentric territorial claim and that humanitarian issues should be addressed alongside negotiations, as no area is exclusively inhabited by a single community.

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Mamata Banerjee alleges mass voter deletions in Bengal, targets Election Commission

Mamata Banerjee has accused the Election Commission of deleting thousands of voter names without due process, raising questions over the timing of the exercise ahead of elections.

Published

1 day ago

on

February 3, 2026

By

Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday intensified her attack on the Election Commission over voter roll revisions, alleging that a large number of names have been deleted without due process as the state heads towards elections.

Addressing party workers, Banerjee claimed that 40,000 voters’ names were removed from her constituency alone, alleging that the deletions were carried out unilaterally and without giving voters a chance to be heard.

“In my constituency they have deleted 40,000 voters’ names unilaterally… Even a murderer gets a chance to defend himself,” she said.

Allegations against election officials

The chief minister directly accused an election official, alleging political bias and irregular conduct in the revision process. She claimed that voter names were being removed while officials sat in Election Commission offices, calling the process illegal.

“They cannot do it, it is illegal. 58 lakh names have been unilaterally deleted,” she said, echoing claims earlier made by Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee.

Banerjee also alleged that individuals described as “micro-observers” had been appointed illegally, claiming they had no role under the Representation of the People Act and were linked to the BJP.

‘Alive but marked dead’

In a dramatic moment during her address, the chief minister asked those present who had been marked as deceased in the voter lists to raise their hands.

“See, they are alive but as per the Election Commission they are dead,” she said.

She further alleged that names were being deleted under the category of “logical discrepancy,” adding that even noted economist and Nobel laureate Amartya Sen had earlier been questioned regarding the age of his mother.

Questions over timing of voter roll exercise

While stating that she did not oppose the Special Intensive Revision process in principle, Banerjee questioned the timing of the exercise.

“I have no problem with SIR, but why do it on the eve of elections? Why not after elections?” she asked.

Reiterating confidence in her party’s organisational strength, the chief minister said she was prepared to fight the issue politically and democratically.

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