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PM Modi slams Pitroda for ‘hua toh hua’ remark over 1984 anti-Sikh riots

Published

7 years ago

May 10, 2019

PM Modi slams Pitroda for ‘hua toh hua’ remark over 1984 anti-Sikh riots

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (Friday, May 10) slammed Congress for Sam Pitroda’s ‘Hua Toh Hua’ remark over 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Speaking at his first rally of the day at Haryana’s Rohtak, today, PM Modi asked voters to note how entrenched in corruption the Congress has been in the last 70 years, as the country devolved. He hit out at ‘three words’ used by the Congress’s overseas chief Sam Pitroda, while responding to the 1984 Sikh riots. “One of Congress’s biggest leaders said, 1984 Sikh riots ‘hua toh hua’.”

“Do you know who this leader is? He is closest to the Gandhi family, he is Rajiv Gandhi’s friend, his is Congress’s naamdar chief’s guru,” Modi said. The prime minister then gave graphic descriptions of the kind of alleged violence done on Sikhs in the riots, using the ‘hua toh hua’ refrain.

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Slamming Pitroda for his recent remark on the 1984 Sikh genocide, BJP’s Prakash Javadekar demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi for the comments. “Enough is enough! Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi have to apologise to the nation for what Pitroda has said,” the Union minister told ANI.

“Today he (Pitroda) said that Rahul and Rajiv Gandhi have never targeted any community. How he will explain the justification of genocide by Rajiv Gandhi when he said when ‘big tree falls, earth trembles’? Is this not supporting genocide?” asked Javadekar.

Union minister Arun Jaitley asked whether Congress president Rahul Gandhi will oust the party’s overseas chief Sam Pitroda for his comment on the 1984 Sikh genocide that the riots ‘happened in 1984, so what?’

Also Read: FIR against BJP’s J&K chief and MLC on court orders for allegedly bribing scribes in Leh

“Will the Congress president oust his guru, who rubbishes the genocide of India’s most patriotic community in 1984?” Jaitley tweeted.[/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]As much an opportunity to slam the Congress over, as it has been an segue into raking up Pakistan, the issue of India’s national security returned to Narendra Modi’s speech at Rohtak on Friday with renewed vigour. Modi once again relied on his oft used metaphor of entering terrorists’ homes and killing them and asserted that there are no heights too high for his government to climb, when it comes to defeating any threats to the country.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi will be responsible if Modi-Shah comes back to power: Arvind Kejriwal

Modi also reflected on how his government had supported sportspersons from this state which has already produced many medal winning athletes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDYmxvY2txdW90ZSUyMGNsYXNzJTNEJTIydHdpdHRlci10d2VldCUyMiUyMGRhdGEtbGFuZyUzRCUyMmVuJTIyJTNFJTNDcCUyMGxhbmclM0QlMjJoaSUyMiUyMGRpciUzRCUyMmx0ciUyMiUzRSVFMCVBNCVBNiVFMCVBNSU4NyVFMCVBNCVCNiUyMCVFMCVBNCU5NSVFMCVBNSU4MCUyMCVFMCVBNCVCOCVFMCVBNCVBQyVFMCVBNCVCOCVFMCVBNSU4NyUyMCVFMCVBNCVBNCVFMCVBNSU4NyVFMCVBNCU5QyUyMCVFMCVBNCU5RiVFMCVBNSU4RCVFMCVBNCVCMCVFMCVBNSU4NyVFMCVBNCVBOCUyMCVFMCVBNCVCNSVFMCVBNCU4MiVFMCVBNCVBNiVFMCVBNSU4NyUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRCVFMCVBNCVCRSVFMCVBNCVCMCVFMCVBNCVBNCUyMCVFMCVBNCVCOSVFMCVBNSU4QiUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRiVFMCVBNCVCRSUyMCVFMCVBNCU4NiVFMCVBNCVBQSVFMCVBNCU5NSVFMCVBNSU4NyUyMCVFMCVBNCVCOSVFMCVBNCVCRSVFMCVBNCVBNSUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRSVFMCVBNSU4NyVFMCVBNCU4MiUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRSVFMCVBNSU4QiVFMCVBNCVBQyVFMCVBNCVCRSVFMCVBNCU4NyVFMCVBNCVCMiUyMCVFMCVBNCVBQiVFMCVBNCVCQyVFMCVBNSU4QiVFMCVBNCVBOCUyQyUyMCVFMCVBNCU4NiVFMCVBNCU5QyUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRiVFMCVBNSU4NyUyMCVFMCVBNCVCOCVFMCVBNCVBQyUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRCVFMCVBNCVCRSVFMCVBNCVCMCVFMCVBNCVBNCUyMCVFMCVBNCVBRSVFMCVBNSU4NyVFMCVBNCU4MiUyMCVFMCVBNCVCOSVFMCVBNSU4MCUyMCVFMCVBNCVBQyVFMCVBNCVBOCUyMCVFMCVBNCVCMCVFMCVBNCVCOSVFMCVBNCVCRSUyMCVFMCVBNCVCOSVFMCVBNSU4OCVFMCVBNSVBNCUzQ2JyJTNFJTNDYnIlM0UlRTAlQTQlODUlRTAlQTQlQUMlMjAlRTAlQTQlQUQlRTAlQTQlQkUlRTAlQTQlQjAlRTAlQTQlQTQlMjAlRTAlQTQlQTglRTAlQTUlODclMjAlRTAlQTQlOUMlRTAlQTQlQjIlMkMlMjAlRTAlQTQlQTUlRTAlQTQlQjIlMkMlMjAlRTAlQTQlQTglRTAlQTQlQUQlMjAlRTAlQTQlOTUlRTAlQTUlODclMjAlRTAlQTQlQjglRTAlQTQlQkUlRTAlQTQlQTUlMjAlRTAlQTQlQjglRTAlQTQlQkUlRTAlQTQlQTUlMjAlRTAlQTQlODUlRTAlQTQlODIlRTAlQTQlQTQlRTAlQTQlQjAlRTAlQTQlQkYlRTAlQTQlOTUlRTAlQTUlOEQlRTAlQTQlQjclMjAlRTAlQTQlQUUlRTAlQTUlODclRTAlQTQlODIlMjAlRTAlQTQlQUQlRTAlQTUlODAlMjAlRTAlQTQlQjglRTAlQTQlQjAlRTAlQTUlOEQlRTAlQTQlOUMlRTAlQTQlQkYlRTAlQTQlOTUlRTAlQTQlQjIlMjAlRTAlQTQlQjglRTAlQTUlOEQlRTAlQTQlOUYlRTAlQTUlOEQlRTAlQTQlQjAlRTAlQTQlQkUlRTAlQTQlODclRTAlQTQlOTUlMjAlRTAlQTQlOTUlRTAlQTQlQjAlRTAlQTQlQTglRTAlQTUlODclMjAlRTAlQTQlOTUlRTAlQTUlODAlMjAlRTAlQTQlOTUlRTAlQTUlOEQlRTAlQTQlQjclRTAlQTQlQUUlRTAlQTQlQTQlRTAlQTQlQkUlMjAlRTAlQTQlQUElRTAlQTUlOEQlRTAlQTQlQjAlRTAlQTQlQkUlRTAlQTQlQUElRTAlQTUlOEQlRTAlQTQlQTQlMjAlRTAlQTQlOTUlRTAlQTQlQjAlMjAlRTAlQTQlQjIlRTAlQTUlODAlMjAlRTAlQTQlQjklRTAlQTUlODglM0ElMjAlRTAlQTQlQUElRTAlQTUlODAlRTAlQTQlOEYlRTAlQTQlQUUlMjAlRTAlQTQlQUUlRTAlQTUlOEIlRTAlQTQlQTYlRTAlQTUlODAlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZoYXNodGFnJTJGSml0ZWdhTW9kaUppdGVnYUJoYXJhdCUzRnNyYyUzRGhhc2glMjZhbXAlM0JyZWZfc3JjJTNEdHdzcmMlMjU1RXRmdyUyMiUzRSUyM0ppdGVnYU1vZGlKaXRlZ2FCaGFyYXQlM0MlMkZhJTNFJTIwJTNDYSUyMGhyZWYlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnQuY28lMkZEN3dZTDE1OGVVJTIyJTNFcGljLnR3aXR0ZXIuY29tJTJGRDd3WUwxNThlVSUzQyUyRmElM0UlM0MlMkZwJTNFJTI2bWRhc2glM0IlMjBCSlAlMjAlMjglNDBCSlA0SW5kaWElMjklMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGdHdpdHRlci5jb20lMkZCSlA0SW5kaWElMkZzdGF0dXMlMkYxMTI2NzUxMjczNzIwNTMyOTkyJTNGcmVmX3NyYyUzRHR3c3JjJTI1NUV0ZnclMjIlM0VNYXklMjAxMCUyQyUyMDIwMTklM0MlMkZhJTNFJTNDJTJGYmxvY2txdW90ZSUzRSUwQSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMGFzeW5jJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZwbGF0Zm9ybS50d2l0dGVyLmNvbSUyRndpZGdldHMuanMlMjIlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0UlMEE=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]BJP workers held protests outside Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s residence, against Congress leader Sam Pitroda’s remarks on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.[/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_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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BJP-led Mahayuti surges ahead in BMC polls as Thackerays lose Mumbai stronghold

The BJP-led alliance has taken a strong lead in the BMC elections, signalling a major political shift in Mumbai as counting continues across Maharashtra.

Published

3 hours ago

January 16, 2026

[email protected]

The BJP-led alliance is heading towards a decisive victory in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, dealing a major blow to the Thackeray cousins’ long-standing control over Mumbai’s civic administration. Early trends from the ongoing vote count show the ruling alliance opening a clear lead in the country’s richest municipal body.

With results still being tallied, the BJP-led bloc is ahead in 115 wards of the BMC. Of these, the BJP is leading in 86 wards, while Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena has an edge in 29 wards.

In contrast, the Thackeray cousins appear to be struggling to retain their grip on the civic body they once dominated for decades. Together, they are leading in 77 wards, with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) ahead in 71 wards and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leading in six.

High-stakes election after nine-year gap

The BMC elections were held after a nine-year gap, following a four-year delay, making the contest one of the most closely watched civic polls in Maharashtra. Over 1,700 candidates were in the fray for 227 seats in Mumbai alone. The BMC’s annual budget exceeds Rs 74,400 crore, underscoring the political and financial significance of the results.

In the 2017 elections, the undivided Shiv Sena, which then included Eknath Shinde, had retained control of the BMC, continuing its decades-long dominance.

BJP ahead across Maharashtra civic bodies

The BJP’s strong showing is not limited to Mumbai. Across 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, early trends indicate that the party is leading overall. Combined figures show the BJP ahead in 909 wards, while its ally, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, is leading in 237 wards.

In the party-wise standings, the Congress is placed third with leads in 179 seats, largely from Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Nagpur and Kolhapur. The Shiv Sena (UBT) follows with 118 seats, closely trailed by Ajit Pawar’s NCP, which is leading in 112 wards.

Pune also tilts towards BJP

Pune has emerged as another key battleground, especially as rival factions of the Nationalist Congress Party, led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar, joined hands for the civic polls. Despite the alliance, the BJP is leading in 52 seats in Pune, while the combined NCP factions are ahead in seven seats.

Large-scale polling across the state

Polling for 2,869 seats across 893 wards in the 29 civic bodies was held on Thursday. Around 3.48 crore voters were eligible to cast their ballots, deciding the political fate of 15,931 candidates, including those contesting in Mumbai.

Besides Mumbai and Pune, counting is underway in several other municipal corporations, including Navi Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar, Solapur, Kolhapur and Aurangabad, among others.

India News

BJP, Thackerays or Pawars: Maharashtra civic body poll results awaited today

Counting of votes for 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra, including the key BMC and Pune civic bodies, begins today, with BJP, Thackerays and Pawars awaiting crucial results.

Published

9 hours ago

January 16, 2026

[email protected]

The political balance in Maharashtra’s urban centres will become clearer today as votes are counted for elections to 29 municipal corporations across the state. The results are keenly awaited amid high-stakes contests involving the BJP, the Thackeray cousins and the reunited Pawar factions.

Polling was held for 2,869 seats across 893 wards, with 3.48 crore eligible voters deciding the fate of 15,931 candidates. Counting is scheduled to begin at 10 am.

Mumbai and Pune in sharp focus

All eyes are on Mumbai, where the contest for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn statewide attention. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray joined hands after more than two decades in a bid to reclaim control of the country’s richest civic body.

The BMC, which has an annual budget of over Rs 74,400 crore, went to polls after a nine-year gap, following a four-year delay. A total of 1,700 candidates contested the 227 seats.

Exit polls suggest a strong performance by the BJP–Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) alliance in Mumbai. An aggregate of multiple surveys projects the ruling alliance ahead, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) and allies trailing, while the Congress is expected to secure a limited number of seats. Exit polls have also indicated possible voting consolidation among Maratha and Muslim voters behind the Thackeray-led alliance, while women and young voters may tilt towards the BJP.

The last BMC election in 2017 saw the undivided Shiv Sena retain control of the civic body it had dominated for decades.

In Pune, the spotlight is on the unusual alliance between rival NCP factions led by Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar. Exit polls indicate the BJP could emerge as the largest party in the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), with both NCP factions and the Shiv Sena also expected to secure a share of seats.

Statewide counting underway

Apart from Mumbai and Pune, counting will take place in several other key municipal corporations, including Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, Akola, Jalgaon, Malegaon, Latur, Dhule, Jalna, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Nanded-Waghala, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Ulhasnagar, Ahilyanagar and Ichalkaranji.

With major parties treating these civic polls as a referendum on their urban appeal ahead of future state and national elections, today’s results are expected to shape Maharashtra’s political narrative in the months to come.

India News

Supreme Court flags risk of lawlessness, pauses FIRs against ED officers in Bengal case

The Supreme Court paused FIRs against ED officers in the Bengal I-PAC raid case, warning that obstruction of central probes could lead to lawlessness and seeking responses from the Centre and state.

Published

1 day ago

January 15, 2026

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday delivered a sharp rebuke to the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, pausing FIRs lodged against officers of the Enforcement Directorate over searches linked to political consultancy I-PAC. The court said the case raises serious questions about interference in investigations and warned that failure to address them could lead to “lawlessness”.

A bench of Justice Prashant Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi sought replies from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Department of Personnel and Training, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress government on the ED’s plea. The central agency has also sought the suspension of Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar and Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma, and a probe by the CBI. The matter will be heard next on February 3.

The ruling follows a standoff between the ED and the Bengal government after the agency conducted searches at premises linked to I-PAC, which manages election campaigns for the Trinamool Congress, in connection with a corruption case.

Court questions obstruction of central probes

Recording its prima facie view, the Supreme Court said the petition raised a “serious issue” concerning investigations by central agencies and possible obstruction by state authorities.

“There are larger questions which emerge and if not answered shall lead to lawlessness. If central agencies are working bona fide to probe a serious offence, a question arises: Can they be obstructed by party activities?” the bench observed.

Earlier in the day, the court also expressed disturbance over scenes of chaos in the Calcutta High Court during a hearing related to the same dispute.

ED alleges interference, seeks action against top cops

The Enforcement Directorate accused the West Bengal administration of interfering with its searches and investigation. Appearing for the agency, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta alleged that evidence was removed from the residence of an I-PAC co-founder and argued that such actions could encourage state police officers to aid and abet obstruction. He sought suspension of senior police officials.

Describing the disruption in the Calcutta High Court on January 9, Mehta called it “mobocracy”, saying a group of lawyers unconnected to the case disrupted proceedings, forcing an adjournment. The bench asked whether the high court had been turned into a protest site, to which Mehta responded that messages had circulated calling lawyers to gather at a specific time.

Banerjee’s counsel defends move, cites election confidentiality

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mamata Banerjee, questioned the timing of the ED’s presence in Bengal ahead of Assembly elections. He said the last development in the coal scam case dated back to February 2024 and argued that I-PAC handled election-related work under a formal contract with the Trinamool Congress.

According to Sibal, election data stored at the premises was confidential and critical to campaign strategy. He said the party leadership had a right to protect such information.

Representing the Bengal government and the DGP, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi referred to the January 9 disruption but argued it could not justify parallel proceedings in different courts. The bench responded that emotions “cannot go out of hand repeatedly”.