Jaipur, July 29 (IANS) Former MLA and ex-Chairman of SC-ST Commission Khiladi Lal Bairwa, who switched from Congress to BJP, has now resigned from primary membership of the BJP.

He sent his resignation to BJP state president Madan Rathore on Monday. “I have no complaints against the BJP but I am not able to connect myself with the ideology of BJP,” Bairwa wrote in his resignation letter.

Bairwa left Congress and joined BJP before the Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, he made scathing attacks on former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Bairwa said that Gehlot made an unsuccessful attempt to expel many veteran Congress leaders from the party in the desire to become Chief Minister for the fourth time.

In his resignation, he said that the phones of leaders of Sachin Pilot’s faction were tapped. “Lokesh Sharma (OSD of Ashok Gehlot) has spoken at length on this issue. My phone was also tapped, which is a matter of investigation,” he added.

“I was also expelled from the party in a planned manner. Rajasthan was divided into segments on the recommendation of some special sycophants. The Panchayat Samiti level area was made a district. The society was divided and the same number of social boards were made,” he alleged

“The districts created by the previous government, social boards, phone tapping cases and the matter of giving statutory status to the Scheduled Caste Commission should be investigated,” he added.

Khiladi Lal Bairwa was a Congress MLA from Baseri in the previous Gehlot government. He was also the chairman of the SC-ST Commission. In 2018, he won the election on a Congress ticket. Earlier, in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he was an MP from Karauli-Dholpur Lok Sabha seat.

–IANS

arc/dan

Shillong, July 29 (IANS) Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen P.C. Nair on Monday said that the para-military force has been playing a critical role in safeguarding national frontiers in both the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir, responding to multifaceted security challenges with professionalism and determination.

Lt Gen Nair, who has served as the Director General of Assam Rifles for the past three years and is set to retire on July 31, praised the officers and men of the force for their unwavering dedication in ensuring a secure environment in the northeast, which is crucial for the nation’s progress.

The outgoing Assam Rifles DG addressed a Special Sainik Sammelan in Shillong on Monday.

Emphasising their steadfast resolve, he highlighted the critical role Assam Rifles has played in safeguarding national frontiers in both the northeast region and Jammu and Kashmir facing multifaceted security challenges with professionalism and determination.

The Assam Rifles chief commended the exceptional leadership and selfless devotion demonstrated by the troops in upholding the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.

He acknowledged the tireless efforts of the force in Manipur, despite facing wrongful propaganda from individuals and groups with vested interests.

Lt Gen Nair, who concluded an illustrious military career spanning 38 years and seven months, lauded the officers and men for their relentless and resolute efforts in not only curbing violence professionally but also maintaining the state’s integrity.

Highlighting the Force’s commitment to the welfare of veterans and their dependents, the senior Army officer noted the significance of instituting ‘Veterans Day’ on March 23 each year, recognising the valour and singular sacrifice of the Veterans.

He paid homage to all the brave hearts of the force and expressed his deep appreciation to all ranks for their zeal and enthusiasm in achieving greater success and glory.

Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera would be the new DG of the Assam Rifles, which is called ‘Sentinels of Northeast’.

Extending his best wishes to Lt Gen Lakhera, Lt Gen Nair expressed his confidence that the force would benefit immensely from Gen Lakhera’s extensive experience in the northeast.

–IANS

sc/pgh

Dinanagar (Punjab), July 29 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said the state’s border region had earlier lagged in the pace of development due to “regressive and feudal policies of the dynasties” that have been representing this area since long.

Addressing the gathering after dedicating the railway overbridge here, the Chief Minister said the residents of border districts are brave people who have always safeguarded the unity and sovereignty of the country.

“This is the land blessed by great Gurus and is inhabited by brave and hard-working people,” he said, but added that though leaders from this area had remained in pivotal positions, they never bothered about the development of the region and welfare of people.

The Chief Minister said the leaders who have been elected from here for long have done nothing to give a fillip to development and this region, which had produced great patriots and nationalists, had not witnessed the development during the regime of these rulers.

He said it was unfortunate that despite being at the helm of affairs for a considerably long time these leaders just focussed on their growth and development rather than that of the region.

Mann said these opportunistic leaders have no ideology and their only aim is just to remain in power for which they frequently switch their loyalties.

Citing an example, he said in this area, one house has two flags of separate parties because these leaders want that all power should remain in their hands only.

Mann said these leaders had got new wardrobes stitched in the hope of getting elected by the people but their dreams never came true as people rejected them outright

The Chief Minister said the state government has taken several initiatives for the welfare of the people. Ninety per cent of households are now getting free power, more than 43,000 youth have got government jobs, and health and education facilities are being provided to people. He said that all these initiatives are aimed at the wellbeing of the common man and no stone is being left unturned for this.

–IANS

vg/vd

New Delhi, July 29 (IANS) The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) at a meeting under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved several capital acquisition proposals to enhance the capabilities of the Indian Army and the Indian Coast Guard.

Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) was accorded to the procurement of an Advanced Land Navigation System (ALNS) for Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) of the Indian Army. The system is spoof-proof with high levels of encryption.

The ALNS Mk-II is compatible with the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, in addition to Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS).

The ALNS Mk-II offers compatibility with Defence Series Maps resulting in very high accuracy in navigational applications for AFVs.

This equipment will be procured from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Chennai, under the Indigenously Designed Developed and Manufactured (IDDM) category.

To enhance the capabilities of the Indian Coast Guard, the DAC accorded AoN for the procurement of 22 Interceptor Boats with state-of-the-art systems capable of quick interception and shallow water operation in territorial waters.

These boats will be used for coastal surveillance and patrolling, and search and rescue operations, including medical evacuation.

–IANS

arm/

Kolkata, July 29 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on the floor of the Assembly on Monday that she and her party Trinamool Congress do not believe in dividing people in the House on the basis of religion.

“A BJP leader is making comments intended to divide people on the basis of religion. Come to the Assembly and see, people from all religions are here. We do not divide people in the House based on religion,” the Chief Minister said during the Monsoon Session of the Assembly.

Although the Chief Minister did not name anyone, her hint was towards Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari for his recent remarks on scrapping the BJP’s Minority Morcha.

However, none of the BJP members were present in the House when the Chief Minister made the remarks, as they staged a walkout earlier after the Treasury bench moved a motion seeking a discussion on the allegation that the Chief Minister’s microphone was switched off during the NIT Aayog Governing Council meeting in the national capital on Saturday.

On July 17 during the BJP’s state working committee meeting, Adhikari called for scrapping the Minority Morcha of the party.

The BJP MLA also said that it would be better to coin a new slogan — ‘Jo Hamare Saath, Hum Unke Sath’ — instead of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’.

“I have spoken about nationalist Muslims. You all said ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’. But I will not say this anymore. Instead, I will say ‘Jo Hamare Saath, Hum Unke Sath’. There is no need for minority morcha,” Adhikari had said.

Hours later, the BJP leader had claimed that his comments were taken out of context.

Clarifying his comments, the BJP leader said in a post on X that by coining the slogan ‘Jo Hamare Saath, Hum Unke Sath’, he meant that the party should be with those who are nationalists and stand for the country and Bengal.

“My statement is being taken out of context. What I meant was that the party should stand by those who are nationalists, and speak for the nation and Bengal. Those who don’t stand with us, and work against the interest of the nation and the state need to be exposed,” he had said.

–IANS

src/khz/arm