Amaravati, July 8 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy said on Monday that Andhra Pradesh has no opposition as Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Jan Sena leader and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and opposition YSR Congress leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy are all on the side of the BJP.

He said state Congress president Y. S. Sharmila is the only opposition who will fight on behalf of the people.

Addressing a meeting organised by Sharmila in Mangalagiri to pay tributes to her father and former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) on his 75th birth anniversary, he said: “The BJP is in power in Andhra Pradesh. BJP means Babu, Jagan and Pawan. There is no opposition in Andhra Pradesh. Babu, Jagan and Pawan are all supporters of PM Modi.”

He predicted that Congress will come to power in Andhra Pradesh in 2029 and Rahul Gandhi will become the Prime Minister of the country.

“Those who take forward YSR’s aspirations are only the true heirs. Those who are doing politics in the name of YSR are not his successors,” he said in an apparent attack on YSR’s son and former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Revanth Reddy said though 15 years have passed since the passing away of YSR, people remember the great leader.

The departed Congress leader left an indelible mark and he will remain in the hearts of the poor forever, he said.

“YSR ‘s absence is visible in Telugu states. The Congress leader maintained a huge fan following in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” he said.

Revanth Reddy revealed that when he was a member of the Legislative Council (in undivided Andhra Pradesh), he used to be well prepared to speak to draw the attention of then CM YSR.

“YSR also encouraged me by answering my questions in the House. He strongly believed that the leadership would be strengthened only when the newcomers were encouraged. Leaders should learn from YSR how to respect the opposition leaders,” he said.

The Chief Minister said YSR was known for standing by his word and never going back on it.

“People will support the struggle by the leaders at the right time. Today, Sharmila is playing the role which YSR played in 1999,” he said.

Stating that he came to the meeting along with Cabinet colleagues to extend full support to Sharmila, he said: “Some people are talking about a by-election to the Kadapa Parliamentary seat. I am ready to campaign for Sharmila if there is a by-election.”

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, and ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and P. Srinivas Reddy also addressed the meeting.

–IANS

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Bhopal, July 8 (IANS) On the last day of the campaign for by-election in the Amarwara assembly seat of Chhindwara on Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav slammed the Congress, accusing it of running a narrative to “divide” the Hindu community for their vote bank policy.

Addressing a public gathering in Amarwara, the Chief Minister said that the Congress leaders sitting in Delhi compare Hindu community with “terrorists”. They also question why sadhu-sanyasi (priests) support the BJP’s ideology.

“Sadhu-Sanyasi gives blessings to the BJP because we respect them. Our culture is to respect priests like God and in return, we receive blessings from them. Congress leaders compare the Hindu community with terrorists, but their (Congress) plan to divide the people won’t be successful,” the Chief Minister said.

He also expressed confidence in winning the Amarwara by-election scheduled to take place on July 10. The Chief Minister said the BJP will win Amarwara like it won Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat recently. “The way people are responding to the BJP’s development works, I am sure that we will win Amarwara like Chhindwara Lok Sabha,” he added.

The by-poll in Amarwara was necessitated after Congress MLA Kamlesh Shah resigned from the Assembly and party’s primary membership and joined the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Shah has won the Amarwara seat for three consecutive terms, and the BJP has fielded him as its candidate for by-poll.

The Congress has fielded a new candidate – Dheernsha Invati to take on the BJP’s Kamlesh Shah. The Congress under the leadership of its new state head Jitu Patwari carried out an aggressive campaign in Amarwara.

The result of the by-election will be announced on July 13.

–IANS

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New Delhi/Imphal, July 8 (IANS) BJP’s National Information and Technology Department in-charge Amit Malviya on Monday termed Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s Manipur visit as a “third time fail and his visit was for a photo-op and nothing more.”

Soon after LoP Rahul Gandhi’s day-long visit in Manipur, Malviya in a post on the X said: “Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Manipur was for photo-op and nothing more. He abandoned the press conference and refused to answer the difficult questions.”

Malviya said: “But let me ask them on behalf of the people of Manipur… Why did Rahul Gandhi not visit Churachandpur in Manipur between 2015-17 to meet the victims of ethnic violence, that raged following Congress CM Okram Ibobi Singh Govt’s decision to pass three Bills – the Protection of Manipur People’s Bill, 2015, Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015, and Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015, which were seen by the people of Churachandpur district, comprising mostly of Paites and Kukis, as ‘anti-Tribal’, and a ‘conspiracy’ by the majority Meitei community to grab Tribal land?”

“Nine young men were shot dead and the protesting communities refused to cremate them for two long years. Why didn’t Rahul Gandhi visit Manipur then? He is no messiah of peace, just a political opportunist, who wants to keep the pot boiling. His visit to Manipur is not borne out of concern for people but his own selfish political agenda. There is a reason no one trusts either him or the Congress. The Manipur media rightly chased away Balak Buddhi !,” Malviya stated.

LoP Rahul Gandhi on Monday after visiting the relief camps in Jiribam and Churachandpur districts met Governor Anusuiya Uikey and then left for Imphal airport after his brief media briefing in the Congress Bhavan and he refused to take any question from the media.

–IANS

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Patna, July 8 (IANS) At least 12 persons lost their lives due to lightning strikes across seven districts in Bihar on Monday.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and has also directed district officials to provide compensation of Rs 4 lakh to each of the affected families.

He assured the affected families of his support during this difficult time and urged the public to remain vigilant during adverse weather conditions.

On July 1, two people died in Aurangabad due to lightning strikes, one in Buxar, one in Bhojpur, one in Rohtas, one in Bhagalpur and another in Darbhanga.

On July 3, one person died in Bhagalpur due to lightning strikes, one in East Champaran, one in Darbhanga and one in Nawada.

On July 6, three people died in Jahanabad due to lightning strikes, two in Madhepura, one in East Champaran, one in Rohtas, one in Saran and one in Supaul.

On July 7, five persons died in Kaimur due to lightning strikes, three in Nawada, two in Rohtas, and one each in Aurangabad, Jamui and Saharsa districts.

–IANS

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Chandigarh, July 8 (IANS) The Amritsar Police Commissionerate has busted an interstate organised crime syndicate with the arrest of its kingpin and four members from a flat located in Kharar near here, Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said here on Monday.

The kingpin of the syndicate has been identified as Jai Sharma, a resident of Amritsar, while four members have been identified as Nikhil Sharma, Moni, Arpit Thakur, and Karan Sharma.

Jai Sharma, alias Sukha Pistol, has a criminal history with seven cases pertaining to the Arms Act, snatching and theft have been registered against him.

The police have recovered two .32 bore pistols along with three magazines and eight cartridges from their possession.

DGP Yadav said following inputs that accused Sukha Pistol, along with his accomplices, had gone to Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa to procure illicit weapons, police, on their return, police pinpointed their location in Kharar.

“Acting swiftly, police teams under the supervision of ADCP Abhimanyu Rana have conducted a raid at a flat and successfully arrested all accused persons and recovered two pistols, along with ammunition, from their possession,” he added.

Sharing more details, Commissioner of Police of Amritsar Ranjit Singh Dhillon said this criminal syndicate was engaged in criminal acts including theft, snatching and arms trafficking.

–IANS

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