Why Amit Shah pushed for CAA in Winter session?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Why Amit Shah pushed for CAA in Winter session?

An Inside story of how BJP, Modi Govt. worked overtime

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Jan. 1

The mystery is unfolding as to why Union Home Minister Amit Shah pushed for the passage of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at the fag end of the Winter session of Parliament.

The entire 2019 had been highly successful and a historic year for the party and the government. After winning LS polls with a massive mandate, the government passed the long pending Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament on July 31 during the Monsoon session. Immediately came the historic moment when Amit Shah succeeded in abrogating Article 370 on August 5 and kept the Valley peaceful throughout. The world also accepted the reality. As if this was not enough, the Ram Temple unanimous verdict from the Supreme Court also came on November 9 which solved the century old dispute.

But it seems Amit Shah became ambitious and wanted long pending CAA bill be passed in 2019 itself.

The underlining political gain of the move was to win the Assembly polls in West Bengal due in 2021. Of the 11 crores estimated population and around 7 crores voters, the Home ministry's estimate of illegal immigrants was one crores in West Bengal. Of these 1 crore illegal immigrants, the BJP's assessment is that nearly 25-30 lakhs belong to non-Muslim religions. The passage of the CAA will make them eligible voters while the 70 lakh illegal Muslims would be denied these benefits.

It was a politically very ambitious target and the BJP leadership was elated with the move when Amit Shah proposed it. The CAA, if implemented, would impoact at least 95 Assembly seats in state.

The abandoned NRC exercise in Assam had revealed that there were 18 lakhs illegal residents in Assam alone. Therefore, the number of such immigrants in WB would be more than one crores. It is in this background that the party and the government wanted the CAA's passage as the Opposition was disintegrated and non-NDA parties were falling in line to support the BJP.

For Amit Shah, winning West Bengal is a dream bigger than Tripura. He is nowadays, even taking lessons in Bengali to address the people of Bengal during the campaign for the 2021 Assembly elections in their own language. The attempt is to counter the narrative that the BJP is a Hindi heartland party.

But the massive street protests has dampened the spirit and everything is now on hold. This was never envisaged.

Ends  

Massive support for J&K Bills in Rajya Sabha

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Massive support for J&K Bills in Rajya Sabha

BSP, AAP, TDP, vote with BJP

Amit Shah proves his mettle

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, August 5

After dealing a body blow to the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on the Triple Talaq Bill last week, the BJP succeeded in getting all the bills and resolutions relating to Jammu & Kashmir passed with a record margin.

It created history when the Bahujan Samaj Party and Aam Admi Party (AAP) joined the ruling party to support the move. The Nationalist Congress Party officially decided to abstain completely and two MPs of the YSR Congress lent their helping hand too. All these are non-NDA parties and and support from BSP & AAP surprised even the Congress benches. The 2 MPs of the TDP also lent their support to the Bills.

What came as a shocker to the Opposition parties was when the Chairman, M Venkaiah Naidu announced that three more MPs- Bhuvneshwar Kalita (Congress) and two MPs of Samajwadi Party quit the House and their resignations were accepted. In fact, with these resignation, the strength of the Rajya Sabha itself came down to 239 making the task for the BJP easy.

Surprisingly as many 52 Rajya Sabha MPs of the Opposition parties were absent when the voting took place. They included the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Janata Dal (S), PDP, Janata Dal (U), and many MPs of the Congress, RJD & TMC on one ground or the other.

If the BJP secured the support of 99 votes in support of the Triple Talaq Bill, it managed to obtain more than 125 votes for making J&K as Union Territory.

The TMC had issued notice to its MP K D Singh for not coming on Triple Talaq. He failed to appear today also. But today five of its MPs were absent.

If 42 MPs absented on Triple Talaq, 52 MPs absented on J&K Bills issue. The BJP polled more votes than what it got on Triple Talaq.

This time the PM did not speak to Chief Ministers of various states and left it to Union Home Minister Amit Shah who showed his mettle once again by ensuring a majority without a majority for the party.

Ends

House strength	245
Vacancies	-6
	239
Absent	-52
	187
Those who voted
for J&K Bills
BJP	78
Akalies	3
Shiv Sena	3
AIADMK	11
BJD	7
AGP+4	5
YSR	2
TDP	2
BSP	4
AAP	3
Indp	4
Nominated	3
	125

TMC issues notice to K D Singh, Congress to act against 4 absent MPs

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

TMC issues notice to K D Singh,

Congress to act against 4 absent MPs

In all 42 MPs were absent in RS

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 31

The Congress Party in Rajya Sabha is contemplating to issue a show cause notice to four of its Rajya Sabha MPs who were absent at the time of voting on the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha. These MPs did not come to the voting despite the whip was issued. Similarly, the TMC has issued a whip to its MP K D Singh who did not attend the RS when voting took place. K D Singh explained through the SMS to party leader Derek Obrian that he was suddenly fallen sick and got admitted to the hospital. The party will take a call on his absence.

Mukut Mithi, Vivek Tankha, Pratap Singh Bajwa and Rajiv Biswal of the Congress were absent despite the whip. They too will face the music.

No other Opposition party issued the whip to its members that they must present themselves and vote against the bill. As many as 42 MPs to be precise absented at the time of voting yesterday on the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha. While 11 of the AIADMK MPs are considered friendly to the NDA, rest are opposition parties. It is shocking that all four MPs of the Bahujan Samaj Party, six of the 12 SP MPs were also absent.

Of course, the PM spoke to some chief ministers personally to secure their support, but BJP leaders Bhupendra Yadav and C M Ramesh won the praise of the leadership for their role in ensuring these huge absensions. C M Ramesh is a former TDP MP who joined the BJP. They were reporting to Amit Shah who kept on briefing Modi about the development. The 11-member AIADMK opposed the Bill but walked out. The Janata Dal (U) six MPs in the Rajya Sabha also walked out at the time of voting and TRS's six MP s also walked out.

Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive report

Triple Talaq Bill in Rajya Sabha

Modi spoke to opponents to seek support

Many non-NDA parties fell in line

Some did not issue the whip

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 30

The BJP moved heaven & earth to muster support from parties which are not even part of the NDA for the Triple Talaq Bill. It was introduced this morning in the Rajya Sabha after being sent by the Lok Sabha. Since the BJP/NDA doesn't have numbers to get the controversial bill passed, the leadership decided to muster majority by using every weapon in its armoury.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi personally telephoned Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to seek support of the Bju Janata Dal (BJD) which has seven MPs. The PM also spoke to the AIADMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to direct its MPs in the Rajya Sabha to walk out of the House at the time of voting if not support. The 11-member AIADMK opposed the Bill while talking about it. But when it came to voting, they did what was told to them. The PM even spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to pesruade Janata Dal (U) MPs in the Rajya Sabha to walk out of the house if they can't support. The Nationalist Congress Party did not issue whip to its 4 Rajya Sabha MPs on the bill. Interestingly, the Telugu Desam Party leader N Chandra Babu Naidu was also spoken to by a top leader of the BJP not to oppose the Bill. Though TDP is at loggerheads with the BJP as it broke the party in Rajya Sabha and took away four MPs. The remaining two MP did the summersault too when it came to the voting. So much so that the lone member of the Janata Dal (S) was conveyed to stay away from the voting whose government was dislodged in Karnataka.

The BJP also did a coup of sort when it won over a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, Dr Sanjay Singh to resign from the house itself and join the BJP today. This brought down the Congress strength to 47. The SP MP Neeraj Shekhar had done the same thing last week when he quit the party and the Rajya Sabha. Many MPs like Ram Jethmalani and four others.

It is now clear that the very strength of the Rajya Sabha fell down steeply from 240 making the task of the BJP easier.

NCP to bail out BJP on Triple Talaq

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Exclusive report

NCP to bail out BJP on Triple Talaq

May abstain on voting in Rajya Sabha

Other parties also fall in line

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 22

In a surprising development, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has signaled to the ruling NDA that it will not create hurdled in the passage of the contentious Triple Talaq Bill. The signal from the NCP came as a big boost to the ruling BJP which has been struggling for the several sessions to get the Triple Talaq bill passed in the Rajya Sabha and resorting to the Ordinance route for two years. Though NCP is an alliance partner of the Congress and has been fighting Lok Sabha & Assembly polls in alliance. But its leadership has veered round to the view that any opposition on this bill will be negation of the mandate of the 2019 poll verdict.

A senior leader of the NCP told Lokmat on the condition of not being named that the party may not vote for the bill. “But one thing is clear... we will not vote against the bill.”

This stand of the NCP is music to the BJP's ears which is desperate to get the bill passed in the Rajya Sabha which has just 78 MPs in a House of 240. The NDA has 97 MPs including 3 nominated and four Independents. This does not include six MPs of the Janata Dal (U) which is opposed to the Bill. The AIADMK and Biju Janata Dal have indicated their support to the Triple Talaq Bill. These two parties together have 20 MPs in the Rajya Sabha and their support is very vital. With their support, the BJP will touch the figure of 117 without JD(U).

Highly placed sources say that YSR Congress (2), PDP of Jammu & Kashmir (2) and JD-S (1) will also abstain as they have their own problems in their respective states. Thus, nine MPs including four of the NCP will abstain bringing down the strength of the RS to 231.

With BJP mustering the support of 117 MPs in a house of 231, the bill can be passed without much difficulty. The BJP is pondering to extend the Parliament's current session for three days largely because it wants to pass the Triple Talaq bill.

Ends 

Govt. Determined to pass Triple Talaq Bill

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Govt. Determined to pass Triple Talaq Bill

Trying to muster numbers in Rajya Sabha

JD (U) to Oppose it tooth & Nail

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, July 12

Irrespective of the cautioning by some saner voices in the NDA that the contentious Triple Talaq bill should not be pushed in the current Monsoon session of Parliament, the hawks in the ruling BJP are determined to push for the same.

Informed sources say that the BJP leadership is determined to ensure the passage of the fresh Triple Talaq Bill in this session itself. The debates on the Motion of Thanks on President's Address, Union Budget and a couple of ministries will be over by the middle of next week. At least 10 bills have been passed by the Lok Sabha so far and remaining agenda will also be achieved.

Sources in the government say that there is no move to repeal the Article 370 or revoke 35A is on the cards in the near future. But the government won't compromise on its commitment to pass the Triple Talaq merely because its major ally, Janata Dal (U) is opposed to it.

A senior Cabinet minister who is dealing with the issue in the government told Lokmat on the condition of not being quoted, “Its our commitment to pass the Triple Talaq Bill and we are duty bound after the massive mandate.”

No doubt, the BJP has enough numbers in the Lok Sabha for the smooth passage of the bill on its own without the support of its allies. The BJP has 303 MPs in the Lok Sabha in a house of 542 and doesn't need JD(U)'s 17 MPs. However, it will face huge problem in the Rajya Sabha where it has 76 MPs in the House of 244. It has the support of Shiv Sena (3), Akalis (3), Nominated (3) and Independents (4) taking the tally to 89. The JD (U) which has only six MPs in the Rajya Sabha, has made it clear to the BJP leadership that it will not support the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament, rather it will vote against it if it was brought before the House. Ever since the BJP-JD(U) differences came to the surface over induction of into the Union Cabinet, the situation is worrisome. The JD(U) leadership refused to accept the proposal of sending its token representative in the Modi government and wanted proportionate representation.

Even the other BJP ally, the AIADMK which has 13 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, has signaled that it may stay away rather than support the bill.

Ends 

Ravi Shankar Prasad interview of the week

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Interview of the Week with Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Law & IT Minister  

Law is taking its genuine course in probes against the corrupt

We can’t look the other way in corruption cases

India is free from cyber attacks, our systems are in place

Digital payment charges are being looked into

By Harish Gupta

Lokmat: Where do you stand on Triple Talaq now that the SC has heard it ?

R S Prasad: I will not make any comment now that the SC has completed hearing on its validity. But we have stated our views very clearly. Its not an issue related to any religion or community. It relates to gender justice, gender dignity, gender equality. After nearly 70 years of India`s Independence, the issue of right to live with dignity has been raised by a big segment of country. Our view is clear; It is unconstitutional and must go.

Lokmat: What is the alternate machination if the SC strikes it down?

R S Prasad: We will have to decide after the court judgment.

Lokmat: It is said that you may come out with Muslim Marriage Act?

R S Prasad: All these things are going on. I do not wish to make any comment. But surely the government is open to have a fair mechanism if it is needed.

Lokmat: But you have doing this lip service. Your party has done nothing for Muslims in terms of giving them tickets or positions of eminence ?

R S Prasad: This concern for dignity of women is not for Muslims. What is BETI BACHALO BETI PADHAO, What is Sukanya Samridhi Yojna which I am handling as postal department minister. Why is out of almost 7 Crores transactions in MUDRA 2/3 are woman. Of the nearly 40 lakh IT employees nearly 1/3 are women.

Lokmat: I was talking about giving them political recognition by your party?

R S Prasad:  May be you have a case that we ought to give them more tickets. But there I have differences and I am happy that you asked this question. But other parties symbolism ends by giving them tickets. The real issue is of denial of empowerment of the Muslim women. These parties maintain silence when it comes to their empowerment. 

Lokmat: So you are empowering Muslim women?

R S Prasad: Obviously. Now their voice is heard. Rajiv Gandhi ultimately surrendered despite having a massive majority in the Shah Bano`s case. But the Muslim women in India have got a strong leader in Modi who stands by them in their pain and agony.

Lokmat: You are needling your political opponents one by one by using state agencies in every state and also at the Centre?

R S Prasad: Did we tell Lalu Prasad`s sons to have big land in Delhi and Patna ? Did we advise his daughter to have huge farm houses through means which are questionable?

Lokmat: You have lodged cases against Mayawati’s Brother, congress leaders in Karnataka, Himachal, Haryana and other states ?

R S Prasad: Has any one been chased without any evidence? If there is a case against a Karnataka Minister and crores of rupees are found,  you want Income Tax dept to remain quite? If Mayawati’s brother`s issue is discovered by agencies, you mean to say they should look the other way.

 Lokmat: So you are saying that your CBI, ED, DRI, IT are not going after the opposition parties.

R S Prasad: Your allegation is incorrect that’s what I can say.

Lokmat: All kinds of allegations and probes are being made against Arvind Kejriwal. But why have failed to chargesheet him?

R S Prasad: We do not interfere in the work of any of these agencies.  The law is taking its genuine course without any pressure and without resorting to any manipulation.

Lokmat: You mean the whole lot of Opposition is corrupt?

R S Prasad: There are court rulings in cases where Income Tax is probing cases against high & mighty people, you know. Now they are forming grand alliance. Its nothing but the congregation of the corrupt.

Lokmat: You are selective in acting against political class.In Maharashtra you bitterly campaigned against corruption of NCP leaders like  Ajit Pawar. But did nothing against him ?

R S Prasad: I do not have the facts of the case presently. But the legal process is on against all of  them.

Lokmat: Cyber security is one of the biggest issues and you are handling it……..

R S Prasad: Digital India is changing the face of India now. Two Crore people are on BHIM app for digital payments and more than 20 crore transactions have taken place by linking 27 crore Jan Dhan account with mobile and AADHAR. We have saved more than Rs  50000 crores by directly transferring the monies into their accounts eliminating the middlemen.

Lokmat: But why the banks are still charging higher for digital payments? It’s a great concern?

R S Prasad: There is no charge on BHIM app. The AADHAR PAY which the PM had launched, there is no charge. For other UPI apps, the cost is zero. 

Lokmat: But banks are charging more for digital payments while cash is free of charge?

R S Prasad: Its very low and we are already looking into this issue.

Lokmat: And what about the cyber attacks & security?

R S Prasad: India, fortunately, is free today except a few isolated incidents in AP and in Kerala.

Lokmat: May be India was not targeted by hackers?

R S Prasad: No, not at all. From March-April we have taken enough steps to make our systems secure because we were planning to go digital in a big way.

Lokmat: You mean to say that you had advance information about these attacks?

R S Prasad: All I can say is that we took steps to tighten digital and cyber security systems. We installed PACT system. We advised all the banks and govt. departments to put strong systems in place.

Lokmat: Controversies with regard to Aadhaar refuse to die down. P Chidambram says it was conceived for Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme and was optional?

R S Prasad: The problem of Chidambram is that he is yet to reconcile that he is no more in power. We are doing what they didn’t have the courage to do. We laid Optical fiber network for 2.5 lakh gram panchayats today while they connected less than 100 villages.  We are not making it mandatory.... section 7 says no one shall be denied the right of benefit but you must alternatively come on the AADHAAR system. Who is unhappy? The Poor ? Some people are unhappy because there are no middlemen. I am surprised at Chidambaram’ statements.

Lokmat: So the sinking feeling that Chidambram is having and expressing through his articles is only for him and his party?

R S Prasad: It is completely personal….. why it is so… I will not go into those details. The whole country knows why he is having this sinking feeling. For the Congress, in-spite of getting 44 seats...  in-spite of reduced to single digit in UP... in-spite of a washout in one election after the other, the party is unwilling to learn lessons. It is seeking space in only editorial pages.... good luck to them.