Home Blog Page 1066

Letters to the Editor: April 04, 2019

Playing to the gallery

Indian Premier League is taking a heavy toll of players, officials, umpires, and even coaches in the name of match-fixing. The recent victim for alleged match-fixing charges in IPL betting is levelled against former Indian Women’s team manager Tushar Arothe. The game is played on the cricketing field but matches are fixed away from the ground at Vadora. 18-eighteen member gang is arrested on the charges of match-fixing and the number may go up till the final. With top teams like Mumbai Indians and Bangalore Royal Challengers at the bottom of the table, more stakes will be floated to make them come to the top of the table as done in previous editions of IPL. The players are dancing to the tunes of bookies and that is a bad part of the 8-team competition.

Anandambal Subbu

BJP drops bomb on Somaiya!

BJP drops a bomb on Kirit Somaiya to keep their marriage with Shiv Sena intact as the sitting MP from Mumbai North-East is unceremoniously denied a ticket to please the Thackeray’s who were dead against Somaiya from contesting the elections. Kirit Somaiya should have been an automatic choice as he had won the last time with over 3 lakh votes and was very popular in his constituency. Sena forced BJP to sack Somaiya for exposing scams at BMC which clearly indicates that honesty is not the best policy when it comes to Indian politics and this is a blow to the clean image of our Prime Minister.

Kirit Somaiya may be outspoken but the learned Chartered Accountant was BJP’s most active MP from the city and our country needs leaders like him to speak and voice dissent against wrongdoings. PM Modi one thought should have intervened and batted for Somaiya who should have been given an opportunity to contest. The least BJP can now do is to nominate Somaiya to Parliament through Rajya Sabha and make amends!

S.N.Kabra

Expose this oppression of women!

Incidents of sexual exploitation of women working in various fields like films, corporate world, etc since last few years are being exposed to the world, through ‘Me too’ ‘hash-tag’ on ‘Twitter’. On similar lines, ‘Nuns too’ ‘hash-tag’ has been started. The population of Christians is the largest in the world as there are 157 Christian countries. Prayer-house of Christians is the church. The counselors in the church are known as pastors. It is a known fact that these pastors are always sexually exploiting devotees i.e. nuns working there. The number of Christians and churches is no less in India; but the secularists, progressive factions, organizations for women-empowerment do not say a word about the same. Why are even media keeping mum on this issue? It is very unfortunate that while criticizing Hindus involved in quackery at the personal level, media always spit venom against all Saints-‘Mahants’, ‘Sadhus-Sanyasis’ of Hindus. Under breaking news, a person holding a high post like Shankaracharya (Jayendra Saraswati) is insulted insolently by the media-persons, which is condemnable.

Shakuntala Baddi

Secularism blew away for illegal loudspeakers!

There are 2,940 prayer-houses in Maharashtra where there are illegal loudspeakers. Among them are mosques, madrasas, and durgahs with 1,766 illegal loudspeakers. The above information was brought forth under the ‘Right to Information’ Act. The Mumbai High Court has clearly directed for taking action against illegal loudspeakers on prayer-houses; but, there is no implementation of that order. If only in Maharashtra, there are about 3,000 illegal loudspeakers; it is better not to think about a number of illegal loudspeakers all over the country. The local government administrations and police pay no heed to complaints lodged by local residents on this matter. What do wise citizens think about this issue? Why is the Court’s order not being implemented? It is not right to cross approved sound-limit by committing a breach of Court’s orders and cause harm to other citizens whether it is during the festival period or making noise many times during the day by using such loudspeakers or during any other program. The topic of sound decibel-limits is often discussed during Hindus’ festival period but what about noise created through illegal loudspeakers throughout the year? How long is this to go on, is what people have started asking now. It is necessary as per Court’s orders to take cognizance of sufferings of local residents but taking legal action is always evaded. One, therefore, starts wondering whether all rules and regulations, laws are meant only for Hindus. Does secularism blow away at other times?

Rahul Patekar

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

RBI cuts repo rate by 25 bps to 6%; home and car loan to be cheaper

Web Team

April 4, 2019

A dream of own home and car of people may come true, as EMI of home or car loan is going to be eased. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday cut the repo rate by 25 basis points to 6 per cent in the first bi-monthly monetary policy meet of the financial year (FY) 2019-20. It indicates that home or car loan will be cheaper.

It was the first back-to-back rate cut by the central bank since the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) was formed in late 2016. In its last policy meet in February and the first under Governor Shaktikanta Das, the central bank had lowered the repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) or 0.25 per cent to 6.25 per cent and changed the policy stance to neutral from calibrated tightening, adopted in October policy meet last year. Repo rate is the rate at which the RBI lends money to the commercial banks, in case of any shortfall of funds.

Most economists and market experts had forecast a rate cut amid benign inflation and slowdown in growth both at home and abroad. Inflation has remained below the RBI’s 4 per cent target for seven straight months but core inflation, which excludes food and fuel, is running closer to 5.5 per cent. A rate cut just a week before the start of seven-phase Lok Sabha elections is crucial for the ruling NDA party.

Khushru Jijina, MD and Piramal Capital and Housing Finance stated, “It is necessary to resurrect India’s consumer demand and economic growth before a synchronous downturn in advanced economies heighten market volatility. Today’s rate cut and moderation in liquidity coverage ratio coupled with recent instances of liquidity injections indicate that RBI is cognizant of these risks. These measures would certainly help ease liquidity and improve access to cheaper credit by India Inc as well as retail consumers.”

“The focus to align the Indian housing finance securitisation market as well as the secondary market for corporate loans with international best practices as announced today will essentially deepen these markets and ensure better price discovery. We look forward to the detailed notes on RBI’s decision to allow Non Deposit taking NBFCs to apply for Authorised Dealer licenses which is expected to expand the forex market,” Jijina added.

Call for coalition politics confusing — Part I

C K Subramaniam

April 4, 2019

Deve Gowda only speaks about the union of parties opposed to BJP, after the elections. In an individual state Karnataka, JD(S) is not able to carry out the implementation of the programmes and policies. The Congress ruled the State under Siddaramaiah and this time was behind BJP. It is a curse for the Country that Dynasty politics and Dynasty in Film World are patronised only by Politicians. True that Tamil Nadu also suffers from Dynasty politics but Gowda must remember that the people rejected them in the last Assembly elections.

Can Deva Gowda advice Congress and Rahul Gandhi not to contest in Kerala Wayanad as your enemy is only BJP and not LDF. Chandrababu Naidu’s fortune this time will be tested by Jaganmohan Reddy (YSR Congress). Under Congress rule, the terrorists from Pakistan came through sea route and killed more than 168 people and a Secular Government was in place. People like Deve Gowda must leave the active political field and let the younger generation to take the place. This applies to the seniors in every party. Those who have crossed 75 and were MLAs or MPs for many terms must retire voluntarily. Deve Gowda was the PM of the country and he must happily retire from active politics.

What a wonderful thought to come out by the former Prime Minister Deve Gowda. All the 23 parties in the name of Mahagathbandhan under one umbrella leading a stable government after winning the Lok Sabha elections 2019. Certainly, no one has the moral right to reveal the desperation. However, BJP ruled NDA, ideally with unique synchronisation seems to be under one leader (entire leaders in the world accepted him) that is our beloved Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In five years, he has elevated New India with all the achievements in all the sectors will lift the nation one in top five countries economically. The extraordinary bold decisions are taken by PM Modi in controlling the terrorism initially with surgical strikes, followed with avenging the Jaish-e-Mohammed training camps destruction at Balakot, the countries from entire world appreciated the BJP-led NDA government.

The legacy of Congress can be well confirmed if you type scams under UPA in Google. Regional scams are in addition. The electorate has to identify between hyenas and the lion. Geibelsian lies plus lie syndicate can’t win a mandate. Mamata’s satyagraha and expression of solidarity of 23 prime ministerial aspirants show beyond doubt that conundrum is against commoners and these people are running away from poor. The only agenda is clinging to power, lure the people with impossible promises, divide people into minority and majority and allow communistic preferences in the delivery of quota and finally loot the country.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Bad news for Services sector: Growth rate fell to 6-month low

Web Team

April 4, 2019

There is a bad news for Services sector, the largest sector of the Indian economy. In spite of claims of the government, a monthly survey showed on Thursday that the economy of the nation is growing with slower pace. Growth rate of the services fell to six-month low in March 2019. Nikkei India Services Business Activity Index PMI fell to 52 in March from 52.5 in February this year, indicating the slowest expansion since September 2018. It happened so due to a slower expansion in new work, leading to weakest rate of hiring.

The author of the report Pollyanna De Lima, Principal Economist at IHS Markit, said, “India’s service sector growth weakened at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019-19, with activity expanding at the slowest rate since last September. “

Despite the moderation, the services PMI was in the expansion territory for the 10th straight month. In PMI parlance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction.

It is worth mentioning that the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) is an indicator of economic health for manufacturing and service sectors. The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current business conditions to company decision makers, analysts and purchasing managers.

According to Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s data for 2018-2019 Services sector is the largest sector of India. Gross Value Added (GVA) at current prices for Services sector is estimated at Rs 92.26 lakh crore in 2018-19. Services sector accounts for 54.40 per cent of total India’s GVA of Rs 169.61 lakh crore. With GVA of Rs. 50.43 lakh crore, Industry sector contributes 29.73 per cent. While Agriculture and allied sector shares 15.87 per cent.

Meanwhile, optimism regarding the year-ahead outlook for business activity strengthened for the second month in a row. Lima said, “Business expectations strengthened in March, indicating that services companies are hopeful that conditions will advance in the months to come. However, an anaemic pace of job creation hints that service providers are not fully convinced about a shift into a higher growth gear.”

Palghar residents will be consulted while undertaking developmental work: Uddhav

Web Team

April 4, 2019

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray stated that suggestions of local residents will be taken into account while carrying out developmental work in tribal dominated Palghar district. Thackeray had undertaken a tour of Palghar Lok Sabha constituency during which he held road shows and had conversation with various communities including Sikhs and Christians. He also met locals and fishermen and had corner meetings with them.

“The development projects in the district will be carried out after having consultation with locals,” he assured.

The Sena which has a pre-poll alliance with BJP will be contesting Palghar Lok Sabha seat. Sena has nominated Rajendra Gavit who had quit BJP to join Congress and emerged victorious in the Palghar Lok Sabha bypoll.

Dalit Neta Athawale struggling to find political locus

Afternoon Voice

April 3, 2019

Though the Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra declared the names of Poonam Mahajan and Gopal Shetty as the candidates for the Mumbai North-Central and Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituencies respectively, an ongoing tussle around huge political differences between both the parties in the government have kept the candidature for the Mumbai North East Lok Sabha constituency on hold for quite a long time. The constituency is currently represented by Kirit Somaiya and finally, on Wednesday, the BJP declared Mulund corporator Manoj Kotak as the candidate replacing Somaiya.

Before forming an alliance in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena strongly opposed the candidature of Kirit Somaiya for the Lok Sabha elections. Sena leaders and workers had threatened BJP that it will not only oppose Somaiya’s candidature but will also work towards defeating him. While sensing an opportunity and taking the advantage of the situation, NDA ally, Republican Party of India (RPI) chief and Union Minister for Social Welfare Ramdas Athawale articulated his willingness to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the same constituency but his demand got rejected.

While speaking to Afternoon Voice, before the name of Kotak was announced, Ramdas Athawale said, “If BJP has dropped Kirit Somaiya, they should consider my name for the same.” The RPI chief earlier wished to contest the LS polls demanding two seats. He lobbied hard to get one seat in Mumbai and another elsewhere in the state. However, both the parties have denied paying heed to his demand. Moreover, in his earlier speeches, he time and again made fun of Shiv Sena and that is reportedly the reason that BJP could not accept his appeal.

Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Raut expressed, “Neither Sena is against BJP now our party is opposing the other. Sena has an alliance with BJP for the last 25 years and it will continue in the coming 50 years. The problem is only with Kirit Somaiya as the candidate for the LS polls and I oppose his nomination. I can support any other candidate besides him. RPI is having an alliance with BJP and if a seat is offered to Athawale, we will consider it.”

In Maharashtra, Dalits constitute 10.8 per cent votes. In Mumbai, the Dalit population is 16 per cent and it is believed that this vote bank is quite significant as an added advantage in any elections. While both the Shiv Sena and BJP showed their reluctance to give any seat to Athawale, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured Rajya Sabha term to the Union Minister. Meanwhile, the RPI chief announced that his party would stick to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

RPI National Secretary Avinash Mahatekar and Mumbai RPI President Gautam Sonawane told Afternoon Voice, “Ramdas Athawale should get the Mumbai North-East LS seat in order to stop the ongoing tussle. However, there has been no response regarding this demand from either Shiv Sena or BJP. Ramdas Athawale was only kept waiting in speculations.” Moreover, he has warned BJP that if he is ignored, he can influence his voters not to vote for Sena-BJP.

When asked about Athawale’s demand on contesting from the Mumbai North East LS constituency, Madhavi Naik, the chief of Maharashtra BJP’s women’s unit stated, “It is premature to comment on this matter. I trust BJP leadership and they will take the right decision in the larger interest of the party.”

Polling in Mumbai North East parliamentary seat will be held on April 29 in the fourth phase of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the last date of filing nomination is April 9. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

Ramdas warns BJP-Sena shouldn’t take Dalit support for granted

Vaidehi Taman

April 3, 2019

Last year, as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s allies in Maharashtra began to drop off one-by-one, including the smaller parties such as the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, it looked like the only ally it would be left with was Ramdas Athawale, the leader of his own faction of the Republican Party of India (RPI).

Athawale began his electoral career as an ally of the Congress and then switched to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). In 2009, he switched back to the Congress to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the temple town of Shirdi which had become a reserved constituency. He lost and switched to the Shiv Sena hoping to be accommodated in the Rajya Sabha. He finally got the nomination from the BJP, which made him a Minister of State for Social Welfare believing Athawale could deliver the bulk of the Dalit votes from Maharashtra.

However, now the BJP has reviewed and revised that assessment. Across India, the party seems to have come to the conclusion that it is not worth allying with any party that cannot help bring it at least five seats to the Lok Sabha.

Anyhow, in 2014, Ramdas Athawale was given some insignificant ministry and there was nothing much to perform or show potential; he also got disappointed because that post was given to him just to appease the Dalits in Maharashtra, but the recent protest in Gujarat has changed the mindset of Dalit against BJP. If BJP is in the illusion that Ramdas Athawale can really do some magic, then they should be careful as Athawale can pull their carpet anytime.

In Maharashtra, Dalits constitute 10.8 per cent votes. In Mumbai, the Dalit population is 16 per cent that the party feels will work to its advantage in the upcoming elections. There are at least 60 BMC wards in Mumbai with a Dalit population ranging from 10,000 to over a lakh. Athawale is expected to help in vote transformation of Dalits in favour of BJP candidates in the polls. Athawale is a Dalit leader and is a member of the Rajya Sabha. Athawale’s party, the Republican Party of India, is an ally of the BJP in Maharashtra. Some even speculate that he can merge his party with BJP in the coming future. Anyway, Athawale has not proven his stand yet as a leader or he did not do much for his community or state.

He is a poet and very famous for his four liners stand up comedy speeches. He is also known for his fashion statement of wearing gaudy colours and combinations, with all sorts of odds. His public speaking has generous spoons of laughter mostly due to his poetry. He is an extempore at poetry; very promptly he cracks jokes and anything contemporary. One good thing about him is that he is fearless and always tells his alliance that they are strong because he is with them; if they don’t behave, he can quit them. He is good at mocking anyone.

Athawale is a member of Rajya Sabha and represented the Pandharpur constituency of Maharashtra and is the President of the Republican Party of India. He also represented Mumbai North-Central in 12th Lok Sabha during 1998-99. He left the NCP-Congress alliance in 2011 after having lost the 2009 Lok Sabha election. Athawale-led the RPI party joined the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance in 2011 and contested Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections together. Ramdas Athawale lost in the Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency election in 2009. In 2014, again he joined BJP and left Shiv Sena. He is one political leader who tried all political parties, which he himself agrees too. Whichever party he feels strong at that point of time, he joins them.

In the 1970s, he was a firebrand activist under the banner of Dalit Panthers; his mother wanted him to do some work or job but he refused that and joined the social revolution and meanwhile joined causes that are dear to the Dalit constituency. Athawale was one of the only two politicians in Maharashtra — the other being Sharad Pawar — who could call out his karyakartas (workers) and followers by their first name wherever he went in the state.

Athawale married to a Brahmin woman and wants inter-caste marriages to be encouraged by the government; he appealed the state government to give government jobs to a person who marries out of his caste and give them some financial help that could help to curb the caste discrimination in the society. He wants Dalit youth should marry Brahmin girls and Dalit girls to marry Brahmin boys.

Athawale is arguably the most potent mass leader in Dalit politics in Maharashtra. His rivals — BR Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar and Vidarbha-based Jogendra Kawade — never compared well with Athawale in terms of popularity with the Dalit masses. Yet, the political observers in Maharashtra who have followed the Dalit politics insist Athawale has bargained a great deal on the Dalit cause for his own gains. His commitment to Dalit cause is always limited to symbolism and political exigencies of the day. Power politics has made him a white-collar politician like it has other Dalit leaders in Maharashtra. Still, he retains a rare personal warmth and openness that no other Dalit leader has. There is nothing much to talk about his achievements as a leader or his contribution to society as a Dalit Neta, he always lived in his fancy world with his whimsies.

Athawale was one of the Dalit activists in 1972 when Namdeo Dhasal, a formidable revolutionary poet and Dalit activist, along with others, founded the Dalit Panthers. Dalit Panthers later spilt into several splinter groups and Athawale went with Arun Kamble, a Buddhist scholar and one of the founders. It was the issue of the renaming of Marathwada University after BR Ambedkar in 1977 that provided a boost to Athawale. In those days, he used to fight street battles with Shiv Sena, which was against the renaming. This was also the time when Athawale travelled across Maharashtra to mobilise support. He still retains many of the followers and supporters he enrolled during this period. In the mid-80s, then Maharashtra chief minister Sharad Pawar spotted Athawale’s talent as an organiser and the leader of the Dalit masses. After much persuasion, Athawale became a Minister for Social Welfare in the Pawar government. This was the beginning of his end as a raw activist politician.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

A sword of retrenchment hanging over 54,000 BSNL employees

Web Team

April 3, 2019

A sword of retrenchment is hanging over 54,000 employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. The BSNL board has accepted a proposal to curtail around 54,000 employees. The board has approved a reduction of retirement age from the present 60 years to 58. It has also prepared VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme) for all employees aged 50 and above. Thus final decision on retirement age and VRS will discontinue 54, 451 BSNL employees.

The department of telecommunication has set up a panel to revive BSNL from heavy loss. The panel comprising three professors of at Indian Institute of Management — Ahmedabad Rekha Jain (Coordinator), Vishal Gupta and Ajay Pandey — has suggested 10 point-remedy. The BSNL board has accepted three suggestions out of 10.

During the ongoing election season, all the political parties are talking of development and employment generation. Here, a well-established company is struggling for its revival, while almost all private telecom companies are growing. After the launch of Reliance Jio, the scenario has changed and on the account of throat cutting completion, many private players are also in loss. However, they are giving a tough fight to Reliance Jio which is still on the third rank even with 28 crore customer base.

Why is BSNL or the government choosing easy path to come out of the financial crisis? Is there no other plan to revive the company? People demand reply of this question.

Media and Mandate – Part I

Afternoon Voice

April 3, 2019

Media is one of the most powerful and impactful tool of communication in this highly developing world. It can help in promoting right thing at the right place and right point of time. It has that immense power which can use any situation to create harmony or disturbance in the society. Media helps in providing a very strong message to the world that what is right and what is wrong. We are surrounded by media – when we watch film or television, listen to the music in mobile, mp3 or on radio, when we read books, newspapers or magazines. No one can ignore the blessings of media in our life. The media helps us to remain informed and updated about every kind of news, events, social activities, film, fashion and advertisements irrespective of geographical barriers. While sitting in Mumbai we can get all latest news of America and any other countries within seconds.

With the advancements in technology such as the Internet, it has made it possible to bring so many forms of electronic media to our homes and workplaces at the click of a button. However, it seems that even though the media has come as a promising innovation which can affect the formation of ideas and opinions of an individual. No one can deny the influence of media as it has the power to make or break the belief system of a person and even it can start a movement, a revolution for a right cause. Moreover, it can impact the lives of its consumers in both the positive and the negative way which solely depends on the mind-set of the people as to which side they choose to go.

Media plays the role of a bridge between the people and the government and also a very powerful tool to win the ability to make and break the opinion of the people. It has the capacity to swing the perceptions or evoke the emotions. That’s how it has gained the faith of the public. Media through its various means of newspapers, radio, television and social media is what rules the heart and the mind of the people. Through its various forms, media keeps the vigilant citizens updated and informed about their surroundings. They organised debates and group discussion on the current social and political issues in order to enlighten the citizen about the democratic process. Media works in-between the public and the government and conveys the government policies and action to the public and the latter forcefully expresses to make the authorities aware of the public feelings. It makes the policy maker aware of the wrongs that they may otherwise escape attention. During the election period, the media can play an extremely important role by talking about the candidates.

As the general election is inching flower, media veterans are all set to launch several news ventures. Last year, Harvest TV was launched but later stopped by TataSky from being aired. This English news channel has Congressman Kapil Sibal as one of its promoters and founding member. Harvest TV is owned by Veecom Media which has already licences of English, Hindi and other regional language channels. The news venture will see the return of high profile journalists like Barkha Dutt, Karan Thapar and Punya Prasun Bajpai, where Dutt will anchor a Prime Time show, and so does Thapar. In 2018, two senior journalist named Punya Prasun Bajpai and Abhisar Sharma, of ABP (Anand Bazaar Patrika) news channel had to resign for speaking much against the BJP government schemes showcasing how people’s life still survive on basic needs. However, after their resignation, the sources revealed that the two channels, one with Punya Prasun Bajpai and the other one with Abhisar Sharma will air on 2nd October and 15th October 2018 with the help of heavy funding from the Congress. Senior Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Kapil Sibbal including party President Rahul Gandhi was deeply involved in the planning and launching of these news channels. This media platform will serve to supplement the election campaign of Congress for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections as well as boost the Rahul Gandhi’s image building process answering as to why he is the most promising Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2019 general elections.

Journalism is the fourth pillar of democracy and India is undoubtedly the largest democracy and to ensure independent media is to ensure its democracy. This country has heard much fearless voices in the form of unbiased, neutral and completely objective media. But now much is changed as today the media platforms have acquired the title of mouthpiece of political parties. Either for encashing the TRPs or for propaganda, many media houses have started manipulating the facts and figure and replace them with the numbers viewers are driven by. Journalism may be just a profession for some but it’s a source of information for all.

The country’s population largely depends on non-partisan media persons who present the reality in its original form and not in lure of the benefit from a political party. A downfall of media ensures the downfall of a country. All the major political parties including the Congress and BJP have tried to sway the media houses for their own favour. However, now the media houses should realise this and work towards the re-establishing atmosphere of free and independent journalism. Moreover, the important question arises is, what makes the general public aware about the vote? And the answer lies as, an impartial, objective, neutral and fearless media is the basic requirement for the success of the democracy.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

PM Modi a ‘King of Liars’: Owaisi

Web Team

April 3, 2019

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “king of liars”. Owaisi issued these statements after PM Modi addressed an election rally in Telangana on April 1. Modi had referred Owaisi as a “speed breaker” in Hyderabad’s development.

“PM Modi and lies go hand in hand. His name should not be chowkidaar but Jhooton Ka Badshah (King of liars). What work have you done for our state? We have presented several proposals in the parliament but they were not acted upon.”

Owaisi also called PM Modi as “Chichora” (Frivolous) during his speech. He also accused PM Modi of triggering communal sentiments to win election.

1...1,0651,0661,067...5,590 Page 1,066 of 5,590