Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman
Credit: X/@ANI
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, at an Iftar party hosted by him, says, "India is a symbol of unity in diversity. We should not fall into the trap of any divisive forces. We have just celebrated Holi, Gudi Padwa and Eid are coming - all these festivals teach us to live together.
"We should all celebrate it together because unity is our real strength. I want to assure you that your brother Ajit Pawar is with you. Anyone who shows an eye to our Muslim brothers and sisters, if anyone tries to create a fight between two groups and takes law and order in his hands, whoever he is - he will not be spared, he will not be forgiven."
On the meeting on delimitation called by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, BJD leader Amar Patnaik says, "Under direction from the former Chief Minister, our party president and the leader of opposition, Naveen Patnaik, we have been nominated to represent the party in the meeting which has been convened by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Stalin, to discuss the issue of delimitation.
"The issue is important for a state like Odisha because there is a likelihood of various ramifications to the number of seats for MP and MLA if the existing criteria continue. I think in this broader picture, the consultation has been initiated by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. Naveen Babu has always stood up for the people of Odisha. Anything that is detrimental to Odisha or not beneficial to Orissa, he will definitely like to raise his voice."
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On the meeting called by Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on delimitation, BJP leader CR Kesavan says, "DMK staging this delimitation drama is a diversionary tactic to deflect public attention from DMK's corrupt, failed, disastrous misrule. DMK's divisive politics of fear-mongering will badly boomerang. Rahul Gandi and the Congress party, with their mutually conflicting and contradicting stance, are indulging in a pathetic politics of opportunism... Rahul Gandhi vouches that rights should be proportional to population... DMK should call Rahul Gandhi's bluff and break their alliance with the Congress party..."
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A poster war has erupted between the ruling Janata Dal(United) and the RJD in Bihar ahead of assembly elections.
On Saturday, a new poster was seen in front of the residence of former Chief Minister and RJD leader Rabri Devi, targeting CM Nitish Kumar.
The poster reads, 'Nayak nahi khalnayak hoon main' (not a hero, I am a villain), accusing Bihar CM of insulting women and disrespecting Mahatma Gandhi and the national anthem.
Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday morning reached Chennai to attend first meeting of CMs of seven states over delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies.
Upon reaching Chennai, he said, "I would like to congratulate MK Stalin. He has taken the first step. We are very proud that he is protecting the federal structure and the Constitution of this country. Coming together is the beginning. Today, all of us will discuss what the progress will be, and work together... Leaders from Telangana, Punjab, Kerala, we all have joined here... At any cost, we cannot let down our country and our seats be reduced... We are a very progressive state. We have stood fast economically and in literacy... We will stand united, and we will make sure none of our seats are reduced...
Speaking on the black flags shown by BJP upon reaching Chennai, he said, "I welcome all the BJP black flags. I am not afraid even if they send me to Tihar jail..."
TN Congress chief Selvaperunthagai said, "CM MK Stalin organised this meeting. We welcome it. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy and Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar are participating...This meeting will speak for another 100 years - protection of the people of Tamil Nadu and those in south India. This meeting will create some impact, it will give a lot of questions to the Centre..."
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai and other leaders of the party show black flags, registering their protest against Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar over Mekdatu project issue.
The protests are against Karanataka's assertions that it will implement the Mekedatu project across River Cauvery and Kerala allegedly using Tamil Nadu as its “dump yard.”
"Our state has various issues with neighbouring states. With Kerala, we have Mullaperiyar Dam issue...Karnataka government has opposed Metro line towards Hosur from Karnataka border. On various occasions, our CM didn' raise these issues when he visited neighbouring states. But today, he has called all CMs and is doing drama on delimitation, which is not even a problem at all," Annamalai said.
The first joint action meeting on delimitation begun on Saturday, with Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin addressing the meeting.
"We have come together to protect India’s democracy and federal structure. Every state has its unique identity and India’s beauty is its diversity. Only when these states grow on their own and in their own style, India can truly be a federal country," he says.
"This is a very important day in the history of federalism in India," says Stalin
"Delimitation on population will affect our political representation and that’s why we have to oppose this vehemently," says Stalin.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said social justice will be affected due to the reduction in political representation. "If we allow this to happen, we might lose representation in our own country," he says.
"BJP is trying to implement its agenda of weakening states through the Delimitation exercise," he added.
Udhayanidhi Stalin said, "...For decades, States present here have made significant efforts to control and manage the population growth. We introduced policies, raised awareness and achieved what the nation aimed for - stable population growth. While some other states continue to experience rapid population growth, we acted responsibly. As a result, we reached the population replacement rate much earlier than many other states. But instead of being rewarded for this achievement, we are now at the risk of losing our political representation."
Former Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy writes to PM Narendra Modi, "requesting that the delimitation exercise be conducted in such a manner that no State would have to endure any reduction in its representation in the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha, in terms of its share in total no. of seats in the House."
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says the Union Governmeny should launch a meaningful dialogue with states in the issue of Delimitation.
"It is the responsibility of the Centre to make its stand clear on Delimitation. Not just about numbers it is about the conscience of India," he said.
The proposed resolution at the meet seeks to freeze delimitation exercise for the next 25 years.
Delhi Assembly Leader of Opposition Atishi holds a protest alleging the non-implementation of Mahila Samman Yojana.
In his speech at meeting of states over delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy said, "We will fight together on this. The BJP doesn’t believe in discussions; it believes only in imposing its decisions."
"This meeting is aimed at protecting the country's federal structure. The country would have faced serious consequences if southern states hadn’t controlled population. Delimitation based on population is unacceptable," says former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in his speech via Video conferencing
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis holds a review meeting at Nagpur Police Headquarters regarding the law and order in the city.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "Delimitation cannot be done without a fresh census. Atal Bihari Bajpai amended the Constitution to say that the delimitation will be postponed till we complete the first census after 2026, which means 2031. That was his constitutional amendment in 2002. So, delimitation was kept frozen at 1971 population levels... When is the census coming?... Four years have passed. When is the census coming? You need delimitation for the women's reservation and distribution of Lok Sabha seats... You cannot penalize states for successes in family planning... There are many states which will lose seats... If we take the 2025 estimated population...many states will lose their representation... Because many, some states that have been successful in family planning...they are going to be penalized. That is unacceptable..."
Party statement
Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena, ally of BJP clarified party declined the invite from DMK to attend meeting to discuss de limitation. In a statement Pawan Kalyan’s political secretary and MLC P Hariprasad said Jana Sena was invited to the all-party meeting organized by the DMK party in Chennai to discuss the reorganization of constituencies. However, Jana Sena Party informed that they couldn't attend the meeting. He said There were rumors that Jana Sena attended the meeting, but he clarified that it was just speculation. The DMK party representatives extended an invitation to Jana Sena to participate in the meeting. Jana Sena will announce their stance on the reorganization of constituencies on an official platform, said the statement from Jana Sena.
BJP's Sukanta Majumdar and Agnimitra Paul have also joined the protests
- Economic empowerment of women
- Education
- Health
- Yamuna cleaning
- Pollution
- Waterlogging
The announcement was made by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta
After attending the first Joint Action Committee meeting on delimitation in Chennai, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy says, "We will take up this issue in Delhi. We are going to organize a closed-door meeting as well as a public meeting. This is a public issue, and we want to create awareness among the public."- PTI
On Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar's "Anyone who shows an eye to our Muslim brothers..." remark, BJP MP Narayan Rane says, "It seems Ajit Pawar has started a new business of checking eyes."- ANI
The proposed delimitation exercise by the Centre was not just a numbers game but a planned attack on the non-BJP ruled states to reduce their representation in the Parliament, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Saturday- PTI
Four days after being cautioned by the TMC legislature party not to make provocative statements in public, Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir on Saturday dared the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari to enter Murshidabad district on April 13 and face the music- PTI
Bharat Rashtra Samithi Working President K T Rama Rao on Saturday alleged that the current policy of delimitation "poses a threat to the future of southern states", undermining their economic contributions, governance achievements, and democratic representation -PTI
BJD leader Pradeep Majhi says, " After BJP came to power in Odisha, reign of terror is going on. They want to capture all the govt and administration...in Raigarh, the ADM was humiliated because he is a tribal. The BJP district President (of Rayagada), Gopi Anand has collected lakhs of money from the businessmen there. He told them that his party is with him and if they don't pay, they won't exist there...we condemn this. BJD is with people who have sought protection from govt..." -ANI
Ganguly remarked, "She (Mamata Banerjee) herself says a lot of wrong things which does not befit her as a woman and a chief minister."
Referring to Banerjee's earlier comment that women should avoid going out at night, Ganguly questioned her latest move, stating, "Just a few days ago, she said that women should not go out at night, but now women will work in bars? What kind of future is she creating for the women of Bengal?"- ANI
Senior AAP leaders and party supporters took to the streets in multiple locations, distributing symbolic cheques of "Bank of Jumla' to highlight what they said was BJP's "broken commitment", an official statement of AAP said - PTI