Mumbai, April 10: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Thursday sharply criticised the Congress’ recent resolution focused on OBC votes, accusing it of fueling caste-based divisions for political gains.

“In its Ahmedabad convention, the Congress failed to oppose divisive forces operating under the guise of caste and religion. Instead, it passed a resolution aimed solely at consolidating OBC votes. This represents a dramatic and dangerous departure from its earlier nationalistic approach and exposes its hidden agenda of social division through caste politics,” the former MP said.

Recalling the Congress’ past stances, Nirupam told reporters that previous conventions saw the party adopt resolutions on Gram Swarajya, economic liberalisation, and bank nationalisation — initiatives aimed at national development.

“The Congress once took a firm stand against the politics of caste, language, and religion. But now, it is mirroring the tactics of regional parties by embracing caste-based vote-bank politics. This ideological U-turn is both disappointing and alarming,” he said.

He further alleged that the Congress is steadily drifting away from its national identity.

“The party is increasingly behaving like a regional outfit, prioritising short-term electoral gains over national unity,” Nirupam remarked.

Taking aim at Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray, Nirupam questioned his stance on the Congress’ caste resolution.

“For 25 years, Sena-UBT ruled the BMC, yet Aaditya never inspected drain cleaning works. Now, out of power, he is suddenly conducting inspections. It raises serious questions—are these visits just a new way to pressurise contractors for commissions?”

Highlighting the current administration’s achievements, Nirupam praised former Chief Minister and current Deputy CM Eknath Shinde for transforming Mumbai’s infrastructure.

“Under CM Shinde’s leadership, Mumbai’s roads have been concretised and are now virtually pothole-free. This is what real development looks like — not empty optics,” he said.

Mumbai: In an important meeting of scholars of all ideologies on the loudspeaker controversy in Govind Shivaji Nagar, Mumbai, it was decided that the documents of mosques, schools and madrasas should be certified and along with this, police permission for loudspeakers should also be obtained without any restriction because communal elements, especially Crate Soumya, are trying to spoil the atmosphere of Mumbai city, so he is constantly targeting mosques, schools and madrasas.

Addressing this meeting, Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi said that Crate Soumya is suffering from mosques and Azan. He is promoting communalism to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, so Muslims need to be careful with him. He said that the way the law was flouted near Maloni Mosque on Ram Navami, DJ was played. He said that today the Constitution is being flouted, so Muslims need to be patient and be ready to work strategically. He said that a meeting should be held with the BMC and Police Commissioner on this issue and they should be made aware of the situation. Along with this, a ban has also been demanded on these miscreants. He further said that the illegal visit of miscreants, especially Krit Soumya, should be stopped.

Former minister and Congress leader Arif Naseem Khan said that we need to correct the documents of mosques, schools and madrasas and respond to them legally. Arif Naseem Khan said that along with the legal documents of madrasas, it is also mandatory to obtain loudspeaker permits. He said that we need to work cautiously and not in passion because communal elements are constantly trying to bring Muslims on the streets and mislead them, but we have to respond to them legally. Arif Naseem Khan proposed that only Azan should be given on loudspeaker and the rest of the speeches should be given using the speakers installed inside the mosque, to which the scholars agreed.

In this meeting, a team of lawyers was formed which will try to sort out the papers and other legal problems of the mosques and then legal action will be taken in this regard. Abu Asim Azmi said that the miscreants have objection only to the loudspeakers of mosques. In this, Raj Thackeray, Krant Soumya, Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Nitish Rane are creating an atmosphere of hatred and are conspiring to lure Muslims and bring them on the streets so that the atmosphere gets spoiled. Muslims need to be vigilant, so my demand is that these hateful leaders should be completely banned and their tours should also be banned so that a peaceful atmosphere is maintained. In this meeting, Maulana Abdul Rahman Ziyai said that legal action has been taken regarding the objection to loudspeakers on mosques. Apart from this, Krant Soumya and other leaders are also targeting madrasas. Their documents are also being investigated, which is completely wrong. However, work is also being done on the authenticity of the documents of madrasas and other issues.

Udupi (Karnataka), April 10: The Karnataka BJP’s ‘Janakrosh Yatra’, organised against the Congress-led government over price rises and reservations for Muslims in tenders for public work, entered its fourth day on Thursday. The BJP tore into the Congress-led Siddaramaiah government for “failing” the backward classes who comprise more than 50 per cent of the total population in the state.

Speaking at a public gathering here, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kota Srinivas Poojary said: “We have no objection if you give Rs 10,000 crore or even Rs 1 lakh crore to minorities. But what about the children from backward classes and Scheduled Castes who are now in a situation where they are crying out for hostel seats? What justice have you (addressing Siddaramaiah) done to these communities who constitute more than 50 per cent of the population?”

He also demanded an answer to whether the Congress was elected to power so that slogans like “Let Pakistan win” could be raised in the Vidhana Soudha. He said that the “nationalist” Congress members must respond to this.

Poojary further said: “The fall of CM Siddaramaiah’s government is certain, and there should be no doubt about it.”

“Just like blowing of wind and fluttering of curtains are inevitable, so is the fall of this government. He further emphasised that the people across Karnataka are expressing outrage against the current administration, and various public protests are taking place.

Karnataka unit BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, addressing the gathering, said: “The Congress-led government has been reduced to a government of advertisements. It is not the government of the poor. Instead, it is burdening the poor with price hikes.

CM Siddaramaiah came to power in the name of backwards and oppressed classes. But, after coming to power, he has conveniently forgotten those people and going behind a minority community and pursuing the anti-Hindu policy, Vijayendra said.

“There are no elections around the corner for the BJP to organise the Janakrosh Yatra to gain any political advantage. The main objective is to oppose the Congress led government and create awareness among people against its anti-people policies,” he underlined.

Former minister B. Sriramulu appealed to BJP leaders and workers to work hard to bring the party back to power in the future.

Speaking at a public meeting organised on Thursday in Udupi as part of the BJP’s Janakrosha Yatra, he said due to rising prices, common people in the state are now struggling to survive.

“On one hand, the government remains silent, deaf, and mute. It sits like the blind, refusing to see the reality. This protest is being carried out to awaken the government and because people are facing real problems in their daily lives,” he explained.

He strongly condemned the suspension of BJP MLAs who were forcefully removed from the Assembly by marshals during the Budget session.

He pointed out that Siddaramaiah’s close associate, MLA and CM’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy himself has stated that Karnataka has now reached the number one position in corruption in the entire country.

“Corruption is rising at an alarming level. There is a competition among Congress ministers over who can be more corrupt. This Congress government is looting all the wealth of the state. Ministers are busy collecting money and securing their positions,” he said.

The BJP leader further alleged that in the Valmiki Development Corporation and other similar institutions, funds are being emptied through corruption, and then government-appointed officers are used to give clean chits under the pretext of investigations.

Poojary praised Udupi district, calling it a place that has taught discipline and dedication to the entire state and to BJP workers.

Recalling the contributions of the late BJP leader V.S. Acharya, he said that whenever the topic of Udupi comes up, Acharya’s memory resurfaces.

He concluded by urging everyone to work towards bringing the BJP back to power in 2028 under the leadership of B.Y. Vijayendra.