New Town : Reacting to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a debate, West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday said the Congress leader makes such statements to remain relevant in the political discourse. This comes a day after Gandhi launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Modi, renewing his challenge to debate him on who was an anti-national and who was controlled by foreign forces, saying the debate could take place “any time, any place”. Gandhi’s remarks came a day after PM Modi, during his visit to Chhattisgarh’s Bastar on Sunday, alleged that ideological supporters of the Naxal movement, whom he described as “dimagi Naxals”, had infiltrated political parties and various organisations to instigate people against the Constitution and democracy.

Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said, “Rahul Gandhi makes such statements to stay relevant. He disappears for two to four months and then suddenly returns with statements to get media attention. These statements have no impact on the public. Such remarks are meaningless.” Reacting to the arrest of Trinamool Congress MLA Paresh Ram Das, the minister said that several elected representatives, including MLAs, MPs and even ministers, had been arrested in the past.

“Several MLAs, MPs and even ministers have been arrested in the past. Many leaders are also in jail, and they are all criminals. Numerous complaints have been filed against them. Since they were in power, no action was taken. In cases involving such serious crimes, there should be an investigation, and appropriate action should also be taken,” he said. Ghosh also reacted to the Delhi Police visit to the residence of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that allegations against anyone should be investigated irrespective of their position.

“Regardless of who is involved, any allegations against them must be investigated by the government and the police,” he said. Delhi Police on Monday visited Mamata Banerjee’s Kolkata residence and served her a notice under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in connection with a 2013 case registered at Delhi’s Parliament Street Police Station. A police personnel from the Parliament Street Police Station reached Mamata Banerjee’s residence at 30B, Harish Chatterjee Street, in Kalighat, and served the notice. Importantly, Banerjee has not been summoned as an accused in the case. She has been called as a witness or a person having knowledge of the incident, with the police seeking her statement to take the 13-year-old case forward.

Ghaziabad : A massive fire broke out at a shop near Dasna Gate in Ghaziabad late Monday night, triggering panic in the area. The fire, which erupted near Chaupala Temple, quickly spread to the goods stored inside the shop. The prompt response of the fire brigade prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby commercial establishments and averted a potential major tragedy. The shop reportedly contained a large quantity of plates, bowls and other items. Several gas cylinders were also stored inside the premises, raising concerns about a possible explosion. The presence of several other commercial establishments, including sweet shops, in the vicinity further heightened the risk of the fire spreading. According to information received, at around 12:08 a.m. on Tuesday, the Fire Station Kotwali under the Ghaziabad Commissionerate received information about a fire at a shop near Chaupala Temple in the Dasna Gate area.

Acting swiftly, the fire officer immediately rushed to the spot with two fire tenders. Upon reaching the location, firefighters found that the shop was locked and flames had engulfed a substantial portion of the goods stored inside. Assessing the seriousness of the situation, the firefighting personnel broke open the shop’s lock to gain access. Their priority was to remove the gas cylinders stored inside to prevent a possible explosion and avert a major accident. After safely taking out the cylinders, the firefighters launched an intensive operation, spraying water through hose pipes to extinguish the flames. The team carried out coordinated firefighting operations to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjoining shops. Given the presence of several commercial establishments, including a sweet shop, in the immediate vicinity, the firefighters took extra precautions while carrying out the operation.

Their timely intervention ensured that the flames did not reach the neighbouring properties. Within a short time, the fire brigade personnel brought the blaze completely under control, preventing further damage and saving the surrounding shops from being affected. Local police personnel and a large number of residents were also present at the scene during the operation. The prompt action by the fire department not only helped protect the property of neighbouring shopkeepers but also prevented a potentially serious incident by ensuring the safe removal of the gas cylinders before they could explode. Following the successful firefighting operation, the situation in the area returned to normal.

No further spread of the fire to nearby establishments was reported.

New Delhi : Reacting to senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s statement about breaking down to tears during the Babri Masjid demolition, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Monday accused her of selective concern, alleging that the Congress party has consistently pursued the politics of Muslim appeasement. Speaking to Media, Giriraj Singh said, “She rightly said that she shed tears when the Babri Masjid was demolished and when the Batla House encounter took place. But when there was violence during the Ram temple movement and kar sevaks were killed, she did not shed tears for them. Perhaps that is because the issue concerns Hindus. How committed has Sonia Gandhi ever been to India?” He further questioned Sonia Gandhi’s citizenship and alleged that she had stayed in India illegally for more than 12 years before acquiring citizenship.

“She was married and came to India; she was not minor. She was living in the country illegally for more than 12 years. What affection would she have for the country? I want to ask Sonia ji, you talk about vote theft. You were staying here by committing vote theft without taking citizenship, and you also cast votes,” he told Media. The remarks come as Sonia Gandhi has revisited the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992 and the Emergency imposed by her mother-in-law and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975 in her forthcoming memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, scheduled for publication on November 10. In an interview, Sonia Gandhi recalled breaking down in tears while watching the Babri Masjid being demolished in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. Giriraj Singh also criticised Samajwadi Party leader Sanatan Pandey over his remarks defending the firing on kar sevaks during the Ram temple movement under the then Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

“This is the same politics of Muslim appeasement that the Congress pursued through its vote-bank politics. Mulayam Singh Yadav played the same game, as did Lalu Yadav in Bihar. Akhilesh Yadav is playing the same game today,” he said. Separately, commenting on the controversy surrounding Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s Diwali greetings, Giriraj Singh accused him of echoing the views of Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family. “Kharge is merely a mouthpiece of Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family. He only says what is on Rahul Gandhi’s mind. Even on Diwali, Kharge did not extend greetings to Hindus and followers of Sanatan Dharma. Instead, he remembered Eid and its delicacies. When the Congress was in power, it had said that Muslims had the first right to the country’s resources. His remarks have exposed the Congress’s politics of appeasement, particularly Muslim appeasement,” he said.