BJP MLA in Bihar stirs row with Afghanistan remark
Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Aug, 2021 03:01 PM
Patna, Aug 18 (IANS) The BJP MLA from the Bispi Assembly constituency in Bihar's Madhubani district, Hari Bhushan Thakur Bachaul, made a controversial statement on Wednesday when he said that people having problems staying in India should go to Afghanistan and avail petrol and diesel at a lower price there.
"Our country is divided into religions. If people of this country don't become cautious, India would soo turn into a Taliban country like Afghanistan. The patriots of our country should analyse the situation of Afghanistan and learn from it. They should take measures accordingly in the interest of India," Bachaul said.
"Many people in India are against the policies of our government. They are raising questions over rising fuel prices. The fuel prices are high in the country but the living conditions in India are far better than any other country. Still if anyone has problems living here, they should go to Afghanistan and avail petrol and diesel at a lower rate there," he said.
"The situation is extremely shocking in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. People are desperate to leave the country. Many of them tried to travel on the wings of aircraft. Three of them even died after falling from the aircraft. Imagine what the situation in Afghanistan is like," he said.
Rejecting all opposition to his elevation, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party's new Punjab unit President along with four Working Presidents.
Calling the reports of alleged snooping on prominent citizens using Israeli Pegasus spyware as "baseless", the ruling BJP on Monday said there is not a single shred of evidence so far that links either the central government or the party to this controversy.
Congress MPs from both Houses had met on Sunday afternoon at Rajya Sabha member Pratap Singh Bajwa's residence to discuss the issues related to Punjab and sought an appointment with Gandhi.
Apart from reviewing the security arrangements in the national capital, the Delhi Police have also strengthened the security in and around the Red Fort ahead of the Independence Day.
Police said acting on a specific information, Budgam Police along with the Army's 53 RR and 43 BN of the CRPF arrested one local terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one Chinese pistol, one magazine, eight live pistol rounds from his possession.
As the Pegasus spyware scandal unravelled within and outside Parliament, he termed it a "shocking assault" on India's democratic polity by the Union government, which had compromised the national security with "this blatantly disgraceful act".