New Delhi:

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks at a rally in Madhya Pradesh yesterday, in which he said backward classes had no rights before Independence and only kings were powerful, has riled up BJP leaders from erstwhile royal families.

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and his cousin and BJP MP Dushyant Singh have hit out at the Leader of the Opposition, saying that his remarks show his ignorance of the contributions of erstwhile royal families.

Addressing the Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan rally in Madhya Pradesh’s Mhow yesterday, Mr Gandhi said, “Remember, before Independence and before the Constitution, the poor in this country had no rights, the Dalits had no rights, the backward classes had no rights, the tribals had no rights. Only rajas and maharajas had rights. The Independence brought rights. You got land and land rights.”

Mr Scindia, the Union Communications Minister and a member of the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior, responded sharply to Mr Gandhi’s remarks. “The remarks of Rahul Gandhi, who considers the Constitution his pocket diary, on the role of India’s royal families before Independence show his narrow mindset. In his hunger for power, he has forgotten that these royal families laid the foundation of equality in the country,” he said.

Mr Scindia said Baroda king Sayajirao Gaekwad helped Babasaheb Ambedkar financially so that he could pursue education. “Shahuji Maharaj provided 50 per cent reservation to backward classes in his administration in 1902, laying the foundation of social justice. Gwalior’s Madhav Maharaj I set up centres of education and jobs to empower backward classes,” he said.

Mr Scindia, who was earlier with the Congress and was among the leaders close to Mr Gandhi, said it was the Congress that gave birth to the tyrannical mindset that attacked the rights of Dalits and backward classes. “Rahul Gandhi, first study history, then give speeches,” he said.

Five-time MP Dushyant Singh, whose mother and BJP veteran Vasundhara Raje is Jyotiraditya Scindia’s aunt, said Mr Gandhi’s remarks are an example of his “reckless ‘hit-and-run’ politics, where he makes sweeping generalisations without understanding history”. “Claiming that royal families did nothing for the poor shows ignorance of the immense contributions made by leaders like Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, who championed social reforms, and the Gaekwad family of Vadodara, who supported Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s education.

The Dholpur royals also played a crucial role in social and infrastructural development. Maharaj Rana Nihal Singh modernised the state’s administration, built hospitals, and developed essential public infrastructure like roads and railways, while his successor continued these progressive efforts,” said Mr Singh, a member of the Dholpur royal family.

“These families played pivotal roles in shaping India’s progress toward equality and justice. Dismissing their efforts not only disrespects their legacy but also exposes Rahul’s habit of making baseless comments for political mileage. Instead of undermining history, he should focus on substantive solutions to current issues,” he added.

Countering the royal charge, Congress leader Pawan Khera said good deeds by a handful of royals do not eclipse the majority’s bad deeds. Targeting Mr Scindia, he said if the Constitution was not amended, the Gwalior dynasty would still be drawing Rs 25 lakh tax-free from the Indian government, as they did till 1971.

In a swipe at Mr Scindia’s royal lineage, Mr Khera quoted Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s poem, Khub Ladi Mardani Woh Toh Jhansi Wali Rani Thi, which remembers Queen Lakshmibai’s bravery during the First War of Independence in 1857. The lines recount that the ruler of the Scindia dynasty, who sided with the British during the 1857 revolt, had fled the capital.

Mr Scindia’s political rivals have often used the “traitor” jab against him by citing Gwalior ruler Jayakirao Scindia’s decision to side with the British during the 1857 revolt. This is, however, an oversimplification of history. The notion of a unified India did not exist during the 1857 revolt and princely states had their rivalries and interests to protect. Going to war against the British was sure to draw a brutal couunterstrike and the Scindias’ decision at the time should be seen through the prism of practical considerations instead of viewing it according to the binaries of patriotism or betrayal.

New Delhi:

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said that TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee has submitted a written apology for his remarks against Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia besides apologising in the House.

As soon as the House met, some members belonging to the ruling alliance stood up to raise the issue of the remarks made by Banerjee.

However, Birla intervened and said whatever happened on Wednesday was unfortunate and no member should make any personal remark against any fellow member.

Without taking the name of Banerjee, he said any remark against women is in bad taste and it hurts their dignity and honour.

The speaker said agreements and disagreements are part of the democratic process but no member should make any personal remark against anyone.

“The member concerned had apologised (in the House). He has also given me in writing too,” he said and started with the day’s proceedings.

On Wednesday, there were verbal clashes when Banerjee was speaking in the House during a discussion on the amendments to the Disaster Management Act.

The TMC member had alleged non-cooperation by the central government during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai countered it, saying it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who helped all the states and successfully handled the crisis by taking everyone along.

Rai also alleged that the West Bengal government tried to put hurdles in the transportation of the Covid vaccines through the state.

Scindia stood up to support Rai, saying that India had emerged as a “Vishwa Bandhu” during the pandemic and helped all the needy countries across the world.

Following this, Banerjee attacked Scindia and made certain remarks against the minister which were expunged by the Speaker after an uproar.

The verbal spat between the treasury and opposition benches led to adjournment.

When the House reconvened, Banerjee apologised for his remarks, but Scindia refused to accept it, saying the opposition members should desist from making personal attacks.

“Mr Kalyan Banerjee rose in this House and said sorry. But I will say that we all come to this House with the spirit of contributing to the nation’s development… but we also come with a sense of self-respect.

“Any individual in their lives will not stand compromising with their self-respect. Attack us on our policies, on our views, but if you will get personal, certainly be prepared for the response,” the Union minister said.

“He has apologised… I do not accept his apology for the personal attack that he had made on me and on the women of India,” he said.

Banerjee apologised again but protests from treasury benches continued leading to two more adjournments of the House. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Guna, Madhya Pradesh:

Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the BJP’s candidate from Madhya Pradesh’s Guna for the Lok Sabha elections, on Thursday said that he is ‘spider’ of the constituency as he has created a vast network of roads there.

Scindia, while addressing a gathering of the Rawat community in Guna’s Shivpuri, also asked people to ensure the BJP gets 370 votes extra in every booth when compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls so that Narendra Modi is elected as prime minister for a third term.

“Twenty years ago when I resolved to walk on the path of dedication, I decided that if no one would solve your problems, Jyotiraditya Scindia would… I am the spider of Shivpuri. I have built a network of roads here, a network of substations, a network of irrigation facilities, and a network of progress and development for the people here…” he said.

“To make Narendra Modi PM for the third time, we have to work on increasing (BJP) votes by 370 in each booth,” he said.

The minister further said that under the PM’s leadership, several welfare schemes were underway for farmers, women, youth and the poor, including giving free rations to 80 crore people and the Ayushman Bharat health initiative.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the slogan of ‘abki baar 400 paar’. Under his leadership, Article 370 has been abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir. Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee (Jan Sangh’s founder) sacrificed his life for removal of Article 370. The PM is working to make India a developed nation by 2047,” he said.

The Congress is pitting former BJP leader Rao Yadvendra Singh Yadav against Jyotiraditya Scindia. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Scindia, then a Congress candidate, had lost to K P Yadav. Scindia’s defeat from his own turf by 1.25 lakh votes set in motion a series of events, including an internal party struggle, eventually resulting in Scindia’s exit from the party in 2020. He took 22 MLAs with him, causing the collapse of the Congress government led by Kamal Nath that had come to power in 2018. The BJP brought Scindia into Parliament via the Rajya Sabha and made him a Union minister.

The BJP has named candidates for all 29 seats in the state. The Congress is yet to announce names for Gwalior, Khandwa and Morena seats.

Scindia has begun campaigning in the seat, which votes on May 7, before he was even officially declared the BJP candidate and has been attending important events of different communities.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh:

Nothing is impossible for India today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said hours after the completion of a key test in the country’s ambitious human space flight mission Gaganyaan, and averred that his government was working with a long-term vision since it came to power.

Several “pending” works such as the abrogation of Article 370, banning of triple talaq and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax have been accomplished in the last ten years, he said, speaking at the 125th foundation day of The Scindia School in Gwalior.

He also praised the contribution of the Scindia family, the erstwhile rulers of the Gwalior state. Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is the president of the school’s Board of Governors, was also present.

“I became prime minister in 2014. After that our government started work with a long-term vision. Our government has abrogated Article 370, (a task) which was pending for 60 years, implemented One Rank One Pension scheme (for defence forces) and GST which were pending for 40 years, triple talaq (ban which was pending) for decades and women’s reservation (in legislatures) that was pending for years during a tenure of ten years as part of the long-term vision,” P,M Modi said.

His government has accomplished so many things that they can not be listed “even in one whole night,” he added.

“Today morning itself we successfully tested Gaganyaan,” the prime minister said, referring to the completion of the first unmanned test flight in India’s ambitious human space flight mission Gaganyaan at Sriharikota.

He also mentioned plans for launching a space station, success of the Tejas fighter jet program and indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

“Nothing is impossible for India today,” the prime minister said. Noting that the Shatabdi Express trains were introduced when the late Madhavrao Scindia was railway minister, PM Modi said after that, no new trains with modern amenities were started in the country for decades. His government introduced modern Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains, he added.

On August 23, India took a giant leap when Chandrayaan-3 became the first space mission to land successfully on the moon’s South Pole, the prime minister said.

India has now the world’s third largest start-up ecosystem, the prime minister said, adding that from 100 in 2014, the number of start-ups has risen to nearly one lakh.

Further, India has the world’s second largest base of Internet users and stands second in mobile phone manufacturing too, PM Modi added.

His government has also opened the space sector for the youth, the prime minister said.

Narendra Modi called upon The Scindia School students to adopt a village, focus on cleanliness, remain “vocal for local”, raise awareness about the benefits of natural farming among farmers, adopt a poor family, consume millets, and practice yoga, among other things.

“Next 25 years of your life are crucial for you and the country. Make a resolve to make the country a developed nation in the next 25 years with the ‘nation first’ approach,” he said.

“Think out of the box. The world is yours,” the prime minister said.

He also released a commemorative postage stamp on the school on this occasion.

Praising the Scindia family, Modi said their past generations built ghats along the Ganga in Varanasi and provided financial help for setting up Banaras Hindu University.

The Scindia rulers were far-sighted and promoted water conservation and education in their state, the prime minister said, adding that the Harsi dam in Gwalior, built with mud, meets water needs of the people even after decades.

Very few people perhaps know that a company started by the Scindias later became the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), he said.

Famous personalities like actor Salman Khan, singer Nitin Mukesh and radio announcer Ameen Sayani were alumni of this school, the prime minister noted. Nitin Mukesh, notably, was present at the program.

Union minister Scindia in his speech recalled that when information technology was introduced in the country in the 1980s, Scindia School was the first institute in the country to include it in the curriculum.

Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangu Bhai Patel, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh (an alumnus of The Scindia School) were also present on the occasion.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Gwalior:

Highlighting the growth potential of India’s aviation sector, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday said now is the time for aerospace players to look at leveraging the opportunities in the country.

Amid the global aviation segment facing headwinds of geopolitical issues and supply chain woes, the civil aviation minister also said India is the “promised land” that can help offset the risks.

The minister was speaking at the International Aerospace Conference on the theme ‘Moving Towards Inclusive Global Value Chain’ in Gwalior, which is also his home constituency. The country is one of the fastest aviation markets in the world, Scindia said adding that the number of air passengers is expected to reach 42.5 crore by 2035 from the current level of 14.5 crore.

“India has tremendous capabilities, possibilities for all of you (aerospace players)… Time has come for all of you to think afresh,” he emphasised.

“Now, it is time for aerospace industry players to supplant themselves in India,” Scindia said and highlighted that there are multiple reasons, including that the number of airports, heliports and waterdromes in the country will increase from 148 to more than 200 in the next three to five years.

The B20 conference has been curated by CII in partnership with the civil aviation ministry and the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers.

“As we talk about our competitive advantage, it is also in the fullness of things and fitness of things that to offset your risks… geopolitical risks, supply chain logistics risks, companies around the world are looking for a new promised land. The new promised land is… India,” the minister said.

According to the minister, civil aviation was once considered an elitist product but the Regional Air Connectivity Scheme UDAN has democratised civil aviation, which needs to grow as a service as well as a product.

“The time is today… I do believe that there is a yawning gap between supply and demand… not only look at India but take that step because this country is the ready platform for you if there is one anywhere in the world,” Scindia said.

Scindia also said that it was the first time in the history of India that an airport was being built in a record time of 15 months.

He was referring to the new domestic terminal at Gwalior airport spread over 2.5 lakh square metres of land and the airport is to be inaugurated in December this year.

Salil Gupte, Chairman, of the CII National Committee on Aerospace, and Head of Boeing India, mentioned the country’s vast potential within the aerospace industry.

With strategic interventions and collaborative efforts, he said India’s aerospace industry will grow from its current valuation of USD 1 billion to USD 10 billion annually.

On the first day of the two-day conference, discussions were around spawning robust aerospace manufacturing with a specific focus on MSMEs, the integration of global MRO services and air mobility, among other topics.

At a session, Rajvardhan Singh Dattigaon, who is Madhya Pradesh’s Minister of the Department of Industrial Policy & Investment Promotion, said the state is fully prepared to welcome the potential industrial investors.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)