BJD to join INDIA bloc march over SIR issue, demands CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bhubaneswar, Oct 6 (IANS) The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has announced that it will participate in the opposition parties’ protest march in New Delhi on Tuesday against the alleged arbitrary actions of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar in connection with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the deletion of the names of more than 13 crore voters across the country.

“As directed by BJD Supremo and Leader of Opposition(LoP), Naveen Patnaik, the party’s Members of Parliament will participate in the protest march,” informed the BJD Parliamentary Party Leader in the Rajya Sabha, Manas Mangaraj, on Tuesday.

He further stated that the BJD Supremo had already demanded the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over his controversial role in the SIR exercise. The senior BJD leader said that the alleged exclusion of more than 20 lakh voters in Odisha and over 13 crore voters across the country in the name of SIR has raised serious concerns.

“The incident in Dhamnagar has further strengthened these apprehensions. The deletion of 227 votes belonging to members of a minority community from a particular area, allegedly without the knowledge of the concerned BLOs, raises serious questions about the integrity of the SIR exercise,” alleged Mangaraj.

He added that thousands of voters have reportedly been excluded from the electoral rolls in the Dhamnagar Assembly constituency alone. At the same time, the voluntary retirement application submitted by the State Chief Electoral Officer has raised further questions and concerns.

The Rajya Sabha member notes that the Supreme Court’s observations regarding the modification of Form 6 have also raised serious questions about the Election Commission’s earlier directions concerning the SIR exercise. The Court clarified that no such direction had been issued by it, contrary to what had earlier been indicated by the Election Commission.

This, Mangaraj said, raises serious questions regarding the role of CEC Gyanesh Kumar in the alleged manipulation of electoral rolls.

“The BJD has maintained equal distance from both the INDIA bloc and the NDA. However, as a responsible political party committed to protecting democratic institutions and the integrity of the electoral process, the BJD will participate in today’s programme,” Mangaraj said.

–IANS

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Gujarat: Three convicted in ganja trafficking case, sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment

Surat, July 3 (IANS) Three men have been sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment each by a special court in Surat after being convicted in a ganja trafficking case involving the seizure of more than 562 kg of the narcotic, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said on Friday.

According to the NCB’s Ahmedabad Zonal Unit, the case stemmed from an operation carried out on May 4 and 5, 2020, when officers, acting on specific and reliable intelligence, intercepted three persons at Krishna Industry in Surat’s Kim area.

The operation resulted in the seizure of 562.55 kg of ganja, which investigators said had been transported illegally from Odisha to Gujarat.

The agency said its investigation established a well-organised criminal conspiracy to transport a commercial quantity of ganja across state lines for illicit sale.

The contraband was recovered from the conscious possession of the accused, following which a case was registered under Sections 8(c), 20(b)(ii)(C) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.

The NCB filed a complaint before the Special NDPS Court in Surat City in October 2020.

Following the trial before the Court of the 11th Additional District Judge, Surat City, the court delivered its judgment on July 2.

The three convicted persons were identified as Kalu Charan Behra, a resident of Bilipara, Phasi, Kodala in Odisha’s Ganjam district; Sudhir Kumar Swain, a resident of Makrapoli, Gangapur, Ganjam district; and Mithun Pradhan, a resident of Bartulu, Jamuni, also in Ganjam district.

The court sentenced each of the three convicts to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs one lakh on each.

The NCB said the seized contraband had already been disposed of on a pre-trial basis in accordance with the prescribed procedure.

In a statement, the NCB said, “This conviction reinforces NCB’s commitment to dismantling drug supply chains and ensures that those exploiting inter-state transport channels for narcotics trafficking face the full force of the law.”

The agency also reiterated its commitment to the national vision of a “Drug-Free India (Nasha Mukt Bharat)” and urged the public to share information related to drug trafficking through the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline on the toll-free number, stating that the identity of informants would remain strictly confidential.

–IANS

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Indians pledged to stand with PM Modi & armed forces: K’taka BJP

Kolar, May 7 (IANS) Karnataka BJP chief and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra claimed on Wednesday that the Indians have pledged to stand with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and with the armed forces of the country.

“PM Modi has taken bold steps to act against the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people. The people of India and the BJP have pledged to stand with PM Modi and the armed soldiers,” said Vijayendra while addressing a protest rally organised as part of the BJP’s ‘Janakrosh Yatra’ against the Congress government.

Vijayendra appealed to BJP workers and the public across the state to visit their local temples and offer prayers.

“Let us pray for strength for our soldiers. May all the nations of the world bless PM Modi with even greater strength,” he said.

He urged people to pray for divine power to uproot the terrorists and their hideouts completely, adding that the fight against the anti-people, anti-farmer, anti-poor, and anti-Hindu Congress government must continue until it is overthrown.

“At this time, the whole country, every Indian, must come together and show unity in supporting our soldiers. All political parties, including the Congress, must send a clear message of unity to the world,” he stated.

He added that Pakistan must not dare look toward India in the future, adding that the terrorists should never rise again.

“We must extend our full support to this end,” he said, reiterating that for the BJP, the nation always comes first.

He again made a heartfelt appeal to morally strengthen the soldiers.

Referring to BJP founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Vijayendra recalled his words: “Ek desh mein do nishan, do pradhan nahi chalega” (In one country, there cannot be two constitutions or two prime ministers).

“Mukherjee’s firm wish was to see the Indian flag flying in J&K. He sacrificed his life for that ideal. Today, our proud PM Modi has vowed to bring an end to such terrorist activities,” he added.

Vijayendra claimed that due to the Congress party’s “double standards” and “anti-national” policies, the terrorists have been emboldened to act with impunity.

He criticised that these very policies of the Congress led to thousands of Hindus in J&K being displaced from their homes, and also caused the loss of thousands of soldiers’ lives.

He further said that the bold leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought great strength to our soldiers. He expressed confidence that the soldiers will surely succeed in the fight against terrorists and against Pakistan.

–IANS

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Nothing to fear, probe will prove no wrongdoing: Vijayan’s son-in-law Riyas

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 8 (IANS) CPI-M MLA and former Kerala minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas on Tuesday put up a defiant front after the Enforcement Directorate sought a police case against him, his wife T. Veena, and his father-in-law and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan in the CMRL monthly payment case.

“There is nothing wrong. Let any probe take place. We will deal with it legally,” Riyas said in his first reaction to the ED move.

Riyas said he had nothing to fear as no wrongdoing had taken place.

He expressed confidence that the investigation would not establish anything against him.

“I am fully confident that nothing is going to happen in the probe. The country has seen on many occasions how ED cases have gone about,” he said.

He also appeared confident about the eventual outcome of the investigation.

“I am absolutely self-confident about the findings as no wrong has been done at all,” he said.

The strong reaction came hours after the ED asked the Kerala Police to register an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Vijayan, Veena, and Riyas in connection with alleged payments linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL).

The agency forwarded its findings to state police chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The DGP has confirmed receiving the report.

The ED has alleged that payments made by CMRL to Veena’s company, Exalogic Solutions, were not genuine payments for services and has alleged a wider financial trail involving Vijayan and Riyas.

These are allegations at the investigation stage and have not been established by a court.

The latest development assumes added significance in the wake of ED searches at the homes of two close aides of Riyas.

The ED’s action marks a major escalation in the CMRL case, which had initially centred on alleged payments to Exalogic.

The police will now examine the ED report and decide on further action, including registration of an FIR.

Riyas, however, made it clear that he was ready to face the investigation and challenge the allegations through legal means.

–IANS

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