Maha Congress: BJP trying to ‘murder’ Indian democratic system through EVMs, ONOE

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Nagpur (Maharashtra), Dec 17 (IANS) Continuing to take potshots at the government, Maharashtra Congress President Nana F. Patole claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA is attempting to ‘murder’ the Indian democratic system through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), here on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Patole said that the EVMs used in the Lok Sabha elections were not utilised for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, for which EVMs were allegedly brought here from Gujarat.

“There is a gross misuse of EVMs. BJP members are sitting on the board of directors of the companies manufacturing EVMs. The EVMs deployed during the Lok Sabha polls were not used for the state Assembly polls and for this, the EVMs were sent from Gujarat,” contended Patole.

He again slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for “failing to exercise its constitutional powers” and alleged that all its operations are conducted at the behest of the BJP, “thus revealing their (ECI’s) mindset” – though the government and ECI have rubbished all anti-EVM allegations.

Taking a swipe at the One Nation-One Election, Patole added that the BJP-RSS’ machinations to end the country’s democracy are evident by the ‘One Nation, One Election’ bill brought before Parliament on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) legislators continued their strong protests for the second day against EVMs, the plight of farmers, the custodial death of a Parbhani Dalit man Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi in judicial custody, and the killing of a Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

The MVA legislators of Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) raised slogans and carried placards condemning the MahaYuti government, targeted the police for alleged atrocities in Parbhani and protecting the culprits in the Beed case, plus sought action against the officials concerned in both matters.

Amid the growing clamour from the Opposition, the Speaker said that the Parbhani matter would be taken up for discussion on Wednesday by the Assembly.

–IANS

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Delhi polls: Kejriwal, CM Atishi retain seats as AAP releases final list of 38 names (Ld)

New Delhi, Dec 15 (IANS) Taking a lead over rivals, the ruling AAP released its final and fourth list of 38 candidates for Delhi Assembly elections on Sunday, re-fielding Chief Minister Atishi from her Kalkaji constituency and Arvind Kejriwal from the New Delhi seat.

The party has now named 70 candidates even before the announcement of Assembly poll dates, giving its nominees almost two months for campaigning.

Controversial Uttam Nagar legislator Naresh Balyan, arrested in an alleged extortion case, has been replaced by his wife Pooja Naresh Balyan.

The AAP has also reposed faith in Mehrauli legislator Naresh Yadav, who was attacked by the Opposition parties after his conviction in a Quran sacrilege case in Punjab.

The AAP has also backed many MLAs who have been involved in controversies over the last five years. Satyendra Kumar Jain, who remained in jail in a money laundering case, and Amanatullah Khan, who was involved in a case related to alleged Waqf Board irregularities, have been re-fielded from Shakur Basti and Okhla, respectively.

A surprise inclusion was Ramesh Pahelwan from Kasturba Nagar, replacing three-time sitting legislator Madan Lal. Pahelwan has returned to the party fold, after leaving it in 2013, just hours before the release of the final list of party candidates.

The list, issued by AAP National General Secretary Sandeep Pathak, showed the party’s belief in the performance of over three dozen sitting legislators who have again been given tickets.

Minister Gopal Rai will contest from Babarpur and his Cabinet colleague Saurabh Bhardwaj will fight the election from Greater Kailash.

Former MP Mahabal Mishra’s son Vinay Mishra has once again been fielded from Dwarka. Former Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti has also been re-fielded from Malviya Nagar.

Some of the other key candidates are: Sanjeev Jha from Burari, Ajesh Yadav from Badli, Mohinder Goyal from Rithala, Jai Bhagwan from Bawana, Mukesh Kumar Ahlawat from Sultan Pur Majra, Raghuvinder Shokeen from Nangloi Jat, Bandana Kumari from Shalimar Bagh, Preeti Tomar from Tri Nagar, Rajesh Gupta from Wazirpur, Akhilesh Pati Tripathi from Model Town, Som Dutt from Sadar Bazar, Shoaib Iqbal from Matia Mahal and Imran Hussain from Ballimaran.

Others include Vishesh Ravi from Karol Bagh, Shiv Charan Goel from Moti Nagar, Dhanwati Chandela from Rajouri Garden, Raj Kumari Dhillon from Hari Nagar, Jarnail Singh from Tilak Nagar, Mahinder Yadav from Vikaspuri, Virender Singh Kadian from Delhi Cantonment, Durgesh Pathak from Rajinder Nagar, Pramila Tokas from R.K. Puram, Ajay Dutt from Ambedkar Nagar, Dinesh Mohaniya from Sangam Vihar, Sahi Ram from Tughlakabad, Kuldeep Kumar from Kondli and Surendra Kumar from Gokalpur.

–IANS

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J&K traffic cop suspended for misbehaviour with lawyer

Jammu, Dec 17 (IANS) An Assistant Sub-Inspector of J&K Traffic Police was placed under suspension on Tuesday for alleged misbehaviour with a local lawyer in Jammu city.

The alleged misbehaviour incident led to a road blockade as lawyers demonstrated against the conduct of the traffic policeman, prompting swift action from the authorities.

“The suspended officer has been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector, Kamal Kumar. According to the lawyers, the officer allegedly misbehaved with one of their colleagues sparking outrage within the legal community. The Bar Association, Jammu had strongly condemned the incident demanding strict action against the officer. The Association further alleged that ASI Kamal Kumar is a habitual offender who frequently misuses his authority and misbehaves with the public,” an official said.

Responding to the protest, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Jammu suspended the officer pending further investigation into the matter.

The J&K Traffic Police has come under public pressure during the last month after two youths were killed in a road rage accident in Srinagar on November 15.

Two teenagers died and two others were injured after their car rammed into a stationary truck before hitting a divider in Srinagar city on November 15. The accident had sparked calls for strict action against underage driving in the Valley.

The four teenagers involved in the accident were students of Class 11. The entire accident was captured on CCTV and showed their SUV crashing into the parked truck.

Several people including politicians expressed grief over the loss of lives, while the incident triggered calls from society to ban underage driving.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said road sense shows no sign of improving.

Traffic police later started a campaign against underage driving and those violating traffic rules. In Srinagar city alone, over 3,000 vehicles of various types were seized during the anti-underage driving campaign by police.

–IANS

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Ajit Pawar skips visit to Reshimbaug as most MahaYuti legislators pay homage to RSS founder

Nagpur, Dec 19 (IANS) NCP chief and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, and most of the party legislators except for the legislator from Gondiya district Raju Karemore from the state Assembly and Council on Thursday skipped visiting the Hedgewar Smriti Mandir (HSM).

The HSM which is a memorial of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder KB Hedgewar in Reshimbaug is situated here in the orange city.

However, most of the MahaYuti legislators belonging to the BJP and Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader Eknath Shinde, were present and attended the ‘Baudhik’.

This was a part of a customary annual ritual to visit the HSM since the BJP-led government came to power in 2014.

This visit coincided with the ongoing Winter Session of the state legislature.

The MahaYuti legislators paid homage to the RSS founder and also to former RSS chief MS Golwalkar who was Hedgewar’s immediate successor.

Ajit Pawar had also skipped visiting HSM last year. He has been consistent that although the NCP has joined the BJP-led MahaYuti it is not in line with its Hindutva agenda.

However, he has reiterated that the NCP follows and implements the ideology of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mahatma Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu and BR Ambedkar.

Ajit Pawar during the recently held state Assembly elections had objected to the BJP’s ‘Batenge toh Katenge’ call.

Interestingly, NCP legislator Karemore was the lone NCP legislator who reached HSM.

“I have not been told by the party that no one should go to the Smriti Mandir. I have come to pay homage. I will discuss this with Ajit Pawar and he will also come here. Visiting this place gives energy,” he said.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde along with Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, ministers Chandrakant Patil, Dada Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Nitesh Rane, Jayakumar Rawal, Shambhuraj Desai, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Uday Samant and BJP legislators Praveen Darekar, Ram Shinde, Chitra Wagh among others were present.

–IANS

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