Op White Strike: NCB recovers cocaine worth Rs 1,745 crore from Mumbai

New Delhi, Aug 13 (IANS) BJP lawmaker Anurag Thakur on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his repeated assertions and charges against the Election Commission of India (ECI) as well as its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign in Bihar and cited ‘multiple examples from the past’ to rebut his claims.

Addressing press conference at the party headquarters, the BJP MP dismissed the claims of “vote theft” and irregularities in the electoral process as baseless and politically motivated, accusing Congress of attempting to undermine democratic institutions due to repeated electoral defeats.

“If there is a record of losing elections 90 times under any one leader, it is under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. Even within the Congress Party, questions are raised about his leadership. When he loses, he blames the EVMs, sometimes the Election Commission, and even the voters,” said Thakur, while dubbing Rahul’s allegations part of a deliberate misinformation campaign.

Thakur argued that the Congress Party itself had laid the foundation for electoral corruption in India. Citing historical examples, he said that Congress and CPI conspired to defeat Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, in the very first general election in 1952. “They ran a ‘vote theft business’ back then. Dr. Ambedkar, a saint-like figure, was made to lose by just 14,561 votes, and from that moment, Congress started eroding the sanctity of elections,” he said.

He further added that it was Congress that introduced booth capturing in 1957 and went on to conduct large-scale rigging in 1987 in collaboration with the National Conference (NC). He also cited the 1975 judgment by Justice Sinha, which found Indira Gandhi guilty on two counts of electoral malpractice, exposing the misuse of government machinery and staff for political gain.

“Even Indira Gandhi once called voters a ‘bunch of fools’ after losing elections. This has been the party’s attitude whenever they face defeat,” Thakur said.

On Rahul Gandhi’s claim that number of voters were exponentially increased after 5 p.m. during the Maharashtra elections, Thakur termed it ‘misleading and misguiding’.

On Special Summary Revisions (SIR) in Bihar, Thakur said, “The Election Commission has been conducting SIR and listening to public complaints in Bihar, there are no problems encountered by people during the process. Yet Congress, instead of cooperating, is resorting to false accusations. They are insulting the voters of this country,” he asserted.

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s refusal to submit evidence of alleged voter roll discrepancies, Thakur said, “My direct question to Rahul Gandhi is: what are you afraid of, Rahul ji? You don’t provide affidavits, you don’t present any evidence, and you run away after making baseless allegations. This has become your method, spreading confusion during elections. You even refused to engage with constitutional institutions despite repeated requests.”

Thakur further stated that Congress is trying to create doubt about India’s electoral process because voters have repeatedly rejected them, and this latest smear campaign is simply a cover-up for their political failures.

–IANS

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Mumbai, March 14 (IANS) Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, clarified on Saturday that domestic consumers need not worry about any shortage of cooking gas following the Central government’s decision to halt supplies for commercial purposes.

He emphasised that household LPG distribution remains smooth and unaffected across the country.

Speaking to news agency IANS, Kadam said that the Centre has directed oil companies to stop providing gas for all commercial uses nationwide due to current global challenges.

However, he reassured citizens that adequate stocks are available for home use, with no interruptions expected.

“We have sufficient gas in reserve, and there is no reason for anyone to panic. Domestic supply will continue without any break,” he said.

The Minister urged people to use cooking gas responsibly and avoid wastage.

He pointed to the ongoing war in the Middle East as a factor requiring caution, saying that conservation is essential during this period of international tension.

Despite the conflict disrupting energy routes for many nations, Minister Kadam highlighted that India’s supply chains have remained stable, thanks to strong diplomatic relations maintained by the Union government.

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, the Minister said that India’s global standing has risen significantly since PM Modi took office.

He credited the Prime Minister for building robust ties with countries worldwide, including Iran, which has ensured continued gas deliveries even amid the crisis.

“PM Modi has elevated India’s respect on the international stage and forged strong diplomatic connections with every nation. This is why, despite the war, our friendly relations with Iran have kept supplies steady. Just yesterday, a large oil tanker arrived in India,” he noted.

Minister Kadam added that the benefits of these international relationships are now directly reaching ordinary citizens by safeguarding essential supplies like domestic LPG.

He described PM Modi’s approach as unmatched, saying no previous Prime Minister has worked in such a dedicated manner to strengthen India’s position abroad and protect national interests during tough times.

The clarification comes as reports indicate disruptions in commercial LPG availability, affecting hotels, restaurants, and industries in various parts of the country, including Mumbai.

The Centre has prioritised household needs, hospitals, and essential sectors while encouraging alternatives for non-domestic users.

Minister Kadam’s statement aims to calm public concerns and promote mindful consumption to maintain stability until global conditions improve.

–IANS

sktr/khz

Nashik, April 3 (IANS) A major financial scam has come to light during the ongoing investigation into self-styled godman Ashok Kharat. He is already facing serious allegations of sexual exploitation of women and financial fraud in the name of spirituality.

Preliminary findings have revealed that Kharat allegedly opened more than 130 fake bank accounts during 2021–22, say crime branch officials. These accounts were created in the names of different individuals, and were used to facilitate transactions worth crores of rupees, they added.

Several of these accounts were operated allegedly through financial entities such as Samata Credit Institution and Jagdamba Credit Institution, the officials point out.

In what has come as another startling revelation, Kharat was, according to crime branch, listed as the nominee in all these accounts. There is evidence which suggest that large sums — often running into lakhs — were transferred through these accounts within a single day, say the investigators. Officials estimate that transactions exceeding Rs 50 crore may have been routed through this network so far.

The investigation has also raised suspicions of the involvement of influential individuals, with authorities probing whether the names of relatives of prominent figures were used to open some of these accounts.

However, no official confirmation has been made regarding these links.

The breakthrough in the financial trail came during the interrogation of two accused arrested earlier in a separate money-lending case by Shirdi police.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case is, meanwhile, examining allegations of large-scale financial irregularities and possible money laundering. Sources indicate that illegal funds collected from devotees may have been routed through hawala channels to conceal their origin.

In a related development, the SIT had been preparing to detain Kharat’s wife for questioning, but she reportedly absconded before action could be taken.

Subsequently, Kharat’s son was taken into custody. During interrogation, he initially remained uncooperative but later admitted that large amounts of cash frequently arrived at their residence, though he claimed to be unaware of its exact sources.

He, however, acknowledged that his father exercised full control over the financial dealings. The SIT is now set to conduct a detailed financial audit of Shivnika Sansthan, an institute allegedly linked to Kharat, to examine whether religious platforms were used to channel and legitimise illegal funds.

–IANS

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