Restore voting rights of 13 crore disenfranchised people, no need for rallies then: Manish Tewari

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Chandigarh, Oct 29 (IANS) Congress MP Manish Tewari on Thursday questioned the BJP’s ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ march, saying that restoring the voting rights of 13 crore disenfranchised people would eliminate the need for rallies.

The remarks come amid a political face-off between the BJP and the Congress, with both parties claiming to be defending democracy.

As the Congress prepares to take its ‘vote chori’ campaign to Ramlila Maidan on November 1, the BJP has taken its campaign to the streets of Old Delhi, organising a ‘Save Democracy, Remove Anarchy’ padyatra in busy Chandni Chowk. The BJP is also holding similar marches across the country.

Led by BJP President Nitin Nabin and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, the march comes amid concerns raised by traders who fear that barricading, traffic diversions and possible Metro restrictions due to marches and protests during the festive shopping season could disrupt business in the capital’s wholesale markets.

Speaking to IANS, Tewari questioned the purpose of the BJP’s march in an area that is not a designated protest sight in the national Capital.

“What is this padyatra even about? We are fighting for voting rights. Restore the voting rights of the 13 crore people who have been disenfranchised, and there will be no need to take out any rallies,” he said.

Tewari also reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the recent Member of Legislative Council (MLC) poll results, saying that every election had its own context.

“The context of every election is different. MLC elections have a distinct electoral constituency. In such a situation, it does not behove someone holding the office of Prime Minister to make such remarks. As I said earlier, every election has its own unique context and scope,” he said.

On Wednesday, PM Modi took a swipe at the Congress over MLC elections held across 28 seats in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and Karnataka, highlighting that the polls were conducted using ballot papers and questioning how many seats the Congress had won.

However, the Nagpur MLC election result provided the Congress with an opportunity to target the BJP, including PM Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as it retained the seat in the area that houses the RSS’ national headquarters.

The Maharashtra results also provided a boost to the Opposition MVA, which won three of the five seats that went to polls in the state.

–IANS

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School job case: Charge framing at special PMLA court in Kolkata likely on Monday

Kolkata, Dec 21 (IANS) The process of framing of charges in the case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the cash-for-school job case in West Bengal is expected to be completed at a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata on December 23.

However, the only factor that might delay the process is the eventuality of the ED not being able to ensure that all those shown as accused by the central agency in subsequent charge sheets by the agency are physically present at the court at the time of framing of charges.

Sources said that the two accused persons whose physical presence at the court is uncertain are Sujay Krishna Bhadra and Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya, the son-in-law of former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee, also an accused in the case.

The uncertainties over Bhattacharya’s presence are over the factor that he is currently settled abroad with his wife and Chatterjee’s daughter Sohini Bhattacharya Chatterjee.

However, sources added that the local counsel of Bhattacharya has already intimated the court that he had made all the arrangements to come to India and be present at the court on Monday.

Similarly, uncertainties over Bhadra’s presence are over his recent track record of skipping his physical presence at court on medical grounds.

He is currently in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a parallel probe in the school-job case and which has recently shown Bhadra as arrested in the case.

Of the 54 shown as accused by the ED in the school- job case, 29 are individuals and 25 are entities, corporates or trusts.

As per protocol, at the time of framing of the charge sheet while all the 29 accused individuals will have to be present physically, any representative of the accused entities will also have to be present.

After the completion of the process of framing charge, the trial process in the matter will begin. There are indications from the special court that the trial process in the matter will be on a daily basis.

–IANS

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Naveen Patnaik suspends 2 BJD legislators for anti-party activities

Bhubaneswar, Jan 15 (IANS) In a major development, the president of the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Naveen Patnaik, on Thursday suspended Patkura MLA Arvind Mohapatra and Champua MLA Sanatan Mahakud over their alleged involvement in anti-party activities.

“Shri Arvind Mohapatra, MLA and Shri Sanatan Mahakud, MLA are hereby suspended from Biju Janata Dal with immediate effect for their involvement in antiparty activities,” a statement issued on Thursday read.

Speaking to media persons after a meeting of the party supremo with some BJD MLAs, senior party leader and Kendrapara MLA Ganeswar Behera said, “We were informed about the suspension of two MLAs in the meeting. When we enquired, the party president said that their activities were against the interests of the party and the party can’t remain silent. The party has to work and I have taken the action.”

He further added that the party has taken appropriate action based on the intelligence inputs received by party supremo Patnaik.

Meanwhile, Mohapatra, son of former minister and veteran leader Bijoy Mohapatra, who represents the Patkura constituency in Kendrapara district, denied any involvement in anti-party activities.

“I just came to know about the news regarding my suspension from social media. I don’t have any knowledge as to why I have been suspended from the party. I am not involved in any anti-party activities and engaged in party works in my constituency,” said Mohapatra.

Mohapatra also claimed that he has no relationship with any groups within the party or made any statement that could hurt the party’s image. He said he would meet party supremo Patnaik regarding the development and would then speak to the media.

It is worth noting that senior BJD leader Mahakud, who represents the Champua constituency in Keonjhar district, has recently criticised his party, alleging that the district was neglected by the BJD during its 24 years of rule.

Notably, following the death of senior BJD leader Rajendra Dholkia last year, party’s strength in the Odisha Assembly came down to 50, and with the suspension of two more MLAs on Thursday, the number has further declined to 48.

–IANS

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Ruckus continues on last day of Bihar Assembly Monsoon Session; CM mocks Oppn black attire protest

Patna, July 25 (IANS) The last day of the Bihar Assembly’s monsoon session was again marred by chaos as opposition MLAs from the RJD, Congress, and Left parties stormed into the well of the House, shouting slogans and trying to topple tables during Question Hour on Friday.

Despite repeated appeals from Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav to maintain order, the sloganeering and ruckus continued, forcing him to adjourn the proceedings.

Opposition MLAs, who have been protesting against the special voter list revision in the state, arrived at the Assembly wearing black clothes for the fifth consecutive day as a mark of protest, demanding a discussion on the alleged irregularities in the voter list revision.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was present in the House during the commotion, took a jibe at the opposition’s coordinated protest attire.

“All of them are wearing the same kind of clothes. One thing has become clear — earlier, there used to be a ruckus for a day or two, and work would continue on other days. Now, everyone is doing the same thing daily,” Nitish remarked.

He further stated, “People know how much work the government has done, and people are getting benefits everywhere.”

The five-day monsoon session has witnessed continuous disruptions by the opposition over the voter list revision, with little legislative work completed as repeated adjournments have become the norm.

The opposition has alleged that the government, in collusion with the Election Commission of India (ECI), is conspiring to delete the names of the poor from the rolls ahead of the Assembly elections, an accusation the government has denied.

The opposition has been creating a ruckus inside and outside both Houses since the session began, insisting on a debate on the voter list revision.

The issue has already reached the Supreme Court, with the opposition alleging irregularities in the process being carried out by the Election Commission.

The ECI has justified the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), saying it adds to the purity of the election by “weeding out ineligible persons” from the electoral rolls.

–IANS

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