Ayodhya controversy: No verdict is best verdict
The Ayodhya controversy is a two edged sword for the country. It is evident to almost everyone that no matter what the verdict is going to be, it will never be good enough for the country. And they even know why BJP and Sangh Parivar is all enthused about this with elections approaching. Hence it is perceived as the best decision when the Supreme Court does not deliver any verdict on this issue yet. With all this the whole country’s attention was trained towards the highest court on Monday. Supreme Court’s decision on not pronouncing any verdict is the best decision so far on this issue. A bench would decide on the matter of hearing of this case. The Judge said the case would be heard in January.
Though this has disappointed the BJP and RSS, no one can predict what the court would decide by January. The government may even ensure a decision is taken by the court on this matter by the court. Whatever be the verdict, the government for sure can use it for its full benefit and in its favour. Widespread criticism was heard about the verdict Allahabad High Court had given about Ayodhya in 2010. Political parties and Sangh Parivar can say whatever they need to about Ayodhya, but this is a clear land dispute case which was turned into a religion-sensitive issue. The court follows its own framework before giving a verdict on such cases. It should not be under any pressure on this. The earlier HC verdict was more like a Panchayat decision, which could have favoured all parties.
The court said everybody has equal right on the land and they should have access to it. The constitutional experts have their own doubts about how this could be considered constitutionally valid. The court didn’t focus on justice, but more on pacifying all the three warring parties. Court shouldn’t be adapting such stance. Hence, one party among the aggrieved, approached the Supreme Court. Most constitutional experts feel Allahabad High Court’s verdict may not hold good here. If the verdict by the Supreme Court is given in a way that it would favour the Sangh Parivar, it would be celebrated as a victory. The next step would be to seek votes to enable the new government to build Ram Mandir. If it is against the Sangh Parivar interests, the Parivar would cry a victim and seek votes to instigate the Hindus to come together to form a Hindu nation.
Modi administration has disillusioned the very bhakts that praised him to heavens and beyond. Hence BJP is planning to use the SC verdict to win the next election. Hence the court’s decision on Monday came as a disappointment to BJP. The party is rehearsing in Kerala, as to what would be its approach should the SC verdict be against its interest. The central government had turned its back on people when they were affected by massive deluge some time ago in Kerala. The same government is all very interested in stopping women from entering Sabarimala though the SC has allowed it. A massive team of strategists and trouble makers has camped in Kerala to enable this. They are protesting against this ruling of the Supreme Court. In some ways, this is a clear case of contempt of court.
If the ruling of the court is unsatisfactory, it has to be addressed again instead of taking it to streets. Many Dalits took to streets when the Supreme Court tried amending laws relating to atrocities act. But the government silenced them by using force. But then later, it was addressed in the precincts of the parliament. Now, the protest or the signs of that are being exhibited by the ruling dispensation itself. The Supreme Court cannot withdraw its verdict owing to this. The central leaders need to understand this point. They have to only implement the ruling and not protest against this. If the government protests, it would be protesting against its own self. The ruling of women being allowed to visit Sabarimala was not something that was pronounced by the state government of Kerala.
The BJP that is protesting against the entry of Hindu women into their own temples seems to have forgotten that they need womens’ votes too to win elections. Don’t Hindu women come under the purview of ‘hindu’ tag? BJP wants to divide people before the next elections based on their religious identity. They plan to do the same thing when the Ayodhya verdict gets out. Considering all this, the court may have to defer its verdict on the case till the elections are done so that the country can vote in peace and return to some solace within its environs.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
