Conspiracy to deny justice
BJP leaders have created a massive controversy around the words CM Kumaraswamy has said to the police officer who called to inform him regarding the murder of a JDS leader who was close to the CM, in Maddur of Mandya district recently. Kumaraswamy has already clarified his words and the emotions behind those. But using these words as a pretext, leader of opposition BS Yeddyurappa of the BJP is trying to ensure HDK is being seen as a culprit in the whole episode. But would it not be better if the BJP leaders had one look at their own national leaders?
It is rather significant to note that BJP national president Amit Shah and the other 22 accomplices went scot free in the fake encounter case in 2005 of Sohrabuddin, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati. The investigation that took place around this 13 year old incident is ridden with doubts. Justice S J Sharma who heard this case had expressed deep dissatisfaction over the inability of the CBI to prove the charges against the accused. Among the 210 witnesses, about 92 turned hostile. Justice Sharma in his verdict noted that three lives were lost, but nothing can be proved in the court without evidence and that he'd offer consolation to the families of Sohrabuddin and Tulsiram. The helplessness of the justice is clearly visible in this.
Evidences have been wiped out in this case of Sohrabuddin fake encounter, his wife Kausar Bi's rape and murder along with Tulsiram's murder as well. Investigation hasn't followed proper procedure purposefully so that the court can be misled. Even the justice himself noted this aspect. In all, this case put the judge in a helpless space where he'd be forced to declare all the accused free owing to shoddy work by both the police and CBI.
Amit Shah was the home minister of Gujarat when Sohrabuddin fake encounter happened. About 38 people including Shah were accused and chargesheeted of planning and executing this murder. Supreme Court had instructed the CBI to conduct an inquiry into the matter. But even before the inquiry started, 16 people were declared innocent including Vanzara and Amit Shah. CBI Court was shifted to Mumbai owing to safety concerns. Amit Shah was absent on many occasions when the case was being heard. Judge of CBI special court JT Utpat had to issue a strict directive demanding Amit Shah's presence in the court on June 24, 2014. But then Utpat was transferred on June 25, immediately a day before this date. Justice Loya died under mysterious circumstances on December 1 in Nagpur. New justice was named on December 15. The case was heard again on December 17 and the verdict was out in December 30. About 16 people including Amit Shah were acquitted.
One aspect is very clear from this. Gujarat police didn't investigate the matter well. Crucial evidences and witnesses were destroyed. Tapes of conversation between higher police officers and between Shah and Vanzara went missing or were destroyed. In the meantime BJP assumed power in 2014 at the centre. CBI then lost interest in the case. It never appealed to the court against the acquittal of Shah and others. Witnesses were not provided with any security. System kneeled down before the powerful. Former DIG DG Vanzara is saying in the open that had Sohrabuddin and Prajapati not been killed, they would have posed a threat to the lives of Shah and Modi. This is the law and order situation in this nation.
Gujarat is a landmine of encounter deaths. The numbers are big. Former minister Garden Pandya was killed in his car when he was out for a walk on a morning. He was privy to very significant information regarding Gujarat massacre. He fell prey to mysterious bullets fired by unknown persons. When crime sits on the throne such loss of lives becomes the order of the day. Those who are sitting in the chairs of power have destroyed the autonomy and sanctity of democratic institutions. They have illegally jailed those who have spoken against them. Our administration is being used for such personal vendetta.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
