Kartarpur corridor: Fresh step in reconciliation between nations
Pakistan PM Imran Khan has said he is ready to engage in talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the most welcome step towards better relationships between both nations. Speaking to Indian reporters who had attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor project, Imran Khan has said encouraging terrorism activities would be detrimental for the future of Pakistan, which right now is working to establish peace.
India and Pakistan are neighbouring nations that should live in peace. This would help the nations prosper as well. While Pakistan needs to understand this, the war mongers in India need to comprehend with this truth as well. People of both nations do not want war since they are connected with each other at birth itself. But the issue is getting complicated thanks to politicians who care less for people’s concerns. The unrest between both nations is being beneficial for the others. Development and progress is possible only where there is peace and coexistence.
Talks have been on between both nations since long to establish peace but to no avail. India was connected to Lahore during Vajpayee’s time as PM, through Samjhota express. There were voices of dissidence within BJP over this. Now there is a new promise of improving relationships between both nations with Kartarpur Corridor. This project will connect Kartarpur Darbar Sahib Gurudwara which is a holy place of Sikhs.
The founder of Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev had spent last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur. This place consolidated the Sikhs to establish Sikhism. People living in the border area feel this corridor would improve relationships between both countries. But this may not happen instantaneously. PM Modi comparing this project to the tearing down of Berlin wall is a bit of stretched imagination. Union minister Sushma Swaraj’s words that terrorism and talks cannot go hand in hand, are a matter to ponder over. India has rejected the Pak invitation to participate in SAARC summit. Governments of both countries want the credit of Kartarpur corridor to themselves. Whatever be the case, improvement in bilateral relations will serve both countries well. A few issues need to be cleared about the corridor in this context. Would visitation rights be granted only during special occasions or can pilgrims visit Kartarpur round the year? Should they visit in groups or can they go alone? What would be the duration of their stay?
Though Kartarpur cannot sort out the issues pertaining to troubled relationship between both countries, this is a promising step towards better solution that can come up in the future. Hopefully this scheme that has been initiated to complete before the commemoration of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, should contribute to improving the relationships between two countries that are joined by their roots.
While the nation divided into two, the pilgrimage spaces were also torn away post partition in 1947 after India attained independence. Hence places of worship for people of both nations, exist in the other nation’s vicinity too. India and Pakistan have signed a treaty to allow issuance of visa for people of both countries to visit each other’s religious places such as Mandir and Dargah. The corridor right now is free from visa hassles and this would help the Indians to a large extent.
Imran Khan has been liberal in his stance towards allowing religious visits. He has said he would consider opening places of religious importance such as Sharada Peetha that exist in Pak Occupied parts of Kashmir. Administrative officer of Sringeri mutt had sought permission to visit Sharada Sarvajna Peetha in PoK. People on both sides need to act with positivity and respect to improve relations between the nations. The governments should facilitate peace through their decisions and this would reduce the animosity between both countries.
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Counting for Bagalkot, Davanagere South bypolls on May 4 amid tight security
Bengaluru (PTI): Counting of votes for bypolls to two assembly constituencies in Karnataka -- Bagalkot and Davanagere South -- will be held on May 4, amid tight security, election officials said Sunday.
The by-elections were held on April 9.
The bypolls were necessitated by the deaths of senior Congress MLAs H Y Meti (Bagalkot) and Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Davanagere South).
Although the outcome of these by-elections is unlikely to have an immediate impact on state politics, the contest is seen as a matter of prestige for both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.
While the Congress faces the challenge of retaining both seats, the BJP aims to wrest them and deliver a setback to the ruling party, which is currently witnessing an "internal power struggle" over leadership.
There has been speculation that a decision on leadership change and the much-awaited cabinet reshuffle is likely after the May 4 results.
According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout in Bagalkot was 68.74 per cent, and it was 68.43 per cent in Davanagere South.
Poll officials said the counting of votes would begin at 8 am, and the clear picture may emerge by mid day.
Adequate security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the counting and to ensure that no untoward incidents happen during or after the declaration of results, according to top police officials.
Preparations have been completed at the University of Horticultural Sciences in Bagalkot and DRR School at Davanagere for counting of votes.
According to election officials, 14 tables each have been set for vote counting on EVMs at counting centres both in Bagalkot and Davanagere South assembly segments, where nine and 25 candidates were in the fray respectively.
The BJP fielded former MLA and 2023 defeated candidate Veerabhadrayya Charantimath from Bagalkot, and a fresh face, Srinivas T Dasakariyappa, from Davanagere South.
The Congress gave tickets to family members of the late legislators in both constituencies. Bagalkot candidate Umesh Meti is the son of H Y Meti, while Samarth Mallikarjun from Davanagere South is the grandson of Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Samarth's father, S S Mallikarjun, is a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led Cabinet and in charge of Davanagere district, while his mother, Prabha Mallikarjun, is a Member of Parliament from the region.
The BJP is looking to make gains in the bypolls and energise its cadre ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. For the Congress, retaining both seats is crucial, as a loss could be seen as a negative verdict on the performance of the Siddaramaiah-led government.
Muslim disgruntlement appears to be a concern for the Congress in Davanagere South. With 14 of the 25 candidates in the fray belonging to the community, there are apprehensions within the party about a split in votes, which could benefit the BJP.
Given its significant presence in the constituency, the Muslim community strongly demanded the Congress ticket for Davanagere South. However, the party fielded late MLA Shivashankarappa's grandson Samarth. This is said to have caused disgruntlement among the community and Muslim leaders within Congress.
Although the Congress persuaded a rebel candidate Sadiq Pailwan to withdraw, he remained in the fray as the move came after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.
The Congress, after the polls, even took action against some Muslim leaders of the party following allegations of "internal conspiracy" to defeat the candidate in Davanagere South. The action included MLC K Abdul Jabbar being suspended from primary membership and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah relieving another MLC, Naseer Ahmed, from the post of CM's political secretary.
Speculation are rife that Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan may also face disciplinary measures during the next cabinet reshuffle. So, the Davanagere South results are crucial for Khan as well.
Following these actions, some Muslim clerics and leaders had openly warned the grand old party.
In Bagalkot too, the Congress faced initial dissidence, with other members of Meti's family seeking the ticket. However, Siddaramaiah's intervention helped resolve differences to an extent, and they campaigned together.
The BJP, in contrast, saw little dissidence over candidate selection, with its leaders campaigning in unity.
Leaders of Congress and the BJP have expressed confidence about their parties winning both the seats.
In the 2023 Assembly elections, H Y Meti defeated BJP's Charantimath by a margin of 5,878 votes in Bagalkot, while Shivashankarappa defeated BJP's B G Ajay Kumar by 27,888 votes in Davanagere South.
