Let’s gear up to celebrate festival of democracy
Finally, the date for celebrating democracy has been announced. In the given scenario, people fear the festivals in our country. Police come wielding lathis during any festival of any faith in the streets. Deputy Commissioner calls for ‘celebration of the festival’ in peaceful manner. Peace meetings are held time and again. Common people pray to god that the festival should end without any complications.
Right now, the festival that has been announced is that of the democracy. It is the festival of all festivals. Hence the country is looking forward to this with trepidation, excitement, anxiety and expectations. This time, the results of the election would decide the path the country would be taking, rather very clearly.
Hence people are tense about the results along with the incidents that are bound to happen during the elections. Former Election Commissioner has said money and violence will cross all limits this time. This is not a tough reality given the fact that people are getting killed even without any elections. Fake Cow protectors have donned the role of culture keepers and have taken law into their own hands. Hence people are worried about their whims during the election time.
Now all the parties are bent upon clinching the power somehow. Ambani and Modi have to return to power using whatever routes so that the Rafael issue does not turn into their waterloo. If they lose power, the Rafael ghost will hunt them down. Heads will roll inevitably. Hence this election is a do or die situation for major corporates as well. Hence the industrialists are bound to fund this election big time.
On this occasion, people are seeking votes in the name of sacrifices made by the army. This has to be called as an assault they are launching on the moral courage of soldiers. Election Commission has warned against this. But a BJP activist called Chakravarthy Sulibele has used the image of soldier Abhinandan to seek votes, attracting huge criticism.
According to him, even soldiers have to work for the BJP. “If you want to be like soldier Abhinandan, vote for BJP. That is your surgical strike” reads his social media message. Though this has been done blatantly, election commission has hardly taken cognizance of this. Why should the BJP seek votes in the name of a soldier and not in the name of Modi? Why has BJP reached this point?
BJP leaders cry hoarse about PM Narendra Modi developing this country and bringing it to a stage where the whole world is noticing the nation. Demonetisation was a success. GST has eased trade and businesses, country has opened up to digitalization – these are their claims. Why is BJP then not claiming demo as a success? The party could well take details of benefits of demonetization, and turn the endorsement into votes!
For instance, the details of how much black money was confiscated alone can help BJP sweep the polls. Modi is claiming that he has defeated terrorism. But what defence does he have to present to the data that the country has come under terrorist attack more number of times in last four years than before? Kashmir situation wasn’t this bad in the last four years. BJP sought votes over severed soldiers’ heads in 2014. People trusted them. They assumed BJP could do good to the valley and to soldiers.
But in 2019, our 40 soldiers lost their lives to a sole terrorist. Today Modi is wielding the power. If UPA was responsible for the terrorist act those days, today BJP should be held responsible for whatever happened today. What reason does Modi give for not being able to protect the soldiers? This government hasn’t been a great support to the soldiers. How do they go to people again seeking votes in the name of soldiers? Isn’t this a betrayal to the martyrs? No nation loving person would tolerate this. Hence BJP has to stop encashing the deaths of soldiers.
People’s responsibility does not end with criticizing political leaders alone. Corrupt voters are as much responsible for the situation the country is in now. The country is on the threshold of a democratic process. Voters have to help democracy succeed without falling for corruption or money or goodies. The vote that we cast would be deciding on the future of this country which has hundreds of years of history and sacrifice. The voters have to write the new future to this country in the perspective of the history.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
