Misuse of investigative agencies highly condemnable
Minister D K Shivakumar’s political journey rests on his money power more than his community backing. Leaders like him are a strong combination of caste and money. And all through their political life, they’d always be in the eye of storm and controversies. This is the whole reason why he was not the first choice of being part of the primary cabinet of CM Kumaraswamy. But DKS was successful in conveying to his chiefs within Congress that he is the most inevitable person within the party and hence he should be accorded good position in the cabinet. With his money power, DKS has managed to turn quite a few things in his favour. And naturally enough, he is also being ‘most sought after’ in his own party and as a favourite catch for IT department. It is also more than evident that he would be under radar for his business interests and political acumen.
Having said that, DKS does not play his politics away from his detractors. But then, if he claims ‘innocence’ in his transactions, it would be more than tough to believe. However, the overall credibility of Income Tax department comes under magnifying glass when raids are repeatedly conducted on DKS’s premises, his men and friends all along. Why are the IT department officials not even touching the Reddy brothers who have minted massive amounts of money? Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa too, have had more than their share of wealth when it comes to charging some with corruption. When truth is this stark, why only Cong leaders are being targeted? Does it mean BJP does not have corrupt politicians?
Is this what the central government wants to convey? BJP is using every possible opportunity to put Cong down through use of all forces and ensure no BJP man is touched in the meantime, no matter how corrupt he/she is.
There is a direct link between the repeated raids on DKS and the Rajya Sabha election that Ahmed Patel won in Gujarat last year. DKS played a prominent role in ensuring no Cong MLA detracts to the other side (BJP) since the election was a very crucial one. This caused a massive loss of face for BJP on its own home turf. More than Ahmed Patel reaching the RS and ensuring Cong did not suffer a sorry defeat in Gujarat; DKS established himself as a leader beyond doubt. He is the man Friday for Congress. From then on, IT raids have been part and parcel of DKS’s political journey. There are accusations that central government tried to convey ‘offers’ to Gujarat MLAs in Karnataka during RS election time. It is more than evident as to why raids have been selectively carried out against DKS since then. Unconfirmed reports said crores worth money was seized from DKS’s house.
Now again, IT raids have begun with a specific agenda of diminishing the image of DKS. Without him, the coalition government was a tough proposition. Without him, the government would have lost a lot of resources and crucial time in forging the coalition. If not for DKS, BJP knows it could have clinched the power and assumed office in the state. Hence DKS continues to be in the eye of storm. As of now, Congress is reeling under money crunch, while BJP has become very strong on that front. DKS is the strongest of politicians, economy wise, within the Congress. Hence, if he can be razed, Cong will find it tough to stand up back again. This is the calculation of BJP leaders. Hence they wanted to buy Cong or JD(S) leaders through horse trading to make a government soon after the results were declared. By then Cong had made the first move.
If Operation Lotus was to repeat, BJP should have spent more than Rs 50 cr on each MLA and would have had to get assurances from at least 10 MLAs to form the government. DKS toppled all these plans with his masterstroke and hence he is an asset to Cong, and a bone of contention to BJP. The credibility of CBI is under radar since no other politicians have been touched across partylines, including those Reddys within BJP who are facing massive corruption charges.
Central government is using every investigative agency to prove something or the other and get MLAs/ministers entangled in legal hurdle for a long time to come. But the victims being victims, they cry victimhood to their otherwise easy life. These raids may even help build a good image for DKS, for he has been the most troubled among the lot. But in the meantime, risking credibility of investigative agencies may prove to be a big risk for the BJP.
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Trouble ‘Miyas’ everywhere only then they will leave Assam: Himanta Biswa Sarma
Says “Himanta Biswa Sarma, BJP are openly against them, we are saying it openly
New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that four to five lakh “Miya voters” would be removed from the electoral rolls in the state once the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists is carried out. He also made a series of controversial remarks openly targeting the Miya community, a term commonly used in Assam in a derogatory sense to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an official programme in Digboi in Tinsukia district, Sarma said it was his responsibility to create difficulties for the Miya community and claimed that both he and the BJP were “directly against Miyas”.
“Four to five lakh Miya votes will have to be deleted in Assam when the SIR happens,” Sarma said, adding that such voters “should ideally not be allowed to vote in Assam, but in Bangladesh”. He asserted that the government was ensuring that they would not be able to vote in the state.
The chief minister was responding to questions about notices issued to thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims during the claims and objections phase of the ongoing Special Revision (SR) of electoral rolls in Assam. While the Election Commission is conducting SIR exercises in 12 states and Union Territories, Assam is currently undergoing an SR, which is usually meant for routine updates.
Calling the current SR “preliminary”, Sarma said that a full-fledged SIR in Assam would lead to large-scale deletion of Miya voters. He said he was unconcerned about criticism from opposition parties over the issue.
“Let the Congress abuse me as much as they want. My job is to make the Miya people suffer,” Sarma said. He claimed that complaints filed against members of the community were done on his instructions and that he had encouraged BJP workers to keep filing complaints.
“I have told people wherever possible they should fill Form 7 so that they have to run around a little and are troubled,” he said, adding that such actions were meant to send a message that “the Assamese people are still living”.
In remarks that drew further outrage, Sarma urged people to trouble members of the Miya community in everyday life, claiming that “only if they face troubles will they leave Assam”. He also accused the media of sympathising with the community and warned journalists against such coverage.
“So you all should also trouble, and you should not do news that sympathise with them. There will be love jihad in your own house.” He said.
The comments triggered reactions from opposition leaders. Raijor Dal president and MLA Akhil Gogoi said the people of Assam had not elected Sarma to keep one community under constant pressure. Congress leader Aman Wadud accused the chief minister of rendering the Constitution meaningless in the state, saying his remarks showed a complete disregard for constitutional values.
According to the draft electoral rolls published on December 27, Assam currently has 2.51 crore voters. Election officials said 4.78 lakh names were marked as deceased, 5.23 lakh as having shifted, and 53,619 duplicate entries were removed during the revision process. Authorities also claimed that verification had been completed for over 61 lakh households.
On January 25, six opposition parties the Congress, Raijor Dal, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI, CPI(M) and CPI(M-L) submitted a memorandum to the state’s chief electoral officer. They alleged widespread legal violations, political interference and selective targeting of genuine voters during the SR exercise, describing it as arbitrary, unlawful and unconstitutional.
