NIA IGNORES ARNAB, GOES AFTER FARMERS
The Centre is handling the farmers agitation in a very muddled manner. In the beginning, the government humiliated farmers by terming them ‘khalistanis’ and ‘terrorists.’ Later, BJP leaders clarified that the ‘protestors are not terrorists or khalistanis’. When all attempts to repress the protests using the police force failed, the government pretended to hold discussions. When farmers refused to budge from their stand, the government conspired to stop their protest through the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court not only considered the protest seriously but also criticized the government’s behavior harshly. But the farmers realized that even this criticism was a ploy.
The committee constituted by the Supreme Court to hold talks with farmers comprised members who had already supported the agricultural policies. The Supreme Court’s objective was also to temporarily halt the farmers protests. Now, the farmers are adamant that they would hold tractor rallies on Republic Day. For the first time in the country, Republic Day would be celebrated in two ways. One by the government and the other the one being celebrated by the farmers or common citizens. As soon as farmers realized the insidious drama behind the Supreme Court’s ruling, the government revealed its true face.
The National Investigating Agency (NIA) issued summons to Lok Bhalai Insaf Welfare Society President Baldev Singh Sirsaa who is playing a significant role in the farmers protest. Apparently, NIA is conducting the investigation on the suspicion that he has connections with banned organization ‘Sikhs For Justice.’ This means that the government is making preparations to imprison farmers in the same manner in which it termed those who participated in protests against CAA as terrorists and imprisoned them.
Ironically, Baldev Singh Sirsa was part of the talks between the Centre and farmer organizations. What can the government achieve by holding talks with farmer leaders, at the same time leveling allegations of terrorism and terrorist activities, and ordering investigation? If Baldev Singh Sirsa was a suspected terrorist, how did the government invite him for talks? Through this investigation, the government is trying to project the entire protest as a conspiracy against the country. By making such allegations, possibilities of deflecting the farmers protests onto a dangerous path are rife. Not only Baldev Singh, the government has started the process of filing unnecessary and baseless charges against protesting farmers all across the country.
According to the government, it is a crime to encourage farmers to conduct protests. No other previous government had projected farmer and labour protests as criminal offences. Protesting against the government democratically is the right of the common man. In fact, the government has on several occasions appealed to gun wielding terrorist organizations to ‘give up weapons and protest democratically.’ But in the present context, the government believes that democratic protests also lead to anarchy. It is high time the government first obtains clarity about whether the protestors are farmers or extremists.
If they are indeed terrorists, there will not be any necessity of holding talks with them. If the government regards them as farmers and holds talks, it should listen to their objections against the farm laws. When the farmers are proclaiming that they see no value in the new laws, the government should say that ‘we do not need the laws that farmers don’t want’ and stand in support of the farmers. But today, it is the government that is provoking the farmers through its anti-agricultural policies. If a situation of anarchy has been created by farmers, the government should take complete onus. If the NIA intends to investigate those responsible for creating such a situation, it should first investigate forces within the government.
Yet another farce has unfolded in the country. An allegation against Republic TV Chief Arnab Goswami over the alleged leak of classified defence information is creating a sensation all over the country. He is facing the charge of ‘celebrating Pulwama attacks’ three days before the Balakot surgical strike. How can we have faith in defence forces if an ordinary journalist is privy to information about the most secretive ‘surgical strike’ operation and makes preparations to use that information to boost TRP ratings? Arnab not only celebrates the death of soldiers in the Pulwama attack but talks about ‘Modi’s election victory’ as though he was aware of the electoral impact of the attack even before the attack took place. Even to this day, the army has not responded to questions around the Balakot attack.
There have been no answers to the questions over the number of terrorists who have actually died in the attack. Widespread allegations were heard that bombs were thrown over hilly areas and such raids were termed as surgical strikes. The leaked WhatsApp chats of Arnab is giving a boost to such allegations. Arnab who is facing such serious allegations has neither been arrested nor questioned by the NIA in this episode. On the contrary, it is trying to identify extremist elements among farmers who are protesting. The country is watching the moves of the NIA carefully. It is not difficult for the people of the country to guess who the NIA is trying to protect. The hypocritical and biased actions of the NIA proves that the country’s security is in real danger.
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.
BJP worker’s 16-year-old son allegedly casts eight votes in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad; Video viral
Lucknow (Farrukhabad): A viral video has surfaced showing a 16-year-old son of a BJP worker allegedly casting eight votes to the saffron party during the ongoing general elections in Uttar Pradesh. The video has sparked controversy, and the opposition has urged for prompt action from the Election Commission of India, reports scroll.in.
The video shared by the Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on micro-blogging site ‘X’, showed the youngster recording himself while casting multiple times in a series of instances. The incident reportedly took place in Khiri Pamaran village, which falls under the Aliganj Assembly constituency within the Farrukhabad parliamentary seat. Mukesh Rajput, the sitting MP, is the BJP candidate in this constituency. Polling in Farrukhabad occurred on May 13 during the fourth phase of the general election.
In the viral video, the youngster is seen casting eight votes in total, all for the BJP, one by one with different clippings.
The youngster in the video has been identified as Rajan Singh Thakur, confirmed his father, Anil Singh Thakur to the Scroll.in. Anil Singh Thakur is the gram pradhan (village head) of Khiri Pamaran and a member of the BJP.
Anil defending his son told the Scroll that the ‘Video misrepresented his son,’ and claimed that the voting was done when the machine was being tested in some instances and other clipping of him voting on behalf of mentally and physically disabled voters was merged and made into a video.
Despite the Anil's caims, the video has drawn significant criticism. Subhash Chandra Prajapati, the additional district magistrate of Farrukhabad, confirmed to the Scroll that the administration will file a case soon. He mentioned that the returning officer is investigating the matter following a directive from the chief electoral officer in Lucknow.
The opposition has been vocal in its criticism, with Akhilesh Yadav demanding action from the Election Commission. In his social media post, Yadav accused the BJP of undermining the electoral process and described the party's booth committee as a "loot committee." The Congress party also called on the Election Commission to take action, in a ‘X’ post the party wrote, “Dear Election Commission…are you watching..a boy is voting 8-8 times ... .at least wake up now.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, took to ‘X’ to express, “Fearing and seeing their defeat, the BJP is attempting to undermine democracy by pressuring government machinery to deny the mandate. The Congress expects all officers performing election duties to remember their constitutional responsibilities despite any pressure from those in power. Otherwise, once the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc government is formed, actions will be taken to ensure that anyone will think ten times before violating their 'Oath to the Constitution'."
Following the video's circulation, Naval Kishor Shakya, the Samajwadi Party candidate in Farrukhabad, filed a complaint with the district election officer. Shakya's complaint alleges that Rajan Singh Thakur cast votes after snatching voter information slips from other voters and that he was assisted by Dinesh Thakur, the local police station's station house officer. Shakya has called for re-polling at the affected polling center.
In a related incident earlier in May, Gujarat Police arrested two BJP workers for allegedly casting bogus votes and live-streaming the act on social media in the Dahod constituency. The Election Commission conducted re-polling at the affected booth following the incident.
The opposition INDIA bloc, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of failing to take prompt action against election model code of conduct violations.
अपनी हार सामने देख कर भाजपा जनादेश को झुठलाने के लिए सरकारी तंत्र पर दबाव बना कर लोकतंत्र को लूटना चाहती है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 19, 2024
कांग्रेस चुनावी ड्यूटी कर रहे सभी अधिकारियों से यह अपेक्षा करती है कि वो सत्ता के दबाव के सामने अपनी संवैधानिक ज़िम्मेदारी न भूलें।
वरना INDIA की सरकार बनते ही ऐसी… https://t.co/fk4wXL8QZy
