Article 370 can be restored only by Govt of India: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Bani/Jammu (PTI): Asserting that Article 370 can only be restored by the Government of India, chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad, took a dig at the National Conference (NC) and the Congress over the "restoration of statehood" of Jammu and Kashmir.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have already committed to restoring the statehood, he said.
Azad said that people are enthusiastic as they are participating in elections after ten years.
"Neither the National Conference nor the PDP spoke in Parliament on Article 370 and statehood. I spoke on it. The prime minister and the home minister had said they would restore statehood," Azad told reporters here.
Azad, responding to a question about the demands of the NC and the Congress to restore statehood and Article 370, further said, "Article 370 can only be restored by the Government of India, not any state."
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi warned the BJP-led Union government Wednesday, vowing that the opposition INDIA bloc will “hit the road and use full force” both inside and outside Parliament if Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is not restored after the assembly elections.
Azad, who was campaigning for his party's candidate in the Bani Assembly of the Kathua district, said there is immense enthusiasm among people for the polls.
"There is huge enthusiasm among the people as they are participating in these elections after ten years," he added.
Azad addressed a public meeting in Bani, where he appealed to people for unity and urged them to vote for development and progress. He urged people not to be "exploited" by false promises and slogans.
"By voting for the DPAP, we believe the people of Bani can pave the way for a prosperous and inclusive future," he said, adding, "Together, we shall rebuild Jammu and Kashmir."
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
