Asaduddin Owaisi slams Sena for seeking 'burqa ban', asks EC to take note
Hyderabad, May 1: Hitting out at the Shiv Sena for allegedly seeking a burqa ban, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi Wednesday said the Uddhav Thackeray-led party should know that the Constitution gives autonomy to individuals.
The article in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' on the matter was a grave violation of the Model Code of Conduct, claimed the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president. He asked the Election Commission to take immediate note of it.
The article was trying to create divisions and polarisation in society, he alleged.
"May I give them some knowledge, some gyan because they are ignorant... I am to remind them that the Supreme Court judgment on privacy, the supreme court judgment on (Article) 377 clearly lays down that choice.
"For Shiv Sena's ignorant people, I am spelling that out for them, choice, is now fundamental right," Owaisi told reporters here.
He said as per the Indian Constitution one can choose and do whatever they like.
"That is your autonomy. Unfortunately and deliberately, for all these Hindutva ignorant people, when you talk about constitution, they go completely mad about it.
"Because, they dont understand the pluralism of our country," he said.
Owaisi said the Shiv Sena was frustrated as "they are going to lose a huge number of seats in the elections".
"That is why they are indulging in what I called dog-vigil politics," he said.
In the report, published in Saamana, the Sena had said if burqa was banned in "Ravan's Lanka, then why not in Ram's Ayodhya."
"India is a country which celebrates every religion. It also celebrates people who don't believe in religion. It also celebrates Ravan, it also holds Ram in high esteem. This is India.
"They (Shiv Sena) talked so brave and bold that they will not go with Modi, but they did a trapeze act," said Owaisi, who is seeking re-election from Hyderabad in the Lok Sabha polls.
Asked about the BJP's Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur's reported comments that people can give up burqa in national interest, Owaisi said such "nonsensical statements" were expected from her who has "had no hesitation in demeaning a martyr of this country (Hemant Karkare)."
What dress were convicted in Ajmer blast wearing, he asked, referring to the arrested persons' alleged association with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
"So, the fight against terrorism is not with dress. The fight against terrorism is that you have to fight that mindset," he said.
Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM on Shiv Sena's proposal to ban burqa: Shiv Sena is ignorant, SC judgement on privacy clearly lays down that choice is now a fundamental right. It's a violation of the MCC, I request EC to take immediate note of it, it's an attempt to create polarization. pic.twitter.com/i8DNFaZ2zK
— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2019
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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.
