Kejriwal not adopting health scheme fearing Modi's popularity: Shah
New Delhi, Sep 28 : BJP President Amit Shah on Friday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for not adopting the Centre's Ayushman Bharat scheme, claiming he feared it will increase Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity among the people.
"... the Delhi government has started a non-cooperation movement. They may have taken inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi, but they may not have known that it is not the British government but a patriot Modi government at the Centre," Shah said after inaugurating a party office in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also accused the Kejriwal government of stalling development in the national capital by doing "cheap politics".
"What is the reason that the Ayushman Bharat scheme has not been launched in the city?" Shah questioned.
He said that Kejriwal deprived over one-and-a-half crore people in Delhi of the benefits of the healthcare scheme.
He said that those residing in clusters or unauthorised colonies in Delhi will not get the benefits of the Ayushman Bharat scheme due to Kejriwal's vote-bank politics.
"They are giving excuse that they have built Mohalla Clinics. But can these provide treatment for cancer, stents for heart surgery, knee replacements?"
Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, Shah said that "Kejriwal should first get himself treated at any Mohalla Clinic to come across the reality."
He said that the city's voters would set the account right in 2019. "You should not blame the EVMs (electronic voting machines) then," Shah said.
Attacking Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal, Shah said that they feel pain only on issues such as implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and action against Maoists in the country.
"They are pained when we take action to identify illegal immigrants and against Maoist elements. But we are pained when anti-India slogans are raised," Shah said.
He asserted that the BJP government will identify and expel every illegal immigrant from the country after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
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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.
