Like Bangladesh, people in India will one day storm PM house: Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma
Bhopal, Aug 7: In controversial comments, senior Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma has said like the riot-ravaged Bangladesh, people in India will one day storm the official residence of Prime Minister and occupy it, prompting the BJP's youth wing to demand registration of a case against him.
During a Congress protest in Indore on Tuesday, Verma said TV news channels are reporting that the people of Bangladesh entered the Prime Minister's official residence during the civil unrest in the neighbouring country because of the wrong policies of deposed PM Sheikh Hasina and her government.
"Remember Narendra Modi ji, one day people will enter the Prime Minister's residence because of your wrong policies, and will occupy it (PM house). It happened recently in Sri Lanka (in 2022), where people entered the Prime Minister's (President's) house, and then in Bangladesh and now it is India's turn," said the former state minister.
He was addressing Congress workers during a protest organised against alleged scams in the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC).
Angered by Verma's comments, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM)'s Indore city president Saugat Mishra along with activists of the saffron outfit on Wednesday submitted a representation to officials at the MG Road police station demanding registration of a case against the Congress veteran.
Talking to reporters, Mishra said BYJM office-bearers submitted the representation against Verma for using "anti-national" language and hurting the sentiments of 140 crore Indians.
Verma compared the situation prevailing in Bangladesh, which has witnessed large-scale violence and vandalism in the last few days, with that in India and gave the "anti-national" statement, he maintained.
Congress leaders are trying to stay in media headlines by making such comments, the BYJM leader claimed.
Additional DCP (Zone-3) Ramsanehi Mishra said the BJYM has submitted a complaint against Verma about his speech given during a protest on Tuesday.
The complaint will be looked into, he said.
Video footage of the statement will be screened and legal opinion taken before initiating further action in the matter, Mishra said.
Soon people will attack the PM House, capture it and thrash Narendra Modi - Congress leader Sajjan Verma
— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) August 7, 2024
After the #Bangladesh situation, these people have become desperate and unable to hide their desires. pic.twitter.com/s9BcgFgKdi
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, TMC hail SC directions on counting of votes for West Bengal polls
Kolkata (PTI): The BJP and TMC on Saturday both hailed the SC directions on the Election Commission's circular over the deployment of central government personnel for vote counting in West Bengal.
The apex court on Saturday said no further order was necessary on the TMC's plea challenging the Calcutta High Court's dismissal of its petition against the April 13 circular.
In a social media post, BJP leader Amit Malviya said, "In yet another legal setback, the Supreme Court has refused to intervene. The Trinamool Congress had approached the court challenging the exclusion of state government employees from vote-counting supervisor duties, and had sought an urgent hearing."
"The refusal to entertain this plea underscores a clear message -- attempts to influence or cast doubt over the integrity of the counting process will not find easy validation. Another day, another judicial rebuff for Mamata Banerjee," he added.
The TMC, however, claimed that the SC directions vindicated its stand.
"The issue raised before the Hon'ble Supreme Court pertained to the implementation of the said communication in a manner whereby only Central Government/Central PSU employees were being appointed as Counting Supervisors and Counting Assistants for counting of votes," the party said in a statement.
The TMC said it was highlighted that such an interpretation and implementation of the communication would be contrary to the framework of a fair and balanced counting process.
"After hearing the parties, the Hon'ble Supreme Court directed that Clause 1 of the communication dated 13.04.2026, relating to the appointment of Counting Supervisors and Counting Assistants, must be read along with the salient feature contained in the second page of the said communication, which provides for random selection of both State Government and Central Government employees," it said.
"The Hon'ble Supreme Court has further recorded the undertaking of Mr Dama Seshadri Naidu, learned Senior Advocate appearing for the Election Commission of India that the said communication shall be followed in its letter and spirit," it added.
The TMC said that in view of the directions, it is expected that the counting of votes shall be conducted in a fair, transparent, and balanced manner.
A special bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Joymalya Bagchi said the EC can choose the counting personnel, and its April 13 circular, which provides for deployment of state government employees as well, cannot be said to be incorrect.
The poll body said the apprehensions of TMC of any wrongdoing are misplaced, as the circular very clearly states that there will be a mix of central and state government employees.
The EC assured the court that the circular would be implemented in letter and spirit, and there would be state government employees also during the counting of votes on May 4.
Polling for the 294-member West Bengal assembly was held in two phases -- April 23 and April 29. The counting of votes will be taken up on May 4.
On April 30, the Calcutta High Court dismissed the TMC's petition against the Election Commission circular, saying there was no illegality in the poll panel's decision to appoint counting supervisors and assistants from Central government and Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) employees, instead of the state government staff.
