Sidhu slams Centre, says CBI has been turned into a "puppet"
Pune: Punjab minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu Monday alleged that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is being made to act like a "puppet" and there is an attempt to turn democracy into "danda tantra".
Sidhu's remarks came in the backdrop of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's sit-in against the CBI's attempt to question the Kolkata police commissioner in connection with chit fund scam cases.
"CBI is an independent and autonomous institution but you (the Centre) have made it a puppet...what prompted four judges of Supreme Court to come out in open and hold a press conference (last year)...?see the condition of RAW and how CBI chief was treated when he was trying to project a truth.
"Democracy has been turned into `danda tantra' (rule of the stick)," said Sidhu, adding the CBI's image has taken a beating.
The cricketer-turned-politician was here to interact with students as part of a youth outreach programme launched by the Congress party. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the event.
Punjab's Minister for Culture and Tourism said there are certain people who label those questioning them as "anti- national".
"There is an attempt to spread politics of fear and the condition in the country is such that if one does not agree with the opinion (of a section of people), he will be arm-twisted," he said.
Lending his support to Banerjee, Sidhu said whatever is happening in West Bengal will only strengthen the opposition.
"Because people are seeing how you are trying to demean a state government which was voted by people of the state, by using muscle power and abusing CBI," he said.
The minister, however, said the people of the country are wise and in a democracy citizens do not like rulers who show their ego.
"Ego has crept into the ruling party and whenever there is an ego, the end is imminent because power means doing good for people not to arm-twist, scare or terrorise (them)," he maintained.
Asked about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's formal entry into politics, he said she has injected a positive energy into the Congress which will benefit from her charismatic personality.
"She has not been given an easy task. She has been made in-charge of UP (Eastern) and the task she has been assigned is arduous and daunting," he said.
Sidhu, talking about the present Indian cricket team, said he has seen many national squads in his career, but the side currently led by Virat Kohli is the best.
The 55-year-old former cricketer praised Kohli for his physical fitness and ability to play under pressure, and rated the Indian skipper as the world's No. 1 batsman.
Sidhu, elaborating on the Congress's youth policy and the outreach programme,said the party is contacting youngsters to know what they are thinking.
"This is a unique initiative taken by (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi and it provides youths an opportunity to express their views regarding their aspirations," he said.
Sidhu said Gandhi is going to come out with a policy that will support the young India.
"This youth policy is to give wings to the aspirations of youth after detailed deliberations with them," he added.
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.
Bhojshala complex registered as 'mosque' in old revenue records: Muslim side to MP HC
Indore (PTI): The disputed Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex has historically been registered as a 'mosque' in revenue records and available sources don't clearly mention any Saraswati temple established by then-king Raja Bhoj, the Muslim side has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while the Muslim side calls the 11th-century monument Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex located in Dhar district is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
During the hearing before the HC's Indore bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi on Wednesday, Qazi Moinuddin questioned two PILs filed as intervenors in the Bhojshala case by an organisation named Hindu Front for Justice, one Kuldeep Tiwari and another individual.
Moinuddin claims to be a descendant of Sufi saint Maulana Kamaluddin Chishti and the 'Sajjadanashin' (spiritual head, guru, or successor of a Sufi shrine, khanqah, or religious site).
The PILs state that Bhojshala is actually a Saraswati temple and only Hindus should be granted the right to worship at the disputed complex.
Moinuddin's lawyer, Noor Ahmed Sheikh, claimed in the court that his client's ancestors, who are descendants of Maulana Kamaluddin Chishti, have historically held titles to the complex, and the site was also recorded as a "mosque" in government revenue records.
He contended that those associated with the management of the Kamal Maula Mosque, located within the complex, have been in "continuous and peaceful occupation" of the site for a long time.
Citing Muslim law, Sheikh argued that in the case of religious property, particularly a mosque or its related properties, officials such as the Sajjadanashin and Mutawalli (person entrusted with management, maintenance, and administration of a Waqf), and their descendants, not only have the right to intervene, but also have the right to manage and use such a structure.
Citing provisions of the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1904, the Muslim side's lawyer said the term "in-charge of the property" is used in this law, which makes it clear that the person or party who has been in charge of a property for a long time has rights over it.
During the hearing, Touseef Warsi, the lawyer representing the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society of Dhar, claimed that Hindu parties in both PILs had made "misleading representations" regarding historical facts before the high court.
He further claimed that available historical sources do not clearly mention the existence of a Saraswati temple established by Raja Bhoj, the legendary king of the Parmar dynasty who ruled Dhar from 1010 to 1055.
The ASI, a central government agency, has adopted three different positions in the lawsuits filed regarding the Bhojshala dispute, changing its answers from time to time, and this situation raises serious questions about judicial scrutiny of the complex, Warsi submitted.
He raised objections regarding the ASI's process of scientific survey of the Bhojshala complex, carried out on the HC order in 2024, and the method of videography and requested the court to examine these objections.
The hearing in the Bhojshala case will continue on Thursday.
The HC has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal since April 6, contesting the religious nature of the monument.
