Surgical strikes a message that India will not tolerate terrorists: Sitharaman
New Delhi, Sep 28 : The surgical strikes across the Line of Control in 2016 was a message that India would not tolerate terrorists in the garb of intruders and the act of killing soldiers will not go unpunished, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said here on Friday.
Participating in the 'Parakram Parv' event, marking the second anniversary of the military action across the LoC, on the lawns of India Gate here, she said it was out in the open that all the terrorist launch pads were cleared in the surgical strikes carried out in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack.
"On the night of 28-29, Indian armed forces proved to this world that there is a very clear way in which we will show our strength to say that we shall not tolerate terrorists in the garb of intruders and creating havoc at our borders, at least hoping to create," Sitharaman said.
"We showed for the cowardly act of killing soldiers who were in their bases (at Uri), India shall not sit and watch the whole thing. We proved to them that it shall not go unpunished. And when it shall not go unpunished, what is the action we would take.
"It is out in the open now. All the terrorist pads were cleared off. And those who were waiting to spread terror have been adequately punished. Therefore, today we are observing Parakram Parv so that every citizen of India remembers the brave and the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the nation. We bow to them," she added.
India is observing ‘Parakram Parv to mark the second anniversary of the 2016 cross-LoC military strikes on militant launch pads which the Army conducted on the intervening night of September 28-29.
The event at the India Gate lawns will continue till September 30 and events are also being held at 53 locations in 51 cities across the country to "highlight the valour of the Indian armed forces in general and special forces in particular".
The Minister said that she was "feeling elated" to see so many people including school children and NCC cadets, gathered at the event to celebrate the occasion.
Visitors will get the opportunity to see captured weapons used by terrorists that have been brought from Jammu and Kashmir.
Military equipment such as artillery guns and small arms will also be on display. Besides the military band, a few renowned singers will also perform at the event.
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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.
