'Today's rulers worse than the British': Kejriwal attacks BJP
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI): AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused the BJP of disregarding the legacy of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and social reformer Bhimrao Ambedkar.
The former Delhi chief minister also said "today's rulers are worse than the British", taking a dig at the ruling BJP.
Kejriwal was speaking at the AAP's 'Ek Shaam Shaheedon Ke Naam' event here, his first public appearance in Delhi after losing the assembly polls in the national capital.
He said his party entered politics to fulfil the dreams of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar, and not for power.
Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai likened his party's recent electoral loss in Delhi to the way Abhimanyu was trapped and deceived in the "Chakravyuh" (maze) in the Mahabharata. He asserted that just as Abhimanyu fought valiantly, the AAP too would rise again with greater strength.
The event was organised at the AAP headquarters to pay tributes to freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev to commemorate Shaheedi Diwas.
Senior AAP leaders, including Manish Sisodia, MP Sanjay Singh, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Atishi, party's Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj, Gopal Rai, MLAs, councillors, and other party workers attended the event.
Addressing the event, Kejriwal said, "Our role models are Babasaheb Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh. Bhagat Singh used to say that merely removing the British was not enough, the structure of society had to change. Otherwise, brown rulers would replace the British."
"This is exactly what has happened and today's rulers are worse than the British," Kejriwal added.
Within 48 hours of assuming power in Delhi, the BJP removed portraits of Bhagat Singh and Ambedkar from government offices, the AAP supremo claimed, adding that while the Congress had earlier condemned the installation of their portraits, it remained silent when the BJP removed them.
"I want to ask them if there is anyone who has sacrificed more for the country than Bhagat Singh," he said.
Kejriwal said even during the British rule, Bhagat Singh was allowed to write letters from jail, recounting how, when he (Kejriwal) wrote a letter to the lieutenant governor while in prison, he was issued a show-cause notice.
Criticising the BJP government for allegedly restricting the free bus ride scheme for women in Delhi, Kejriwal said conductors are now denying free pink tickets to women unless they download an app.
"Why are they doing this? Instead of improving facilities, they are withdrawing the existing ones. By now, they should have started giving Rs 2,500 to women, but they have not," he said, accusing the BJP of failing to fulfil its poll promises.
He also questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had assured that existing welfare schemes would not be discontinued, had allowed such restrictions to be placed on women's free travel.
"When history of this era is written, it will state that only AAP fought and resisted these cruel rulers," Kejriwal said.
AAP Delhi unit chief Bharadwaj compared the party's recent electoral loss to the process of purifying gold in a furnace.
"When a goldsmith melts gold, he determines how much of it is actual gold and how much is brass. After this election, the gold has come to us, and the brass has moved away. Those who are 24-carat gold stand with AAP and Arvind Kejriwal," Bharadwaj said, asserting that the party remains strong despite challenges.
Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said that the party was born out of struggle and would continue its mission across the country. He drew a parallel between AAP's current situation and the fate of Abhimanyu in the Mahabharata.
"They tried to trap and destroy Abhimanyu (Kejriwal), but he is alive and will return with full strength. The strength of this Abhimanyu comes from martyrs like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev, who fought against British tyranny," Rai said.
"Delhiites have given AAP 43 per cent of the votes polled in the election. We will take to the streets to fight for their rights," he added.
The AAP lost to the BJP in the national capital after ruling for over 10 years in the assembly elections concluded last month. The BJP won 48 out of 70 seats leaving the AAP with 22 seats.
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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.
