Trinamool leader flags unfenced borders, BSF jurisdiction in letter to Par panel chairman
New Delhi, Mar 18 (PTI): A Trinamool Congress leader has written to the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, Radha Mohan Das Agrawal, flagging large, unfenced stretches along key international borders in West Bengal, and raising concerns over the expanded jurisdiction of the Border Security Force in the state, among other issues, a source said.
Two letters have been written to Agrawal, which also expressed concerns about the implementation of schemes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, particularly relating to women's safety, border management, police modernisation, and pending disaster relief dues, the source said.
It has been pointed out that 371.58 km of the India-Bangladesh border remains unfenced, while fencing along the India-Myanmar border covers only 44 km of the approved 1,643 km.
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Concerns have also been raised over a 2021 notification extending the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) to 50 km inside international borders, bringing large parts of border regions under the Central force's ambit.
Reference has also been made to the Supreme Court's ruling in the Naga People's Movement of Human Rights vs Union of India (1997) case, with it being argued that Central forces should operate in cooperation with the civil administration, and not supplant it.
The underutilisation of funds in key schemes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, particularly those related to women's safety, has also been flagged, the source said.
The letters express concern over the Nirbhaya Fund remaining unspent.
"The underutilisation of funds in these critical schemes raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of measures intended to enhance women's safety and strengthen forensic capabilities," one of the letters said.
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It also flagged that only about 50 per cent of the allocation for modernisation of forensic capacities has been spent, while utilisation under schemes for upgrading Central Forensic Science Laboratories and the National Forensic Infrastructure Enhancement Scheme stands at 18.5 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively.
The Trinamool leader also claimed the Union government owes West Bengal Rs 53,696 crore under various disaster management heads, including funds related to cyclones such as Amphan, Yaas and Bulbul, as well as floods, landslides and other calamities.
"Given the frequency and severity of disasters in the region, timely disbursement of these funds is essential to support rehabilitation, infrastructure rebuilding and disaster preparedness," the letter said.
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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.
