BJP MP Nishikant Dubey calls for scrapping Articles 26-29 after Pahalgam terror attack
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New Delhi: A day after a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey stirred fresh controversy by calling for the repeal of constitutional provisions that protect religious and cultural rights of minorities.
In a post on social media platform X, Dubey questioned the relevance of Articles 26 to 29 of the Indian Constitution. These articles safeguard the rights of religious denominations and minorities, including the freedom to manage religious affairs and the right to conserve distinct languages and cultures.
Dubey wrote, “When the country was divided in the name of Hindus and Muslims, then those who made Hindus second-class citizens by giving more rights to Muslims in the name of minority just for vote bank should tell today on the incident of Pahalgam whether today’s murder was done on the basis of religion or not?”
He further targeted secular leaders, stating, “Shame on secular leaders. Pakistan-occupied Kashmir will be ours. Have patience, this is Modi’s government, whose Home Minister is Amit Shah ji. It is time to end Articles 26 to 29 of the Constitution.”
The constitutional articles in question are:
Article 26: Freedom to manage religious affairs.
Article 27: Freedom from payment of taxes for promotion of any religion.
Article 28: Freedom as to attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions.
Article 29: Protection of interests of minorities.
Dubey’s latest remarks come close on the heels of his controversial statements against the Supreme Court and Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna. He had earlier accused the Chief Justice of being responsible for "all civil wars in the country", prompting BJP president J.P. Nadda to distance the party from his comments and urge leaders to refrain from attacking the judiciary. Despite the warning, Dubey has continued his criticism, questioning the appointments of past Chief Justices under Congress-led governments.
The comments come amid national outrage over the 22 April Pahalgam attack, in which a group of four terrorists—two of them locals—believed to be affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), opened fire on tourists. Reports suggest they targeted Hindu pilgrims, using AK-47 rifles with steel-tipped bullets and wearing body cameras to document the assault.
Following the incident, protests erupted in Jammu led by the BJP and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), demanding strong retaliation against Pakistan.
Former BJP J&K unit president Ravinder Raina, addressing the media in Jammu, condemned the attack, stating, “The Pahalgam terrorist attack is a murder of humanity. Kashmir has been bled, and Pakistan and these terrorists will have to pay a heavy price for this crime… The blood of innocents that has been shed in Pahalgam in Kashmir will be avenged.”
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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.
