Citing viral video, Congress alleges PM 'pressuring' rebel BJP leader against contesting HP polls
New Delhi(PTI): The Congress Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "pressuring" a rebel BJP leader against contesting the Himachal Pradesh assembly polls and alleged he is "misusing his power" to influence free and fair elections.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi cited a viral video on social media platforms, claiming that in it Modi's voice is heard in a call with BJP rebel Kripal Parmar.
Singhvi alleged the prime minister was "pressuring" and "emotionally blackmailing" the leader over the phone not to contest as an Independent from Kangra district's Fatehpur seat.
At a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters, he claimed such developments reflect that the prime minister has got a "problematic priority list which is inverted and distorted".
"Not governance, but electioneering is the favourite job of the BJP government and its chief executive," Singhvi said.
"The prime minister is misusing his power to influence free and fair elections. This would be clear electoral malpractice if not a corrupt electoral practice," he said referring to the video.
Whatever remedies are available to the Congress by way of complaining to the Election Commission and elsewhere shall be exercised by the party, Singhvi said.
"The BJP is losing ground in Himachal Pradesh and is going to be defeated. Such actions and words reflect its fear, frustration and insecurity," he said.
"We leave it to the nation to judge whether the exalted office of the Hon'ble PM should be stooping to such levels for an MLA election," he added.
Attacking Modi, Singhvi said if the "country's chief executive" and the BJP's de facto chief executive can go to such lengths to win a particular seat, it is the best validation of the BJP's already proven track record, as to the extent to which the ruling party can go and does go to topple elected governments.
"They already have a PhD earned painstakingly in the past in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Manipur and many many more milestones of a similar kind," he alleged.
Instead of controlling the "devastating" economy and ensuring good governance, Prime Minister Modi on Saturday visited Radha Soami Satsang at Beas in Amritsar and met its chief Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon, as the Dera has got a significant influence in Himachal Pradesh, the Congress leader said.
"Desperation and fear are writ large in such actions. Religion is remembered by BJP only when votes become scanty," he alleged.
Slamming the BJP-led government over the state of the economy, Singhvi said one of the issues which should be priority number one for the prime minister, the ruling party and the government is rising inflation.
"Combined consumer price index (CPI) rose to 7.41 per cent in September. More alarmingly, rural CPI increased even more than the already high urban CPI indicating a slightly greater impact of inflation in rural India," he said.
"Second, the consumer food price index (CFPI) has gone up to 8.6 per cent year-on-year this month. This implies that food prices are driving the price rise, hitting the common man in the solar plexus," the Rajya Sabha MP said.
The rise in September CPI inflation is largely driven by vegetables (18.05 per cent), spices (16.88 per cent), and cereals and products (11.53 per cent), he said.
This September, inflation figures for cereals and products were the highest since September 2013, he said, adding this was coupled with a decline in manufacturing, which contracted by 0.7 per cent.
According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), the rural unemployment rate stood at 8.04 per cent in October as against 5.84 per cent in September while urban unemployment fell to 7.21 per cent compared to 7.7 per cent in September, he pointed out.
"The country is running on autopilot, as the chief pilot is taking rides to Deras and election campaigns," he said, taking a swipe at Modi.
The nation is like Rome, which is burning and the prime minister is like Nero who is playing the music of election jingles," Singhvi said.
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WB BJP chief urges state admin to act against violence perpetrators irrespective of party colours
Kolkata (PTI): A day after the BJP's sweeping victory in the West Bengal assembly polls, state party president Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday urged the administration to act firmly against perpetrators of post-poll violence irrespective of political affiliation.
Addressing reporters after a meeting of the party's top leadership at its Bidhannagar office, Bhattacharya said strict action must be taken against those indulging in violence and warned that BJP workers found involved in such activities would be expelled from the party.
"Post-poll violence would not be tolerated in any form. If anyone from our party is found involved, we will be compelled to remove them," he said.
The BJP leader also appealed to Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala to ensure prompt administrative intervention wherever incidents of violence are reported.
"I would like to urge the administration to take necessary action wherever such incidents occur. This is precisely why the people of West Bengal have chosen the BJP," he said.
Bhattacharya thanked the electorate for the party's emphatic mandate and expressed gratitude to migrant workers who returned to the state to cast their votes despite logistical challenges.
According to party sources, a high-level meeting was held at the BJP's Bidhannagar office on Tuesday, attended by central observers and senior state leaders, to discuss measures to prevent violence and maintain law and order in the post-result scenario.
The discussions also focused on ensuring that there is no repeat of the violence reported after the 2021 assembly elections, when the BJP had accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of targeting its workers.
The BJP has secured 207 of the 293 seats where polls were held, securing a two-thirds majority and paving the way for its first government in West Bengal. The Trinamool Congress has won 80 seats.
Bhattacharya also appealed to party workers to maintain restraint and not let the victory celebrations turn disruptive.
"I urge our workers to remain peaceful, stay happy, and fulfil the responsibilities given by the party. Do not hurt anyone in the name of celebration, and do not hurt anyone's sentiments," he said.
