'Conspiracy to eliminate opposition votes ahead of UP polls?', Akhilesh on EC's SIR extension
Lucknow (PTI): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has become a "major trouble" for people and alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has ignored practical challenges faced by voters and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) while demanding three months extension of the SIR deadline.
"Is there a conspiracy to eliminate opposition votes ahead of elections in Uttar Pradesh?" Yadav questioned, claiming the poll body was "acting at the behest of the BJP government" and warned that, as seen in Bihar, lakhs of voters could be deprived of their voting rights if the process was rushed.
Yadav, in a statement issued here, said it was impossible to conduct the enumeration and verification of nearly 16 crore voters in a state as large as Uttar Pradesh within a month, adding that BLOs were under immense pressure, which was affecting their "physical and mental well-being."
He emphasised that extending the SIR deadline from December 4 to December 11 was "not sufficient", adding that he had demanded a three-month extension.
"The Election Commission has given no attention to this logical and practical demand. It seems the commission has become insensitive and is unconcerned about the problems of voters," Yadav said in a statement.
He claimed the poll body was "acting at the behest of the BJP government" and warned that, as seen in Bihar, lakhs of voters could be deprived of their voting rights if the process was rushed.
The SP chief alleged that the situation raised questions over whether the commission cared about its credibility and the fairness of elections.
He also expressed concern over the workload and alleged threats faced by BLOs, claiming several had died by suicide due to stress.
"More than half a dozen BLOs have died in Uttar Pradesh. It is unfortunate that they are being shown as 'dismissed' employees to deny their families government assistance," he alleged.
Calling SIR a critical process linked to constitutional rights, including voting, citizenship and reservation benefits, Yadav said even minor errors could have far-reaching consequences.
He urged the poll body to extend the SIR period by at least three months to ensure accuracy and protect voters’ rights.
"The Election Commission must safeguard the voting rights of crores of Uttar Pradesh residents and remain alert to any political conspiracy. Otherwise, doubts will inevitably be raised about the commission itself," he said. ABN MPL
MPL
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
