''Did they walk the talk?'' asks Vijay, targets DMK regime over unfulfilled assurances
Namakkal (PTI): Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief, actor-politician Vijay, on Saturday listed a number of assurances made by Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK ahead of the 2021 Assembly election and demanded to know if such promises have been fulfilled and asserted that his party never gives "false promises" like the party that now governs the state.
"Did they do?" he asked, reminding campaigns by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa who used to pose questions to the people and the chief of the fledgling party said the DMK assured implementation of Old Pension Scheme, grain warehouses in every panchayat union, steps to directly procure coconut oil and distribute it through ration shops and measures to distribute palm sugar and jaggery through ration shops.
"They promised all these, did they implement?" he asked.
During his ongoing campaign, people have repeatedly sought only basic necessities like drinking water facilities and proper road infrastructure, he said. Also, ensuring safety for women forms part of the basic demands made by the public and they do not seek anything big.
He reiterated that as regards his party, there would be no compromise on the basic focus areas such as education, ensuring proper supplies through ration shops, providing healthcare, drinking water, power supply and transportation facilities, making sure safety for women and upholding law and order.
Also, he referred to criticism that he has not offered anything new to the people and that he had also been repeating what other parties had been saying vis-à-vis essential amenities and services to the people.
In this respect, he said a promise to ensure proper availability of basic amenities, including drinking water, education, and healthcare, is correct and appropriate.
He said, "That is why we promise only what is practically possible. We never give false promises like the DMK does. Some tell me to assure something new, but I do not understand this. May I promise that I will set up an IT company on planet Mars...shall we make empty claims the way our chief minister does?"
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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