Does India have a Defence Minister, wonders Shiv Sena
Mumbai, June 18 : Launching a fresh salvo at the Central government against the backdrop of the Jammu and Kashmir violence, the Shiv Sena on Monday asked whether "India really has a Defence Minister?".
Without naming Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ally attacked her as "a very weak and ineffective, faceless personality, who is at the helm, which is detrimental to the country".
"Our three services chiefs have always assured that the country's armed forces are forever prepared to tackle any challenges. We have full faith in the capabilities of our armed forces - but the leadership is inept," the Sena said in editorials in the party mouthpieces, Saamana and Dopahar Ka Saamana.
Otherwise, it pointed out, the terrorists would not have dared to kill the brave Indian Army soldier, Aurangzeb Mohammed Hanif, so brutally during the Holy month of Ramadan.
Aurangzeb, a soldier of 4 J&K Light Infantry, was posted in Shopian and was proceeding to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr with his family in Rajouri on Thursday.
However, en route, he was kidnapped by terrorists who tortured him and shot him dead at Gussu village in Pulwama district.
The Sena said it had always criticized Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb who came to destroy India's Swaraj, "but we adore this (soldier) Aurangzeb of Jammu & Kashmir who has been martyred".
"Aurangzeb (Hanif)'s bravery and sacrifice will inspire the entire country for long... The government must honour the martyrdom of this nationalist," the Sena urged.
Aurangzeb's crime was he fought and destroyed the terrorists who propounded the cause of Pakistan in J&K, especially Hizbul Mujahiddeen commander Sameer Tiger, who spread mayhem in the valley with guns and bombs.
The martyred Aurangzeb was a front-ranking member of the commando team which had eliminated Sameer Tiger and he had carried out other major anti-terror operations in the areas.
"He was a fearless anti-terror fighter and a true patriot... That's why he caught the attention of the terrorists who kidnapped him when he was going for Eid holidays and later killed him," the Sena said.
Before killing him the terrorists shot a video in which Aurangzeb was interrogated and tortured, "but never did he look frustrated staring at death in the face, was not terrified and did not surrender".
"He became a martyr for the cause of the country in the month of Ramadan, which became holier with his sacrifice," the edits said.
Terming the violence in the valley in the name of Islam as "shocking", the Sena said that many other Muslim soldiers like Aurangzeb are dying for the country.
"Not only the Muslims, but the Hindus shall be forever proud of them", as the country remains united because of their martyrdom, said the Sena.
It called upon "those who seek votes in the name of Emperor Aurangzeb in Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra, to bow their heads in honour of the martyred soldier Aurangzeb, and offer a special 'namaaz' in his memory".
"We submit to his martyrdom, offer flowers on his grave and cry... Such Aurangzebs must be born in every Muslim home in India. Aurangzeb's martyrdom is immortal..." the Sena concluded.
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Jharkhand polls: Over 13 pc voter turnout recorded in 43 assembly seats till 9 AM
Ranchi (PTI): Nearly 13.04 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9 AM on Wednesday in 43 assembly constituencies in Jharkhand where voting is underway in the first phase, officials said.
Polling began around 7 AM in these constituencies across 15 districts and will continue till 5 PM.
A total of 683 candidates are trying their luck, including former CM Champai Soren and ex-MP Geeta Kora.
Voting in 950 booths will end at 4 PM, though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise, an official said.
Long queues of voters were seen outside several booths in the morning.
Simdega seat registered the highest voter turnout at 15.09 per cent, Ranchi at 12.06 per cent and Seraikela-Kharsawan at 14.62 per cent.
Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar has cast his vote at the ATI polling booth in Ranchi.
"Today is the first phase of voting for the Jharkhand Assembly elections. I urge all voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote as soon as possible and vote with full enthusiasm in this festival of democracy. Remember, first vote and then refreshment!" Gangwar said.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren sought the backing of the people.
In a post on X, he said, "If you like our work, please support us. I promise that I will do 10 years of work in the next 5 years so that no one can stop our pace of progress."
While the JMM-led coalition is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, including Maiyan Samman Yojna, the BJP has been campaigning with its aggressive Hindutva agenda, infiltration and alleged corruption by the current dispensation.
Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP chief JP Nadda, held several rallies where they attacked the JMM-led coalition over alleged corruption and infiltration.
INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, its president Mallikarjun Kharge, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his wife and legislator Kalpana Soren highlighted welfare schemes and accused the BJP-led Centre of unleashing all the central agencies, including ED, CBI and I-T, against opposition leaders.
A total of 1.37 crore voters are eligible to participate in the voting on Wednesday.
Altogether 683 candidates - 609 men, 73 women and a third gender person - are in the fray in the 43 seats.
Out of the 43 assembly seats, 17 are reserved for general, 20 for scheduled tribes and 6 seats for scheduled castes.
A total of 15,344 polling stations have been set up for the first phase of elections.
Chief Electoral Officer K Ravi Kumar said all preparations for voting have been completed.
The responsibility of the entire voting process at 1,152 polling stations will be in the hands of women, Kumar said, adding that 24 booths will be manned by handicapped people.
Since the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct, a total of Rs 208.78 crore worth of illegal material and cash has been seized, he said.
Till Tuesday, 58 cases have been registered for violation of the Model Code of Conduct, including a maximum of 29 in Garhwa district.
Both the NDA and INDIA bloc pulled out all the stops to ensure their victories in the elections with BJP focusing on ‘Roti, Beti, Maati’ and the INDIA bloc trying to capitalise on ‘suppression of the voice of a tribal CM”. PM Modi did a mega road show in Ranchi on Sunday which attracted huge crowds.
As far as key seats are concerned - former CM Champai Soren, contesting on the BJP ticket in Seraikela, faces a challenge from JMM’s Ganesh Mahli.
BJP’s Geeta Kora, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda, locked horns with Congress’ Sona Ram Sinku in Jagannathpur.
Congress veteran Rameshwar Oraon will lock horns with AJSU’ Shanti Bhagat in Lohardaga.
In Jamshedpur (West), JD (U) candidate Saryu Roy locked horns with Congress’ Banna Gupta.
The second phase of elections will be held on November 20 in the state while the counting of votes will be done on November 23.
In the 2019 assembly elections, the contest was close, with the JMM winning 30 seats and the BJP securing 25, down from 37 in 2014.
The JMM-Congress-RJD alliance won a comfortable majority with 47 seats.
Currently, the strength of the assembly stands at 74, with the JMM-led ruling alliance comprising 26 from the JMM, 17 from Congress, and one from RJD.
