ED action against Sonia, Rahul "shameful" political vendetta: DMK
Chennai (PTI): Key INDIA bloc constituent, the M K Stalin-led DMK on Sunday slammed the BJP over ED's chargesheeting top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, calling it an "unacceptable," vendetta that was "shameful."
DMK Treasurer and its Parliamentary Party Leader, TR Baalu charged the Central BJP with "unleashing" investigating agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the Congress as it was opposing the saffron party on issues including the Waqf by uniting various parties.
"On behalf of the DMK, I strongly condemn the ED filing chargseheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case due to BJP's political vendetta," Baalu said in a party statement here.
He said the recent AICC meeting in Gujarat effectively highlighting the Central BJP's "anti-people" activities and the party workers' resurgence has rattled the BJP. He said ED carried out raids during a previous AICC session in Chattisgarh's Raipur.
A similar template was being used post Gujarat AICC meeting, he alleged.
"Congress standing firm against the Waqf (Amendment) bill and making the opposition parties vote against it has not gone down well with the BJP government. It is fearful of the Congress taking to people, the central government's anti-people initiatives and its failures. That is why the ED is circling the Congress party and has not spared its leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," Baalu added.
Unable to take on the Congress politically, the BJP government was "unleashing" ED and other agencies which was "not only disgusting but a shameful political vendetta unacceptable to anyone," he said.
The ED had recently filed a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and others before a special court in New Delhi in the National Herald case accusing them of allegedly laundering Rs 988 crore.
The prosecution complaint filed on April 9 under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) named Sonia Gandhi, a former Congress president, as the accused no 1, and her son and MP Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, as the accused no 2.
The BJP has rejected Congress' charge of vendetta, asserting that no one has a "license to loot".
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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.
