'Illegal mosque' among 11 structures sealed in Gurugram
Gurugram, Sep 12 : The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) on Wednesday sealed 11 structures, including an "illegal mosque" falling within the restricted area of an ammunition depot here on Old Delhi Road.
The MCG once again acted on the illegal construction falling within the 300 meters radius of ammunition depot near the Maruti Suzuki Gurugram plant here.
These structures built or under construction were sealed in the presence of heavy police force.
The rightwing Hindu Kranti Dal has alleged that a three-storey residential building in the area was being used as an illegal mosque for the last few months.
"A loudspeaker was also installed on the building," the outfit said in a complaint filed with the district administration a fortnight ago.
"A private property is being used for community religious work," Hindu Kranti Dal President Rajiv Mittal said in a complaint.
But Hazi Sehzad Khan, Chairman of Muslim Ekta Manch, told IANS: "We bought the 87 square metre plot four years ago and completed the construction two years ago. Our community has been offering namaz for a long time but now some people are opposing it."
Khan said the plot was purchased in the name of Manch member Shamshad Khan.
"Our people are seated outside the sealed Masjid. We have warned the district administration that we will take the extreme step if the building was not unsealed soon," he said, hinting at suicide.
A Municipal official said they had been acting against illegal constructions time to time.
"We are following the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to vacate and stop under construction buildings within 300 meters of ammunition depots," the official told IANS.
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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.
