Inhuman: CPIM on Morbi hospital spruce-up ahead of PM Modi's visit
New Delhi, Nov 1: Hitting out at the Gujarat government, the CPI(M) on Tuesday termed "inhuman" efforts to spruce up a hospital where those injured in the Morbi bridge collapse are receiving treatment, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit.
Videos of the 300-bed government hospital being cleaned up and parts of it being painted in anticipation of Modi's visit have gone viral on social media.
"When the hospital should have focused on medical care for those injured in the incident, it is getting spruced up for the PM's visit. The attention that is supposed to be paid to the patients has been diverted. It is very unfortunate and inhuman," Yechury told reporters on the sidelines of the three-day Central Committee meeting of the CPI(M).
As many as 135 people were killed and many injured after a British-era suspension bridge over the Machchhu river in Morbi collapsed on Sunday.
PM Modi visited the bridge collapse site on Tuesday. Later, he visited the hospital where the injured are undergoing treatment and spoke with at least six of them.
Yechury also condoled the loss of lives in the incident and appealed to the Gujarat government to provide all necessary medical care and assistance to those injured.
"Reportedly, this bridge was opened after renovation without a safety audit being conducted. Further, the declared limit of the number of people permitted on the bridge at any point of time was breached grievously.
"Further, the renovation contract was given to a company that has no previous experience in this area. These aspects demand a high-level judicial investigation for fixing accountability," he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress slammed Prime Minister Modi and said the Morbi Civil hospital -- where the injured from the Gujarat bridge collapse were admitted -- was painted to cover up its flaws as preparation for his visit on Tuesday. The two parties said the hospital was painted so the prime minister can hold "photoshoots".
Clock and e-bike maker Oreva group was given the contract by the Morbi Municipal Corporation to repair and operate the ill-fated bridge for 15 years and charge in the range of Rs 10 to Rs 15 for tickets, according to civic body documents.
Morbi Civil Hospital में रातों रात रंग-पुताई की जा रही है ताकि कल PM Modi के Photoshoot में घटिया बिल्डिंग की पोल ना खुल जाए
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 31, 2022
141 लोग मर चुके हैं, सैकड़ों लोग लापता हैं, असली दोषियों पर कोई कार्रवाई नहीं हुई लेकिन भाजपाइयों को फोटोशूट करके लीपापोती की पड़ी है..#BJPCheatsGujarat pic.twitter.com/KVDLdblD6C
त्रासदी का इवेंट
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 31, 2022
कल PM मोदी मोरबी के सिविल अस्पताल जाएंगे। उससे पहले वहां रंगाई-पुताई का काम चल रहा है। चमचमाती टाइल्स लगाई जा रही हैं।
PM मोदी की तस्वीर में कोई कमी न रहे, इसका सारा प्रबंध हो रहा है।
इन्हें शर्म नहीं आती! इतने लोग मर गए और ये इवेंटबाजी में लगे हैं। pic.twitter.com/MHYAUsfaoC
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
