Instead of authoring 'fraudulent' pieces on Nehru, focus on rectifying legal system: Cong to Rijiju
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Tuesday slammed Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for his fresh attack on Jawaharlal Nehru, saying that instead of wasting time authoring "fraudulent" pieces on the country's first prime minister, he should focus on rectifying a legal system that frees those convicted of murder and gang rape.
Rijiju mounted a fresh attack on Nehru on the Kashmir issue on Monday, claiming that he moved the United Nations under the wrong Article after Pakistan's invasion, thereby making it a party to the dispute instead of an aggressor.
"Instead of wasting his time 'authoring' fraudulent pieces on Nehru to please MoDistorter, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju should focus on rectifying a legal system that frees those convicted of murder and gang rape," Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said making an apparent reference to the release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case.
"He should be more anguished by these than defaming Nehru!" Ramesh said on Twitter.
In his comments on Twitter and in an opinion piece for the News 18 portal, Rijiju also said Nehru let the "myth" of a UN-mandated plebiscite perpetuate and created the "divisive" Article 370 of the Constitution. "Nehru rejected Maharaja Hari Singh's plea to accede to India not just once but thrice," he said.
The fresh attack on Nehru came on his birth anniversary.
Last month, Rijiju had written an article citing "five Nehruvian blunders", including floating the idea of a plebiscite and terming Jammu and Kashmir's accession provisional.
The minister had said it was important to realise past mistakes to build a new future and added he has not tweaked history but stated facts to set the record straight.
Reacting to that criticism, the Congress had demanded an apology from Rijiju over his criticism of Nehru's handling of the Kashmir issue and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in ministers from making "irresponsible statements".
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Crossing river, trekking hill voters reach polling booths to cast vote in Surguja LS constituency
Balrampur/Chhattisgarh (PTI): Enthusiastic voters reached polling booths trekking steep hilly paths, crossing a river and even on a horse to cast their votes in remote areas of the tribal-dominated Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, officials said.
Balrampur district falls under the Surguja Lok Sabha constituency which was among seven seats where polling was held in third and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state. The Surguja Lok Sabha recorded 74.59 per cent voting, as per the Turnout application.
Voters, belonging to Pahadi Korva, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, including Rajesh, Madan, Sukhu, Gopal and Nandlal, crossed a river to exercise their franchise at a polling booth in village panchayat Amera under the Samri assembly constituency, a government official said.
Similarly, electors, including Lakhan Nagesia, Sahu, Phulsai and Kalesh of Bachwar village under the Ramanujganj assembly constituency walked through hilly terrain for about two hours covering 8 kms to reach a polling booth and cast their vote, he said. A voter, Parimal Dey, reached a polling booth in Sagarpur village under the Ramanujganj assembly seat on a horse, the official said. Dey is a cattle rearer who owns 150 goats.
Two hyper sensitive polling booths -- Chunchuna and Pundag -- located in a Naxal-affected area of the district which shares border with Jharkhand, also recorded significant turnout, he said. The two booths are located in the Samri assembly constituency.
"Special security arrangements were put in place in this area to ensure peaceful voting. Voters of Chunchuna and Pudang ensured their participation in the great festival of democracy braving Naxalite threat," he said. The Chunchuna polling booth has 767 voters and it recorded 84.35 per cent turnout, while Pundag has 595 electors and it registered a turnout of 72.44 per cent till 5 pm, the official added.
