JIH President, SIO condemn life sentences of Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, Umar Gautam
Call verdict a threat to democracy
New Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) president Syed Sadatullah Hussaini and the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) have strongly condemned the life sentences awarded to Islamic preachers Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui and Maulana Umar Gautam, along with 14 others, by a special NIA-ATS court in Uttar Pradesh for alleged illegal religious conversion activities.
Hussaini, in a press statement, called the charges of terrorism, criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity, and plotting offenses against the state "baseless" and warned that the verdict sets a dangerous precedent. He emphasised that no one can be forced to change their religion in a democratic country like India, adding that Islam prohibits such coercion. "Every individual has the constitutional right to choose, practice, and propagate the religion of their choice, a right no authority can take away," he asserted.
Hussaini also criticised the way the case was handled, with sensationalised media reactions and a charged communal atmosphere. "The entire exercise seems designed to create fear, intimidation, and hatred for political mileage," he remarked. He urged justice-loving citizens, organizations, and political parties to stand against this judgment, which he claimed threatens democracy and promotes authoritarianism.
Meanwhile, the SIO, in a separate statement, condemned the judgment, calling it a violation of basic human values and constitutional freedoms. The organization stated that the verdict suppresses the rights to freedom of expression and the freedom to practice and propagate one’s faith. It argued that these actions are part of a broader systematic effort by right-wing forces to undermine spiritual discovery and voluntary freedom of conscience. SIO expressed hope that higher courts would overturn the verdict, which they deemed unconstitutional.
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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.
