Modi government 'unnerved' by Bharat Bandh, says Congress
New Delhi, Sep 10: On a day the Delhi High Court dismissed Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi's plea challenging the IT notice seeking tax reassessment for fiscal 2011-12, the party said the Narendra Modi government is "unnerved" by the Bharat Bandh and "is blinded by personal vendetta".
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Monday said: "Unnerved, perturbed and scared by the successful Bharat Bandh on fuel prices, Prime Minister Modi was forced to call a 'foolish press conference' and making stupid remarks which have no basis.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson was asked by Modi to do a press conference and level allegations about which he has neither comprehension nor knowledge," he said.
Surjewala said: "Facing imminent defeat in Assembly polls in four states and 2019 general elections, Modi Ji directed the Income Tax Department to reopen IT returns of the Congress leadership after a period of eight years."
"The malafice and mala fide are apparent in the fact that all these IT returns have already been scrutinized in the past and we have no issues with that. A notice was also issued," he added.
The party said it takes great pride in that fact that it gave Rs 90 crore as loan to National Herald and Navjivan.
"This is first time in the history of India that corporate law has been rewritten by Modiji...that a non-repayable loan becomes profit in the hands of the shareholders of the company," said Surjewala.
"Modiji is talking as if they knew about what the verdict was going to be. The argument of BJP that Bharat Bandh was called because of judgement of this case... Did Modiji know what judgement was going to be?
"Did the judge tell them what the judgement was going to be? Bharat Bandh was announced a week earlier so did you know what the judgement was going to be?" the Congress leader asked.
He said: "What kind of stupidity and foolishness is this? We humbly tell Modiji if you want to fight Rahulji, we dare you to fight a political battle with him. Don't hide behind a petty revenge through the IT Department."
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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.
