Mohd Zubair calls out BJP's contradiction on 'Cow as Mother' campaign following Modi's calf welcome
New Delhi: Fact-checker Mohammed Zubair has pointed out contradictions within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by referencing a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcoming a new "calf" into the family. Zubair highlighted this alongside a letter from BJP’s Phek District unit in the state of Nagaland, which condemned the movement to declare the cow as the "Mother of the Nation" as part of the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra.
In the letter, the BJP Phek District unit criticised the campaign, stating that equating mothers to animals disrespects the revered position that mothers hold in Naga society. The letter further voiced concerns about the imposition of dietary restrictions, which interfere with the food culture of the Nagas, where beef is an essential part of their traditions.
Nagaland’s government has already denied permission for the yatra, invoking Article 371-A to safeguard the state's customs and traditions. Various political and tribal groups, including the Congress and the Angami Public Organisation, have also supported this stance, opposing any attempts to alter the state's food habits or impose external beliefs.
Zubair’s tweet has sparked debate about the BJP’s contradictory stance, where the cow is promoted as "mother" on a national level, while the party’s regional units oppose the very same idea.
Here's what BJP in Nagaland has to say: "In Naga custom, equating our mothers to an animal is outrightly disrespectful and insulting to the honoured and revered position mothers occupy in the family and the society."
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 13, 2024
Hello @amitmalviya, What do you have to say.
Meanwhile… https://t.co/zJyHaaP4gu
हमारे शास्त्रों में कहा गया है - गाव: सर्वसुख प्रदा:'।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 14, 2024
लोक कल्याण मार्ग पर प्रधानमंत्री आवास परिवार में एक नए सदस्य का शुभ आगमन हुआ है।
प्रधानमंत्री आवास में प्रिय गौ माता ने एक नव वत्सा को जन्म दिया है, जिसके मस्तक पर ज्योति का चिह्न है।
इसलिए, मैंने इसका नाम 'दीपज्योति'… pic.twitter.com/NhAJ4DDq8K
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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.
