Plot to assassinate me, my son: ex-Punjab CM Badal
Chandigarh, Sep 16 : Accusing the state's Congress government of encouraging radical elements, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday claimed there was a plot to assassinate him and his son Sukhbir Badal.
"I have been been informed by the police about a plot to assassinate me and my son. But we neither frighten others nor are going to be frightened by such reports or threats," Badal said at the Shiromani Akali Dal's 'Jabar Virodh Rally' in Faridkot town.
"I am ready to sacrifice myself and my son Sukhbir (Shiromani Akali Dal chief) for the cause of peace and communal harmony in the state," Badal said.
"The Khalsa Panth represents a history of sacrifices for upholding the values of peace, communal harmony and 'Sarbat da bhala' as enshrined in the teachings of Sikh Gurus," he said.
The rally was held amid a standoff with the state's Congress government led by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh which had earlier refused permission for the SAD rally. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday allowed the SAD rally.
A handful of radical elements protesting against sacrilege incidents reported during the previous SAD-BJP government (2007-2017) protested against the rally on Sunday. Tight security was in place at the rally venue to keep these elements away.
Badal accused the Congress government of encouraging the radical elements and thus playing with fire to disturb peace in Punjab.
"The Congress is in collusion with forces that put Punjab through a period of turmoil, violence and bloodshed. It is the same old nexus between the Congress and some elements rejected by the Khalsa Panth who are now masquerading as panthic. They are up to their old games and conspiracies," the veteran Akali leader said.
"The Congress' objective is to fulfil its old dream of grabbing control of the Sikh shrines and historic religious institutions. The main target is the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee... that is why the Congress is using these so-called panthic outfits as their front men."
He warned that all this could set Punjab on fire again and apealed to the people to be vigilant against being used as cannon fodder by "these elements who can get others' children killed to promote their own petty selfish interests".
Badal claimed that violence in Punjab is on Congress agenda since its government wants to divert people's attention from its failure to fulfil election promises and come up to public expectations.
SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had stooped to new lows in political discourse by using derogatory words against his nonagenarian father.
Amarinder Singh is a "completely unethical person" and that "everyone is acquainted with his past and character," the SAD chief claimed.
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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.
