Tirupati Laddu controversy an 'attack' on Hindu sentiments: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati
Patna, Sep 24: Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of the Jyotish Peeth in Uttarakhand, on Tuesday termed the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam controversy an "attack" on Hindu sentiments and demanded strict action against all those involved.
The shankaracharya was in Patna as part of his nationwide 'Gau Raksha Yatra'.
Talking to PTI Video here, Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said, "The incident is an attack on Hindu sentiments….it’s an attack on the faith of crores of Hindus. It’s a part of organised crime. It is a big betrayal done to Hindu community…this must be probed thoroughly and strict action should be taken against all those involved in this."
"It’s not appropriate to call it a controversy… it is more than that. One Mangal Pandey refused to open the greased cartridges from mouth during the 1857 revolt, it created a revolution in the country. But today it was put in the mouths of crores of Indians….it's not a small thing. Investigation into the matter should not be delayed. We Hindus just cannot forget this incident", said Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati.
While expressing concern over cow slaughter in the country, he demanded a law to check cow slaughter.
"We want a countrywide ban on slaughter of cows and also demand a stringent law to check it...It's quite disturbing that the export of beef is increasing day by day in the country. The Central government must take proactive steps in this regard. On one side Prime Minister Narendra Modi plays with cows and feeds peacocks at his official residence and on the other side the export of beef is increasing in the country…," he said.
"We don't have much expectations from politicians on this front", he said, adding they can't think for the betterment of Hindus.
"All politicians take an oath to remain secular when they become part of a political system... We have decided to organise all Hindus to check clow slaughter in the country...," he said.
On the question of opposition parties' demand for conducting caste-based census in the country, he said, "There is nothing wrong in it…The matter should not be politicised. The caste-based census must be conducted so that the government can take steps for the betterment of people belonging to socially weaker sections of the society.
When asked about the controversy over the Centre's move to amend the Waqf Act, Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati said, "Such properties are meant for the welfare of humanity….We request them (custodian of Waqf properties) to provide us Waqf land and we will convert them into cow grass fields. It will be a great service to humanity."
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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.
