Uma Bharti targets BJP govt in MP over liquor policy
Bhopal, Apr 15 (PTI): BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti on Tuesday targeted her party's government in the state over the liquor policy, stating that there were widespread public protests, especially led by women, over the allotment of liquor shops.
Virtually warning the Mohan Yadav-led government in the state, she said the "watchman" was still alive.
Around two years back, Bharti had run a campaign against liquor shops in Madhya Pradesh and sought total or at least partial prohibition in the state.
In a series of posts on social media platform X on Tuesday, Bharti said, "Two years ago, a massive campaign was run in Madhya Pradesh regarding prohibition of liquor, as a result of which a new liquor policy was announced in early January 2023."
This excise policy, which was made after extensive consultations, was taking us towards complete prohibition in a couple of years, she said.
"I was waiting for two years for the same policy to be implemented effectively. In the last one-and-a-half years, I also held continuous talks with the new government on this issue. Even if it is our government or our chief minister, we do not make our conversations public," the former Union minister said.
The former chief minister said, "As I followed the policy of 'Discussion of virtues everywhere but that of shortcomings at the right place', everyone must have thought that I have become neutral on this issue. But this is not at all true. My mind has been in turmoil for the last four months."
There is widespread public protest, especially by women, over the allotment of shops, she said.
"Have we become careless towards the liquor distribution policy?" she asked.
Bharti added, "The watchman is still alive. There is no need for a stone in the hand, the blow of cow dung will be more severe."
In the past, Bharti had thrown dung at a shop in Orchha in protest against the sale of liquor.
She has been demanding total prohibition in Madhya Pradesh since the last several years.
In 2022, she had hurled a stone at alcohol bottles kept in a liquor shop in Azad Nagar area of Bhopal to oppose the outlet.
In the same year, Bharti had tied two cows in front of a liquor shop in Orchha town of Niwari district, which is famous for temples and palaces, and exhorted people to drink milk and not alcohol under her 'Madhushala mein gaushala' (cowshed in liquor vend) programme.
In 2023, Bharti stayed at a temple for a couple of days in Bhopal demanding the excise policy be made more stringent.
Earlier this year, the Mohan Yadav government banned the sale of liquor in 17 holy towns in the state, including Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, Chitrakoot and Amarkantak.
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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.
