Wrong to blame OPEC for soaring fuel prices: Yashwant Sinha
New Delhi, Sep 11 : Former Union Minister and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Tuesday flayed the Modi government for blaming international factors for fuel prices reaching an all-time high.
"They are now blaming international reasons for the rise in prices, but for the last four years they have been reaping its benefits. When because of international reasons, there was benefit in fiscal deficit, current account deficit, in inflation, when for international reasons the balance of payments was increasing, they took all the credit. But now when there is a rise in international crude prices, they are putting the entire blame on the OPEC, which is completely wrong," said Sinha.
"This is the first time in over four years that this government is facing a minor problem on the economic front. But they are unable to handle the crisis and coming out with all sorts of justifications," added Sinha.
The former finance minister's observation came in reaction to Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday blaming the Opec for the surge in international prices of crude.
Referring to the RBI revealing that 99.3 percent of the total demonetised notes having returned to the banks, Sinha attacked the government over demonetisation.
"Demonetisation has proved to be a complete failure and helped only the friends of the government to make their black money white," said Sinha who along with his former ministerial colleague Arun Shourie addressed a media conference in Delhi on the Rafale fighter jet "scam".
Shourie said the RBI's report has proved that demonetisation was the "largest money laundering scheme in the world".
"After demonetisation was announced, I had said it to be the world's largest money laundering scheme, and now it has been proved," he said.
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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.
