Yusuf Pathan slammed over 'Tea' post amid Murshidabad violence during Anti-Waqf Act protest
Murshidabad: Clashes broke out across parts of Murshidabad district on Friday following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, leaving three people dead and dozens, including police personnel, injured. Calcutta High Court stepped in following the violence and ordered the deployment of central forces in the affected areas.
The unrest began in Suti, Samserganj, and Dhuliyan, where mobs took to the streets, setting vehicles ablaze, vandalising homes, and clashing with security forces. More than 138 arrests have been made so far as authorities attempt to restore order.
Amid the violence, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Yusuf Pathan, who represents Baharampur, came under fire for an Instagram post he shared on Saturday. The post featured him sipping tea and relaxing, captioned: “Easy afternoons, good chai, and calm surroundings. Just soaking in the moment.”
The timing of the post drew widespread criticism on social media, with users questioning his awareness and involvement amid the crisis in his constituency. One user wrote, “Murshidabad is burning and you’re travelling?” Another asked, “Do you even know what’s going on in your constituency?”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also attacked the ruling TMC and Pathan, saying on X:
“Bengal is burning. HC has said it can’t keep its eyes closed and has deployed central forces. Mamata Banerjee is encouraging such state-protected violence as police stay silent! Meanwhile, Yusuf Pathan, MP, sips tea and soaks in the moment as Hindus get slaughtered… This is TMC.”
View this post on Instagram
Bengal is burning
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) April 13, 2025
HC has said it can’t keep eyes closed and deployed centra forces
Mamata Banerjee is encouraging such state protected violence as Police stays silent!
Meanwhile Yusuf Pathan - MP sips tea and soaks in the moment as Hindus get slaughtered…
This is TMC pic.twitter.com/P1Yr7MYjAM
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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.
