BJP demands resignation of Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, summoned by ED in Ponzi scam
Bengaluru, June 30: BJP in Karnataka Sunday demanded the resignation of state Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, days after he was summoned by the ED in connection with its probe into the IMA group ponzi scam.
State BJP General Secretary Shobha Karandlaje alleged the minister wanted to save IMA group managing director Mohammed Mansoor Khan, who has been absconding, and claimed a fair investigation was not possible if he remained in office.
Talking to reporters, she said being a minister, Zameer Khan while allegedly asking him (Mansoor) to come back had said "lets talk, government is with you, we will help you, let's solve this issue".
Karandlaje, also an MP, alleged the probe by the Special Investigation Team, set up by the state government, was an attempt to destroy evidence and records.
Since the ED notice has come, in the interest of fair and hassle-free investigation, I demand that Zameer Ahmed Khan resign," she said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has registered a money laundering case in the scam in which thousands of depositors are said to have been duped, had last week summoned Zameer Khan, Food and Civil Supplies and Minority Welfare minister, for questioning in the case on July 5.
While the minister has denied any business dealings with the group or Mansoor Khan, except sale of a Bengaluru-based property, the agency officials had said they want to question him about his links with the company and its operations.
The ED had attached assets worth Rs 209 crore, including 20 immovable properties and bank deposits, in connection with the case.
BJP has already demanded for CBI inquiry into the case.
The ED had filed the money laundering case against the IMA group of companies and Mansoor Khan after reports emerged that he has gone underground fearing investments worth crores of about 40,000 investors have tanked.
Karandlaje also took exception to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamys recent outburst against a group of workers of Yermarus Thermal Power Station (YTPS) in Raichur district when they approached him with a list of grievances.
When they come to you with issues, you threaten them with lathi charge. What is your intention? You are in government... If you want Modi to govern Karnataka state also, why you are in government, resign and go home," she said.
Kumaraswamy had lost his cool when the workers stopped his convoy and shouted at them asking "you voted for Narendra Modi and want me to get yours works done", but later said he has sought 15 days time to address their issues.
Accusing the JDS-Congress government of indulging in a business of transfers for the last one year, Karandlaje said, the other thing they were involved in was "infighting" in the ruling coalition.
They are making money through transfers, they are threatening officials, and officials are being transferred based on their casts," she alleged adding "neither the people nor the God will forgive you".
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BJP worker’s 16-year-old son allegedly casts eight votes in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad; Video viral
Lucknow (Farrukhabad): A viral video has surfaced showing a 16-year-old son of a BJP worker allegedly casting eight votes to the saffron party during the ongoing general elections in Uttar Pradesh. The video has sparked controversy, and the opposition has urged for prompt action from the Election Commission of India, reports scroll.in.
The video shared by the Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on micro-blogging site ‘X’, showed the youngster recording himself while casting multiple times in a series of instances. The incident reportedly took place in Khiri Pamaran village, which falls under the Aliganj Assembly constituency within the Farrukhabad parliamentary seat. Mukesh Rajput, the sitting MP, is the BJP candidate in this constituency. Polling in Farrukhabad occurred on May 13 during the fourth phase of the general election.
In the viral video, the youngster is seen casting eight votes in total, all for the BJP, one by one with different clippings.
The youngster in the video has been identified as Rajan Singh Thakur, confirmed his father, Anil Singh Thakur to the Scroll.in. Anil Singh Thakur is the gram pradhan (village head) of Khiri Pamaran and a member of the BJP.
Anil defending his son told the Scroll that the ‘Video misrepresented his son,’ and claimed that the voting was done when the machine was being tested in some instances and other clipping of him voting on behalf of mentally and physically disabled voters was merged and made into a video.
Despite the Anil's caims, the video has drawn significant criticism. Subhash Chandra Prajapati, the additional district magistrate of Farrukhabad, confirmed to the Scroll that the administration will file a case soon. He mentioned that the returning officer is investigating the matter following a directive from the chief electoral officer in Lucknow.
The opposition has been vocal in its criticism, with Akhilesh Yadav demanding action from the Election Commission. In his social media post, Yadav accused the BJP of undermining the electoral process and described the party's booth committee as a "loot committee." The Congress party also called on the Election Commission to take action, in a ‘X’ post the party wrote, “Dear Election Commission…are you watching..a boy is voting 8-8 times ... .at least wake up now.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, took to ‘X’ to express, “Fearing and seeing their defeat, the BJP is attempting to undermine democracy by pressuring government machinery to deny the mandate. The Congress expects all officers performing election duties to remember their constitutional responsibilities despite any pressure from those in power. Otherwise, once the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc government is formed, actions will be taken to ensure that anyone will think ten times before violating their 'Oath to the Constitution'."
Following the video's circulation, Naval Kishor Shakya, the Samajwadi Party candidate in Farrukhabad, filed a complaint with the district election officer. Shakya's complaint alleges that Rajan Singh Thakur cast votes after snatching voter information slips from other voters and that he was assisted by Dinesh Thakur, the local police station's station house officer. Shakya has called for re-polling at the affected polling center.
In a related incident earlier in May, Gujarat Police arrested two BJP workers for allegedly casting bogus votes and live-streaming the act on social media in the Dahod constituency. The Election Commission conducted re-polling at the affected booth following the incident.
The opposition INDIA bloc, including the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, has repeatedly accused the Election Commission of failing to take prompt action against election model code of conduct violations.
अपनी हार सामने देख कर भाजपा जनादेश को झुठलाने के लिए सरकारी तंत्र पर दबाव बना कर लोकतंत्र को लूटना चाहती है।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 19, 2024
कांग्रेस चुनावी ड्यूटी कर रहे सभी अधिकारियों से यह अपेक्षा करती है कि वो सत्ता के दबाव के सामने अपनी संवैधानिक ज़िम्मेदारी न भूलें।
वरना INDIA की सरकार बनते ही ऐसी… https://t.co/fk4wXL8QZy
