BJP has faith in dictatorship, not in Constitution, alleges CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Mar 22: Accusing BJP-led NDA government of freezing Congress' bank accounts fearing defeat in the coming Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday expressed hope that the people of the country will clearly reject the saffron party and "save" India.
BJP has no faith in democracy and Constitution, but has faith in dictatorship, he alleged, as he demanded that free and fair elections be held.
Claiming that the money voluntarily donated by the people was in the Congress accounts, Siddaramaiah expressed outrage about freezing of the entire account for a "small technical reason" and termed it as a "dictatorial attitude".
Speaking to reporters here, he said: "BJP troubling Congress like this so as to stop it from contesting the election is dangerous for democracy. This is condemnable."
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BJP has the mentality of "Manusmriti", the CM said. "For BJP there should be inequality, caste system should be strengthened, unemployment should increase, farmers' problems should not be solved."
BJP's intention is that Congress should not fight against these issues, he further said, adding that "the bank accounts have been frozen so that the Congress party does not have money for elections."
"In the name of CAA, Pulwama, Ayodhya, how many more years will you emotionally mislead Indians? You are not responding to the problems of people, but instigating them emotionally..... The people of India will remove you from power this time," he said.
AICC General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the accounts of Congress -- the principal opposition party in India -- are frozen just ahead of the elections and claimed that "democracy is under attack."
He accused BJP of using muscle and money power to lure opposition legislators and leaders in various states going against the Constitution or anti-defection law.
"Governors are now used as BJP tools, Election Commission is captured by a sinister law, ED and Income Tax departments are unleashed to conduct raids ahead of elections in various states," Surjewala said.
ಕೆಪಿಸಿಸಿ ಕಚೇರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಆಯೋಜಿಸಿದ್ದ ಜಂಟಿ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡಿದೆ.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 22, 2024
ಸೋಲಿನ ಭಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಬ್ಯಾಂಕ್ ಖಾತೆಗಳನ್ನು @BJP4India ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಫ್ರೀಜ್ ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಈ ಬಾರಿ ಬಿಜೆಪಿಯನ್ನು ದೇಶದ ಜನ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟವಾಗಿ ತಿರಸ್ಕರಿಸಿ ಭಾರತವನ್ನು ಉಳಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ.
ಬ್ರಿಟೀಷರನ್ನು ಭಾರತದಿಂದ ಓಡಿಸಲು ಸುದೀರ್ಘ ಹೋರಾಟ ನಡೆಸಿ… pic.twitter.com/WRu2BA6rsE
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Sonam Wangchuk justifies Ladakh agitation, says will join talks with Centre if needed
Kargil (PTI): Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Sunday defended the agitation for statehood and safeguards under the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh, and said he would not back out from joining talks with the government if the need for it arises.
Addressing a press conference, Wangchuk, who was released on March 14 after nearly six months of detention under the National Security Act, called for "open-minded and sincere" negotiations and striking a middle path.
He also expressed hope that the ongoing protests would lead to a positive and amicable solution.
"The demand for safeguards under the Sixth Schedule and statehood is based on democratic rights entailed in the Constitution and is completely legitimate. I have always maintained that for the last 5-6 years, we have been engaged in discussions with the government on these issues, yet no solution has emerged. This is because the other side seems to have adopted a rigid stance," Wangchuk told reporters here.
He stressed that the negotiations should be held with an open mind, in all sincerity.
"Neither side should insist 'we alone will win and you will lose'. What is needed is a middle path, a win-win approach. This is what I personally believe and have conveyed to many people, including the (agitating) leaders: the negotiations should move forward gradually," he said.
Wangchuk said they were ready to adopt such an approach, but it should not be one-sided.
He said the protesters have conveyed this thinking to fair-minded people across the country, and cautioned that if the upcoming talks once again result in their concerns being overlooked and only the other side's position prevails, it would prompt questions on why a more accommodative approach -- like that adopted by Ladakh's leaders -- is not being followed.
The government has not yet announced the date for the next round of talks.
The Ladakh-based activist expressed hope that the ongoing protests would lead to a positive and amicable resolution, enabling them to move forward and partake in the country's progress and nation-building.
Asked about charges under the National Security Act (NSA) that were levelled against him, he said, "If a person like me, who has always worked for the country -- whether in education, environment, or improving facilities for the armed forces -- can face such allegations, then what might not be said about others, not just in Ladakh but elsewhere as well?"
The activist said he was disturbed by a video related to his arrest that he came across recently, questioning how such claims could be made, especially as the contents "appeared" to be backed by evidence.
"If the allegations are true, I did not deserve to be free. But if they are false, they must be clearly refuted," Wangchuk said, cautioning against making sweeping accusations about Ladakh, which has been a pillar of India's defence, especially Kargil, whose people have supported the armed forces in every war and made significant sacrifices in the 1999 Kargil War.
Making such allegations will only create distance among people, he said, adding, "If mistakes are being made, they should be corrected."
Referring to the Centre's order revoking NSA charges against him, he said it is clearly stated that this step is being taken to create a conducive environment, to build trust, and to enable meaningful dialogue.
"So, we are waiting for things to move in that direction," he said.
On the protesters' next course of action, he said the leadership will look into the issue, but it is hoped that the time ahead will not be for anything else but celebration.
"If there is any absolute need, we will discuss and decide what steps should be taken," he said.
On the possibility of him joining the team holding dialogue with the home ministry, Wangchuk said, "Whatever I do, I do it out of necessity. Where I am not needed, and others could do it, I always prefer that they should take the lead. But if there is a need, I will not back down."
VIDEO | Ladakh: Activist Sonam Wangchuk says, "... We need open-minded dialogue with Centre to find a win-win or middle path solution..."
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 5, 2026
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/BwWQGx66I1
