BJP leader Manikantha Rathod booked for demanding 'hafta' threatening sand tipper drivers
Kalaburagi: An FIR has been filed against Manikantha Rathod, a prominent BJP leader, and four others by Madaboola Police for their alleged involvement in threatening sand tipper drivers. The incident occurred on Saturday when Abdul Hafiz and Abdul Rashid, both residents of Ranjola in Sedam taluk, were transporting sand with official permission.
As per their complaint to the police, the drivers were en route to Kalaburagi with two tippers when they were intercepted near Gundagurthi village in Chittapur taluk. The interceptors, purportedly sent by Manikantha Rathod, including Umesh Rathod and three others, accused the drivers of illegal sand transportation. The drivers were made to wait for approximately an hour, with the group claiming that their 'boss' would soon join them.
Later in the evening, Manikantha Rathod arrived at the scene and allegedly demanded that the tipper drivers supply him with four tippers of sand daily. He warned them that failing to comply would result in a payment of Rs 7 lakh.
Based on the complaint, Madaboola Police officers have initiated an FIR against Manikantha Rathod, Umesh Rathod, and the three others involved in the incident.
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Right to vote under threat, must be made fundamental right: Cong's Jairam Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged on Thursday that the right to vote is under threat and the time has come when it should be made a fundamental right for citizens.
Speaking with reporters, Ramesh lashed out at Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, saying the Election Commission (EC) has never been as compromised as it has been under him.
"The rot started under his predecessor. This man is a player and not a neutral observer," the Congress leader said, slamming Kumar.
Kumar is completely compromised and has become a player in elections, he alleged.
"Home Minister Amit Shah had talked about three Ds -- detect, delete and deport. So we want to know how many non-Indian citizens have been detected, how many have been deleted and how many have been deported," Ramesh said, adding that the right to vote is now under threat.
On opposition parties submitting a fresh notice in the Rajya Sabha, seeking to move a motion for the CEC's removal, the Congress leader said they will continue to make efforts for Kumar's removal as he is "compromised".
Ramesh also batted for the right to vote to be recognised as a fundamental right.
"I believe that the time has come that the right to vote should be made a fundamental right. It is a statutory right, it is not a fundamental right. Fundamental rights are justiciable," he said.
The former Union minister said this was discussed in the Constituent Assembly, but it was eventually decided that it should be made part of the Constitution.
B R Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram had warned that in the future, governments might try to disenfranchise voters, he added.
"Once and for all, include the right to vote as a fundamental right for Indian citizens," Ramesh asserted.
