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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EC-TMC meet ends on bitter note; CEC asks TMC delegation to 'get lost', MP accused of 'shouting'
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New Delhi (PTI): The meeting between a Trinamool Congress delegation and the full bench of the Election Commission on Wednesday culminated on an acrimonious note, with the TMC saying the panel's chief asked them to "get lost" at the end of the seven-minute meeting, while the EC accused them of "shouting".
After the meeting, TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien told mediapersons that they handed over letters from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, and also apprised him of specific instances of poll officials having links with the BJP.
"Then he said, 'Get lost'. We have done eight to nine meetings with the Election Commission. Apart from the CEC, none of the other election commissioners spoke," O'Brien said.
"While we were walking out, one of my colleagues congratulated Gyanesh Kumar for being the only CEC to have notices moved in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for his removal," O'Brien MP said.
Meanwhile, sources in the Election Commission said the poll panel chief gave a "straight talk" to TMC leaders.
They accused O'Brien of shouting at the election commissioners and alleged that he asked the CEC not to speak.
The EC sources further said the elections in West Bengal would be "fear-free, violence-free, intimidation-free, and inducement-free."
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