Modi pleaded me to put in good word for him with US govt after Gujarat Riots: Subramanian Swamy
New Delhi: In a recent tweet on Wednesday, Subramanian Swamy, an Indian politician and former Member of Parliament, made a significant claim regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Swamy stated that Modi had pleaded with him to put in a good word, as there were concerns that the United States might approach the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the Gujarat riots.
Swamy shared a picture of himself with former US President Barack Obama and captioned it “Lest Modi forgets, I remind that he pleaded with me that I put in a good word since US may move the ICC on Gujarat riots.”
The tweet by Swamy has attracted attention and sparked discussions due to the context it implies. The Gujarat riots, which occurred in 2002, were a series of communal violence incidents in the state of Gujarat, resulting in widespread destruction, loss of life, and displacement. The riots, which primarily targeted the Muslim community, drew international attention and criticism.
Swamy's statement suggests that during that time, Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the time of the riots, sought Swamy's assistance in potentially mitigating any actions that the United States might take against him at the ICJ. The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and handles disputes between states.
Following the Gujarat riots of 2002, concerns were raised about Modi's alleged role in the violence and his government's handling of the situation. The United States, along with several other countries, took a stance against Modi and decided to deny him entry into the country.
In 2005, the US State Department revoked Modi's existing tourist/business visa under a provision of the US Immigration and Nationality Act, which bars entry to foreign government officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom. This decision came as a response to the allegations of human rights violations during the Gujarat riots.
The visa ban remained in effect for nearly a decade, during which Modi was unable to visit the United States. However, after he became the Prime Minister of India in 2014, the situation changed. In 2014, the US government, under President Barack Obama, lifted the visa ban and welcomed Modi to visit the United States.
Lest Modi forgets, I remind that he pleaded with me that I put in a good word since US may move the ICC on Gujarat riots. pic.twitter.com/a2iEoi5Ozh
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) May 31, 2023
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
