Malaysia PM Anwar Ibrahim urges India to address minority issues, hopes for stronger bilateral ties
New Delhi: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, during his state visit to India, expressed his concerns regarding the challenges faced by minorities in the country, urging India to address these issues effectively. Speaking at an event hosted by the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in Delhi on Tuesday, Ibrahim acknowledged that India is grappling with "some serious issues" concerning minorities and religious sentiments. He expressed hope that India would continue to play its "rightful" role in addressing these matters.
Ibrahim's remarks come amid improving India-Malaysia relations, which had previously been strained following criticism from former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed over India's internal policies, including the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act.
During his address, Ibrahim also touched upon the contentious issue of Zakir Naik, a fugitive Islamic preacher currently residing in Malaysia. While noting that the issue was not raised during his discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ibrahim indicated that Malaysia might consider India's request for Naik's extradition if credible evidence is provided. He emphasized that this issue should not hinder the further enhancement of bilateral ties between the two nations.
Praising India's rich historical and democratic values, Ibrahim highlighted the contributions of Indian leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others who have been instrumental in shaping the country's identity as a beacon of hope and democracy in the region.
Ibrahim's three-day visit to India marks his first since taking office in 2022. During a joint press conference on Tuesday, PM Modi announced that the India-Malaysia partnership had been elevated to a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,' with a focus on expanding economic cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, financial technology, defense, and artificial intelligence.
In a significant move, India also agreed to make a one-time export of 200,000 metric tons of non-basmati rice to Malaysia, despite a ban on such shipments, reflecting the deepening ties between the two countries.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
