Launching a scathing attack on the Election Commission, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday accused the poll body of working on the directions of the Congress and its allies to stop her party BSP from gaining power.
"I would like to say that the EC officials are acting on the directives of the Congress and its allies. The EC under political pressure is trying to stop BSP to gain power despite the party having peoples' support in its favour," Mayawati alleged.
She told reporters, "Both members of EC (Navin Chawla and S Y Quraishi) are active members of the Congress coterie. Under such circumstances, free and fair elections are not possible in the country. I strongly condemn the EC tactics."
Mayawati alleged Quraishi was "biased and is trying to help his political friends in Uttar Pradesh.
"Quraishi has interest in UP as he hails from this state and has number of close relatives here. He is also having good relations with a prominent SP leader and trying to help one of his old friend, who is contesting on a Congress ticket," she alleged.
Mayawati also alleged that transfer of police officers on Monday in Jaunpur where a candidate was found hanging had "proved apprehensions of former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami regarding integrity of his successor Navin Chawla".
"Gopalaswami had written a letter to the President doubting the integrity of Chawla and had alleged that his deputy was working as a Congress agent. The Jaunpur transfers had proved that former CEC's allegations were true," the BSP supremo said.
She said never in the past such serious allegations have been levelled against any CEC. "Under such circumstances, Chawla should have resigned on his own. Unfortunately that did not happen," she said.
Mayawati alleged that Quraishi was indulging in activities which had nothing to do with the poll process.
"Due to his personal interest, Quraishi, instead of visiting states where violence took place in the first phase, is coming to UP again and again and indulging in activities which had nothing to do with the poll process," she alleged.
Mayawati termed as unfortunate the Election Commissioner's remarks warning UP officials of serious action.
She added that "Quraishi has personal animosity against some officials of the state.
"Without making any inquiry, Quraishi asked the officials to mend their ways immediately and threatened them to ruin their career. This is very unfortunate. Keeping in view the attitude of the EC, I am sure that the Lok Sabha elections are neither fair nor free," she said.
Mayawati said the state government has already taken a serious note of the Jaunpur incident and ordered a high-level probe led by ADG Padman Singh.
"The inquiry committee, which submitted its report yesterday, has said that prima facie it was a case of suicide and no political person was involved," she said.
She said: "the EC on the basis of a report submitted by two IAS officials, who do not have any experience of investigating crime, transferred three police officiers including the additional SP. The action taken by the EC was unfortunate."
Such action will demoralise the government machinery which is committed to ensure free, fair and peaceful conduct of the Lok Sabha elections, the UP Chief Minister said.
"In the first phase, no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the state. Under such circumstaces instead of patting our back, the EC had removed three officers only on the basis of baseless complaints, which is not justified," she said.
Mayawati maintained the EC's action will create hurdles in the state government's effort to conduct peaceful and fair elections.
"This is a serious situation for democracy and Congress is solely responsible for this. But I would like to add that the EC's tactics will not help the Congress or any of the opposition parties in the ongoing polls," she said.
Mayawati alleged that Congress leaders were threatening her by misusing CBI.
She also alleged that opposition parties, in a bid to disrupt the poll process, may engineer a communal or casteist riots in the state.
"The opposition parties can also engineer a terror or naxalite attack behind the scene. Any political party can also get me killed during election campaign. The Congress can go to any extent to stop my party," she alleged.
Accusing the Congress of misusing the government machinery, Mayawati alleged that in the last assembly elections similar tactics were adopted to demoralise the BSP workers and the party.
"Congressmen, who are sitting in the EC, joined hands with the SP and created problems for the BSP. I would like to question Chawla and Quraishi that why don't they visit states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Chaittisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, which witnessed heavy violence in the first phase of polling," she said.
She alleged that the opposition parties were not happy with the fact that a Dalit's daughter was the chief minister of UP. "They do not want that a Dalit's daughter to become the Prime Minister," she alleged.
She again advised that EC should avoid transferring officials without any genuine ground or basis.
"In case any complaint is received against any officer, the EC should inform the state government. We will not hesitate in taking stern action against the guilty official," she said, adding "I hope the EC will not give us another chance to complain in future".
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
EC turns down Varun's request for transfer of Pilibhit DM, SP
The Election Commission on Tuesday turned down a request by BJP's candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi for transfer of District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police as also appointment of neutral observers in the key constituency.
"The Commission did not find any reason to transfer District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police," Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters when asked about BJP's candidate's plea in this regard.
Rejecting Mr. Varun's request for appointment of neutral observers, he said that the poll panel's observers were always neutral and critical events were video-tracked.
On the security issue, Mr. Balakrishnan said that it was for the state government to decide on the security requirement of a candidate and EC did not quantify how much security a candidate should be provided.
Mr. Gandhi, who is on a two-week parole, has requested for transfer of Pilibhit DM and SP, alleging that they have "demonstrated their malafides" against him.
Replying to a question on the Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS) allegedly offered by TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, Mr. Balakrishnan said that the EC has asked the DEO (District Electoral Ofiicer) and the SP to investigate the matter and give a report.
"The Commission did not find any reason to transfer District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police," Deputy Election Commissioner R Balakrishnan told reporters when asked about BJP's candidate's plea in this regard.
Rejecting Mr. Varun's request for appointment of neutral observers, he said that the poll panel's observers were always neutral and critical events were video-tracked.
On the security issue, Mr. Balakrishnan said that it was for the state government to decide on the security requirement of a candidate and EC did not quantify how much security a candidate should be provided.
Mr. Gandhi, who is on a two-week parole, has requested for transfer of Pilibhit DM and SP, alleging that they have "demonstrated their malafides" against him.
Replying to a question on the Cash Transfer Scheme (CTS) allegedly offered by TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, Mr. Balakrishnan said that the EC has asked the DEO (District Electoral Ofiicer) and the SP to investigate the matter and give a report.
Nation can't forgive Prabhakaran for Rajiv killing: Priyanka
Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday said India as a nation cannot forgive LTTE chief V Prabhakaran for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi though personally she and her family harbour no "hatred or anger" against the killers of her father.
Ms. Priyanka also downplayed the controversial comments of DMK chief M Karunanidhi that Prabhakaran is not a terrorist, saying she would have no "personal grief" even if anybody "praises" the LTTE chief.
"This issue is both political and personal for me. I fully understand politically the former Prime Minister of India was assassinated and they (LTTE) cannot be pardoned by India as a nation," she said when asked what treatment she would like to be meted out to Prabhakaran if he is handed over to India by Sri Lanka.
She, however, hastened to add that "from the point of view of humanity, I have nothing against them (killers) in my heart...neither anger nor hatred."
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE in a suicide bomb attack in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.
Ms. Priyanka, in interviews to the media here while campaigning for brother Rahul Gandhi, referred to her meeting with Nalini, one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, and described it as a learning experience.
Asked whether she has forgiven Nalini, Ms. Priyanka responded, "I am like Nalini. I am a human being. One human being cannot forgive another human being."
On Mr. Karunanidhi's comment that Prabhakaran is not a terrorist and the LTTE chief was his good friend, Ms. Priyanka said, "If somebody says things about them (LTTE) or praises them, it does not cause us personal grief. Politics is quite separate to us from our personal grief,"
At the same time, she noted that "he (Karunanidhi) has retracted his statement."
She also declined to comment on AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa's remark that Ms. Sonia Gandhi should tell the nation what she feels about the DMK chief's remark. "These are political things. I won't like to comment on that," Ms. Priyanka said.
Asked to comment on Mr. Rahul's remark that the family was yet to get justice for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Ms. Priyanka said she and her brother perhaps react differently on this issue.
She, however, maintained that Mr. Rahul has no anger in his heart and he was only referring to the long period that justice system takes.
Ms. Priyanka also downplayed the controversial comments of DMK chief M Karunanidhi that Prabhakaran is not a terrorist, saying she would have no "personal grief" even if anybody "praises" the LTTE chief.
"This issue is both political and personal for me. I fully understand politically the former Prime Minister of India was assassinated and they (LTTE) cannot be pardoned by India as a nation," she said when asked what treatment she would like to be meted out to Prabhakaran if he is handed over to India by Sri Lanka.
She, however, hastened to add that "from the point of view of humanity, I have nothing against them (killers) in my heart...neither anger nor hatred."
Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE in a suicide bomb attack in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.
Ms. Priyanka, in interviews to the media here while campaigning for brother Rahul Gandhi, referred to her meeting with Nalini, one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, and described it as a learning experience.
Asked whether she has forgiven Nalini, Ms. Priyanka responded, "I am like Nalini. I am a human being. One human being cannot forgive another human being."
On Mr. Karunanidhi's comment that Prabhakaran is not a terrorist and the LTTE chief was his good friend, Ms. Priyanka said, "If somebody says things about them (LTTE) or praises them, it does not cause us personal grief. Politics is quite separate to us from our personal grief,"
At the same time, she noted that "he (Karunanidhi) has retracted his statement."
She also declined to comment on AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa's remark that Ms. Sonia Gandhi should tell the nation what she feels about the DMK chief's remark. "These are political things. I won't like to comment on that," Ms. Priyanka said.
Asked to comment on Mr. Rahul's remark that the family was yet to get justice for the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Ms. Priyanka said she and her brother perhaps react differently on this issue.
She, however, maintained that Mr. Rahul has no anger in his heart and he was only referring to the long period that justice system takes.
Sri Lanka troops move in on Tigers, 49,000 flee
Sri Lankan soldiers battled into the last redoubt of the Tamil Tigers on Tuesday, and an exodus of people trapped by the rebels in the coastal strip reached nearly 50,000, the military said.
The operation gathered speed after the military's noon (0630 GMT) deadline for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to surrender passed without any word from the separatists, in what appears to be the final act in Asia's longest-running war.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned the situation was "nothing short of catastrophic" and urged both sides to prevent further mass casualties among civilians, saying hundreds had been killed in the past 48 hours.
The neutral agency did not assign blame to either side.
Sri Lanka's military, in what it dubbed the world's largest hostage rescue operation, moved in to keep the stream of people moving and give troops a clear shot at the LTTE and its elusive leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.
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"So far 49,054 people have come out and still people are coming in. Troops are expanding the area under their control," military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.
The United Nations and Western governments have urged the military to renew a brief truce to negotiate the civilians' exit, a plea the government has rejected on the grounds the Tigers have dismissed all entreaties to let the people out.
The state-run ‘Daily News’, quoting army commander Lt-Gen. Sarath Fonseka, said soldiers had reached the shoreline and taken control of the only medical facility in the no-fire zone, a makeshift hospital run by the ICRC in Puttumatalan.
The operation gathered speed after the military's noon (0630 GMT) deadline for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to surrender passed without any word from the separatists, in what appears to be the final act in Asia's longest-running war.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned the situation was "nothing short of catastrophic" and urged both sides to prevent further mass casualties among civilians, saying hundreds had been killed in the past 48 hours.
The neutral agency did not assign blame to either side.
Sri Lanka's military, in what it dubbed the world's largest hostage rescue operation, moved in to keep the stream of people moving and give troops a clear shot at the LTTE and its elusive leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.
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"So far 49,054 people have come out and still people are coming in. Troops are expanding the area under their control," military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.
The United Nations and Western governments have urged the military to renew a brief truce to negotiate the civilians' exit, a plea the government has rejected on the grounds the Tigers have dismissed all entreaties to let the people out.
The state-run ‘Daily News’, quoting army commander Lt-Gen. Sarath Fonseka, said soldiers had reached the shoreline and taken control of the only medical facility in the no-fire zone, a makeshift hospital run by the ICRC in Puttumatalan.
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Somnath has exposed 'his moral high ground’: CPM
Left parties on Monday reacted sharply to Somnath Chatterjee's dubbing their withdrawal of support to the Government as a ‘mistake’, with the CPI(M) even alleging that his support to the Congress-led coalition and continuation as the Speaker were ‘inter-connected’.
"By admitting his pro-Congress stand, Chatterjee has exposed the moral high ground he took that the Speaker is above party politics," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said in a strongly worded reaction.
"His support to the Congress-led Government and his continuance as the Speaker are inter-connected," Karat, under whose leadership the CPI(M) had asked Chatterjee to quit the high office last year, said.
Karat's comment came a day after Chatterjee said he had sent a note to the CPI(M) asking them not to withdraw support but continue opposing the nuclear deal. Chatterjee was expelled from CPI(M) after he refused to step down following Left's withdrawal of support.
"By admitting his pro-Congress stand, Chatterjee has exposed the moral high ground he took that the Speaker is above party politics," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said in a strongly worded reaction.
"His support to the Congress-led Government and his continuance as the Speaker are inter-connected," Karat, under whose leadership the CPI(M) had asked Chatterjee to quit the high office last year, said.
Karat's comment came a day after Chatterjee said he had sent a note to the CPI(M) asking them not to withdraw support but continue opposing the nuclear deal. Chatterjee was expelled from CPI(M) after he refused to step down following Left's withdrawal of support.
Farzi Gandhigiri may get crowds but not votes: Maya
Peeved at the "jadu ki jhappi" remark by Sanjay Dutt, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday attacked the Samajwadi party, calling it a gathering of people who are good at little other than singing, dancing and fake Gandhigiri.
"My political opponents have no good work to their credit and are demoralised over the BSP's growing popularity. Hence, they are now gathering people who are good at little except singing, dancing and "farzi" (fake) Gandhigiri", the BSP
supremo told an election meeting.
Without naming Dutt or the Samajwadi Party which has made the actor its General Secretary, she said, "Our political opponents need to remember that naachne-gaane wale (those who sing and dance), through their farzi Gandhigiri, may attract huge crowds but will not help them get votes". The remarks came in the wake of Dutt having allegedly said at an election meeting that he wanted to give "jaadu ki jhappi aur pappi" (magical hug and kiss) to Mayawati, following which an FIR, accusing the actor of having made "obscene" comments, has been registered in Pratapgarh district of the state. Earlier, the BSP supremo came down heavily on the Congress for its "failure to remove poverty an unemployment from the country despite having ruled it for the most part of the 61 years since Independence.
"My political opponents have no good work to their credit and are demoralised over the BSP's growing popularity. Hence, they are now gathering people who are good at little except singing, dancing and "farzi" (fake) Gandhigiri", the BSP
supremo told an election meeting.
Without naming Dutt or the Samajwadi Party which has made the actor its General Secretary, she said, "Our political opponents need to remember that naachne-gaane wale (those who sing and dance), through their farzi Gandhigiri, may attract huge crowds but will not help them get votes". The remarks came in the wake of Dutt having allegedly said at an election meeting that he wanted to give "jaadu ki jhappi aur pappi" (magical hug and kiss) to Mayawati, following which an FIR, accusing the actor of having made "obscene" comments, has been registered in Pratapgarh district of the state. Earlier, the BSP supremo came down heavily on the Congress for its "failure to remove poverty an unemployment from the country despite having ruled it for the most part of the 61 years since Independence.
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