In a shocking development in Chaksu under the Shivdaspura police station of Jaipur, Rajasthan, about 10 days old dead bodies of a young man and woman, who had been living in a live-in relationship for a year, were found in a flat. It has been suspected that the couple died of suffocation as all doors and windows were shut, and there was a fireplace inside the flat.
The incident took place inside flat number 322 in Swapnalok Apartment on Mahal Road in Shivdaspura police station area in Chaksu, where Surendra Kumar Vishnav from Bhilwara was living with Razia Begum for around 3 months. The couple was in a live-in relationship for a year and started staying in the rented flat three months ago.
The bodies were discovered after neighbours got suspicious of the smell coming from the flat and informed the police. On Saturday (17th February) the police arrived at the apartment and found that the flat was locked from inside. Therefore, the police broke the door at around 7 p.m. and discovered that the couple had died. Both bodies were covered with blankets on the floor, completely blackened and decomposed.
A fireplace was also found inside the flat. The windows and doors of the flat were also completely closed. Initial investigation has revealed that both of them probably died due to suffocation. Prima facie, they suffocated due to smoke coming from the fireplace as all doors and windows were shut and there was no ventilation in the house.
The bodies have been sent to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and kept in the hospital’s mortuary. It has been estimated that they died around 10 days ago.
Shivdaspura police station officer Daulatram Gurjar said, “Surendra Kumar Vaishnav (age 39) was living in flat number 322 of Swapnalok Apartment for about three months on rent. He was a resident of Bhilwara. Razia Begum (age 34) daughter of Faimuddin resident Jalupura (Jaipur) was in a live-in relationship with Surendra Kumar for a year. The woman was already married.”
He added, “On Saturday evening, residents of Swapnalok Apartments informed the police about a foul smell emanating from a locked flat. The door of flat number 322 was found locked from inside. On this, the police broke the door and entered. Two bodies of a young man and woman were found on the floor, covered with blankets on them. A fireplace was also found inside the flat. Both died probably due to suffocation. Both the bodies have been kept in the mortuary of Mahatma Gandhi Hospital. Initial investigation has revealed that the bodies are about 10 days old.”
Police said that the family of the youth were informed about the incident. Also, no family was found at the address mentioned in the girl’s documents. The police are further investigating into this case.
Amid the unrest in Sandeshkhali village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee on Sunday (18th February) attempted to downplay the harassment and sexual exploitation of women at the hands of Trinamool Congress goons.
During a public meeting at Birbhum, she dubbed the unrest in Sandeshkhali as a ‘minor incident’ and blamed the BJP and the media for amplifying the issue in the public discourse.
At about 55:15 minutes into the programme, the West Bengal Chief Minister remarked, ” An incident has happened or rather made to happen. First, they sent the ED (Enforcement Directorate), then its friend BJP came entered the scene.”
“After that, some media houses capitalised on the incident. Made a hue and cry out of a minor incident,” Mamata Banerjee was heard saying.
After trivialising the seriousness of the matter, she ‘promised’ to send officers to Sandeshkhali to listen to the grievances of the villagers. This is despite the fact that the victims have accused the police of being mute spectators to the atrocities committed against women
The West Bengal Chief Minister then claimed to return everything if it had been forcibly taken from the residents of Sandeshkhali. Then, she alleged that no woman has ever complained about her not fulfilling any of her promises.
Mamata Banerjee went to browbeat about the arrest of 2 accused in Sandeshkhali while failing to mention that the primary accused Sheikh Shahjahan is still on the run from law enforcement authorities.
This is however not the first time that Mamata Banerjee has brushed aside atrocities on women as ‘minor incident.’
Mamata Banerjee, TMC and dismissing rape cases
An Anglo-Indian woman, Suzette Jordan, was raped in a moving car by five men on February 6, 2012, when she was returning home from Park Street in Kolkata.
Soon after the news surfaced, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee absolved the accused of all charges. She had dubbed the incident as ‘shajano ghotona‘ (concocted incident), which was allegedly ‘designed to malign the government.’
While speaking to a news channel, TMC MP Kakoli Ghose Dhastidar cast aspersions on the character of the victim and also ruled out the rape angle.
Rape survivor Suzette Jordan, image via Livemint
She stated, “If you are referring to the Park Street case, see that’s a different one altogether. It’s not at all a rape case. It was a misunderstanding between two people in a professional dealing between the lady and her client.”
At the same time, the then Transport Minister had also questioned the victim’s character and called the complaint fake. 3 years later in 2015, a Kolkata Court upheld the rape charges in the Park Street case and found accused Nasir Khan, Ruman Khan and Sumit Bajaj guilty.
In 2013, during a debate in the West Bengal legislative assembly about the rising cases of rapes in the State, the CM had insinuated that it was due to an increase in the population of the State. She had also blamed modernisation, an increase in shopping malls and multiplexes for rising rape cases.
During another rape case in Burdwan’s Katwa in the same year, Mamata Banerjee again dismissed the rape allegations, even before the investigation was concluded.
“A political party is doing all this, shouting rape. They are playing this drama. Harmader diye natok shajachhe jatey Banglar nam kharap hochhe (They are staging an act to give a bad name to West Bengal)”, she was heard as saying.
Screengrab of the Telegraph report
In April 2022, Mamata Banerjee courted controversy after she tried todownplay allegations of brutal rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl as a ‘love affair’ gone wrong.
The incident, in question, took place on April 4, 2022, in the Shyamnagar locality in Hanskhali Block Number- I in the Nadia district of West Bengal. The accused has been identified as one Brajgopal, the son of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Gajna Gram Panchayat member Samar Gowla.
While speaking at the inauguration of the revamped Milan Mela on April 11, she claimed, “As a layman, I am saying where would someone get the evidence whether the girl was actually raped or pregnant. Or was there any other reason, like someone beat her up or she died of some illness?”
“There was a love affair for sure, her family knew about it, and their neighbours also knew about it. Now if a girl and a boy love each other, I cannot punish them”, alleged Mamata Banerjee. In April last year, the West Bengal CM stirred the hornet’s nest after she claimed that the alleged ‘rape and murder case’ in Kaliganj was a ‘love affair’ gone wrong.
While addressing a press conference at Nabanna (State Secretariat), she claimed, “Amader o dukho hoi… Kintu amra Whatsapp total ta peyechi…Tader modhe ekta bhalobashar udyog o chilo (We feel bad about it….But we have seen Whatsapp messages… There was a love affair.”
“Doctors said she had taken poison. It’s a suicide case. The police are investigating,” she was quoted as saying. Although the investigation is in a preliminary stage, Mamata Banerjee went out of her way to suggest that there was no foul play in the death of the Kaliganj victim.
On 21st April 2023, the dead body of a 17-year-old Dalit girl was discovered floating in a canal in the Kaliagunj area in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal. The kins of the victim alleged that the teenager was raped prior to her murder.
The girl had gone missing on her way to tuition classes on April 20. As per reports, the police had arrested two individuals, including one Javed Akhtar, who was known to the victim. The National Commission of Women (NCW) has taken cognisance of the matter.
While her recent remarks have stirred a hullabaloo in political circles of West Bengal, there is nothing surprising given that Mamata Banerjee has a stellar record at victim-blaming and downplaying atrocities on women.
A case of alleged sexual abuse of a rape victim by a Judge recently came to the fore from a court in Tripura. In her complaint to the police, the rape victim alleged that the accused judicial officer touched her inappropriately and warned her if she (the victim) didn’t allow his sexual advances, the court case would go against her. She said, “Without making any statement I somehow managed to escape the situation within a few minutes.”
The Kamalpur police station admitted that it had received a written complaint against the accused Judicial officer Bishwatosh Dhar but has not yet registered a case. However, the Police stated that the investigation has been ongoing. It added that once the allegations are prima facie confirmed, they will register a case under the appropriate sections.
Meanwhile, following the rape victim’s allegations, a Senior Advocate said on Sunday (18th February) that a three-member panel has launched a probe of her allegations which will be headed by District and Sessions Judge (Dhalai) Gautam Sarkar.
As per reports, the rape victim was molested by the accused judicial magistrate Bishwatosh Dhar in his chamber when she was called to depose her testimony in the rape case on Friday (16th February). The rape victim was reportedly accompanied by a woman constable but the accused judicial magistrate allegedly didn’t allow her to remain with the rape victim.
In her complaint to the additional district and sessions judge of Kamalpur, the victim said, “I went to the chamber of the first class judicial magistrate to get my statement recorded on February 16. When I was about to give my statement, the judge groped me. I rushed out of his chamber and informed the lawyers and my husband about the incident.”
Additionally, her husband also lodged a separate complaint with the Kamalpur Bar Association over the incident. Her husband asked, “He said that judges have to do this while taking the statement of such cases. Hearing this, she objected and started crying. Then the judge asked her to leave and sit outside. If a judge bears such character how will people get justice?”
The victim’s husband demanded strict legal action against the accused judicial magistrate in addition to departmental action.
After receiving the complaint, District Judge (Dhalai) Sarkar visited Kamalpur on Saturday. During his visit, he was accompanied by Additional District and Sessions Judge Rahul Roy and Chief Judicial Magistrate Satyajit Das. They interacted with fellow judicial officers, practicing lawyers, and a few staff of Kamalpur court about the incident and took stock of the behaviour and conduct of the accused judicial officer.
Speaking with PTI, the secretary of the advocate body, Shibendra Dasgupta said, “The three-member panel headed by the district and sessions judge also met the members of Kamalpur Bar Association on the court premises and sought our point of view on the allegations of the woman. We placed our points before the panel.”
Responding to the allegation brought against the judge, Registrar General of the Tripura High Court, V Pandey said, “We have not yet received any official complaint regarding the issue. Like other people of the state, I too came to know about it from the media and social media platforms. Once we receive a complaint in a proper format, we will definitely take appropriate action.”
The All India Bar Association (AIBA) has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, cautioning about demands for President’s Rule in the state after witnessing horrific incidents of sexual assault and violence in Sandeshkhali.
AIBA Chairman and Senior Advocate, Dr Adish Aggarwala, has also condemned the incident and the lackadaisical approach of the West Bengal Police and authorities in not nabbing the culprits and a sketchy probe.
“We are pained to hear about the horrific testimonies of the victims of Sandeshkhali and have demanded swift action in the matter. We have also cautioned the Chief Minister that she shall ensure that the State doesn’t turn into “Jungle Raj” or else we will have to demand President’s Rule,” said Aggarwala, who is also the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
The letter written to the Chief Minister of West Bengal by the AIBA condemned the incident.
“The reports of atrocities with the women in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali have left the nation in shock and immense grief. The testimonies of the victims as recorded by statutory bodies like the National Commission for Women have revealed horrors that the women have faced in forms of sexual assault and violence,” the letter read.
“We feel immense pain and grief about the women and want that justice is served to them. You, being the Chief Minister of the State shall look into the matter immediately and shall ensure that those involved in these heinous acts shall be put to face the law,” the letter added.
Women in Sandeshkhali village, North Parganas area have come forward, alleging that Shajahan Sheikh, a prominent figure in the local TMC, along with his supporters, have engaged in land-grabbing and sexually assaulted them under duress.
Shajahan Sheikh has evaded authorities after a group purportedly linked to him reportedly attacked officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during a raid on his premises in connection with a corruption investigation.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh faced another setback as seasoned politician Saleem Sherwani resigned from the post of general secretary. He is the second SP leader who resigned from his party position. Recently, controversial politician Swami Prasad Maurya resigned from the post of general secretary.
#WATCH | Delhi: On resigning from the post of Samajwadi Party's General Secretary, Saleem Sherwani says, "This (my separation from the party) did not happen today. This happened when the member's name for the Rajya Sabha election was announced…I thought that the topic, the… pic.twitter.com/F0xlS0juTi
Reports suggest that Sherwani has accused the party of neglecting Muslims, particularly while selecting candidates for the Rajya Sabha. In a letter to party chief and former Chief Minister of UP Akhilesh Yadav, sherwani highlighted the continuous neglect that the Muslims feel within the party. He criticized the party for not choosing Muslim candidates for the Rajya Sabha elections. He said, “Muslims are consistently feeling neglected. Even in the Rajya Sabha elections, no Muslim candidate was sent. While my name might not be under consideration, a Muslim candidate should have been given the opportunity. Muslims are searching for true representation, and I feel staying in SP, I cannot bring significant changes to the condition of Muslims.”
राज्यसभा नहीं भेजे जाने से नाराज़ चल रहे सपा नेता सलीम शेरवानी ने सपा महासचिव पद से इस्तीफा दिया. अखिलेश यादव को भेजे गए पत्र में लिखा, "हमें नहीं भेजा कोई बात नहीं,आपने PDA को कोई महत्व ही नहीं दिया." #AkhileshYadav#SalimSherwanipic.twitter.com/rU0pjfADXa
Sherwani further accused the party of tokenism in terms of inclusivity and said, “The way my name was used, but seeing the list of candidates for the Rajya Sabha, it seems like you don’t give any importance to the minority community.” Speaking on the coalition of opposition parties, he said, “Efforts to form a strong opposition alliance seem futile, and nobody seems serious about it. It appears that the opposition is more interested in fighting among themselves rather than against the ruling party’s wrong policies.”
On the matter of Secularism, he said, “Secularism has become a facade. In India, especially in Uttar Pradesh, Muslims have never demanded anything beyond equality, dignity, and security in addition to their rights. However, the party seems indifferent to this demand. The party has no response to our demand. Therefore, I believe that I cannot change my community’s situation within the SP. In this situation, I am resigning as the party’s National General Secretary. I will decide my political future in the coming weeks.”
Saleem Sherwani is a seasoned politician from Uttar Pradesh. He has served as a Member of Parliament from the Badayun Lok Sabha constitution five times. Four times, he contested from SP and once from Congress. Before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he switched from SP to Congress. However, after getting defeated, he came back to SP.
On Thursday (15th February), the foundation stone of a temporary Hindu temple, located within the campus of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur city in the Rangpur Division of Bangladesh, came under attack from university authorities.
The varsity is home to 25% of students of the Hindu Faith. Reportedly, there are 3 mosques on the university campus but not a single Hindu temple. This was despite the fact that a decision to construct a temple was taken by the university administration way back in 2013.
For the past 11 years, the Hindu students of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University have been demanding that the administration provide a designated land for the construction of the temple.
Hindu students lay the foundation stone of a Hindu temple at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University
On 4th December 2022, the Hindu students submitted a written draft to the administration to fulfil its commitment to construct a Hindu temple. The varsity had assured that the construction of the temple would begin in January 2023.
However, the authorities were quick to backtrack on their assurance to the Hindu students. On 8 January last year, the varsity informed that they did not constitute any committee to provide land for the promised temple.
Following a large-scale agitation by the Hindu students, the university assured to provide a designated land inside the 85-acre area campus within a period of 7 days. The varsity again failed to deliver on its promise.
Press release by the Hindu Student Union of the university
Another round of demonstrations was carried out by the Hindu students on 22nd January 2023. The university yet again made hollow assurances, claimed to form a committee and submit a report on 6th March of that year.
The administration promised to allocate land by 30th June 2023 and failed the students of the Hindu community yet again.
The Hindu students approached the Vice Chancellor and Registrar of the university, conducted a press conference at the Dinajpur Press Club and even sent a Deputation to the Office of SP, DC and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Bhoomi Pujan of Hindu Mandir at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University campus
The varsity promised to allocate land post the federal elections in the country but the administration backtracked on their assurance when confronted by Hindu students on 26th January this year.
The students of the Hindu community yet again reached out to the Vice-Chancellor’s Office on Wednesday (14th February) but it was in vain. Forced by circumstances, they went ahead and performed the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ of the Hindu temple.
In visuals received by OpIndia, students of the Hindu community were seen laying the foundation of the Hindu Mandir on Wednesday.
A day later on 15th February, members of the university administration threatened the Hindu students and attempted to demolish the foundation of the Hindu Mandir. The disturbing video of the incident has now surfaced on social media
However, the attempt was thwarted by the vigilant Hindu students present there.
OpIndia reached out to a 4th year engineering student of the Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University.
Students staying overnight to guard Hindu temple foundation at Bangladeshi university
On the condition of anonymity, he told us, “There are about 2000-2500 Hindu students on the campus. Examinations are underway. So everyone is taking turns to safeguard the foundation of the temple.”
“A group of 20-25 students including me are staying overnight at the varsity to prevent further attacks on the temple. It has been 5 days so far,” he continued.
On being asked about the future course of action, the student informed, “We will submit application to the university again to allocate us land. If they do not deliver on their assurances this time, we will try to build upon the foundation stone laid for the temple in the campus.”
Uttarakhand Police have continued the crackdown against rioters who were involved in the 8th February Haldwani riots that took place in the Banbhoolpura region. Following the court orders of property attachment, the Police attached the house of Abdul Mali, the mastermind of the Haldwani violence. The Police also seized antique items and valuables worth crores from his luxurious house.
SSP Nainital Prahlad Narayan Meena said that along with the main accused of Banbhoolpura violence, Abdul Malik and his son, 7 other accused are still absconding. An order for attachment of police property has been obtained against them from the court.
The district administration initiated the attachment action on Friday (16th February) which continued till Saturday evening. Heavy police and paramilitary personnel were present at the spot during the attachment process.
According to reports, Malik’s luxurious house is located on line number 8 in Banbhoolpura in Haldwani. When the police reached his house for attachment, they were stunned to find the house which resembles a palace, and the antique and foreign items kept inside, highlighting the luxurious life of the mastermind of Haldwani violence.
Police also recovered a huge stock of foreign currencies and valuables worth crores of rupees from his luxurious house. Police sources indicate that the house has around 15 rooms with every room having expensive furniture and antique items. The rooms are furnished with beds, sofas, and dining sets worth several lakhs, alongside chandeliers and various high-value antique pieces.
(Image Credit – Navbharat Times)
The prominent seized items include over eighteen imported watches and several imported perfumes. Other confiscated items include over 30 pairs of slippers and shoes, gym equipment, and crockery. Besides a substantial amount of Indian currency notes, currencies from Bangladesh, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, and several other nations were also confiscated. However, police did not disclose amount of the seizure.
An officer of Nainital Police said, “We are making a list of the items seized from the accused’s house. A report in this regard will be prepared and submitted in court.”
The valuable items seized on Saturday (17th February) include sofa set, Maharaja dining set, fridge, cupboard, expensive foreign brand watches, perfumes from Arabic countries, AC, computer, printer, geyser, oil heater, TV, other electronics items, swords, jewellery, fans, beds, mattresses, Curtains, doors, windows, and scooters, etc.
During the attachment, the police also uprooted the doors and door frames of Abdul Malik’s house and confiscated them.
#WATCH | Haldwani | The houses of Abdul Malik and his son Abdul Moeed, wanted in the Banbhulpura riots, are being attached in Banbhulpura. At present, police and administration teams including Harbans Singh SP City Haldwani, Sangeeta CO Lalkuan, Sachin Tehsildar Haldwani, DR… pic.twitter.com/9ImUtaR8A7
Apart from property attachment, the Police also released posters of the main accused Abdul Malik, his son, and 7 other accused who are currently absconding. Further, the district administration also cancelled the mining vehicle registrations of the accused of Haldwani violence.
On 16th February, Bengal Police exhumed the body of a 13-year-old minor girl who was kidnapped and murdered. The body was exhumed on the orders of Calcutta High Court. As per reports, the relatives of the girl approached the high court alleging that the girl faced inhuman atrocities and demanded a re-examination of her death. They had alleged that there were discrepancies in the original autopsy report and it didn’t match with the police report.
Accordingly, the court ordered Bengal police to exhume the body and initiate a fresh investigation. It has been revealed that her eyes were gouged out, and both breasts were cut off. She was later murdered. The court has now ordered a fresh autopsy.
History of the case
The incident took place in the Hariharpara area of district Murshidabad. The 13-year-old minor girl went missing on 26th January 2024 after she left at around 8 PM. When she did not return, her family members launched a search operation. According to Anand Bazaar Patrika’s report, they found a note in her room that said, “Don’t worry”. The next day, her mangled dead body was recovered from mustard fields in the village some distance away from her home. She had a rope around her neck, her eyes were gouged out, and her breasts were cut off.
The family of the victim alleged that a boy from the village kidnapped her on the pretext of marriage. He then raped and physically assaulted her. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against two suspects, and arrested them, a minor boy and his father.
The police prepared a detailed panchnama, which is the document prepared by police recording the details of the crime scene. In case of murder or unnatural death cases, the panchnama records the details of the condition of the body in which it was found, external injury marks visible on the body, location of any wounds or clothing, the details of the surroundings, objects recovered from the scene etc.
The report said that there were multiple injury marks on the body, there was a noose around the neck, adding that she was possibly raped. These details matches with the details provided in the complaint filed by the girl’s family.
The body of the deceased girl was sent to Murshidabad Medical College, where the post-mortem was conducted. However, the post-mortem report had glaring differences with the initial police report. The post-mortem report didn’t mention many of the crucial details mentioned in the police inquest report.
It was alleged that the minor was raped and killed. The accused father-son duo made holes in the dead body and poured acid in it to speed up the rotting process. However, the allegations were mentioned in the investigation report but not in the postmortem report. The investigation report, case diary and autopsy report had different facts about the case.
After this, the girl’s family approached the Calcutta High Court. After hearing the case, the High Court ordered to exhume the body and do a post-mortem again. The court ordered that the post-mortem will be done by the doctors of SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.
The body was recovered from the grave 20 days after she was buried. The body was sent to SSKM Medical College and Hospital for a postmortem. The court has ordered the second autopsy report to be submitted by 6 March.
The family alleges that the minor local youth abducted the girl from her home with the promise of marriage. She also allegedly took Rs10,000 while leaving the house.
On Sunday (18th February), Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a stirring speech to party cadres and leaders at the BJP’s National Convention at Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam. He emphasised that in the next 100 days, each member must dedicate themselves to earning the trust and support of voters in preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
PM Narendra Modi also paid tributes to Jain seer Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj, who passed away on Sunday morning. He said, “Today, I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute to Acharya Shri 108 Vidhyasagar Ji Maharaj. I was deeply saddened, and, so were his followers, after receiving the news of his demise. For me, this is a personal loss. I had the privilege and good fortune of meeting him and seeking his advice and guidance from time to time. The last time I visited him, the thought of not seeing him again never crossed my mind.”
भाजपा कार्यकर्ताओं की निष्ठा और समर्पण से हमें जनता-जनार्दन का भरपूर आशीर्वाद मिल रहा है। 2024 में तीसरी बार सरकार बनाकर हम जनसेवा और राष्ट्र सेवा का अप्रतिम इतिहास रचने जा रहे हैं। नई दिल्ली में भाजपा राष्ट्रीय अधिवेशन को संबोधित कर रहा हूं। https://t.co/aCtRU51Thy
Addressing party colleagues, PM Modi said, “Over the next 100 days, every one of us has to go out and reach out to every new voter, every beneficiary and every community. We have got to win everyone’s trust and support. Our sincere workers stay with the people 24 by 7 and all through the year, doing something or the other to gain their trust and confidence. However, over the next 100 days, we have to work with renewed enthusiasm and vigour. Today is February 18, and the youths who turn 18 and step into adulthood today will elect the 18th Lok Sabha in a few days from now.”
He further said, “The country’s dreams and resolve have got bigger. Our dream and resolution today is to make a Viksit Bharat and the next five years will be crucial to taking our country there. Over the next five years, we have to take a giant leap towards Viksit Bharat. The speed that India has achieved in the last 10 years, and the courage to achieve big goals, are unprecedented. The heights that India has achieved today in every field have connected every countryman with great resolve. Now the country can neither dream small nor take small resolutions. Dreams will be huge and resolutions will also be huge.”
PM Narendra Modi asserted, “Today, even some leaders in the Opposition are chanting ‘NDA sarkar 400 paar’. However, to take the NDA past 400 in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has to cross 370 seats or more in the Lok Sabha. When Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was coronated, he did not say ‘If we get power, let’s enjoy it.’ He continued his mission. I am not a person who lives for self pleasures. I am not asking for the third term of the BJP government, for the enjoyment of power. I am a man with the resolve of the nation”
Talking about the work done towards women’s empowerment during the tenure of his government, PM Modi said, “Today the BJP is using the power of youth, women, poor and farmers and turning it into the power to build a developed India. We have cared for those whom no one has cared; not only that we have worshipped them. In the coming times, there are going to be opportunities for our mothers, sisters and daughters. Mission Shakti will create a complete ecosystem of protection and empowerment of women in the country. 15 thousand women SHGs will get drones. Now Drone Didi will bring scientific temperament and modernity to farming. Now 3 crore women in the country will become lakhpati Didis.”
He added, “We have shown the courage to solve the tasks which were pending for centuries. By constructing a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, we have ended the wait of 5 centuries. The Dharmik flag has been hoisted in Pavagadh, Gujarat after 500 years. After 7 decades, we have opened the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor. After waiting for 7 decades, the country has abolished Article 370.”
PM Narendra Modi targeted the opposition in his address during the BJP’s National Convention. He said, “Our opposition parties do not know how to execute plans. But the false promises they make are unmatched. Today, all these political parties are afraid to make a promise. That is the promise of a developed India. And this is our promise. Only the BJP and NDA alliance have dreamt of this. We are working to make India a developed country by 2047. We have been quietly working for one and a half years for suggestions related to the resolution of a developed India. You will be happy to know that till now more than 15 lakh people have given their ideas for the roadmap and policies of developed India. More than half of these 15 lakh are those who are below 35 years of age. We are moving forward with this youthful thinking.”
PM Narendra Modi further said, “It took 60 years for the country to become a trillion dollar economy and in our 10 years tenure, we have become a three trillion dollars economy. India is the fifth largest economy in the world and our infrastructure budget has crossed Rs 11 lakh crore. The spirit of Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat is also reflected in our governance. In earlier governments, the North-East was completely ignored, but we do not work for votes and seats. For us, every corner of the country should be prosperous and developed, this is our motive. We are proud that we are part of such a culture of BJP, in which record OBC representation is ensured in the ministry. Our government is for everyone. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is reflected in our work.”
He said, “Any country can shape its future only when it preserves its history. Over the years, India has also shaped and saved its history. We have built a modern memorial of Salt Satyagraha at Dandi. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Panch Teerth are developed during our tenure. Sardar Patel’s Statue of Liberty was built by our government. 14th August is now observed as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day. The decision to declare 26th November as Constitution Day was also taken by our government.”
Amid revelations by the Rawalpindi Commissioner of ‘Institutionalised rigging’ to turn losers into ‘winners’, confusion has prevailed over the formation of a new government in Pakistan even after 10 days of election results. While the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has raised questions about the integrity and credibility of the Feb 8 elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan is yet to officially notify the victory of most of the independent candidates. Inconclusive talks between PPP and PML-N over a power-sharing formula and unusual ISI officials meeting with jailed PTI leader Imran Khan have created an atmosphere of political uncertainty in Pakistan.
Questions raised over integrity of election results and Election Commission’s conduct
On Saturday, Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan and Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa for involvement in the ‘massive rigging’. The acceptance of election rigging kicked off a political storm as it bolstered the claim of Imran Khan-led PTI and other political parties who had been carrying out nationwide anti-rigging campaigns.
Following Chattha’s explosive revelations in a press conference, he ‘surrendered’ himself to the police. Subsequently, the Police arrested him and sealed his office “to prevent record tampering”. However, a police spokesman said the commissioner was not “arrested’ claiming that there were no cases against him, but added that he was in “custody” after the allegations. Later, Chattha was shifted to some unknown place.
Following the development, incarcerated PTI Founder Imran Khan described Chattha’s revelations as an “incriminating confession” adding that the party-backed candidates were robbed of at least 13 National Assembly seats in Rawalpindi Division alone.
An incriminating confession by the Commissioner of Rawalpindi, who announces to resign in protest after admitting to have manipulated the election results, robbing PTI of at least 13 National Assembly seats in Rawalpindi Division alone.
Since then, PTI has been demanding the resignations of Chief Election Commissioner and Chief Justice of Pakistan. In their defense, CJP Faez Isa has rejected the allegations against him while the Election Commission has formed a committee to ‘probe’ the accusations.
The major benefactor of this election, PML-N, raised questions over the mental health of Rawalpindi Commissioner after his revelations. PML-N Secretary Information, Marriyum Aurangzeb, urged authorities to put the Rawalpindi commissioner’s name on the exit control list (ECL). She said, “The commissioner has no constitutional responsibility or authority in the compilation or implementation of the execution of the election. There were hearings held in the election commission where they invited everyone to present any evidence of rigging, but Mr Chattha did not show up.”
On Saturday (17th February), The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) questioned the elections’ integrity and called for an independent audit into rigging allegations. In a report, the HRCP urged an independent audit of the Feb 8 general elections under the supervision of a parliamentary body.
The HRCP’s election observers conducted spot-checks in 51 constituencies. According to its findings as well as the nationwide shutdown of internet and cellular services on polling day, it found that the arbitrary changes in polling information hindered voters’ access to polling stations.
The report noted, “While the polling process itself was generally transparent and peaceful, the post-polling procedures raised significant concerns.”
Even after 10 days, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is yet to notify the victory of most of the independent candidates who have won National Assembly (NA) seats in the general elections, Dawn reported.
According to unofficial results, more than 101 independent candidates, predominantly backed by PTI, have won National Assembly seats. As of last night, the ECP had notified the result of only eight of them and declared the victory of 33 more through a late-night notification.
Furthermore, several Nationalist parties in Balochistan have announced province-wide strikes and have rejected the 8th February election results. According to Pakistani media, leaders from a coalition of Baloch, Pashtoon, and Hazara nationalist parties have rejected the Feb 8 election results. They accused the process of being marred by corruption and allegations of Rs70 billion being given in Balochistan for electoral victories.
On Saturday, speaking at a joint public meeting, the heads of four parties — Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), National Party (NP) and Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) alleged that “supernatural entities” aided the victories of candidates who have been declared as “winners” adding that they didn’t secure their positions through legitimate votes.
On Sunday (18th February), they also called for a province-wide wheel-jam strike and declared their support for parties that would stop civil and military interference in politics.
Confusion over alliance government
The Pakistani voters gave a fractured mandate, and no party crossed the coveted halfway mark of 134 in the 266-member National Assembly. A day after the election results, PML-N, which emerged as the single largest party with 79 seats, announced an alliance with PPP and four other parties to form a government led by Shehbaz Sharif as the Prime Minister.
However, the talks between PPP and PML-N to agree on a power-sharing formula to form a coalition government have remained inconclusive so far. On Saturday (17th February), the Contact and Coordination Committees (CCCs) of both parties met for the third time which failed to yield results. Both parties will meet again on Monday (19th February) claiming that talks are yielding “significant progress”.
According to Pakistani media, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari-led PPP has assured PML-N of supporting its Prime Ministerial candidate and government from outside adding that it will not take Ministries in the Federal government. But in exchange for its “support”, it has sought key constitutional offices, including that of the president. Additionally, a PPP office-bearer, privy to the talk on government formation, told Dawn that the party has decided to seek the senior-most posts in both the Houses – National Assembly speaker and Senate chairman.
However, Pakistani media reports added that the hard “political bargaining” by the PPP has miffed PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif who is considering sitting in the opposition rather than being in a government that faces PTI protests and rallies daily and meet changing “conditions” of its so-called ally PPP.
Meanwhile, earlier this week, people aware of the development said that the Pakistan spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) met Imran Khan in Adiala jail. The ISI reportedly made a deal with Imran Khan after which Khan-led PTI nominated Omar Ayub Khan as his PM candidate on Thursday (15th February).
It came a day after Former Pak PM Nawaz Sharif announced his brother Shehbaz Sharif as the prime ministerial candidate from their party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Meanwhile, the complexity in the PML-N and PPP coalition government gets aggravated regarding the talks over provincial governments as both of them have competing choices. As per sources, the issue of forming a provincial government in Balochistan is also being discussed between the two parties. The PPP is the largest party in Balochistan and it is followed by PML-N. Coincidentally, both parties are claiming to form their own government in the province.
