Let’s Demand Return to Manual Voting

Addressing a press conference in Pudukkottai, he explained that this is why political parties, including Congress, have been pushing for the use of manual voting system, noting that even developed countries utilise them. Congress intends to prove these malpractices in a court of law. He urged all political parties to advocate for a return to…

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October 22, 2024

Former CM of Pondicherry, V. Narayanasamy, has alleged that BJP’s victory in the recent Haryana Assembly election was due to malpractices involving the ruling party and the Election Commission. He claimed that during the vote counting process, it was discovered that EVMs in 20 to 30 constituencies had battery levels at 95%, whereas the usual charge level is 60-65%. This, he said, indicated irregularities in the voting process through EVMs.

Addressing a press conference in Pudukkottai, he explained that this is why political parties, including Congress, have been pushing for the use of manual voting system, noting that even developed countries utilise them. Congress intends to prove these malpractices in a court of law. He urged all political parties to advocate for a return to manual voting in future elections.

Chowdhry Nisar Ahmed

Noorullah pet, Ambur (T.N)

 

Attempt to Ignite Communal Tension Foiled inU.P.

In recent times, targeting Muslims without any reason has become a trend among certain communal zealots. This toxic behaviourhas even extended to individuals in uniform. Recently, tensions escalated against Head Constable Shahnawaz Khan of Uttar Pradesh, primarily due to a fabricated narrative shared online. Shahnawaz and his colleague, Yogesh Kumar, had been caught accepting a bribe of Rs. 15,000 from a litigant in exchange for filing a charge sheet in a case in Kanpur.

However, an inflammatory Facebook post claimed that Shahnawaz, who was misrepresented as a “DSP,” was caught by the anti-corruption team with illegal weapons and large sums of money. The post further insinuated that Shahnawaz was distributing weapons to his friends, framing the incident as proof that Muslims cannot be patriotic. The message ended with a reference to UP CM Yogi Adityanath taking action.

A fact-check by India Today debunked these claims, confirming that Shahnawaz was not a DSP but a Head Constable, and his arrest was linked solely to the Rs. 15,000 bribe. There was no evidence of weapons or large sums of money involved. Moreover, his colleague Yogesh Kumar, who was also part of the bribery case, was not mentioned in the viral post.

The arrest, which took place on September 10, 2024, was captured on video and circulated widely. Reverse image searches and reports by credible media outlets, such as Navbharat Times, confirmed the actual details: Shahnawaz and Yogesh Kumar had demanded a Rs. 20,000 bribe, later settled at Rs. 15,000, for filing a case under the SC and ST Act. The viral post’s claims of weapons and large sums of money were entirely fabricated.

It is crucial to identify and hold accountable those spreading such malicious falsehoods to prevent communal disharmony.

Syed Ilyas Basha

Murad Nagar, Hyderabad

 

Death Penalty for Accepting Bribes

Recently, Wang Dawei, former Vice Governor of China’s Liaoning province, was sentenced to death by a court for accepting an enormous bribe amounting to $78.5 million. He abused his position of power to amass this illicit wealth from various sources. The court also ordered the confiscation of his assets.

India, too, has long grappled with bribery in some government offices. Many corrupt officials and public representatives have accumulated vast fortunes through the embezzlement of funds intended for government projects. Investigations often reveal that their wealth is vastly disproportionate to their known sources of income. This not only creates deep economic inequality but also hampers the socio-economic progress of the nation. Such corruption is not just illegal but can be seen as a form of economic terrorism, harmful to the nation as a whole.

The central and state governments have a duty to eliminate all corrupt practicesincludingbriberyif India is to become a strong and corruption-free nation. If necessary, legislation should be enacted to impose severe penalties, including death penalty, for serious offences. Anyone convicted of embezzling government funds should face death penalty as a deterrent against large-scale corruption.

Muhammad Abdus Samad

Dhupdhara,Assam