BJP General Secretary Muralidhar Rao has said
Congress party’s only achievement in the last five years, is giving a “contractors
friendly government”.
Participating in a Facebook live programme arranged by BJP Media Center here
today he replied to questions by facebookers worldwide. The people of Karnataka
gave Congress a clear mandate but it failed to provide good governance. Neither it
was able to bring in developments.
However, he said, the Congress regime took up projects as per the wishes of
contractors’ lobby. There had been lot of corruptions in schemes such as Indira
Canteen. Many of the “Bhagya” schemes were not reaching the people. The
Congress regime should learn from the Centre on how to implement the propeople
schemes.

When voted to power, he said, the agriculture sector will be one of the
important issues in the BJP’s agenda of governance. The BJP government would
initiate all measures to prevent farmers suicide, and increase the agriculture
income. BJP chief ministerial candidate, Sri. B. S. Yeddyurappa had already
announced that the new government would allocate Rs. 1 lakh crore fund for
irrigation projects.
To a query he said in pursuit of its vote-bank politics the Congress forged an
alliance with anti-national forces. It’s open hobnobbing with organisations like PFI
and SDPI, had proved that the Congress party could stoop to any level to gain some
votes. It was ready to compromise on national security issue too.

BJP files charge-sheet against Congress Government
Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday lambasted Congress Government for
collapsed public health system in Karnataka.
Releasing a charge-sheet titled “Arogya Ilakheyo? Saavina Kunikeyo? (Is it Health Department or
Death Knot?) against the State Government over deteriorated medical facilities in Karnataka, BJP General
Secretary and in-charge of State unit, Sri. Muralidhar Rao said the State of Karnataka, under Congress rule,
had touched all-time low in all health indicators.
He said infant mortality rate remained high in Karnataka even though it was coming down in other
parts of India. The malnutrition menace had also been rampant. The Government had been running only 40
blood-banks for entire state of 6.5 crore people.
He said as many as 21370 posts (accounts for one third of the total posts) had been vacant in
Health Department. It was better not to speak about the conditions of government hospitals. In most of the
rural hospitals there were no doctors and paramedical staff.
Sri. Rao said the BJP had earlier released report cards of Congress regime about different fields
such as Law and Order, Crimes, Slums, SC/ST and Backwards Class hostels etc. Now, the party, was
releasing charge-sheet on health sector scenario. The party would expect Congress to initiate healthy
debate on these issues but they had been indulged in diversionary tactics.
The BJP leader took serious objection to Sri Siddaramaiah’s attempt to paint Prime Minister, Sri.
Narendra Modi a person from North India. It was ridiculous statement from a Chief Minister of Congress,
which claimed to be a national party. If at all this was the case, then, Sri Siddaramaiah had to spell out the
geographical limitations of Congress President, Sri. Rahul Gandhi. It was pity that even after running
government for full five-year term, Sri. Siddaramaiah didn’t have any achievements to showcase.
The BJP State General Secretary, Sri. Ravikumar, who was present in the press conference, said as
many as 40,000 infants, most of whom belong to “AHINDA” communities, had been died of malnutrition.
Sri Siddaramaiah, who used to claim as the champion of “AHINDA” should take the “credit” of these deaths.
He charged the Congress Government was keen in implementing big health projects because they
would get commissions. However, they were not showing any interest in filling up vacancies in Health
Department, as they would not get commissions.
State Convenor of BJP Health Cell, Dr. Basavaraj and Co-convenor Dr. Anilkumar, who played major
role in preparing Health Report Card, were present.

With his ‘Y’ category security cover being withdrawn by the Union Home Affairs Ministry, Patel quota stir leader Hardik Patel on Thursday expressed apprehension of an attack on him or being jailed.

“Let’s see whether this is a plan to kill me or send me to jail. I continue to do my work and shall bear the fruits of my work, good or bad,” Hardik said in a tweet.

The Home Ministry has asked the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to withdraw security cover provided to Hardik Patel during the run-up to the 2017 Gujarat elections when he had addressed over 100 public meetings across the state. Apprehending an attack on him, the central intelligence agencies had accorded him security.

Suspecting snooping being done on him in the guise of providing security, Hardik initially had declined to take the cover. He, however, agreed to have security after persuasion by senior administrative and police personnel in the state. He was provided with escort of eight security personnel

The Central government is now seeking inputs from the Gujarat Police on whether Hardik requires any local-level security instead.

(Ians)

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh and falls in the Muzzafarnagar-Shamli-Kairana belt of western UP which witnessed large-scale communal clashes and a charged campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
Extremely wary of communal polarisation ahead of the next general elections, the united opposition is exercising utmost caution in selecting candidates for the Kairana Lok Sabha bypolls in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh.

The seat had fallen vacant after the death of BJP MP Hukum Singh and falls in the Muzzafarnagar-Shamli-Kairana belt of western UP which witnessed large-scale communal clashes and a charged campaign in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The bypoll will be held on May 28, while the counting of votes will take place on May 31.

Kairana, like many other seats in western UP, has a high percentage of Muslim population, varying from 25% to 45% of the total electorate. In the last three General and Assembly elections, both the BSP and the SP have competed fiercely to dovetail the minorities with their core vote-base to stich a winning social combination.

For instance, in 2007 Assembly polls, the BSP fielded 61 Muslim candidates in UP, of whom 29 won. As many as 21 Muslim candidates from the rival SP could also make the cut.

Muslim representation in UP assembly peaked in 2012 when the SP wrested back power from Mayawati in the following elections. The 16th Assembly of the state had a record 68 Muslim MLAs.

Compare this with 2014 General Elections when for the first time since Independence not a single MP from the minority community was elected to the Lok Sabha, with the BJP and its allies winning a whopping 90% of the seats.

The 2014 Lok Sabha results and the near total dominance of the BJP in the assembly elections last year have not only forced the BSP and the SP to form a political coalition, but also look at alternative social alliances.

In the recent bypolls in Phulpur and Gorakhpur, the SP-BSP combine experimented by putting up non-Yadav Backward candidates. The idea was to mobilise core SP-BSP votes around a dominant local community to inflict a surprise defeat on the ruling BJP.

In Kairana bypolls, which may well shape the battlelines for a keen contest in western UP in 2019, the SP-BSP coalition may again settle for a candidate from a socially dominant Hindu caste.

There have been speculations that Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) wants to enter the grand opposition alliance in UP if Ajit Singh’s son Jayant Chaudhary is fielded from Kairana as a joint candidate.

However, SP state President Naresh Uttam was in Shamli earlier this week to assess the ground situation. The party seems to be zeroing in on three names as of now. Former MP Munawar Hasan’s wife is among those in contention.

But the opposition is wary that fielding a Muslim candidate may again polarise the elections as BJP is likely to nominate Hukum Singh’s daughter for the bypoll.

Singh, a local Gujjar leader, had started his political career with the Congress but later shifted base to the BJP.

SP’s Virendra Singh, also a Gujjar, is seeking a ticket for his son.

The third contender, and a surprise choice that the SP is considering could be an interesting choice. Dr Sudhir Pawar is a soft spoken professor from Lucknow University who contested the last assembly polls on an SP ticket from Thanabhawan in Shamli district.

He comes from the Jat community and his candidature could also be used as a test case by the non-BJP alliance to bridge the Jat-Muslim divide prised open by the Muzaffranagar riots. The bypolls to Kairana have not been notified yet by the Election Commission. The closer they are held, the higher will be the stakes for the BJP.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is holding a crucial meeting on Friday with the State government officials on providing reservation to Muslims in employment and education under BC Category.The

State Legislative Assembly adopted a Bill providing 12 per cent reservations to Muslims and also increasing the total BC reservation percentage and sent the same for the approval of the Union government.The State government’s Bill is pending with the Union Home Ministry, which sought some clarifications on the Bill. According to sources, the MHA raised two queries on Muslim reservations. The State government officials prepared the answers to questions. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao reportedly approved the replies on Thursday.When the MHA invited the State government for the meeting, Chief Secretary SK Joshi called up BC Welfare secretary Burra Venkatesham, who was in Delhi, and asked him to attend the meeting on Friday. State Reorganisation (SR) department principal secretary K Ramakrishan Rao too will attend the meeting as the MHA is likely to discuss the issues mentioned in AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, which are pending for implementation.

The Telangana Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of seats in educational institutions and of appointments or posts in the services under the State) Bill, 2017.2) The Telangana Prevention of Dangerous activities of bootleggers, dacoits, drug-offenders, Goondas, immoral traffic offenders and land grabbers (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Army organized a mega Veterans Rally cum Medical Camp for its Veterans and ‘Veer Naris’ at Samba Military Station under the aegis of Gurj Division today.
The event was inaugurated by Lt Gen YVK Mohan, General Officer Commanding, Rising Star Corps in presence of Maj Gen K Narayanan, General Officer Commanding, Gurj Division, Dr Devendar Kumar Manyal, MLA Samba and Deputy Commissioner Rajinder Singh Tara.
The rally was attended by a large number of military and civil dignitaries including more than 1200 Veterans and ‘Veer Naris’ from Samba and Jammu district.
The General Officer Commanding, Rising Star Corps addressed the rally, during which he acknowledged and appreciated the sacrifices and contributions of veterans during their service and assured the gathering that the Army and government has been sensitive to the needs of the people of border areas and would take all steps to ensure Veterans, Widows and Veer Naris are adequately cared for and looked after in a befitting manner.
The year 2018 is being observed as the ‘Year of Disabled Soldiers’ and the event was marked by felicitation of 25 Veer Naris and distribution of mobility equipment to disabled veterans.
A medical camp was also organised alongside to address the medical needs of the population residing in remote area of Samba and adjoining villages. Doctors including various specialists like Medicine, Ortho, Eye, ENT, Pediatrician, Gynecologist, Surgeon and Ayurveda Physician rendered medical advice, carried out Medical checkup and distributed medicines to approx 1500 civilians of border areas.

Hindusthan Samachar/Ranjit/Balwan/Shri Ram\

To contest in 34 constituencies in the state elections

In Bihar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) joined hands in July last year after Nitish’s return to the NDA fold to form an alliance government in the state, but in Karnataka Assembly elections, JD (U) has decided to fight it alone.

Speaking to Hindusthan Samachar, KC Tyagi, Secretary General of JD (U) said that his party will contest in 34 assembly constituencies of Karnataka without seeking any alliance with any other party.

Putting all the speculations to rest Tyagi said, “JD (U) that took birth in Karnataka has to gain its lost strength again.”

The parent party which was born in 1988 in Karnataka has given four Chief Ministers – Ramkrishna Hegde, HD Deve Gowda, SR Bommai and JH Patel – to the state.

Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) has issued the list of star campaigners for Karnataka Assembly Election on Wednesday (April 25).

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had visited the state on April 12. He will soon set out for Karnataka for electioneering in favour of his party candidates.

Speaking on the issue of governance, Nitish had said, his government’s focus on higher education and health has paid dividends.

Speaking about the ban on liquor in Bihar, he noted that government has lost 5000 crore rupees Excise duty collection but the poor have gained from it by not wasting money on liquor.

List of star campaigners

Nitish Kumar, National President of JD(U) and Chief Minister of Bihar
Bashisth Narain Singh, State President, Bihar JD(U) and Rajya Sabha MP
KC Tyagi, Secretary General of JD(U)
RCP Singh, General Secretary of JD(U) and MP
Sanjay Kumar Jha, General Secretary of JD(U), Delhi Unit President
Sham Rajak, MLA and General Secretary of JD(U)
Smt. Kahkasha Parveen, MP
Maheshver Hazari, Minister, Govt. of Bihar
Jay Kumar Singh, Minister, Govt. of Bihar
Ashok Choudhary, MLC
Afaque Ahmad Khan, Secretary of JD(U)
Ajay Alok, Spokesperson of JD(U), Bihar
Sanjay Kumar, President of Yuva JD(U)
Tanveer Akhtar, MLC
Dillip Kumar Choudhary, MLC
Mahima J Patel, President, Karnataka State JD(U)
Lokpal Jain, Member National Executive
Subhash Kappate, Sr. Vice President Karnataka State JD(U)
KV Shivaram, President Karnataka State YJD(U)
Ramesh Gurdev, General Secretary, Karnataka State JD(U).

Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw

The Law Commission Report no. 267 of March 2017[1] on Hate Speech states that “Hate Speech” has not been defined in any law in India. However, legal provisions in certain legislations prohibit select forms of speech as an exception to freedom of speech. The term “Hate Speech” has been used invariably to mean expression which is abusive, insulting, intimidating, harassing or which incites violence, hatred or discrimination against groups identified by characteristics such as one’s race, religion, place of birth, residence, region, language, caste or community, sexual orientation or personal convictions.

By giving tickets to candidates who have been charged with cases related to “Hate Speech” especially promoting enmity between religious groups and for committing acts that are intended to outrage religious feelings, political parties have been in a way abetting circumstances that lead to events such as communal riots and violence between different groups of people. Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) have analysed the self- sworn affidavits of all sitting MPs and MLAs. Analysis reveals that many of our current MPs and MLAs, who are designated lawmakers have actually declared cases related to “Hate Speech” against themselves. This analysis is based on the affidavits submitted by the candidates and MPs/MLAs prior to the last election they contested.

The following IPC and RPA sections deal with ‘Hate Speech’ as per the ‘Law Commission Report no. 267 on Hate Speech’:

Provisions under IPC

Ø  Section 153A IPC penalises ‘promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony’.

Ø  Section 153B IPC penalises ‘imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration’.

Ø  Section 295A IPC penalises ‘deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs’.

Ø  Section 298 IPC penalises ‘uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person’.

Ø  Section 505(1) and (2) IPC penalises publication or circulation of any statement, rumour or report causing public mischief and enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.

 

 

Provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1951

• Section 8 disqualifies a person from contesting election if he/she is convicted for indulging in acts amounting to illegitimate use of freedom of speech and expression.
• Section 123(3A) and section 125 prohibits promotion of enmity on grounds of religion, race, caste, community or language in connection with election as a corrupt electoral practice and prohibits it.

 

 

Recommendations

1. ADR supports the following recommendations of the  Law Commission Report:
2. The Model Code of Conduct given by the Election Commission of India for the guidance of political parties and candidates should be amended to the extent that effect is given to the sub section (3A) of section 123 of the RPA, 1951. The first part of the Code i.e. General Conduct should expressly provide a provision that prohibits any kind of speech that promotes, or attempts to promote, feelings of enmity or hatred between different classes of the citizens of India on grounds of religion, race, caste, community, or language, by a candidate or his agent or any other person with the consent of a candidate or his election agent for the furtherance of the prospects of the election of that candidate or for prejudicially affecting the election of any candidate.
3. Hate speech poses complex challenges to freedom of speech and expression. Hence, new provisions in IPC are required to be incorporated to address this issue. Amendments to the IPC, 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 by adding new provisions on ‘Prohibiting incitement to hatred’ provocation of violence in certain cases’ following section 505 IPC, and accordingly amending the First Schedule of CrPC.
4. ADR believes that strict action must be taken against the candidates giving hate speech prior and during the elections, and against the elected legislators even after the elections, if found guilty of indulging in ‘Hate Speech’.
5. Internet is an important tool for disseminating information and opinions however, it also serves as a platform for disseminating unlawful speech. Political parties have been misusing the medium for unlawful statements. Hence, it is recommended that such unlawful statements on online platforms should be monitored and if the person found guilty, they should be penalised.
6. Political Parties must not give tickets to the candidates who have declared serious criminal cases against themselves.
7. Cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast tracked and decided upon in a time bound manner.

 

Summary and Highlights

 

Ø  A total of 58 Current MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to hate speech.

Ø  Sitting MPs with Declared Cases related to Hate Speech: 15 Sitting Lok Sabha MPs have declared cases related to Hate Speech against themselves. None of the Rajya Sabha MPs have declared cases related to Hate Speech against themselves.

Ø  Party wise MPs with Declared Cases related to Hate Speech: 10 Sitting Lok Sabha MPs with declared cases related to Hate Speech are from the BJP, and 1 each is from the AIUDF, TRS, PMK, AIMIM and SHS.

Ø  Sitting MLAs with Declared Cases related to Hate Speech: 43 sitting MLAs have declared cases related to Hate Speech against themselves.

Ø  Party-wise distribution of MLAs with  Declared Cases related to Hate Speech: 17 Sitting MLAs with declared cases related to Hate Speech are from the BJP, 5 each are from the TRS and AIMIM, 3 are from TDP, 2  each from INC,  AITC, JD(U) and SHS, 1 each from DMK,  BSP, SP and 2  are Independent MLAs.

Ø  State wise MLAs with Declared Cases related to Hate Speech: 11 sitting MLAs with declared cases related to Hate Speech are from Telangana. 4 MLAs are from Bihar, 9 MLAs are from Uttar Pradesh, 4 from Maharashtra, 3 each from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, 2 each from Uttarakhand and West Bengal and 1 MLA each from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Jharkhand have declared cases related to Hate Speech against themselves.

Ø  Political Party Leaders with Declared Cases related to Hate Speech: Political party leaders such as Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) and Badruddin Ajmal (AIUDF) have declared cases related to Hate Speech against themselves.

Ø  Union Minister with Declared Cases related to Hate Speech: Ms Uma Bharti, Union Cabinet Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation has declared cases related to Hate Speech against herself.

Ø  State Ministers  with Declared Cases related to Hate Speech: There are 8 State ministers who have declared cases related to Hate Speech against themselves, their details are as follows:

Name	Party	State	District	Constituency
Patil Gulab Raghunath	SHS	Maharashtra	JALGAON	JALGAON RURAL
Jaibhan Singh Pavaia	BJP	Madhya Pradesh	GWALIOR	GWALIOR
Thanneeru Harish Rao	TRS	Telangana	MEDAK	SIDDIPET
K.Tarakarama Rao	TRS	Telangana	KARIMNAGAR	SIRCILLA
Swapan Debnath	AITC	West Bengal	BARDHAMAN	PURBASTHALI DAKSHIN
Arvind Pandey	BJP	Uttarakhand	UDHAM SINGH NAGAR	GADARPUR
Surya Pratap	BJP	Uttar Pradesh	DEORIA	PATHARDEVA
Suresh Kumar	BJP	Uttar Pradesh	SHAMLI	THANA BHAWAN

Table: State Ministers with Cases Related to Hate Speech

Ø  Recognized/ Unrecognized parties given tickets to candidates with declared cases related to Hate Speech:  In the last 5 years, 198 candidates with declared cases related to Hate Speech have contested elections for State Assemblies, Lok/Rajya Sabha. In last 5 years, 141 candidates from Recognized political parties and 29 candidates from Unrecognized political parties have given ticked to such type of candidates.

Ø  Independent candidates with cases related to Hate Speech:  In last 5 years, 28 independent candidates with declared cases related to Hate Speech have contested the elections for State Assemblies, Lok/Rajya Sabha.

 

State Wise MPs/MLAs with Declared Cases Related to Hate Speech

Figure: State Wise MPs/MLAs with declared cases related to Hate Speech

 

Figure: State Wise MPs/MLAs with declared cases related to Hate Speech

 

State	Number of MPs/MLAs with declared cases related to Hate speech
Uttar Pradesh	15
Telangana	13
Karnataka	5
Maharashtra	5
Bihar	4
Andhra Pradesh	3
Gujarat	2
Tamil Nadu	2
Uttarakhand	2
West Bengal	2
Jharkhand	1
Madhya Pradesh	1
Rajasthan	1
Assam	1
Delhi	1
Grand Total	58

Table: State Wise MPs/MLAs with declared cases related to Hate Speech

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Party Wise MPs/MLAs with Declared Cases Related to Hate Speech

Figure: Party wise MPs/MLAs with declared cases related to Hate Speech

 

Party	Number of MPs/MLAs with Declared Cases related to Hate Speech
BJP	27
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen	6
TRS	6
TDP	3
SHS	3
AITC	2
INC	2
IND	2
JD(U)	2
AIUDF	1
BSP	1
DMK	1
PMK	1
SP	1
Grand Total	58

Table: Party wise MPs/MLAs with declared cases related to Hate Speech

DM Hari Har Prasad today inspected Marhaura block office and expressed displeasure over ill maintenance of Cash Register.
He instructed the BDO, CO and CDPO to maintain the cash register properly. He also reviewed the progress work of Saat Nishay of chief minister and instructed to collect revenue in time and dispose of the pending works immediately.

Hindusthan Samachar/Rakesh/Shri Ram\

Thanks to the announcement of polls to the state Assembly much of the public diatribe against the rival Veerashiva and Lingayat groups has come to a grinding halt. But assuming that the animosity between these warring factions has cooled down would be an unrealistic situation to relish.A Congress party leader on conditions of anonymity claims: The priest community of Veerashivas has formed a team of around 5,000 volunteers who have been deputed to campaign against all those Congress leaders responsible for the recommendation of separate minority religion status.He confides thus: MB Patil, Major Irrigation Minister, Vinay Kulkarni, Mines and Geology Minister, BR Patil, Aland MLA are the targets of this team. Basavaraj Horatti, JDS leader is also part of the victims’ list but he’s not contesting the present elections as he has been getting elected to the Legislative Council from the Teachers constituency for the record eighth time.This controversy may not blow up into another major issue after the polls as has been projected now. However the adverse effect of it will be felt in the ongoing elections as Congressmen like Shyamanuru Shivashankarappa at the ripe age of 88 still manage to get the party ticket sitting at home says the Congress leader.Congress has failed to give enough representation to the Veerashiva-Lingayat community leaders and only 49 people have been given party tickets whereas the Bharatiya Janata Party has exceeded the Congress toll in comparison. No one belonging to these communities has been given ticket either in Bengaluru nor Old Mysuru region says another Congressman.According to another Congress leader: Siddaramaiah has been a Veerashiva-Lingayat baiter since the beginning of his political career. But for the previous time all his rivals since 1983 happened to be Lingayats in his constituencies.If the Veerashiva group leadership is clandestinely engrossed in waging a battle against all Congress leaders who happened to be in the forefront of the minority tag movement the pro Lingayat faction has gone one step forward.Mate Mahadevi acclaimed to be the first woman pontiff has openly declared her support to the Congress. In fact she’s even called upon her supporters to vote for the Congress which has led to a Pandora’s Box.The now strong propagandist for Lingayat religion was the centre of controversy for all the wrong reasons some time back. She went to the extent of publishing books changing the penname of none other than Basavanna, the 12th century saint philosopher and revolutionary social reformer.Not only that she had even led an agitation to ban Marga-1 and Marga-2, the research publications of Dr MM Kalaburgi, noted historian who was shot dead later. According to Mate Mahadevi and other conservative mindset people the two research works were against the Veerashiva-Lingayat philosophy.She also did what all possible to stall the enactment of ‘Mahachaitra’ play scripted by noted playwright HS Shivaprakash. The play was again alleged to be derogatory of the 12th century revolutionary poets.But now the piquant situation is such that the person who brought disgrace to Lord Basavanna is now heading the movement favoring Basava Dharma!

Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti