VIOLENCE JITTERS
MHA puts out national advisory on possibility of poll-related violence
A day before counting, Ministry of Home Affairs alerted state chief secretaries and directors general of police regarding the possibility of violence in different parts of the country. In a statement, the Ministry also said it has asked the states and UTs to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquillity. They have been further asked to take adequate measures for the security of strong rooms and venues of counting of votes. This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes, the statement said.
The MHA advisory is to be seen in the backdrop of allegations that EVMs are being tampered with.
The movement of EVMs, which the EC has said were not used and kept in reserve, has also raised eyebrows. According to sources, the central security agencies have received inputs that some organisations and individuals, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura, have given certain statements which may lead to violence and disruption in counting process.
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE’S THREAT: A day after Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief Upendra Kushwaha threatened bloodshed
to 'protect votes,' an independent candidate from Bihar's Buxar said that his followers were ready to unleash violence if the leaders of mahagathbandhan asked him to do so. "If leaders like Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee order him, I and my followers will pick up arms and resort to bloodshed," Ramchandra Yadav said while brandishing a gun in front of media. He further urged the leaders of all opposition parties to align with Upendra Kushwaha's statement and fight a violent war to save democracy. Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Greater Kailash in New Delhi has also warned of a civil war.
PASWAN’S TIT FOR TAT: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Tuesday said "there will be tit for tat", hours after former NDA ally Upendra Kushwaha warned of "bloodshed" if the ruling BJP and its allies tried to manipulate voting machines in their favour. Paswan made the comments in the presence of Home Minister Rajnath Singh during a dinner meeting of NDA allies.
"Dekhiye, PM ne kuch nahi kiya hai. Prastav me bhi kuch nahi hai. Lekin humlog...ye (Rajnath) bhi kuch nahi kahenge...Lekin hum kahna chahte hain tit for tat hoga...samajh gaye na... Paswan said.
Paswan's remarks came after Rajnath Singh, who was addressing media persons after the dinner meeting hosted by BJP President Amit Shah, was asked about the government's response to the opposition's allegations over EVMs and about the possibility of violence after election results are announced. The LJP leader said opposition parties were looking for excuses for their imminent defeat and raising doubts over EVMs. "When they see their defeat is imminent, they raise doubts about EVMs, but when they won in three states, then they didn't say anything on EVMs. Why did they not raise doubts after they won in Punjab," he said.