Tag: CMO

Karnataka Cong alleges CMO calling returning officers to reject its candidates’ applications

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Bengaluru: The Congress on Saturday alleged Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s office is calling up the returning officers of various districts to find defects in the applications filed by its candidates and rectify the mistakes in those of BJP nominees contesting the May 10 Assembly election.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief D K Shivakumar demanded that the Election Commission should investigate the matter and summon the call details of the CMO to ascertain the truth.
“A major conspiracy is going on to reject the applications of the Congress candidates,” the party’s Karnataka unit chief said in a press conference.

He charged that some applications of the BJP candidates, for instance in Saundatti Yellamma constituency, are defective but the CMO “directly called the officer and directed him to make changes”.
“There is no need to elaborate how a big team is trying to reject (my) application. You all have been informed about it,” the Congress state chief said.
Shivakumar said he has filed the election form 10 times yet “when they can do this to me then imagine what they can do to the ordinary candidates”.
“Pressure is being built on all the returning officers. There is rampant misuse of power. The EC must take note of it. The CMO must be investigated,” the Kanakapura candidate demanded.
On Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje’s charge that the Congress was collecting ‘bribe’ from those candidates who have been given ticket to contest the Assembly election, Shivakumar retorted that his party was not collecting ’40 per cent commission’.

“We are only raising building fund for our party. We are collecting Rs 2 lakh from general candidates and Rs 1 lakh from SC/ST candidates,” Shivakumar explained.
The opposition Congress is locked in a tussle with the ruling BJP to wrest power in Karnataka with the JD(S) also an important player as polling is just weeks away.
Karnataka will vote in a single phase on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 1
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#Karnataka #Cong #alleges #CMO #calling #returning #officers #reject #candidates #applications
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 22, 2023
Gujarat CMO Veteran Resigns Over Son’s Ties To JK Conman

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SRINAGAR: Hitesh Pandya, an additional public relations officer in the Gujarat Chief Minister’s Office, resigned on Friday evening after serving for nearly 22 years. The resignation was due to the links between his son, a businessman associated with the BJP, and “conman” Kiran Patel, who is currently in custody in J&K for impersonating an official from the Prime Minister’s Office. Pandya had served five chief ministers, including Keshubhai Patel, Narendra Modi, Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani, and Bhupendra Patel.
As per Hitesh Pandya’s statement, The Indian Express reported, “I have tendered my resignation to the Chief Minister (Bhupendra Patel). Nobody asked me to resign. I felt I should resign. I will wind up my pending work by March 31 and be relieved from the office.”
Hours before resigning, Hitesh Pandya confirmed to the newspaper The Indian Express that his son, Amit, had visited J&K with Kiran Patel “for business purpose” with his approval. Amit, along with another individual, Jay Sitapara, were present when Patel was arrested earlier this month. Both Amit and Sitapara have been summoned by the J&K police for questioning.
According to Pandya, his son is innocent and a witness in the case. He also mentioned that Amit deals in home security appliances and is associated with the BJP, having served as the party’s social media cell convener in North Zone till January 2023.
While denying any knowledge of Kiran Patel’s links to the CMO, Pandya admitted that Patel was affiliated with a private organization called Nation First Foundation (NFF), which Pandya had established in 2011.
“I founded the organization in 2011 to promote Modi saheb’s ideologies. Our work was solely focused on serving the nation. We conducted a Bharat Jago Abhiyan to create awareness among people about the BJP government’s initiatives and accomplishments… Kiran Patel joined the organization through Amit’s connection with him,” said Pandya as per The Indian Express.
When asked specifically about Amit’s connection with Kiran Patel, Pandya stated, “They were both employed at a publicity company in 2004. I knew Kiran as Amit’s friend. However, I came to the realization in 2011 that he was not someone we should associate ourselves with. Therefore, I relieved him and all the individuals associated with him from NFF. I found his business practices and billing to be improper… Kiran Patel then went on to establish his own organization.”
“Why would you break the relationship? He was keeping him away without snapping the relationship,” said Pandya when asked why he didn’t warn his son about Kiran Patel. However, their contact increased after Amit’s “rare heart condition” in September last year. “After Kiran’s arrest, Amit and Jay were kept in a hotel and their statements recorded. Then, they were let go and told that they will have to come whenever called. His statement was recorded as a witness,” he explained.

Pandya also mentioned that he informed the Chief Minister and other relevant authorities about the case as soon as he found out about it from Amit.
Pandya has been associated with the Gujarat CMO for over two decades, joining in 2001 as an assistant PRO. Before that, he worked at Life Corporation of India and the Rajkot daily “Phulchhab”.

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#Gujarat #CMO #Veteran #Resigns #Sons #Ties #Conman
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 25, 2023
Punjab College Attack: CMO Intervenes, Orders Action Against Accused

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by Maleeha Sofi
SRINAGAR: In a disturbing incident that took place at the Doaba Group of Colleges in the Kharar area of Mohali, Punjab, a group of Kashmiri students were brutally attacked, leaving two of them critically injured. The assault occurred during a fresher’s party hosted by the Kashmiri students when a group of aggressors attempted to forcefully enter the venue.
According to reports, a teacher from the college attempted to reason with a group of individuals accused of assaulting Kashmiri students, but was met with violent abuse. The situation quickly spiraled out of control when the group of aggressors later entered the hostel mess where the Kashmiri students were having dinner. Shocking CCTV footage has emerged on the internet, showing the aggressors storming into the hostel mess armed with rods and other weapons, and attacking the Kashmiri students. The accused group is believed to include both students and local residents.
Despite widespread condemnation, the attack on Kashmiri students has been described as a random act and not targeted based on their identity. Out of the five students who sustained injuries, two – Irshad Ahmed Khan and Faiz – are said to be in critical condition. An FIR has been filed at the Sadar Kharar police station, under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons) and 149 (unlawful assembly), among others. The number of accused is said to be 26 out of whom 6 have been identified as Jasvir Singh, Harmanjot Singh, Amarinder Singh, Jashan, Likhnesh Gautam and Sodha Ram. While one of the accused has been arrested so far, further efforts and investigation is underway.
Adil Yousuf Bhat, the North-Zone District President of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association, has informed the association members that he received an anonymous phone call from an individual claiming to be from Doaba Group of Colleges. The caller allegedly reported oversight of the matter by the college administration. “I received a call from an unknown number. Kashmiri students were attacked and beaten by some locals and are currently in hospital but the college authority is silent and immediate help is needed,” Bhat said.
Two days after attack, the Punjab chief minister’s office (CMO) on Sunday directed the police to nab the culprits swiftly. The directions came after the national convener of the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA), Nasir Khuehami, took up the matter with Baltej Pannu, the media adviser to the Punjab chief minister.
Nasir, in a tweeted statement expressed gratitude towards the Punjab CM’s office for taking notice of the situation. The tweet read, “I thank Punjab CM and his Media Advisor for personal intervention in Kharar Mohali incident where 5 Kashmiri students were injured after being attacked in hostel mess. One person has been detained and FIR under IPC Section 307, 148 and 149 registered against 26 accused. Chief Minister’s office ensured that action will be taken against those found intimidating students from Kashmir valley. These incidents will not be tolerated at any cost.”
The tweet further read, “There is no such issue related to the beating of students on the basis of being Kashmiri. We have requested CM office, Punjab to take appropriate measures for instilling a sense of security among the students studying in the state and ensure that no student is harmed or harassed.”

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#Punjab #College #Attack #CMO #Intervenes #Orders #Action #Accused
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 6, 2023