Identify masked man, hand case to NIA: BJP leader on Dharmasthla mass burial case
He criticised the government, claiming that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed without court orders or official recommendations and that there could be foreign funding and a larger conspiracy behind the episode. "The SIT should not be disbanded but continued, and the NIA should be brought in to uncover the gang behind this," Ashoka demanded.This came after the key whistleblower in the Dharmasthala mass burial case, in an exclusive interview with India Today, claimed he himself buried 70-80 bodies at one of the 13 sites alone.Questioning the plausibility of the masked man's claims, he said it was "unbelievable" that one person could have buried bodies 20 feet deep and carried them alone into the forest."Even digging six feet is difficult. This sounds like a fairy tale," he added, suggesting the excavation site could instead be converted into an agricultural pond for farmers.Ashoka accused the Congress government of "insulting" Dharmasthala's Manjunatha Swami temple and claimed there was a pattern of targeting Hindu religious sites. "Earlier they tried to tarnish Tirupati, Shabarimala, and Shani Singnapur. Now they are trying to spoil Dharmasthala's sanctity," he alleged.He also cited a separate complaint filed by a woman named Sujata Bhat, who claimed her daughter was kidnapped. "Her own relatives told a TV channel she doesn't even have a daughter, and she is not an MBBS student as claimed. Who is directing such cases?" Ashoka asked.The BJP leader concluded by urging the government to show common sense and investigate the masked man's background before spending public money on large-scale excavations. "This looks like a sponsored activity. The people deserve to know who is behind it," he said.- EndsMust Watch
IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
28 minutes ago
- NDTV
He Was Complaining Over Flood Rescue Hurdles, Then Omar Abdullah Arrived
Kishtwar: Chashoti village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district has turned into a site of outpouring grief, as families wait anxiously for the bodies of their loved ones who were killed or buried alive under the slush during Thursday's flash flood. At least 60 people have been confirmed dead in the cloudburst that flooded the village that marks the starting point of an annual Hindu pilgrimage - Machail Mata Yatra. As rescue operations entered the third day, the grief turned into anger. A man from Jammu, who is waiting for the bodies of over a dozen relatives, alleged that the rescue site has become a place for photo ops for the politicians, and that's hampering the relief work. "20 JCBs are here, but only two are functioning. The rest aren't. The ministers and MLAs are visiting multiple times. They are not letting the police and army do their (relief) work. It has been three days and only two rocks have been removed. Is this work? Whenever the ministers visit, they turn off the JCBs. Don't we have families?" he told NDTV. Another man chipped in, "Our little children are missing." "If not alive, give us the dead body," urged the man from Jammu, adding, "The MLAs are bringing 10 others with them; they are stopping the (relief) work to get their photos clicked." Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who happened to visit the cloudburst site this morning, arrived at the spot at that moment and enquired, "What happened? Tell me" He reiterated the same complaint to the Chief Minister and urged, "Please give us the dead bodies." "That's what we are doing since the day this tragedy occurred," replied the Chief Minister. As he tried to reassure him, he cut the politician in between, "Sir, meri suno (listen to me). The police and the army are working. Each MLA is getting a minister 10 times, and (saying) 'stop the JCB and click our photos'. Are photos needed everywhere? We are helpless and worried." He told the Chief Minister that 13 members of his family are missing, including his mother and her sister (mausi). Another man said his wife, two children, and two other relatives have gone missing since the cloudburst on Thursday. "The JCB down there - it started after you arrived. Only two JCBs have been working since yesterday. We don't want anything, just give us the dead bodies," appealed the man from Jammu. When told that everyone was impacted by the tragedy, he replied, "If it had occurred to an MLA or minister, if it had happened to you, then action would have been faster." Mr Abdullah had visited the cloudburst site in Kishtwar earlier this morning and taken stock of rescue and relief operations. Speaking to NDTV, he assured that every effort was being made to retrieve the bodies. At least 80 people are still missing, he said.
Hans India
28 minutes ago
- Hans India
PM Modi to inaugurate Rs 11,000 crore highway projects in Delhi tomorrow
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate two major National Highway projects in the national capital on Sunday, that will help in easing congestion on the roads and also add to smooth and better connectivity in Delhi-NCR region. The two projects, having an estimated cost of nearly Rs 11,000 crore, will be launched by the Prime Minister at around 12.30 p.m. in Rohini, following which he will also address the public gathering. The projects, Delhi section of the Dwarka Expressway and Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), are part of the government's comprehensive plan to decongest the capital, improve connectivity, cut travel time, and reduce traffic in Delhi and its surrounding areas. The 10.1 km long Delhi section of Dwarka Expressway has been developed at a cost of around Rs 5,360 crore. The section will also provide multi-modal connectivity to Yashobhoomi, DMRC Blue line and Orange line, the upcoming Bijwasan railway station and the Dwarka cluster Bus Depot. Out of the 10 km long stretch, 5.9 km will be from Shiv Murti intersection to Dwarka Sector-21, while 4.2 km will connect Dwarka Sector-21 to the Delhi-Haryana Border. PM Modi had inaugurated the 19 km-long Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway in March 2024. The second project to be opened for public is the Alipur to Dichaon Kalan stretch of Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II) along with new links to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, built at a cost of around Rs 5,580 crore. It is expected to ease traffic on Delhi's Inner and Outer Ring Roads and busy points like Mukarba Chowk, Dhaula Kuan, and NH-09. It will provide direct access to Bahadurgarh and Sonipat, reducing traffic snarls, speeding up goods movement in the NCR, and eventually contributing to seamless industrial connectivity. These initiatives reinforce the Centre's vision of creating world-class infrastructure in the capital that enhances ease of living and ensures seamless mobility.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Working as Delhi's 'mukhya sevika' to provide best infra: CM Gupta in her first I-Day speech
Advt Advt In her maiden Independence Day speech , chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday outlined her government's progress in the first six months and pledged to rejuvenate the Yamuna river, provide the country's best infrastructure in Delhi, open Atal canteens offering meals at Rs 5 to the needy, and set up a welfare board for gig her first appearance as chief minister at Delhi's Independence Day function, Gupta hoisted the tricolor at the Chhatrasal Stadium and presented the President's Correctional Service Medal to three prison heavy downpour, Gupta, in her address, called herself the "mukhya sevika" of Delhi and asserted that the BJP government will work to free the city from filth, corruption, and red chief minister presented her government's roadmap for a cleaner, greener, and more developed Delhi, highlighting key initiatives in infrastructure, housing, education, sports, youth welfare, and healthcare."As we move towards 100 years of freedom, our pledge is to take every street, every neighbourhood, and every citizen's life to new heights," she statedEmphasising that she did not want to make any big promises or announcements, Gupta said her endeavours were directed towards what the common people in Delhi aspired for - a better paid tribute to the nation's freedom fighters and hailed the armed forces for the success of Operation Sindoor. Veteran freedom fighter and a member of the Indian National Army (INA), Rangaswamy Madhavan Pillai, 99, was felicitated by Gupta at the Delhi the heart of the country and the Yamuna river the "soul" of the city, the chief minister noted that the BJP government was working for the national capital's rejuvenation through multiple interventions."I don't just promise but pledge to rejuvenate the Yamuna. Several promises were made in the past to clean the Yamuna, but little was achieved," she assured that the Yamuna will be clean enough for citizens to see the sun's reflection in its waters, and people will feel happy to perform veneration on its that her government is going to open Atal canteens on the birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Gupta stated that meals will be provided to the needy for Rs 5, including daily wagers and workers in the assured welfare steps for the poor and stated that her government will come up with a welfare board for the gig workers in the chief minister also highlighted her government's efforts to provide permanent houses to slum dwellers of the that her government was working to repair the city's roads, which had been in a state of neglect, Gupta added that the issue of waterlogging during rains was being addressed through the desilting of drains, among other claimed that this year, rainwater drained off rapidly from the roads and highways due to the efforts of the last six BJP returned to power in Delhi after 27 years, winning the assembly polls held in February this year. Gupta, along with her cabinet ministers, took the oath as chief minister on February that Delhi would soon be the city of dreams, she asserted that the BJP government was committed to providing Delhi with the best infrastructure in the the achievements of her government, Gupta said the Delhi Assembly recently passed a bill to regulate fees of private schools, and her government will ensure that parents don't face financial burdens due to arbitrary fee informed that five major hospital expansion projects will be inaugurated in August, adding 1,300 new beds, modern OPDs, and advanced medical equipment to the healthcare infrastructure. Furthermore, 28 hospitals have been assigned new medical superintendents, and 1,500 nurses have been given permanent appointments, she government aims to set up 1,100 arogya mandirs (wellness centres), of which 166 have already been completed, she chief minister emphasised that her government had promised to provide the highest rewards to medal winners in the Olympics and Commonwealth Games."For the first time, we will ensure job security for the youth who contribute to the growth and development of sports in Delhi," she said that, with the support of the Central government, nearly 400 kilometres of Metro network have been completed, carrying 50 lakh passengers daily, and new Metro lines are being rapidly chief minister concluded her address, saying she had more to convey but had to wrap up for the sake of the children getting drenched in the she went out onto the stadium ground to meet and greet the marching contingents amid the rain without an umbrella, and interacted with schoolchildren as well as personnel from the Delhi Police and Fire Services.
