Karnataka: in fresh problem for Congress, loyalists demand cabinet berths

TNN

May 29, 2019

Bengaluru, May 29: Efforts by Congress leaders to mollify rebels with the offer of cabinet berths has created a new problem for the party, with some party loyalists questioning the decision which they say is “unfair and unjust”. Some loyalists even threw their hats in the ring for ministerial berths on Tuesday, questioning why they shouldn’t be made ministers if rebels were being rewarded.

MLAs Ajay Singh, V Muniyappa and even H Nagesh, the independent MLA from Mulbagal, made no bones about their desire to become ministers. Singh even questioned the decision of party bosses to reward rebels with cabinet berths.

“The party should consider rewarding loyal MLAs. But unfortunately rebels are being rewarded,” he said while speaking to reporters in Kalaburagi. He also claimed that he was contacted by BJP leaders to switch sides, but being a loyal Congressman he will not leave the party.

Muniyappa and Nagesh met chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in Bengaluru with a request to make them ministers. Nagesh was accompanied by water resources minister DK Shivakumar, who returned from his Australia tour late on Monday night.

“As Gandhi said not to speak, listen and hear bad things, I have decided not to speak anything on the ongoing political developments,” Shivakumar told reporters when asked about dissidence within the party. Incidentally, Shivakumar had triggered some of the problems for the coalition government by interfering in Belagavi district politics. This had caused Ramesh Jarkiholi to rebel.

Besides Ajay, Muniyappa and Nagesh, Jarkiholi, BC Patil, B Nagendra and Bheema Naik are also in the race to become ministers.

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy reached out to two Congress MLAs from Bengaluru, ST Somashekhar and Byrathi Basavaraj, assuring them that he would fulfil their demands. The CM is said to have agreed to the demand of Somashekhar, who is chairman of the Bengaluru Development Authority, to replace the commissioner Rakesh Singh at the development authority. Somashekhar, the Yeshwantpur MLA, is involved in a running feud with the commissioner. The CM also reportedly sanctioned Rs 10 crore to KR Puram, Byrathi Basavaraj’s constituency.

The CM’s gesture comes in the wake of complaints by many Congress legislators that Kumaraswamy is inaccessible to them.

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Lokayukta team arrives at disputed plot; CM likely to get ED summons

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru, Oct 1: The Karnataka Lokayukta team on Tuesday arrived at the disputed plot in Mysuru and began investigation into the MUDA case against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, news agency ANI reported. Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the case was also present with the team.

Sources stated that ED sleuths might issue a notice to CM Siddaramaiah at any time and issue summons to him for questioning. The sleuths are also keenly watching the movements of CM Siddaramaiah’s close associates and relatives, including a cabinet minister in connection with the MUDA scam.

Sources further said that there is a possibility of the ED conducting raids across the state on offices and residences of close associates of CM Siddaramaiah. The ED has also gathered information on bank accounts and financial transactions of CM Siddaramaiah and his associates.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by the police, against CM Siddaramaiah over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B.M. by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered the case taking cognisance of the FIR registered against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta police on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta probing the MUDA case has also expedited the probe. The sleuths led by Mysuru Lokayukta SP T.J. Udesh have visited the controversial land on the outskirts of Mysuru city. The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, also accompanied the team.

The move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife to return 14 sites allotted by the MUDA to her has triggered a debate. BJP MLA from Mysuru T.S. Srivatsa stated on Tuesday that the move of CM’s wife is not acceptable. "The two commissioners who colluded in the MUDA scam are roaming freely even today," he said.

"CM Siddaramaiah first claimed that there was no scam at all. Later, he formed a commission and now there is an FIR against him. After committing the mistake, you offer to return the sale deed. The time is up. He will have to tender his resignation and I am sure he won’t be in the position until Dasara festivities," MLA T.S. Srivatsa stated.

T.J. Abraham, one of the petitioners in the MUDA case said, “I had demanded the MUDA commissioner to take back the allotted sites. He had written back saying the process would be initiated. They were waiting for the investigation report."

"CM Siddaramaiah has not approached the division bench or the Supreme Court to challenge the order against him because there is nothing to be challenged. Returning sites is not a big sacrifice. The Chief Minister has lost it," Abraham stated.

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Brahmin Savarkar was non-veg eater; wasn't against cow slaughter: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao

News Network

October 3,2024

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao reminded that V D Savarkar was not against cow slaughter as he himself was non-veg eater, PTI reported on Thursday.

"As a Brahmin he was eating meat, and he was openly propagating eating meat," said the minister at an event in Bengaluru.

Reacting to Gundu Rao's claim, BJP MP Anurag Thakur called Congress a "factory of lies" as he warned that India won't tolerate any disrespect towards Savarkar.

"By disrespecting Veer Savarkar they have shown that they don't respect freedom fighters. During the Congress government, Sardar Bhagat Singh was termed a separatist in textbooks...By making those who want to break the nation join the congress party, Rahul Gandhi is taking forward the ideology of 'tukde tukde' and he is a 'modern Jinnah' who speaks ill of the country abroad...," he said.

Meanwhile, a court in Maharashtra's Nashik district summoned Congress MP Rahul Gandhi earlier this week in a defamation case filed against him for his alleged objectionable remarks against the Hindutva ideologue.

The complainant, who is the director of an NGO, claimed he watched a press conference addressed by Gandhi in Hingoli and also a speech made by the Congress leader in November 2022.

He alleged that Gandhi, on the two occasions, by his words and visual representations knowingly harmed the reputation of Veer Savarkar and also tried to defame the latter's image in the society.

According to the complainant, Gandhi said "Savarkar is BJP and RSS jin" which was defamatory in nature.

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