Will quit as MLA ‘anytime now’: Ramesh Jarkiholi after being dropped from cabinet

News Network

December 24, 2018

Bengaluru, Dec 24: A day after he was dropped from the H D Kumaraswamy ministry, senior Congress MLA and Belagavi strongman Ramesh L Jarkiholi on Sunday threatened to quit the party. Several other party MLAs, including Ramalinga Reddy, sulked over denial of a cabinet berth.

Ramesh, in a purported telephonic conversation with a TV news channel reporter in Belagavi, said he would quit as MLA “anytime now”. Asked if other Congress MLAs would follow suit, he said: “I won’t disclose the number now. Wait for a week.”

He told reporters at Gokak Falls that he had been planning to quit for three months.

My next step will be good for the people of Belagavi district and the state,” Ramesh told reporters.

Sources said Mahesh Kamatalli (Athani) and Srimanth Patil (Kagawad) may follow Ramesh, who helped them win the assembly elections. Congress MLC Vivekrao Patil may also quit.

In Bengaluru, former minister Ramalinga Reddy indirectly blamed former CM Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara for blocking his entry into the cabinet, saying they were trying to scuttle his career.

He expressed displeasure over the party high command adopting different yardsticks for cabinet berths. “They say seniors are being kept out of the cabinet and (they still) make RV Deshpande, KJ George and DK Shivakumar ministers. I am upset with this stance of the party,” he said.

KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao advised disgruntled MLAs to keep their cool. “Sometimes, the most deserving don’t get what they deserve. I, too, have been made to resign from the cabinet in the past. I hope everybody will understand,” Gundurao said in Belagavi.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah expressed confidence Ramesh Jarkiholi will not leave the Congress and dismissed Reddy’s charges that some leaders blocked his entry into the cabinet. “The dissatisfaction of Ramesh and BC Patil is expected,” he said.

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PM Modi vows to strengthen India-Maldives ties, inks currency swap deal with President Muizzu

News Network

October 7,2024

New Delhi: Seeking to strengthen bilateral ties, India and the Maldives on Monday inked a currency swap agreement to the tune of $400 million, a move that would help the archipelago nation overcome foreign exchange reserve issues.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu also launched Rupay card in the Maldives, inaugurated the new runway at the Hanimadhoo International airport and agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations that had hit a rocky patch last year.

Muizzu, who is on a four-day state visit, held talks with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House here.

After the talks, India also handed over 700 social housing units to the Maldives built under the EXIM Bank’s buyer’s credit facilities.

"Today, we have inaugurated the redeveloped Hanimaadhoo Airport. Now, the Greater Male Connectivity Project will also be expedited. We will also support the development of a new commercial port in Thilafushi," Modi told reporters here with Muizzu by his side.

Modi said India and Maldives have decided to initiate discussion on the Free Trade Agreement to further strengthen economic ties.

The prime minister described Maldives as a "close friend" which had an important position in India's neighbourhood policy and SAGAR vision.

"India has always fulfilled the responsibilities of a neighbour. Today, we have taken up the vision of a comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership to give our mutual cooperation a strategic direction," Modi said.

Earlier, Muizzu was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan by President Droupadi Murmu. Prime Minister Modi was also present on the occasion.

Muizzu was given a tri-services guard of honour before he drove down the Rajghat to offer his respects at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain since Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office in November.

Muizzu won the presidential election last year on the 'India out' campaign and asked New Delhi to withdraw its military personnel posted in the archipelago nation by May this year.

The bilateral ties also hit a rocky patch when Maldivian ministers were critical of Modi. However, Muizzu has since toned down his anti-India stance and even sacked ministers who were critical of the Indian prime minister.

As the Maldives was grappling with a serious economic downturn, India has decided to extend vital budgetary support to the Maldives government with the rollover of a $50 million Treasury Bill for another year.

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