Cong, BJP in war of words on Amit Shah’s claim on Central funds to Karnataka

Agencies

February 3, 2018

Bengaluru, Feb 3: On the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here,a war of words ensued today between ruling Congress and opposition BJP over the latter's national president Amit Shah's claim that the Centre gave Karnataka more than Rs three lakh crore under various schemes.

Addressing a press conference, Congress working president Dinesh Gundu Rao and Karnataka agriculture minister Krishna Byregowda termed Amit Shahs statements "as nothing but lies." "BJP has only.... half-truths to offer to the people of Karnataka.

The money given to the state has been likened to largesse.BJP speaks as though the money it devolves to states is a gift or a handout, while in reality all states are constitutionally entitled to this amount," said Rao.

He alleged that Shah and other BJP leaders have been employing 'less than respectful tactics' in a bid to see the Lotus bloom in the south once again. "The people of Karnataka have seen the manner in which the BJP government plundered the state during its term from 2009 to 2013," he added. Byregowda said Karnataka received Rs 10,533 crore less than what it is entitled for.

"We know that you (Prime Minister) wont give us Rs 3 lakh crore tomorrow... at least you have to release the shortfall in the grants towards Karnataka," he said. He said this money was Karnataka's right and that the shortfall was a dent in the state's grants. "You not only have to issue a clarification on this issue, you also have to release the grants.

This will make us accept that you have respect for the Constitution," he added. Reacting to this, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa hit out at Congress, saying that the party was lying with regard to grants in order to hide its 'inability'.

He said the NDA government increased the Central grants, including those by the 14th Finance Commission,by 42 per cent. "The Modi government doubled the central grants allocated by the previous UPA government," Yeddyurappa said.

Comments

Amit Shah, from where did you get to become politician? What do you know about finance? You can only fill your pocket. Its same as your foolish FM who is lawyer is running the budget which has been failed. Yes We Kannadigas pay more tax compare to any state. Why cant central govt release the funds which has to be given betterment of our state??? As Ex-RBI Governor said was so true..Desh ko bech diya !

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Minister rules out postponing or cancelling SSLC exams in Karnataka

June 9,2020

Udupi, Jun 9: Karnataka Minister for Primary and Secondary School S Suresh Kumar on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of either postponing or cancelling SSLC exam in the State and it will start from June 25 as scheduled.

Replying to a question, the Minister said that Telangana and Tamil Nadu States might have cancelled the SSLC exam, but Karnataka will not follow them. "Will hold the examination from June 25 to July 4 by taking all care to protect the interests of the Children.

The SSLC exam was originally scheduled for March 27, but was postponed as lockdown was clamped following the spread of killer Coronavirus.

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Congress expert in dividing parties, purchasing MLAs: Kumaraswamy over BSP row

News Network

July 29,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 29: A day after Congress staged a nationwide 'Save Democracy' protest, Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy slammed Congress for "dividing" the political parties and "buying MLAs" and questioned their "democratic behaviour" to lure Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLAs who supported them.

Kumaraswamy, in a media statement, said, "Is it a democratic behaviour to lure MLAs of other parties through political shenanigans and later merging with them?"

"Congress is an expert in dividing political parties and purchase of MLAs," said Kumaraswamy adding, "If you are dividing the like-minded party MLAs through deceit, who would support you?"

He alleged that the term "horse trade" in politics came to be used because of Congress.

Congress had tied to divide the Janata Dal (Secular) in 2004. To this, he added, "To avoid the party being hijacked by the Congress, I had to oust the Congress-JD(S) coalition government through a political coup."

Kumaraswamy further accused, "Haven't the Congress who is making a big noise about the purchase of MLAs divided the JD(S) in the past? Is it not a fact that for the sake of one Rajya Sabha seat, the Congress government in Karnataka purchased eight JD(S) MLAs?"

Both -- Congress and BJP -- are "criminals" in purchase matter, he added.

Rajasthan Congress is in turmoil after simmering differences between Sachin Pilot and Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot came out in the open. Pilot was removed as the Deputy Chief Minister and the state unit chief of Congress.

The Congress has accused the BJP of indulging in horse-trading to bring down the Gehlot government. The BJP has rejected the allegations.

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Reopening of mosques in Turkey creates spectacular scenes

News Network

May 30,2020

Istanbul: Mosques in Turkey reopened on Friday for mass prayers after more than two months as the government further eased strict restrictions to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Turkey has been shifting since May to a "new normal" by easing lockdown measures and opening shopping malls, barbershops and hair salons.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said many other sites -- restaurants and cafes as well as libraries, parks and beaches -- will reopen from Monday.

Hundreds of worshippers wearing protective masks performed mass prayers outside Istanbul's historic Blue Mosque for the first time since mosques were shut down in March.

In the Ottoman-era Fatih mosque, worshippers prayed both inside and outside, with the municipality handing out disinfectants and disposable carpets.

"I have waited a lot for this, I have prayed a lot. I can say it's like a new birth, thanks to God, he has brought us back here," he said.

Another worshipper, Asum Tekif, 50, said: "It has a been a long time... we missed the mosques."

Turkey, a country of 83 million, has so far recorded 4,489 coronavirus-related deaths and 162,120 confirmed cases.

Prayers in Hagia Sophia

Muslim clerics on Friday recited prayers in the Hagia Sophia, the world famous Istanbul landmark which is now a museum after serving as a church and a mosque.

The prayers were held to celebrate the anniversary of the conquest of Constantinople, today's Istanbul, by the Ottomans in 1453.

"It is very important to commemorate the 567th anniversary of the conquest ... through prayers in the Hagia Sophia," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who attended the ceremony via videoconference.

The stunning edifice was first built as a church in the sixth century under the Byzantine Empire as the centrepiece of its capital Constantinople.

After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted into a mosque before being turned into a museum during the rule of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, in the 1930s.

But there have been hints about reconverting the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Last year, Erdogan himself mooted the possibility of turning Hagia Sofia museum into a mosque.

Such calls have sparked anger among Christians and raised tensions with neighbouring Greece.

In 2015, a Muslim cleric recited the Koran in the Hagia Sophia for the first time in 85 years to mark the opening of an exhibition.

After Friday prayers at the Blue Mosque, a small group of Muslim worshippers shouted: "Let the chains break and let the Hagia Sophia open".

The group was later dispersed by the police who stopped them from protesting near Hagia Sophia that sits immediately opposite the Blue Mosque.