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Krishna's move a big jolt to Cong as polls near; high command concerned

[email protected] (CD Network)
January 29, 2017

Bengaluru, Jan 29: With Assembly elections in Karnataka just a year away, former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna's decision to quit active politics has come as yet another jolt.krishna2

The decision of Mr Krishna, who served as Chief Minister of Karnataka (1999-2004), Governor of Maharashtra (2004-08), and External Affairs Minister, to stay away from the activities of Congress has taken the party's image to a new low at a time when another senior leader, V. Srinivas Prasad, quit the Congress and joined the BJP recently.

Surprised by the 85-year-old leader's move, the Congress high command has swung into action and directed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka unit chief G Parameshwara to get in touch with him.

“I have asked the chief minister and the state Congress president to get in touch with Krishna,” Digvijaya Singh, Congress general secretary in charge of the party's affairs in Karnataka, said.

Singh said he had unsuccessfully tried to reach out to Krishna and maintained that he got the news through the media. In response to a query, however, he said he didn't know if Krishna had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently. Another Congress leader in Delhi said, “It's unfortunate. We are totally surprised by the announcement.”

Powerful leader

Though Krishna has maintained a distance from the functioning of the present government and has often expressed dissatisfaction over the “old guard” being sidelined, his image as a Congress Chief Minister, who nurtured Karnataka as anIT hub' and its capital asBrand Bengaluru' has not waned. He continues to wield considerable clout in the Old Mysore belt.

Mr. Krishna is learnt to have sent a letter detailing reasons for his “disillusionment” to All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Krishna, who belongs to the dominant Vokkaliga community, has been a vocal critic of the functioning of leaders who have come from the Janata Parivar, including Mr. Siddaramaiah. Mr. Krishna, who belongs to the “old school” of the Congress, was resentful of being “sidelined” by the party. The last time Mr. Siddarmaiah met Mr. Krishna was when the Supreme Court directed the State to release Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu in September 2016.

Legislators, who were dropped from the State Cabinet, and other disgruntled senior leaders plan to rally behind Mr. Krishna. Several Congress leaders and Ministers have sought the blessings of the veteran leader and have urged him to give suggestions to the party, which faces a tough poll in 2018.

Comments

Think Tank
 - 
Sunday, 29 Jan 2017

Yavaglo hogbekithhu e nan maga....Brahminism yavaglu onde...adu conReSS irli athva Barathiya KJanwaru Party irli .....adu banna bidalla......

his EXIT willbe a Big gain to congress......will improve in Shaa Allah

A. Mangalore
 - 
Sunday, 29 Jan 2017

The person who's age is 85 years. He enjoyed from Chief Minister to the Central External Minister and then Governor and now in his totally retire age he should not quit that party that gave him all his power and respect throughout his life. This is the age to enjoy his remaining days with his family and friends and not to make any tamasha. This is really unfortunate.

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News Network
July 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that when COVID-19 has made life and livelihoods difficult, it is unfortunate that charges have been levelled of irregularities in the procurement of COVID-19 equipment.

"The Congress which has levelled charges against the ruling BJP has not so far filed a complaint with any investigating agency. Instead, the Congress has limited itself to getting publicity. On the other hand, the ruling BJP instead of coming clean by ordering a probe into the main charges is indirectly admitting the scam," Kumaraswamy said on Sunday.

"By washing dirty linen in public, both the Congress and the BJP are playing a cruel joke on people instead of protecting their lives," he said.

Hitting out at the BJP, he asked, "Why is it that the BJP is not ordering an investigation into the Rs 2,000 crore Covid 19 corruption charges levelled against the government by the Congress? Why is the government keeping quiet on the corruption charges?"

He said, "Is this the leadership provided by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa? There could be political pressure on seeking resignation of his Ministers. But why has no action been initiated against any officers? Is there any effort to destroy the evidence by retaining officers in their existing postings?"

"Hunger for publicity is evident when we look at the press conference by five Ministers at a time," he said.

The government has countered the charges of the Congress but backtracked on ordering an investigation, he said.

"Would this not give rise to suspicion that the government is involved in the scam?" he asked.

He also asked why Congress leaders have not filed a complaint before any investigating agency despite "possessing documents to prove the charges".

"Are the Congress leaders trying to get publicity or are they concerned about the welfare of the people? The Congress Legislative Party leader is seeking an account (Lekka Kodi) while the BJP president is seeking answers (Uttara Kodi). Is it enough to give such questions and answers?"

Is there a concrete legal plan to deal with the irregularities? he asked.

"Looking at the way the Congress leaders have addressed media conferences and taken to social media campaigns, it appears that they are trying to get publicity," he said.

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Agencies
February 12,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 12: Karnataka Sanghatanegala Okkoota, a congregation of various pro-Kannada organisations, has called for a state-wide bandh in Karnataka on Thursday (13 February 2020) demanding reservation in jobs for Kannadigas in both government and private sectors.

The Karnataka bandh, which will begin from 6 am to 6 pm, is likely to impact life in Bengaluru as well as in other parts of the state. Interestingly, Ola and Uber drivers have also extended support to the bandh. 

In Bengaluru, some other drivers’ associations, including Jai Bharatha Vehicle Owners and Drivers Association and Adarsha Auto and Taxi Union have also supported the bandh.

It is not yet clear as to whether the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) staff and workers associations will back Thursday’s bandh.

Several other organisations like the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), and Lorry Owners Association have supported the February 13 bandh.

In view of the bandh call, schools, colleges and hospitals across Karnataka are likely to remain closed on Thursday.

The Sarojini Mahishi report, which in 1984 suggested that Kannadigas should be given some reservation in jobs in private companies, public sector undertakings and multinational companies, is yet to be implemented.

It is to be noted that Sarojini Mahishi, a four-time MP and Janatha party leader, was appointed by the Ramakrishna Hegde government to head the panel in 1983. The committee submitted an interim report in June 1984. However, a final report was tabled in December 1986 with 58 recommendations, of which the Karnataka government had accepted 45.

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News Network
April 3,2020

Bengaluru, April 3: The ASHA worker, who was attacked by locals in Sadiq layout area in Bengaluru while conducting a coronavirus survey, on Friday expressed satisfaction with police action in the matter.

"I am happy that five people have been arrested for attacking me while I was conducting a survey in view of COVID-19 in Sadiq layout area in Bengaluru on April 1. We serve the people and work for the betterment of the society," Krishnaveni, the ASHA worker, told news agency here.

ASHA workers, who were deployed to spread awareness about coronavirus and identify suspected cases, were allegedly attacked by a group of locals in the area on Wednesday.

"We had been conducting surveys for the past 14 days ever since a positive coronavirus case was identified in the area. A person came and asked why we were gathering information. We informed him that a positive case was identified in the area," Krishnaveni said.

"They made an announcement from the mosque not to give any information to us. Afterwards, several people came out of their houses and started attacking us," she added.

Police initiated an investigation and have made arrests in the matter.

This comes as the country is under a 21-day lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has claimed the lives of at least 56 people and infected over 2,000 people.

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