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Param resigns as HM, says, it's time to work unitedly to ensure victory

[email protected] (Agencies)
June 1, 2017

Bengaluru, Jun 1: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara today resigned from the post following the Congress leadership's decision to continue with him as the party's state unit chief ahead of the 2018 Assembly polls.

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A day after the Congress announced structural changes keeping in mind the Assembly polls, Parameshwara submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Announcing that Siddaramaiah would be the party's chief ministerial face in the next Assembly polls, the Congress had yesterday asked Parameshwara to resign from the cabinet and devote himself to his duties as the party's state unit chief.

"As per the high-command's decision, I am submitting my resignation," Parameshwara told reporters here before meeting the chief minister.

Parameshwara, a Dalit, was sworn-in as home minister on November 2, 2015. He did not get the deputy chief minister's post he was aspiring for, but held the post of the party's state unit chief.

Thanking Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice- president Rahul Gandhi for continuing with him as the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief, he said, "It is a challenge."

Terming the other organisational changes as a "measure to strengthen" the party, Parameshwara said, "We will strive together to ensure that the party retains power in Karnataka."

The Congress had yesterday appointed S R Patil as the working president of its Karnataka unit, along with the present working president, Dinesh Gundurao, and state Power Minister D K Shivakumar as the chairman of the campaign committee.

Adopting a "please all" formula by performing a "balancing act" of accommodating all the castes and communities, it had included MP and former Union minister K H Muniyappa as a special invitee to the Congress Working Committee, the top decision-making body of the party.

Another tribal leader, Satish Jarkiholi, was appointed as an All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary.

Parameshwara said the organisational restructuring was effected by the high-command keeping the election in mind.

"Yes, I would have continued as the home minister, but I would also have to spend more time in preparing the party workers for the election," he added.

Asked about the "caste balance" maintained in the organisational restructuring, he said, "We do not believe in it, but everyone needs to get a representation. Everyone needs to get an opportunity to work in a team."

The Congress had always maintained an "inclusive approach", Parameshwara added.

He played down the speculation that he was being demoted in the party with Siddaramaiah being its chief ministerial face and working presidents and a campaign committee president also being present saying, "Everyone has been given a responsibility...it is not a promotion or demotion.

"...you have to see that I am still continuing as the (state unit) president. The high-command has reposed its confidence in me."

Stating that he had not received any indication from the high-command regarding not contesting the Assembly polls, Parameshwara said the matter would be discussed in the days to come.

To a question on his chief ministerial aspirations, he said, "There is no need for such discussions now, our only aim is to ensure that the party retains power in the state. As regards who will be the chief minister, a decision will be taken by the high-command when the time comes.

"We take it as a big challenge. The 2018 election is an important one for us. The entire country is looking at Karnataka, because we are among the few states where the Congress is in power. It is all the more important because we have done well as a government."

Parameshwara added that long ago, he had voluntarily expressed his intentions to resign from the cabinet if the party wanted him to focus on strengthening the state unit.

Asked about the BJP's talk of an early election, he said, "We are ready for the polls whenever the dates are decided. But, as per my knowledge, the polls will be held only after the current government completes its term."

Asked about the call within the party for a Dalit chief minister projecting him, Parameshwara said, "I do not know anything about it. Please do not create confusion.... Now, I am continuing as the party's state unit president and will work 24x7. It is irrelevant at this moment."

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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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News Network
May 11,2020

Bengaluru, May 11: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday inaugurated four buses that have been converted into COVID-19 testing facilities in Bengaluru.

State Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan, Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka and Member of Parliament from Bengaluru South Tejasvi Surya were also present.

"The mobile fever clinic bus initiative was taken by Sanchit Gaurav, Founder and CEO of Housejoy, in association with the Government of Karnataka, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), MP Tejaswi Surya, other partners, to increase the number of COVID tests across Bengaluru and win the fight against the virus," said KSRTC in a statement.

The bus is divided into two zones with beds and a consultation area, maintaining proper hygiene conditions.

The KSRTC said there will be four teams with four mobile bus clinics across Bengaluru - each team comprising of one doctor, three nurses and one lab technician with several volunteers facilitating the process.

The teams will be starting from red zones and will try to screen the maximum number of residents from these zones for symptoms and quarantine those who test positive.

"The testing process will start by providing free glucose, blood pressure test and COVID-19 symptoms consultation for all residents," KSRTC added.

If anyone showcases any COVID-19 symptoms, their swab will be collected immediately for testing by Biognosys Technologies (ICMR certified).

Further, the information will be provided to the government and place the person under quarantine.

"KSRTC has already initiated this mobile fever clinic buses with the association of the District Administration in Mysuru, Mandya, Tumkur, Mangaluru, Bagalkote, Hubli, Belagavi, Bengaluru and Raichur," it said.

According to the KSRTC on April 25, the cost of this clinic construction on a bus is Rs 50,000.

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News Network
January 18,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 18: The government slammed Kerala’s tourism department for putting out a tweet on Sankranti Day, promoting ‘beef ularthiyathu’, a specialty in that state, but the move backfired spectacularly with Karnataka’s tourism minister being heavily trolled.

After Kerala put out its advertisement, state tourism minister CT Ravi, seizing the opportunity, took a dig at the Left government in Kerala, saying, “Welcome to Karnataka”. He followed that up with another tweet listing delicious “vegetarian” dishes of coastal Karnataka — a coastline which runs to Kerala.

“Welcome to Karnataka to bring out the Vegetarian in you. Enjoy the flavors of Tulu Nadu – Pathrode, Kotte Kadubu, Halasina Hannina Gatti, Avalakki Upkari, Badanekayi Mosaru Gojju and a whole lot of authentic food to hit Your tastebuds,” Ravi’s tweet read.

Ravi’s tweet sparked a debate between those for and against eating beef, including legislators like Sowmya Reddy (Congress) and Shobha Karandlaje (BJP). Some pointed out that Karnataka is 80% non-vegetarian and an appropriate response to beef curry would have been “pandi curry” (wild pig curry) — a Kodagu specialty.

Realising his tweets were getting more negative than positive traction, Ravi quickly amended his stand and on Friday tweeted: “Nati Koli Saaru Mudde. Aw! Delightful Delicacy of Old Mysuru region. Farm bred Chicken traditionally cooked to perfection and served with the soft Ragi Mudde. You will ask for more !!!”

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