Belagavi: No resort politics in Congress, D.K. Shivakumar will follow high command, says Hattiholi
Belagavi: Congress MLC Channaraj Hattiholi has dismissed rumours that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was planning a coup to capture power in Karnataka, The Hindu reported on Friday.
Speaking to reporters in Belagavi, Hattiholi rejected claims made by some Opposition leaders that Shivakumar was booking resorts in Goa for Congress MLAs. “Some opposition leaders have falsely claimed that Mr. Shivakumar is booking resorts in Goa for Congress MLAs. That is not true. There is no resort politics in the Congress. Mr. Shivakumar is a born Congressman, and a loyalist of the party. He will not do anything to embarrass the party. He will follow the high command’s instructions,” TH quoted him as saying.
He was speaking during discussions on preparations for the birthday celebrations of Minister for Women and Child Development, and Disabled and Senior Citizens, Laxmi Hebbalkar, who is his sister.
Hattiholi said Shivakumar’s recent visit to New Delhi had been successful and indicated that better times lay ahead for him. “This March 10, Mr. Shivakumar completes 10 years as the Congress president. He has worked hard for the party and rebuilt it from the grassroots level. That he should become the CM is not just the wish of party workers, but of the whole State,” he said.
“The party has not come to power only because of Mr. Shivakumar. The contribution of leaders like Mr. Siddaramaiah and Satish Jarkiholi is also immense. But we should not forget under what circumstances Mr. Shivakumar came to head the party and lead it successfully. I would say his recent Delhi trip has been largely successful,” he said.
On the decision of Congress legislators to go on a foreign trip, Hattiholi clarified that it was not political in nature. “It is not related to the change in leadership issue. Everything is fine in the party,” Mr. Hattiholi said.
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Min. Priyank Kharge to expresses concern over implementation of VB-G Ram G
Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.
Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.
He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.
Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.
He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.
He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.
Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.
The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.
“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.
