Hubballi (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday accused the opposition BJP and its alliance partner JD(S) of trying to 'destabilise' the Congress government in the state, while clarifying that he has done nothing wrong to resign, in connection with the MUDA 'scam'.
Also alleging that the saffron party was still attempting "Operation Kamala" to bring down his government, he affirmed that they won't be successful in their attempts.
"Why are they asking for my resignation? Can it be given as soon as they ask? Just because Vijayendra (BJP state President) asks for resignation, can it be given? Then I will ask Vijayendra to resign as president of his party, will he give in?" Siddaramaiah asked in response to a question on BJP demanding his resignation in connection with the MUDA scam.
Addressing reporters here, the CM said, "Argument will go on (in the court) tomorrow, let's see what the High Court decides. I have not done anything wrong."
He was replying to a query on the court hearing regarding his petition challenging the Governor's sanction for prosecution against him
Charging the BJP high command with "targeting" him, he said, "BJP and JD(S) together are trying to destabilise our government."
The BJP has been demanding Siddaramaiah's resignation in connection with Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment 'scam'.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on August 16 accorded sanction under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 for the commission of the alleged offences as mentioned in the petitions of activists Pradeep Kumar S P, T J Abraham and Snehamayi Krishna.
On August 19, Siddaramaiah moved the Karnataka HC challenging the legality of the Governor's order.
Siddaramaiah noted that all Congress legislators and parliamentarians will meet the Governor tomorrow asking him to act on pending requests seeking sanction for prosecution against JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, and also against former BJP Ministers -- Shashikala Jolle, Murugesh Nirani, G Janardhan Reddy.
"They are pending for a long time now, we will seek prosecution sanctions against them. Because in all those cases the probe is over and filing of charge sheet is pending. In my case investigation has not yet happened, there is no report," he said.
To another question on Congress MLA from Mandya Ravikumar Gowda's (Ravi Ganiga) claims that attempts were on by BJP to entice Congress legislators, by offering Rs 100 crore, as part of 'Operation Kamala', the CM said, "Ravi Ganiga has said it, he has told us it is true."
The opposition party never came to power in the state with the blessings of the people, they have always depended on "Operation Kamal", whether it is in 2008 or 2019, he said.
"They always depended on Operation Kamala to come to power, when have they come to power on their own with majority? They have always come to power through the back door. Even now they are trying, but we (Congress) are 136 (MLAs), it is not easy, because they will have to ensure the resignation of about 60 MLAs (to be successful). None of our MLAs will fall for the desire of money," he added.
'Operation Kamala' (Operation Lotus) refers to an alleged attempt of the BJP to engineer defection of opposition legislators to install its own government and to ensure its stability.
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Beijing : Pizza Hut China has taken a bold step into culinary experimentation by introducing a limited-edition pizza topped with deep-fried bullfrog, a move that has garnered both curiosity and criticism online. The unconventional dish was first highlighted by global food trend expert David Henke, who shared a photo of the new menu item on X (formerly Twitter), noting the diverse protein preferences in different cultures.
The pizza, known as "Goblin Pizza," features a thick crust, red sauce, a layer of parsley, and a whole deep-fried bullfrog as the centerpiece. The frog's "eyes" are created with halved hard-boiled eggs, each topped with a black olive, making for a visually striking presentation. According to Korean news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper, the unusual offering is a collaboration with Dungeons and Dragons, inspired by a character from the game.
Details about the availability of this new creation are limited, with no specific information provided on Pizza Hut’s official website. However, the quirky menu item has already become a talking point on social media, drawing a mix of reactions ranging from shock to curiosity.
On Reddit, a photo of the pizza was shared, fueling further debate. Some users labeled the dish as “pure blasphemy,” while one user went so far as to say, “This pizza is a felony.” Another asked, “Why ruin a pizza like that?”
Not all feedback was negative; one commenter admitted that while the frog might be off-putting, they'd be more accepting if the pizza underneath was satisfactory. Another joked, "You can ribbet this right into the garbage."
Amidst the critique, there were voices of intrigue. One foodie defended the dish, saying, “Fried frog legs are so good! Maybe next time, shred the frog leg meat and add it to the pizza—that would be pretty good.”