BJP's "Operation Lotus" still on, Cong MLA offered gift: CM Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru, Jan 25: Karnataka Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy Friday claimed opposition BJP was continuing its Operation Lotus to topple the JDS-Congress government and tried to lure a Congress legislator with 'gift'.
Accusing BJP and its state president B S Yeddyurappa of being behind the offer allegedly made Thursday night, he said the MLA informed him that he had rejected the gift.
"Operation Lotus is on. Yesterday night also they have telephoned a Congress legislator, asking him- where to send the gift, Kumaraswamy told reporters here.
The chief minister's fresh allegation comes days after Yeddyurappa had said the BJP would not destabilise the ruling coalition.
The state had remained in the grip of political unrest for several days recently with the Congress on tenterhooks to keep its numbers intact amid fears of poaching by the BJP after two independent MLAs withdrew their support to the coalition government.
In a return of resort politics, all 104 BJP MLAs had stayed in a hotel in Mumbai for some days recently while the Congress too shifted its legislators to a resort.
Subsequently, the MLAs returned to the city last week.
Four Congress MLAs had skipped a crucial legislature party meeting on January 18, indicating all is not well within the party.
Operation Lotus is a reference to the BJP allegedly luring several opposition MLAs to resign their assembly membership and defect and win the election on the saffron party ticket later to ensure stability of its then-government headed Yeddyurappa in 2008.
In his media interaction Friday, Kumarasamy, without naming anyone, said: "he (the legislator) has already informed me. The legislator has told them (BJP) that he dont want their gift and to leave him peacefully.
It is not a small gift. From where it (gift) is coming to Yeddyurappa? As Chief Minister in 2008 he had made similar attempts- making MLAs as commodities for sale, he has continued his work, it is his addiction, what can I do for it," he said responding to questions.
Asked about the cost of the gift this time, he said, It is hard to guess, you will be surprised," but did not elaborate.
Speaking to reporters in Kolar earlier, Yeddyurappa said there was confusion within the Congress and the ruling alliance and their MLA and his party had nothing to do with it.
"...let's wait and watch- what will happen because of their confusion within...we are not playing any game, they (Congress-JD(S) are playing the game, let's wait and watch what will happen, he said in response to a question.
He said there was no necessity for anyone to indulge in resort politics and the BJP with the "support" of the two independents now had a strength of 106 in the 224-member assembly.
"We will be in the opposition and do our duty. I have given this assurance publicly," Yeddyurappa said.
Making it clear that there was no need for any confusion, he alleged the government was not focusing on development work and been in a deep slumber.
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AI reshaping music, filmmaking in Kannada cinema
Bengaluru: Artificial Intelligence is slowly changing the way music and creativity are produced in the Kannada film industry, raising concerns among musicians, singers and technicians, The New Indian Express reported on Sunday.
Music composer, actor and director V Manohar reportedly said, AI is being used to write lyrics, especially in low-budget movies. Once lyrics are generated, AI can suggest thousands of tunes. It even asks whether the voice should be male or female. With one click, a complete song is ready.
“If this continues, singers and musicians will have less or no work in the coming days. But it may not succeed either. A few years ago, dubbing was allowed and people could watch movies in any language they preferred. But not many took to it as they wanted to watch a movie in the original,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
According to the report, Filmmaker Avinash U Shetty, a National Award winner, said resistance to new technology is not new. Those who resisted shifting from analogue to digital films years ago have now embraced it. The industry is now using only 10% of the AI potential. If it is scaled up, it can do unimaginable things. What we consider bad now, may not be after five years.
Highlighting the cost advantage, Sangamesh, an independent creator reportedly said, he made a three-minute video using AI for just Rs 4,500. Earlier, the same work would have cost nearly Rs 15 lakh. I finished the entire project in three days. The only expense was the AI software subscription, he said.
These days, it has become difficult to differentiate between the real and AI. AI is creating artistes. Scenes like war, big fights and dance can be shot with a lesser number of artistes. Then with the aid of visual effects and AI, you can achieve what you have in mind, he said.
Actor-director D P Raghuram felt that while AI has made an impact on music, it lacks emotional depth. Cinema earlier involved hard work and strong emotional connections. AI can help improve our work, but creativity should remain human, he reportedly said.
As per the report, earlier, Kannada cinema employed hundreds of junior artistes, who not only earned wages but also shared meals on sets and formed lasting bonds with stars like Dr Rajkumar, Vishnuvardhan and Ambareesh. Today, filmmakers fear that increasing dependence on AI could reduce such human connections, turning creativity into just another automated process.
