CM Kumaraswamy trains gun on PM for his Chhattisgarh remarks
Bengaluru, Nov 19: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of misleading the country by claiming that the state government was issuing warrants and arresting farmers in debt.
The chief minister he did not expect such a comment.
"Yesterday, in his election speech in Chhattisgarh, the Prime Minister had commented that the Karnataka government issuing warrants and arresting farmers against whom debts are pending. I did not expect such a comment from the Prime Minister.
By saying this, he has misled the country," he told reporters here.
On the contrary, Kumaraswamy alleged, the Modi government was issuing warrants with the help of the central government-controlled institutions.
The Prime Minister had alleged that the Congress had made false promises to farmers during Karnataka elections, but even after a year, the promise remains unfulfilled.
"Instead, the (Karnataka) government is issuing warrants and arresting farmers against whom debts are pending," he had said.
Terming the ongoing agitation by farmers over the minimum support price (MSP) for sugarcane in the state as needless, Kumaraswamy alleged that the BJP is supporting it.
Hitting out at state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa, Kumaraswamy said he need not learn anything from the BJP leader who, as the chief minister, had ordered police firing on farmers who were protesting shortage of fertilizers in 2008.
A farmer was killed in the firing then at Haveri in North Karnataka.
Kumaraswamy said there was no need for the farmers to continue protests as he has been taking steps to alleviate their problems.
He said his father H D Deve Gowda and his family members have never taken stern action as Yeddyurappa.
"I have not asked the police to open fire at the protesting farmers as Yeddyurappa did, and shall never do it.
I have given free hand for them to protest. I shall also give them space for protest even at the state secretariat," he said.
He alleged that Yeddyurappa had not done any good for the farmers during his rule.
"Such being the case, I want to ask agitating farmers on the necessity for continuing their agitation," he said.
"If the farmers have some grievances, they can come with details and the government would take steps to pay their arrears after examination," he added.
Reacting to his controversial remarks on a woman farmer, Kumaraswamy clarified that he did not make such a comment to disrespect her.
"What I meant was, "why have you woken up to that situation now? Were you sleeping?' I would never disrespect a woman. These are not farmers who are agitating but these are sponsored protests," he said.
Kumaraswamy had said, "How can I be held responsible for some company not paying proper prices for sugarcane four years ago? What is the connection between me and this issue? Where were you sleeping four years ago?"
This sparked criticism by BJP, which slammed Kumaraswamy on its twitter handle by calling him an "opportunist" chief minister who would never respect citizens.
"Asking a woman where she was sleeping for last 4 years clearly shows the individuality of Kumaraswamy. This is beyond apologising, this is a shame & insult to women of the state," BJP tweeted.
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Canada, US to launch formal talks to review their free trade agreement in mid-January
Toronto (AP): Canada and the US will launch formal discussions to the review their free trade agreement in mid-January, the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.
The prime minister confirmed to provincial leaders that Dominic LeBlanc, the country's point person for US-Canada trade relations, “will meet with US counterparts in mid-January to launch formal discussions," Carney's office said in a statement late Thursday.
The United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact, or USMCA, is up for review in 2026. US President Donald Trump negotiated the deal in his first term and included a clause to possibly renegotiate the deal in 2026.
Carney met with the leaders of Canada's provinces on Thursday to give them an update on trade talks with the US.
Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and more than 75 per cent of Canada's exports go to the country's southern neighbour. But most exports to the US are currently exempted by USMCA.
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Trump cut off trade talks to reduce tariffs on certain sectors with Carney in October after the Ontario provincial government ran an anti-tariff advertisement in the US. That followed a spring of acrimony, since abated, over Trump's insistence that Canada should become the 51st US state.
Carney said earlier Thursday that Canada and the US were close to an agreement at the time on sectoral tariff relief in multiple areas, including steel and aluminum. Tariffs are taking a toll on certain sectors of Canada's economy, particularly aluminum, steel, auto and lumber.
Carney also said trade irritants flagged this week by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are elements of a “much bigger discussion” about continental trade. Greer said a coming review of the Canada-US-Mexico trade deal will hinge on resolving US concerns about Canadian policies on dairy products, alcohol and digital services.
Carney and the provincial premiers agreed to meet in person in Ottawa early in the new year.
Canada is the top export destination for 36 US states. Nearly USD 3.6 billion Canadian (USD 2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.
About 60 per cent of US crude oil imports are from Canada, as are 85 per cent of US electricity imports.
Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the US and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.
Carney said US access to Canada's critical ministers is not a certainty.
“It's a potential opportunity for the United States, but it's not an assured opportunity for the United States. It's part of a bigger discussion in terms of our trading relationship, because we have other partners around the world, in Europe for example, who are very interested in participating,” Carney said earlier Thursday.
