Cong leaders write to Rahul Gandhi asking him to warn those aspiring for K'taka CM post
Bengaluru, Sep 10: A group of Congress leaders have written to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to warn party leaders and state Ministers, who are weighing in for the Chief Minister's post, in the event of leadership change in Karnataka.
The signatories of the letter including current and former lawmakers and some ex-Ministers have also urged him to issue a direction not to issue damaging statements in future, in the interest of the Congress party and the state of Karnataka.
As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the Governor's sanction for his prosecution in the MUDA site allotment case is being heard in the High Court, Congress leaders seem to be preparing for a race to become CM, in case of leadership change in the state, with several of them openly expressing their desire.
ALSO READ: CM Siddaramaiah forms committee of Ministers to review scams during BJP govt
"...... more than six leaders including senior Ministers are issuing statements claiming the post of Chief Minister, instead of fighting against BJP and JD(S). Due to this many of our leaders and workers are getting demoralized and losing hope in the government and the party," the letter addressed to Rahul Gandhi said.
Similarly, the people of Karnataka are gradually losing faith in the party and government, because of "infighting and reckless statements" of some leaders, it said.
"Therefore, we humbly appeal to your esteemed office to take note of the statements issued by the said leaders and warn them against issuing such damaging statements in future in the interest of Congress party and state of Karnataka," it added.
Congress leaders B L Shankar, V S Ugrappa, H M Revanna, V R Sudarshan, L Hanumanthaiah, Prakash Rathod are some of the signatories of the letter.
State Congress working president Manjunath Bhandary and MLC Dinesh Gooligowda on Monday had written to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, asking him to curb speculation over the Chief Minister’s tenure.
While Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar is seen as a prime contender for the post in case of any change in leadership, names of senior Parameshwara and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi too are doing rounds, especially following their recent meeting with party leadership in New Delhi.
A verbal duel of sorts had erupted between two senior Ministers -- M B Patil and Shivanand Patil -- about seniority as the yardstick to become the Chief Minister.
Senior Congress MLAs -- Administrative Reforms Commission Chairperson R V Deshpande and Basavaraj Rayrareddy, who is Siddaramaiah's financial adviser -- too have expressed their wish to become the Chief Minister.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
At UN, India flags concerns over targeting of vessels in Strait of Hormuz
United Nations (PTI): Targeting commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is "unacceptable", India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Parvathaneni Harish has said.
Harish's remarks at a special meeting of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UNECOSOC) on safeguarding energy and supply flows came days after an India-flagged commercial vessel came under attack off the coast of Oman.
Omani authorities rescued all 14 crew members of the vessel sailing from Somalia, but it was not immediately known who carried out the strike.
In a post on X on Sunday, Harish said that at the UNECOSOC meeting, he shared India's approach to the recent energy and fertiliser crisis caused by the West Asia conflict.
"A combination of short-term and structural measures alongside international cooperation are essential to respond to the crisis," he said.
"Reiterated that targeting of commercial shipping, endangering civilian crew and impeding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, are unacceptable. International law in this regard must be fully respected," he added.
The attack on the India-flagged vessel on May 13 took place amid the fragile situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway close to the coast of Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world's energy supplies pass.
It has been severely disrupted by the conflict in West Asia that started on February 28, with the US and Israel launching joint attacks on Iran, triggering retaliatory strikes.
Earlier, India had described the attack as "unacceptable".
At least two other Indian-flagged ships have been attacked since the conflict broke out.
According to the UNECOSOC website, the meeting, which took place on Friday, focused on “Safeguarding energy and supply flows: Supporting global development through international cooperation”.
