Deve Gowda not allowed to finish his maiden speech in Rajya Sabha; party says "insult to Karnataka"
New Delhi: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha on Sunday after his party nominated him to the Upper House. But his maiden speech as the newly sworn-in member of Rajya Sabha was marred with constant interruptions and the Speaker of the House, Deputy Chairman Harivansh also urged him repeatedly to conclude 10-minute speech, even asking the next speaker to start while Deve Gowda was still speaking.
Taking strong note of the development, Deve Gowda’s party JD(S) called it an insult to Karnataka.
“There are just two former two Prime Ministers in Rajya Sabha, Manmohan Singh and Deve Gowda. Kannadigas are not getting respected anymore, even in the committee for culture constituted, there were no south Indians. The Union Government takes Karnataka for granted, the state gave them 25 MPs but still they don't have any concern for us.” Party spokesperson TA Sharavana was quoted as saying by The News Minute.
Deve Gowda started his speech talking about farmer’s issues viz-a-viz the contentious farm bills in the Parliament. While Gowda was talking about his experience as a politician handling issues of farmers, by the fourth minute, the Speaker started asking him to conclude his speech. Many members of the ruling government too were heard heckling the 87-year-old Deve Gowda, asking that he wrap his speech.
“It is great that even at this age, he is there to represent our state. The Union government and the BJP MPs did not even allow him to deliver his speech and express his opinions. They kept asking him to stop talking and sit down, kept interrupting. This is not just an insult to Deve Gowda, but to all Kannadigas. This is why we ask the voters to always vote a regional party to power, we have always taken up issues that are important to the people of the state and not succumb to high command pressure like other national parties.” added Sharavana.
Earlier in the day, Deve Gowda had taken oath in Kannada and greeted the chair with folded hands. The 87-year-old leader, was in June elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. This is the first time that the JD(S) leader has become a member of the Upper House since 1996.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had remarked after Deve Gowda's swearing-in-ceremony that he is a "good addition to our House".
"Former prime minister and one of the senior-most leaders of our country has come to our house," he said.
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Man arrested with Rs 2.54-crore heroin in Mumbai
Mumbai (PTI): Police have arrested a man and seized over 500 grams of heroin worth Rs 2.54 crore in the illicit market from him in Mumbai, officials said on Friday.
The police's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) made the drug seizure in Santacruz in the western suburbs. The operation was conducted by the Kandivali unit of the ANC on Thursday as part of a special crackdown against drug trafficking in the area, they said.
Acting on specific inputs, an ANC team conducted a raid in Santacruz (East) and intercepted a man. During a search, the team recovered 508 grams of high-grade heroin from his possession, an official said.
The seized contraband, a highly addictive, opioid drug derived from morphine, is estimated to be worth Rs 2.54 crore in the international market, he informed.
Following the seizure, a case was registered against the man under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and he was formally placed under arrest in the early hours of Friday.
The police are currently investigating the source of the drug and trying to identify the intended recipients of the consignment, he said.
