Dont want 'outgoing CM', resolve leadership issue before assembly session: Vijayendra tells Cong
Davangere (PTI): Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Tuesday said the state does not want "acting or outgoing CM", and urged the ruling Congress to settle its leadership tussle before the winter session of the legislature begins in Belagavi next month.
Noting that the government will be unable to address the concerns of the people and farmers during the session, if the infighting in the ruling party continues, he suggested postponement of the session if the Congress leaders are unable to resolve the leadership change issue.
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
"From December 8, the winter session of the state legislature will begin in Belagavi, and people are waiting with frustration to get response to several issues faced by the state, especially north Karnataka region and farmers during the session. But the competition is going on in the ruling party for the Chief Minister's chair," Vijayendra told reporters here.
He said, "I want to tell the Chief Minister that the state doesn't want an acting or outgoing Chief Minister . Before coming for the Belagavi session, resolve the ongoing fight for the CM chair in your party. If the fight continues during the session, you will not be able to respond to or address the issues faced by the farmers and the state."
Questioning the point of holding the session under such circumstances, he asked the government to come prepared after resolving the leadership issue or "postpone the session."
The BJP leader accused the state government of "failing" to address the concerns of sugarcane and maize farmers issues.
According to Vijayendra, maize is widely grown in Davangere, Belagavi, Shivamogga, Ballari, Vijayapura, Haveri, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and other districts, and the government's inaction amounts to injustice to growers.
The BJP has decided to launch an agitation on behalf of farmers across the state, he said, adding that protests will be held in all assembly constituencies on November 27 and 28 and in district centers on December 1 and 2.
A mega protest has been organised in Davangere on Tuesday to awaken this government and to address the concerns of the sugarcane, maize and paddy farmers.
Farmers are demanding a support price of Rs 3,000 per quintal for maize, and have been urging the government to start procurement centres.
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.
'Warm and engaging atmosphere reigned', Shashi Tharoor on Putin banquet
New Delhi (PTI): Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who on Friday attended a banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, on Saturday described the atmosphere there as "warm" and "engaging", and said he enjoyed his conversations with many of the attendees.
Tharoo’s remarks came a day after President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet for the visiting Russian president at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here.
“Attended the @rashtrapatibhvn banquet for President Putin last night. A warm and engaging atmosphere reigned. Enjoyed my conversations with many of the attendees, especially my dining companions from the Russian delegation!" Tharoor said in a social media post.
Murmu, while welcoming President Putin and his delegation at the banquet, had said that his visit marked an important milestone -- the 25th anniversary of the India-Russia strategic partnership, which was established in October 2000 during his first visit to the country as president.
Murmu also appreciated Putin's support and personal commitment to the India-Russia special and privileged strategic partnership.
The Congress on Friday said that the leaders of the opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, were not invited to the banquet, and took a swipe at Tharoor for accepting the invite.
The party’s media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, accused the government of breaking protocols daily and not believing in democratic principles.
“There is no invite to both the LoPs, Mr (Mallikarjun) Kharge and Mr (Rahul) Gandhi. This comes as a surprise, but I don't think we should be surprised. This government is known to be breaching all protocols. What else to say, ask the government,” Khera said on Friday.
Asked about Tharoor accepting the invite for the banquet, Khera said, "Ask Mr Tharoor. All of us who are in the party, if our leaders don't get invited and we get invited, we need to question our own conscience and listen to our conscience. Politics has been played in inviting or not inviting people, which in itself is questionable, and those who accept such an invite are also questionable."
“We would have listened to our voice of conscience,” he added.
Earlier, Tharoor had said that there was a time when the chairman of the external affairs committee was routinely invited, but that practice seems to have stopped some years ago.
On Thursday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government tells visiting foreign dignitaries not to meet the leader of opposition due to its "insecurity".
His remarks came hours ahead of Putin's two-day visit to India.
