Independent MLAs withdrew support due to Conginternal bickerings: BJP leader Muralidhar Rao
Bengaluru, Jan 15: BJP General Secretary Muralidhar Rao Tuesday said withdrawal of support to the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka by two independent MLAs was an offshoot of internal bickering among Congress leaders, mainly D K Shivakumar.
"The withdrawal of support by two independent MLAs is the result of internal bickerings among Congress leaders.
Particularly, D K Shivakumar is a problem. He basically is precipitating the problem, but levelling charges against the BJP," he told PTI over phone.
Rao, also in-charge of BJP affairs in Karnataka, stated this when asked to comment on the MLAs R Shankar and H Nagesh withdrawing support amid charges that BJP was engineering defections to topple the H D Kumaraswamy government.
Attacking Shivakumar, Rao said he was the main culprit for the fresh political turbulence as he wanted to project himself as the 'true loyal Congress leader.'
Rao said it is wrong on the part of Congress to charge BJP with horse-trading to woo independent MLAS, who are free to withdraw support to the government as they are not bound by any political party.
"Independent MLAs are not the private property of the Congress.
You tell me where is the question of BJP's indulgence in it. They are independent MLAS and they are free to support any government they want.
How can one say that these two MLAs are bounded by the Congress or the JDS?" he asked.
Asked whether the BJP expected more MLAs to quit or withdraw support to the government, Rao said, "It is far too hypothetical a question for now.
I cannot immediately comment because I do not know the gravity of the situation in Karnataka,"
Replying to a query, Rao said the BJP neither wanted the coalition government to continue, nor was it keen on bringing it down.
"We are just waiting and watching the political developments," he said.
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BJP accuses Karnataka govt of 'failing' to prevent noise pollution caused by 'azaan'
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Members of the Opposition BJP on Tuesday slammed the Karnataka government for not taking measures to prevent the alleged noise pollution caused by 'azaan', the Islamic call to prayer.
BJP MLC D S Arun raised the issue in the Legislative Council during the question hour, accusing the ruling Congress of "appeasement" by failing to take action against mosques that are violating the Supreme Court's directives.
Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre, responding to the question, said, as per the directives of the Supreme Court in sensitive zones, the noise level should not exceed 50 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night, and in residential areas, 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
In commercial areas, the noise should not exceed 65 decibels during the day, 55 at night, and in industrial areas, 75 during the day and at night 70 decibels, he said.
Pointing out that the Karnataka government had issued an order in 2022, assigning responsibility to a committee headed by a DySPs or ACPs for the effective implementation of the rules, the minister said when a complaint is received about noise pollution, the Pollution Control Board will inspect it and provide information about the decibel level to the police to take further action, including filing of criminal cases.
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"Not only during azaan, but also during bhajans held in temples and marriage events, among others, the violations happen. There is a need to spread awareness. The Supreme Court has ordered against bursting firecrackers, but it is being violated. Efforts will be made to implement the rules effectively," he said.
Several BJP MLAs, including Arun, Bharathi Shetty, among others, were not satisfied with the minister's reply. They took strong exception to it.
Arun noted that in the last three years, only 52 cases have been taken, and said there are clear violations by almost all mosques, but no action has been taken. "The decibels have in fact increased under this government. The government is giving protection to them."
Reacting to this, Khandre, calling it a "sensitive matter", said, "It is not right to politicise the issue. The law of this land is equal for everyone."
Hitting back, Arun asked, "Why is the matter sensitive? What is preventing you (the government) from implementing the Supreme Court directives?"
