Karnataka BJP to hold series of protests against state govt from April 2
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Monday announced that his party will stage day-and-night protests across the state from April 2 against the Congress government's anti-poor policies.
The Shikaripura MLA stated that these protests would be held at district headquarters as well as at the taluk and mandal levels.
He alleged that the protests are being organised in response to the state government imposing "financial burdens on the poor". "The BJP will fight against the government's anti-poor policies," the state party chief said at a press conference.
Vijayendra said that in Bengaluru, the day-and-night protest against the price rise will begin at Freedom Park on April 2 at 11 am.
All BJP MLAs, MLCs, former legislators, former council members, candidates who contested the state assembly elections, office bearers, district presidents, and party workers will participate in the protest, he told reporters.
He added that a protest would also be held in front of the statue of former Chief Minister Kengal Hanumanthaiah on the same day against the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the Assembly.
The 18 MLAs were suspended for their "unruly behaviour" on March 21.
On April 5, BJP workers will take to the streets in all district centers, Taluks, and Mandals across the state, Vijayendra said.
The party has also planned a 'Janakrosha Yatra' (Public Outrage March) from April 7, starting in Mysuru, which will be flagged off by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, the BJP state president said.
As per the schedule, the march on April 7 will cover the Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts. On April 8, it will reach Mandya and Hassan, and on April 9, it will proceed to Kodagu and Mangaluru, he added.
The first phase will conclude in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru on April 10. The second phase, starting on April 13, will cover the Shivamogga and Uttara Kannada districts.
"The movement will cover every district in the state. Each district will have a two-to-three-kilometer 'Padayatra' (foot march), followed by a public gathering addressed by BJP leaders," Vijayendra said.
The BJP state chief also criticised the state budget, claiming that it "favours minorities, particularly Muslims" and "insults Hindus".
"The Congress government’s policy of reserving four per cent of government contracts for Muslims is unconstitutional," he alleged.
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.
HC to decide if gram panchayat members can continue in Manipur post tenure: SC
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday said the high court would decide whether the elected gram panchayat members, whose five-year tenure was over in Manipur, were entitled to continue in their posts in the event of the appointment of an administrative committee or an administrator.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh said it would like to have the benefit of the view of the high court in the matter and set a three-month time frame to adjudicate the legal question.
"The question that falls for consideration in this case is that whether the elected member of the Gram Panchayat whose five-year tenure is over was entitled to continue as members of the gram panchayat in the event of appointment of administrative committee or administrator, as contemplated under Section 22 of the Manipur Panchayati Raj Act of 1994," the bench noted.
The Manipur government’s counsel said the state could not hold panchayat elections due to the unprecedented violence.
"Since, we would like to have the advantage of the opinion of the high court, we dispose of the special leave petition without expressing any opinion on merits, with the request to the chief justice of Manipur High Court to post the main case before a division bench at the earliest. We further request the division bench, before whom the matter is listed, to provide expeditious hearing with an endeavour to resolve the controversy within three months," the bench said.
The bench noted that provision of Manipur Panchayati Raj Act was amended to substitute the word "cease" with the word "continue" with respect to the tenure of the elected members of the gram panchayat.
The petitioners have challenged a high court order and submitted that since elections in gram panchayat could not be held in Manipur for various reasons, the previously elected members of the panchayat were entitled to continue as per the amended Section 22 (3) of 1994 Act.
Section 22 deals with the power of deputy commissioner to appoint an administrative committee or an administrator for a period of six months, which will then oversee the election.
Section 22 (3) of the law says once the administrative committee or an administrator is appointed by the deputy commissioner, the elected members of earlier gram panchayat shall cease to exist.
The top court said what has been challenged before it was an interlocutory order of the high court and the main petition in which the question of law that had been raised was still pending.
The original petitioners before the high court were elected representatives at the fifth general elections for gram panchayats and the zilla parishads who sought a direction to continue in the office beyond the period of five years as stipulated by law as elections were last held in 2017.
They sought to continue as panchayat members till the time the state election commission notified the election for the sixth general elections for gram panchayats and zilla parishads.
On February 29, last year, the high court in its interim order gave liberty to Manipur government to appoint an administrative committee for each gram panchayat and zilla parishad in accordance with law and the provision of the Act.
