Karnataka coalition govt stable, will remain so: Congress
New Delhi, Jan 14: The Congress said Monday it has a stable government with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka and it will remain so despite the BJP's attempts to break the alliance.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to break the Congress-JD(S) alliance in the state and claimed attempts will be made by the saffron party to poach MLAs.
"It is a stable government and it will remain a stable government," he told reporters.
The Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka is headed by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
The Congress leader said attempts will be made by the BJP to break the alliance by poaching its MLAs, but it will not be successful.
Khera said the BJP instead of making such attempts should instead focus on issues concerning the public.
On Kumaraswamy's comments that the JD(S) should not be treated as a 'third-grade citizen' in seat sharing arrangement for the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress leader said he is not aware of such a statement.
"When talks are on, such things happen.This is a process of negotiation. In this process, we hear such things. You look at Shiv Sena, they are making all kinds of statements against the BJP" Khera said as he sought to downplay the JD(S) leader's remarks.
As Karnataka's ruling coalition constituents Congress and JD(S) get down to brass tacks for the Lok Sabha polls, Kumaraswamy had said that his party should not be treated as "third grade citizen" and the partners should adopt a "give and take policy" to put up a united fight against the BJP.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
