Karnataka secretariat turns into fortress for floor test
Bengaluru, May 19: Heightened security and extra vigil have turned Karnataka's secretariat, which houses the state legislature, into a fortress on Saturday for the crucial floor test of BJP Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in the hung assembly.
"Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the secretariat and the nearby legislators' home to facilitate smooth conduct of the assembly proceedings for the floor test," Director General of Police Nilamani Raju said here.
The city police also imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), prohibiting assembly of five or more persons 1 km in and around the secretariat to maintain law and order for the day-long session.
As directed by a three-judge bench of the apex court, security has also been provided to all the legislators participating in the floor test at 4 p.m.
"We have deployed five Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), 20 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), 40 inspectors and 2,000 constables around the venue to prevent any untoward incident," Additional Commissioner of Police B.K. Singh told reporters earlier.
The police has also banned processions or rallies by the cadres and supporters of the BJP, Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in the area.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
