K'taka Home Minister Parameshwara defends his statement on selection of MLC candidates
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday defended his statement on the issue of finalising party candidates for the upcoming MLC polls, saying there was nothing wrong in what he had said.
The senior party leader had said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy and State Congress president D K Shivakumar should not decide on the candidates unilaterally.
He said he had suggested setting up of a screening or a high power committee comprising of senior party leaders to select the candidates, but it was too late now as the selection process seems to have reached the final stage. The matter has reached the party high command in New Delhi.
His statement comes a day after the top leaders' trip to New Delhi, to discuss with the party high command candidates for the biennial election to 11 seats in Karnataka Legislative Council. They are still in the national capital.
"There is no need to interpret my statement wrongly. What I said is there is a process of consulting everyone. I am someone who has worked as the party President, consult is what I have said. No one can say what I have said is wrong. What will happen if consulted? We are not saying give tickets only to people we suggest," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said there are criteria to give tickets, all these things will be considered.
"Let them follow it, no problem. But, there are several people with experience of having served the party, consult such people. This is what I have said, there is nothing wrong in it," he added.
Reacting to Parameshwara's remarks, Shivakumar had said, "Surely, we will consult them (senior leaders)."
Biennial elections to 11 seats of Karnataka Legislative Council to be elected by Members of Legislative Assembly will be held on June 13.
As per the existing strength of parties in the Assembly, the Congress can win 7, BJP three and JD(S) one seat.
To a question whether he referred any names for the MLC elections, Parameshwara said, "When I have not been asked, how can I refer?"
Asked why the CM and state Congress chief did not consult a senior leader like him, the minister said, "I don't know about it. I have said what I have to."
In response to a question, Parameshwara said, with too many aspirants, he had suggested forming a screening committee or a high power committee to decide on candidates, but it is too late now, as the CM and KPCC chief have already gone to Delhi.
"I don't know how many applications have come (from ticket aspirants). I saw in the newspapers our President saying that more than 300 have come. It is difficult for them (leadership) too for screening. So I suggested forming a screening committee, a high power committee and discussing with them; each one will give suggestions. Probably
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Jharkhand horror: Man kills live-in partner, chops body into 40 pieces
Ranchi (PTI): A 25-year-old man, who works as a butcher, allegedly strangled to death his live-in partner and chopped her body into 40 to 50 pieces in a forested area in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Naresh Bhengra, was arrested.
The matter came to light after around a fortnight after the killing when a stray dog was found with human body parts near Jordag village in Jariagarh police station on November 24.
Bhengra was in a live-in relationship with the deceased, a 24-year-old woman also from Khunti district, in Tamil Nadu for the past couple of years. Sometime back, he returned to Jharkhand, got married to another woman without telling his partner anything and went back to the southern state without his wife to join her.
"The brutal incident occurred on November 8 when they reached Khunti as the accused who had married another woman did not wish to take her home. Instead, he took her to a forest near his house at Jordag village in Jariagarh police station and chopped the body into pieces. The man has been arrested," Khunti Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar told PTI.
Inspector Ashok Singh who investigated the case said the man worked in a butcher shop in Tamil Nadu and was expert in slicing chicken.
“He admitted chopping the body parts of the woman into 40 to 50 pieces before leaving those in the forest for wild animals to feast on. The police recovered several parts on November 24 after a dog in the area was seen with a hand," Singh told PTI.
Singh said that the woman, who was unaware of his marriage, pressured him to return to Khunti. After reaching Ranchi, they boarded a train on November 24 and headed to the man's village.
"Under a plan, the man took her to Khunti in an autorickshaw near his home and asked her to wait. He returned with sharp weapons and strangulated her with her dupatta after raping her. He then cut the body into 40 to 50 pieces and left for his home to live with his wife," Singh said.
The woman, however, had informed her mother that she had boarded a train and would be living with her partner, the police officer said.
Following the recovery of body parts, a bag was also found in the forest with the murdered woman's belongings including her Aadhaar card. The mother of the woman was called at the spot and she identified her daughter's belongings.
"The mother suspected the man behind the crime who after being nabbed by the police admitted to chopping the woman into pieces," the official added.
The incident has sent shockwaves among people in the region, with the Shraddha Walker murder case of 2022 still fresh in their memory.
Walker was killed by her live-in partner who chopped her body into pieces before dumping them in the jungle in South Delhi’s Mehrauli.
