Kumaraswamy defends dynastic politics amid indictions of fielding 2 more family members in LS polls
New Delhi, Mar 8: Amid reports that his son and nephew may be fielded by the JD(S) in Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday defended dynastic politics and said selection of candidates will purely depend on the winnability criteria.
Kumaraswamy, son of former prime minister and JD(S) chief Deve Gowda, said the discussion on seat sharing between his party and Congress has been completed and the final list will be announced in the next 2-3 days.
JD(S) has scaled down its demand for seats to 10 from 12 out of total 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. Sources, however, indicated JD(S) might get only seven or eight seats.
"Anyone over 25 years can contest elections in our democratic system. It is their right. Nepotism is not an important issue. Winning elections is important. On that criteria, we will select the candidates," Kumaraswamy told reporters after laying the foundation stone for constructing 'Karnataka Bhavan' with an investment of Rs 82 crore here.
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and PWD minister H D Revanna were among those present at the event.
On dynastic politics, Kumaraswamy said: "It is prevailing everywhere and I can give several examples. We have not entered politics indirectly, we have been elected by people. It is people's decision."
Asked about plans to field his son Nikhil Gowda and elder brother's son Prajwal Revanna in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Chief Minister said, "They are also Indian citizens. Everyone has right to stand in elections."
The political situation has changed in the last eight months, he said when reminded of his statement made during 2018 assembly poll that no more members from his family will contest elections.
Asked how many more family members will contest in general elections, he said, "It will depend on party workers' wish".
Currently, there are six family members/relatives of Gowda in active politics in the state. Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda is MP from Hassan, his son Kumaraswamy is chief minister, while another son Revanna is PWD minister in the state cabinet.
Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha Kumaraswamy is MLA, while Revanna's wife Bhavani Revanna is Zilla Panchayat member in Hassan, while one of the relatives D C Thammanna is Transport Minister in the state cabinet at present.
On the seat sharing agreement with Congress, Kumaraswamy said it is "almost finalised" and will be announced in the next 2-3 days.
Asked if JD(S) will agree for fewer seats, he said, "How many seats we will take and how many seats Congress will take -- that is not important. What is important is how many seats we will win against BJP. Our intention is to get minimum 22 to 24 seats. For that, we will work out."
Sources said JD(S) might get maximum 7-8 seats including Hassan, Mandya, Uttara Kannada, Bijapur and Shimoga. Mandya seat might be given to Kumaraswamy's son and Hassan seat to Revanna's son, while Deve Gowda might choose either Bengaluru North or Mysuru or Tumkur seat.
"Deve Gowda has not taken a decision from where he will contest. According to me, he is not interested to contest," Kumaraswamy observed.
The chief minister is in the national capital for next two days.
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Spurious ointment racket busted; Delhi Police recovers material worth Rs 2 crore from Ghaziabad unit
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has busted a major interstate racket allegedly involved in the manufacture, repackaging and nationwide sale of spurious Schedule-H medicines, an official said on Sunday.
Police have also located a manufacturing unit and seized counterfeit drugs and raw material worth over Rs 2.3 crore.
According to the police, two men -- Gaurav Bhagat, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, and Shree Ram alias Vishal Gupta of northeast Delhi's Sabhapur -- have been arrested in the case, he said.
"The operation was carried out by the Crime Branch. The accused were engaged in producing and selling counterfeit versions of popular prescription ointments, including Betnovate-C and Clop-G, which are widely used for treating skin infections, allergies and sports-related injuries," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam said in a statement.
The officer further said the spurious medicines were sold as genuine branded products, posing a serious risk to public health.
Acting on inputs, the Crime Branch team first conducted a raid at Teliwara in Sadar Bazar, one of the country's largest wholesale pharmaceutical and cosmetic markets.
"During the raid, a large quantity of counterfeit Schedule-H ointments was recovered. Subsequent technical analysis and follow-up intelligence led the team to a manufacturing unit operating from Meerpur Hindu village in the Loni area of Ghaziabad.
"A search of the premises resulted in the recovery of counterfeit medicines, huge quantities of raw chemicals, packing material, empty tubes bearing forged brand labels and machinery used for mixing, filling and sealing ointments," the DCP said.
He further said drug inspectors from the North and Central Zones of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, along with authorised representatives of the concerned pharmaceutical companies, conducted spot inspections and drew samples from the seized stock. They confirmed that the medicines were counterfeit and neither manufactured nor supplied by their companies.
The accused were also found to be operating without any valid licence to manufacture, store or sell pharmaceutical products, he added.
Police said that an FIR was registered at the Crime Branch police station on December 12 under various sections of the BNS and provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
"The seized material included around 1,200 tubes of spurious Betnovate-C ointment, over 2,700 tubes of fake Clop-G, more than 3,700 tubes of spurious Skin-Shine ointment, nearly 22,000 empty fake Clop-G tubes, over 350 kilograms of semi-prepared ointment, besides chemicals and manufacturing equipment," the DCP said.
He said further investigation is underway to trace the entire supply chain, including wholesalers, distributors, delivery handlers and retailers involved in the illegal trade.
