Leadership decisions won’t be based on caste or religion, says Minister Eshwara Khandre
Bengaluru: Forest, Environment, and Zoology Minister Eshwara Khandre has clarified that leadership positions in Karnataka, including the Chief Minister and KPCC president posts, are not vacant and that any decisions regarding leadership will not be based on caste, community, or religion.
Responding to questions about MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s recent statement suggesting that Satish Jarkiholi could fill a leadership role after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s political twilight, Khandre said that Yathindra’s remarks should not be interpreted as the voice of the Chief Minister. “Yathindra himself has already clarified his statement. There is no need for anyone else to comment on it,” he said.
Khandre emphasised that the Congress party is set to return to power in 2028, and at the appropriate time, senior party leaders will consult across communities and castes before making leadership decisions. He dismissed the notion of a “November Revolution” as entirely mistaken, saying the Siddaramaiah-led government, along with Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, is delivering effective governance and earning public approval, which has reportedly unsettled the opposition.
On a separate note, Khandre said he would travel to Delhi to meet senior party leaders regarding various departmental issues, including forest land under HMT and forest development fees, which are currently under Supreme Court review. He also noted that the government is taking immediate action to treat injured elephants at the Sugarcane Bull Elephant Camp, highlighting the shortage of wildlife veterinarians and arrangements for temporary medical support.
Responding to broader concerns, Khandre said, “As a minister responsible for forests, environment, and zoology, I feel satisfied that I am entrusted with a role that safeguards the interests of future generations.”
On questions regarding historical figures, he added, “Great personalities do not belong to any single caste. Efforts to claim them as the property of a caste, community, or organization are incorrect. Power lies in unity, and all communities should be brought together for the benefit of the state and nation. Any attempt to unify communities like Veerashaiva-Lingayat will be welcomed.”
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.
Assam: Principal of govt school held for 'sexual abuse' of student
Tezpur (PTI): The principal of a government school in Assam’s Sonitpur district has been arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a female student, a police officer said on Saturday.
The Class 9 student had alleged that the principal made lewd comments and touched her inappropriately during Saraswati Puja celebrations on January 23.
“The girl confined in her mother, as she was afraid to attend school after the incident. The family members filed a complaint at Missamari police station. Based on it, the principal was arrested on Thursday,” the officer said.
The accused, the principal of Missamari Higher Secondary School, is also the president of the All Assam Higher Secondary Schools Principals’ Association.
An investigation is uderway, he added.
