MLC C P Yogeshwar will be 100 per cent inducted as Minister: CM Yediyurappa
Bengaluru, Dec 1: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Tuesday said BJP MLC C P Yogeshwar will be "100 per cent made Minister," during the much awaited expansion or reshuffle of his cabinet, even as a section within the party are opposed to it.
"Yogeshwar will 100 per cent be made Minister," he told reporters in response to a question about resentment within the party against his possible induction into the cabinet.
Thanking Yediyurappa, Yogeshwar said the CM had been saying he would induct him into the cabinet ever since the party came to power and the time for it has come now.
"Maybe because there were views in favour and against my induction into cabinet, the CM has clarified today.I will take up any responsibility (portfolio) the CM allocates to me."
Yogeshwar had lost the 2018 assembly polls from Channapatna against former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S).
He is said to have played a key role by managing the Congress-JD(S) rebel MLAs during their stay in Mumbai, which gave raise to political turmoil in the state, and eventually led to the collapse of the coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy last year, paving the way for BJP to come to power.
It is said he was rewarded with MLC nomination in July in recognition of his contribution for BJP coming to power.
Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has been lobbying for Yogeshwar's induction into the Ministry.
The duo had met Yediyurappa, as also BJP central leaders in Delhi, including party National President J P Nadda and General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh in this regard.
Speaking to reporters in Hukkeri, Jarkiholi said it was the Chief Minister's prerogative on whom to appoint as Minister. "We will abide by his decision," he said.
However, several MLAs who are Ministerial aspirants, including CM's political secretary M P Renukacharya, have been openly opposing Yogeshwar's induction, saying he has not been elected by people directly and it would scuttle their chances.
Earlier, several BJP MLAs, including Renukacharya,had met Jarkiholi and had requested him not to lobby for Yogeshwar.
Reacting to the Yediyurappa confirming Ministerial berth to Yogeshwar, Renukacharya today said he does not have the powers to question the Chief Minister and the high command's authority or prerogative.
"We will try to speak to the CM and party leadership on what we had discussed with CM and the state unit president in the past," he said.
A Vokkaliga leader from Ramanagara district, Yogeshwar had served as Minister in the previous BJP government.
He also had a stint in the Congress.
Yediyurappa has been waiting for some time to carry out the cabinet exercise, as he was asked by BJP president J P Nadda during their November 18 meeting in New Delhi to wait for clearance from the central leadership.
The CM had told reporters on Friday that he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on cabinet expansion, and the central leadership would convey their decision soon, and that the exercise may take place in two-three days.
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Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India calls current situation 'no war, no peace'
Bengaluru (PTI): Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi on Saturday characterised the ongoing tensions between his country and the Israel-US alliance as a state of “no war, no peace”.
Calling for an immediate halt to the conflict, he said the global stability hinges on those who initiated the war.
He questioned why countries affected by the war and suffering from the energy crisis are not pressuring the US and Israel to stop the aggression.
Addressing a press conference here, Ilahi said Iran did not want the conflict, but was compelled to respond amid continued attacks, even as negotiations were expected to continue.
"Iran didn't want this war, but Iran was forced by the war and several times Iran tried to avoid this war... I don't know what is the condition of these people and these countries (US-Israel)... they want to impose on other countries what they want, and who gave them this authority?" he questioned.
Recalling the negotiations Iran held in Oman, he said talks later moved to Geneva and made progress before being disrupted by sudden attacks.
Ilahi claimed that airstrikes and missile attacks led to the deaths of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ministers, commanders and civilians.
"They killed a lot of civilians… They attacked a primary school, and they killed 175 innocent girls," he said, claiming over 4,000 deaths, more than 40,000 injuries, and widespread damage to houses, hospitals, universities and public infrastructure.
Despite these losses, he said Iran resisted calls for “unconditional surrender” and stood firm and defended itself.
"They wanted unconditional surrender. Which no one—no one can accept it. Iran said, 'Okay, we are ready to be sacrificed,' but we are not ready to submit ourselves," he added.
He argued that they (US-Israel) proposed the current ceasefire only after realising that they could not achieve any of their objectives after 40 days of conflict.
The envoy further claimed that the ceasefire is not an actual ceasefire, but a “no war, no peace” situation.
Explaining the current situation in Iran, he said conditions remain stable and people are going about their daily lives.
"They are working ....(leading) their ordinary life. They are working—they're going farming and they do everything....and they aren't scared of anything. And they are ready to defend themselves," he added.
Addressing the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, he said the situation was stable before February 28 and all countries benefited from it.
"(For) 10,000 years, the Strait of Hormuz was open...and Iran daily yearly spent a lot for providing security in the Strait of Hormuz... so no one even complained anything about the Strait of Hormuz. Everyone was free...and even our enemies their warship was passing through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
However, he linked the current maritime instability to the actions of the US and Israel.
"So Iran cannot do anything. Those people who initiated, created and started this war, they have to stop it. And everything will go back to normal," he said.
Criticising the mentality of the "great powerful country", Ilahi said, "they think they have the right to do whatever they want. It should change."
He sought to know why the countries affected by the conflict are not exerting pressure on the US and the "Zionist" regime to halt the war.
"Why are they not asking them? This crisis and problem by which a lot of countries are affected was created by them. A lot of factories are closed and even working days in some countries reduced... A lot of restaurants are closed," he said.
Seeking fairness and justice, Ilahi said instead of asking Iran, all those nations should ask those who initiated this war to stop it, by telling them, "we are suffering."
To a query on international mediation, Ilahi, referring to the US, asked, "Is it acceptable and reasonable that one country orders all countries -- you should not deal with this country, You should not purchase from this country. You should not have business with this country. You should not buy from this country."
Ilahi also highlighted Iran's long-standing ties with India and said, "It is a great country and we respect India and Indians."
"We have 5,000 years relationship and friendship. We are connected to India by education, by philosophy, by culture, by civilisation and by the economy," he said.
According to him, the bilateral cooperation remains strong, citing diplomatic engagement.
"At the moment also, our relationship, collaboration, cooperation with India is very good," he said, adding Iran allowing Indian ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz reflects the ties.
"Iran allowed Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Why? A lot of countries couldn't get this permission?... The relationship between Iran and India is very good," he added.
He expressed confidence that in future too, the ties between Iran and India will be strong.
