My only group is Congress group: DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar met face-to-face over breakfast on Friday, following the Congress high command’s instruction to sit together and clear the air over the ongoing leadership debate.
The meeting took place at the CM’s official residence, Cauvery, and lasted for about 40 minutes. With the past one week filled with speculation over power-sharing, factional politics and rumours of internal tension, the breakfast meeting had drawn considerable curiosity.
After the meeting, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar addressed a joint press conference.
Siddaramaiah said both leaders had agreed to follow the directions of the party’s senior leadership. He insisted that neither ministers nor MLAs were against the government. He added that since the Assembly session is coming up, the high command asked both leaders to remove any confusion. “From tomorrow, there will be no confusion. Even now, there is none. We will inform the high command about our understanding,” he said.
He pointed out that unnecessary speculation had been created. “Some media houses have created this confusion. A few MLAs may have visited Delhi regarding cabinet reshuffle, but that should not be misunderstood,” he said.
Siddaramaiah added that the two leaders discussed upcoming elections, the 2028 Assembly polls and the local body elections, and the need to work together like they did in the 2023 Assembly election. “We have decided to move forward unitedly,” he said.
He also underlined that there was no rift between them. “There is no difference now, and there will be no difference in future. The winter session in Belagavi begins on December 8. We have faced BJP and JD(S) strongly before, and we will continue to do so. Their trademark is misinformation and baseless allegations. We have prepared our strategy to counter them,” he said.
Shivakumar, speaking after Siddaramaiah, said the two leaders shared the same stand on the leadership issue. “We will follow what the high command says,” he confirmed.
He said Karnataka has a big responsibility at a time when the Congress is facing challenges at the national level. “After the 2028 Assembly election, we will face the 2029 Lok Sabha election under the leadership of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Our aim is to bring Congress back to power in Karnataka in 2028 and at the Centre in 2029. We have been working together till now and will continue with the same commitment,” he said.
Shivakumar also said Siddaramaiah will visit his home for dinner in the coming days. “We are working together. The hard work of our cadres and the support of the people brought the Congress to power. We are serving people as promised. It is our responsibility to fulfil people’s expectations. The government is functioning under Siddaramaiah’s leadership, and we are following the high command’s direction,” he said.
He stated firmly that he belongs to no internal group. “There was no groupism even during Krishna’s time, and there is none now. My only group is the Congress group. In Siddaramaiah’s first term, even when I was not made a minister for the first six months, I never complained. My commitment to work together is firm. Our job is to strengthen the party, empower every MLA and move together. We have planned many programmes to bring Congress back to power in 2028, and we are already working in that direction,” he added.
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Bill to regulate deepfakes tabled in Lok Sabha
New Delhi (PTI): A Private Member's Bill seeking a clear legal framework for regulation of deepfakes has been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
The Regulation of Deepfake Bill, introduced by Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde in the House on Friday, aims to protect citizens by mandating prior consent from individuals depicted in deepfake content.
"Misuse of deepfakes for harassment, deception and misinformation has escalated, creating an urgent need for regulatory safeguards," Shinde said.
The Bill also lists penalties for offenders creating or disseminating deepfake content with malicious intent.
"With advancements in artificial intelligence and deep learning, deepfake technology has emerged as a significant tool for media manipulation. While the technology has potential applications in education, entertainment and creative fields, it also poses severe risks when misused, threatening individual privacy, national security and public trust," Shinde said in the statement of objects and reasons in the Bill.
The proposed Bill seeks to establish a clear legal framework to govern the creation, distribution and application of deepfakes in India, said Shinde, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Kalyan.
The Bill also seeks to establish the Deepfake Task Force, a dedicated body to combat national security implications and evaluate the influence of deepfakes on privacy, civic participation, and potential election interference.
The task force will collaborate with academic and private sector institutions to develop technologies that detect manipulated content, thereby promoting credibility in digital media.
The Bill also proposes to establish a fund to support public and private sector initiatives in the detection and deterrence of advanced image manipulation.
A Private Member's Bill is a procedure of Parliament that enables lawmakers, who are not ministers, to draw attention to issues that might not be represented in Government Bills or to highlight the issues and gaps in the existing legal framework that require legislative intervention.
