Previous Congress govt was like ATM for party high command: CM Bommai
Huvina Hadagali, Oct 13: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday alleged that the previous Congress government in the State was like an ATM (any time money) for its high command, and money from the State was taken in suitcases by that party to fight elections elsewhere.
He accused Congress president Sonia Gandhi of betrayal, recalling that she had fought and won the Lok Sabha elections from Ballari in 1999 by making false promises, and then giving up the seat in favour of the Gandhi family bastion of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, the other constituency from where she had contested and won that polls that year.
"They (Cong) allege BJP government here is giving money to its high command. The former Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) is saying such things out of his experience, as he has had the practice of giving money to Congress high command for five years in the past (2013-18). Such a culture doesn't exist in the BJP, if there is such a tradition and history it is in the Congress party and its high command," Bommai said.
Addressing a rally as part of BJP's 'Jana Sankalpa Yatra' here, he said the Congress government in Karnataka was like an ATM for the party high command for five years, and if there were elections elsewhere, money was taken in suitcases from here.
"Looting Karnataka, the then Congress government sent money as tribute offering to its high command, with what morality are they speaking? They should be ashamed. Having involved himself in such a transaction, your State party president (D K Shivakumar) is facing inquiry today. I pity him, he is going through things for trying to protect your (Congress) high command," he added.
Bommai, along with BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa, is on a Statewide tour in the run-up to Assembly polls next year, and the duo is scheduled to cover 52 Assembly segments till December 25.
Noting that the Congress' Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi is reaching Ballari on Friday, the Chief Minister, while recalling Sonia Gandhi winning Lok Sabha election from there and then giving it up, said, " After taking votes from people this region, she never turned back, she made false promises and did injustice to you. Now they (Cong) are coming back, shouldn't you question them and give them a message that their false promises and betrayal will not work anymore?"
Recalling that people during 1999 Lok Sabha election had sought all-round development of Ballari region, and that Sonia Gandhi and the Congress, which was then in power, had promised Rs 3,000-crore package, he said, "Where is Rs 3,000 crore? What development? Other than Rs 1,500- crore thermal plant which was for the entire State nothing was done to Ballari...With what face are you coming?"
The Chief Minister at the rally made BJP ticket aspirants of Huvina Hadagali Assembly constituency take a pledge that they would unitedly work for the party's victory, irrespective of whoever among them is fielded as the candidate during 2023 polls.
Reminding that BJP lost the constituency last time as two candidates from the party had contested as rivals, Yediyurppa said based on a survey, ticket would be given this time and whoever contests, workers should unitedly work for his or her victory.
He called on the BJP workers to take up mass public contact programmes from now and inform people about the work by the governments at the Centre and the State, aimed at winning over 150 seats (out of total 224).
Yediyurappa said Rahul Gandhi is doing padyatra in the State in search of an address, as the party has no address across the country.
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Steel mirrors deployed in Mysuru to discourage public urination
Mysuru (PTI): Fed up with people relieving themselves along roadsides, the Mysuru City Corporation has adopted a unique strategy to curb the practice and promote civic sense by installing reflective steel mirrors along pavements, officials said on Friday.
In what officials described as a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Corporation installed stainless steel sheets with a mirror finish along an 80-metre stretch opposite the Mysuru Suburban Bus Stand.
Officials said the reflective sheets are intended to confront anyone attempting to urinate in public with their own reflection, thereby discouraging the act psychologically.
“The idea is to maintain cleanliness and hygiene, prevent public nuisance, and promote civic sense. It is a simple yet psychological approach that encourages self-awareness through reflection,” officials added.
Soon after the mirrors were installed, videos of the initiative went viral on social media, with many people appreciating the administration’s innovative attempt to address public urination. At the same time, some users pointed out the lack of basic civic sense among people.
Several social media users also suggested that more public toilets, maintained in a hygienic condition, were needed to further discourage open urination.
Explaining how the idea originated, Nitesh Patil, Administrator and Regional Commissioner of the Mysuru City Corporation, told PTI that despite a public toilet being located next to the bus stand, many people continued to urinate in the open.
Even fines and warnings failed to deter them from relieving themselves against vacant compound walls, leaving behind a foul smell.
“One of our engineers came up with this idea, and we decided to implement it. The initiative has received a very positive response from the public, social media, and the press. We are now planning to identify more such locations in the city and install similar reflectors,” he said.
According to him, to ensure that the installation is both effective and visually appealing, LED lighting that switches on along with the streetlights has also been added, causing the stretch to glow at night and enhancing the city’s appearance.
Patil said the initiative had helped create civic awareness while also beautifying the city.
“We want our city to be clean and hygienic. We aspire to become the cleanest city in the country,” he added, recalling that Mysuru secured third place nationally in the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2024–25 last year.
