Priyank Kharge calls BJP dispensation in Karnataka as ‘bribe-couch govt'
Bengaluru (PTI): Senior Congress leader Priyank Kharge has dubbed the BJP led dispensation in Karnataka as 'bribe-couch government', alleging that no one can land a job without paying bribe.
The former minister's statement drew sharp criticism from the saffron party, which asked Kharge to keep his house in order first.
At a press conference on Friday, Kharge said, In this government, you have to shell out money to get a government job. In the past, two ministers of this government have resigned. He was referring to Ramesh Jarkiholi's resignation as Water Resources Minister over his alleged involvement in a sex-for-job scandal last year. Another BJP MLA K S Eshwarappa too resigned as minister after a civil contractor died by suicide alleging that the former had demanded 40 per cent commission for execution of a public work.
If a woman from Karnataka wants a job, she will have to get on to the couch (Mancha) and men can land a job only by paying a bribe (Lancha in Kannada), Kharge, who is son of Congress stalwart Mallikarjun Kharge, alleged.
"This government has become a 'Lancha-Mancha Sarkara' (bribe and couch government)." Kharge also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of 'failing' to keep up his promise of creating two crore jobs annually.
The BJP hit back at Kharge saying, he should first see how many holes are there in his tiled roof.
The stories of the colourful nightlife of the Congress leaders is not a mere hearsay. There are many secret CDs available, the BJP charged in its tweet.
The party also said that the gentle Congress leaders are like a tiger in the hide of a cow.
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.
Nashik TCS case: Accused Nida Khan held in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Nashik (PTI): Weeks after she went into hiding, a female employee of the TCS unit in Nashik, accused in a case related to alleged religious conversion and sexual harassment of some women colleagues, has been arrested, police said.
Nida Khan was held on Thursday in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik said.
Khan is an accused in the Deolali Camp police station crime register number 156/26 here, he said.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nashik police is probing nine cases of molestation and harassment at the IT major’s Nashik unit.
It had arrested eight persons, including a female operations manager, by registering nine FIRs after allegations of exploitation, attempt of forceful conversion, hurting religious sentiments, molestation and mental harassment of female employees at the TCS unit came to light.
The SIT had launched a search for Khan in different parts of Maharashtra. She is accused of targeting employees in a WhatsApp group, pressuring them to pray and eat non-vegetarian food.
According to the FIR, Khan allegedly advised women employees to dress and behave in accordance with Islamic traditions.
Some complainants have also alleged that they were coerced or pressured into adopting religious practices, including praying, changing dietary habits, and adopting religious symbols.
Besides Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) provisions for sexual harassment and defamation, Khan has also been booked under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, as the complainant belongs to a Scheduled Caste.
On April 18, she had moved the Nashik court seeking anticipatory bail and interim protection from arrest pending the plea hearing, citing her pregnancy. Her anticipatory bail plea was rejected by a court here on May 2.
TCS has clarified that it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards harassment and coercion of any form for a long time, and the employees allegedly involved in sexual harassment at the Nashik office have been suspended.
