Bengaluru, Jul 27: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the government's decision to rename Ramanagara district as ‘Bengaluru South’ was to utilise the brand of the capital city to give a new direction to next generation and bring development to the region.
Noting that the government was not changing the name of the district headquarter town Ramanagara, he said only that of the district will be changed, which comprises four Taluks – Ramanagara, Channapatna, Kanakapura and Magadi.
“We are not touching Ramanagara (town). Bengaluru is our district. Those living in Ramanagara Taluk, Channapatna Taluk, Kanakapura Taluk and Magadi Taluk are our people. Ours is Bengaluru, not Ramanagara,” Shivakumar, who is Kanakapura Congress MLA, told reporters here.
The Karnataka cabinet on Friday approved changing the name of Ramanagara as Bengaluru South district.
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“Today Bengaluru is famous worldwide. Why should we spoil the name given by our forefathers?” Shivakumar pointed out.
The Deputy CM insisted that Ramanagara will remain the headquarters of the proposed Bengaluru South district.
Explaining the reason behind the change of name, he said, “We are thinking about our next generation to give them a new direction, good thoughts, new ideas and their development.”
On Union Minister of Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy’s statements against the decision, Shivakumar said Kumaraswamy’s politics revolved around wishing for his downfall.
“He (Kumaraswamy) sleeps and gets up thinking of our downfall even though we do good to him. I am aware of his actions, behaviour, sentiments, conduct and thoughts.
Kumaraswamy has slammed the state government's decision to rename Ramanagara as Bengaluru South.
Kumaraswamy was the CM when Ramanagara district was carved out in August 2007 from four Taluks of Bengaluru.
He was also the MLA from the same district.
The Union Minister said, “Shivakumar was an MLA (of Kanakapura constituency) from the same district when the district was formed. Why didn’t he protest in 2007 (when the name was changed). It was done unanimously and no one protested in the Vidhana Soudha.”
Responding to remarks of Kumaraswamy that the name of the district will be changed again when the Congress loses in the next election, Shivakumar said, “It’s not in his destiny. Congress will return to power in 2028.”
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Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab Assembly on Friday witnessed high drama on Friday after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira made an allegedly objectionable remark against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during an intense argument over the alleged use of mobile phone in the house by the legislator.
During the one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Mann accused Khaira of using a mobile phone when Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was reading out an official resolution on the revision of wages.
After rising from his seat, the chief minister pointed to the speaker, claiming that Khaira is busy on his mobile phone and urged him to ask the Congress MLA what Sandhwan had said about the resolution.
The speaker then asked Khaira to maintain order in the house and listen to the resolution carefully.
Mann then asked Khaira, "Why don't you go out and then use it (mobile phone)," which led to a strong verbal altercation during which the opposition MLA hurled an accusation against the chief minister. Meanwhile, the speaker appealed for order and insisted that the chair be addressed.
However, both Mann and Khaira continued arguing and could be seen pointing fingers at each other as the proceedings of the house were disrupted.
The AAP MLAs also rose from their seats with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemning Khaira for his conduct and demanded action against him.
Cheema further alleged that Khaira "always tries to disturb the house" as he spoke about his conduct in the assembly.
The incident occurred as an official resolution on the revision of wages was presented at the special session by Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond who said it paid homage to labourers on the International Workers' Day.
"Workers are the axis of construction of the nation, the community, the state and society. Every construction project succeeds only through their blood and sweat," the resolution read.
As per the resolution, "The base rate of minimum wages for the working class in Punjab was last revised in the year 2012. Although the dearness allowance has continued to increase since 2012, there has been no increase in the base rate of minimum wages.
On this sacred occasion of May Day, in this special session of the legislative assembly, this house proposes to revise and increase the minimum wages of labourers and strongly recommends to the government to take a decision regarding the increase of minimum wages for workers, so that the contributions of the workers can be acknowledged." PRK
