Shivakumar says 'efforts may fail, not prayers', urges Congress workers to work together
Mysuru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday called on everyone in the party to work together, abiding by the advice and message given by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, as he refused to comment on whether he was still in the race to become the CM of the state.
After offering prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari at the top of Chamundi Hills here, he said, "Efforts may fail, but not prayers", and that he had made his wish before the Almighty.
There has been speculation within political circles, especially among the ruling Congress, for some time now about a possible change in the chief minister later this year, citing a power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
"I don't want any discussions now. I have not come here to speak about politics. I want good for the state. Mallikarjun Kharge is the Congress President; he has given us a message and advice. Abiding by his words, let's all work together," Shivakumar said, responding to a question on whether he was out of the CM race after Siddaramaiah's statement that he would serve a full five-year term.
Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar said he, along with his family, had offered prayers to Goddess Chamundeshwari for the welfare of the state, himself, his family, and everyone.
Asked whether the time had come for the Goddess to bless him for his prayers, he said, "Efforts may fail, but not prayers—I believe in this. I have prayed to the Goddess and wished for whatever I want."
However, with Siddaramaiah asserting that he will be the CM for the full five-year term, Shivakumar on Wednesday said he had no objection and that he would stand by and support Siddaramaiah.
Indicating that he had "no option", Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress President, said he would abide by the directions of the high command.
There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the CM's post after the Assembly election results in May 2023. The Congress managed to convince Shivakumar and made him the Deputy CM.
There were also reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a "rotational Chief Minister formula," under which Shivakumar would become CM after two-and-a-half years. However, this has not been officially confirmed by the party.
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SC slams WhatsApp, Meta over privacy policy, says will pass interim order on Feb 9
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily on Meta Platforms Inc and WhatsApp while hearing their appeals against a Competition Commission of India order imposing a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore over the privacy policy, saying tech giants cannot “play with the right to privacy of citizens in the name of data sharing”.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said that it will pass an interim order on February 9. The top court ordered that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology be made a party to the petitions.
It was hearing appeals filed by Meta and WhatsApp against a National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) judgment that upheld the CCI’s findings of abuse of dominance, while granting limited relief on advertising-related data sharing.
"You can't play with the right of privacy of this country in the name of data sharing. We will not allow you to share a single word of the data, either you give an undertaking...you cannot violate the right of privacy of citizens,” the CJI said.
The bench said the right to privacy is zealously guarded in the country and noted that the privacy terms are “so cleverly crafted” that a common person cannot understand them.
“This is a decent way of committing theft of private information, we will not allow you to do that... You have to give an undertaking otherwise, we have to pass an order,” the CJI said.
