Shivakumar stresses party discipline amid Davanagere South bypoll row
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday underlined the importance of party discipline amid the fallout of the Davanagere South bypoll controversy, even as action against certain leaders triggered fresh ripples within the ruling Congress.
Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar said decisions regarding the party candidate and subsequent developments were taken after consultations with leaders and based on reports submitted from the ground, which were then acted upon by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Shivakumar’s remarks come against the backdrop of the removal of Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, who was "relieved with immediate effect" following allegations that he worked against the party’s candidate in the Davanagere South Assembly bypoll.
Held on April 9, the election was necessitated by the death of veteran MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa, with the Congress fielding his grandson, Samarth Shamanur.
"If there is no discipline in any party, nothing can function," Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said.
"We decided on the candidate after taking everyone into confidence. Every day we were in touch with various leaders. They all submitted reports, and based on that, the CM has taken the decision (on choosing Samarth Shamanur as the Congress candidate for the Davanagere South Assembly segment bypolls)," he said.
He noted that some Congress leaders had stepped down amid the developments.
"By the time we took a decision, they themselves had given their resignation, and it has been accepted," he said, referring to recent exits, including that of MLC Abdul Jabbar.
On his interaction with MLAs aspiring for ministerial positions, Shivakumar said there was nothing wrong with internal discussions but stressed restraint.
"There is nothing wrong with holding meetings or asking for posts; please do. But one must maintain strict discipline. That is my humble request," he said.
He pointed out that he had advised party members to remain cautious in their public conduct.
Asked about the specific allegations against certain leaders, he said he was awaiting further clarity.
"We, too, had received some reports. Another report has to come on what exactly happened (in Davanagere South); I am waiting for it," he said.
On whether any report had been submitted against Housing and Minority Welfare Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Shivakumar said, "I have no information."
Khan was among those who had demanded that a Muslim candidate be given the ticket in Davanagere South, as the constituency has a substantial Muslim population.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah summoned him on Tuesday. The outcome of the meeting remains unknown.
Tensions had surfaced within the party over the candidate selection, with sections of minority leaders expressing dissatisfaction and demanding representation.
Although a rebel candidate later withdrew his nomination following intervention by the leadership, discontent reportedly persisted, with some leaders staying away from campaign activities.
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Haryanvi singer Masoom Sharma booked for indecent, offensive language at Dehradun college
Dehradun, Apr 13 (PTI): An FIR has been registered against Haryanvi folk singer Masoom Sharma on charges of using indecent, obscene and objectionable language from the stage during an event organised by a students' union at Dehradun's DAV Post Graduate College, police said on Monday.
Senior Congress leader and former chief minister Harish Rawat expressed concern over the matter, saying that the state government should formulate a clear standard operating procedure (SOP) for such events.
Dehradun Superintendent of Police (City) Pramod Kumar said that a case was registered against Sharma late Sunday night at the Kotwali Dalanwala police station. The action was taken based on videos of the incident—which happened on Saturday evening—that surfaced on social media, as well as a written complaint filed by Pranchal Nauni, a representative of the 'Satyam Shivam' student organisation at DAV Post Graduate College.
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The complaint alleged that during the event, Sharma used indecent, obscene and objectionable words from the stage, thereby, hurting the sentiments of the students and members of the general public present there.
The police official said that an investigation has been initiated after registering a case against Sharma under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 296 (performing obscene acts or singing obscene songs in public places), Section 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace), Section 79 (using words, gestures, sounds, or displaying any object with the intent to outrage a woman's modesty), and Section 351(3) (issuing serious criminal threats).
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also attended the event, but he had departed from the venue before Sharma's alleged misconduct took place. However, Umesh Kumar, the Independent MLA from the Khanpur constituency in Haridwar, was present at the venue.
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The organisers of the event, feeling uncomfortable with the folk singer's conduct, attempted to bring the situation under control. However, a video of the incident subsequently went viral on social media.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Rawat said that he, too, had attended a student union event just the day before, and that visiting such gatherings to interact with students has always been a matter of pride for him.
"However, I am deeply concerned about the nature of the songs being performed on stage there and the kind of 'cultural gunpowder' being introduced into Uttarakhand and the potential impact this will have on our culture, dialects, songs, and music," he said.
