'Yogi model' govt in Karnataka if situation demands, says CM Bommai
Bengaluru, Jul 28: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said, if the situation demands, the "Yogi model" government that exists in Uttar Pradesh will come into force in the southern state too to deal with anti-national and communal elements that are trying to create unrest.
As he completed one year in office on Thursday, the Chief Minister also gave a hundred out of hundred score for his government's performance.
"For the situation in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi (Adityanath) is the right Chief Minister. Similarly, there are different methods to deal with the situation in Karnataka and all of them are being used. If the situation demands, Yogi model government will come in Karnataka too," Bommai said.
He was responding to a question on demands by a section of BJP and Sangh Parivar supporters, who have turned their angst against the state government accusing it of not standing up to protect the lives of Hindu workers, calling for a "Yogi model" of governance in Karnataka, following the murder of a party Yuva Morcha member in Dakshina Kannada.
According to them, the 'Yogi model' refers to strong measures reportedly taken by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to control anti-national activities in the northern state, which include the use of bulldozers against such elements and mafia.
In the wake of the murder a party activist in Dakshina Kannada district, Bommai had cancelled events organised today to mark his government's one year, and BJP's three years in office, that included 'Janotsava', a mega rally at Doddaballapur that was scheduled to be attended by BJP national President J P Nadda.
Praveen Nettar, a zilla BJP Yuva Morcha committee member, was hacked to death in front of his broiler shop in Bellare in the coastal district by three bike-borne men on Tuesday night.
Noting that the government has taken the murder case seriously and an inquiry is on, Bommai said, "Five teams have been formed and teams have been sent to Kerala and officials are on their job. We are confident that culprits will be arrested and punished soon as it happened in the Harsha murder case in Shivamogga earlier this year."
There will be no compromise with regards to maintaining law and order, and we have announced a war against organised crime by anti-national and communal forces, and the results of it will be known to people, he said, as he appealed to people for peace.
Stating that there are certain challenges before the government with respect to maintaining communal harmony and in eliminating forces that want to disturb it, Bommai said this challenge exists in states across the country and such forces have raised their heads in Karnataka in the last 10 years.
"Their activities significantly began in the state in 2014-15 and have continued till now. Our police officers have managed to identify 'sleeper cells' and those involved in such activities or give support to such elements have been sent to jail with the help of NIA," he said pointing out various such arrests that have taken place recently.
Asked whether the good work of his government was overshadowed by such communal issues amid a growing feeling among some sections about the administration's alleged inaction in handling them, the Chief Minister pointed at quick and strong measures taken during such incidents in the past, and said similar measures will follow in this case too.
He also said his government has effectively and efficiently dealt with communally sensitive issues and challenges in the recent past and have been marching on the path of development.
To a question regarding banning organisations like PFI and SDPI, Bommai said it has to be done by the central government, and when the state governments attempted to do it in the past, it was stayed by the courts.
"We have sent required reports and evidence necessary for banning such organisations to the Centre, the process has begun, and at the earliest you will hear a decision on this from the Centre. The ban has to be done across the country," he said.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
