Its for those against Bengaluru's security to apologise: Tejasvi Surya
Bengaluru: Newly appointed BJP Yuva Morcha chief Tejasvi Surya, MP, on Wednesday virtually rejected the demands for apology over his "Bengaluru terror epicentre" comment which has drawn criticism from opposition parties, saying it has to be tendered by those against the city's security.
Bengaluru had given him the identity and those against the city's security should apologise and not him, Surya said adding he was for the safety and security of Bengalurians.
The MP, who represents Bengaluru South Lok Sabha segment, had claimed on Sunday that Bengaluru has become an epicentre of terror activities, after requesting Union Home Minister Amit Shah to set up a permanent division of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the city.
His comments evoked sharp criticism from opposition Congress and JD(S) with former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy even calling it an insult to Bengaluru had urged BJP to seek an apology from Surya.
"Bengaluru gave me education, food, and made me Parliamentarian.... It has given me an identity in the country....I'm identified as a boy from Bengaluru. It is my place," Survya said when asked by reporters whether he would apologise over his controversial remark.
Speaking after visiting the state BJP office for the first time after being appointed as party Yuva Morcha National President, he said, if some one recruiting people for ISIS was arrested in Bengaluru it pained him.
"If a mob of two thousand people attacks a police station here for some social media post, it boils my blood," he said, referring to the violence unleashed by a mob here in August.
"People who don't want NIA in Bengaluru for the safety of the city, those from Congress who nurtured jihadi organisations like KFD (Karnataka Forum for Dignity), PFI, SDPI while in power by withdrawing cases against them and allowed them to do goondagiri. It is they who have to seek apology from Bengalurians as they are against Bengaluru's interest," he added.
He said he had advocated for NIA division in Bengaluru so that it doesn't become a place for terrorists.
"Those who are worried that Congress and SDPI match fixing politics will get spoiled are opposing NIA for Bengaluru," Surya said.
Responding to a question about failure to maintain social distance by gathering a large crowd near the party office and arriving in a procession, Surya merely said, the party workers had gathered out of happiness that one of their own has been given the national responsibility and nothing was planned.
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Kharge has put 'full stop' to leadership speculation in Karnataka: Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge has put a "full stop" on the issue of leadership change in the state.
Kharge's statement has a lot of significance and there ends the matter for now. Everyone in the party should respect and accept this, he said.
Parameshwara was referring to Kharge's statement on Thursday that there was no chief minister change in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state will be resolved soon.
Kharge's statement came amid speculation within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
"Mallikarjun Kharge is our party's national president. He has a lot of experience. Several people, including me, have said that in the case of change (in leadership), if he (Kharge) comes (as CM), no one could speak in front of his experience and everyone would accept it. While replying to it, Kharge said that there is a chief minister now, and there is no question of change as of now," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "I welcome his (Kharge) statement because I feel he has expressed his opinion after a discussion involving him, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala (both AICC general secretaries). I may be right or wrong. I feel that his statement has a lot of significance. So that matter ends there for now."
Responding to a question on repeated statements by several party leaders regarding leadership change, the home minister said, what the AICC chief has said on the matter is final. It should be respected and accepted by all in the party. There is no meaning in interpreting it further.
"I cannot respond to what others say, but I can say my opinion. In my opinion, the AICC chief is the supreme authority in the party. He, along with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, are our high command. If the high command has said something, we should both respect and accept it. There ends the matter," he said.
Kharge has put a "full stop" on the issue, he further said, adding that, "When he has said there is no change. It is a full stop."
Responding to a question on Parameshwara's recent statement about Kharge becoming chief minister, the AICC chief on Thursday said, "You (media), he (Parameshwara), and people at the top say that it is better if I become CM. But more than fate, as per my ideology and my service to the party so far, Sonia Gandhi makes decisions regarding me."
He had further said, "But that question does not arise now. There is already a CM here. If Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and I together have to take any decision in that direction, it will take some time. Let's wait and see."
Kharge on Friday too said no date has been fixed yet to discuss a possible leadership change in Karnataka.
Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in line with a reported power-sharing agreement with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections. Some have even claimed that "sweet news" is expected by May 15, which is Shivakumar's birthday.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by a reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
