No discussions have taken place regarding replacing Karnataka BJP president: CM Bommai
Bengaluru (PTI): Complementing state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel for completing three years in office, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said there have been no discussions in the party regarding the organisational changes or replacing Kateel.
He also expressed hopes that Kateel's leadership will continue to give more strength to the party in the days ahead, with assembly elections expected in March-April 2023.
"Kateel for the last three years has managed the affairs of the party most efficiently. He has travelled across the state about eight to 10 times. He has organised the party from the booth level. The party has successfully faced Gram Panchayat (polls), Legislative Council (elections) and bypolls under his able leadership," Bommai said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the ruling party is marching ahead successfully and Kateel's leadership will continue to give more strength to the BJP in the days ahead.
Responding to a question whether there will be any organisational changes including the state president as his three year term ends, or whether Kateel will continue in the post, Bommai said, "I'm not aware of such things, no such discussions have not taken place."
The BJP in August 2019 had appointed Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha MP Kateel, considered a staunch Hindutva leader, as the president of its Karnataka unit, in place of B S Yediyurappa, who at that time was the Chief Minister of the southern state.
There has been speculation for some time now about organisational changes in the party's state unit and also the cabinet, ahead of next year's polls.
Stating that there is no confusion regarding organising Ganesha festival at the Idgah ground in Bengaluru's Chamrajpet, Bommai in response to a question said, "It will be decided...the Revenue Minister has discussed with senior officials yesterday, verification of applications are on, after that we will decide."
Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Saturday had said that the government is yet to take a final call on allowing the Ganesha festival to be celebrated at the Idgah ground in Chamrajpet, and may decide on it probably on August 30.
A division bench of the Karnataka High Court on Friday had permitted the state government to consider and pass appropriate orders on applications seeking use of Idgah ground at Chamrajpet for religious and cultural activities.
Several groups have come forward seeking permission to organise Ganesha festival at the ground.
The Chief Minister, in response to another question, said that he will be speaking to Deputy Commissioners of the districts that have received heavy rainfall during the last couple of days, and after analysing the situation, will decide on more compensation or funds to be released if needed and measures to be taken.
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Prohibitory orders imposed in three Manipur districts following student protests
Imphal (PTI): Prohibitory orders were imposed in three districts of Manipur, a day after student protests demanding the restoration of peace in the strife-torn state rocked Imphal Valley.
An indefinite curfew, preventing people from coming outside their houses, was clamped in Imphal East and West districts, while prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS were imposed in Thoubal.
"Due to the developing law and order situation in the district, earlier orders of curfew relaxation stand cancelled with immediate effect from 11 am of September 10. Hence, there is total curfew in Imphal East district with immediate effect until further orders," an order issued by the district magistrate said.
Another order issued by the district magistrate of Imphal West said, "In supersession of all earlier orders, curfew relaxation period for September 10 is hereby lifted with effect from 11 am of today."
"Restriction on the movement of people outside their respective residences was lifted from September 1 last year," it said.
Earlier, curfew relaxation for September 10 was lifted from 5 am to 10 pm but was superseded with the latest order.
Essential services, including media, electricity, court and health, are however exempted from the purview of the curfew, it said.
The orders from the two Imphal districts came in the wake of students planning to intensify their protests demanding the removal of the DGP and security advisor to the state government for their alleged inability to deal with the law and order situation in the state.
The prohibitory orders in Thoubal prevented the assembly of five or more persons as police claimed that at least one personnel was hit on the thigh by a bullet fired from among the protesting students in the district on Monday.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students from various schools and colleges spent the night at camps set up at Khwairamband Women Market in Imphal. The students, in their uniforms, were helped by women shopkeepers to set up camps at the market.
"We have given a 24-hour deadline for Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya's response to the six demands we have placed. We will decide our future course of action after the deadline ends," student leader Ch Victor Singh told reporters on Tuesday morning.
Thousands of students protested in front of the Manipur Secretariat and Raj Bhavan on Monday, demanding action against those behind the recent drone and missile attacks, and calling for the protection of the state's "territorial and administrative integrity".
At least eight persons have died and over 12 injured in a fresh wave of violence, which included drone and missile attacks.
Later, the students met Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Governor Acharya.
Student representatives who met Acharya later told reporters that they have placed six demands, including the removal of the Director General of Police (DGP) and the security advisor to the state government for their alleged failure to control the violence. They also called for the Unified Command, currently chaired by former CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, to be handed over to the state government.
"The Monday rally was an outburst of anger of the student community over the prolonged crisis in the state. We want peace and solution at the earliest without altering the state's territorial and administrative integrity," another protesting student said.
During the student protests in Imphal, protesters raised slogans such as 'Long live Manipur', 'Resign all incompetent MLAs', and 'Give Unified Command to state government' and expressed their frustration with the authorities over their handling of the situation.
Police claimed protesting students also engaged in stone-pelting, forcing the law enforcers to fire tear gas shells to disperse them.
In Thoubal, a large number of protesters, including students, marched towards the district police headquarters and DC office on Monday.
"Police warned people to disperse but the unruly mob got violent and there was live firing from among the crowd at the police personnel in which one personnel was hit on the left thigh by a live round," Manipur Police said in a statement.
The unruly mob also damaged one vehicle parked outside the court complex. An ambulance carrying some injured personnel was also pelted with stones, it added.
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis since May last year.
