Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday said the inspiration from Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's vision would guide the party rule in the state.
Speaking after virtually inaugurating the statues of 'Telangana Thalli' (Mother Telangana) in district Collectors' offices from here, he said people of the state would forever celebrate the birthday of Sonia Gandhi, who fulfilled the decades-old dream of Telangana formation, along with the inauguration of 'Telangana Thalli' on December 9 every year.
Sonia Gandhi, the former Congress president, turned 79 on Tuesday.
The CM said the state government had decided to celebrate December 9 as 'Telangana Thalli' inauguration day as it was on this day in 2009 that the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had announced initiating the process of the formation of Telangana state from Andhra Pradesh.
He recalled that the state government had installed the statue of Mother Telangana in the Secretariat on December 9 last year.
It is a matter of immense happiness for him, his cabinet colleagues and other Congress leaders that December 9 is also the birthday of Sonia Gandhi, Reddy said.
"Sonia Gandhi's inspiration, Manmohan Singh's vision would be implemented in our welfare and development programmes, in our governance and in our hearts forever," he said.
Sonia Gandhi fulfilled the aspiration of Telangana people for statehood, despite challenges, as per the word given by her (during the UPA regime led by then PM Manmohan Singh), he said.
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Gadag (Karnataka) (PTI): Lokayukta police on Saturday said they caught BJP MLA Chandru Lamani allegedly accepting a Rs 5 lakh bribe.
The trap was laid by the Gadag Lokayukta police based on a complaint filed by a contractor.
“Today, a successful trap was laid by the Gadag Lokayukta police station. The accused public servant was caught while accepting Rs 5 lakh,” officials said, adding case has been registered under Section 7(a) read with 7(A) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The complainant, Vijay Pujar, is a Class-I contractor from Chinchali in this district.
Lokayukta officials said the alleged bribe demand was linked to works under the Minor Irrigation Department, including the construction of retaining walls along a road.
“The accused had demanded Rs 11 lakh from the complainant to execute the work. During the trap, Rs 5 lakh was accepted,” officials said.
Along with the MLA, who represents the Shirahatti Assembly constituency, his personal assistants — Manjunath Valmiki and Guru Naik — have also been secured in connection with the case.
“Accused 1, 2 and 3 have been secured, and the investigation is in progress,” the Lokayukta said in a statement.
Reacting to the incident, in a sarcastic remark, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said, “BJP leaders are very honest. They are corruption-free in this country. The Lokayukta might have received some wrong information.”
He added, “Let us see what the Lokayukta says. I will react after that.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, said he was not aware of the details and that his party does not tolerate bribery, adding that he would comment after gathering full information, while state BJP president B Y Vijayendra said he “would respond after ascertaining the facts.”
Meanwhile, supporters of Lamani condemned the Lokayukta action, alleging that the Congress government was behind the “conspiracy”.
They also raised slogans against the Congress government.
