Waqf issue: BJP demands CBI inquiry into minister's bribery charge against Vijayendra
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The BJP on Monday demanded a CBI inquiry into the allegations made by Minister Priyank Kharge of Rs 150 crore "bribe" offer by party chief B Y Vijayendra to former Minority Commission chairperson Anwar Manippadi.
As the Assembly proceedings started, the BJP members raised objections over Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Kharge's accusation in the House last Thursday.
Kharge had alleged that Vijayendra, who is also the Shikaripura BJL MLA, offered Rs 150 crore to Manippadi, a BJP member, not to raise the Waqf land issue.
As Karnataka Minority Commission Chairperson during the previous BJP government in the state, Manippadi had submitted a detailed report on the encroachment of Waqf land in the state and the involvement of bigwigs in it.
"The minister had made an allegation in the House in my absence, which was uncalled for. The same was repeated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This was a baseless allegation," Vijayendra said.
He challenged the chief minister to order a CBI inquiry into the alleged Rs 150 crore offer.
Vijayendra also demanded that the minister should apologise for his statement.
The Leader of the Opposition, R Ashoka, said Kharge made the allegation without giving any prior notice.
In reply, Kharge said his statement is based on Manippadi's interview a few years ago and the media reports.
The issue saw heated arguments by both the BJP and Congress legislators.
Vijayendra had earlier rejected the charge, saying why he would pay bribes to protect Congress leaders involved in Waqf land encroachment.
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India has agreed already to drop its tariffs to nothing: President Trump
New York/Washington, May 7 (PTI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said India has “agreed” to drop its high tariffs “to nothing”.
“I mean, India as an example, has one of the highest tariffs in the world. We’re not going to put up with that, and they’ve agreed already to drop it. They’ll drop it to nothing. They’ve already agreed. They would have never done that for anybody else but me,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump and visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke to reporters as they met in the Oval Office to discuss the US-Canada trade.
“So we’re going to put down some numbers and we’re going to say our country is open for business and they’re going to come in and they’re going to pay for the privilege of being able to shop in the United States of America. It’s very simple. It’s very simple,” he added.
In the past, Trump has called India “tariff king” and a “big abuser”.
Last month, Trump had said that negotiations with India over a bilateral trade deal are “coming along great” and he thinks “we’ll have a deal with India”.
