Bandh call is BJP’s blackmail tactic: Ivan D’Souza.
Mangaluru: Vidhana Parishat Chief Whip Ivan D'Souza today criticised the BJP’s bandh-call terming it as a blackmail tactic.
Addressing reporter at DK district Congress committee office here, D’Souza said the BJP had called for a bandh, but the farmers did not come to the streets. They have decided to give time to Chief Minister Kumaraswamy. Hence the BJP’s bundh call has failed completely.
“Chief Minister Kumaraswamy had stated that he would waive loans if he forms the government on his own. Now the coalition government exists. But he never denied the loan waiver. This decision has to be taken up after discussing with other leaders and reviewing the state's economic situation. People and farmers have understood this. But the BJP did nothing when they were in power. Now, they are trying to misguide people. Earlier, BJP leaders Eshwarappa and Jagadish Shettar had said that the central government would waive the loans borrowed from co-operative banks. But it was not possible from them,” Ivan D'Souza said.
He further said “The BJP is saying that the alliance of the coalition government is unholy. The BJP was given a chance to form the government in spite of getting 104 seats. But Yeddyurappa ran away without facing trust vote. The BJP may have got more seats than the Congress. But the Congress is ahead of the BJP in the state by 1.8 percent vote share.”
“We have discussed the reasons behind the Congress’ defeat in the district. This is due to the BJP's promotion of communal heartedness in the district. Under the leadership of the coalition government, we will correct those mistakes in the future,” he added.
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8 children between ages of 1 and 14 dead after mass shooting in Louisiana, police say
Shreveport(US) (AP): A gunman in Louisiana killed eight children in shootings at two different homes early Sunday in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in more than two years, police in Shreveport said.
The victims ranged in age from one to about 14 years old, said Shreveport police spokesperson Chris Bordelon. A total of 10 were shot and some of the children were related to the suspect, Bordelon said.
The gunman later died after a chase with officers who fired at the suspect, Bordelon said. The suspect stole a car while leaving the scene of the shootings and was followed by police, according to Bordelon.
Police did not release the name of the suspect but did say he was an adult male. The shootings were the result of a “domestic disturbance,” Bordelon said.
Officials said they were still gathering details at the crime scenes south of downtown Shreveport — the two homes and a third location.
“This is an extensive scene unlike anything most of us have ever seen,” he said.
It was the deadliest mass shooting in the US since eight people were killed in a Chicago suburb in January 2024, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University.
At a news conference outside the residence where one of the shootings occurred, officials appeared stunned, requesting patience and prayers from the community as they sorted through multiple crime scenes.
“I just don't know what to say, my heart is just taken aback,” Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. “I cannot begin to imagine how such an event could occur.”
“This is a tragic situation — maybe the worst tragic situation we've ever had,” said Tom Arceneaux, mayor of the city in northwestern Louisiana with about 180,000 residents. “It's a terrible morning.”
Louisiana State Police say their detectives have been asked by Shreveport police to investigate. In a statement, state police say no officers were harmed in the shooting that involved an officer after a police pursuit into Bossier City on Sunday morning.
State police are asking anyone with pictures, video or information to share it with state police detectives.
Louisiana Gov Jeff Landry said in a statement that he and his wife were heartbroken. “We're deeply grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders working tirelessly on the scene,” he added.
