Basavaraj Horatti elected unopposed as Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council
Belagavi (PTI): Basavaraj Horatti was on Wednesday elected unopposed as Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council.
The 76-year-old eight time MLC had ended his long association with Janata Parivar and resigned from the Janata Dal (Secular) as well as the Member of Legislative Council in May this year, two months before his tenure was to come to an end. He later joined the BJP.
With the BJP enjoying majority in the 75-member House, the Congress and JDS had opted out of the race.
In absence of an elected Chairman, Raghunath Rao Malkapure was serving as pro-tem Chairman.
Horatti's family members were present in the visitors' gallery at the 'Suvarna Vidhana Soudha' here, where the legislature session is being held, when he assumed charge.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and Ministers in the Karnataka government were among those who greeted him on the occasion.
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
