Bengaluru resembles Venice, not Singapore, says JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy as rain batters city
Bengaluru, Oct 22: Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress government in Karnataka for its handling of the rain situation, saying Bengaluru resembled Venice and not Singapore, which they had promised to transform it into.
As rains battered the country's IT hub for the third day, the the JD(S) second-in-command told reporters, “They (Congress) had said they would make turn Bengaluru into Singapore, but we are seeing Venice like situation where people move around in boats.”
He claimed that the issue is not just about water-logging in some parts of Bengaluru. For the past three years, people are forced to leave their homes and stay in hotels during rains.
Kumaraswamy alleged that no state minister has made a field visit. Also, no one in the government including Chief Minister Siddramaiah showed the courtesy to speak about the huge crop loss in various parts of Karnataka.
ALSO READ: Three killed, 13 workers trapped after under-construction building collapses in Bengaluru
The opposition BJP too slammed the state government for the potholes in the city.
“People are cursing the Congress government for not handling the potholes. Killer potholes rule in DCM D K Shivakumar’s Brand Bengaluru. Dear Bengaluru Development Minister Shivakumar, first you please solve the problem of Bengaluru,” the BJP Karnataka unit said in a post on ‘X’.
ರಸ್ತೆ ಗುಂಡಿಗಳನ್ನು ಮುಚ್ಚಲು "ಕೈ"ಲಾಗದ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿಶಾಪ.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) October 22, 2024
ಡಿಕೆಶಿ ಅವರ ಬ್ರ್ಯಾಂಡ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಯಮರೂಪಿ ಗುಂಡಿಗಳದ್ದೇ ದರ್ಬಾರ್!
ನಗರಾಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಸಚಿವ @DKShivakumar ಅವರೇ, ಮೊದಲು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗರ ಸಮಸ್ಯೆ ಬಗೆಹರಿಸಿ ಕೃತಾರ್ಥರಾಗಿ. #CongressFailsKarnataka pic.twitter.com/F5b9HhoGR1
•ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ನಗರವನ್ನು ಬ್ರ್ಯಾಂಡ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಮಾಡುವೆ ಎಂದಿದ್ದ ಗಿರಾಕಿ @DKShivakumar
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) October 22, 2024
ನಮ್ಮ ಹೆಮ್ಮೆಯ ನಗರವನ್ನು ಇಟಲಿಯ ವೆನಿಸ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಕೃತಾರ್ಥರಾಗಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
•ಭಾರತದ ಸಿಲಿಕಾನ್ ವ್ಯಾಲಿ, ಉದ್ಯಾನನಗರಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ಕೆರೆಗಳನ್ನು ಒಂದಾದ ಮೇಲೆ ಒಂದರಂತೆ ನುಂಗಿದ ಪರಿಣಾಮ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿಗೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರೇ ಕೆರೆಯಾಗಿಬಿಟ್ಟಿದೆ!!… pic.twitter.com/XTg0BRRVVA
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Won't contest bypolls until EC prevents fake voting: Mayawati
Lucknow (PTI): BSP chief Mayawati on Sunday alleged irregularities in voting in the recent Uttar Pradesh bypolls and said her party will not contest by-elections in future, particularly in the state, "until Election Commission takes measures to prevent fake voting".
By-elections to nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh were held on November 20 and results of it were declared on Saturday. Bahujan Samaj Party contested all nine seats but failed to win any.
"In the bypolls held for nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, there is widespread discussion about the votes cast and the results announced yesterday. I am not saying this myself; it is a common perception among people that earlier, during elections conducted with ballot papers, fake votes were cast by misusing the system, often through fraud," Mayawati said in a press conference here.
"Now, similar practices are being carried out using EVMs, which is a matter of deep sorrow and concern for democracy," the former UP chief minister said.
Not only this, but these activities are now being executed more openly, especially during by-elections, as opposed to general elections for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, she claimed.
"We recently witnessed this in the Uttar Pradesh bypolls. Similar concerns have also been raised regarding the recent general elections in Maharashtra. This is a major warning bell for democracy in our country," she said.
"Given this situation, our party has decided that until the Election Commission of India takes strict measures to prevent fake voting, we will not participate in any by-elections across the country, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. I am specifically referring to by-elections here," Mayawati said.
As far as general elections are concerned, she continued, there is a somewhat better safeguard because the fear of power changing hands makes the ruling party more cautious.
"In general elections, it is not guaranteed that the party in power will return to power and another party may take over. This fear keeps the government machinery somewhat restrained," she added.
Considering all these factors, our party will contest general elections for the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and local bodies with full preparation and strength, Mayawati stressed.
In the bypolls, the BJP and its ally RLD together won seven seats while Samajwadi Party candidates emerged victorious on two.
