BJP accuses min of providing 'wrong info' to Assembly, takes a swipe at Cong's "dinner politics"
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The opposition BJP on Friday accused Karnataka minister Laxmi Hebbalkar of providing "wrong information" to the state Assembly, and urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to put end to the ruling Congress' "dinner politics" till the ongoing legislature session ends.
Such "dinner politics," affects ministers' performance, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka claimed. He was apparently referring to the ministers attending "dinner meetings," amid power tussle within the ruling party involving Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, for the Chief Minister's post.
Taking a dig at the government, he claimed that Congress' dinner politics was not giving time for ministers to prepare themselves before coming to the House, to respond to the issues or questions raised.
"The Assembly is in session, we believe that ministers are capable and come prepared to respond issues or questions raised in the House. When Mahesh Tenginkai (BJP MLA) asked about the Gruha Lakshmi scheme amount for the months of February and March not being credited to the accounts of the beneficiaries, the Minister responded saying that the money was cleared till August," Ashoka said, referring to Laxmi Hebbalkar, who holds the Women and Child Development portfolio.
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When the MLA tried to point out that the money for two months was still not credited, Hebbalkar asserted that it was not the case, Ashoka said, adding that the minister even insisted that the member understand what she was saying, "as though she was saying it to a dumb person."
At this point, CM Siddaramaiah intervened and said that the minister was only saying, "please understand, she did not mean that the person who raised the question was dumb."
Ashoka, pointing out that Tenginkai had put the question to Hebbalkar in the House on December 9, said that the BJP legislator had the next day, sought information from Deputy Director Women and Child Development department, Dharwad, about the February and March installments being credited to beneficiaries.
"The official in the letterhead has responded that Gruha Lakshmi money was not been released to beneficiaries for the months of February and March," Ashoka said, adding that similar responses have come in from officials in Gadag and Haveri districts as well.
Ashoka, accusing Hebbalkar of providing wrong information to the House, said, "How should we believe in the answers or statements made by the ministers in this House. This amounts to disrespecting the House."
Claiming that Ministers attending "dinner politics" has led to the situation, the opposition leader said they leave such meetings by 11 or 12 in the mid night. "The ministers don't get time to prepare or take proper briefings from officers. They come just like that and speak what ever they know here."
"Is there no one to question. The Chair at least should question the ministers. What punishment will the Chair give to the minister for giving wrong answers....there seems to be a confusion in this government. I want to tell the Chief Minister to cut the night dinner meetings at least for 10 days. Let the Home Minister (G Parameshwara) ensure that dinner places are locked, at least the House will function properly then," he said.
The ongoing winter session of the legislature here is scheduled till December 19.
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Demanding authenticity for the answers or statements made by ministers in the House, the LoP asked, "if not, why should we come."
Siddaramaiah assured that Gruha Lakshmi scheme funds for the month of February and March will be credited immediately to the beneficiaries, if it is not already paid.
Responding, BJP MLA Sunil Kumar said that ensuring funds are credited to beneficiaries is one part, "but it also needs to be seen if the minister by giving a wrong answer to the House has committed a breach of privilege."
Congress MLAs Shivalinge Gowda and N H Konareddy objected to Kumar, which led to heated exchange between both the Treasurey and Opposition benches, with both sides accusing each other of "politicising" the issue.
Siddaramaiah, said, "we don't lie. If there is any mistake, it will be rectified."
As Ashoka and other opposition members insisted on action against Hebbalkar for giving wrong information to the House, Speaker U T Khader said he will speak to her to try to find a solution, and ensue that such things don't repeat.
The CM too then said Hebbalkar will issue a clarification on Monday, and it will be ensured that such things don't happen again.
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Screenwriter Salim Khan on ventilator support and stable, say doctors
Mumbai (PTI): Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan suffered a brain haemorrhage which has been tackled, is on ventilator support as a safeguard and stable, doctors treating him said on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here.
The 90-year-old, one half of the celebrated Salim-Javed duo which scripted films such as "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don" with Javed Akhtar, is in the ICU and recovery might take some time given his age.
"His blood pressure was high for which we treated him and we had to put him on a ventilator because we wanted to do certain investigations. Now the ventilator was put as a safeguard so that his situation doesn't get worse. So it is not that he is critical," Dr Jalil Parkar told reporters.
"We did the investigations that were required and today we have done a small procedure on him, I will not go into the details. The procedure done is called DSA (digital subtraction angiography). The procedure has been accomplished, he is fine and stable and shifted back to ICU. By tomorrow, we hope to get him off the ventilator. All in all, he is doing quite well," he added.
Asked whether he suffered a brain haemorrhage, the doctor said, "Unko thoda haemorrhage hua tha, which we’ve tackled. No surgery is required.
As concern over Khan's health mounted, his children, including superstar Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan, daughter Alvira, and sons-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma, have been seen outside the hospital along with other well-wishers. His long-time partner Akhtar was also seen coming out of the hospital.
Khan, a household name in the 70s and 80s, turned 90 on November 24 last year. It was the day Dharmendra, the star of many of his films, including "Sholay", "Seeta aur Geeta" and "Yaadon Ki Baraat", passed away.
Hailing from an affluent family in Indore, Khan arrived in Mumbai in his 20s with dreams of stardom. He was good looking and confident he would make a mark in the industry as an actor. But that did not happen. And then, after struggling for close to a decade and getting confined to small roles in films, he changed lanes.
He worked as an assistant to Abrar Alvi and soon met Akhtar to form one of Hindi cinema's most formidable writing partnerships. They worked together on two dozen movies with most of them achieving blockbuster status.
Other than "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don", Khan and Akhtar also penned "Trishul", "Zanjeer", "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Haathi Mere Saathi", "Yaadon Ki Baarat" and "Mr India".
