Bengaluru: The Karnataka state government is facing criticism for failing to allocate a government residence to R Ashoka, the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) in the Karnataka Assembly, more than a year after taking charge, according to sources from Ashoka's office.
Despite admitting that the BJP named Ashoka as LOP later than expected, party sources revealed they have written to the government four times requesting an official residence for Ashoka. A special officer also discussed the matter with the state's chief secretary, but the government has yet to respond, it added.
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The BJP has requested 'No 1, Kumarakripa East', 'No 1, Race View Cottage on Race Course Road', or 'No 2, Race View Cottage on Race Course Road' to be allocated as Ashoka's official residence. They wrote to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Secretary Dr. Rajneesh Goel to put forth the request. The party argued that all three buildings are currently unoccupied and conveniently located close to the Vidhana Soudha, which would benefit Ashoka.
In his letter, Ashoka reportedly mentioned that he had been allocated 'No 2, Race View Cottage on Race Course Road' as his official residence when he was a minister in the BJP government but vacated it for the Speaker’s stay.
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Nagpur (PTI): Civic authorities are on Monday likely to demolish the illegal portions of a house of Fahim Khan, a key accused in the Nagpur violence who has been booked for sedition, after he failed to remove the unauthorised structure.
Khan, a leader of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP), is among the over 100 persons arrested for the violence in Maharashtra's Nagpur city on March 17.
A few days back, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation issued a notice to Khan, citing various lapses and lack of the building plan approval (for his house), sources said.
The house, located at Sanjay Bagh Colony in Yashodhara Nagar area here, registered in the name of Khan's wife, they said.
MDP city chief Khan is currently lodged in a jail.
The violence erupted on March 17, after rumours spread that a ‘chadar’ with religious inscriptions had been burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The clashes resulted in widespread stone-pelting and arson across several parts of the city, leaving 33 police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officers, injured.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the cost of properties damaged during the violence will be recovered from rioters and the failure to pay up would lead to the seizure and selling of their properties to recover losses.
"My government will not rest until those responsible for attacking the police are found and dealt with sternly," said Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Ministry.
The CM said those who circulated inflammatory content would be charged as co-accused for their role in inciting violence.
Fadnavis also said it was too early to comment on a foreign or Bangladeshi link to the riots as the probe was underway.
"However, the Malegaon connection can be seen (in violence) as one of the accused belongs to a political party from Malegaon who could be seen helping rioters," he said without taking the name of Fahim Khan, arrested for sedition.