BS Yediyurappa accuses Cong govt of rampant corruption, running 'Tughlaq Darbar'
Bengaluru, Jun 20 (PTI): Veteran BJP leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of being mired in rampant corruption and having stalled nearly all development works.
The BJP Central Parliamentary Board member also announced that he plans to visit the party office daily and stay until afternoon, when he is in Bengaluru, and that he would visit one or two districts every week going forward, aimed at resolving the issues of party workers and strengthening the party.
"The current situation in the state is dire, and there is no one to listen to the public's grievances. The government is only focused on publicity and has completely neglected development," Yediyurappa told reporters here.
Pointing out that irrigation projects have come to a complete standstill, he challenged the government to show even one kilometer of road work completed anywhere in the state. He accused the government of operating like a "Tughlaq Darbar."
Asserting that the BJP is not against minorities, Yediyurappa said, "but excessively favouring minorities while ignoring Scheduled Castes and Tribes is an unforgivable offense. This government is indulging in appeasement politics solely for vote-bank gains. We strongly condemn this."
He urged the government to wake up and focus on development. "It should ensure justice for people of all communities," he insisted.
When asked about the purported audio clip of Congress MLA B R Patil, in which he claimed that those who pay bribes to get houses allotted under the Housing Department's schemes, the senior leader said, "What B R Patil said is 100 per cent true. No work gets done without money. Even poor people who need houses are forced to pay bribes. The government must acknowledge this fault and correct it to deliver justice to the underprivileged."
Responding to a question, Yediyurappa said, "BJP and JDS are not separate. We will move forward together. H D Deve Gowda himself has on several occasions expressed his trust and confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
He added, in the coming days, the BJP and JDS will work together to bring down this government and form our own. "We will make every necessary effort in that direction."
Regarding internal discontent within the state BJP, Yediyurappa welcomed Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's efforts to engage with dissatisfied members and resolve issues. "I am too ready to speak with anyone who is unhappy," he said.
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Akash Singh says signature celebration fuels motivation, reinforces dominance
Lucknow (PTI): Pacer Akash Singh caught the eye with his unique celebration during Lucknow Super Giants' win over Chennai Super Kings, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket after a wicket, a gesture he said was aimed at "motivating" himself and "asserting dominance" over batters.
The left-arm pacer pulled out a scrappy piece of paper after each of the three wickets he took in LSG seven-wicket win over CSK, with the message reading: "Akki on fire -- Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket.
The 24-year-old, who began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals and was part of Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning campaign in 2023 before moving to Lucknow Super Giants, registered his best IPL figures with 3 for 26 on Friday.
"'Akki knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket', right?" Akash said when asked about the message on the piece of paper, adding that it serves as a source of motivation and helps him focus on dominating batters and delivering stronger performances for the team.
"Different things motivate different people. Some days I show the paper, some days I don't, but it reflects my mindset on that particular day. When you carry a piece of paper with something written on it, you manifest things and the most important part is when those manifestations actually materialise," he added.
Akash, who hails from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, said the strong backing from the Lucknow Super Giants support staff over the last two years had played a huge role in his growth as a cricketer.
"I've been with LSG for two years and the most important thing has been the backing from the coaches, even when I'm not in the playing XI. This year we have Bharat Arun sir, last year Zaheer sir was there...Tom Moody. The way they guide us, prepare us and keep us ready for opportunities is very important when there are 25 players in the squad," he said.
"When you are not playing, you naturally seek backing and every player wants to make the most of the opportunities he gets. The support from the captain also matters a lot and with Rishabh bhaiya backing you, the confidence grows and you are able to perform better," Akash said, referring to Rishabh Pant.
Akash said Pant had asked him to trust his strengths ahead of the clash against CSK.
"He told me that the new ball is my strength and that I can swing it both ways. So I just tried to make the best use of my skills. The wicket also had good bounce, so I focused on using the bouncer effectively,” added Akash.
On his success against CSK, Akash said his experience of playing in the IPL since 2020, including a stint with CSK, helped him understand the opposition batters better, while backing his own strengths with the ball also played a key role in his impressive spell.
"Obviously, when you play in the IPL and have shared the dressing room with some players, you understand their strengths and weaknesses. My focus was first to back my own strengths, then exploit their weaknesses and also make the best use of what the wicket was offering," Akash said.
Akash said he had sensed over the last two-three games that an opportunity could come his way after being repeatedly told to "be ready", though he admitted he was unfortunate not to get a chance earlier.
"Two days before the match, during practice, I was told to be ready," he said.
Clarifying that he had not been carrying the piece of paper in anticipation, Akash said he often notes down thoughts that could help improve his game..
"Whenever I’m alone or about to sleep, any thought that comes to my mind which can help my cricket, I write it down. The other night I got this thought and jotted it down on paper," he added.
