Cabinet expansion by Saturday afternoon, portfolios also to be allotted: Minister KH Muniyappa
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister K H Muniyappa on Friday said the Cabinet expansion will take place on Saturday afternoon and the portfolios would also be allotted by evening.
Muniyappa also said barring four or five ministerial posts, rest would be filled up in the same day.
According to the Minister, the Cabinet would be a mix of seniors and young people.
"Tomorrow, the Cabinet expansion will take place. Time has also been fixed. It would be tomorrow afternoon. Most of the posts would be filled," Muniyappa told reporters after returning from New Delhi.
To a question on how many ministerial posts would be filled, he said, "Barring four or five, rest all would be filled up."
When asked whether senior leaders have put up any demand before the party high command regarding ministerial positions, Muniyappa said at this juncture it would be difficult to say anything. "However, we need seniors as well as young people. We need to make a balance of both," he pointed out.
On portfolios, the Minister said it has not been fixed yet. "Portfolio would be decided tomorrow. By Saturday evening, portfolios have to be announced," he added.
Devanahalli MLA Muniyappa, a former Union Minister and a seven-time Lok Sabha member, took oath as Karnataka Minister on May 20 along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Against the permissible strength of 34, 10 posts have been filled so far including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, while 24 posts are lying vacant.
Those who have sworn-in, other than Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, are Dr G Parameshwara, Muniyappa, K J George, M B Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge's son Priyank Kharge, Ramalinga Reddy and B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan.
Hectic lobbying are on for ministerial positions and many aspirants camped in Delhi to impress upon their candidature.
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Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad arrested over remarks on Operation Sindoor
sparks free speech debate
Sonipat/New Delhi: Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at Ashoka University, has been arrested following remarks made on social media regarding media briefings related to Operation Sindoor. The arrest has ignited a fresh debate on academic freedom and political sensitivities in India.
The arrest was initiated based on a complaint filed by Yogesh Jatheri, General Secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha in Haryana. According to sources, Mahmudabad was taken from his Delhi residence without a transit remand, prompting criticism from several academics and activists. Delhi University professor Apoorvanand stated, "Haryana police has illegally arrested Dr. Ali Khan. Taken to Haryana from Delhi without transit remand. FIR at 8 PM. Police reached his home the next morning at 7 AM!"
Mahmudabad's remarks, referring to the press briefings by Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofia Qureshi as "optics," sparked controversy. He had stated, “Optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it’s just hypocrisy,” as reported by PTI.
In response, the Haryana State Commission for Women issued a notice to Mahmudabad, citing suo motu cognisance of public statements made around May 7. However, the professor did not appear before the Commission in Panchkula as required.
Reacting to the developments, Mahmudabad defended his remarks in a public statement on social media platform X. He said, “I am surprised that the Women's Commission, while overreaching its jurisdiction, has misread and misunderstood my posts to such an extent that they have inverted their meaning.”
He added that his work has always upheld constitutional values. “My academic record, public writings, and policy work, including collaborations with senior bureaucrats, military officers, and politicians, attest to the fact that I have made it a priority to protect the unity and integrity of India,” he said.
Mahmudabad further asserted that his social media posts were aimed at promoting peace and harmony while appreciating the Indian armed forces for their resolve. “I exercised my fundamental right to freedom of thought and speech in order to promote peace and harmony, and to applaud the Indian armed forces for their resolute action,” he said.
Ashoka University issued a statement distancing itself from Mahmudabad’s personal views. “Comments made by a faculty member on his personal social media pages do not represent the opinion of the university. These statements have been made by him independently in his individual capacity,” the university said.
Reaffirming support for the armed forces, the university added, “Ashoka University and all members of the Ashoka community are proud of India's armed forces and support them unequivocally in their actions towards maintaining national security.”
