Cong to corner ruling BJP on COVID management, law and order during Karnataka assembly session
Bengaluru: The Congress on Wednesday decided to corner the BJP government in Karnataka on a host of issues including COVID management, D J Halli violence, drugs scandal, law, and order situation, among others, during the monsoon session of the legislature starting from September 21.
It has also decided to strongly oppose amendments brought to certain key acts through an ordinance, and place "failures" of the BS Yediyurappa government before the people.
Monsoon session of the legislature will be held from September 21 to 30 at Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature here.
Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah, who is also the leader of the opposition, today held a meeting with party legislators to discuss the strategy to be adopted during the session.
The meeting was also attended by the state Congress president D K Shivakumar and several senior leaders.
With the session being called for just 8 days, a consensus was reached at the meeting to use the opportunity to corner the government on its "failures", without wasting time, the CLP leader's office said in a statement after the meeting that began at 12 and concluded at 6:30 pm.
During his address to the CLP, Siddaramaiah listed the issues to be raised during the session including the government's handling of the COVID crisis and alleged corruption that has taken place in the procurement of medical equipment.
He said, the government by bringing in the drugs issue, may sideline other key issues and the opportunity should not be given for it, and the 8 days session should be utilized to make people understand the "failures" of the government.
Amendments to key acts like APMC, land reforms, and certain labor laws, also the government's handling of the flood situation, and deteriorating financial conditions of the state, should be raised and the government should be forced to give answers to it, he said.
Terming the recent violence in parts of Bengaluru like D J Halli and surrounding areas as police and intelligence failure, Siddaramaiah said the party will raise the issue and discuss it based on Congress' fact-finding committee report.
Speaking at the meeting, KPCC president D K Shivakumar said, for the first time the party has prepared questions bank and legislators have to use it efficiently.
He also advised MLAs to use social media efficiently.
Asking legislators to participate in the session, Siddaramaiah also suggested that legislators take all precautionary measures like wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and undergoing tests in view of the COVID pandemic.
Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri has said in view of the pandemic, undergoing an RT-PCR test for COVID-19 infection, 72 hours prior to the start of the monsoon session from September 21, is mandatory for all those attending it.
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India dismisses report of Musk joining Modi-Trump call; says it was between 2 leaders only
New Delhi (PTI): India on Saturday rejected a media report that said billionaire Elon Musk joined a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump earlier this week.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Tuesday's conversation was between the two leaders only.
The New York Times, quoting unnamed US officials, reported that Musk participated in the call between Trump and Modi, adding it was an "unusual appearance" by a private citizen on a call between two heads of state.
"We have seen the story. The telephone conversation on March 24 was between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump only," Jaiswal said.
"As has been stated earlier, it provided the opportunity for exchange of views on the situation in West Asia," he said.
In its report, the New York Times said it is "unclear" why Musk was on the call or whether he spoke.
Our prime minister only spoke to Trump and there was no one else who spoke to the PM, people familiar with the matter said.
They suggested that it is for Washington to clarify if somebody else was in the room or listening to the conversation.
The New York Times said Musk's participation in the phone call signalled a reconciliation between the billionaire and Trump.
The two had fallen out last year following Musk's exit from a government task force charged with slashing the federal workforce.
The US president had initiated the phone call with Modi to discuss the West Asia crisis.
It was the first conversation between the two leaders since the West Asia conflict began on February 28.
In the conversation, Modi underlined the importance of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible, noting that it is vital for global peace, stability and economic well-being.
