Congress alone can give stable govt, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Ballari (Karnataka), Dec 8: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said the Congress alone can give a stable government unlike the BJP, which, gave multiple chief ministers during its rule in the state.
He alleged that the BJP never came to power on its own and needed horse trading, spending crores of rupees to rule the state.
"The BJP never gave a stable government. From 2008 to 2013, there were three chief ministers. Again from 2019 to 2023, there were two chief ministers," Siddaramaiah said at the 'Jana Kalyana Samavesha' (public welfare meeting) at Sandur in Ballari district.
The public meeting was a thanksgiving event for the voters of Sandur for electing the Congress candidate Annapoorna Tukaram in the assembly bypoll recently.
The chief minister said, "When I became CM in 2013, we had 221 MLAs. Again in 2023, we won 136 seats. We will give a stable government."
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Siddaramaiah ruled for the full five-year term from 2013 to 2018.
He alleged that the BJP never came to power with the people’s blessings. It always ruled the state by doing 'Operation Lotus'. It spent crores of rupees to buy the MLAs.
'Operation Lotus' refers to the BJP's alleged attempt to topple the ruling government through horse-trading.
Siddaramaiah said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Na Khaunga, Na Khaane Doonga (Neither shall I indulge in corruption, nor allow others to do it). He should explain where the money came from to buy the MLAs."
He accused the BJP and the JD(S) of trying hard to bring down the Congress government in Karnataka.
The chief minister charged that the opposition BJP and JD(S) have been waiting to see his government’s fall.
According to him, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka and Union Minister and JD(S) second-in-command H D Kumaraswamy are competing with each other to become chief minister, "which would never happen."
The Congress will remain in power for five years as the opposition will not be able to shake them at all, he said.
Referring to the recent MUDA site allotment scam, in which he and his wife are accused, Siddaramaiah said, "It is not possible for you to stain my image. So long as I have the blessings of the people of Karnataka, I cannot be removed."
The chief minister advised the opposition to stop lying to people and making false corruption charges against him.
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MP traffic cop suffers burn injuries during Congress' effigy-burning protest; probe ordered
Maihar (MP) (PTI): A traffic policeman suffered severe burn injuries in Madhya Pradesh's Maihar district on Friday after his uniform caught fire during Congress' effigy-burning protest targeted at some ministers, prompting the police to file an FIR and launch an investigation into the incident, an official said.
The protest took place at Agrasen Tiraha in Maihar city, he said.
Traffic policeman, Vikram Pathak, who was on duty at that time, suffered severe burn injuries as petrol carried in a bottle by the protesters fell on his uniform and it caught fire.
Congress workers were burning an effigy while raising slogans against state ministers Rajendra Shukla (Health), Vijay Shah (Tribal Affairs), and Kailash Vijayvargiya (Parliamentary Affairs).
While the opposition party has been targeting Shah for his controversial remarks made last year against Col Sofia Qureshi, it has been demanding the resignations of Shukla and Vijayvargiya over the deaths of people due to contaminated water in Indore.
As the protesters tried to set the effigy on fire, petrol got sprinkled on Pathak's uniform, and it caught fire. The blaze quickly spread to his back and lower body, causing panic during the protest, eyewitnesses said.
A video of the incident also went viral, showing a stampede-like situation soon after the fire.
The police personnel and locals present at the scene acted swiftly and extinguished the fire using blankets and water. The injured traffic policeman was immediately taken to Maihar Civil Hospital, where he is undergoing treatment, the official said.
Doctors said he suffered severe burn injuries, but is out of danger.
Taking serious cognisance of the matter, the police launched an investigation, he said.
An FIR has been registered based on the video footage, and the role of those involved in the protest is being investigated, the official said.
Police are also investigating the circumstances under which flammable material was used during the effigy- burning protest.
Following the accident, additional police force was deployed at the protest site and the surrounding area.
Superintendent of Police Awadhesh Kumar and Collector Rani Batad described the incident as serious and assured strict action against those involved in it.
"A demonstration was being carried out by the Congress, and during the effigy-burning, some petrol was spilled on the uniform of Vikram Pathak, the in-charge on duty, after which it suddenly caught fire and caused burn injuries to him," SP Kumar said.
An investigation is being conducted on the basis of the video, he said.
Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal said in Bhopal, "I have spoken to the policeman and offered my prayers. There is a way to protest. Whatever happened is not right.
