Congress hits back at BJP for questioning delay in deciding Karnataka CM
New Delhi, May 17: The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the BJP for criticising it over the delay in deciding the chief minister of Karnataka, and cited examples when the saffron party declared its chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Assam several days after winning the polls.
AICC general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala said that a section of the media has fallen victim to the "fake news factory of BJP on formation of next Congress government in Karnataka", asking whether they had questioned the prime minister the same way when he took seven to 10 days in deciding on chief ministers in several states.
"We understand the frustration of BJP in being decisively rejected by the brother and sisters of Karnataka bringing an end to the #40PercentBJPSarkara.
"I hope same people had questioned PM Modi when he took 7 to 10 days in deciding chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Goa and many other States. No one then whispered a word on the High Command culture. But the same forces and a select news outlets have objections to the process of dialogue, discussion, consensus adopted by Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge ji, which is in true democratic traditions," Surjewala said on Twitter.
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He also said that he has advised all Congress leaders to not issue statements on the issue of leadership. "Any out of turn remarks made from here onwards will be treated as indiscipline and action taken accordingly," Surjewala said.
Earlier, AICC general secretary, communications, Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, "Just to refresh memories of PM's drum-beaters especially. 2017 UP Vidhan Sabha election results out on March 11th. Yogi appointed CM 8 days later on March 19th.
2021 Assam Vidhan Sabha election results out on May 3rd. Himanta Biswa Sarma became CM 7 days later on May 10th."
"There are many more such examples," he said.
Several BJP leaders are criticising the Congress for the delay in deciding on the chief minister's name in Karnataka amid hectic lobbying for the top post.
The results in Karnataka were declared on May 13 but the party has not finalised its chief ministerial face yet and the process of consultations is on.
Karnataka's two chief ministerial aspirants Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar held separate meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday as the party held hectic consultations to decide on who would lead the government in the southern state.
BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya said a sorry state of affairs prevails in the Congress where Kharge sees himself more as a "postman".
"Want to watch circus? Watch the Congress select their CM in Karnataka," he said on Twitter.
Referring to the lobbying by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the post of chief minister, Malviya said, "The BJP also holds discussions and deliberations to elect its CMs and has often ensured smooth transition of power, even between CMs. Despite elaborate consultations, you will never find BJP aspirants falling over each other, rallying supporters and issuing veiled threats to the party through the media."
"On the contrary, last evening, Lutyens journalists, who D K Shivakumar hosted at the Claridges, almost appointed Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka CM. Sorry state of affairs in the Congress, where President Kharge sees himself more as a postman, let alone being a decision maker or even part of the decision making team... He keeps referring to some High Command," he added.
A section of our dear friends of the media have fallen victim to the ‘fake news factory’ of BJP on formation of next Congress Government in Karnataka.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) May 17, 2023
We understand the frustration of BJP in being decisively rejected by the brother and sisters of Karnataka bringing an end to…
Just to refresh memories of PM's drum-beaters especially.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 17, 2023
2017 UP Vidhan Sabha election results out on March 11th. Yogi appointed CM 8 days later on March 19th.
2021 Assam Vidhan Sabha election results out on May 3rd. Himanta Biswa Sarma became CM 7 days later on May 10th.…
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Vadodara varsity staffer held for stalking, intimidating student
Vadodara, Jan 12: An associate professor of a university in Gujarat's Vadodara has been arrested for allegedly stalking and intimidating a woman student, police said on Sunday.
Mohammed Azhar Dheriwala, an associate professor of Hindi at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (MSU), allegedly harassed the student and threatened to end her career, an official from Sayajigunj police station said.
Dheriwala, who has been associated with MSU for 23 years, was arrested on Saturday night.
Police inspector Z N Dhasura said the accused was earlier suspended based on the recommendation of the University's internal complaints committee (ICC) of the women's grievance redressal cell (WGRC) after another student accused him of sexual harassment.
The complainant, a second-year Master of Arts student, has alleged that Dheriwala approached her on the afternoon of January 4 and asked her to accompany him to his house.
When she refused, he allegedly threatened to end her career and even followed her to her residence, she stated in her complaint.
Dhasura said a case was registered under sections 78 (stalking), 352 (intentionally insulting someone to provoke a breach of peace) and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
