Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticizes DK Shivakumar's stand on caste census
Says Shivakumar, BJP both are one on Caste issue
New Delhi: In a public critique, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed disapproval of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar's stance on releasing the State's caste census report.
The comments come amid reports of differences between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar on the issue.
During a discussion on two Bills related to Jammu and Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha, senior BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi raised concerns about the Congress's commitment to Other Backward Communities (OBCs). Sushil Kumar Modi specifically pointed to Shivakumar's opposition to making the caste survey report public.
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Sushil Kumar Modi urged Kharge to clarify the Congress's position on the release of the caste census report, citing Shivakumar's signature on a petition against its public disclosure. In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi noted that not only Shivakumar but also Congress MLAs and Veerashaiva Mahasabha leaders had opposed the release of the report.
Kharge, in his response, accused both Shivakumar and the BJP of being against the caste census report. He highlighted the unity among upper caste individuals on this matter, stating, "All upper caste people are united on this. He [Shivakumar] is also opposing, you are also opposing. Both are one in this issue. This is the character of caste. Upper caste people will be united internally."
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Fan tries to die by suicide over Nikhil Kumaraswamy's bypoll loss
Bengaluru: Channapatna JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who lost the byelection to C.P. Yogeshwar of Congress, on Sunday consoled a fan who reportedly attempted to end his life and requested him not to repeat such acts.
Manjunath, fondly called Abhi, had even penned a letter before taking the dangerous step. Nikhil, who called on Manjunath at the latter’s home in Kudloor in Channapatna, expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
Nikhil Kumaraswamy reassured Manjunath, expressing his support during the difficult time. He told him that he was deeply troubled to learn of this incident and emphasised that he would stand by him. Nikhil also promised to offer assistance in any way he could, including helping him secure employment opportunities in the future, as reported by the Deccan Herald.
He also reminded Manjunath of the importance of his children’s well-being, urging him to focus on their future. “Please, look at the faces of your growing children. Even I have a three-year-old son. The children are young, let us take care of their future also. I will arrange some job opportunities for you. I might not be an MLA but this is a challenge. I will get you employed,” he said.
Nikhil told media persons that he is extremely hurt more by Manjunath’s attempt to die than by his loss in the election. “At 7:30 a.m., we got a message that in Valetoopu, Manjunath had consumed poison yesterday. In Channapatna, our workers and leaders have built this party with zeal. Let the admiration be there in your hearts but if it crosses the line, your families get hurt and we get very pained by it,” he was quoted as saying by the publication.
Speaking of his byelection loss, Nikhil reiterated that the JD(S) had got its traditional votes, but that the votes of a particular community went against the party.
“Deve Gowda gave reservation to a community. We tried our last attempt to take that community into confidence. But they conveyed to us that they do not require us. In future, we will take other communities into confidence,” he remarked in a veiled reference to Muslims.
Nikhil lost the election by a margin of 25,413 votes to Congress candidate C.P. Yogeshwar.
