Deve Gowda has not phoned assuring support, says Yediyurappa
Bengaluru, Nov 6: Amid some reports that JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda had rung him up recently assuring support, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday clarified that he has not had any phone conversation with the former Prime Minister.
"There is no truth in this. Deve Gowda as a former Prime Minister has the capacity to decide what is right and what is wrong.
I have never mentioned his name anywhere, will never do it," Yediyurappa told reporters here.
As reports surfaced in a section of the media about the phone conversation, Gowda had last evening issued a statement rejecting it and termed it as "far from truth".
However, in what is being perceived as JD(S) softening of stand on the BJP, Gowda not wanting mid-term polls in Karnataka, on Tuesday had said he wants the Yediyurappa-led government to complete its term as it would give him time to build his party.
Gowda's son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy too had recently said his party would not try to dislodge the ruling BJP government like the Amit Shah-led party had done to his coalition government and had opined that he did not think that mid-term polls would be held.
On Gowda threatening a protest in front of his residence against the "high-handedness" of the BJP government, referring to a recent incident of police action against JD(S) workers who were protesting against the chief minister during his visit to Yadgir, Yediyurappa said action has been taken against the officer concerned, and he will convince the former prime minister on the issue.
"Already the police officer there has been transferred and has been asked to go on leave. I will convince Deve Gowda. As a former Prime Minister whatever he says, I will take action accordingly," he said.
Gowda on Tuesday had tweeted announcing that he will go on a protest in front of the Chief Minister's residence on November 15, against the "atrocities" on JD(S) workers in Yadgir.
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Jaya Bachchan raises concern over VIP movements causing road blocks, traffic diversions
New Delhi (PTI): Rajya Sabha Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Amitabh Bachchan on Monday expressed concern over the growing menace of VIP culture affecting vehicular traffic and causing inconvenience to people.
Raising the matter during the Zero Hour in the House, she said roadblocks and traffic diversions due to the movements of VIPs, including politicians, high-ranking officials, and dignitaries, have become a major source of disruption in the daily lives of countless citizens in the country.
"One has travelled all over the world, but has never seen many VIPs and cavalcades going, but they never stop people on the street," Bachchan said.
She also narrated a recent incident when Rajya Sabha MPs, who leave from Shardula Dwar, were stopped as the main door was locked because there was VIP movement.
"We have never faced such humiliation in the last 22 years of mine in this parliament. We are not a threat to any of the VIPs, especially the political lot," she empahsised.
The SP member further said there are roads along the houses of political "big wigs" which remain blocked.
The MP highlighted that not only common citizens, even ambulances get stuck due to VIP movements.
She urged Chairman C P Radhakrishnan to take up the matter with the government.
"Sir, speak to the government. You are the Vice President of this country...this culture has to stop in order to give dignity to the taxpayers of this country who have brought us into this House," Bachchan said.
