FIR lodged against JD(S) Rajya Sabha candidate for 'threatening' Congress MLAs during poll
Bengaluru, Feb 27: An FIR has been registered against the JD(S) leader contesting the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka, D Kupendra Reddy, and his aides at the Vidhana Soudha police station in Bengaluru, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Tuesday.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too confirmed that an FIR has been registered for "threatening" the Congress MLAs in connection with the Rajya Sabha elections.
"The Congress leaders not only spoke about allurement and threat to their MLAs time and again but also registered an FIR against Kupendra Reddy and his aides," the JD(S) second-in-command told reporters here.
Kumaraswamy said the complainant MLA did not say that he was lured, but that some other MLAs were "approached".
"Melukote MLA Darshan Puttannaiah of Karnataka Sarvodaya Paksha too had said that it's true that his vote was sought but no one had lured him," the JD(S) state chief claimed.
ALSO READ: Voting underway for four RS seats in Karnataka as Congress eyes rival camp support
Kumaraswamy also said the BJP and JD(S) had decided that the votes of its 19 JD(S) MLAs and the additional BJP votes after its first preferential votes would go to Kupendra Reddy.
Siddaramaiah slammed the Janata Dal (Secular) for allegedly trying to lure Congress legislators to get its candidate Kupendra Reddy elected.
"JDS needs 45 votes (for their candidate) to win. Do they have that many votes? Even though they don't have enough votes, they still fielded the candidate and are luring our MLAs. Do they have a conscience?" the chief minister asked rhetorically, posting on social media platform X.
"An FIR has been lodged regarding the threat to us. Our three candidates will win. There is no doubt about this," Siddaramaiah insisted, without elaborating who, the FIR is against and where it has been registered.
Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha here, Siddaramaiah slammed the minor partner in the opposition alliance, saying, "When JD(S) does not have atma' (soul), how can it have atma sakshi' (conscience)? They call themselves Janata Dal (Secular) but whom did they join with?"
He was referring to the JD(S) forming an alliance with the BJP.
The chief minister did not rule out the possibility of gaining votes from the rival camp saying the good works of his government may draw votes from the other side.
On the JD(S) allegations that the Congress had approached its party MLAs, Siddaramaiah said when the Congress has sufficient number of MLAs, there is no need to lure legislators from the opposition.
Voting is underway for four Rajya Sabha seats in Karnataka. The ruling Congress has fielded former union minister and Congress treasurer Ajay Maken and sitting Rajya Sabha members G C Chandrashekhar and Syed Naseer Hussain.
The BJP has fielded Narayansa Bhandage and also JD(S) leader Kupendra Reddy as the NDA candidate.
The Congress has 133 MLAs, excluding the Speaker, while the BJP and JD(S) have 66 and 19 legislators respectively, in the 223-member House. Others account for four. However, one Congress MLA died on Sunday.
ಜೆಡಿಎಸ್ ಗೆ ಗೆಲ್ಲಲು 45 ಮತಗಳ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ. ಅಷ್ಟು ಸಂಖ್ಯೆಯ ಮತಗಳು ಅವರ ಬಳಿ ಇದೆಯೇ? ಮತವಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೂ ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿಯನ್ನು ನಿಲ್ಲಿಸಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಶಾಸಕರಿಗೆ ಆಮಿಷಗಳನ್ನು ಒಡ್ಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಅವರಿಗೆ ಆತ್ಮಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ಇದೆಯೇ?
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 27, 2024
ನಮ್ಮವರಿಗೆ ಬೆದರಿಕೆ ಹಾಕಿರುವುದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಎಫ್.ಐ.ಆರ್ ಹಾಕಲಾಗಿದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಮೂವರು ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿಗಳು…
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Govt launches Haj Suvidha App 2.0 for ease of pilgrims
New Delhi, Nov 23: The Minority Affairs Ministry on Saturday launched the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 with the new version introducing key features such as air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims going on Haj.
The application was launched by Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju after he inaugurated the Conference of Chairpersons of State and UT Haj Committees in the presence of Minister of State for Minority Affairs, George Kurian and Chairman of the Haj Committee of India Abdullahkutti, among others.
In his address, Rijiju noted that the Haj pilgrimage is the largest logistical operation undertaken annually by the government of India beyond its borders.
He emphasised that Haj has long been a cornerstone of the strong bilateral relationship between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Rijiju highlighted several significant reforms aimed at improving the pilgrimage experience, including the removal of the discretionary quota, the integration of technology through the Haj Suvidha App, and the provision of facilities for female pilgrims without Mehram.
Kurian spoke about the new measures being implemented for Haj 2025, designed to enhance the comfort and convenience of the Indian pilgrims.
Among the key initiatives, he mentioned the procurement of modern buildings with lifts not only in Aziziya but also in nearby areas close to the Haram.
Additionally, the latest model buses will be introduced for travel between Makkah, Madinah, and within the Mashaer region.
The conference, organised by the Haj Committee of India under the Ministry of Minority Affairs, also marked the launch of the Haj Suvidha App 2.0 by Rijiju.
Building on the success of the Haj Suvidha App 1.0 in 2024, the new version introduces key features such as the selection process, boarding pass and air travel details, a navigation system with Mina maps, and medical history and health advisories for Indian pilgrims.
The conference included discussions on stakeholder feedback, suggestions and preparations.
