Governor’s speech row: CM Siddaramaiah cites “Vartha Bharati” editorial in assembly
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday cited an editorial published in the Kannada daily Vartha Bharati during the Assembly session. The Chief Minister was responding to a debate in the assembly held over the Governor's address to the joint session of both Houses of the State Legislature.
On January 22, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot declined to read the customary address prepared by the government and made a two-line address before walking out on the first day of the State legislature session, triggering a major political row.
After the House reconvened following the lunch break, Speaker U.T. Khader gave CM Siddaramaiah the opportunity to respond to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address. In his reply, the Chief Minister said the Governor left in haste without reading the full speech prepared by the government. He also pointed out that the Governor did not include the phrase “Jai Samvidhana” (Hail Constitution) which was given in the speech and did not wait until the completion of the national anthem, stating that such conduct was inappropriate.
Referring to editorials published in various state dailies, the Chief Minister cited Vartha Bharati’s editorial dated January 23.
He read out few lines from Vartha Bharati editorial which said, Governor Gehlot’s conduct during the January 22 session was not in keeping with the dignity of the constitutional office. Quoting the editorial the CM said, “the Governor appeared to act as though decisions and resolutions of the elected government required approval from him or the Central government, undermining the federal structure. Such actions violated the spirit of the Constitution and further fueled the already existing conflict between the Centre and the state."
Is Vartha Bharati part of the government's cabinet? : V. Sunil Kumar
In the meantime, BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar intervened the CM and questioned whether Vartha Bharati was part of the government’s Cabinet.
Siddaramaiah responded saying, “no representatives of the newspaper were associated with the Congress party.”
Supporting the CM's statement and taking a jab at the BJP MLA, Minister Byrathi Suresh added, “None of Vartha Bharati’s representatives are there in our Cabinet. The editor of another newspaper was a member of your (BJP) party.”
Brought to you by Vartha Bharathi
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Centre''s ''wrong decisions'' caused severe LPG shortage: TN CM
Chennai (PTI): DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday flayed the ruling BJP government at the Centre saying that due to its "wrong decisions", there has been a severe LPG shortage across the country.
Due to no vision or no precautionary measures, the BJP government has brought trouble to the general public, Stalin alleged over the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders.
"The Union BJP government which has earned the name Failure Model even in foreign policy has caused a severe cylinder shortage due to its wrong decisions," he wrote in a social media post.
ALSO READ: EC to announce assembly poll dates for four states, one UT this evening
He said in view of the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders the DMK led Secular Progressive Alliance staged protests across the State.
"Realising the anger of the people, the Union government must come forward to rectify the situation," he added.
The DMK-led SPA on Sunday staged statewide protests, criticising the Centre over the shortage of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders across the country.
SPA constituents include Congress, Left parties and the VCK.
Supply constraints of LPG cylinders emerged following the West Asia conflict which intensified from February 28.
