HD Kumaraswamy leaves for Delhi, seat-sharing talks with BJP leadership for LS polls likely
Bengaluru, Dec 20: JD(S) state President H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday left for New Delhi amid speculation that he is likely to hold talks with the BJP central leadership on seat-sharing in Karnataka for the Lok Sabha elections.
The JD(S) joined the BJP-led NDA in September after a meeting Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, had with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda in New Delhi.
Leaders of both parties have since been maintaining that talks are yet to take place on seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls.
Though Kumaraswamy said he was going to Delhi on personal work, his nephew and JD(S) Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna indicated about JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Thursday.
"No seat sharing talks...is my trip to Delhi also special? There is nothing special in the Delhi trip, I'm going on personal work...there is nothing, I will come back to talk to you," Kumaraswamy told reporters at the airport, before leaving for the national capital.
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However, Revanna said in Delhi: "Tomorrow our elders (Deve Gowda) will be meeting the Prime Minister and will discuss issues concerning the state."
According to JD(S) sources, Kumaraswamy is likely to meet the BJP leadership to take the alliance forward and discuss seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls.
Also, as Deve Gowda, who is member of the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka, is in Delhi to attend the Parliament session, they are likely to meet Modi.
Meanwhile, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra, also travelling to Delhi, added to speculation about seat sharing talks. Vijayendra said he was going to the national capital to attend a party meeting.
"On December 22 and 23, there is a meeting of all state presidents of the party in Delhi, so I'm going to attend it. During the visit, naturally I will try to meet all party leaders and the national president (Nadda), and try to discuss the appointment of state office-bearers of the party," he said.
Asked about talks on seat sharing with the JD(S), Vijayendra said, both parties are in alliance, but there is no information about JD(S)' expectations, as to how many seats they want to contest in the Lok Sabha polls.
"They (JD(S) leaders) will discuss everything with our national leaders, we (state BJP) will also discuss with them. There has been no preliminary discussions on seat sharing yet. What JD(S) demands are will be discussed by the national leadership and the state unit will share its opinion," he said.
Vijayendra said he was going to Delhi now to attend the meeting of BJP state presidents meeting and has no information on any seat sharing talks.
The JD(S) contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Congress. The two parties were then running an alliance government under the Chief Ministership of Kumaraswamy back then.
The BJP swept the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka by winning 25 seats, while an independent (Sumalatha Ambareesh from Mandya) backed by it won in one seat. The Congress and JD(S) won one seat each.
With the alliance with JD(S), BJP hopes to win "maximum number of seats" in Karnataka, party sources said, adding that it (BJP) particularly wants to increase its prospects in the Old Mysuru region, where the regional outfit has a strong presence and the saffron party is perceived to be a marginal player.
For the JD(S), it is a matter of survival, and the party hopes to better its prospects, with the forging of an alliance with the BJP in the backdrop of the Congress' reported attempts to weaken it by wooing its leaders, party sources said.
The JD(S) had earlier formed governments in coalition with both the BJP and the Congress respectively for 20 months from January 2006, and for 14 months from May 2018, with Kumaraswamy as the Chief Minister.
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AIMPLB warns of protests, legal battle over Waqf Amendment Bill
Bengaluru: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Monday addressed a press conference following the conclusion of its national convention in Bengaluru. The Board raised concerns over several pressing national and international issues, including the Waqf Amendment Bill, the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and recent controversies surrounding places of worship in the country. The Board also spoke about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, terming it a "genocide."
Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, spokesperson for the AIMPLB, strongly opposed the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, warning the government of protests and legal challenges if the bill is passed without thorough consultation with all stakeholders.
"Waqf properties are donated specifically for the benefit of the Muslim community and for charitable purposes. These properties cannot and should not be altered or interfered with by the government," he said. Ilyas emphasized the historical and legal sanctity of Waqf properties, stating that any changes to the law without proper discussion would be unacceptable to the community.
The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) was another critical issue discussed during the convention. Ilyas reiterated the Board's long-standing opposition to the UCC, stating that it threatens the pluralistic nature of Indian society.
"The UCC will disrupt the very fabric of this country. India thrives on its diversity, and a uniform code disregards this essential characteristic," he said. He explained that the Indian legal framework already accommodates individuals who choose not to follow their personal laws.
Ilyas also criticized the UCC implemented by the Uttarakhand government, calling it unconstitutional. "How can it be called a 'Uniform Civil Code' when it is applied only in one state?" he questioned. The AIMPLB plans to challenge the Uttarakhand UCC in the Nainital High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) soon.
The Board also addressed growing tensions surrounding places of worship, particularly the rising claims that some mosques were originally temples. Ilyas pointed out that such disputes are in violation of the Places of Worship Act, 1992, which mandates that the status of religious sites shall remain as they were in 1947.
"The Supreme Court, in its verdict on the Babri Masjid case, clearly stated that no further disputes of this nature should arise. Yet, we see new cases being brought up regularly," he said.
Citing a recent incident in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, where police action against protesters left two dead, Ilyas condemned the violence. "This incident was tragic and could have been avoided. It is deeply condemnable," he added.
The AIMPLB also expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine, highlighting the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Ilyas termed the situation a "genocide," pointing to the reported deaths of over 45,000 people in the last year.
"This is not a war; it is a genocide. The international community must take urgent steps to address the issue," he said. The Board called for a two-state solution as a pathway to peace and justice in the region.
The press conference was attended by several senior AIMPLB officials, including the Board’s president, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani. The officials emphasized the need for unity among stakeholders and the Muslim community to address the challenges highlighted during the convention.
The AIMPLB pledged to continue its advocacy through protests, legal actions, and public engagement to safeguard the rights of the community and uphold the constitutional values of the country.
