HDK demands DKShi’s resignation; ‘No medicine for his jealousy,’ retorts Shivakumar
Bengaluru: JD(S) Karnataka unit President HD Kumaraswamy has demanded resignation of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar alleging that, “he ( Shivakumar) is directly involved in the pen drive conspiracy that tarnishes the family of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, he (Shivakumar) should resign immediately.”
Addressing reporters in the city on Tuesday, Kumaraswamy stated that the role of DK Shivakumar was clear in the audio conversation. “He should resign. Otherwise, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah himself should dismiss him from the cabinet.”
He further claimed that Karthik, the creator of the pen drive, first brought the sleaze videos to Shivakumar, and Hassan's candidate of Congress party was present during this exchange. Kumaraswamy argued that it is inappropriate for Shivakumar to remain in the cabinet given his alleged involvement in the case.
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He accused Shivakumar of misusing his power and criticized the government for protecting him, warning that such actions would have severe consequences.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that there was a big political conspiracy plotted by Shivakumar for personal gain and electoral success. He criticized the government for allegedly shielding a ‘disgraced minister’ and suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah should address the issue, questioning their silence on the matter.
Kumaraswamy expressed concerns about the safety of lawyer Deveraj Gowda in jail, suggesting that there could be potential threats due to the involvement of individuals associated with the current government. He also questioned why Karthik Gowda, Naveen Gowda, and others involved in sharing the pen drive have not been arrested.
Meanwhile, retorting back at HDK’s allegations, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar dismissed Kumaraswamy's allegations, stating that it was out of jealousy.
Speaking at a blood donation camp organized by the Youth Congress in honor of the Rajiv Gandhi memorial at Congress Bhavan, Shivakumar said, "There is no medicine for jealousy. He (Kumraswamy) wants me to resign. There is nothing wrong with having a wish."
Shivakumar further pointed out that, “Kumaraswamy was thinking as if he is a King maker, However, JD(S) secured only 18 seats under his presidency. Meanwhile, Congress secured 136 seats during my tenure.” He dismissed the JD(S)'s alliance with the BJP and suggested that Kumaraswamy could continue making accusations without impacting his position.
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Why remove Mahatma Gandhi's name, asks Priyanka on move to replace MGNREGA
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday slammed the government over its move to change the name of MGNREGA, asking what is the government's intention behind removing the name of Mahatma Gandhi who is the tallest leader not just in India but in the world.
A bill to repeal the MGNREGA and bring a new law for rural employment -- Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025 -- is set to be introduced in the Lok Sabha. According to a copy of the bill, it seeks to introduce the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, in Parliament and repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of 2005.
Asked about the government's move, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Whenever the name of a scheme is changed there are so many changes that have to be made in offices, stationery... for which money is spent. So, what is the benefit, why it is being done?"
"Why is Mahatma Gandhi's name being removed. Mahatma Gandhi is considered the tallest leader not just in the country but in the world, so removing his name, I really don't understand what is the objective? What is their intention?" she told reporters in Parliament House complex.
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"Even when we are debating it is on other issues not the real issues of the people. Time is being wasted, money is being wasted, they are disrupting themselves," Priyanka Gandhi added.
The bill aims at establishing a "rural development framework aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047", by providing a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment in every financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work.
The bill has been listed in the Lok Sabha in the supplementary list of business issued on Monday.
Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in the statement of purpose of the Bill, said MGNREGA has provided guaranteed wage-employment to rural households over the past 20 years.
However, "further strengthening has become necessary in view of the significant socio-economic transformation witnessed in the rural landscape driven by widespread coverage of the social security interventions and saturation-oriented implementation of major government schemes", he said.
