JD(S) promises to restore 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in election manifesto
Bengaluru, Apr 27: The JD(S) on Thursday released its "Janata Pranalike" (People's Manifesto) for the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka promising to restore four per cent reservation for Muslims, to "throw out" Amul and to save Nandini brand calling it Kannadiga's identity, among various assurances.
The party led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has also assured to bring in a law reserving jobs for Kannadigas in the private sector, and has promised to provide free higher education for economically-weaker students.
Just ahead of the announcement of polls in Karnataka, the State Cabinet led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had decided to scrap the four per cent reservation for Muslims under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota and to distribute it equally among the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities. The JD(S) in its manifesto has expressed its commitment to restore 4 per cent reservation for Muslims.
The promise to protect and strengthen Nandini brand in the manifesto, comes following a controversy that had erupted after the Gujarat-based dairy cooperative Amul's announcement recently, to enter the Karnataka market to supply its milk and curd. A section including opposition Congress and JD(S) had expressed apprehension that Nandini, the brand from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), could be merged with Amul, and had targeted the ruling BJP and Union Cooperative Minister Amit Shah for it. BJP had rejected the charge.
The manifesto was released by JD(S) legislature party leader H D Kumaraswamy, state president C M Ibrahim, and manifesto committee chief and MLC B M Farooq, among other leaders.
The JD(S), which positions itself as a party of farmers, has announced the "Raita Bandhu" scheme promising to provide Rs 2,000 to agricultural labour families every month. Also, girls who marry youths who are farmers will be given financial assistance of Rs two lakh.
Among the various other assurances given in JD(S) manifesto are Rs 6,000 for pregnant women for six months, loan waiver for 'Stree Shakti' self-help groups, pension for Anganwadi workers, Rs 2,000 per month for auto drivers, Rs 2,000 for registered private security guards, and up to Rs 25 lakh for treatment of rare diseases under CM relief fund.
In the irrigation sector, the party has listed out its plans such as: increase funds for the Upper Bhadra Project from existing Rs 2,000 crore to Rs 5,000 crore and also complete the project in the next four years; it also promised to complete the 'Yettinahole' project in four years.
Reviewing the National Pension Scheme, re-introduction of free bicycles for school children, electric scooters for girls studying in higher education, housing scheme for 30 lakh homeless, encouraging green energy, are among the other takeaways from the manifesto.
Kumaraswamy has said that the party will launch a separate manifesto for Bengaluru in the coming days.
Aiming to come to power on its own, the JD(S) has set a target of winning 123 out of total 224 Assembly seats.
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Cold-blooded murder: Priyanka slams Israel, says its actions show humanity means nothing to them
New Delhi, Mar 19 (PTI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday said the "cold-blooded" murder of over 400 innocent civilians by the Israeli government shows that humanity means nothing to them, and asserted that the more criminally they act, the more they reveals themselves for the "cowards" they truly are.
The Congress general secretary also said whether western powers choose to recognise this or to acknowledge their collusion in the "genocide" of the Palesitinian people or not, all citizens of the world who have a conscience, including many Israelis, see it.
Her remarks come in the wake of Israel's recent airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing more than 400 Palestinians. The assault had shattered a ceasefire in place since January.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes, which killed mostly women and children, after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement, according to media reports.
In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, "The cold blooded murder of over 400 innocent civilians including 130 children by the Israeli government, shows that humanity means nothing to them. Their actions reflect an inherent weakness and inability to face their own truth."
"Whether western powers choose to recognise this or to acknowledge their collusion in the genocide of the Palesitinian people or not, all citizens of the world who have a conscience (including many Israelis), see it," she said.
The more criminally the Israeli government acts, the more they reveal themselves for the cowards they truly are, Priyanka Gandhi said.
On the other hand, the bravery of the Palestinian people prevails, she added.
"They have endured unimaginable suffering yet their spirit remains resilient and unwavering," she said, hailing the Palestinian people.
In a show of support for the people of Palestine, Priyanka Gandhi during the Winter session had carried a bag to Parliament that had "Palestine" emblazoned on it.
The Congress general secretary has been raising her voice against Israel's actions in Gaza and expressing solidarity with Palestinians.
The cold blooded murder of over 400 innocent civilians including 130 children by the Israeli government, shows that humanity means nothing to them.
— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) March 19, 2025
Their actions reflect an inherent weakness and inability to face their own truth.
Whether western powers choose to recognise…
