JDS wants Deve Gowda to contest from Mysore-Kodagu seat
Bengaluru, March 5: Amid the continuing uncertainty about JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda's choice of constituency for the coming Lok Sabha elections, there is growing demand within the party that he contest from Mysore-Kodagu seat.
"...Deve Gowda has himself said Prajwal will contest from Hassan and Nikhil will contest from Mandya. We want Deve Gowda to contest from Mysuru.. We have said this earlier also in public meeting," Mysuru district in-charge Minister and JD(S) leader G T Deve Gowda said.
Prajwal and Nikhil are Deve Gowda's grandsons.
Speaking to reporters, the minister said, the former prime minister had an affectionate relationship with the people of Mysuru, who have recognised the developments in the irrigation sector in the region ushered in by him.
"If there is alliance between Congress and JD(S), H D Deve Gowda should be candidate that's the wish of the people," he said adding there was no other name, and "we have requested him," the Minister said.
Demand for the JDS supremo to contest from Mysore-Kodagu constituency resurfaced, with him indicating Sunday That Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy was likely to be the candidate from Mandya.
There were reports earlier that the veteran leader will contest from Mandya, a long time bastion of the party, after deciding to vacate his current constituency Hassan to other grandson Prajwal Revanna, son of minister H D Revanna.
Asked whether there was still doubts about alliance with Congress, the Minister said, it would be clear only on the day when the seat sharing for the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies was announced.
He said Congress too was seeking to field its candidate from Mysore-Kodagu, currently held by BJP's Pratap Simha.
It remains to be seen, whether Congress, especially its legislature party leader Siddaramaiah, will be ready to concede it to JDS as the constituency was his home turf.
The coordination committee that met on Monday to decide on seat sharing could not arrive at a consensus, and it is now expected to be finalised by the high command of the two parties-- Congress President Rahul Gandhi and H D Deve Gowda.
The seat sharing is likely to be a major test for the two parties, which share power in the state.
JDS has demanded 12 out of the total of 28 seats.
Asked about him contesting the Lok Sabha polls, the JDS chief, citing health reasons and that age was catching up, had earlier said he has "not decided yet."
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NCW chief condemns rape-murder of 4-year-old girl in Pune, calls for swift action
New Delhi (PTI): National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has condemned the alleged rape and murder of a four-year-old girl in Maharashtra's Pune, calling it "deeply distressing" and a "blot on humanity".
The girl was allegedly raped and killed by a 65-year-old labourer, who has a criminal record, in Bhor tehsil of Pune on Friday. The accused allegedly lured the child to a cattle enclosure on the pretext of giving her food. After raping her, he killed her by hitting her with a stone, according to police.
The accused has been arrested.
In a post on X on Saturday, Rahatkar said the incident in the Nasrapur area in Pune was heartbreaking and has shaken society.
"The brutal torture and murder of a four-year-old innocent girl in Nasrapur (Bhor, Pune) is deeply painful, heartbreaking, and shocking. It is a blot on humanity," she said.
She said Pune Rural police has arrested the accused and noted that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar have assured strict action in the case.
Rahatkar said the NCW has taken cognisance of the matter and written to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), requesting the body to ensure necessary and prompt action.
It has also been recommended that the case be pursued under stringent provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and be closely monitored from the filing of the chargesheet to proceedings in a fast-track special court to ensure time-bound justice, she added.
Ensuring justice for the victim and stringent punishment for the accused is a collective responsibility, the NCW chairperson underlined.
In a post on X, the NCW said it has taken suo motu cognisance of the extremely "heinous" incident.
"This heinous crime causes profound pain and outrage, and it highlights serious concerns regarding the safety of young girls," it said.
Strongly condemning this grave "inhuman act", the NCW said such crimes constitute a serious violation of children's rights and raise questions about society's security system.
