After Independent MLA H Nagesh's resignation, now Minister Rahim Mahmood Khan threatens to quit
Bengaluru: The Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka, which is on the brink due to a flurry of resignations, is likely to suffer another jolt with another Congress MLA and cabinet Minister Monday threatening to resign.
Karnataka Minister and Bidar North MLA Rahim Mahmood Khan said he has informed senior Congress functionaries about his grievances and will take a decision after meeting them at Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara's residence.
The resignation of 13 MLAs has plunged the government into a crisis. Twelve legislators --nine from the Congress and three from the JD(S) resigned on Saturday.
Congress MLA Anand Singh had resigned on July 1.
"My department got only Rs 15 crore budget this year and it has just now been released. Of this amount, Rs 13 crore will be paid to clear old bills.How can I carry out various projects across Karnataka with the remaining Rs two crore?" the sports and youth empowerment minister told PTI.
Khan said he did not wish to align with the rebel group but the situation has forced him to take a decision.
"I'll attend the meeting (at Parameshwara's residence ) today. If my problems aren't addressed, I will be forced to take a decision," the minister said.
The JD(S)-Congress coalition's total strength in the state assembly, including those who have put in their papers, is 118 --Congress 78, JD(S) 37, BSP one and two Independents, besides the speaker.
The BJP has 105 MLAs in the House, where the half-way mark is 113. If the resignations are accepted, the coalition's tally will come down to 105. The speaker also has a vote.
Another Congress MLA R Roshan Baig from Shivajinagar constituency, who has been up in arms against senior party leaders and was suspended for anti-party activities, told PTI that he has not yet decided on resignation.
"I'm busy with Hajj related preparations and have no plans as of now to leave the party," Baig said. Speculation was rife that he would also join the rebel camp.
The MLA landed in trouble when a ponzi scheme operative Mohammad Mansoor Khan, who allegedly duped thousands of people, mostly Muslims, accused him of taking Rs 400 crore from him and not returning it.
Baig rubbished Mansoor Khan's charge and called it a conspiracy against him by his adversaries. The government went into a huddle following the resignation of 13 MLAs comprising 10 Congress and three JD(S) MLAs.
Ten of the rebel MLAs have camped in a Mumbai hotel and have made it clear that they will not attend the Congress Legislative Party meeting on Tuesday since they have tendered their resignation at Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar's office.
The speaker would take a call on Tuesday. Hectic parleys were held in the Congress and the JD(S) camps to bail out the 13-month old government, which is facing a crisis.
Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy who returned from the USA Sunday evening straightaway held a series of meetings with leaders of the JD(S) and Congress, including the Congress legislative party leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah without a break till late Sunday night.
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Punjab farmers call for 'Kisan Mahapanchayat' on Jan 4; Dallewal says no pressure to be on fast
Chandigarh, Dec 28: Farmers, on a warpath against the Centre, on Saturday called for a "Kisan Mahapanchayat" at the Khanauri protest site on January 4.
Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had earlier given a call for a Punjab bandh on December 30.
The steps come amid the Supreme Court coming down heavily on the Punjab government for not shifting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for over a month, to a hospital.
SKM (Non-political) leader Kaka Singh Kotra, said the 70-year-old has been on an indefinite hunger strike, which entered its 33rd day on Saturday.
"On January 4 at Khanauri, we will hold a big Kisan Mahapanchayat in which farmers from various states will participate," Kotra told reporters at Khanauri protest site.
On Saturday, while it admonished the Punjab government, the Supreme Court also indicated the possibility that Dallewal may have not been allowed to be taken to a hospital by other farmer leaders.
Responding to it, Dallewal, in a video message, said, "I am sitting on a fast. Who gave this report in the Supreme Court and who spread this misconception that I have been kept hostage, where did such a thing come from?
He added, "Seven lakh farmers of this country have committed suicide due to debt. To save farmers is necessary, therefore, I am sitting here, I am not under anyone's pressure."
In his message, Dallewal also said he had written a letter to the Supreme Court, requesting it to direct the Centre to accept the farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price on crops.
"We thought, maybe the Supreme Court would give direction to the Centre," he said.
Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said Dallewal may also speak at the Mahapanchayat.
Dallewal had earlier said he would not break his fast till the government agreed to the farmers' demands.
On Saturday, in an unprecedented hearing, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia gave the Punjab government time till December 31 to persuade Dallewal to shift to a hospital, giving it the liberty to seek logistical support from the Centre, if the situation warrants.
Expressing helplessness, the Punjab government said it is facing huge resistance from the protesting farmers who have encircled Dallewal and are preventing him from being taken to a hospital.
The court also termed the conduct of some farmer leaders accompanying Dallewal surprising and questionable.
Meanwhile, a high-level team of Punjab government officials again called on Dallewal requesting him to accept medical treatment even if he wishes to continue with his fast.
Dallewal has so far refused medical treatment and the state government has formed a team of doctors to monitor his health round-the-clock.
The team which also comprises Deputy Inspector General of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu told Dallewal that he could choose a place and he would only be given the required medical support.
The farmers have been on a protest with several demands, one of them being a legal guarantee for a minimum support price.
Farmers, under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and the Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.
A "jatha (group)" of 101 farmers attempted to march to Delhi on foot three times between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel of Haryana.
