Karnataka Assembly session from tomorrow
Opposition gears up to put BSY government on mat on flood relief
Bengaluru: The winter session of the Karnataka legislature that will begin on Thursday is expected to be stormy,with the opposition Congress and JD(S) likely to corner the BJP government on a host of issues,including flood relief.
This will be the second session for the BJP government after assuming power, the last one being in July end, where Yediyurappa proved his majority on the floor of the House and Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri was elected the new Speaker.
The government has said the three-day session will primarily focus on discussion on the budget and its passage.
Soon after proving his government's majority on July 29, Yediyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, had sought a vote on account for three months -- August 1 to October 31.
The opposition is expected to take on the government, alleging failure in handling flood relief and drought situation in several parts of the state.
Despite the BJP-ruled government at the centre, delay in grant of central funds for flood relief and cut in allocation to constituencies represented by opposition MLAs are among the issues that Congress and JD(S) are likely to raise.
The Opposition,constantly questioning the "capability" of Yediyurappa, 25 BJP MPs and central ministers from the state in getting the funds, is likely to take advantage of "some discontent" in the ruling party over delay in central aid and statements by some of its leaders to target the government.
JD(S) will corner the government both inside and outside the House on flood relief.
Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy will lead the charge in the assembly, while former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda would participate in a protest march here on Thursday.
Congress too has decided to take up the issue in a big way and its legislature party leader Siddaramaiah has written to the Chief Minister to extend the session to discuss the situation in affected areas.
He had even asked for the session to be held in Belagavi.
However, the centre's announcement of Rs 1,200 crore as interim relief late last week has come as a relief to BJP, to face the session with some confidence.
A total of 103 taluks in 22 districts were affected due to floods in August, in which over 80 people were killed. Around seven lakh people were shifted to safe areas and thousands of houses were damaged.
According to sources, the opposition is likely to demand extension of the session for about two weeks, during the Business Advisory Committee meeting of both the Houses.
The government had earlier decided to hold a legislature session from October 14 to 26, but it was subsequently rescheduled following the announcement of by-polls to 15 assembly constituencies on October 21.
The Election Commission, however, later decided to defer the election to December 5, citing the case of disqualified Congress-JD(S) legislators pending before the Supreme Court.
The winter session will be held at 'Vidhana Soudha', the state secretariat here and not in Belagavi,as is the practice, as most parts of the district have been ravaged by floods.
The Congress has so far not announced its leader in the assembly, who would be the official Leader of the Opposition.
The race to the post has gained momentum in Congress as factions have emerged within the party, both in favour and opposing Siddaramaiah, who is seen as a key contender.
Senior Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry was recently sent by the party high command to solicit the opinion of local leaders on the post of Leader of the Opposition and a few other key posts like opposition leader in the council, deputy leaders and chief whips in both Houses.
Some senior party leaders, including G Parameshwara and H K Patil are said to be opposed to the idea of making Siddaramaiah the party leader in the Assembly and are themselves eying the post.
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UP: Fake IAS officer marries woman, flees with Rs 15 lakh dowry
Gorakhpur (UP) (PTI): A newly married man fled with the Rs 15 lakh given to him as dowry by the bride's family, and it came to light later that he was an alleged serial scammer, police said on Sunday.
The accused, identified as Pritam Kumar Nishad from Etawah, allegedly posed as an IAS officer to deceive the woman into marrying him. He is currently absconding with his sister, and a case has been filed against him for cheating, dowry harassment, and forgery, officials said.
According to the police, the woman's family claimed that they spent nearly Rs 30 lakh for the wedding that was solemnised on March 11.
The match was arranged through a matrimonial group, where the accused introduced himself as an IAS officer, sharing purported interview clips, office visuals, and photographs with politicians to gain the family's trust.
Despite initially claiming he would marry without dowry, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 15 lakh shortly before the engagement. The bride's family paid Rs 10 lakh in cash during the engagement and the remaining Rs 5 lakh on the wedding day, the police said.
The fraud came to light on Saturday after the woman reached Etawah, and a wedding attendee informed the family that the accused was not a civil servant. When her relatives visited the address provided by him, they found her in a small rented room, while the accused and his sister had fled, the police added.
The woman has also alleged that the accused planned to take her to Goa and sell her, and accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
The police suspect that the accused may have been involved in multiple such marriages in the past. Based on a complaint lodged at the cantonment police station, an FIR was registered on Saturday evening.
Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Kaustubh said efforts are underway to arrest the accused.
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