Karnataka BJP told by central leaders not to destabilise coalition govt: Yeddyurappa
Bengaluru, May 31: Allaying fears that the BJP was trying to weaken the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka, the saffron party's state president B S Yeddyurappa Friday said central leaders have asked the state unit not to indulge in any activity to "destabilise" the H D Kumaraswamy ministry.
Yeddyurappa also asked the coalition partners to concentrate on the development of the state and made it clear that his party will not make any attempts to engineer the fall of the government.
The JD(S)-Congress coalition dispensation has been trying to avert a potential existential crisis after the drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls.
I want to tell you one thing. I'm coming from Delhi. Our Delhi leaders have told us not to indulge in any activity to destabilise this government, Yeddyurappa told reporters here.
He alleged Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah was behind the ongoing political circus in the state for self gains.
We will remain silent for now. Anything may happen because of their infighting, but we will not make any attempts to pull this government down by making Congress-JD(S) MLAs to switch sides, this is the clear instructions from Delhi, he said.
The statement by Yeddyurappa gains significance in view of heightened activities by the alliance partners to save the coalition amid fears of BJP intensifying its onslaught on it.
The coalition's worries have multiplied after the BJP's spectacular win with 25 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in its pocket, leaving a mere one seat each to the Congress and JDS, which, despite a joint fight, were swept away by the Modi wave.
Also, growing unrest within the party and threat by rebel MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi to quit Congress along with other MLAs has worried the leadership, as it would trigger a number game in the assembly.
In a bid to placate the disgruntled MLAs, the Congress has been mulling expansion of the one-year old ministry or a reshuffle.
The BJP and Yeddyurappa had earlier predicted the collapse of the coalition after the LS poll results, claiming 20 odd Congress MLAs were unhappy and may take "a decision" anytime.
Asking the Congress and the JD(S) to focus on the development of the state and on drought relief measures, Yeddyurappa said: "Let them waive farmers' loan as promised. We are not craving for power; we are not in need of it also."
He said BJP had the strength to work as an opposition. "We have our government in Delhi. With honesty we will work as opposition. We don't have any reservations as long as they (state government) carry on the developmental works, Yeddyurappa added.
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Spain rejects White House claim of military cooperation with US in Iran war
Madrid: Spain has rejected a claim by the White House that Madrid had agreed to cooperate militarily with the United States amid the ongoing conflict with Iran, even as US President Donald Trump warned of trade consequences over Spain’s stance.
Al Jazeera reported that White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday that Spain had reconsidered its earlier position of not allowing its military bases to be used in the war against Iran.
“With respect to Spain, I think they heard the president’s message yesterday loud and clear, and it’s my understanding, over the past several hours, they’ve agreed to cooperate with the US military,” Leavitt said.
Clearly denying the assertion, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the claim was incorrect and insisted that Madrid’s position had not changed. “Not a single comma has changed, and I have no idea whatsoever what they might be referring to,” Albares said in an interview with the Hora25 radio programme.
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Trump had earlier criticised Spain’s opposition to the war, describing its stance as “terrible” and threatening economic retaliation. “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain,” he said on Tuesday.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reaffirmed his government’s opposition to the conflict, recalling past military interventions in the region. “The world, Europe, and Spain have faced this critical moment before. In 2003, a few irresponsible leaders dragged us into an illegal war in the Middle East that brought nothing but insecurity and pain,” Sánchez wrote on social media.
He added that Spain’s position remained firmly against war, violations of international law and “the illusion that we can solve the world’s problems with bombs”.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian praised Spain’s stand, saying it reflected ethical responsibility.
“Spain’s responsible conduct in opposing the Zionist-American coalition’s flagrant human rights violations and military aggression against countries, including Iran, shows that ethics and awakened consciences still exist in the West,” he wrote in a post on social media.
Within Europe, Spain has been among the few countries to openly oppose the attacks on Iran. The European Union has instead called for de-escalation and protection of civilians without directly rejecting the US and Israeli military action.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes and its support for armed groups pose a serious threat to global security, adding that the bloc has imposed sanctions on Tehran while continuing to back diplomatic engagement on the nuclear issue.
