Karnataka CM, leaders condole Arun Jaitley's death
Bengaluru: Leaders cutting across political parties in Karnataka condoled the demise of BJP stalwart and former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who passed away on Saturday after a prolonged illness. Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa expressed "shock" over the death of the BJP veteran.
Yediyurappa said, Jaitely's untimely passing away has come as a "rude shock" to him as he excelled in Indian politics in the recent years as a best financial and development expert.
Jaitley's acumen in Indian politics on financial matters came to fore when he joined Narendra Modi's cabinet as finance minister, his apt handling of India's finances and economy made even his adversaries in the field to look at him with awe, he said.
Noting that personally it was a huge loss to him as he has lost a "leader and guide" in his death, Yediyurappa said, "he was very close to my heart and recently he had called me asking me to come to his home.
I, along with our advocate general and my son Vijayendra visited him. He discussed with me various issues about state and the country. His role behind BJPs growth in the state is huge." The Chief Minister would be traveling to Delhi on Sunday to pay his last respect to the departed.
In his condolence message, Former Prime Minister and JDS Supremo H D Deve Gowda termed Jaitley as one of the "tallest leaders" of the country.
"It is shocking to learn about the sad demise of one of the tallest leaders of our country @arunjaitley, the former Union Minister who had held the portfolios of Finance, Defence, Corporate Affairs,Commerce and Industry and Law and Justice. A great loss to our Nation. #ArunJaitley," he tweeted.
Jaitley died on Saturday at AIIMS at around 12:07 pm. He was 66.
Former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said Jaitley's contribution to build our nation was "immense".
"I had interacted with Shri. @arunjaitley on multiple occasions on issues pertaining to Karnataka. He was respected across party lines. May his soul rest in peace. May his near ones be able to bear the loss," he tweeted.
Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah in a tweet said, "Sad to know that Shri. @arunjaitley is no more. May his soul rest in peace. My deepest condolences to his family members & well-wishers."
Former External Affairs Minister and BJP leader S M Krishna in a message said, in Jaitley's death the nation has lost a "great patriot".
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DMK ally blames party's 'big brother' attitude, exits alliance ahead of TN polls
Chennai (PTI): Ahead of the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi on Sunday announced quitting the DMK-led SPA, with its founder T Velmurugan objecting to the ruling party's "big brother" attitude.
The decision was taken also following his party being "ignored,", Velmurugan, incumbent MLA from Panruti (Cuddalore dt) Assembly segment, told reporters here.
"We were told during seat-sharing negotiations that we will be allotted one seat for the Assembly polls. We have been raising a set of demands, including regarding social justice. We were told when other parties are not asking for any demands, why you are making such demands," Velmurugan said.
"I have been repeatedly asking the government to fulfil at least some of the demands. But the DMK has been ignoring it," he claimed.
On his further course of action, he said that his organisation would not join the NDA in Tamil Nadu and indicated that he was talking to some parties over forming an alliance.
Further, "we have been making charter of demands to the negotiation panel (of the DMK). I have been informing that there was not any problem on allocation of seats but immediately take steps to fulfil these demands," he said.
Recalling that he has been speaking about the same demands in the legislative assembly for several years, Velmurugan alleged that "the DMK-led government did not care about them."
During seat-sharing negotiations, Velmurugan claimed, the approach of the election panel of the DMK was like a "big brother".
"We were told that when political parties including Congress, Communists, and MDMK did not place any such demands, as a legislator and the representative of a small party, they did not deem it fit for us to give such demands and ask them to be fulfilled. "
"Treating us like this is not acceptable", Velmurugan added.
He accused some officials of complaining to Chief Minister MK Stalin and his ministers that he is constantly "giving trouble" to the government, Velmurugan alleged.
He questioned why the DMK government was refusing to conduct a Caste Census in the state.
"How can DMK walk the path of social justice while keeping forces against social justice by its side. When states like Odisha, Bihar conducted caste census, why the DMK did not respect my voice," he asked.
Maintaining that he has been in the DMK-led alliance for five years and successfully contested under the Dravidian party's 'Rising Sun' Symbol in 2021 elections, he expressed his gratitude to Stalin and the alliance parties who wanted him to continue in the alliance.
"In accordance with the decision taken collectively by our party's executive committee, general council, political leadership committee and based on the powers given to me, I announce that from today, Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi is withdrawing from the DMK-led alliance," he said.
DMK leads the multi-party Secular Progressive Alliance and the constituents include Congress and Left parties.
Meanwhile, responding to the party's exit from SPA, DMK General Secretary and state minister Durai Murugan said, "When someone leaves an alliance, will they say it is a good government and that is why we are leaving."
"They will only leave by saying that this regime is not good. This is just what is habitually said (by parties whenever they quit an alliance)."
Asked whether further talks may be held with Velmurugan, he said, "negotiations are not my subject. Leave me out of it."
