Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar defends attending Sadhguru's event
Bengaluru/Udupi (PTI): Amid criticism from a section within the ruling Congress, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday strongly defended his visit to Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev's Isha yoga centre in Tamil Nadu for Mahashivaratri celebrations, calling it is his personal belief.
Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, while calling BJP leaders' claims about fast-paced political developments in the state in the days ahead, as "bogus", said that a number of leaders and legislators from the saffron party were in touch with his party.
"Sadhguru is from Karnataka. He has been fighting for the cause of Cauvery water and soil. He personally came and invited me. He has a big following and he is doing some great work... MLAs and leaders from various political parties were there at the event. I have gone there. That is my personal belief," Shivakumar said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "I believe in all religions, all castes. The Congress party's ideology is to take everyone in society together. I don't differentiate between such matters. Some people may like it, some may not."
Shivakumar sharing the dais with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev at the Shivaratri event on Wednesday has reportedly created some amount of unease among a section of Congress leaders, who apparently feel that he may be getting close to the BJP's ideology.
Cooperation K N Rajanna on Saturday questioned Shivakumar sharing the stage with those who have been critical of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
To a question about criticisms, especially by Rajanna, the Deputy CM said, "I don't want to answer any of them. I will speak to them. If they have any problems, let's give them some medicine."
Trying to take political advantage of the situation, BJP leaders took a dig at the ruling Congress, by comparing Shivakumar with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and also predicted a "fast-paced" political development in the state.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition government in Maharashtra fell in 2022 following a split in Shiv Sena, with MLAs led by Eknath Shinde breaking out and joining hands with the BJP.
On BJP leaders predicting fast paced political developments in the state in the days ahead, Shivakumar said, "it is all bogus. First let the BJP keep its house in order."
"As some of my ministers have said, a lot of BJP MLAs are trying to be in touch with us. Already, my minister has disclosed it, I don't want to discuss that. It (BJP) is a broken house, Congress is a united house," he said.
Responding to a question, the Deputy CM said the Congress party fully opposes the proposed nation-wide delimitation exercise. They (BJP led central govt) are trying to reduce our numbers (number of Lok Sabha seats) in the south. We stand united, we will fight united. We want our status to be there..."
Later, speaking to reporters in Udupi, Shivakumar said his visit to any temple or speech in favour of any community triggers debate these days.
"If I go to any temple or speak about any community, it triggers things... I had gone to Kumbh Mela which is a confluence of three rivers. Does water have any caste, religion or party? ...I have also participated in Kumbh Mela at a confluence of rivers at T Narasipura here, after coming from there. What is wrong? There is no need for any calculations..." he said, responding to a question.
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Screenwriter Salim Khan on ventilator support and stable, say doctors
Mumbai (PTI): Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan suffered a brain haemorrhage which has been tackled, is on ventilator support as a safeguard and stable, doctors treating him said on Wednesday, a day after he was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here.
The 90-year-old, one half of the celebrated Salim-Javed duo which scripted films such as "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don" with Javed Akhtar, is in the ICU and recovery might take some time given his age.
"His blood pressure was high for which we treated him and we had to put him on a ventilator because we wanted to do certain investigations. Now the ventilator was put as a safeguard so that his situation doesn't get worse. So it is not that he is critical," Dr Jalil Parkar told reporters.
"We did the investigations that were required and today we have done a small procedure on him, I will not go into the details. The procedure done is called DSA (digital subtraction angiography). The procedure has been accomplished, he is fine and stable and shifted back to ICU. By tomorrow, we hope to get him off the ventilator. All in all, he is doing quite well," he added.
Asked whether he suffered a brain haemorrhage, the doctor said, "Unko thoda haemorrhage hua tha, which we’ve tackled. No surgery is required.
As concern over Khan's health mounted, his children, including superstar Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan, daughter Alvira, and sons-in-law Atul Agnihotri and Aayush Sharma, have been seen outside the hospital along with other well-wishers. His long-time partner Akhtar was also seen coming out of the hospital.
Khan, a household name in the 70s and 80s, turned 90 on November 24 last year. It was the day Dharmendra, the star of many of his films, including "Sholay", "Seeta aur Geeta" and "Yaadon Ki Baraat", passed away.
Hailing from an affluent family in Indore, Khan arrived in Mumbai in his 20s with dreams of stardom. He was good looking and confident he would make a mark in the industry as an actor. But that did not happen. And then, after struggling for close to a decade and getting confined to small roles in films, he changed lanes.
He worked as an assistant to Abrar Alvi and soon met Akhtar to form one of Hindi cinema's most formidable writing partnerships. They worked together on two dozen movies with most of them achieving blockbuster status.
Other than "Sholay", "Deewar" and "Don", Khan and Akhtar also penned "Trishul", "Zanjeer", "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Haathi Mere Saathi", "Yaadon Ki Baarat" and "Mr India".
