KN Rajanna expresses confidence about returning as minister in current govt tenure
Tumakuru (Karnataka), Aug 15 (PTI): K N Rajanna, who was recently sacked from the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet in Karnataka, on Friday expressed confidence about coming back as minister within the current government's tenure.
The Madhugiri MLA said he will be going to New Delhi after the Assembly session to meet the high command leaders to know the exact reasons for his sacking.
Rajanna, who was Cooperative Minister was removed from the cabinet on Monday, following directions from the Congress high command.
His recent comments on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "vote theft" allegations during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls seem to have proved costly for him.
Noting that the voter lists for the polls in Karnataka were prepared under the Congress government, he had questioned his own party as to why they didn't stop the irregularities then.
"I will take the minister post when the time comes in this government's tenure. Why do you have any doubts?" Rajanna asked while responding to a question.
Speaking to reporters, he said, "I have achieved everything I desired in life so far. I will achieve this (minister post) too in this term itself."
Responding to a question, Rajanna said he is confident that the high command will get convinced.
"There may be some people in Delhi who are doing things systematically (against me). It is not that I don't know how to systematically finish off someone (politically). I too know that skill, but why waste time on it? Same time can be utilised for the good for the people," he said.
Asked whether unseen hands were behind his sacking, without naming anyone, he said, "Without unseen hands, how will the decision come all of a sudden? The chief minister himself wasn't aware that the high command was thinking on these lines. While on the way from his home to Vidhana Soudha, the CM was seen speaking to someone over the phone alone for some time. Some channels showed the videos. It was the same matter (sacking). The CM got to know only then."
"Siddaramaiah had tried to convince the high command, but when they said a decision had been made, the CM told me the situation. I said fine....," he added.
Rajanna said he is still not aware of the exact reason for his sacking.
"After the Assembly session is over, I will go to Delhi and meet the leaders there and try to find out the reason. I'm not sad about losing power...such ups and downs in politics are not new to me. Until there is public support, I will face it," he added.
Asked whether his open statements proved costly for him, Rajanna said, "In which statement have I spoken ill about someone. I might have spoken certain truth. I will go to Delhi and try to know what the reason is. Will see what they say."
Someone might have complained to high command distorting my various statements. "Such things will be there. Will try to know...," he said.
Asked about BJP leaders like B Sriramulu inviting him to their party, Rajanna said they might have spoken out of good will towards me.
"Just because they have invited me, can I go? Why should I go? Congress has given everything to me. There will be phases in politics..."
Rajanna is the second minister to be out of Siddaramaiah's Cabinet after the Congress came to power in 2023.
Last year, Bellary MLA B Nagendra had to resign following allegations against him in connection with embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation.
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Separate nodal officer in all districts to prevent female foeticides in Karnataka: Minister
Belagavi (PTI): Accepting that the female foeticide has not stopped in the state, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday said that the government is taking strict measures to prevent it.
The minister said the government is appointing separate nodal officers in all districts and tightening measures to prevent foeticide, which he called a "social evil".
He also assured that the government will consider strengthening legislation to control such activities.
The minister was responding to a question by BJP MLC C T Ravi in the Legislative Council.
"Female foeticides have certainly not stopped. If you look at the sex ratio, there is a lot of difference. I accept that this is happening," Rao said.
"Foeticides are not happening under pressure; voluntarily, it is happening, for not wanting a girl child. These things are happening based on the sex determination of the foetus at some hospitals. Sex determination is illegal, but with the advancement in technology, portable ultrasound machines have been developed, which can be easily carried anywhere, and scans and tests can be done. This needs to be controlled. We will bring it to the notice of the central government," he said.
In some districts and in a few hospitals, a higher number of male child births is happening. It is found with the help of intelligence input, the minister said.
"Information is being gathered on the taluk in which the male-female ratio is worsening, what is happening in which hospital, and appropriate action is being taken to crack down on such a network, after proper evaluation."
Decoy operations have been done at seven places in the last two years, to identify those involved in illegal activities linked to female foeticides, and actions have been taken against officials and hospitals involved, he said, adding that more needs to be done on priority.
Responding to a question by Ravi about whether any stringent legislation is being brought, Rao said, the government will consider strengthening the legislation and making it stricter to control this.
"Some amendments have been made to the existing laws in the last two years....advanced technology and the internet is being used to carry out such things, also oral medicines for abortions are available over the counter.
We need to look into bringing legislation to control them. The Food and Drug Administration has issued instructions to pharmacists that the sale of such drugs should be documented."
The minister also said that measures are also being taken for the effective implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC & PNDT) Act, and awareness is being created against the identification of female foetuses and female foeticide.
