Kumaraswamy to visit Delhi on Sept 21 to meet BJP leadership; alliance talks on agenda
Ramanagara (KTK) (PTI): JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said he will be travelling to New Delhi on September 21 to meet BJP central leadership to discuss the possible alliance between both parties in Karnataka for 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Dismissing media reports on seat sharing talks between JDS and BJP as mere speculations, he said so far no parleys have taken place in this regard.
The former CM also underscored the need for strong opposition against the Congress government that has come to power in the state and said discussions will be directed at this.
"I'm going to Delhi in the morning. I will be meeting the central government's (BJP) high command tomorrow," Kumaraswamy told reporters in the morning.
Ruling out the possibility of him contesting in the Lok Sabha polls, he said people of Channapatna constituency have voted for him and that he would remain there for the people.
Later in the day, speaking to media persons, Kumaraswamy said there is a meeting tomorrow.
"after discussions in the meeting, its outcome will be known. All media reports are mere speculation. There has been no discussion regarding seat sharing or other things."
Talks on alliance between both parties have been in the headlines ever since veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, who is also the party's parliamentary board member, had earlier this month said his party will have an understanding with JD(S) for the Parliament elections, and that the regional party will contest in four LS seats in Karnataka, which has a total of 28 constituencies.
However, Yediyurappa subsequently said a final decision has not been taken as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who are busy with other responsibilities, may discuss and decide on the issue in a few days.
Kumaraswamy too on his part had maintained that discussions on BJP and JD(S) contesting the Lok Sabha polls together are still in the initial phase.
Responding to a question on secular stand of JD(S) which is trying to forge an alliance with the BJP, Kumaraswamy said his party respects all communities.
"If there are talks on an alliance, the subject of alliance is different from the stand of the party, on which there will be no compromise. It is the responsibility of our party to respect all communities," he said.
Noting that no party has contributed to the welfare of the Muslim community compared to JD(S), the former CM said, "but how they (community) have treated this party? I can also question that right?"
"There is no compromise in providing an atmosphere which ensures welfare of every household in the state, without any discrimination. I don't want to get into a discussion with any party on our ideology... I know Congress' ideology, they have done politics for last 50 years by forging alliance with parties that were with BJP. Why question only JD(S)?" he asked.
The BJP had swept the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka by winning 25 seats, while an independent (Sumalatha Ambareesh from Mandya) backed by it won in one seat. The Congress and JD(S) won one seat each.
In the elections to the 224-member Assembly held in May this year, the Congress bagged 135 seats, while the BJP secured 66 and the JD(S) 19.
Following the Assembly poll results, there were reports that JD(S) would enter into an alliance with the BJP to fight the Lok Sabha polls. It was also said that the JD(S) leaders had met BJP central leadership in Delhi in this regard.
However, subsequently JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, had indicated that the party will contest Lok Sabha polls alone.
Following the Assembly poll debacle, BJP, wary of its performance in the Lok Sabha elections, seems to be open for an alliance with JD(S), aimed at regaining maximum number of seats, sources from both parties said.
The saffron party hopes the votes of JD(S) may get transferred to it, especially in the old Mysuru region where the regional party has significant presence.
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
