Leaders hold breakfast meet, but farmers', pothole issues unresolved: BJP leader Ashoka
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP leader R Ashoka on Tuesday took a swipe at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, alleging that while the two leaders were holding breakfast meetings to resolve internal issues, the Congress government had failed to address farmers’ concerns and the pothole menace across Karnataka.
Ashoka, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, said the government had "lost the trust" of anganwadi workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, the working class and Dalits, and alleged that "the only thing happening under this government is a fight for power."
In a show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday for breakfast, days after the two leaders met amid reports of an internal power tussle.
'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry), considered one of Siddaramaiah’s favourites, along with steaming hot idlis, was on the menu, official sources said.
Ashoka also objected to the chief minister consuming 'nati koli' on the day of Hanuma Jayanti celebrations, claiming that the act had "hurt the sentiments" of devotees.
He further recalled an earlier controversy in which Siddaramaiah had allegedly eaten meat before visiting the Dharmasthala temple.
"A few days ago, a breakfast was held at Siddaramaiah’s house, and now it has been held at D K Shivakumar’s house. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal have directed this drama," Ashoka told reporters.
Citing civic concerns, he said more than 580 people had died due to potholes in the last 10 months in the state. "If the time spent eating breakfast had been used to hold meetings with officials on filling potholes, innocent lives could have been saved," he said.
Ashoka added that the issues faced by sugarcane farmers regarding price fixation and problems at maize procurement centres remained unresolved. "But no breakfast meetings have been held on these matters," he added.
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Two people killed as poultry vehicle rams into parked truck in Belagavi
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Two people were killed, and another was severely injured after a goods vehicle transporting poultry birds allegedly rammed into a stationary truck on a national highway in Belagavi in the early hours of Tuesday, police said.
The deceased have been identified as Wasim (28) and Mubarak (22), both natives of Shivamogga district, they said.
The driver of the vehicle, Basavaraj Eerappa Hanchinamani (37), suffered critical injuries and has been admitted to a hospital, police said.
According to police, the accident occurred when the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, allegedly due to drowsiness, and crashed into a truck parked along the highway.
The goods vehicle was en route from Kolhapur to Sorab in Shivamogga district, carrying poultry. Several chickens were also killed in the impact, a senior police officer said.
Police personnel from the Hirebagewadi Police Station visited the spot and conducted an inspection.
Injured people and the bodies of the deceased were shifted to a hospital, police added.
