Leadership decisions won’t be based on caste or religion, says Minister Eshwara Khandre
Bengaluru: Forest, Environment, and Zoology Minister Eshwara Khandre has clarified that leadership positions in Karnataka, including the Chief Minister and KPCC president posts, are not vacant and that any decisions regarding leadership will not be based on caste, community, or religion.
Responding to questions about MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah’s recent statement suggesting that Satish Jarkiholi could fill a leadership role after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s political twilight, Khandre said that Yathindra’s remarks should not be interpreted as the voice of the Chief Minister. “Yathindra himself has already clarified his statement. There is no need for anyone else to comment on it,” he said.
Khandre emphasised that the Congress party is set to return to power in 2028, and at the appropriate time, senior party leaders will consult across communities and castes before making leadership decisions. He dismissed the notion of a “November Revolution” as entirely mistaken, saying the Siddaramaiah-led government, along with Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, is delivering effective governance and earning public approval, which has reportedly unsettled the opposition.
On a separate note, Khandre said he would travel to Delhi to meet senior party leaders regarding various departmental issues, including forest land under HMT and forest development fees, which are currently under Supreme Court review. He also noted that the government is taking immediate action to treat injured elephants at the Sugarcane Bull Elephant Camp, highlighting the shortage of wildlife veterinarians and arrangements for temporary medical support.
Responding to broader concerns, Khandre said, “As a minister responsible for forests, environment, and zoology, I feel satisfied that I am entrusted with a role that safeguards the interests of future generations.”
On questions regarding historical figures, he added, “Great personalities do not belong to any single caste. Efforts to claim them as the property of a caste, community, or organization are incorrect. Power lies in unity, and all communities should be brought together for the benefit of the state and nation. Any attempt to unify communities like Veerashaiva-Lingayat will be welcomed.”
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Ramadan fasting to kickoff from Thursday in Karnataka
Bengaluru: The Holy month of Ramadan will start from Thursday, February 19, announced convener of the State Moon Sighting Committee Maulana Maqsood Imran Rashadi on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference after the Moon Sighting Committee meeting held at the State Waqf Board office on Cunningham Road in the city on Wednesday evening, he said that there is no information about moon sighting anywhere in the capital Bengaluru, including other districts.
“However, after receiving reports of moon sightings in neighbouring states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Delhi, it has been decided to start fasting from Thursday,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Maulana Mufti Iftikhar Ahmed Qasmi, Maulana Ejaz Ahmed Nadvi and other members of the ulema.
