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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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
