Modern history hasn't seen a head of state so volatile, uncivil: Deve Gowda hits out at Trump
New Delhi, Aug 1 (PTI): Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Friday launched a scathing attack on US President Donald Trump over his remarks on India, calling him the most "volatile, uncivil and irresponsible" head of state in modern history.
In a statement, the JD(S) leader said he was "surprised" by Trump's "baseless and ill-tempered remarks" on India and the Indian economy, and accused the US President of behaving badly not just with India but "with every other country across the world".
"I don't think modern history has seen another head of state who has been so volatile, uncivil and irresponsible. Mr Trump has not just behaved badly with India, but with every other country across the world. He has not spared his own longstanding allies," Deve Gowda said.
The 92-year-old leader suggested there was "something fundamentally wrong" with Trump that "reason, diplomacy or statecraft" could not address, but said he would not elaborate further as it would mean "lowering our own standards".
"Even a small trader and a poor farmer in India, who conducts his business with great dignity, integrity and humanity, can teach many lessons to Mr Trump," he said.
Deve Gowda praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for standing firm against Trump's "bullying".
"I am very happy and proud that India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has not compromised our national interest. It has not blinked to Mr Trump's bullying and has shown that it will never be dictated by threat," he said.
He lauded the Modi government for going "the full length" to protect the agricultural sector and small and medium businesses, "on which more than half the nation's population is dependent".
Deve Gowda said the government's "firm stand" would lead to "national resurgence of an unprecedented scale".
Responding to Trump's characterisation of India's economy as "dead", the former prime minister said: "India has been the fastest growing economy and is the fifth largest economy in the globe. Mr Trump must either be blind or ill-informed to designate our economy as 'dead'."
He emphasised that India is "a sovereign nation that is diverse and democratic" and has "always acted in supreme national interest" since Independence, with the "God-given ability and strength to negotiate all difficulties that come its way and emerge stronger".
In a sharp rebuke to some Opposition leaders, Deve Gowda warned those who had "rejoiced" Trump's statements and "jumped to be his deluded spokespersons in India".
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
