Need to revisit the practice of Governor's address to legislature, its relevance: BJP leader
Bengaluru (PTI): Senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar on Friday said that there is a need to revisit the practice of Governor's annual address to the state legislature, and its relevance today.
Terming the practice as "colonial hangover", he said, Karnataka should take a lead in ensuring a national debate on whether the practice should continue.
He said this while participating in debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor's address in the Legislative Assembly.
In a high drama at joint session of the state legislature on January 22, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot had refused to read the government-prepared address and concluded his customary speech in just three lines, evoking a sharp reaction from the Congress government.
The Governor had refused to deliver the customary address to the Karnataka legislature, taking exception to certain critical references to the Centre and its decision to "repeal" the UPA-era MGNREGA.
"The Governor addressing the joint session has become an annual exercise. The importance, purpose and sanctity of the Governor's address has vanished today. There have been 18 Governors in Karnataka so far since Jayachamarajendra Wodiyar, among them some people like Dharam Vira are still remembered, while few others are remembered for unwanted reasons, I don't want to detail it," Kumar said.
The country adapted England's Westminster system, where the King or Queen addresses their Parliament, he said.
"But the architects of our constitution did not expect such a situation would arise where there will be conflict over the Governor's address, like they did not know about cyber crimes while framing Indian Penal Code (IPC)," he added.
Stating that he was sharing his personal opinion and it was not his party line, the BJP leader said, "there is a need to revisit the practice of Governor's address. Should we continue with the Governor's address? Is it relevant today?"
"We bring the Governor (to the Assembly), make him read the speech stating --My government. They (the government) present the address, we (opposition) condemn it. Ultimately disrespect is caused to the Governor's office," he added.
Referring to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's statement that he would pursue a constitutional amendment to end the practice of Governor's address, Kumar said, Governor's office has its own respect.
Rama Jois, who had served as judge of the Karnataka High Court, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand, had an opinion that the practice of Governor's address should end, Suresh Kumar said.
He said, "I feel that Karnataka should take a lead in ensuring a national debate on whether the practice of Governor's address continue? What would be its purpose if continued? What should the Governor be made to say in the address?"
Noting that the Governor's address should in fact speak about last one year's achievements of the government and outline its policy for the year ahead, the MLA said, but these days the Governor's address has "political overtones".
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Trump rushed out of dinner event after shots fired; one arrested
Washington (PTI): US President Donald Trump and other top White House officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of White House correspondents after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside the ballroom of the hotel.
The incident took place at around 8:34 PM local time when dinner was served. At that time, Trump was seen having a conversation with Weijia Jiang, the President of the White House Correspondents' Association, and mentalist Oz Pearlman, who was scheduled to present a show at the marquee event at the Washington Hilton here.
Secret Service officials and other security personnel covered the President, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President J D Vance, and the Second Lady Usha Vance, who were seated at the head table, and escorted them out of the ballroom.
Several guests at the dinner, including leaders across the political spectrum, journalists and other invitees, ducked under the table, apparently as a reflex reaction.
Putting up a brave face, President Trump later announced on Truth Social that the dinner would be rescheduled within 30 days.
“Boom, boom, boom, boom is all that I heard, and many guests ducked under the table,” a C-SPAN reporter at the dinner said.
Hours later, Trump addressed a press conference at the White House and announced that the security personnel had captured one person who hails from California.
“I heard a noise and sort of thought it was a tray going down. I've heard that many times. It was a pretty loud noise, and it was from quite far away. He (the attacker) hadn't reached the area at all. They really got him,” Trump told reporters, recalling the incident.
Trump said one security officer was shot at but saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Several protestors had lined up on the road outside the hotel, raising slogans against the Trump administration and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
A CNN reporter who was outside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton said he saw a gunman opening fire just a few feet away. He was among the dozens of attendees who took cover as law enforcement swarmed the venue.
The suspect has been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from California.
Asked how Saturday’s incident impacts him as the US president, Trump told reporters he is in a dangerous job but that he is no “basket case.”
“I like not to think about it. I lead a pretty normal life, considering, you know, it’s a dangerous life. I think I handle it as well as it can be handled,” Trump said.
Trump has survived two assassination attempts over the past two years – first at a presidential election campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, and later in Palm Beach, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
“I will say you had Republicans, Democrats, independents, conservatives, liberals, and progressives...everybody in that room, big crowd, record-setting crowd,” he said.
“We had some great work done by law enforcement, but in light of this evening's events, I ask that all Americans recommit with their hearts in resolving our differences peacefully,” Trump said.
