No action from Modi on 40% commission: Siddaramaiah
Ballari, Oct 15: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi with inaction on the letter sent to him by a contractors association accusing the BJP government in Karnataka of charging 40 per cent commission on public work.
Addressing a public meeting in Ballari as Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra completed 1,000 km, Siddaramaiah said the association president Kempanna wrote a letter to Modi a year ago stating that the BJP government has been demanding the commission.
"Today which government is called 40 per cent commission government? It's only the BJP government. It's not me who is saying this but the Contractors' Association president Kempanna who wrote a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the BJP government in Karnataka has been demanding 40 per cent commission on every project," Siddaramaiah said.
The Congress leader's charge was a part of the party's campaign against the alleged corruption. The party recently launched the PayCM campaign with a QR code showing the image of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. It is a copy of the digital payment platform 'PayTM'.
"It's been one year since Kempanna wrote the letter but Narendra Modi did not take any action. Whenever we raise the issue he says, "Na Khaunga, Na Khane Doonga" (I will not eat and will not allow others to eat.)," the Congress stalwart alleged.
"Where are you Mr Narendra Modi? For the past one year you did not taken any action on the letter written by Mr Kempanna. Aren't you ashamed?" the former chief minister said.
The Congress leader said the only contribution by the BJP government in Ballari was looting natural resources by the mining barons.
"Who was part of the illegal mining? Who encouraged it? Because of our padayatra in 2010 from Bengaluru to Ballari, a situation was created to send former BJP minister G Janardhan Reddy to jail. Today also they (Reddy brothers) are facing many criminal cases," Siddaramaiah charged.
He launched an attack on the Ballari district-in-charge minister B Sriramulu for questioning the contribution of the first Prime Minister of the country Nehru by saying he has no right to question the Congress, which sacrificed too much right from the time of pre-independence.
Siddaramaiah claimed that the BJP started its Jana Sankalpa Yatra' after seeing the response to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra.
"Due to the enormous support to Rahul Gandhi's march, these people (BJP) are trembling with fear that they will lose power. That's the reason that they are blabbering gibberish. The people of Karnataka have resolved to throw away your government and bring back the Congress government in Karnataka in 2023," he claimed.
The Congress leader said the BJP government in Karnataka amended the Land Reform Act to allow big corporates to directly purchase land from farmers.
Siddaramiah alleged that the RSS and the Sangh Parivar were politicising religions.
Not only in Karnataka but also across the country, the RSS is involved in the despicable work of dividing people on communal lines, he said.
"Today the RSS and its affiliate organisations are opposed to the national flag, national anthem, democracy and constitution of India.
Today the constitution and democracy are in danger," Siddaramaiah said as he called upon people to join the Congress party's effort to fight against them.
He said Rahul Gandhi's march was aimed at saving the Constitution.
"Today I kneel before Rahul Gandhi for his bold decision of taking out a march. Let us all join hand in hand," he said.
The Congress in Karnataka turned the Bharat Jodo Yatra into a major show of strength ahead of Assembly polls which is less than seven months away.
A large number of people turned up at the Municipal grounds in Ballari dotted with banners, posters, cutouts, flags and festoons. Elaborate security arrangements were made to ensure law and order though the event passed off peacefully.
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India, Vietnam elevate ties to enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership; set USD 25 bn
New Delhi (PTI): India and Vietnam on Wednesday elevated their ties to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership and set a USD 25 billion annual trade target by 2030 as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President To Lam held talks focusing on expanding bilateral ties in areas of trade, defence, and critical minerals in the face of increasing geopolitical upheavals.
Following the Modi-Lam meeting, the two sides signed as many as 13 agreements which will provide for deeper two ways engagements in a range of areas including digital payments, rare earth minerals, pharmaceuticals, education, banking and culture.
Modi and Lam also deliberated on the situation in the Indo-Pacific amid China's increasing assertiveness in the region, and agreed to continue to contribute to the rule-of-law, peace, stability, and prosperity.
It is understood that China's growing military muscle-flexing in the South China Sea also figured in the delegation-level talks between the two sides.
Elected as president earlier this month, Lam began his first state visit to India on Tuesday, leading a high-level delegation for a three-day trip.
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"A decade ago, Vietnam became India's first comprehensive strategic partner in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) . Since then, our relations have made rapid and comprehensive progress," Modi said in his media statement.
"Building on this strong foundation, today we are elevating our relations to the level of Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We will now advance our partnership to even higher goals," he said.
"Our cooperation will reach new levels in every area ' culture, connectivity, and capacity building, as well as security, sustainability, and supply chain resilience," Modi added.
He noted that the bilateral trade between India and Vietnam has doubled in the last decade to reach USD 16 billion and that the target now is to increase it to USD 25 billion by 2030.
Modi also cited a plethora of agreements signed between the two countries to emphasis that the economic engagement is expected to witness a significant upswing going forward.
"The MoU between our drug authorities will now increase access to Indian medicines in Vietnam. Exports of Indian agricultural, fisheries, and animal products to Vietnam are also set to become easier. Very soon, Vietnam will taste India's grapes and pomegranates," he said.
The two sides also agreed to update the India-ASEAN trade agreement by the end of this year.
"This will provide a new impetus to trade and investment between India and all ASEAN countries. New initiatives in critical minerals, rare earths, and energy cooperation will ensure the economic security and supply chain resilience of both countries," Modi said.
"To boost financial connectivity, we have today decided to enhance cooperation between our central banks. India's UPI and Vietnam's fast payment systems will soon be linked. Furthermore, we are strengthening state-to-state and city-to-city cooperation between the two countries," he noted.
Modi said India is grateful to Vietnam for its strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and standing with India in its fight against terrorism.
"In this era of global turmoil and economic challenges, thanks to their talent, good governance, and economic reforms, India and Vietnam are emerging as the world's fastest-growing economies," he said.
"Now, through our enhanced strategic partnership, we will support each other's rapid growth. As the Buddha's teachings say, 'If you light a lamp for someone else, it also illuminates your own path'," Modi said.
He also described Vietnam a a key pillar of India's Act East Policy and Vision Ocean.
"In the Indo-Pacific region as well, we share a common outlook. Through our strengthening defence and security cooperation, we will continue to contribute to the rule-of-law, peace, stability, and prosperity," he said.
The prime minister said India will broaden its relations with ASEAN with Vietnam's cooperation.
In his remarks, Lam said both sides agreed to deepen political trust and elevate security cooperation.
Last year, the two sides inked a pact to set up a framework for submarine search, rescue and support mechanism. They also signed a letter of intent (LoI) to strengthen bilateral defence industry collaboration.
