Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislative Council member N. Ravikumar has dismissed speculation that BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs would switch to the Congress, calling it a baseless claim aimed at diverting attention from the ruling party's internal issues.
Speaking to reporters at the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, Ravikumar said, "Congress is spreading these rumors to cover up its misgovernance. They are daydreaming that BJP-JDS MLAs will join them. Instead of making such claims, Congress leaders should focus on ensuring stability within their own ranks."
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Taking a dig at the ruling party, he pointed out alleged infighting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. "The Congress should first resolve its internal power struggle for the CM’s chair and address the concerns of its own MLAs. Many of their legislators are unhappy with this government due to lack of funds for development projects. Let them focus on their issues before thinking about our MLAs," he remarked.
Ravikumar reiterated that the Congress was falsely claiming defections to cover up its internal conflicts. "There are no defections from BJP or JD(S). If any issues arise, our senior leaders will address them. No one is leaving the party," he asserted.
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Mumbai, Apr 3 (PTI): A special NIA court on Thursday granted interim bail to Elgar Parishad-Maoist link case accused Mahesh Raut from April 20 to May 16 to appear for his law degree exams.
Raut was arrested in 2018 for his alleged role in the case and is currently lodged in Taloja jail in neighbouring Navi Mumbai.
Special Judge Chakor Bhaviskar granted Raut bail to appear for the second semester Bachelor of Laws (LLB) exams in Mumbai.
The special National Investigation Agency court granted Raut temporary relief on executing a personal recognition bond of Rs 50,000 with a surety of the same amount.
The court also allowed him to appear for the semester one ATKT (allowed to keep terms) exam on April 4 and viva-voice and assignment presentation on April 9 under police escort.
It also directed Raut to furnish proof of his residential address for this period as well as an active mobile number to jail authorities and the probe agency.
The accused shall not misuse the liberty granted to him and shall immediately surrender to the jail authority on the same day when the examination is over, the court said.
Raut and 14 other activists were booked in connection with allegedly provocative speeches that were delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017. It triggered violence at Koregaon Bhima there the next day.
As per Pune police, the conclave was backed by Maoists.
The National Investigation Agency later took over the probe into the case.