No end to BJP's harassment, says Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Jan 14: Claiming to be targeted by the ruling BJP, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Saturday alleged there would be no end to the harassment meted out to him in the wake of the recent Mekedatu padayatra.
Also, he hit out at the administration for booking cases against him and other Congress leaders for holding the march in violation of COVID-19 curbs. He said no such action was taken against the BJP leaders for going against the restrictions.
"Whether Mekedatu or not, they are doing all kinds of experiments on me, it's going on. My daughter was telling me that they have started issuing notices to one of our schools --- harassment, there is no end to it. We will have to live and die with it," Shivakumar said in response to a question whether he feels that he would be targeted by the ruling BJP following the Mekedatu padayatra.
Speaking to reporters here, he said cases were booked against him and other Congress leaders everyday during the march while no such action was taken against BJP leaders, including the Chief Minister, who violated the COVID curbs.
"They may put us in jail and feel happy, that's all. Let them...(I'm their) first aim," he said in response to a question whether there was a conspiracy to finish him off politically.
Further asked whether attempts were on to keep him busy with income tax and ED-related cases, with elections approaching, the KPCC chief said that he would speak on the issue along with evidence in a few days.
"...not now, after some days, along with some evidence I will speak...time is approaching to inform people about it. I will place things before them, with papers," he said.
With limited options before it amid surging COVID cases, the government prohibiting movement, and High Court observations, the Karnataka Congress on Thursday had temporarily halt its padayatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru on its fifth day.
Police have filed four FIRs against Congress leaders, including Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah, for taking out the march defying COVID-19 curbs.
Questioning as to why cases have not been booked against BJP leaders who violated COVID curbs, Shivakumar said, "We will not leave, we will approach the court, also write to the government, seeking booking of cases against all those who violated."
He made it clear that the Congress would target bureaucrats and police officials for not acting against BJP leaders.
Further stating that the Congress would resume its padayatra once the COVID curbs are relaxed, Shivakumar said, "If they (govt) allow 10 people, 10 people will walk, if they allow a 100, 100 will walk...we will have to do it as we have made the commitment."
In response to another question, Shivakumar said let the government respond to activist Medha Patkar and others who have raised environmental and social concerns regarding the Mekedatu project.
"The government is there to answer them, why should I...she (Patkar) is a senior lady, we respect her, Bommai (CM Basavaraj Bommai) is the right man to answer," he said.
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JD(S) wants changes in certain provisions in One Nation-One Election proposal
Bengaluru (PTI): The JD(S) has requested its ally BJP to make changes in certain provisions of the proposed 129th Constitutional Amendment Bill linked to the ONOE proposal, particularly the special powers proposed to be given to the ECI to recommend postponement of elections in any state.
The Parliamentary Joint Committee held discussions with political parties in Bengaluru on Saturday regarding the Constitution Amendment Bill connected to 'One Nation-One Election' and sought their suggestions and opinions.
The JD(S) said suitable amendments had been proposed to the provisions empowering the Election Commission of India to recommend to the President the deferment of state elections, while also seeking legal safeguards for the stability of coalition governments and protection for regional parties during simultaneous elections.
"With regard to the Bill, the JD(S) extended support to the Constitutional amendment with certain conditions and amendments, while suggesting safeguards to ensure that regional parties are not adversely affected by the aggressive election campaigns of national parties during simultaneous elections," the statement said.
The party stated that coalition governments have been formed and functioning at both the state and national levels for several decades in recent years, and "there is a need for legal protection to ensure their stability".
"Therefore, it also suggested incorporating legal safeguards for the stability of coalition governments in the proposed Constitutional amendment," the party, headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, said.
The proposed Constitutional amendment grants special powers to the ECI to recommend to the President the postponement of elections in any state. Suitable amendments to these special powers have been proposed, the party said.
"On the above stated subjects, suitable submissions were made to the JPC," the party said in a statement, which has been posted on its 'X' handle.
According to the statement, the JD(S) delegation was led by M Mallesh Babu and included former MP D Kupendra Reddy, former Assembly Deputy Speaker M Krishna Reddy, former minister Venkatrao Nadagouda, MLA T N Javarayi Gowda, former MLA K A Tippeswamy and party legal cell president A P Ranganath.
