No issues over alliance and seat-sharing with BJP for LS poll: HD Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru: Karnataka JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy on Friday said there are no issues with respect to his party's alliance with the BJP, and also regarding seat sharing between the two parties in the state for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The former Chief Minister also did not rule out the possibility of his brother-in-law and noted cardiac surgeon Dr C N Manjunath contesting the Lok Sabha election.
Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Thursday, and they are said to have held discussions regarding seat sharing.
"There are no issues with respect to alliance in any way, there are also no issues regarding seat sharing. Our intention is -- the alliance should win all the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state," Kumaraswamy said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said both parties will take the decisions together.
JD(S) formally joined the BJP-led NDA in September last year and both parties decided to fight the Lok Sabha polls together.
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To a question regarding Manjunath contesting the polls, the JDS leader said, "everyone has positive opinion of him for his service to the state and to the medical field, based on that some people have expressed their feelings about bringing him to politics, but he has said that he has not decided yet. Let's see when the time comes, what to decide."
There is intense speculation about Manjunath being fielded as the alliance's candidate from Bengaluru Rural constituency, currently represented by Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh.
According to some reports, he may contest on a BJP ticket, based on arrangement between both parties.
Asked about the possibility of a JD(S) leader D Kupendra Reddy winning the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, Kumaraswamy said, "All of us take up any journey with a desire to win the goal. Whether the desire will be fulfilled or not will be known after polls on February 27."
BJP-JD(S) combine have fielded Reddy as its second candidate, even though the alliance has the strength to win only one out of four seats.
Kumaraswamy said he has not been able to participate in the ongoing Assembly session as doctors have advised him "voice rest" and not to speak much.
Hitting out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his recent speech in the Legislative Council, targeting the central government and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while demanding central funds for the state, he accused him of bringing down the state's pride.
Seeking to know whether the CM was turning Karnataka into a "beggar state", he said, "Karnataka is a wealthy state. When it comes to its own tax revenues, Karnataka stands number one in the country. There is no shortage of funds. To quench your thirst to loot you are emptying the state's coffers. The coffers are getting empty not because of guarantee schemes."
He also alleged that the state government is constantly in a confrontation mode with the Centre.
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'How long can you stare at wife?': L&T head suggests 90-hour work week
New Delhi, Jan 9: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chairman S N Subrahmanyan sparked an online outrage with his comments advocating a 90-hour work week and suggesting that employees should even give up Sundays.
"How long can you stare at your wife," he is heard saying in a purported video address to employees where he urged them to spend less time at home and more in the office.
His remarks reignited the work-life balance debate, first triggered by Infosys Co-Founder Narayana Murthy's suggestion of a 70-hour work week.
"I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays," Subrahmanyan is heard saying in an undated video circulating on social media.
"What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can the wives stare at their husbands? Come on, get to the office and start working," he further said.
His comments drew criticism on social media with some asking how long could "employees stare at screens and fat*** managers?"
Soon after, L&T issued a clarification saying the chairman's remarks were in the context of extraordinary efforts required for achieving extraordinary outcomes for the nation.
"We believe this is India's decade, a time demanding collective dedication and effort to drive progress and realise our shared vision of becoming a developed nation.
"The chairman's remarks reflect this larger ambition, emphasising that extraordinary effort," L&T spokesperson said in a brief statement.
Stating that nation-building is at the core of L&T's mandate, it said for over eight decades, the company has been shaping India's infrastructure, industries, and technological capabilities.
"At L&T, we remain committed to fostering a culture where passion, purpose, and performance drive us forward," the spokesperson added.
In the video, Sumeet Chatterjee, Chief Communications Officer at L&T, is seen asking the chairman, "Why are L&T employees asked to work on Saturdays despite being a top conglomerate?"
In response, the chairman says, "I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays, to be honest. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be more happy, because I work on Sundays also."
Subrahmanyan went on to share an anecdote. He cited a conversation he had with a Chinese person who said that China could surpass the US because of the country's strong work ethic.
According to Subrahmanyan, the Chinese person said, "Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week."
Drawing a parallel, Subrahmanyan encouraged L&T employees to follow a similar work regime.
"So that's the answer for you. If you have got to be on top of the world, you have to work 90 hours a week," he is heard saying in the video.
The video went viral quickly, attracting some nasty comments as well. "Another CEO promoting slavery shamelessly," one person commented.
Some questioned why highly paid CEOs with different job pressures expect the same level of commitment from less-paid employees.
Subrahmanyan's comments reignited the work-life balance debate that came into limelight in July last year following the death of a 26-year-old EY consultant.
Infosys Co-Founder Murthy, too, had a few months back advocated a 70-hour work week. "India's work productivity is one of the lowest in the world... my request is that our youngsters must say, 'this is my country, I want to work 70 hours a week'," Murthy had said.
Last month, billionaire Gautam Adani had also waded into the work-life balance debate when he said the spouse will leave if one was to spend eight hours with the family.
He had reportedly stated that work-life balance is a matter of personal choice. "Your idea of work-life balance should not be imposed on me and my idea shouldn't be imposed on you. Say, someone spends 4 hours with family and finds joy in it, or if someone else spends 8 hours and enjoys it, that is their work-life balance."
"Aath ghanta family ke saath bitayega tho biwi bhaag jaayegi (Wife will leave if one spends eight hours with family)," he had said.
L&T Chairman #SNSubrahmanyan wants employees to work 90 hours a week, because how long can you stare at your husband/wife.
— NDTV Profit (@NDTVProfitIndia) January 9, 2025
Is this toxic culture sustainable? @TamannaInamdar asks 'The Big Question'
Also read: https://t.co/qCiB0PQxcP pic.twitter.com/TS2BUe39ut
