Belagavi: Karnataka Speaker U T Khader on Thursday said there is no proposal to remove the life size portrait of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar from the Assembly chamber here.
Speaking to reporters here, he said that he will go by the Constitution, amid speculations that Savarkar's portrait that was unveiled during the previous BJP regime at 'Suvarna Vidhana Soudha' will be removed.
Meanwhile, Minister Priyank Kharge said that, if allowed, he would remove Savarkar's portrait.
The unveiling of Savarkar's portrait in December, 2022, along with several national icons, had drawn criticism from the then opposition -- Congress -- which had alleged that it was a unilateral decision, keeping them in the dark.
''I don't know about the matter...there is no such proposal,'' Khader said, in response to a question about speculations that Savarakr's portrait will be removed and it will be replaced with Nehru's.
Asked as to what he would do if such a proposal comes, he said, ''let it come first...'' Khader on Sunday said the proposal to install the portrait of first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inside the Assembly chamber, will be discussed.
In response to a question about the opinion expressed by some Congress legislators that the photos put up were not in accordance with the protocol, and they had to be done as per the rule, the Speaker said, ''What has to be done in accordance with the Constitution, I will do it....I will function in accordance with the Constitution.'' Reacting to speculations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said it is left to the Speaker to decide.
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.
Singapore (PTI): Singapore’s Indian-origin Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh was found guilty on Monday of giving false testimony to a parliamentary committee, a verdict that could see him disqualified from Parliament and contesting a general election this year.
In the verdict delivered in the State Courts, Deputy Principal District Judge Luke Tan convicted Singh of the two charges against him.
The charges against Singh relate to his handling of Raeesah Khan, a former lawmaker from his party, who lied to Parliament in a separate case.
Singh, 48, was accused of wilfully giving two false answers to the Committee of Privileges (COP) during its inquiry into Khan's case on December 10 and December 15, 2021.
The case stems from Singh’s handling of Khan’s false claim in Parliament about accompanying a sexual assault victim to the police station.
Singh faces up to three years in jail, a fine of up to SGD7,000 (USD 5,290), or both for each charge.
Singh’s trial began four months ago.
Politically, the conviction could disqualify Singh from his parliamentary seat and rule out his standing in the next general election which must be called by November 2025.
"Any claim he made to the COP to the contrary was a lie he wilfully told," said Judge Tan.
The sentencing in the case will be announced later in the day.