Portfolio allocation of newly-inducted ministers won't cause dismay: D.K Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Dec 28: Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar Friday said fresh allocation of portfolios to newly-inducted ministers would not cause any dismay among the incumbents in the Congress-JDS coalition government.
He also said he was expecting Congress President Rahul Gandhi to announce the portfolios of all the 22 Congress ministers today.
"Allocation of portfolios to eight newly-inducted ministers will not cause any dismay among the incumbent ministers including me in the coalition government," he told PTI.
Noting that the Congress was a "disciplined party," he said, "The blackmailing tactics of Ramesh (Jarkiholi) and his group will not work out.. We value discipline very much."
After Jarkiholi was dropped from the ministry, he has threatened to quit as Congress lawmaker and is likely to announce his decision soon amid reports that he might join the BJP.
The audio of a conversation purportedly involving Jarkiholi was aired by local TV channels on Sunday where he is heard talking about his plans to quit as Congress MLA, fuelling speculations about him defecting to BJP.
Jarkiholi, who has allegedly been cosy with BJP leaders and not attending cabinet and party meetings, was replaced by his brother Satish Jarkiholi.
Asked about media reports on the rift between Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Congress-JDS coalition coordination committee head Siddaramaiah over giving up of additional portfolios, Shivakumar said, "I am not aware of that."
According to reports, the meeting between top party leaders on Wednesday to decide on portfolios was not cordial, as Parameshwara expressed displeasure after Siddaramaiah asked him to give up some key portfolios.
However, the Deputy Chief Minister had later clarified that he would abide by the decision taken by the party high command.
Parameshwara currently holds the departments of home, Bengaluru city related affairs, youth affairs and sports.
Reacting to JDS leader Basavaraj Horatti's allegations that the Congress was not allowing Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to function in peace, Shivakumar said it was "false."
"The allegations are false.. We (Congress party) are not interfering.. We want a stable government. We want Kumaraswamy to be strong. At no point of time will I be a backstabber," he said.
Horatti has been upset with the Congress after he lost out to the party's Prathap Chandra Shetty in the race to occupy the legislative council chairman's seat.
Horatti, who was pro-tem chairman of the council, was one of the front-runners for the post.
He had also claimed that the Congress announced appointment of heads to 20 boards and corporations without consulting Kumaraswamy.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
