Shivakumar says as loyal Congress man he preferred jail to BJP's offer in 2019
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has said that he preferred to go to jail by refusing to destabilise the Congress-JD(S) coalition government and declining to take up the Deputy CM post offered by the central BJP, during the 2019 political instability in the state.
He said this on Wednesday while speaking at the launch of a book on him -- "A Symbol of Loyalty D K Shivakumar "-- written by K M Raghu.
BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka termed Shivkumar's claims, as his message to Congress high command and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, ahead of "November revolution", indicating that he has other choices if there is no transfer of power, making him CM.
There have been speculations about the CM change in the state when the Congress government reaches the halfway mark of its five-year term in November, which is being referred to by some as "November revolution".
"I was in Kanakapura, my friends here know, I came running as ten people (MLAs) had gone to the Speaker to submit their resignation (in 2019). I brought back five to six MLAs. At that time, I got a call from Delhi. I won't tell now, the name of the person from the BJP who called me on an income tax auditor's phone. My brother (former MP D K Suresh) was also with me," Shivakumar said.
Addressing the gathering, he said, "There was a DG here, he too spoke, he was on another phone. I was asked from Delhi, whether you will become the Deputy CM or will you go to jail -- (Asked to) choose from these two options, and to send them (MLAs) back."
Stating that he refused to cooperate, Shivakumar said, "What to do? Party loyalty was there, as at a very young age, Rajiv Gandhi (former PM) gave me an Assembly ticket, made me a minister, with (former CM) Bangarappa's cooperation. I have grown so far."
"I told (BJP leader on call) -- I prefer jail to becoming a Deputy Chief Minister. I could have become (Deputy CM) then. Don't know what would have happened in politics. But, I stood by my party, its workers, ideology, the path in which I grew, and secular principle," he added.
However, the Congress-JD(S) wobbly government, with H D Kumaraswamy as chief minister, subsequently collapsed in July, 2019, as 17 legislators resigned and came out of the ruling coalition. It paved the way for the BJP to come to power.
Shivakumar was arrested by the ED on September 3, 2019, in a money-laundering case, and the Delhi High Court granted him bail in October that year.
Reacting to Shivakumar's statement, Ashoka, while speaking to reporters here said, "D K Shivakumar doesn't do anything without a meaning. He is sending a message to Siddaramaiah and Congress leadership that he has other choices if power is not given to him. He is also sending a message about his loyalty to Congress," he said.
"He (Shivakumar) is trying to threaten Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Siddaramaiah. If his claims are true, he should reveal facts as to who called him, at what time, from which phone number and for what?" he added.
"Shivakumar had gone to jail in a corruption case. It has nothing to do with what he is claiming. If he is saying it now, he is sending a message; this is a threat to Congress party and its leadership," he claimed.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
