Shivakumar stresses party discipline amid Davanagere South bypoll row
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday underlined the importance of party discipline amid the fallout of the Davanagere South bypoll controversy, even as action against certain leaders triggered fresh ripples within the ruling Congress.
Speaking to reporters here, Shivakumar said decisions regarding the party candidate and subsequent developments were taken after consultations with leaders and based on reports submitted from the ground, which were then acted upon by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Shivakumar’s remarks come against the backdrop of the removal of Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, who was "relieved with immediate effect" following allegations that he worked against the party’s candidate in the Davanagere South Assembly bypoll.
Held on April 9, the election was necessitated by the death of veteran MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa, with the Congress fielding his grandson, Samarth Shamanur.
"If there is no discipline in any party, nothing can function," Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said.
"We decided on the candidate after taking everyone into confidence. Every day we were in touch with various leaders. They all submitted reports, and based on that, the CM has taken the decision (on choosing Samarth Shamanur as the Congress candidate for the Davanagere South Assembly segment bypolls)," he said.
He noted that some Congress leaders had stepped down amid the developments.
"By the time we took a decision, they themselves had given their resignation, and it has been accepted," he said, referring to recent exits, including that of MLC Abdul Jabbar.
On his interaction with MLAs aspiring for ministerial positions, Shivakumar said there was nothing wrong with internal discussions but stressed restraint.
"There is nothing wrong with holding meetings or asking for posts; please do. But one must maintain strict discipline. That is my humble request," he said.
He pointed out that he had advised party members to remain cautious in their public conduct.
Asked about the specific allegations against certain leaders, he said he was awaiting further clarity.
"We, too, had received some reports. Another report has to come on what exactly happened (in Davanagere South); I am waiting for it," he said.
On whether any report had been submitted against Housing and Minority Welfare Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Shivakumar said, "I have no information."
Khan was among those who had demanded that a Muslim candidate be given the ticket in Davanagere South, as the constituency has a substantial Muslim population.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah summoned him on Tuesday. The outcome of the meeting remains unknown.
Tensions had surfaced within the party over the candidate selection, with sections of minority leaders expressing dissatisfaction and demanding representation.
Although a rebel candidate later withdrew his nomination following intervention by the leadership, discontent reportedly persisted, with some leaders staying away from campaign activities.
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Our govt committed to delivering true social justice to every poor: PM Modi
Dehradun (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that "after abrogation of Article 370, the Constitution is now fully applicable across the entire nation", and asserted that the NDA government is committed to delivering true social justice to every poor.
Addressing a public meeting in Dehradun after the inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor, Modi said, "Today is also the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar. On behalf of the people of the nation, I pay my tributes to Babasaheb. The policies formulated and the decisions taken by our government over the past decade have served to restore the dignity of the Constitution."
Babasaheb's life was dedicated to ensuring a just system for the poor, deprived and the exploited, he added.
"After abrogation of Article 370, the Constitution is now fully applicable across the entire nation. Work is being done in a dozen districts according to the spirit of the Constitution where Maoism, Naxalism have ended," he said.
Modi said our Constitution expects that a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) be implemented in the country, adding that by taking this spirit forward, Uttarakhand has shown the path to the nation.
"Today, our government is committed to that very same spirit for delivering true social justice to every poor and deprived individual," he said.
The prime minister asserted that a big medium for achieving social justice is the balanced development of the nation by providing amenities to all and ensuring prosperity for everyone. It is for this reason that Babasaheb strongly advocated modern infrastructure and industrialisation, he added.
He said this decade would be that of Uttarakhand and this corridor will give a huge push to the state's growth.
"When tourism develops, all benefit. I am happy that Uttarakhand is emerging as a key destination for winter tourism and sports," Modi said.
He also said that the 12-km elevated corridor along the Delhi-Dehradun expressway has been built keeping the safety and security of elephants in mind.
Referring to the Haridwar Kumbh, Modi said, "Haridwar will host Kumbh next year and we must leave no stone unturned to make the experience a divine and clean one."
Earlier in the day, the prime minister inaugurated the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor, which will cut travel time between the two cities to nearly half.
The 213 km-long six-lane access-controlled Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor has been built at a cost of over Rs 12,000 crore.
The corridor traverses through Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over six hours at present to around two-and-a-half hours, according to an official statement.
The Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor will play a pivotal role in strengthening regional economic growth by enhancing connectivity between major tourism and economic centres as well as opening new avenues for trade and development across the region.
"The project reflects the vision of the prime minister to develop next-generation infrastructure that combines high-speed connectivity with environmental sustainability and improved quality of life for citizens," the statement said.
Implementation of the project also involves the construction of 10 interchanges, three Railway Over Bridges (ROBs), four major bridges and 12 wayside amenities to enable seamless high-speed connectivity.
The corridor is equipped with an Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) to provide a safer and more efficient travel experience for commuters.
Keeping in view the ecological sensitivity, rich biodiversity and wildlife in the region, the corridor has been designed with several features aimed at significantly reducing human-wildlife conflict.
To ensure the free movement of wild animals, the project incorporates several dedicated wildlife protection features. These include a 12-km-long wildlife elevated corridor, which is one of the longest in Asia.
The corridor also includes eight animal passes, two elephant underpasses of 200 metres each, and a 370-metre-long tunnel near Maa Daat Kali Temple.
Prime Minister Modi also paid floral tributes to Dr BR Ambedkar on this occasion.
Modi inspected the wildlife corridor on the elevated section of the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor in Saharanpur and also held a roadshow in the Uttar Pradesh town, waving at people who had lined up.
He offered prayers at Maa Daat Kali Temple near Dehradun.
A large number of people gathered in Dehradun and waved at the prime minister as his motorcade passed through the streets of the Uttarakhand capital.
