Shivakumar warns Cong members against leadership change talk
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday took strong exception to party members discussing leadership change in the state, saying such statements are "damaging the party".
Congress MLA H D Ranganath, who is Shivakumar's relative, and former Mandya MP L R Shivarame Gowda on Wednesday renewed the debate by claiming that Shivakumar will become the next CM of the state.
Gowda also said that it will happen in November.
"No one is permitted to speak on power sharing, including Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath. I have asked Congress state working president G C Chandrashekhar to issue notice," Shivakumar told reporters here.
He underlined that the matter is now closed after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's assertion that he would complete his full five-year term and both leaders would abide by the high command's decision.
Siddaramaiah had on Wednesday said he would complete full five-year term and that he would toe the party line.
Shivakumar asked, "Where is the discussion on power sharing? It's me who is saying this. Nothing of that sort should be discussed."
"There should be no question on this. Whatever Siddaramaiah has said is final. After his statement, no one should discuss it. People who are speaking on it are damaging the party. Those speaking on his or my behalf are damaging the party and are indulging in anti-party activity. This is what is have to say," said the Congress state president.
Reiterating the party's disciplined stance, the Deputy Chief Minister said, "He (Siddaramaiah) has said that he will listen to the high command. We will obey the high command. We are the disciplined soldiers of our party. For us party is important, not the individual.
Siddaramaiah has said he is not important but the party. We will obey what the party says. That's what we should do."
On the BJP's statement that its revolution is finalised, he said let the saffron party discuss its own revolution.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Shivakumar said let the opposition party focus on its internal squabbles.
"I will give them (BJP leaders) needle and thread. Let them stitch the torn portion in the party.
To a query on BJP leaders sporting RSS uniform, Shivakumar replied let them do whatever they want.
"It may be of interest to you, but I don't need it. We think only about the freedom of the nation," the Deputy CM said.
Shivakumar then questioned the BJP's commitment to secular values, referencing Mahatma Gandhi's devotional song 'Raghupati Raghav Raajaram...'
"Can they (BJP) say Allah? Can they repeat what Gandhi had said?"
He highlighted Karnataka’s state anthem, saying there is a line 'Hindu Christ Musalmana, Parsi Sikh Jainara Udyana', which the BJP leaders avoid.
"Our state is a garden of peace. They (BJP) can avoid in their heart but we have put these words in the foundation of this country. They can neither avoid it nor remove it. They have to live with it," Shivakumar said.
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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