Telangana CM KCR hints at grand alliance, says there will be sensational news in 2-3 months
Bengaluru, May 26: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Thursday hinted at a grand opposition alliance saying that there will be sensational news in the next two to three months regarding such a front.
The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief also said despite 'bhaashanbaazi' (rhetoric), industries are closing down, the nation's GDP is crashing and the rupee is falling drastically compared to the US dollar.
He was speaking to reporters after holding a discussion with JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, his son and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and his grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy.
"Lots of talks happen but now India will change. India has to change and take a shape for future. It has to rise despite politics, politicians. Efforts should be made to change the situation of the country. After two to three months, you will get to see some sensational news," the Telangana Chief Minister said.
Rao said he discussed everything regarding the political situation at the national level and in Karnataka during his meeting with the first family of JD(S).
The Telangana CM said he had been to Karnataka ahead of assembly elections in 2018 and predicted Kumaraswamy becoming chief minister, which turned out to be true.
"When I was there before Karnataka elections last time, I said I will come for the swearing in ceremony of Kumaraswamy, and my words were proved to be right and he became the chief minister. This time I assure you, there is going to be a change at the national level. No one can stop it," the TRS supremo said.
Speaking about the prevailing situation, he said the country has enough resources yet it is suffering due to shortage of water, electricity and irrigation even after 75 years of independence while many nations that secured freedom along with India are way ahead of the country.
Optimistic about India's growth, Rao said India will shine irrespective of which party rules the country. In this regard, he called upon everyone to join in nation-building.
"Every effort should be made to build a bright India. I appeal to the journalists to contribute in this pursuit as their contribution is needed," Rao further said.
Appealing to the journalists to shun sensation and controversial news, he urged them to hold discussions on taking the nation towards the right path as the situation is worsening.
"Today no one is happy, be it farmers, Dalits, tribals. Who is happy today? Situation is worsening day by day. What's the reality other than rhetoric (bhaashanbazi) and promises? Industries are getting closed, the GDP is crashing, inflation is spiralling, the rupee has fallen completely. Never in history has the rupee fell to such a low level compared to the US dollar," Rao pointed out.
Addressing reporters, former Karnataka chief minister Kumaraswamy said Rao held discussions with Gowda for about two to three hours regarding various issues prevailing in the country. "In the next two to three months, we will get you a good news," Kumaraswamy said.
Stating that regional parties are on the rise and the only ones putting up a front against the BJP, he called upon all the regional parties to shun their differences in the national interest and come to a "common platform".
"There is an urgency for these parties to keep aside all their differences and come to a common platform keeping in view the national interest and to save the country," the JD(S) second-in-command said.
Noting that the Congress is on decline with each passing day, the former Karnataka chief minister hailed Rao for the vision with which he is moving ahead.
According to him, Rao's move will lay the foundation for the future of India.
Rao arrived in Bengaluru hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Telangana capital Hyderabad to participate in the 20th year celebrations of the Indian School of Business.
After the meeting with Rao, former PM Gowda tweeted, "Hon'ble CM of Telangana Shri K. Chandrashekhar Rao visited me at my residence, today. We exchanged views on various topics of national importance. It was a candid and cordial meeting."
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Karnataka Assembly passes bill on Palace Grounds amid opposition protest
Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Bill, reaffirming state ownership over 472 acres and 16 guntas of land here, amid protests by the opposition BJP.
During the discussion, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state government would have to provide Rs 200 crore worth of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for each acre of land, which means that for 15 acres, Rs 3,000 crore worth of TDR would be issued.
“If we accept it, then this 2-km stretch of road will become the costliest road in the world. If we accept it then how are we going to develop the city in later stages? How will you carry out development works?” asked Patil.
He also pointed out that this question was raised not only under the Congress government but also during the previous BJP regime.
However, the BJP-led cabinet has opposed the project.
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“Suppose we agree to it then, what will be the valuation of the 472 acres? It will be lakhs and lakhs of crores of rupees. Can we accept?” Patil wondered.
The Minister said the government had previously exercised its executive powers to issue an ordinance, which was approved by the Governor. Now the government is bringing a bill with two amendments.
“In this bill, we have made provisions either to develop or drop the road development work,” Patil explained.
However, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad opposed the move, alleging that the government was targetting Yaduveer Krishna Datta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru royal family, and the BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency out of political vendetta.
“We talk of 472 acres of Mysuru Maharaja but here there are many Maharajas who too own 400 acres, 500 acres and thousands of acres of land, which is known to everyone,” Bellad said.
He slammed the Congress government, saying political power should not be misused for personal vendetta.
“Why (the then Deputy Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah brought the law in 1996 pertaining to the Bangalore Palace? Why are you setting eyes on the Bangalore Palace?” he asked.
Vijayendra charged that Wadiyar won the election on BJP ticket so the state government realised that it should acquire it.
“This bill has been brought for political vengeance. We are not discussing whether Rs 3,000 crore is exorbitant or not but the moment Yaduveer became MP, the state government woke up. You should be ashamed. This house should not be used for political vendetta,” he said.
Intervening, Minister Priyank Kharge said Vijayendra should not have raised it because the intention behind building the road was noble.
According to him, the BJP too had the same plan when it was in power.
He sought to know whether thousands of crores of rupees be spent on a road which should have cost significantly less.
In response, BJP MLA B A Basavaraj (Byrathi) said issuing TDR will not be a burden on the state government and appealed to the ruling Congress to reconsider its stance.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy too explained that the Karnataka government acquired the entire land way back in 1996.
The Mysuru royal family went to the High Court, which gave ruling in favour of the state government. The royal family then approached the Supreme Court, where the case is still going on, the Minister pointed out.
“The final judgment is pending in the SC to decide whether the acquisition was right or wrong. If the SC says it’s the royal family’s property then let it be so. If the order is in the state government’s favour then we can take a decision. The bill is only about it,” Reddy explained.
Speaker U T Khader then called for a voice vote and the bill was passed by the Assembly amidst opposition BJP’s discontent.
