Union minister Athawale invites Kumaraswamy to join hands with BJP
Bengaluru, Apr 15: Union Social Justice Minister and Republican Party of India(A) president Ramdas Athawale Monday said the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka will not last long and asked Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to join hands with BJP for the state's welfare.
Terming the Congress as "casteist", the Dalit leader said that party president Rahul Gandhi should not dream about becoming Prime Minister.
"...Kumaraswamy is upset, I request him-why are you behind Congress when the BJP-JD(S) coalition government can be formed?"Athawale told reporters here.
Stating that there was such a proposal earlier, he said "Congress was clever, they supported Kumaraswamy and made him CM, but Kumaraswamy is crying, he is not happy with Congress people.
So I feel that this government will not last long."
"Kumaraswamy has to come back to the BJP and if Karnataka's development has to happen...Kumaraswamy has to leave Congress and come back.
Staying with BJP will benefit as Modi ji government is coming (to power) with NDA securing over 350 seats" he added.
In 2006, Kumaraswamy had joined hands with BJP to form the coalition government, overthrowing the Dharm Singh led Congress-JD(S) government, which lasted about 20 months.
Asking Kumaraswamy to join hands with BJP for the benefit of the state, Athawale said "you will become the Deputy Chief Minister...
He (Kumaraswamy) is not happy with theCongress... as Deputy Chief Minister he will be happier than now(as Chief Minister)."
"Asked if he would mediate between BJP and JD(S) leaders, he said after the Lok Sabha elections, "we can try, because if Modi government comes, then I doubt that Kumaraswamy will be safe (as Chief Minister)."
Athawale said eradication of poverty was something only Modi could do and not Rahul Gandhi and the Congress president should not dream about becoming Prime Minister.
"Eradication of poverty is Narendra Modi's work, not Rahul Gandhi's- it is not something he can do.
Rahul Gandhi should not dream about becoming Prime Minister," he said.
"As long as there is a Narendra Modi wave in the country, how can Rahul Gandhi become the prime minister?" he added.
Stating that Rahul Gandhi does not have the support of Mahagathbandhan leaders, Athawale said the leaders were posing for photographs only to oppose Modi.
He said the Congress calls BJP "jaatiwadi" (casteist), but it is the most casteist party.
"Their face may be secular, but within they are casteist, so I left them."
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Delhi's air quality 'very poor' in Delhi
New Delhi (PTI): Thick grey haze shrouded Delhi on Monday morning, with the air quality remaining in the 'very poor' category with a reading of 366, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The Air Quality Index (AQI) at seven air quality monitoring stations was 'severe', with Narela logging the highest reading at 418.
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According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'.
Delhi's air quality is likely to remain 'very poor' for the next three days. It is expected to oscillate between 'very poor' and 'severe' categories during the subsequent six days, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS).
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the current average wind speed, which is less than 10 kmph, is unfavourable for the dispersion of pollutants.
Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 9.3 degrees Celsius, it said.
