Will cooperate with CBI probe in DA case: D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Ahead of appearing before the CBI in connection with a disproportionate assets (DA) case on Wednesday, Congress Karnataka unit president D K Shivakumar said he will cooperate with the officials of the country's premier investigating agency.
The Kanakapura MLA told his supporters that there was no need to worry and he has done nothing that will bring a bad name to them.
"On the day of my daughter's engagement, CBI had come to issue me summons, as we were not available, so they waited and served it to me asking to appear on November 23, but as I had a pre-scheduled tour to Maski (where assembly bypoll is likely soon), I had requested for November 25," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said he had planned to go and pay last respects to veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel, but had to appear before the CBI, and would travel immediately after that.
"...as I had told them (CBI) that I will appear, it will not be right to skip.I have always cooperated with officials, even with ED and Income Tax. Now I will also cooperate with CBI," he said, as he requested his supporters not to come to the CBI office when he appears.
On November 19, Shivakumars daughter Aishwarya had got engaged to senior BJP leader S M Krishnas grandson and late Cafe Coffee Day founder V G Siddharthas son Amartya.
Responding to a question about CBI summons to him despite his claims of having shared all information to officials, Shivakumar said he will not question the agency's style of functioning.
The officials have not troubled him during raids and have only done their duty,the congress leader said.
"They (CBI) have a manual, they will go by it. I have gone through the manual...what will officials do? they go by the instructions given to them," he said, adding that he was ready to cooperate with the CBI in every way.
To a question about recent claims of political vendetta against him, Shivakumar wanted to know against which politician in the state permission was granted to the CBI to investigate in a disproportionate assets case.
".....have I taken bribe or indulged in any misuse during my tenure as Minister? What was the need to give to CBI (probe).. Yediyurappa (CM) could have got it investigated," he said.
The Advocate General too had advised the government it was not a case to be given to CBI for inquiry, and the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau could investigate, but there was pressure, he claimed.
The CBI on October 5 had conducted searches at 14 locations, including in Karnataka, Delhi and Mumbai at the premises linked to Shivakumar and others.
The investigating agency had said the searches have led to recovery of Rs 57 lakh cash and several documents, including property documents, bank related information, computer hard disk etc, and that the investigation is continuing.
The CBI had also registered a case against Shivakumar and his family members on the allegations of possession of disproportionate assets worth Rs 74.93 crore.
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PM Modi holds talks with Dutch counterpart Jetten; discusses trade, investment
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held wide-ranging talks with his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten, focusing on trade, investment, and critical technologies.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday on the second leg of his five-nation tour. This is his second trip to the Netherlands, following his visit in 2017.
Ahead of the bilateral talks, Modi, along with Jetten, held discussions with prominent CEOs of leading Dutch companies across various sectors such as energy, ports, health, agriculture trade, and technology, among others.
Modi invited Dutch companies to explore opportunities in India, particularly in maritime, renewable energy, digital technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and healthcare sectors.
"We are continuously reducing compliance and increasing the ease of doing business. We have recently carried out next-generation reforms in taxation, labour code, and governance," he told the business leaders.
The prime minister added that manufacturing in India is becoming very cost-effective, and in the services sector, it has become the engine of efficiency and innovation.
"We invite all of you to design and innovate in India. There can be no better time for this than today," he said.
"Today's India is a symbol of scale and stability. In terms of scale, we are also the fastest-growing major economy in the world and the world's largest talent pool. Infrastructure, clean energy or connectivity – no one in the world can match India's speed," Modi said.
"And on the subject of stability, I have completed 12 years of serving as the Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy. In these 12 years, with continuous reforms, we have transformed our economic DNA. Our direction has been clear – to give policy predictability to the private sector and increase opportunities for them," he added.
Modi said his government has opened up every sector for the private sector, be it space, mining or nuclear energy.
Ahead of the meeting, an agreement between ASML and Tata Electronics was signed in the presence of the two leaders.
The two prime ministers also called for early implementation of the India-EU-FTA.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi met King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
PM Modi's visit will build on the momentum of high-level engagements and close cooperation spanning diverse sectors, including defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and a strategic partnership on water, the MEA said ahead of his visit.
The Netherlands is one of India's largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade worth USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. The European nation is India's fourth-largest investor with cumulative foreign direct investment of USD 55.6 billion.
From the Netherlands, the prime minister will travel to Sweden for a two-day trip from May 17 to 18.
