Yediyurappa is like an “unwanted child”, says former CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Oct 9: Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday tore into the BJP governments both at the Centre and in Karnataka over delay in flood relief and mocked at Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, calling him an "unwanted child" of the party leadership.
Speaking in the state assembly on the first day of its three-day session, the newly appointed Leader of the Opposition accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of neglecting Karnataka.
Having 56 inch chest is good thing, but there should be motherly heart inside it. It is not there in him, and thats the painful thing. Pailwans and body builders will also have 56 inch chest," he said in a sharp attack.
It was over 65 days since Karnataka was affected by "unprecedented" rains and floods and not even a rupee had been paid to the sugarcane farmers, among the most affected, he charged.
Siddaramaiah criticised the prime minister for not visiting the flood-hit areas in the state, saying: we are not opposed to his foreign tours, but what should be the priority? I don't know why such a neglect or contempt towards Karnataka, the former chief minister added.
Amid criticism over delay in sanctioning aid, the Centre had last week released an interim relief of Rs 1,200 crore to the state which has sent a flood damage estimate of over Rs 30,000 crore. Yediyurappa had rejected the charges of neglect.
More than 80 people were killed and around seven lakh were shifted to relief camps as the floods affected 103 taluks in 22 districts of the state in August.
Siddaramaiah claimed the BJP central leadership was trying to 'control' Yediyurappa by not giving him 'powers' to function 'independently.
"...he is not being allowed by his party high command to function independently... Yediyurappa is like unwanted child to BJP leadership, this is what I feel looking at the current situation," he claimed.
Reiterating his earlier demand that the assembly session should have been convened in northern Belagavi, as is the practice, Siddaramaiah said it would have instilled confidence among the people of the district, ravaged by the rains.
Fearing backlash from people, over their failure in flood relief management, government seems to have shifted the session to Bengaluru, he charged and demanded extension of the session at least by a week.
Earlier, the brief session of the legislature commenced at the Vidhana Soudha here with private television channels being barred from covering the proceedings for the first time with Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri deciding to allow only the Doordarshan whose feed can be taken by others, a move condemned by the opposition parties.
The Speaker moved obituary references for leaders and dignitaries, including Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Ram Jethmalani, who died during the inter-session period, and then called for papers to be tabled.
Siddaramaiah then demanded his adjournment motion notice on the post-flood situation be taken up on priority. JD(S) too made similar demand.
The Speaker said he will allow the issue to be raised after reports and papers were laid but as the Congress insisted on immediate discussion, heated exchanges followed between the opposition and the treasury benches.
Yediyurappa and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy intervened and said the opposition can raise the issue soon after the reports and papers were laid which was opposed by Krishna Byre Gowda and Ramesh Kumar of Congress.
As the Speaker asked the assembly secretary to lay the reports and papers, the opposition protested with JDS members trooping into the Well of the House.
"This is infringement of our rights. You cannot suppress democracy and our voice," Siddaramaiah told the Speaker even as some of his party colleagues alleged the Chair was behaving like the rubber stamp of the government".
Amid chaos, the Chief Minister tabled the Motion for demands for grants for expenditure during 2019-20 and the supplementary estimates second installment.
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Prasoon Joshi appointed chairman of Prasar Bharati
New Delhi (PTI): Noted lyricist, writer and communications expert Prasoon Joshi has been appointed as the chairman of Prasar Bharati, India's public service broadcaster.
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting appointed Joshi to the key post, according to an official statement on Saturday.
Joshi, a distinguished creative professional with wide-ranging contributions across literature, advertising, cinema, and public communication, and known for his impactful writing and deep cultural sensibility, has played a significant role in shaping contemporary Indian media narratives, the statement said.
Joshi's body of work spans acclaimed film lyrics, advertising campaigns, and socially resonant storytelling that connects with diverse audiences across the country.
On his appointment, Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "My heartfelt congratulations to Shri Prasoon Joshi ji on his appointment as chairman of the Prasar Bharati Board. Prasoon ji is a rare creative spirit celebrated across the world in advertising, literature, art and cinema, yet his heart beats unmistakably for India."
Vaishnaw said Joshi's words carry the fragrance of the country's soil, and his vision reflects the timeless essence of Indian culture.
"Under his stewardship, Prasar Bharati will discover renewed energy, deeper purpose, and a fresh creative voice. My very best wishes to him for a memorable and meaningful tenure ahead," the minister said.
Before this appointment, Joshi has served as chairperson, Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Mumbai since August 2017.
He contributed to strengthening film certification processes while engaging with stakeholders across the film industry and his tenure at CBFC reflected a balanced approach towards creative expression and regulatory responsibility, the statement said.
Earlier, he had also served as CEO, McCann World Group India and Chairman, McCann World Group Asia Pacific (a subsidiary of McCann Erickson). Joshi is also one of the Trustees of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts since 2016.
With his extensive experience in creative industries and public communication, Joshi is expected to bring a unique perspective to the leadership of Prasar Bharati at a time when public broadcasting is navigating rapid technological transformation and evolving audience expectations, it said.
Established under the Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) Act, 1990, and operational since 1997, Prasar Bharati is India's statutory autonomous public service broadcaster.
It comprises two major divisions: All India Radio (AIR)-- one of the largest radio networks in the world, reaching millions across urban and rural India in multiple languages and dialects; and Doordarshan (DD) -- India's national television broadcaster, offering a wide range of programming including news, education, entertainment, and cultural content.
