Opposition Fire First Salvo Before Parliament Monsoon Session Ahead Of Key INDI Alliance Meeting
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Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
Major political developments later this year: State BJP chief
Mysuru: BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Friday predicted a major political development in the state later this year, amid speculation about the chief minister change within the ruling of the government's mega convention 'Sadhana Samavesha' in Mysuru on July 19, he claimed that the event is part of Siddaramaiah's conspiracy to 'blackmail or threaten' the Congress high command, using his AHINDA vote bank, against any move to replace him from the CM post. AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits. 'Wait and see in November, or either before the Bihar election or after the Bihar election. It is certain that a major political development will take place in Karnataka. No one can stop it from happening,' Vijayendra told reporters in response to a question on CM or leadership change developments in the ruling Congress. Asked about the BJP's role in the predicted political developments, he said, 'The BJP is functioning as an opposition in the state, and we are satisfied.' The state government is organising the Sadhana Samavesha, where development works worth over Rs 2,600 crore for Mysuru will be inaugurated and foundation stones will be laid, according to officials. Siddaramaiah is known for holding conventions whenever he faces a threat to the CM's post. Tomorrow's event is part of a conspiracy to directly threaten the Congress high command, Vijayendra claimed. 'Recently, when Siddaramaiah went to Delhi, Rahul Gandhi did not give him an appointment. He directly met Mallikarjun Kharge (Congress President) and gave an interview to the national media where he threw a challenge at the Congress high command (by asserting he will be CM for five years). 'So, tomorrow's convention in Mysuru is not just a Sadhana Samavesha, there is a conspiracy to blackmail the Congress high command behind it,' he said. Further, questioning the CM as to why Sadhana Samavesha is being held, he said, 'There is no such situation. What is your Sadhane (achievement)?' Alleging that Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar's competition for free publicity led to stampede outside Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on June 4 killing eleven people, Vijayendra said both of them should have taken responsibility, but innocent police officers are being made the scapegoat. 'RCB is also being made a scapegoat using the retired Justice John Michael Cunha commission (the one-man inquiry commission constituted by the government to inquire into the stampede) report, to prove themselves (Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar) as innocent,' he claimed and asked, is this the achievement for which the Sadhana Samavesha is being held? Questioning the government about what is had achieved and done for Mysuru to hold the Sadhana Samavesha here, the state BJP chief said, 'Sadhana Samavesha is not to commemorate the chief minister's achievements or the development of the state or for giving crores of money for Mysuru region. Instead, as the time has come for him (Siddaramaiah) to resign as the CM, to assert that he won't resign for any reason, this is a conspiracy to threaten the Congress high command.' Alleging that Siddaramaiah holds conventions whenever there is a threat to his CM seat, he said, it is only then the CM remembers AHINDA communities, which is his strong support base and vote bank. Using the AHINDA communities as his 'capital', Siddaramaiah is conspiring to threaten Shivakumar and the Congress high command, he alleged. Asked if the conspiracy will work out this time too, Vijayendra said there are limitations to any conspiracy. The Congress leaders themselves have been saying there is a power sharing understanding between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the high command level. 'The situation seems to have arisen for the CM to resign, so all this game is going on. We will get an answer to this in the days ahead,' he added. The Karnataka Congress has been under scrutiny over reports of a rotational chief minister arrangement between Shivakumar and current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah following the party's victory in the 2023 Assembly elections. While both leaders have publicly denied any such formal agreement, speculation continues to persist within party circles.
Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
CM slams BJP-JDS MPs, says they lack courage to question Modi
Mysuru: KarnatakaChief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a scathing attack on the BJP and JD(S) during the 'Sadhana Samavesha' in Mysuru, accusing their MPs of lacking the courage to even stand before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and raise their voice against the injustice meted out to Karnataka. Addressing a packed gathering, Siddaramaiah threw an open challenge to BJP and JD(S) leaders to come onto the same stage and debate development. 'Had they been here today, people would have seen who has truly brought development to the state. I am ready to debate anytime — let them come,' he dared. Taking aim at the opposition parties' constant criticism, Siddaramaiah said, 'The BJP and JD(S) should not harbor so much jealousy. If our government was bankrupt as they claim, how could we plan and deliver so many development schemes? This is not my show of strength — it is the strength of our commitment to progress, presented before the people.' Referring to JD(S)'s declining strength, Siddaramaiah recalled that during his tenure as party president, JD(S) won 58 seats, but now it has been reduced to just 18 MLAs. 'JD(S) has grown too weak to come to power on its own — that's why they have aligned with the BJP. Together, they have failed to win the love of the people,' he charged. The Chief Minister further alleged that BJP and JD(S) MPs shiver before Modi and do not dare to question him about the state's rightful share. 'They are spineless before Modi. They don't have the guts to open their mouths. Instead, they mislead people with false claims. They are ashamed because our guarantee schemes have made the poor, Dalits, and minorities happy — that's why they are burning inside,' he quipped. Hitting out at the Prime Minister, Siddaramaiah said, 'Narendra Modi works only for the top 10% of this country. The remaining 90% do not matter to him. But the Congress stands with the poor and Dalits. We follow the ideals of Buddha, Basava, and Ambedkar. The BJP and RSS stand for Manusmriti and are anti-Constitution,' he alleged. Rejecting opposition claims that the Congress government will stop its welfare guarantees, Siddaramaiah clarified, 'The guarantees are permanent. No matter what they say, we will not withdraw them. In fact, the BJP is shamelessly copying our guarantees in other states. Modi ji, does that not embarrass you?' he mocked. With this, Siddaramaiah reaffirmed that his government would continue its guarantees and remain focused on inclusive development, despite the opposition's constant hurdles and accusations.
Hans India
30 minutes ago
- Hans India
BJP leader Ashoka terms tunnel road project as ‘environmental disaster'
Bengaluru: BJP leader R Ashoka on Saturday lashed out at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for pursuing a tunnel road project in the city, claiming this is not just an 'environmental disaster', it's a monument to 'political arrogance, ego and corruption.' With this project, he alleged that the Congress-led government in the state plans to plough through Bengaluru's most iconic heritage zones and lung spaces - Lalbagh, Palace Grounds, St John's Hospital, Race Course, and Hebbal - by digging 100-ft deep shafts to launch giant tunnel boring machines. 'This isn't urban mobility. It's urban mutilation,' he said. Criticising the project, Ashoka, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, said the people of Bengaluru deserve better, not 'ego tunnels' for a few, but clean air, green spaces, and real, equitable public transport. 'This is not development. This is environmental vandalism masquerading as infrastructure, and Congress-backed betrayal of a city already on the brink. There is loot at the end of this tunnel!,' he said in a post on 'X'. According to a Cabinet decision, the tunnel road will cost Rs 17,780 crore, and it will be implemented under modified Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model. The twin tunnel will run from Hebbal's Esteem Mall Junction to Silk Board Junction, covering 16.745 km. 'DCM @DKShivakumar's tunnel road project is not just an environmental disaster, it's a monument to political arrogance, ego, and corruption,' he stated. Questioning the 'deafening silence' of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and that of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge over the project, the BJP leader further said, 'This is the same Rahul Gandhi who raised a hue and cry over environmental concerns in Aarey (Maharashtra) and Hasdeo Aranya (Chhattisgarh). But when his ownparty's Deputy CM is ploughing through Bengaluru's ecology, he suddenly looks away. Why the hypocrisy?.' Targeting the Congress leaders, Ashoka asked, 'If Rahul's environmental concern were reserved only for BJP-ruled states? Or is that the Congress High Command is getting a cut in this crore worth tunnel road project deal? 'Has their silence been purchased through contracts, commissions, and legacy politics? There is loot at the end of this tunnel!' Recently, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya slammed Shivakumar for pursuing an unscientific 'vanity' tunnel road project in the city, claiming that it would only serve the elite while burdening the common man. He urged the state government to abandon the plan and instead invest in expanding public transport infrastructure, warning that the tunnel project could worsen the city's traffic situation.
