Basavraj bommai

The tableau from Karnataka couldn’t make the cut for the Republic Day parade after 13 years. In response, the Department of Information and Public Relations reasoned that the Ministry of Defence wanted to give Karnataka a break and give an opportunity to those states who couldn’t take part in the last eight years.

The state’s tableau missing out in the Republic Day parade has irked the opposition and former CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah slammed CM Basavaraj Bommai for “failing to safeguard” the state’s interest.

In a Tweet, Siddaramaiah said, “It is unfortunate to know that Karnataka will not be participating in the Republic Day parade this year. Rejection of Karnataka’s tableaux reflects how serious BJP Karnataka is about upholding the pride of our state.”

The Congress leader took a dig at the Bommai government by saying the ruling government is worried about looting government resources through 40 per cent commission. “Incapable & weak Basavaraj Bommai and his cabinet ministers are worried about looting government resources through 40% commission. Had they put in a little more thought in designing the theme, Karnataka could have presented its tableaux on Republic Day.

While stating BJP government in Karnataka has pledged our pride to accommodate the interests of their high command, he questioned, “Did any of the BJP MPs raise objections for rejecting our tableaux?”

. @BJP4Karnataka leaders are known for only making noise in our state, but are cowards in front of their high command.

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 7, 2023

It was the 2022 Karnataka tableau, which showcased its cradle of traditional handicrafts, was adjudged the second best among 12 states and Union Territories.

With Assembly Elections in Karnataka just a few months away, the state Congress on Tuesday announced that they will begin a bus yatra — Prajadhwani Yatra — on Wednesday from Belagavi. The yatra will cover all 224 constituencies in the State, said Congress leader and former CM Siddaramaiah.

Meanwhile, they have also released a charge against BJP in the state. “They (BJP) formed the government through unethical means. So, we are going to take out a bus yatra which will cover all districts starting from Belagavi,” said Siddaramaiah as quoted by news agency ANI.

While giving details of the yatra, the Congress leader said, “Two groups will be formed for the Congress bus yatra – one group to be headed by me and another by DK Shivakumar. Before the Assembly elections, we will cover all 224 constituencies in the State.”

We have released a chargesheet against BJP. They formed the government through unethical means. So, we are going to take out a bus yatra which will cover all districts starting from Belagavi: Congress leader Siddaramaiah

— ANI (@ANI) January 10, 2023

Failed policies of the double-engine BJP government have resulted in the drastic increase in the prices of essential commodities hurting the poor and middle-class people, said a Congress release. It has also caused great distress to the farmers in Karnataka, leading to the state becoming infamous for the second-highest number of farmer suicides in the country, the release pointed out.

The BJP government’s focus on 40 per cent commission has resulted in the death of more than 3.5 lakh Kannadigas during the pandemic and pushed innocent contractors to commit suicide.

With Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai acting as a puppet in the hands of BJP’s High Command, Congress will not let BJP run riot and destroy the lives of the people of Karnataka, read the release.

“As representatives of the people of Karnataka, witnessed your suffering and we’ll hold the BJP accountable for their crimes. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee is releasing BJP’s ‘Paapada Purana’ (An account of sins) to expose the failures of the BJP government, outlining their record of corruption, policy paralysis, and unfulfilled promises,” said Congress in a release.

ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ಕಡೆಗಣಿಸಿರುವ @BJP4Karnataka ಸರ್ಕಾರದ “ಪಾಪದ ಪುರಾಣ” ಬಯಲಾಗಿದೆ. https://t.co/UfEqUsQKFf ಗೆ ಭೇಟಿ ಕೊಡಿ pic.twitter.com/13TfvZItze

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 10, 2023

The Congress has assured to reach out to every Kannadiga through the ‘Prajadhwani yatra’. The congress released the logo of the yatra, “We take this opportunity to release the logo of our campaign which will be the symbol of hope and a prosperous future for Karnataka.”

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar’s supporters on Tuesday protested against BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi near the latter’s residence in Bengaluru over his statement against the Congress leader.

Several protesters were detained by the police.

#WATCH | Supporters of Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar protested against BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi near the latter’s residence in Bengaluru over his statement against Shivakumar. pic.twitter.com/LPzb26xjbt

— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2023

BJP leader Ramesh Jarkiholi, who had resigned as Karnataka minister about two years ago owing to a sex scandal, on Monday accused Congress state president DK Shivakumar of being involved in the conspiracy to discredit him and demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation against the “racket” behind it.

Jarkiholi, a powerful minister holding the Water Resources portfolio, had resigned from his post in 2021 owing to the sex scandal, which had embarrassed the state government just ahead of a few states going to polls including West Bengal.

The woman, who was at the centre of the controversy, had alleged that the minister allegedly exploited her with the assurance of securing her a government job, a charge denied by Jarkiholi.

Also read | ‘It’s Not Boycott’, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai Clarifies After Two BJP MLAs Give Assembly Session A Miss

On Monday, the BJP Gokak MLA said the woman and her accomplices including two people from Mandya should be arrested to bring out the truth in the case.

“I demand that the state government should hand over the case to the CBI. The girl should be arrested along with her accomplices, including two people from Mandya, whose names I will disclose before the CBI,” Jarkiholi said in a press meet at a private hotel here.

The former minister alleged that Congress leader Shivakumar tried to spoil his personal life.

“D K Shivakumar is unfit to be a politician. No one should spoil someone’s personal life. I never made personal attacks,” the BJP leader charged.

The former minister claimed he has evidence to prove that Shivakumar was behind it.

According to him, there are several sleaze videos of many politicians, including Congress leaders and top bureaucrats of the state, which are used for blackmailing.

“This is a very serious matter because many people have been honey trapped including Congress leaders and top officers who are being blackmailed. I urge the state government to hand over the case to the CBI,” Jarkiholi said.

The BJP MLA also said he would hand over the audio/video files and documentary evidence of illegal money transactions to the CBI if the state government handed over the case to the central agency.

Shivakumar was not available for comments. The Congress has also not reacted to the BJP leader’s allegations.

Since Jarkiholi had made indirect references to Congress MLA Laxmi Hebbalkar alleging that she was also part of the conspiracy, her brother Channaraj Hattiholi condemned the statement.

Addressing a press conference, Hattiholi, a Congress leader, said there was no clarity in the press meet convened by Jarkiholi.

“It is easy to make allegations. Instead of levelling charges and speaking lies, if you (Jarkiholi) make documents and evidence public, we will give you a reply,” Hattiholi said.

He also wondered why the BJP government did not hand over the sex scandal case to the CBI forcing the Gokak MLA to demand it after remaining silent for nearly two years.

( With PTI inputs )