Karnataka

Ahead of the beginning of the winter session in the Karnataka Assembly on Monday, Veer Savarkar’s portrait was unveiled in the assembly hall and Congress staged a sit-in protest outside the assembly. Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramaiah even wrote to the Speaker urging him to unveil other freedom fighters’ portraits alongside Savarkar.

Responding to the protests, Karnataka Education Minister BC Nagesh said that it was unfortunate that the Congress don’t want the truth to come out. Stating that Congress hid the historic truths that happened during freedom movement, he said Congress doesn’t want to project nationalism among legislatures or people.

“Congress doesn’t want to project nationalism among legislatures or people. Even when we revised textbook and brought some freedom fighters into it, they did the same. They don’t want truth to come out. They hid historic truths that happened during freedom movement and even after that,” the minister said as quoted by news agency ANI.

“Unfortunate! Whenever we want to put idealism before people via people like Vivekananda, SC Bose, Savarkar, Mahatma Gandhi, they oppose. These people dedicated their life to country&they don’t want their pics,” he added.

Cong doesn’t want to project nationalism among legislatures or people.Even when we revised textbook&brought some freedom fighters into it, they did the same.They don’t want truth to come out.They hid historic truths that happened during freedom movement&even after that: BC Nagesh pic.twitter.com/d0Wtg5x3Pk

— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2022

Amid decade-old border tensions between Maharashtra and Karnataka, on Monday, several of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders staged protests near Kognoli Toll Plaza near the Karnataka-Maharashtra border.

The border issue originated when the states were divided based on linguistic lines under the State Reorganization Act in 1956. During the state reorganisation process, Belgaum and surrounding villages were included in the Mysore Princely state despite the region dominated by Marathi-speaking people. That’s how the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue originated.

BJP MP Pragya Thakur has been facing flak for the “keep knives sharpened” remark she made on Sunday in Karnataka’s Shivamogga at a Hindu Jagarana Vedike event. Responding to the remark made by BJP leader Pragya Thakur, Karnataka Congress MLA Priyank Kharge said that they will file a legal complaint against the statement. While stating that she is a terror accused, he said, “I don’t know why Karnataka government is encouraging such an environment.”

“It is unfortunate that such statements are being made by an MP. She is already a terror accused. I don’t know why Karnataka is encouraging such an atmosphere. We will file a legal complaint against it,” Kharge said as quoted by news agency ANI.

Belagavi | It is unfortunate that such statements are being made by an MP. She is already a terror accused. I don’t know why Karnataka is encouraging such an atmosphere. We will file a legal complaint against it: Priyank Kharge, Karnataka Congress MLA https://t.co/4kskNCpTPQ pic.twitter.com/57WroQmLCD

— ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2022

Also read | ‘Will India Run By Knife?’ Congress Asks PM Modi Over Pragya Thakur’s ‘Keep Blades’ Advice To Hindus

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called BJP MP’s speech a textbook case of hate speech. Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader said, “Text book case of hate speech. She can and must be prosecuted.”

Addressing people at Hindu Jagarana Vedike in Shivamogga, MP Pragya Thakur said, “Keep your daughters safe and protected. Keep weapons at home. Sharpen the knife used to cut vegetables. If our vegetables are cut well, heads and mouths of our enemies will also be cut well.”

Meanwhile, Tehseen Poonawalla registered a complaint against BJP MP Pragya Thakur for her alleged hate speech. Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “Requesting Shivamogga police to kindly register an FIR u/s 153-A, 153-B,268,295-A,298,504,508 (IPC).”

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.”

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 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 exploited her with the assurance of securing her a government job, a charge denied by Jarkiholi.

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.

(This report is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)