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State Must Comply With SC Order On Cauvery: Deve Gowda

By LokMarg 5th March 2024

As the state capital, Bengaluru, grappled with a drinking water crisis, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday said the state should continue to release water from the Cauvery River to neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader said the Congress government in the state should ensure compliance with the Supreme Court order, mandating the release of 10TMC water to Tamil Nadu every day for four months, till May 1, even in the face of the ongoing crisis.

Addressing reporters in the state capital on Tuesday, the former PM said, “The Supreme Court directed that the state must release 10 TMC water (from the Cauvery) every day for four months, till May 1, to Tamil Nadu. Our party has no objection to us sharing water with a neighbouring state to ensure compliance with the apex court order. However, they (the government) are not even releasing the water that is available to them. The state must release all the water at its disposal and then see if the water crisis in Bengaluru is resolved or not.”

“The onus is on the Congress government to do what it needs to in the best interests of the state and the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy DK Shivakumar and fellow cabinet ministers, along with officials and secretaries of respective departments, held a crucial meeting earlier on Tuesday to address the ongoing drinking water crisis in Bengaluru.

According to local reports, water sources in many villages across the state have dried up. The problem has been further compounded by the depletion of groundwater and the drying up of more than 3000 borewells in the capital city.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar said the government has taken a ‘serious’ note of the prevailing situation. “We have taken a very serious view of the matter and looking at arriving at a resolution at the earliest. I attended a meeting with all the officials concerned and we are in the process of identifying points from where we could source water to alleviate the ongoing crisis. More than 3000 borewells in Bengaluru have dried up,” he said.

Also, on Tuesday, the deputy CM warned all tanker operators that their vehicles would be impounded if they did not register themselves with government authorities by March 7, the deadline set for them.

As the state stares at a more severe summer this year than the last, according to Met officials, an estimated 7,082 villages and 1,193 wards, including those in Bengaluru Urban district, could face a drinking water crisis in the coming months, as per an assessment of the government on February 10.

Further, the Revenue Department, in a report, identified the majority of villages in Tumakuru district (746) and wards in Uttara Kannada as being at risk of a water crisis in the coming months.

In Bengaluru Urban district, as many as 174 villages and 120 wards were shown to be vulnerable to a water crisis. (ANI)

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Bengaluru Gets A Boeing Campus

By LokMarg 19th January 2024

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated a new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center (BIETC) campus in Bengaluru.

Built with an investment of Rs 1,600 crores, the 43-acre campus is Boeing’s largest such investment outside the US.

Boeing’s new campus in India will become a cornerstone for partnership with the vibrant startup, private and government ecosystem in India, and will help develop next-generation products and services for the global aerospace and defence industry.

Prime Minister today also launched the Boeing Sukanya Program that aims to support the entry of more girl children from across India into the country’s growing aviation sector. The program will provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) fields and train for jobs in the aviation sector.

For young girls, the program will create STEM Labs at 150 planned locations to help spark interest in STEM careers. The program will also provide scholarships to women who are training to be pilots.

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi asserted that India aims to reduce its offshore dependence on aircraft leasing and financing and the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) in Gujarat’s GIFT City will help in realizing it.

We are working to simplify aircraft leasing. We endeavour to reduce India’s offshore dependence on aircraft leasing and financing. So, we have set up IFSCA. The benefit of this will be reaped by the entire country,” said PM Modi, after inaugurating the new state-of-the-art Boeing India Engineering and Technology Center (BIETC) campus in Bengaluru.

India today is the third largest domestic civil aviation market, with volume more than doubling in the past decade, PM Modi said.

“UDAN scheme has helped a lot. In the coming years, the domestic air traffic will further rise. Looking at such a huge demand, our airlines have placed a massive order for aircraft. India will give new energy to the global aviation market.”

To further India’s aviation market, the central government is encouraging states to reduce taxes on aviation fuel, he said.

“India will one day develop ‘aircraft of the future’ from this particular centre,” he said, congratulating Boeing management.

“Bengaluru is the city which connects aspirations with innovations and achievements. It’s the city that connects India’s tech potential to global demands. This new Global Technology Centre of Boeing will strengthen the identity of Bengaluru.” This campus is a stamp of approval for Indian talents, he added.

“This facility will help Indian youth to learn new skills in the aviation sector. Our endeavour is to raise women’s participation in all sectors,” he noted.

Talking about women’s participation in the aviation sector, 15 per cent of Indian pilots are women, which is thrice the global average.

“Be it fighter pilots or civil aviation pilots, Indian women are leading today. I can say with pride that 15 per cent of our total pilots are women. To put this into context, this is thrice the global average,” he asserted.

PM Modi also apprised the gathering that the number of operational airports in India rose from around 70 to now 150 since year 2014.

“We have not only new airports but also improved our efficiency manifold,” PM Modi added. (ANI)

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CWC 2023: Pak Sweat It Out For Do-Or-Die Clash Against NZ

By LokMarg 3rd November 2023

Ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming match against New Zealand, the 35th match of the ongoing ODI World Cup at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, the ‘Men in Green’ sweated it out, putting in the hard yards in the nets.

The Pakistan squad put in rigorous practice on both the batting and bowling fronts prior to their crucial game against the Kiwis in Bengaluru on Saturday.

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam focused on big hits while pacers Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi hit the nets, bowling at full tilt while trying to fine-tune their lines and lengths ahead of the crucial clash.

In Pakistan’s previous encounter against Bangladesh, the Bengal Tigers elected to bat first.

Decent knocks from Mahmudullah (56 in 70 balls, with six fours and a six), Litton Das (45 in 64 balls, with six fours) and skipper Shakib al Hasan (43 in 64 balls, with four boundaries) took Bangladesh to a modest total of 204 all out in 45.1 overs.

Their 7-wicket victory over Bangladesh and New Zealand’s crushing 190-run defeat to South Africa have raised visions of them progressing to the final four.

Pakistan’s qualification scenario will heavily depend on the result against the Kiwis. To go past the NRR of the Blackcaps, Pakistan need to beat the BlackCaps by 83 runs or chase down a target in 35 overs.

The ‘Men in Green’ will play for a win against the Kiwis to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the semifinals. Both teams will be on eight points if the outcome is in favour of Pakistan but the latter will be slightly ahead of the Kiwis on account of a slightly better NRR.

Ahead of the match, team director Mickey Arthur admitted that Pakistan haven’t played to their potential but will look to clinch victories in the final two must-win games.

“Every game we go into, we want to win. And I’ll be brutally honest, I don’t think we’ve played to our full potential this tournament yet. I thought the Bangladesh game is the first game where we actually put a complete game together. We batted beautifully, bowled beautifully, and fielded beautifully, which in all the other games, we’ve done one or two disciplines OK, but our other disciplines let us down. So, I’d like to say we’re peaking, but the preparation of the guys and the attitude of the guys’ will to get better every day, that has been exceptional. So, I can’t fault anybody in terms of that. But we found our best game against Bangladesh and I just hope that’s not too late for us,” Arthur said in the pre match press conference.

Pakistan’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad: Babar Azam (C), Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Usama Mir, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim. (ANI)

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Devotees Throng ISKCON Temple In Bengaluru On Occasion Of Janmashtami

By LokMarg 6th September 2023

Devotees flocked to the ISKCON temple in Bengaluru on the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmashtami on Wednesday.

Devotees were seen offering prayers at the renowned ISKON temple. The idols of Radha Krishna were decorated with flower petals and leaves.

The ISKON temple in Bengaluru is one of the largest Krishna temples in the world.

Janmashtami is also being celebrated in other parts of the country with equal fervour.

Hundreds of kids from a nursery school in Siliguri under the Darjeeling district of West Bengal celebrated Janmashtami on Wednesday morning.

“While few kids dressed up like Lord Krishna and Radha, many carried flutes wearing peacock feathers on their foreheads. The school children enjoyed themselves by performing dance and breaking handi,” said Bivha Surika, a teacher at a nursery school.

The teachers also informed the children about the significance of Janmashtami and distributed pencils, erasers and chocolates among the students.

A five-day-long Janmashtami fair commenced in Rajkot on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Tourism, The fair is being held at Race Course Ground, Rajkot. “It commenced on September 5 and will continue until September 9, and the timings are from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM,” they said.

The Janmashtami fair also called Lokmela, Saurashtra’s biggest fair, is held in Rajkot every year during the Satam-Aathma festival on the occasion of Janmashtami, they added. Janmashtami celebrations also began in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

This fair starts on the sixth day of the festival and lasts for five days till Dasham, an official said.

Meanwhile, in a first, the Maharashtra government led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde plans to organise a “Pro Govinda” competition, with cash prizes, for this year’s ‘Dahi Handi’, an event associated with the Hindu festival of Janmashtami, state Industries Minister Uday Samant said on Saturday. (ANI)

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We Have Gathered To Save Country From Hatred: Kejriwal’s Hit At Modi

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

Aam Adami Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that the leaders of the like-minded parties came to Karnataka’s Bengaluru to save the country from “hatred”.

“In the last 9 years, PM Modi could have done a lot of things but he destroyed all the sectors. We have gathered here not for ourselves but to save the country from hatred…” Arvind Kejriwal said while addressing a press conference after the Opposition meeting held in Bengaluru.
I.N.D.I.A – the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance — is what the united opposition front will be known as 26 parties participating at the crucial meet in Bengaluru decided today.

With the Congress assuring AAP of its support for the Bharatiya Janata Party government’s ordinance nullifying the Supreme Court’s order to give the Delhi government larger control over the bureaucracy in the state, the AAP party decided to attend the meeting.

AAP had attended the Patna meet on June 23 but had skipped the press conference and later threatened to boycott the key Opposition meeting scheduled on Tuesday.

On June 23, the AAP issued a statement saying that until the Congress publicly denounces the “black ordinance” and declares that all 31 of its RS MPs will oppose the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, it will be difficult for AAP to participate in future meetings of like-minded parties where the Congress is a participant.

“A total of 15 parties are attending the like-minded party meeting in Patna, out of which 12 have representation in the Rajya Sabha. Except for the Indian National Congress, all other 11 parties, which have representation in the Rajya Sabha, have clearly expressed their stand against the Black Ordinance and announced that they would oppose it in the Rajya Sabha,” the party said.

However, on July 16, putting an end to speculations over its stand on the Centre’s ordinance related to the control of administrative services in Delhi, the Congress, in a big boost for the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government announced its support to the AAP.

On Tuesday, while addressing the media after the meeting, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said, “The BJP wants to destroy democracy, Constitution, using autonomous bodies like CBI, ED, vigilance all such institutions against opposition party leaders and workers. This is a grave situation. We have come together to save this situation. How to save the country and the people of the country — this is the issue before us.”

Asked who will lead the alliance, Kharge said, “We are making a coordination committee of 11. At that meeting in Mumbai, we will decide on who the 11 will be, who the Convenor will be, etc. These are small things”. (ANI)

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People Have Already Decided To Bring Us Back In 2024: Modi

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

Taking a jibe at Opposition leaders, who have gathered in Karnataka’s Bengaluru for a joint meeting to take on BJP in the next year’s Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that at a time when people have already decided to bring the ruling government back in 2024, “those” responsible for the plight of India have opened their shops.

The Prime Minister was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the new Integrated Terminal Building at Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
“Today, the people of the country have already decided to bring us back in 2024. So, people who are responsible for the plight of India have opened their shops,” PM Modi said.

He took a swipe at the Opposition parties, using words like “jamat” and ‘kunba’ and urged people to stay alert.

“People of the country say that this is a ‘kattar bhrashtachar sammelan’…Another speciality of this meeting is that if someone is out on bail for a corruption of crores of Rupees, they are seen with great respect. If the entire family is out on bail, they are more honoured…If someone insults a community and is punished by the court, he is honoured,” he said.

PM Modi referred to a Bollywood song and said people put up many faces.

“You see how many faces these people have put up. When these people come together in a frame the thought that comes to the mind of people is of corruption of thousands of crores. The people are saying that ‘kattar bharashtachari sammelan’ is taking place,” he said.

He accused the opposition parties of pursuing dynastic politics.

“In a democracy, it is of the people, by the people and for the people. But for the dynastic political parties, it is of the family, by the family and for the family. Family first, nation nothing. This is their motto… There is hatred, corruption and appeasement politics. The country is a victim of the fire of dynastic politics. For them, only their family’s growth matters not that of the poor in the country,” he said.

Opposition parties are holding their second meeting in Bengaluru to forge a common front to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls next year. The two-day meeting in Bengaluru is being attended by 26 parties and will conclude on Tuesday.

PM Modi alleged that the gathering in Bengaluru has leaders involved in scams and said that if wrongdoing is exposed, they get together to provide a cover.

PM Modi referred to violence in the Panchayat polls in West Bengal and said Congress and Left had in their selfish interest “left their people to die” in the face of violence.

“Somewhere there is corruption related to floods, somewhere there is kidnapping but the people of ‘kunba’ remain silent. Some days back there was violence in panchayat polls in Bengal, there were killings but they are silent on this too,” he said.

The Prime Minister alleged that there had been atrocities against women in Congress-ruled Rajasthan and cases of paper leaks.

He also referred to the ‘liquor scam’ in Delhi under the Aam Aadmi Party government.

PM Modi said when probe agencies bring out corruption and wrongdoing, the opposition parties start a clamour that “nothing has been found” and “kunbe ke log” give a clean chit.

PM Modi called upon people to identify such people and remain alert.

“In these conspiracies, we have to keep our dedication,” PM Modi said.

He said that the new facility at Port Blair airport will be immensely beneficial to people. (ANI)

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Bengaluru Oppo Meet Vs BJP-Led NDA’s Show Of Strength In Delhi

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

The second and concluding day of the opposition unity meeting in Bengaluru is set to begin here on Tuesday, with 26 like-minded parties closing ranks with a common aim of taking on the Bharatiya Janata Party in the next year’s Lok Sabha polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, on the other hand, will be holding a meeting of 38 parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the national capital on Tuesday.
The NDA meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting of the NDA is being organised to mark the completion of 9 years of the central government under PM Modi.

Meanwhile, the first day of the Opposition party’s meeting started with the dinner meeting hosted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

After the dinner Congress leader BK Hariprasad said that the meeting started with a good signal and it would be the end of BJP in 2024.

On being asked about the NDA meeting scheduled to be held in Delhi, he said, “That would be National Disaster Alliance”.

Earlier, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav hoped that the people of the country would hand the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a massive defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“…2/3rd of the population is going to defeat BJP. I hope that the people of the country will give BJP a massive defeat…I am receiving inputs from all corners of the country that the BJP will be wiped out…,” SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said ahead of the Opposition meeting.

Meanwhile, the draft agenda of the joint opposition meeting set up a subcommittee for drafting the common minimum programme and communications points for the alliance for the 2024 general elections for chalking out the joint programme of parties, which includes rallies, conventions and agitation.

They plan to discuss the process for deciding seat sharing on a state-to-state basis and the name for the alliance is also on the table. The opposition parties may also discuss the issue of EVM and suggest reforms to the Election Commission. The opposition leaders also set up a common secretariat for the proposed alliance.

Moreover, several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various issues pertaining to the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed.

In this meeting, a convenor may be appointed and groups formed to decide on various issues apart from deciding on a common minimum programme.

Sources said Congress is keen that the chairperson should be from the party as it is the largest party in the grouping. However, the party may not be not adamant on the matter and would be willing to go by the combined decision of opposition parties, sources said.

They said no one has any objection to the name of former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. She is also not a contender for the post of Prime Minister and is attending the two-day opposition meeting.

The sources said that opposition parties are keen not to make the 2024 Lok Sabha polls a battle between “a leader vs Modi” but to keep the focus on issues and make it a “Modi vs people” battle.

They said that some parties had proposed making Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar the convenor of the grouping in the meeting of opposition parties held in Patna last month and if there is a unanimity on the matter, the Congress would go along.

The sources said there is a proposal to make two-three subgroups or a coordination committee.

There is a suggestion that a group should be formed to decide on issues to be raised collectively against the Narendra Modi government. Any such group may also be entrusted with deciding the issues on which to hold agitations against the government and to stay away from issues that could help the BJP by causing “polarization”.

Sources said there is a proposal to form a group to decide on seat allocation in states.

They said that since leaders of 26 opposition parties cannot hold meetings in a short period, there is a proposal to form a group for coordination. “There is also a proposal to formulate a common minimum programme,” a source said.

They said all issues will be discussed in the meeting and decision t taken on those on which there is an agreement.

The issues on which there is no agreement will be discussed further, they said.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal lashed out at the BJP-led government and said the opposition parties are all united by a common purpose – to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions.

“These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP Govt. They wanted to silence the Opposition’s voice. They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that opposition leaders will hold discussions on many issues including EVM machines during the second joint opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

“Agenda of today’s meeting is to be one. Discussion will be held on many issues including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, what will be the name of the front,” he said.

Moreover, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at BJP over the NDA meeting scheduled for Tuesday and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi “suddenly thought of NDA” after the meeting of opposition parties in Patna last month.

Jairam Ramesh said at a press conference here that efforts are being made to infuse “new life” in BJP-led National Democratic Alliance after the success of the opposition conclave in Patna.

“PM and BJP are baffled. After the Patna meeting, the PM suddenly thought of NDA. Attempts are being made to breathe new life into NDA. Suddenly, it was reported that the NDA meeting has been called for tomorrow. This is a result of the meeting in Patna,” he said.

Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the Opposition parties have united to “defeat” the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections while terming the Enforcement Directorate raids at the residence of State Minister K Ponmudi as “diversionary tactics” coming ahead of the second unity Opposition meeting.

Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport before flying to Bengaluru to attend the Opposition meeting, CM Stalin said,” “All Opposition parties have united to defeat the BJP-led Central government. We took the decision in Bihar to convene the second meeting in Karnataka today and tomorrow”.

“Opposition unity which started in Bihar last month will continue during the second meeting in Bengaluru,” CM Stalin added.

On being asked about the ED raids at the residence of State higher Education Minister K Ponmudi, Stalin said, “This was a false case initiated by the then Jayalalithaa Government against him thirteen years ago. The ED raids reflect the BJP’s frustration.”

“The raid is a diversionary tactic in the light of the Opposition meeting,” he added.

Aam Admi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chaddha said that the coming together of like-minded opposition parties is giving “sleepless nights” to the Bharatiya Janata Party. He also claimed that the saffron party will not return to power at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The AAP leader said that “The alliance of like-minded opposition parties is giving sleepless nights to the ruling BJP. The coming together of leaders of non-BJP parties have made them to live in fear”, adding, “The agenda of the meeting will be discussed during the meeting in Bengaluru”.

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko said he hopes that the Modi government will lose the next elections as he arrived in Bengaluru to attend the two-day joint opposition meeting.

“This is a very important meeting, it will bring a change in Indian politics…I hope that Modi govt will lose”, Vaiko said.

Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah said that something more “substantive” will be done in the opposition meeting being held in Karnataka’s Bengaluru.

“This is only the second meeting. Obviously, I hope that something more substantive will be done in this meeting because the last meeting was just the beginning. We wanted to see how many parties are attending, and what their individual points of view are. This is the second in the series of meetings, we need to have something more substantive,” he said while talking to the reporters.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party and said that after Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister, the economic condition of the country was destroyed.

“BJP is the party which destroyed the economy of the country, not Opposition parties. After Narendra Modi became PM, the economic condition of the country was destroyed, prices were raised, farmers poor are in distressed condition and because of communal issues people are living in scary situations,” he said.

Siddaramaiah also hoped that the people of the country would give BJP a massive defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“BJP and PM Modi will not get a mandate this time, they will lose this time,” he said.

Karnataka CM also asserted that the influence of PM Narendra Modi is waning and that the decline of the BJP has initiated in Karnataka.

“Didn’t we defeat Modi in Karnataka, BJP’s loss in all the places, where Modi campaigned? During the Karnataka assembly elections, PM Narendra Modi visited the state 28 times. The decline of the BJP has begun in Karnataka. We’ll win the majority of seats in Lok Sabha 2024 polls, and BJP and NDA alliance parties will lose.”

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, party MP TR Baalu, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Raghav Chadha, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko and others leader arrived in Bengaluru to attend the meeting.

Earlier, hitting out at United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and Opposition party alliance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Monday termed it as “Bhanumati ka Kunba”.

“UPA and Opposition parties alliance is Bhanumati ka Kunbha’s, ‘Kahi ki Eet, Kahi Ka Roda, Bhanumati ne Kunba Joda (bringing together elements that don’t go with each other),” JP Nadda said addressing a press conference in the national capital.

He further said it is an alliance based on selfish interests and is only for photo opportunities.

“UPA neither has a leader nor does it has the power to take decisions. It is an alliance based on selfish interests and is only for photo opportunities. It is 10 years of corrupt governance and non-governance of the UPA government,” the BJP chief said. (ANI)

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Former Kerala CM Chandy Passes Away At 79

By LokMarg 18th July 2023

Former Kerala Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy passed away at Chinmaya Hospital in Bengaluru at 4.25 am on Tuesday. He was aged 79 and had been undergoing treatment for cancer.

Oommen Chandy represented the Puthupally constituency in Kottayam district for more than 50 years. He was the MLA from Puthupally.
Chandy first represented Puthupally in 1970 when he was the Youth Congress president. He became a minister for the first time in the K Karunakaran cabinet in 1977. He was appointed Chief Minister twice. He had handled the finance portfolio in the state. He had also been the Leader of Opposition.

Chandy was a leader who was always reachable to his people. His programme “Janasambarka paripady” which was launched to hear people’s complaints when he was the Chief Minister was very popular.

Following his sickness, he had been undergoing treatment in the USA and then he continued his treatment in Bengaluru.

Kerala Congress President K Sudhakaran condoled the death of the former Kerala Chief Minister.

“The tale of the king who triumphed over the world with the power of ‘love’ finds its poignant end. Today, I am deeply saddened by the loss of a legend, @Oommen_Chandy. He touched the lives of countless individuals, and his legacy will forever resonate within our souls,” Sudhakaran tweeted. (ANI)

Oommen Chandy is survived by his wife Mariamma and children Maria Oommen, Chandy Oommen and Achu Oommen. (ANI)

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Sonia Kharge Rahul in bengaluru for opposition meet

Sonia, Kharge, Rahul Arrive At Bengaluru Ahead Of Joint Oppn Meet

By LokMarg 17th July 2023

Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and party leader Rahul Gandhi arrived in Bengaluru to take part in the two-day meeting of opposition parties.

Meanwhile, they were received by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and other senior leaders of the party.
Earlier, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Singh and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko also arrived at Bengaluru airport.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said, “…2/3rd of the population is going to defeat BJP. I hope that the people of the country will give BJP a massive defeat…I am receiving inputs from all corners of the country that the BJP will be wiped out…”

Congress has rallied support from 26 parties for the second opposition unity meeting to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The first opposition unity meeting was held in Patna last month.

The formal opposition meeting will take place on Tuesday. The meeting will start at about 11 am and will continue till 4 pm.

The opposition parties are seeking to put up a united front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

An informal meeting is scheduled at 6 pm after which there will be dinner at 8 pm.

According to sources, the name of the opposition alliance will be decided, and the common minimum programme may also be discussed in the Bengaluru meeting.

Several committees are expected to be formed which will hold meetings to deliberate on various issues pertaining to the alliance. Various groups and sub-groups may also be formed. (ANI)

Opposition Unity Meet Begins In Bengaluru

By LokMarg 17th July 2023

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Monday hit out at the ruling BJP-led government at the Centre accusing it of misusing probe agencies for its political ends and said that the meeting of opposition parties in Bengaluru “will be a game-changer” for India’s politics.

Addressing a press conference here as opposition parties gather in Bengaluru for the meeting, Venugopal alleged that the BJP wants to “silence the voice of opposition” and said disqualification of party leader Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha and developments in Maharashtra are examples.
Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also addressed the press conference.

Venugopal said the opposition parties had a successful meeting in Patna on June 23.

“Tomorrow 26 political parties will participate in the Bengaluru meeting. We will decide the future course of action during the meeting which will be a game changer for the Indian political scenario. We will also chalk out the Parliament strategy. Now they (BJP) are also meetings, this is the real success of the opposition unity,” he said.

Venugopal said the opposition parties are united by a common purpose – to protect democracy in this country, to ensure the Constitutional rights and the independence of our institutions.

“These all are under attack by the present regime of the BJP Govt. They want to silence the Opposition’s voice. They are misusing agencies to suppress the voice of the Opposition. The disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from the Parliament is one of the biggest examples of that. The incident happening in Maharashtra is also an example…”

Earlier speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that opposition leaders will hold discussion on many issues including EVM machines during the second joint opposition meeting in Bengaluru.

“Agenda of today’s meeting is to be one. Discussion will be held on many issues including EVM machines, Lok Sabha seat sharing, what will be the name of the front,” he said.

The opposition parties are seeking to put up a united front to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The two-day meeting will conclude on Tuesday after a formal meeting of opposition leaders. (ANI)

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