Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Archives - Lokmarg

Cong A Respectable Alternative To Misgovernance In Bengaluru: Tharoor

By LokMarg 9th April 2023

Hitting out at Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government in Karnataka, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said people of the poll-bound southern state have endured misgovernance in the last four years.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, Tharoor said when there is misgovernance and “there is nothing to see”, people inevitably wonder what they need the government for.
“When there is misgovernance and there is nothing to see, people inevitably wonder what they need the government for. People are interested very much in seeing the Congress as a respectable alternative to the misgovernance they’ve endured in the last 4 years,” said Tharoor.

He said there are essential needs of the people that have not been met by the BJP government and the Congress has already come up with specific promises to fulfil people’s needs.

The Congress MP said IT investment in the state has been plummeting for the last 3-4 years.

“Bengaluru has such great potential. It is so sad that the city, which was evidently the most favoured destination for IT investment till a few years ago, has seen investments plummeting over the last 3-4 years,” he said.

On Sharad Pawar’s statement that there was no need for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Hindenburg-Adani row, he said that NCP chief’s logic can be understood as the ruling party will have a 50 per cent majority in the panel, if one is formed to probe the claims against the Adani Group.

“His (Sharad Pawar) logic can be understood because the rule for constituting a JPC is that the ruling party will be part of it, and above 50 per cent of members in the JPC will be from the NDA, if one is formed. But we still want the Opposition to ask questions and seek answers and evidence through the JPC. The NCP stood with us in the Parliament and during our protest march to Vijay Chowk,” said Thaoor.

With the Karnataka Assembly polls drawing near, a meeting of senior Congress leaders regarding the selection of candidates for the Karnataka elections will be held at party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence this evening.

Rahul Gandhi is likely to attend this meeting.

The Congress is yet to announce the names of candidates for 58 seats.

The Congress, on March 25, announced its first list of 124 candidates for the Assembly polls. The list included former chief minister Siddaramaiah and the party’s state president DK Shivakumar.

Elections in Karnataka are slated to be held in a single phase on May 10 and the counting of votes will be held on May 13. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah will be contesting from the Varuna constituency while DK Shivakumar has been fielded in Kanakapura.

Siddaramaiah had expressed his interest to contest from the Kolar constituency but the Congress High Command instructed him to drop the plan following disagreements between the party’s local leaders in the constituency. The party has fielded M Roopakala from the Kolar Gold Field constituency.

The ruling BJP currently holds a majority in the Assembly with 119 seats while the Congress and the JD(S) have 75 and 28 seats respectively.

All three key political players in the state — BJP, Congress and the JD(S) — have been exchanging barbs as their poll campaign moves through the gears. The latter are attempting to corner the ruling BJP on the issue of corruption.

The model code of conduct is currently in force in the state. (ANI)

Bengaluru Metro Pillar Case: ‘Result Of 40% Commission Govt’, Says Shivakumar

By LokMarg 10th January 2023

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Tuesday termed the collapse of the under-construction metro pillar in Bengaluru which claimed two lives as the result of the “40 percent commission” government.

The Congress leader said that there is “no quality” in development works.
“This is the result of the ’40 percent commission’ government. There is no quality in development works,” he said.

Last year, Congress had alleged that the BJP charges a 40 percent commission from the government contractors.

An FIR has been registered against unidentified persons in connection with the collapse of an under-construction pillar in Bengaluru, police said on Tuesday.

The collapse of the pillar claimed two lives including a woman and her toddler while left two others injured.

“FIR has filed against 5 concerned unknown persons in metro pillar collapse case at Govindapura police station,” police said.

According to the FIR, site engineers, metro contractors, site-in-charge officers, BMRCL officers, and others have been included.

This comes after Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that an inquiry into the incident would be conducted. The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia for the family of the deceased.

Besides, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation said that notices have been issued to the contractors and engineers concerned in connection with the collapse of an under-construction metro pillar in Bengaluru.

It said that an internal technical team would investigate the matter.

A woman along with her toddler was killed after an under-construction metro pillar collapsed in the city. The woman’s husband and daughter were hospitalized following the incident with injuries.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of the deceased in the Bengaluru metro pillar mishap that claimed two lives.

Bommai told reporters that he has sought the details of the mishap.

“It’s a most unfortunate incident. Instructions are given to order a probe to find out any lapses on the part of the contractor or other reasons. The family of the deceased will be given an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh will be given,” he said. (ANI)

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‘Not An Inch’ Will Be Ceded: Bommai On Border Row

By LokMarg 27th December 2022

Amid the ongoing Karnataka-Maharashtra border row, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said that not an inch of land will be ceded to Maharashtra.

Bommai said Karnataka is confident of getting justice as the States have been organised on the basis of the States Reorganisation Act 1956.
“Not an inch of Karnataka will be ceded to Maharashtra at any cost. The Karnataka government is fully committed to protecting every bit of land. States have been organised on basis of the States Reorganisation Act 1956. Maharashtra politicians are doing such things as their case pending before Supreme Court is very weak,” CM Bommai told reporters here.

Bommai’s remarks came against the backdrop of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passing the resolution on the state’s dispute with Karnataka over border areas.

Karnataka CM said the resolution of the Maharashtra Assembly did not have any value and they are doing such things since their case pending before the Supreme Court is very weak.

“The resolution of the Karnataka Assembly is very clear and the State is clear in its stand which is constitutionally and legally valid. The people of both States are living cordially. The Maharashtra politicians are known for such tricks as they know well that their case is very weak. The Karnataka government is committed to Kannadigas living in the neighbouring state. We are right constitutionally and legally,” Bommai added.

Maharashtra Chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday tabled a resolution in the state Assembly on the state’s dispute with Karnataka over border areas.

The state assembly unanimously passed the resolution which says that Maharashtra will fight the pending case in the Supreme Court with full strength for the inclusion of each and every inch of 865 villages including Belgavi, Karwar, Nipani, Bidar Bhalki in Maharashtra.

The resolution also condemned the Karnataka administration for its anti-Marathi stand in the border area.

According to the resolution the Maharashtra government will stand behind the Marathi people in border areas and will go for a legal fight in the Supreme Court to ensure that these areas become a part of Maharashtra.

The Central Government should urge the Karnataka Government to implement the decision taken in the meeting with the Union Home Minister and the government should be given the understanding to guarantee the safety of the Marathi people in the border areas, the resolution read.

Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday demanded that the disputed areas be declared as Union Territory.

Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Thackeray said, “We supported today’s resolution. Whatever happens in favour of Maharashtra, we will support it. But there are some questions. For over two years, people (living in border areas) have been demanding to include them in Maharashtra. What are we doing about that?”

Thackeray stated that the Opposition stands in support of the resolution.

“Today government replied that the disputed area cannot be declared as a Union Territory as said by Supreme Court in 2008. However, the situation is not the same now. The Karnataka government is not following it. They are doing an Assembly session there and renamed Belagavi. So we should go to Supreme Court and ask SC to declare it as UT,” added Thackeray.

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar condemned the Maharashtra Assembly resolution and called it a political gimmick.

“There is Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in both States and in the Centre. There was no need to pass the resolution. It is done because of elections. We know how to protect our people. They might speak Marathi but live in Karnataka. We condemn this resolution,” Shivakumar told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka legislature said that the state’s stand over the border issue is a settled one and not an inch of land will be given to the neighbouring state.

Notably, the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka dates back to the implementation of the State Reorganization Act, of 1956. The then Maharashtra government had demanded the readjustment of its border with Karnataka.

Following this, a four-member committee was formed by both states. The Maharashtra government had expressed willingness to transfer 260 predominantly Kannada-speaking villages, but the proposal was turned down by Karnataka. Both governments later approached the Supreme Court to expedite the matter. (ANI)

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M’rashtra-K’taka Row: Uddhav Demands ‘Disputed Areas’ Declared As UT

By LokMarg 27th December 2022

Amid the row over the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute, Shiv Sena (UBT) president and former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday demanded that the disputed areas be declared as Union Territory.

Maharashtra Assembly unanimously passed a resolution on the border issue with Karnataka, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray stated that the Opposition stands in support of the resolution.
Speaking to reporters, Thackeray said, “We supported today’s resolution. Whatever happens in favor of Maharashtra, we will support it. But there are some questions. For over two years, people (living in border areas) have been demanding to include them in Maharashtra. What are we doing about that?”

Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed the resolution on the state’s dispute with Karnataka over border areas.

Chief minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday tabled a resolution in the state Assembly on the state’s dispute with Karnataka over border areas.

The resolution also condemned the Karnataka administration for its anti-Marathi stand in the border area.

On Monday, former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray speaking in the state Legislative Council said Maharashtra should be declared a Union Territory. (ANI)

“It is not just a case of language and border, but of ‘humanity’. Till the issue is pending before the Supreme Court, the Karnataka-occupied Maharashtra should be declared as a Union Territory by the central government,” he said.

Thackeray further said that Marathi people residing in the border villages have faced “injustice”.

“Marathi-speaking people have been residing in the border villages for generations. Their daily life, language, and lifestyle are Marathi. They do not understand Kannad,” he said speaking in the Upper House.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka legislature said that the state’s stand over the border issue is a settled one, and not an inch of land will be given to the neighboring state.

Thackeray also had hit out at the Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.

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There Shouldn’t Be Any Politics: Shinde On Karnataka Border Issue

By LokMarg 19th December 2022

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, speaking on the border issue with Karnataka in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, said that there should not be any politics on it now.

“For the first time, the Union Home Minister has mediated in the inter-state border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka. There should be no politics on this issue now. We should stand together with the border residents,” said Chief Minister Shinde.
Earlier, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had a telephone conversation with Shinde.

“Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Eknath Shinde had a telephonic discussion with me, we both agreed that there should be peace and law and order to be maintained in both the states,” Bommai said in a tweet.

The border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka goes back to the implementation of the State Reorganization Act, of 1956. The then Maharashtra government had demanded the readjustment of its border with Karnataka.

Both governments later approached the Supreme Court to expedite the matter.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar on Saturday said that Karnataka and Maharashtra CMs’ talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the border issue should be made public.

“Karnataka and Maharashtra CMs’ talks with Union HM Amit Shah should be made public. We’ll support it if the state government proposes border issues,” said Ajit Pawar. (ANI)

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