News Analysis India

Tag: Karnataka CM

  • Hijab row: Confident of peace, says Karnataka CM as schools reopen tomorrow

    By PTI

    HUBBALLI: A day ahead of high schools across the state up to class 10 that were shut in the wake of the Hijab row, reopening, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday expressed confidence that peace and normalcy will prevail.

    He also said a decision regarding reopening of Pre-University and Degree colleges will be taken after assessing the situation.

    “High schools up to class 10 will reopen tomorrow, already Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of police and Deputy Director of Public Instruction of all districts have been asked to hold peace meetings involving parents and teachers at important schools aimed at maintaining a cordial atmosphere. I’m confident that schools will function peacefully,” Bommai said.

    ALSO READ: Udupi DC imposes Section 144 near high school premises

    Speaking to reporters here, he said that he has asked Education Ministers to submit a report after examining the situation regarding reopening of Pre-University and Degree colleges, based on the assessment a meeting will be held and a decision will be taken.

    The government on Friday had said that the holiday announced to universities belonging to the Department of Higher Education and colleges under the Department of Collegiate and Technical Education (DCTE), in the wake of the Hijab row, has been extended till February 16.

    Regarding reports about the involvement of certain organisations and foreign hands behind the hijab row, the Chief Minister in response to a question said, “such reports in the media and social media are being taken note by our investigating officials, who are also gathering information on their end.”

    “What is before me, and my first duty is that schools and colleges should return to normal functioning, and students should study in a peaceful and cordial atmosphere and prepare for exams that is likely by March-April,” he said.

    As protests for and against the hijab intensified in different parts of Karnataka and turned violent in some places, the government declared a holiday for all high schools and colleges in the state for three days, from February 9.

    Following the court order, the government on February 10 had decided to resume classes for high school students up to class 10 from February 14, and for Pre-University and Degree Colleges thereafter.

    The Karnataka High Court, in its interim order pending consideration of all petitions related to the Hijab row, had earlier requested the state government to reopen educational institutions and restrained all the students from wearing saffron shawls, scarves, Hijab and any religious flag within the classroom.

    In the wake of reopening of schools, the government had last week issued a series of directions to district administrations, aimed at maintaining peace and that the High Court order is not violated.

    Bommai, who also holds the Finance portfolio and will be presenting his first budget early next month said, all-round development of the state is in his mind.

    “After the economic slowdown due to COVID for the last two years, things are recovering in the last four to five months, there is improvement in the revenue collection. Budget will focus on economic development, public welfare and financial discipline. We will have to give a boost to an economy that has slowed down, also priority has to be given to weaker sections and working class,” he added.

  • Bommai meets Shah in Delhi, presents compilation of his government’s achievements

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday in New Delhi and presented a handbook on the achievements of his government in the past six months.

    The chief minister also expressed gratitude to Shah for taking the time to meet and discuss various issues in the national capital with him.

    “I thank our Union Home Minister @AmitShah ji for taking the time to meet and discuss various issues at New Delhi today. Glad to have presented a compilation of the achievements of our government in the last six months,” Bommai had said in a tweet.

    He further informed that he also presented a study report of the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC) on the impact of the welfare programs of the Bommai government for the welfare of the poor.

    “Also a copy of the ISEC study that shows how our schemes and policies reach the common man and the needy,” Bommai tweeted. 

  • Amit Shah has asked me to ensure good governance: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah has asked him to ensure “good governance” in the state. “He (Shah) asked me to give good governance in the state. I assured him that whatever faith you have reposed in me, I will do,” the newly-appointed chief minister told PTI after meeting the home minister here.

    ALSO READ| Bommai has full freedom to pick his team, will not intervene: BSY

    Bommai is on his first visit to Delhi after becoming chief minister. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence later in the day. Apart from Shah, the BJP leader also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

    Bommai, who was elected as the new leader of the BJP legislature party in Karnataka on Tuesday following BS Yediyurappa’s resignation, took oath as the chief minister on Wednesday.

  • Amid leadership change buzz, Yediyurappa asks supporters not to indulge in protests

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: With voices growing in his support, amid speculation that his replacement was on the cards, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Wednesday urged his supporters and well-wishersnot to indulge in any kind of protests or indiscipline that is disrespectful and may embarrass the BJP.

    The 78-year-old BJP veteran said the party is “like mother” for him.

    “I am privileged to be a loyal worker of BJP. It is my utmost honour to serve the party with highest standards of ethics & behaviour. I urge everyone to act in accordance with party ethics & not indulge in protests/indiscipline that is disrespectful & embarrassing for the party,” Yediyurappa tweeted.

    Appealing to supporters not to give statements in his favour or indulge in protests, “based on the current political developments”, Yediyurappa in a Kannada tweet said, “your goodwill should not exceed the boundaries of discipline. Party is like a mother to me and disrespecting it will cause pain to me. I believe that my true well-wishers will understand and respond to my feelings. ”

    His statement came as support continued to pour in for him from Mutts, pontiffs, and political leaders.

    Leaders and pontiffs, especially from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, also All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, have declared support to Yediyurappa and have urged for his continuation as the Chief Minister, while also warning “bad consequences” for the BJP if he is replaced.

    Striking a discordant note, dissident BJP MLC A H Vishwanath asked the Lingayat seers whether they were “backing corruption” by rallying behind Yediyurappa.

    Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Vishwanath, who has been vocal against Yediyurappa, criticised them, claiming that they are setting a “wrong precedent” by backing the Chief Minister and his government “instead of standing with the people”.

    Some BJP leaders like MP G M Siddeshwara and former legislator B Suresh Gowda have also expressed confidence that he will continue as CM, as the high command has not asked him to step down.

    Yediyurappa, who is completing two years in office on July 26, had visited Delhi last week, during which he had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president J P Nadda.

    The trip raised questions in some quarters if the party is now working out a succession plan.

    On his return from the national capital, Yediyurappa had, however, rubbished talks in some quarters that he is on the way out, and asserted that the central leadership has asked him to continue in the post.

    According to BJP sources, Yediyurappa’s dinner for BJP legislators, which was scheduled to take place on July 25, to mark his government completing two years in office, has been postponed.

    Sources also clarified that a BJP legislature party meeting has not been convened on July 26.

  • Audio clip hinting change of Karnataka CM goes viral,  state BJP Chief Kateel says it’s fake

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel has dismissed as fake an audio clip that hints at possible leadership change in the State, and said it was not his voice.

    The clip has gone viral, fuelling a new round of speculation on whether replacing the 78-year old Chief Minister is on the cards.

    ALSO READ:  BS Yediyurappa to step down as Karnataka CM in July end?

    Yediyurappa, who is completing two years in office on July 26, visited Delhi last week, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President J P Nadda. The trip raised questions in some quarters if the party is now working out a succession plan.

    On his return from the national capital, Yediyurappa rubbished talks in some quarters that he is on way out, and asserted that the central leadership has asked him to continue in the post. The surfacing of the audio clip on Sunday has led to political buzz again on the leadership issue.

    Kateel has termed the brief audio as “fake” and has demanded an inquiry into the tape where the talk was about “removing the entire team” without mentioning Yeddyurappa’s name.

    ALSO READ: Yediyurappa BJP’s soul, Eshwarappa and Shetter its two eyes: Karnataka BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel

    “Don’t tell anybody. The entire team of Eshwarappa, Jagadish Shettar (Ministers) will be removed. We are making a new team,” the conversation went.

    “Three names are there (for CM’s post) but they won’t be considered. They’ll put (appoint) from Delhi itself,” he added. Eshwarappa, who was earlier the state BJP President, is currently the Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister, whereas Shettar, a former chief minister, is the Industries Minister in the Yediyurappa cabinet.

    However, clarifying on the audiotape, Kateel in Mangaluru said, he has nothing to do with it. “I’m writing a letter to the Chief Minister urging for a complete inquiry about it. Let the truth come out through inquiry. Several such incidents have happened in the past in politics, it is not right, let there be an inquiry,” he said.

    Reiterating that no discussion had taken place regarding the leadership or any other change in the party, Kateel said, so such a talk is “irrelevant”.

    ALSO READ: A day after BS Yediyurappa’s Delhi visit, supporters, baiters tread cautiously

    “Yediyurappa is the ‘aatma’ (soul) of our party, he is our unanimous leader and senior to all of us, he has built the party to this level after several years of struggle. Also, Eshwarappa and Jagadish Shettar are like two eyes, under the guidance of such senior leaders the party and the government will function,” he said.

    Stating that he will not blame anybody for the audiotape without an inquiry, the state BJP chief said, facts will come out through inquiry. To a question on whether the voice in the audiotape resembles his, he said, “I have nothing to do with it. Let the truth come out through inquiry. I will write to the CM for inquiry. I will cooperate with the inquiry.” After his meetings in Delhi, Yediyurappa on Saturday said, “So far, no one has asked me to resign.

    If there is any such news, there is no value to it. “However, speculation about his replacement refuses to die down, as Yediyurappa has convened the BJP legislature party meeting on July 26, on the occasion of completion of two years in office.”