logo
JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy hits back at Kharge, says 'only people have power to destabilise a govt'

JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy hits back at Kharge, says 'only people have power to destabilise a govt'

Time of India22-04-2025

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy will lead a massive protest in Bengaluru against the Congress-led government in Karnataka on April 12, announced the JD (S) Youth Wing State President Nikhil Kumaraswamy on Wednesday.
JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy dismissed claims of BJP destabilizing the Karnataka government, asserting that only the people hold such power. This response followed Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's accusation that the BJP was attempting to undermine the state government.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
JD(S) leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy responded to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge 's reported statement that the "BJP was attempting to destabilise the Karnataka government ", stating that it was "laughable" and "only the people have the power to destabilise a government".Kumaraswamy dismissed the claim, stating that no one could destabilise the Congress government in the state."It's laughable; no one can destabilise the Congress government, nor can anyone save the Congress government in the state. Only people have the power to destabilise a government," he told reporters a day earlier.This came following Kharge's statement regarding the BJP's alleged attempts to undermine the State government.Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Congress President accused the BJP-led central government of "unnecessarily troubling" Congress leaders after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against party leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald case Speaking to ANI, Kharge vowed to hold protests nationwide against the move, alleging that the BJP is working against the law."There is nothing in the case... It was shut down for some time due to financial troubles. Sonia Gandhi tried to revive it with loans and donations. Now, they say that it is wrong to take a loan... BJP is working against the law. What is wrong is wrong, and we will prove it. Our protests will be held nationwide, and we want to tell the people that we are being troubled unnecessarily," he said.He further criticised the BJP-led government, accusing it of targeting the Congress party to cover up its failures. Kharge claimed that the BJP-led government's economic mismanagement was spiralling out of control and said there was no vision or solutions, only attempts to divert attention from its mistakes.In a social media post on April 16, Kharge wrote, "Your despotic Sarkar is hell-bent on targeting the Congress to whitewash its own sins. BJP's Economic Mismanagement is spiralling out of control. Desperation is gathering steam. No vision, No solution, only diversion!"

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Haryana recommends service extension for Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi
Haryana recommends service extension for Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi

Indian Express

time22 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Haryana recommends service extension for Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi

Haryana's BJP government has recommended a service extension for Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, who was scheduled to retire on June 30. Sources within the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said on Wednesday that the government has forwarded a formal request to the Centre, seeking a six-month extension for its incumbent chief secretary. As per Rule 16 of the All India Services (Death-cum-Retirement Benefit) Rules 1958, the service of the chief secretary may be given an extension of service 'for a period not exceeding six months on the recommendations made by the State Government concerned with full justification and in the public interest, with the prior approval of the Central Government'. The state government appointed Rastogi, a 1990-batch IAS officer, as the chief secretary in February to replace Vivek Joshi, after he was appointed the Election Commissioner of India. Rastogi is also holding the charge of additional chief secretary (finance and planning) in the Haryana government. Before his elevation as chief secretary, the power circles in Haryana had already predicted that Rastogi would be picked to succeed Joshi even though four other 1990-batch IAS officers -– Sudhir Rajpal, Sumita Misra, Anand Mohan Sharan, and Raja Sekhar Vundru — were in the race for the post. All four officers are posted as additional chief secretaries, with Rajpal in charge of health, Misra of home, Sharan of environment, and Vundru of agriculture. Rajpal is the senior-most officer in the group, followed by Misra.

Keeladi excavation report of archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna: Why are Centre and T.N. government at loggerheads?
Keeladi excavation report of archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna: Why are Centre and T.N. government at loggerheads?

The Hindu

time24 minutes ago

  • The Hindu

Keeladi excavation report of archaeologist Amarnath Ramakrishna: Why are Centre and T.N. government at loggerheads?

The story so far: On June 17, 2025, archaeologist K. Amarnath Ramakrishna, the archaeologist whose excavation at Keeladi (also spelt Keezhadi) in Tamil Nadu drew the nation's attention, was transferred yet again, this time from New Delhi to Greater Noida. Mr. Ramakrishna, who was serving as the Director (Antiquity) and as Director of the National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA), will now be the director of only the NMMA. The NMMA unit set up in 2007, according to sources, almost remains defunct. This move drew criticism from political circles in the State. Over two years after Mr. Ramakrishna submitted his 982-page report on the first two phases of excavations carried out at Keeladi under his leadership between 2014 and 2016, a fresh controversy erupted last month. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) demanded him to revise his report but Mr. Ramakrishna refused to do it. This disagreement sparked a political clash between the Centre and Tamil Nadu. The State's Minister for Archaeology Thangam Thennarasu even accused the BJP-led Union government of treating Tamils as second class citizens. How did Keeladi excavation begin? Keeladi, located about 12 km southeast of Madurai in Sivaganga district has become a symbol of pride for many in Tamil Nadu. Over a decade ago, Amarnath Ramakrishna who was then the ASI's Superintending Archaeologist had initiated excavations at a site known as the Pallichanthai Tidal in Keeladi, a place that was originally a coconut grove spanning 100 acres. He had identified over 100 sites for excavation along the Vaigai River but Keeladi stood out. It was in Keeladi that they unearthed over 7,500 ancient artifacts including wall structures, drainage systems and wells - all evidence of a sophisticated urban society that thrived. What was even more compelling was the carbon dating which revealed that these elements are over 2,160 years old dating back to the 2nd century BCE which is the time of the Sangam period in Tamil history. What made Keeladi significant? Archaeologists were stunned by a few findings. Most importantly, there was no evidence of religious symbols at the excavation site which hinted at the secular nature of the civilization. The finds also showed: the presence of a vibrant, sophisticated urban society in Keeladi the strong structures oriented in cardinal direction suggesting systematic urban planning port shreds with Tamil Brahmi inscriptions indicating a highly literate society the graffiti of the sun and moon demonstrated the astronomical sense of the people an ivory dice pointing to the presence of an elite society So, naturally the excitement around Keeladi's discoveries was palpable. Tamil historians and enthusiasts saw it as proof of an advanced ancient Tamil civilization but soon after things took a sharp turn. The significant transfer of Amarnath Ramakrishna It all began in 2017 when the ASI transferred Amarnath Ramakrishna to Assam just as the excavations were ramping up after first two phases. This move was seen by many as a blow to the project. Back then, political critics accused the Centre of deliberately derailing the excavations. It is because the Centre that had promised funding and support for further digs delayed both after the second phase. The local political climate grew tense with some alleging that the Centre was trying to suppress Tamil heritage. By 2017, the excavations had entered its third phase but this time, under archaeologist P.S. Sriraman. After excavating just about 400 square meters, Mr. Sriraman reported that there was no continuity in the brick structures that were previously discovered. This had fuelled accusations that the Centre was deliberately downplaying the significance of Keeladi. Madras High Court steps in Meanwhile, the issue reached the courts. The Madras High Court stepped in and its judges visited the excavation site. They then directed the ASI to continue the excavations and also allow Tamil Nadu's department of archaeology to get involved. The State's archaeology department did just that, and in 2019, they published a report asserting that Keeladi was indeed an urban settlement dating back to the Sangam era between the 6th century BCE and 1st century CE. From the third phase of excavation, it is the State archaeology department that has continued with the project but these findings have not helped resolve the issue, instead the drama has escalated. Cut to January 2023 when Amarnath Ramakrishna who was transferred back to Tamil Nadu submitted his report on the first two phases of excavation. Amarnath Ramakrishna's report to ASI For about two-and-a-half years, this report remained with the ASI, and just last month, the ASI sent Mr. Ramakrishna a letter asking him to revise the report. The Archaeological Survey of India questioned the dating and depth of certain findings, suggesting the evidence for the earliest period, as it 'appeared to be very early,' and said it needed further analysis. Amarnath Ramakrishna, however, stood firm and refused to rewrite his conclusions, defending his work as scientifically sound, based on rigorous archaeological standards. He argued that the report's chronology was backed by stratigraphic sequences, material culture and even Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Political outrage In this backdrop, many political parties in Tamil Nadu including the DMK, the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and historian R. Balakrishnan who is also a retired IAS officer have slammed the ASI's decision. They have termed it a blatant attempt to suppress Tamil heritage. They argued that the Centre's refusal to acknowledge Keeladi's significance was not just about science but also about politics. Amid the backlash, the Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said Mr. Ramakrishnan's findings were not technically well-supported and further scientific studies were required to validate the findings. He sought more results, data and evidence because he said a single finding cannot change the entire discourse. Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, who also holds the archaeology portfolio, has been particularly vocal about the issue. He rhetorically posed, 'Though we are in the same country, why does the government have reservations? Is it because of its unquenchable desire to treat Tamils as second class citizens?' For the Minister, the issue is not just about Keeladi but about a symbolic fight for Tamil identity and history. MDMK leader Vaiko too alleged that the Centre was trying to suppress Tamil civilization while promoting what he called as 'a non-existent Sanskrit civilization'. His remark reflected the growing narrative that the Centre's actions were part of a broader political agenda. However, Mr. Shekhawat continued to justify his position saying that Tamil Nadu is an integral part of India and its heritage should be celebrated, not through divisive sentiments but through scientific, evidence-based knowledge. He told Chief Minister M.K. Stalin that the Union government has no hesitation in releasing any reports, and if such research is scientifically proven, it too would be proud to stand with the State. For the report to be accepted by the scientific community, more robust evidence is still needed, he added. The Union Minister wondered why the Tamil Nadu government was hesitant to cooperate with the Centre on this issue. Hence, the conflict continues. AIADMK's silence Interestingly, the AIADMK which was in power when the Keeladi report was proudly published is now largely silent, thanks to its renewed ties with the BJP. The Keeladi controversy is not just about one report or one excavation; it is a clash of narratives. The Centre insists on scientific validation while Tamil Nadu views it as a matter of cultural pride and historical recognition. The State government is pressing on with its excavations, which are underway, and it has already set up a new museum at Keeladi which is drawing thousands of visitors.

Trump administration blocked from cutting local health funding for four municipalities
Trump administration blocked from cutting local health funding for four municipalities

Time of India

time27 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Trump administration blocked from cutting local health funding for four municipalities

A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from clawing back millions in public health funding from four Democrat-led municipalities in GOP-governed states. It's the second such federal ruling to reinstate public health funding for several states. US District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, DC, issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday sought by district attorneys in Harris County , Texas, home to Houston, and three cities: Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee, and Kansas City, Missouri. The decision means the federal government must reinstate funding to the four municipalities until the case is fully litigated. "The federal government cannot simply ignore Congress and pull the plug on essential services that communities rely on," Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said. "Today's decision ensures we can keep doing the work that protects our residents - from tracking disease outbreaks to providing vaccinations and supporting vulnerable families." Their lawsuit, filed in late April, alleged $11 billion in cuts to US centres for disease control and prevention programs had already been approved by Congress and are being unconstitutionally withheld. They also argued that the administration's actions violate department of health and human services regulations. The cities and counties argued the cuts were "a massive blow to US public health at a time where state and local public health departments need to address burgeoning infectious diseases and chronic illnesses, like the measles, bird flu, and mpox." The cuts would lead to thousands of state and local public health employees being fired, the lawsuit argued. The local governments, alongside the American federation of state, county and municipal employees union, wanted the court to reinstate the grants nationwide. But Cooper said in his preliminary injunction that the funds can only be blocked to the four municipalities and in a May 21 hearing expressed skepticism about whether it could apply more widely. The funding in question was granted during the Covid-19 pandemic but aimed at building up public health infrastructure overall, Menefee said in a statement in April. The four local governments were owed about $32.7 million in future grant payments, Cooper's opinion notes. The federal government's lawyers said the grants were legally cut because, "Now that the pandemic is over, the grants and cooperative agreements are no longer necessary as their limited purpose has run out." They used the same argument in the case brought by 23 states and the District of Columbia over the HHS funding clawback. Menefee said the cuts defunded programs in Harris County for wastewater disease surveillance, community health workers and clinics and call centres that helped people get vaccinated. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said the cuts forced the city to fire 11 of its 22 infectious disease staffers. Nashville used some of its grant money to support programs, including a "strike team" that after the pandemic addressed gaps in health services that kept kids from being able to enrol in school, according to the lawsuit. Kansas City used one of its grants to build out capabilities to test locally for Covid-19, influenza and measles rather than waiting for results from the county lab. The suit details that after four years of work to certify facilities and train staff, the city "was at the final step" of buying lab equipment when the grant was canceled. Representatives for HHS, the CDC and the cities did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store