
Will seek time with PM for Alamatti dam height increase: DKS
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said that he would seek time from the Prime Minister and Union Jal Shakthi Minister to discuss Alamatti dam height increase in view of objections raised by Maharashtra.
'I will seek time from PM and the Jal Shakthi Minister once CM Siddaramaiah writes a reply to the objection raised by the Maharashtra CM,' he said speaking to reporters after inspecting the venue of Kempe Gowda Jayanthi.
'Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will write a reply to the letter of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis within two days. I have already shared my inputs with the CM. We will also share CM's letter with all the MPs so that they can take it up in the Parliament. We will seek an appointment with the PM after that. It is important that all of us safeguard state's interests in unison,' he said.
'Maharashtra CM Fadnavis is an intelligent person. He was in favour of the project in the past. I am surprised he wrote this letter now. Managing floods within a state is the responsibility of the state governments,' he added.
Asked about his visit to inspect the venue for Kempe Gowda Jayanthi, he said, 'We have decided to celebrate this year's Kempe Gowda Jayanthi at this venue. The land allotted to Kempe Gowda Development Authority is nearby. We will lay the foundation stone for the Kempe Gowda Development Authority on June 27 and celebrate his Jayanthi. In the allotted land, a museum on Kempe Gowda will also come up.'
'Our local leaders have suggested swapping the allotted land with the land of Social Welfare Department as it also has an auditorium. A railway line will also pass through this place and a station would be built here. This will be taken up in the Cabinet meeting,' he explained.
Asked if the land was too far from the city, he said, 'Bengaluru has grown now, where else can we allot the land? No one is willing to part with Golf course and Race Course.'
Asked about his Delhi visit, he said, 'We have to visit Delhi as Union ministries are all located there. I don't have any work in Delhi currently, CM may have. I will go to Delhi if High command asks me to. I have to travel to Delhi meet some Union Ministers, but I am awaiting their appointment.'
Asked about the news that the much-awaited Cabinet expansion may happen post completion of two years, he said, 'You have to ask the High command and the CM about this.'
Replying to a question on appointments for Boards and Corporations, he said, 'We will do it soon. We have to accommodate about 500-600 party workers. The list is ready, we will release it after discussing it with local leaders.' Asked about MLC nominations, he said the High command would take a call on that.
Asked about Legislative Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti's letter, he said, 'I haven't got a copy of the letter, I will comment on that after I go through it. I know how BJP had done the selection and we are examining that as well.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bengaluru stampede: CM, DCM have 'blood on their hands', should quit: BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje
BJP leader and Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje on Saturday alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have "blood on their hands", as she held them directly responsible and demanded their resignation in connection with the June 4 stampede that killed 11 people. Demanding a probe by a sitting High Court judge for the truth to come out, she slammed the state government for suspending Bengaluru police commissioner B Dayananda and four other senior police officials over the incident. The Bengaluru North MP also questioned the Congress high command and party leader Rahul Gandhi's silence on the incident, and urged them to seek the CM and Deputy CM's resignation if they have "guts". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo "Is Karnataka Congress bankrupt of leaders other than Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar? Let the two face inquiry, make others CM and Deputy CM. Where are Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, who often come to the state for everything, hiding?" she asked. She further alleged that they are silent on the issue as the Karnataka Congress government is an ATM for the party's Delhi high command. The stampede occurred on June 4 evening in front of the Chinnaswamy stadium here, where a large number of people thronged to participate in the RCB team's IPL victory celebrations. Eleven people died and 56 were injured in the incident. Live Events "Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have blood on their hands. The parents who have lost their children are cursing. They (CM and DCM) are trying to wash the blood on their hands and wipe it on police officers. A person known as a tough cop, a good and honest officer, who came from a normal family and became Bengaluru's commissioner has been suspended," Karandlaje said. Speaking to reporters here, she said this is a dark spot on this government and the CM's image. "In the history of Bengaluru or any metropolitan city, we have not heard about officials being transferred for mistakes, but here because of the mistake of the CM and his deputy, the Commissioner has been suspended. You (CM, DCM) have committed the fault and you are blaming them (officials) for it. You are wiping the blood on your hands on them," she added. Questioning Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar as to why they thought about holding this celebration, the MP from Bengaluru North asked are they partners with RCB in any ways? If laurals were brought to the country or the state by an official national or state team, then holding celebrations is understandable, but they were never felicitated this way, she noted and said, "When a private franchise RCB won the match, you wanted to celebrate. The grand stairs of Vidhana Soudha were reserved for swearing-in or government ceremonies all these years. You used it for a private team." Is anyone in the government is planning to have a partnership with RCB or planning for franchise ownership, she sought to know, and further asked, "with these intentions, attempts were made to take publicity from RCB's win." Pointing out that the family of ministers and the CM had gathered there at the event at Vidhana Soudha, while the public was suffering, Shobha asked how the permission was given. Didn't the intelligence or police have information about the gathering of lakhs of people? "Stampede and death happened about 3:30-3:45 pm and the event began at 4 pm. The CM, DCM despite knowing deaths have happened, continued with the event. Siddaramaiah, you have celebrated RCB's victory standing on the dead bodies. There was a competition by those on stage along with their families to take photos with players. You did this despite having information about deaths.... You (DCM) went to the stadium and gave a kiss to the victory cup at the stadium," she alleged, adding that all of this happened on the dead bodies. She pointed out that the police had done their duty the entire night on June 3, till early next morning, as there were celebrations across the city following RCB victory. Demanding to know how two celebrations happened without government permission, she asked, "If permission was given by the government, then why are the police officials being suspended?" She also pointed out confusion about free tickets. With only three stadium gates being opened, a large crowd, and the government's carelessness, led to the stampede. Alleging that competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for publicity led to 11 deaths, the union minister highlighted posts on 'X' by the CM about the felicitation to RCB team in front of Vidhana Soudha. Further, asking how a magistrate can question the CM and DCM during the inquiry into the incident that has been ordered by the government, she further said, now you have ordered a probe by a one-man judicial commission, headed by retired Justice Michael D'Cunha. He is already probing Covid-19 illegalities. He hasn't given that report yet, why again him? "We have no opposition to him or any retired judge, but why only him? What's your intention? Coverup? Why not order a probe by a sitting High Court judge?" Questioning the actual number of injured, while alleging that the government may be trying for a "coverup", Karandlaje claimed that families of some injured are paying for the medical expenses, though the government has announced that it will bear the cost. She also asked as to why the government was protecting Karnataka State Cricket Association and its office bearers, and why were they not arrested when RCB and DNA event management officials were arrested?


Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
BJP names Kanad Purkayastha as candidate for Assam Rajya Sabha polls
Guwahati: The BJP on Saturday announced that the party's Assam state secretary Kanad Purkayastha would be its candidate for the June 19 Rajya Sabha election from the state. BJP's National General Secretary Arun Singh, in a statement, said the party's central election committee has approved the candidature of Purkayastha, who is currently the party's Assam state secretary. A party leader from southern Assam's Barak valley said that Purkayastha is the only son of veteran BJP leader and former Union minister Kabindra Purkayastha. Elections for two Rajya Sabha seats in Assam are scheduled on June 19, with counting of votes set to take place the same day. The last date for filling of nominations is June 9, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is June 12. The ruling BJP had earlier announced that it would field a candidate for one of the seats, leaving the other seat to its ally, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP). The two Rajya Sabha seats from Assam would be vacated after the retirement of Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) and Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) on June 14. Assam has seven Rajya Sabha seats. After Trinamool Congress' Sushmita Dev, who was elected to the Upper House of Parliament from West Bengal, Purkayastha would be the second Rajya Sabha member from the Barak Valley. Hailing from Silchar, Dev, daughter of former Union Minister and late Congress leader Santosh Mohan Dev, was earlier elected to the Lok Sabha from Silchar parliamentary constituency. Over four million people, mostly Bengali speaking, reside in the three districts of the Barak Valley region in Southern Assam -- Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi. Political observers said that despite the Barak Valley's substantial population and political significance, no leader from this region, adjoining Tripura, has previously been elected to the Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket. Purkayastha's nomination is an attempt to deal with this gap and aims to strengthen the BJP's base among Bengali Hindus in Barak Valley. The Purkayastha family has been influential in Assam's political circle as veteran leader Kabindra Purkayastha's legacy and Kanad's active participation in the BJP's political activities contribute to the family's persistent prominence in Assam politics.

New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Our farmers have gone from facing debt and uncertainty to enjoying dignity: PM Modi
Through a series of posts, Modi emphasised the transformative impact of his government's farmer-centric policies over the past decade, describing it as an era of dignity and prosperity for agriculture. He stressed that continuous hikes in MSP have ensured fair compensation while boosting incomes. Official communications framed this mission as "empowering Annadatas" and "strengthening India's backbone." "From facing debt and uncertainty, our farmers now enjoy dignity through direct income support, better prices, modern infrastructure, and global market access," the government stated, adding that agriculture has grown substantially, with farmers becoming key partners in India's development. Under Modi's "visionary leadership," no farmer is left behind. Notable achievements include: Establishment of 43,000 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), integration of 15,000 Mandis on the e-NAM portal, digital enrollment of nearly 2 crore farmers and 2.6 lakh traders, Rs 3.79 lakh crore in recorded agri-trade over 11 years, MSP allocations growing from Rs 7.41 lakh crore to Rs 23.61 lakh crore, and agricultural support increasing nearly threefold from Rs 8.5 lakh crore to Rs 25.49 lakh crore. Union Home Minister Amit Shah commended these efforts, "Today, our farmers are empowered contributors to nation-building with self-respect." BJP President JP Nadda added that PM Modi's leadership has prioritised farmers through schemes like PM-Kisan and PM Fasal Bima Yojana, ensuring they receive deserved dignity and support.