Latest news with #RuralDevelopmentandPanchayatRaj
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Priyank Kharge expresses gratitude to Kalaburagi citizens for supporting him against BJP attacks
In a press statement issued on Saturday, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge thanked citizens of Kalaburagi and supporters across the region for standing in solidarity with him in the wake of personal attacks by BJP leaders. Responding to the derogatory remarks recently made by Leader of Opposition int he Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and others, Mr. Priyank said that the people of Kalaburagi had given a fitting and dignified reply through their massive mobilisation and intellectual resistance. 'The conscious citizens of Kalaburagi, deeply rooted in the philosophy of Basavanna and B.R. Ambedkar have once again reaffirmed their belief in democracy and the Constitution,' Mr. Priyank stated, adding that their overwhelming support had not only strengthened his resolve but also silenced those resorting to personal and ideological attacks. Reflecting on the historical and intellectual legacy of Kalyana Karnataka, Mr. Priyank remarked that the region had been a cradle of progressive thought since the days of the Vachana movement, and would never allow the 'regressive and polluted ideology' of the RSS and the BJP to take root. 'The BJP's attempt to undermine me through personal slander reflects its inability to counter me politically, ideologically, or intellectually. They have launched these attacks because I have fearlessly exposed their failures and corruption,' he said. 'I am not alone. With me are thousands who follow the path of Ambedkar and Basavanna. This spiritual and ideological army gives me the strength and confidence to continue the fight against injustice,' Mr. Priyank said. Reaffirming his commitment to the marginalised, the Minister pledged to carry forward his mission to uplift the underprivileged and continue his efforts to dismantle social inequality. 'Basavanna gives me ideological strength, Babasaheb provides moral strength, and your support gives me the soul force I need. Together, we will confront and defeat the dangerous rise of communal and casteist forces,' he concluded.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kalaburagi district receives four Praja Soudhas
In a significant boost to administrative infrastructure, Kalaburagi district is set to receive newly approved Praja Soudhas – the taluk administrative complexes – for four of its taluks – Kalagi, Yadrami, Kamalapur, and Shahabad. These buildings are envisioned to house all the taluk level offices under one roof. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah officially handed over the administrative approval letters for the construction of these facilities to Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum during a meeting of Deputy Commissioners and Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers in Bengaluru on Friday. Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for sanctioning the buildings to his home district, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Kalaburagi in charge Priyank Kharge, in a Facebook post, said that the establishment of such integrated service centres under one roof would significantly benefit citizens in streamlining access to government services and making administration more accessible and efficient for the public.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Chalavadi's remark against Priyank Kharge sparks political row
A political storm erupted on Wednesday after BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha president Chalavadi Narayanaswamy likened Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge to a dog, while addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi. The controversial remark came in response to Mr. Kharge's frequent criticisms against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Comparing Mr. Modi to an elephant, Mr. Narayanaswamy said, 'When dogs bark, the elephant does not turn back.' In a detailed and sharply worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Kharge slammed the BJP for resorting to personal insults in the absence of political and ideological arguments. 'Unable to target me politically or ideologically, the BJP finds satisfaction in launching personal attacks. Such a statement by the BJP is not new to me. I knew their anger stems from the persistent exposure of major scandals such as the Ganga Kalyana scam, Bitcoin scam, KKRDB scam, COVID-19 scam and the Police Sub-Inspector recruitment scam. The criticism of RSS ideology has further fueled the BJP's hostility,' he said in the post. Recalling the personal attacks against him by the BJP leaders, Mr. Kharge said: 'In the past, I was called a convent dalit. My name was mocked for being gender ambiguous. They said that I have grown physically but not mentally. A BJP candidate even conspired to eliminate my family.' Mr. Kharge criticised what he called the hypocrisy and double standards of the BJP. 'While their minor leaders and spokespersons feel entitled to comment on national issues and even on revered leaders like Ambedkar, Gandhi and Nehru, they cannot tolerate me speaking on national matters. When I do, I'm called a dog,' he said. Mr. Kharge also pointed out the contradiction in BJP's logic by stating that if the son of a former Chief Minister is elected as BJP State president, it is celebrated as merit and if I get a political position after getting elected by people thrice, it is called dynastic privilege. Mr. Kharge also took a dig at Mr. Narayanaswamy for getting elected as Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, stating: 'Someone who has never contested even a single election has no moral or democratic authority to comment on someone like me who has won three times with people's support. Let him first face the electorate and prove his worth.' Gherao Meanwhile, a large number of Congress activists and Mr. Kharge's fans gheraoed Mr. Narayanaswamy, Ambaraya Ashtagi, Ashok Bagali and other BJP leaders at a government guesthouse in Chittapur for almost five hours, demanding an unconditional apology. They let the BJP leaders out of the guesthouse at 9.30 p.m. only after Mr. Narayanaswamy said he regretted his remark against Mr. Kharge.
The Hindu
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Where are terrorists who infiltrated India, killed 26 tourists in Kashmir: Karnataka Minister
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Kalaburagi In-charge Priyank Kharge questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the whereabouts of the terrorists who killed 26 tourists at Pahalgam in Kashmir. 'Where are the terrorists who infiltrated 250 kilometres into Indian territory and killed 26 innocent tourists at Pahalgham in Kashmir? Have they gone back to Pakistan? Or, have they escaped to China, or Bangladesh? Why is there no clarity from Union Home Minister Amit Shah or National Security Advisor Ajit Doval? Terrorists easily entering the country, killing innocent people and going back, speaks volumes about the poor governance and weak national security framework of the Modi administration,' Mr. Kharge told mediapersons at his residence in Kalaburagi on May 13. Referring to United States President Donald Trump's repeated claims of successfully mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Mr. Priyank demanded a special session of Parliament to address the issue and place all facts before the nation. 'Kashmir is a bilateral issue involving India and Pakistan. It had never been an international issue discussed on a global platform or mediated by a third party. It remained a bilateral issue that the two countries dealt with bilaterally, either by dialogue or by war. We had fought four wars, and won them all. Now, US President Donald Trump claimed thrice in two days that his mediation led to the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He even claimed that the war would disrupt his country's trade with India and Pakistan, leading to economic losses to his country and, hence, he mediated to stop it. Pakistan's Prime Minister claimed in their parliament that his country emerged victorious in the armed clash with India. What is true, and what is false? The government is not ready to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss about this issue,' Mr. Priyank said. Reflecting on the opposition's complete support for the government's actions in dealing with terrorism and safeguarding national interests, Mr. Priyank questioned Mr. Modi's reluctance to convene an all-party meeting and special session of Parliament when he had all the support he needed. 'We [the Opposition] trusted you [the government]. Why don't you trust us? Pakistan convened its parliament and declared that they have won in the armed clash with India. Why are you not convening a session of Parliament here? Don't the opposition parties and the people at large have the right to know the truth? Convene Parliament, tell the truth, and let the nation know what really happened,' Mr. Priyank said.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
‘Convene special Parliament session to discuss security developments, including Pahalgam'
Demanding that the Central government convene a special Parliament session to discuss recent national security developments, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has said that session should discuss the Pahalgam terror attack, Operation Sindoor and the ceasefire in detail to effectively address the challenges ahead. Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Kharge said that the Indian Army has destroyed multiple camps of terrorists in Pakistan. However, the Central government's ceasefire decision has caused disappointment to the Army and the Indian citizens, he claimed. 'The ceasefire announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump is disappointing for the people of the country. Mr. Trump's directive on ceasefire and he claiming credit for brokering the ceasefire between India and Pakistan is humiliating,' Mr. Kharge claimed. The Minister said that the Simla Agreement ruled out any third-party involvement in the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan but Mr. Trump has been making statement that he intervened in the matter. The Modi-led government should clarify this. Accusing Pakistan of taking undue advantage of the situation and attempting to frame the Kashmir issue as an international concern, Mr. Kharge said that Pakistan is aiming to mobilize global attention and exert pressure on India to address the matter through international mechanisms. To strengthen India's foreign policy, Mr. Modi should act swiftly and decisively, instead of merely greeting and embracing foreign leaders. India should notice that the United States has not condemned the terrorist acts. China and Turkey have expressed support for Pakistan, Mr. Kharge said. He said he is irked over Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval not revealing information about the ceasefire to the common people. Mr. Kharge also criticised the Modi-led government for failing to block loans being extended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Pakistan, a country supporting terrorism. 'This raises concerns about the shortcomings in our foreign policy,' the Minister claimed. Expressing dissatisfaction with the media's focus on sensational news, Mr. Kharge claimed that personal glorification is taking precedence over the nation's interests and facts. Misinformation is being spread by panelists and BJP's supporters that Karachi is being captured and that Pakistan will be divided into four parts, he said.
