H D Kumaraswamy will take a call on the government formation in Karnataka after a meeting with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. Contradictions in the JD(S)-Congress combine remain as both parties are yet to finalize the full list of ministers.
Kumaraswamy said that there would be no rotation of chief ministers and he would complete the full five-year term. The Congress, on the other hand, is pushing for two deputy CMs and wants both those posts.
Archives for 2018
Party MLA Shivaram Hebbar dismisses bribe tape framing BJP as ‘fake’
In a major embarrassment for the Congress party, one of its own MLAs, Shivaram Hebbar, has diffused the “bribe bomb” the party hurled at the BJP ahead of the Floor Test in Karnataka Assembly on Saturday. Congress had released sting audio clippings purportedly showing BJP allegedly offering bribe to buy the support of the Congress MLA during the floor test. Hebbar has said the tape released by the Congress was “fake”.
Hebbar is a Congress MLA from Yellapur. The said audio tape was released by Congress MLC V S Ugrappa on Saturday. The Congress had claimed that the tape was of a recorded call by BJP leaders offering Rs 15 crore bribe to Hebbar’s wife for his support. The MLA, however, said the tape was “fake and fabricated”.
Hebbar wrote on Facebook on Saturday that the voice of the woman in the audio clipping was not of his wife. She had received no call. Hebbar also condemned those who released such clippings for political reasons.
Another Congress MLA BK Hariprasad, however, was reported as saying by CNN News 18 that Hebbar’s statement was not an embarrassment for the Congress party.
The Indian Express today reported Congress as claiming that it had laid a trap and the BJP walked in. Congress sources told IE that there was an alleged middleman and a planned operation to “trap BJP in the act” of trying to lure MLAs to switch sides before the trust votes.
The Congress had released six audio recording in the run-up to the Floor Test which didn’t take place as Yeddyurappa announced his decision to resign from the CM post.
IE reports Congress sources as saying that the plan to trap BJP started three days ago when the saffron party’s alleged MLA approached Congress leadership. A senior Congress leader said that MLAs who could pretend negotiations with the BJP were selected for trapping the saffron party. The audio clipping released by the Congress included one having a purported conversation with Yeddyurappa.
Not commenting on Hebbar’s statement, Congress MLA BC Patil told that “They (BJP) offered me Minister post & all, it’s a fact. I don’t know about Hebbar. I can talk about myself. Yeddyurappa, Sriramulu and Muralidhar Rao spoke to me.”
Plastic pollution needs to be curbed: UN Environment head
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats and countries need better waste management to cope with the sheer quantity of plastic rubbish that is fouling the waters and environment, says United Nations Environment head Erik Solheim.
“Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats the planet is facing right now,” Solheim emphasised.
Sample these startling facts about plastic pollution: Every year the world uses 500 billion plastic bags. Fifty per cent of the plastic we use is single-use or disposable. Each year, at least eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans, the equivalent of a full garbage truck every minute.
In the last decade, the world produced more plastic than in the whole of last century.
“We’re throwing up to 13 million tonnes of plastic waste into the oceans each year, and in the next decade that could double . We’re turning the oceans into a plastic soup,” the UN Under-Secretary-General told IANS in an exclusive online interview.
“This has to stop, and right now, because it’s harming marine life and ending up in our own food and water supplies. If it’s not resolved, this is a problem that will come back to bite us. It’s also a problem that’s difficult to clean up.
“We’d like to see a mass mobilisation of people around the world and big clean-ups. These are important because no amount of clean-ups can solve this issue. We need upstream change, that means a change in the way we use plastic,” Solheim, who is coming to India, a host to UN Environment-led global event World Environment Day on June 5.
“Beat Plastic Pollution”, the theme for World Environment 2018, urges governments, industry and individuals to explore sustainable alternatives and reduce the production and excessive use of single-use plastic polluting oceans, damaging marine life and threatening human health.
“We need consumers to pause and examine their relationship with plastic. If we look at our daily lives, there is so much single-use and throwaway plastic that can easily be eliminated and replaced with sustainable alternatives. If enough people do this, it translates into colossal consumer power!” Solheim said.
For companies, he says: “Then we want industry to innovate, to find sustainable alternatives and embrace the idea of extended producer responsibility — by which a manufacturer takes responsibility for the entire lifecycle of their product.”
“I strongly believe that the companies that innovate now will be the winners of the future.”
“We also want governments to drive this change through legislation, and ensure we have strong enforcement. It’s about ensuring manufacturers have the necessary incentives in place to do the right thing.”
There’s no single, magic solution to enforce a ban on single-use pet bottles or straws. Every minute we buy one million plastic bottles globally, according to the UN Environment.
“It’s clear that we need better waste management to cope with the sheer quantity of plastic rubbish. But let’s not see this as just a litter problem. We need to stop wasteful practice and to do that bans on certain single-use plastic items are helpful,’ he said.
“Ultimately, though, we need changes in design. We need to see sustainable alternatives emerge on the market to replace so much of the wasteful plastic products that we use.”
Yes, India needs more Afroz Shah, not only for clean-up oceans but also for rivers and mountains.
“Afroz Shah is a great inspiration, not only for India but for the entire world. So yes, we do need more people like him! What is important is not just the quantity of litter that has been collected, but that a powerful message has been sent around the world and that this message has been heard!”
Shah, a young lawyer from Mumbai, and his volunteers have removed around 13 million kg of waste since 2015 in what the UN has called “the world’s largest beach cleanup project”.
Solheim is optimistic that India can act as a catalyst for curbing pollution.
“Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi recently said it would be a crime against future generations not to take action on climate change.
“India, therefore, carries a strong moral argument. In addition, India is among the nations that stand to suffer the biggest impact from climate change; so it’s important that it acts as a powerful voice for action on the global stage,” he said.
“India is also innovating, and that’s what I think will be its biggest act of leadership: showing climate action can also unlock incredible economic gains,” he added.
BJP will have to spend sleepless nights:HD Kumaraswamy
HD Kumaraswamy,designated chief minister today hit back at B Sriramulu’s challenges of making the JDS-Congress government spend sleepless nights and dared:On the oher hand it will be us making the BJP spend sleepless nights.
‘Nlse including the Congress,BJP and B Sriramulu can ever think of making me spend sleepless nights.But on the other hand I’ll definitely ensure that the BJP is made to spend sleepless nights’,warned the would be chief minister.
He was speaking to media persons at the helipad in Holenarasipur of Hassan district.The going to be CM arrived with Anitha Kumaraswamy,his first wife and former Madhugiri MLA from Tumakuru district and was received by HD Revanna,his elder brother and Holenarasipur MLA.
HD Kumaraswamy also clarified on this occasion:This is no temporary government as I am committed in ensuring a full five years tenure and will also strive for fulfilling the promises made to the people.We don’t have any rifts among ourselves.The first task is to win over the confidence of the Congress…I have gone through all the write ups’ on the social networking sites and will reply to all of them in the days to come.
The yet to be CM had come to Holenarasipur to visit the Lakshminarayan Swamy temple to pay his respects to the family deity and also pray for a full five years term according to sources.
At the same time he admitted:The tenure of chief minister this time is a tough challenge as the opinion and suggestions of Congressmen has to be taken into account before taking new administrative measures.But it shouldn’t be a problem as all suggestions will be taken care of in a meticulous manner.
HD Kumaraswamy couple were literally on a temple run spree in his father HD Devegowda’s home district Hassan.
Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti\
HDK to discuss power distribution formula with Sonia & Rahul today
HD Kumaraswamy, Chief Ministerial candidate of the Janata Dal Secular-Congress coalition in Karnataka will fly-in to Delhi on Monday (May 21) to discuss the power distribution formula with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
According to HDK, both the leaders will discuss the distribution of portfolios today. These leaders have already had discussions about allotting 14 ministries including the chief minister’s position to the JDS and the remaining 20 berths to the Congress.
However, a final discussion on the subject will be arrived at only after a discussion with Sonia Gandhi and other Congress leaders today.
As of now, Congress leaders have suggested accommodating the two Independents and the lone Bahujan Samaj Party member also in the JDS quota of 14.
A decision is also expected in today’s meeting about the distribution of portfolios like Finance, Home, Revenue, Rural Development, Water Resources, Transport, Bengaluru Development and Major Industries.
There is also a proposal to set up a 15 member
Anti-terrorism Day across country to be observed today
This year May 21 (Monday) will be observed as anti-terrorism day like every year.
The objective behind observance of this day is to wean away the youth from terrorism and the cult of violence by highlighting the sufferings of common people and showing as to how it is prejudicial to the national interest.
Mass education programmes, lectures, talks, discussions will be organised by government and non-government organizations to highlight the ill-effects of violence and terrorism.
Anti-terrorism pledge will be taken in all government offices, public sector undertakings and other public institutions on that day.
Hindusthan Samachar/Shri Ram Shaw
Man, teenager stabbed by unknown attackers
A man and a teenager were stabbed, in two separate but similar incidents, by a group of unknown assailants as they were returning home on early Sunday, police said.
Both the cases were reported from south Delhi.
In the first case, Zubaid Hayat, 17, a resident of Jasola in Sarita Vihar, was returning his home after prayers during the ongoing Muslim holy month of Ramadan when he was attacked.
“Having offered prayer at a mosque, Hayat was returning to his residence when some unknown youth stopped him and started beating him. When Hayat resisted, they stabbed him two times before escaping from the spot,” a senior police officer said.
“Some locals informed us about attack on Hayat. We informed the local police following which he was admitted to the AIIMS trauma centre,” Asmat, a relative of Hayat, told IANS.
In a similar case reported from south Delhi’s Tughlakabad area, a 45-year-old man returning from his office was stabbed by some assailants early on Sunday.
Feroze Khan was on the way to his residence when he was stabbed by unknown attackers after they picked up a fight with him.
“I was informed by police from AIIMS trauma centre that my uncle was stabbed by someone and he is undergoing treatment there. When we rushed to trauma centre, we found that he suffered three stab wounds,” his nephew Amir told IANS.
The police officer said that from the initial probe, it appears both the incidents are similar.
“Prima facie it was found that victims were stabbed by attackers during a confrontation when they resisted their snatching attempts. We are examining CCTV footage to ascertain the identities of accused persons,” the officer added.
Father taught me to love and respect all: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday remembered his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 27th death anniversary saying it was he who taught him to love and respect all beings.
Rahul Gandhi in a tweet on Monday said: “My father taught me that hate is a prison for those who carry it. Today, on his death anniversary, I thank him for teaching me to love and respect all beings, the most valuable gift a father can give a son.”
Sharing a photo of the former Prime Minister, he wrote, “Rajiv Gandhi, those of us that love you hold you forever in our hearts.”
Earlier the Congress chief along with his mother Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi and her husband Robert Vadra visited the Veer Bhumi to pay a floral tribute.
Congress leaders, including former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge also paid homage to Rajiv Gandhi’s memorial.
Former President and a longtime party member Pranab Mukherjee was also present.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: “Solemnly and very fondly remembering former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary.”
Rajiv Gandhi was killed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991.
Pakistan violates ceasefire in Jammu, Samba
Pakistani rangers have violated ceasefire on the international border (IB) in Jammu and Samba districts.
The Pakistani Army resorted to unprovoked firing at the Border Security Force outposts in Arnia, Ramgarh and Chamliyal areas of Jammu and Kashmir late on Sunday, the BSF sources said.
“The firing started at 10 p.m. The BSF retaliated effectively. No casualty or damage was caused on our side,” the sources added.
Pakistani rangers and BSF officials on Sunday had agreed to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border.
A phone-in meeting was held after the Indian forces released a thermal imagery footage showing a bunker of the Pakistani rangers being destroyed by the BSF.
Today’s generation of filmmakers say things boldly, openly: Gulzar
His own brand of cinema was about human relationships entangled in social issues, but veteran writer-filmmaker Gulzar believes the present generation of movie makers have more courage to express things in an open and bolder way.
In a discussion titled ‘Kal Aaj Aur Kal’ at the 13th Habitat Film Festival, Gulzar, dressed in his trademark white kurta-pyjama, sat down with filmmakers Vishal Bhardwaj and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, to discuss the era gone by, the present and future of cinema in the country.
Looking back at the time when the new wave cinema had started, Gulzar reminisced: “Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani and films of Sahni sahab (Balraj Sahni) did it… This was there in that era that there was a desire to say something, and the anxiety to be like, ‘If you get a chance, say it, express it’. This bechaini (restlessness) had taken birth for all creative people… Whether it was literature or cinema.
“A political comment had started coming in….There was also a fear as there was strictness of the censor board and government….That has been there and that strictness and we have seen it up to date. But today’s common man, he raises his voices.
“I got a chance to work with with Vishal in ‘Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola’, which was on land grabbing….It’s an open expression which started coming in with this generation. I say I am with this generation holding their hands. Earlier it was that I was walking ahead, and now I am walking with them.
“Today’s cinema is an expression…. this kind of cinema happens far and between, but making a musical on land grabbing and making it like that, is great. And Rakeysh’s ‘Mere Pyare Prime Minister’ is on sanitation issues….This generation is saying it openly and saying it boldly. I salute your generation.”
Gulzar’s own directorial credits include films like “Mere Apne”, “Aandhi”,”Koshish”, “Ijaazat”, “Angoor” and “Maachis”.
On the changes he has observed in Indian cinema over the years, the 83-year-old writer said: “When I came into cinema, films were about storytelling….I was very verbose, and used to have very exaggerated dialogues… But today’s generation relies more on visuals and they trust it to convey what they intend to.”
He said even the cinema halls were full of noise either of the food and drinks vendors or the projectors.
“Technically, our cinemas were handicapped,” he said, adding how today’s generation of filmmakers don’t have to grapple with such issues because of how advanced the techniques and equipments have become.
Touching upon how people keep brooding over the difference between old and new melodies in Indian cinema, Gulzar pointed out how it only — like the films — reflect life.
“People listen to old melodies and say they have a ‘thehrav’ hai which is beautiful… But that was there in the life back then and in the stories of life. It can’t be that your life’s pace changes, and the music remains the same. It will be out of sync.
“So, it will have to change with time and with the pace of life, and I feel it has changed beautifully.”
However, he said to have physical presence of music in some form — as LPs, EPs, cassettes, CDs and now even pen drives are going out of fashion — lends a sense of nostalgia to the experience of listening to it.
The session was organised in association with HarperCollins India.
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