Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi who slammed opposition attempts at unity as based on hatred against him, Congress on Tuesday said “he has a mindset of conflict” and that in the “larger interest of the nation”, it was necessary to remove the BJP government.

Accusing Modi of giving “false statements” due to the “bitterness” in him, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma said that he looks on the Congress as a “personal enemy”.

Noting the opposition has a responsibility and a duty to oppose the government on wrong policies, he said that Modi has not changed from “a mindset of conflict”.

“What does he (Modi) expect from the opposition and Congress that we will not oppose the government. It is surprising that the Prime Minister has complained that there is opposition to him. Modiji is so full of arrogance that he is comparing himself with the nation.”

“The Prime Minister and the government have to be defeated, it is necessary to remove it. It is necessary for the country’s interest. There is nothing wrong in attempting this along with all like-minded opposition parties,” he added.

Sharma said: “The Prime Minister said this ‘alliance’ was not in national interest. We have not sought his certificate. Not talking about him, but the government has to be removed for the country’s interest. We do not need his advice. We will think about it. We will also ensure that the job is completed.”

Slamming Modi for failing to deliver on his promises, he said this government should go because it has betrayed the people of the country.

“Atrocities against children and women have increased, mob lynchings, vigilantism. If this is good governance, then what would be bad governance?” he asked.

Former Jodhpur MP Krishna Kumari, of the Congress, has died following a heart attack, She was 92.

According to informed sources, the dowager maharani of the erstwhile princely state of Jodhpur was admitted to a hospital on Sunday after she suffered a heart attack. However, on Monday night, she again had second heart attack following which many of her organs stopped functioning.

A pall of gloom descended in Jodhpur and surroundings as the news the of the demise of the former “Rajmata” spread around.

Wife of Marwar’s former Maharaja Hanwant Singh, she is survived by three children, Chandresh Kumari, Shailesh Kumari and Gaj Singh.

Her last rites were performed later on Tuesday.

Her last journey started from Umaid Bhavan and culminated at newly constructed crematorium for royal family members at Jaswant Thada. Her last rites were performed by her son Gaj Singh. A huge crowd gathered outside Ummed Bhavan to pay last tributes to her, while a large number of lined both sides of the road to pay their final tributes.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat reached Jodhpur by a special plane to pay tributes on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Others present on the occasion included former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who had also condoled her death earlier and others.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also reached Umaid Bhavan to extend her condolence to the bereaved family.

Rajasthan BJP President Madan Lal Saini also expressed his condolences on her demise.

The coordination committee of the coalition government has settled several issues between the partners in power including budget, loan waiver, common minimum programme etc. But interestingly, the government is yet to give its stamp of approval to this committee.

The government has not issued notification announcing about giving official identification for this committee. Only after this notification is issued, the chairperson and members of the committee will get government’s recognition. But chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, has not touched this issue so far. This has given rise to anger in the minds of Congress leaders, particularly Siddaramaiah. It may be recalled that the committee had met twice after it was formed about a month back.

The leaders are pointing out that when UPA government was in power at the center, Sonia Gandhi was made the chairperson of UPA and the government had given its stamp of approval for the coordination committee headed by her. It is learned that the Congress leaders had asked the chief minister to accord official recognition to the committee in the very first meeting. But during the last one month, no step has been taken in this direction. Dr G Parameshwar’s statement about giving cabinet status to Siddaramaiah has also not been implemented. Once his post gets official approval, Siddaramaiah would be eligible to stay in the spacious bungalow he now occupies, and also get an office in Vidhana Soudha if necessary.

It is said that not only JD(S), but also deputy chief minister Dr G Parameshwar, has not been evincing much interest in this issue. It is also said that when Siddaramaiah demanded in the committee meeting to continue all the programmes of Congress party, Parameshwar had not come to his support. Because of this, sources say Siddaramaiah, who is the Congress parliamentary party leader in the assembly, has decided to become more active during the sessions and take more and more legislators into confidence.

Unfurling the vision of the new JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka for the following five years, Governor Vajubhai Vala said full-scale attempts would be made to encourage farmers, women and youth.

In his first joint address to the state legislature after the new assembly’s constitution. he said “My government is focused on the welfare and development of all segments of society, particularly farmers, women, youth and the impeded individuals,”

“Evenhanded projects will be devised for the development of rural and urban territories. Measures will be taken to mitigate the distress of the farming community,” he said in his hour-long speech.

Naming farmers the backbone of the state, the Governor said they would be outfitted with most recent farming technology for higher efficiency.

Supporting Israeli model of horticultural practices, he said agri-authorities will visit the fields and exhort farmers on development in view of seasonal conditions and water accessibility.

“We have to get changes in farming practices and approaches. Horticulture crops should be urged to increase salary and profits from them. Present day marketing, packaging and storage systems must be received with an attention on export development,” he said.

With the state standing second in milk procurement, seventh in egg production and 11 in meat yield in the nation, a state fodder security policy will be drafted and a skin processing and training center will be set up soon.

In the meantime, openings for jobs will be made for the youth to empower skill development. “As education is power, skill-based vocational training will be made part of education,” he said.

Declaring that law and order and safety for women were principal across the state, the Governor said women’s strength in the police would be increased in the following 5 years.

He additionally said that the government will guarantee the overall development of children through the anganawadi centres and actualize nourishment programs for pregnant and lactating women.

District Stree Shakthi federations have been shaped and registered, while monetary aid is being given to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infected and effected children under ‘Vishesha Paalana’ scheme, he said.

Guaranteeing of revealing the state’s health insurance scheme (Arogya Karnataka) this year, Vala said well being and health care centers would be set up to offer quality primary health care services.

“The objective is to reduce maternal death rate and infant death rate to the most minimal level in the nation in the following seven years and focus on reproductive and child health,” he said.

Resolving to guarantee transparency in public distribution system, Vala said the online application for new ration cards and door-delivery have been introduced recently.

In the mean time, taking note of that the state is first in the nation in investment purpose, the government is executing the Karnataka industry policy to advance investment and create jobs for the poor.