This submission was made before Justice John Michael Cunha during the hearing of a petition filed by K Lenin.

BENGALURU: The state government on Monday informed the Karnataka High Court that a representative of Swami Nithyananda had informed the CID that Nithyananda is not at his ashram in Bidadi, but is on a spiritual tour.

This submission was made before Justice John Michael Cunha during the hearing of a petition filed by K Lenin. He prayed to court to cancel the bail granted to Nithyananda, the controversial godman who is facing charges of rape.

In his plea, Lenin claimed that Nithyananda had violated conditions imposed while granting bail, and hence, bail be cancelled. On this, the court ordered notice to Nithyananda on January 31, 2020, on the petition filed by Lenin, and this was served on Nithyananda’s aide.  

Meanwhile, Nithyananda’s representative filed an affidavit before court, stating that she was forced to receive the notice by the CID, though she pleaded that she cannot serve it on Nithyananda, as she doesn’t know his whereabouts.

Expressing displeasure over the way the notice was served, Justice Cunha reserved the order on Lenin’s plea. Lenin claimed that Nithyananda had fled the country on an expired passport, but his representative claimed that he is on a religious tour in India.

While sources indicated that the new ministers could be sworn in on Monday, he plan is to induct 13 new ministers.

BENGALURU:The BS Yediyurappa-led government is all set to get 13 more ministers after the Chief Minister’s meeting on Friday with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda.

During the meeting, which lasted about 25 minutes, the BJP central leadership not only gave Yediyurappa a free hand to expand the cabinet “whenever he wants”, but is also said to have approved his suggestion to induct 10 of the 11 newly- elected legislators.

They had defected from the Congress and JDS and won on BJP tickets in the bypolls. Sources privy to the discussion said that the swearing-in ceremony for 13 ministers is likely to be held on Monday. With their induction, the Karnataka cabinet’s strength will stand at 31. Sources added that Yediyurappa has decided not to drop any incumbent ministers and to keep three berths vacant in case dissent arises.

After camping in New Delhi for two days to discuss the cabinet expansion, Yediyurappa finally met Amit Shah on Friday. A meeting between the two leaders, which was scheduled for Thursday, was postponed owing to Shah’s busy campaign schedule for the Delhi assembly elections.

“Amit Shah, JP Nadda and I met for about 25 minutes and discussed the issue. They are in agreement with most of my suggestions. They said I can expand the cabinet whenever I want,” Yeddyurappa said.

“After I return to Bengaluru, I will talk to a few (stakeholders) and discuss the issue. I will convince them and expand the cabinet. The date of swearing-in is my prerogative,” said a beaming Yediyurappa as he walked out after meeting Shah and Nadda. 

While he chose to not answer pointed questions on how many of the newly-elected MLAs will be made ministers and when the swearing-in can be expected, sources indicated that the new ministers could be sworn in on Monday. 

“The CM will now have to take a call on whether he wants 10 out of the 11 newly-elected MLAs and three old-timers or nine newly-elected MLAs and four old-timers. The plan is to induct 13 ministers,” said another source. Yediyurappa has been pushing to induct at least 10 out of the 11 formerly disqualified MLAs owing to the assurance he had given to them before they joined the BJP.

Party insiders suggest that to avoid extremely heavy representation from Belagavi in the cabinet, either Mahesh Kumathalli or Shrimanth Patil could be left out from among the 11 legislators. For the three berths meant for party old-timers, Umesh Katti, Arvind Limbavali, Murugesh Nirani, Halappa Achar along with a host of BJP leaders are in line for consideration. 

Yediyurappa is expected to hold discussions with senior party leaders, cabinet aspirants and candidates who are likely to lose out on ministerial berths on Saturday and Sunday to build confidence and ensure minimum damage and dissent.

His suggestion to drop a few incumbent ministers seems to be the only proposal that the high command has not responded to in the positive. The CM is said to have been given autonomy over how to go about the cabinet expansion along with portfolio allocation. But with that also comes the onus of facing any challenges that may come up as a fallout.

Former BJP chief and Union Home Minster Amit Shah is also expected to be a part of the discussion.

BENGALURU: Even as he has conveyed to cabinet aspirants that the D-day for expansion is January 31, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will first consult with newly-elected BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda on January 30. Torn between keeping up his promise of accommodating all 11 defectors-turned-newly-elected MLAs and the Central leadership’s proposal of inducting not more than seven-nine of the lot, Yediyurappa will hold a final round of discussions with Nadda. Former BJP chief and Union Home Minster Amit Shah is also expected to be a part of the discussion.

“Yediyurappa has decided to go with an open mind. He wants to accommodate all 11 legislators, but the high command is keen on only about seven-nine of them being inducted. They want Yediyurappa to keep up the party’s promise to all defecting MLAs, but not all of them were promised cabinet berths — only nine were assured of a berth,” pointed out a source close to Yediyurappa. BJP insiders suggest that Ramesh Jarkiholi was promised of a ministerial berth- even the Deputy Chief Minister post- if he managed to gather more MLAs to follow suit. Mahesh Kumathalli and Shrimant Patil, who followed in Jarkiholi’s steps, were not promised a berth. While defectors like Sudhakar, ST Somashekhar, Narayana Gowda, Gopalaiah, Byrathi Basavraj, BC Patil and Anand Singh were promised to be accommodated into the cabinet, Shivaram Hebbar was not. The Central leadership wants Yediyurappa to keep up the party’s side of the bargain instead of overcompensating, say sources.

“I believe in the CM, and there are chances that expansion will happen before January 31,” Dr K Sudhakar, MLA Chikkaballapur, told TNIE. He added that there was no pressure on Yediyurappa over the allocation of portfolios. In his discussion with Nadda on Thursday, Yediyurappa is also expected to finalise portfolios for newly-inducted ministers. For now, Yediyurappa has been asked to consider just seven-nine of the newly-elected MLAs and to consider prominent MLAs such as Umesh Katti, Sunil Kumar, CM Udasi, Arvind Limbavali, Halady Srinivas Shetty and Murugesh Nirani, as well as youngsters such as Preetham Gowda and Dattatreya Patil Revoor. 

Justice John Michael Cunha issued the notice while hearing a criminal petition filed by K Lenin.

BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to file objections on why godman Nithyananda Swamy’s bail petition should not be cancelled. 

Justice John Michael Cunha issued the notice while hearing a criminal petition filed by K Lenin. Lenin sought the cancellation of Nithyananda’s bail, on grounds that the latter had violated the conditions imposed while granting him bail. In his petition, Lenin stated that Nithyananda had sought exemption from appearing before the court for trial proceedings since he was on a religious tour in India, but Lenin claimed that Nithyananda had fled the country.

The minister further advised leaders to understand the gravity of any situation before talking to the media. 

CHITRADURGA: Health Minister B Sriramulu on Friday launched a broadside on former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, saying the JDS leader’s “love for Pakistan has increased, and if he wants, he can go and stay there.”

Sriramulu’s statement comes after Kumarswamy had commented, “If Pakistan was not our neighbour, the BJP wouldn’t have got votes and come to power in India.”

Addressing reporters at Bhovi Gurupeetha on the outskirts of the city, he said, “Being a former CM, he shouldn’t have made a statement like that.” On Kumaraswamy demanding a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Bajrang Dal, he said “both are nationalist institutions that are working for the betterment of the country”. 

He urged leaders not to make “vague statements” and said India believes in inclusive development, where everyone is treated equally. The minister further advised leaders to understand the gravity of any situation before talking to the media. 

Reacting to former CM Siddaramaiah’s statement that the state government was not yet being strong enough, he said the Congress leader was an “unwanted person” in his party and it was better not to take his words seriously. 

Faizan Rizwan

Three time shantinagar [M.L.A] N.A Haris and six others were injured in a low intensity blast around 8.45pm last night Harris was attending the birth anniversary of Tamil superstar and former C.M of Tamil Nadu M.G.R Birth anniversary organised by his fans and supporter in Shantinagar.
Following the blast he and others injured were taken to St.Philomena hospital police officer from both Ashok Nagar and Vivek nagar police station were rushed to the spot and they are yet to confirm whether the explosive was caused by a bomb or it was caused by a fire crackers investigation is going on

 He also held the district ministers responsible, saying they don’t visit their districts, and some departments are not working actively because there are no ministers.

MYSURU/BENGALURU: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday slammed the Centre yet again, asking whether it would dismiss those state governments which are opposed to the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act. 

“In Bihar, the BJP is a ruling party since it is in a coalition with the JDU, and yet it has opposed CAA/NRC. Will you withdraw support in Bihar because of this? If CAA/NRC is not implemented in states where the BJP is in power, how can you insist on other states implementing it?” he asked. Already, 13 states have openly expressed their opposition to the Act, he added. 

“Governors of the states directing their respective governments to implement CAA is not constitutional, governors are not heads of popularly elected governments. There is no rule that state governments have to abide by their directions,’’ Siddaramaiah said.

With many flood victims in Karnataka still homeless and living on the streets, many months after the disaster, he pointed to the failure in providing tangible relief to these victims.

“Payouts to those who lost their homes and farmers who lost their crops, have not been done yet, and there is no sign of compensation for commercial establishments that suffered losses either. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah visited Karnataka, they didn’t utter a word about it. Of the Rs 35,000 crore demanded from the Centre, the state got a mere Rs 1,869 crore,” he said. 

He also held the district ministers responsible, saying they don’t visit their districts, and some departments are not working actively because there are no ministers.

Taking a dig at rebel MLAs who jumped ship to join the BJP, he predicted “an explosion in the party” after cabinet expansion. In the BJP, many are waiting for cabinet posts, and all rebels who won the elections will not be given berths, he said, quoting “inside information”.

Indicating unrest in the rebel camp, he said that former MLA Adagur H Vishwanath has already said he will make a decision after cabinet expansion.

Asked about the delay in the announcement of the KPCC chief, Siddaramaiah said there are more important issues to be addressed, like Mahadayi and flood relief, and lashed out at Amit Shah for not speaking about the Mahadayi issue.

Eshwarappa also clarified that A H Vishwanath will be rewarded, and that discussions are already on regarding this.

MYSURU: With the delay in cabinet expansion and the newly-elected MLAs and defeated candidates jittery over this, veteran BJP leader and Rural Development Minister KS Eshwarappa assured that those who helped in bringing the BJP government to power in the state will be rewarded in two days, adding that it is the BJP’s responsibility to reward them. 

Eshwarappa also clarified that A H Vishwanath will be rewarded, and that discussions are already on regarding this. However, he said that he isn’t aware of any talks held regarding this during Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state. He said that the Congress has no “moral right” to attack the BJP over the delay in cabinet expansion. 

Talking about the stand the BJP has taken regarding banning SDPI and PFI, he said that these people come from Kerala and raise slogans for Pakistan, and that only after checking facts is the government considering banning both organisations.

Vishwanath, who contested from Hunsur assembly segment, lost to Congress nominee H P Manjunath. 

BENGALURU:  Adagur H Vishwanath, the former JDS president who had helped the ‘chief rebel’ Ramesh Jarkiholi in bringing together all 17 MLAs to topple the previous coalition government, is not very pleased that the cabinet expansion is constantly getting delayed.

When asked what will happen if the government does not honour its commitment to induct the rebels, as it has already been about seven months since this government has come to power, told The New Indian Express, ‘nodona yenaguthe antha’ (we will see what will happen). 

When asked about the rumours floating regarding the chances the Congress (with 68 MLAs, and the JDS, with 34 MLAs) still has of coming to power, provided the 17 rebels support them again, Vishwanath said that nothing can be confirmed, repeating his ‘let us see’ stance.     

Talking about the delay in cabinet expansion, Vishwanath said that as there was a process to be followed, as well as the bypolls, the delay “is fine”.

He said that he will speak to the other 16 rebels, as they had collectively acted to bring down the coalition government.

“I will speak to them and will arrange a meeting. Let us see how long they will delay the cabinet expansion,” he said.     

It may be recalled that the former rebels have held at least three meetings, where they decided to stay united come what may. One source even explained that the rebels were planning a pilgrimage together to seek divine intervention. 

“We are not asking for anything extraordinary, we are only asking them to keep up their commitment and what they promised us. If it was not for the 17 MLAs who resigned, how could this government have come to power?’’ he asked, adding, “The ball is in their court.’’  

In the past few weeks, the rebels have expressed their frustration over the delay in inducting them as ministers in Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s cabinet. They said that this commitment was made to them even before they rebelled.   

Vishwanath, who contested from Hunsur assembly segment, lost to Congress nominee H P Manjunath. 

Meanwhile, Union Minister for Petroleum and Chemicals D V Sadananda Gowda said that CM Yediyurappa will decide about cabinet expansion once he returns from Davos.

“He is in Davos along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will think about expanding the cabinet after he returns,” Gowda said.