BAhead of presenting the Karnataka budget for 2019-20, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has released an audio clip allegedly of BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa trying to poach his MLAs.

It will be the second budget of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government and is set to be along the lines of the one presented in July, in which the CM announced the farmer loan waiver scheme.

However, the budget is set to be read out amid protest by the BJP, having ensured on Wednesday that Governor Vajubhai Vala cut short his address to the joint sitting of both Houses.

BJP leader R Ashok said, “They have chosen to present the budget at 12.32 pm because they are afraid this government is set to collapse. That is why they have reposed faith in astrology.”

In regard to the absence of four rebel Congress MLAs, BJP claimed that the government did not enjoy a majority.

The Congress MLAs -Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathahalli, Umesh Jadhav and B Nagendra—and MLA J N Ganesh, who is absconding after a brawl with a colleague at a Bengaluru resort.

At present, the alliance enjoys the support of 117 MLAs- 79 of the Congress, 37 of JD(S) and onelegislator of the BSP.

Meanwhile, BJP has the support of 104 MLAs.

Former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party chief Siddaramaiah condemned the behaviour of BJP.

“The BJP doesn’t believe in democracy, if it did its MLAs wouldn’t have disrupted the governor’s speech,” he said.

Siddaramaiah also challenged BJP leaders to move a no-confidence motion.

The former chief minister said the Congress would take a decision on the rebels after the CLP meeting at 9 am on Friday.

However, former chief minister and state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, stuck to the party’s claim that the government did not enjoy a majority.

“This government doesn’t have a moral right to present the budget. The people of the state don’t have confidence in this government because Congress leaders keep saying Siddaramaiah is their chief minister,” he said.

New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday rejected Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s charge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ran parallel negotiation for the Rafale deal and accused him of provoking the armed forces against the government.

“Today I object to what Rahul has said — he was telling Air Force pilots and officers ‘look what Prime Minister is doing to you’. What does this mean, what is going on in his mind? Does he want to provoke them? Does he want to make them stand up against the government? Is it a responsible job of the Opposition? It is very dangerous,” she told media outside Parliament. 

“Congress has become a toy in the dirty game of multinational corporates. Their language is not in the interest of the country,” she alleged. 

Sitharaman said that she was “very shocked” to see this attitude.

“Rahul Gandhi, in his press conference today, called the PM a thief and me a liar. I had also said earlier that as we have not come from a known family, so they try to tarnish our image.” 

Her remarks came soon after Gandhi, earlier in the day, addressed a press conference and accused Prime Minister of being directly involved in the Rafale fighter jet deal with France by running parallel negotiation in 2015.

Lashing out at an English newspaper for carrying out a “one-sided” story, the Defence Minister said, “One newspaper has printed a file noting, which is written by (former) Defence Secretary. In the same note he is saying Defence Minister should make a statement. 

“The then Defence Minister (Manohar Parrikar) has seen that noting and also signed it. What was the response of then Defence Minister Parrikar? I said the same thing in Parliament.” 

Slamming the media house, she said, “If the news report carried one noting, then it should have also carried the response of the then Defence Minister in its news report. That is ethical journalism.” 

Quoting the then Defence Minister’s reply to that file noting, Sitharaman said, “Your note is right, but there is no need to get excited so much. Everything is alright. This was Parrikar’s reply, which is there in the files of the Defence Secretary.” 

“I am sorry there was selective noting and building an issue falsely on it,” she said, adding that the response of the then Defence Minister was very clear.

She also asserted that on the direction of the same Defence Secretary and the Member of the Negotiating Committee with their signatures, the file went to the Cabinet Committee on Security and Cabinet. “Only after that clearance was given and then an agreement signed,” she said.

Defending the Prime Minister and the PMO, Sitharaman said, “If the PMO asks for the progress in a matter, can it be considered interference or parallel negotiation?” 

Referring to Sonia Gandhi, who held the post of the Chairperson of National Advisory Council (NAC) during the UPA governments, she said, “Was Soniaji interfering in the working of every ministry or running a parallel cabinet or snatching the rights of any minister? 

“Highlighting a selective part is not good. I have a lot of expectations from Congress,” she added.

Nasheman News : Beer will cost more as will other low alcoholic beverages in Karnataka from April 1 as the state budget for fiscal 2019-20 proposed a steep increase in additional excise duty on the beverages.

“I propose 25 per cent increase in additional excise duty on beer to 175 per cent from 150 per cent and 35 per cent on draught beer to 150 per cent from 115 per cent,” Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Friday while presenting the budget for the ensuing fiscal in the Assembly amidst a ruckus and walkout by the opposition BJP.

As part of resource mobilisation, the Chief Minister said excise duty on beer manufactured in a micro-brewery would be doubled to Rs 10 per bulk litre (BL) from Rs 5 per BL and additional excise duty to Rs 25 per BL from Rs 12.50 per BL.

“I also propose to increase excise duty on low alcoholic beverages to Rs 10 per BL from Rs 5 per BL and additional excise duty on them to 150 per cent from 122 per cent,” said Kumaraswamy.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, told the legislators that the state excise department would mobilise Rs 20,950 crore through the proposed hike in duties as against the target of Rs 19,750 crore set for fiscal 2018-19.

Nasheman News :  The Congress has claimed that the Maharashtra Assembly may be dissolved on February 28 after the budget presentation, paving the way for simultaneous elections with the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

However, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis rejected the contention, reiterating his often repeated stance that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena coalition would complete its full tenure till October this year.

Addressing a party workers’ rally as part of the ongoing pre-election campaign in Aurangabad on Thursday night, state Congress President Ashok Chavan said the state government was planning for simultaneous elections this time.

“The state Assembly would be dissolved immediately after the budget is tabled this month. Keeping this in view, all party activists across the state must get down to work immediately,” Chavan said.

The week-long state budget session of the legislature will be held between February 25 and March 2.

Chavan added that “the Congress is fully geared” for the challenge of twin elections, a sentiment echoed even by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

NCP state spokesperson Nawab Malik said his party was “absolutely prepared” in the eventuality of simultaneous elections and expressed confidence that the ruling saffron combine would be vanquished in both the Lok Sabha and the Assembly polls.

Chavan also appealed to all the opposition parties, especially the Prakash Ambedkar-led Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, to refrain from doing anything that would split the opposition votes and give advantage to the ruling dispensation.

The debate over holding combined polls in the state has revived even though all the major political parties are yet to finalise their respective alliances with the elections looming large.

With a population of nearly 12 crore, Maharashtra has 48 Lok Sabha seats and 288 Assembly constituencies, the second highest in the country after Uttar Pradesh, making it an important state for all the political parties.

Nasheman News :  DMK President M.K. Stalin has requested the Election Commission of India (ECI) to hold the by-elections to the 21 vacant Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu along with the Lok Sabha polls.

In a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa on Thursday, Stalin said as per media reports the poll body plans to notify the general elections in seven stages sometime in April.

“We, therefore, request the ECI to hold elections to the 21 Assembly seats along with election to the 39 parliamentary seats in Tamil Nadu, since it would save valuable time of the voters, the ECI and government staff and also ease the burden on the public exchequer,” Stalin said in his letter.

“Since the 21 Assembly seats form part of some of the 39 parliamentary constituencies, it would be easy to enforce election related guidelines including the model code of conduct and staff deployed for the parliamentary elections can be utilised without wastage of resources,” he added.

In another letter to Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal and Chief Election Commissioner Arora, the DMK leader urged them to declare the Hosur Assembly constituency as vacant.

Stalin said P.Balakrishna Reddy who was elected to the Assembly from Hosur was convicted by a special court in an arson and causing damage to public property case. 

Reddy was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

The DMK President added that the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker has not taken any steps to formally notify the Hosur constituency as vacant and intimate the ECI.

Nasheman News :Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dubbed the opposition alliance as “mahamilawat” (grand adulteration) and said that those believing in healthy democracy will stay away from it just like healthy people keep off “milawat” (food adulteration).

In a veiled attack on Congress President Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister called him a “thief” who has been scolding the “watchman” and rebutted his charges on Rafale fighter jet deal, saying the opposition party was bidding for another company, and that is why, they want the deal cancelled.

“The people of India have seen the work a government with a full majority can do. They have seen the work of NDA (National Democratic Alliance). And now, they (the opposition) are trying to form a government of ‘mahamilawat’. People do not want a ‘mahamilawat’ government of those who assembled in Kolkata. 

“The way people keep distance from adulterated food, those who believe in healthy democracy will also stay away from them,” Modi said while replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks to President’s address.

Modi invoked Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar to say that he had said joining the Congress is like committing suicide.

“They all follow dynasty politics. All are dynasts and out on bail,” he said.

He said that “Congress-mukt Bharat” is not his slogan, he is just fulfilling the wish of Mahatma Gandhi, who had recommended the dissolution of Congress.

“To pay him tribute on his 150th anniversary, I have to do it. You try as much ‘milawat’ as you can, but you will not be spared,” he said.

The Prime Minister also came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi for targeting his government over the Rafale deal and asserted that his government is strengthening the Air Force with transparency and honesty.

“The Congress made our armed forces weapon-less. They never fulfilled the demand for bullet-proof jackets. They never thought of strengthening our armed forces. I want to say it on the floor of Parliament that the Congress does not want our armed forces to be strong, they do not want our security apparatus to be strong… You want the Rafale deal to be cancelled. For which companies they (Congress) are bidding that they are acting so shamefully?” he said.

On opposition charges of destroying institutions, Modi said it was the Congress which imposed Emergency, insulted Army, called the Army chief a “goonda”, their leaders created stories that the Indian Army is doing a coup, and now they allege that Modi is destroying institutions.

“The Congress questioned the Election Commission, Electronic Voting Machines, bullied the judiciary, called the Planning Commission a bunch of jokers and misused Article 356 around 100 times, but now it’s alleging that Modi is destroying the institutions. ‘Ulta chor chowkidar ko daante’ (the thief is scolding the watchman),” he said.

Referring to the arrest of AgustaWestland chopper deal case accused Christian Michel, he also took a jibe at UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. 

“This is the reason they are upset…’Razdar’ (those sharing secrets). They have been given letters… I can understand your problem,” he said.

Modi said that in hating him, the opposition has started hating the nation. “That is why their leaders go to London and do press conferences to show India in bad light.”

He said his government works for the people and is sensitive to their aspirations and following zero-tolerance policy for corruption.

“It is trust and optimism that will take our nation forward. We are not those who run away from challenges. We face the challenges and work to fulfil people’s aspirations.” 

The Prime Minister compared the works done in the 55 years of Congress rule against 55 months of his government and said India has seen remarkable progress in the last four years.

“In all spheres — investment, steel sector, startups, milk and agriculture and aviation — India’s progress is outstanding. Our friends in the Congress see things in two time periods. BC – before Congress, when nothing happened, and AD – after dynasty, where everything happened,” he said.

Pm Modi said that in their 55 years, sanitation coverage was around 38 per cent and in the 55 months of NDA rule, it is nearly 98 per cent. Similarly, gas connections in their 55 years was 12 crore, which is 13 crore in 55 months. 

“We have worked at greater speed in our five years (than the Congress governments).” 

He said that thousands of organisations were getting funds from overseas and were shut down by the NDA government. “Why was such money was allowed to come in without accountability?” he asked.

Recalling two songs of Bollywood on inflation, he said price rise and Congress are synonymous.

“When Congress comes, so does price rise. The NDA government has worked to keep prices in check,” he added.

Nasheman News : Sixteen minor students of a government-run middle school in Bihar fell ill on Thursday after they were mercilessly beaten up by the school Principal for not sweeping the school floor, the police said.

The incident took place at Pakdi Middle School under Mahua Police Station of Vaishali district in the state.

Enraged over the incident, villagers ransacked the school and demanded action against the accused school Principal, Rajesh Kumar.

A police officer posted in Mahua, Sunil Kumar Singh, told IANS that about 16 children of the school had to be admitted to a local hospital after they were mercilessly beaten up by the Principal. 

“Following the beating by Rajesh Kumar, they fell ill and were taken to the hospital.”

Singh said that villagers, mostly parents and guardians of school children, staged protest at the school on hearing about the incident.

“Others teachers fled the school fearing reprisal from villagers. Rajesh Kumar managed to escape,” he added.

Agencies

Nasheman News : Newly appointed AICC General Secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi, was on Thursday allotted a seat away from Congress President Rahul Gandhi during an important party meet here.

Priyanka was given a seat next to Jyotiraditya Scindia, General Secretary in charge of western Uttar Pradesh, in the middle of the right side row.

Rahul Gandhi, K.C. Venugopal, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Mallikarjun Kharge were seated on the front.

Political observers say Priyanka was deliberately not seated next to Rahul but away from him to give a message to senior party leaders that as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretaries, they are as important as Priyanka Gandhi who is also a General Secretary.

Earlier, soon after her appointment at the General Secretary, Priyanka was allotted a room next to that of Rahul Gandhi’s at the AICC headquarters. The room was earlier used by Rahul when he was the party Vice President.

However, Jyotiraditya Scindia was also allotted an office in the same room, in a way to show that as Uttar Pradesh in-charges, both he and Priyanka are on the same pedestal.

In another gesture, when Rahul Gandhi arrived from the meet, the SPG personnel tried to hold an umbrella over Rahul as it was raining, but he ignored it and walked in the rain to show respect towards hundreds of party workers who had gathered here to greet him and Priyanka.

Rahul is holding a meeting with all the AICC General Secretaries in charge of all the states in preparation of the coming Lok Sabha polls.

Nasheman News :The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on CBI Joint Director M. Nageswara Rao and prosecution in-charge S. Bhasuram Subha Ram for transferring a CBI officer probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home case despite the courts embargo against the transfer of investigating officials.

In a sudden turn of events, the apex court initiated contempt proceedings against the two officials for processing a file relating to the transfer of then Additional Director A.K. Sharma who was heading the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case.

A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Deepak Misra, and Justice Sanjiv Johanna slammed both officials for transferring Sharma without notifying the court or informing the Appointments Cabinet Committee (CCA).

Taking a “very very serious view” of the transfer, the bench sought their response by Monday and their personal presence in the court on Tuesday. 

The court also sought the presence of all CBI officials who dealt with the file relating to the transfer of Sharma from CBI to the Central Reserve Police Force as its Additional Director.