'We feel threatened': 10 K'taka MLAs seek protection against DK Shivakumar in Mumbai

Politics

The letter to the Mumbai Police Commissioner says that they feel threatened by HD Kumaraswamy too.

TNM Staff

The Karnataka political crisis took a new turn on Wednesday morning as the 10 rebelling MLAs at the Hotel Renaissance Powai in Mumbai said they feel “threatened” by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and Congress Minister and troubleshooter DK Shivakumar who was attempting to meet the MLAs.  A letter to the Commissioner of Police in Mumbai signed by 10 Karnataka MLAs, according to reports, states that, “We the following elected members of legislative assembly of the state of Karnataka are staying at Hotel Renaissance Powai in Mumbai, we have heard that [Chief Minister] Sri Kumar Swamy and DK Shivakumar and others are going to storm in the hotel premises, we feel threatened for the same. We do not want to meet him, kind request to help us in this matter and do not allow them to enter the hotel premises.”  10 rebel Karnataka Congress-JD(S) MLAs write to Mumbai Commissioner of Police stating "We are staying at Hotel Renaissance Powai in Mumbai, we have heard HD Kumaraswamy & DK Shivakumar are going to storm the hotel, we feel threatened. Do not allow them to enter hotel premises" pic.twitter.com/rvMa2If8eH — ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2019 The letter was signed by Shivaram Hebbar, Pratapgouda Patil, B C Patil, Byrati Basavaraj, S T Somashekar, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Gopalaiah, H Vishwanath, Narayan Gowda, and Mahesh Kumatahalli. The rebel MLAs staying in Mumbai have made it clear that they intend to follow through with their resignations. Three MLAs - Anand Singh, Narayan Gowda and Pratapgouda Patil - will meet the Speaker on Friday, on the day the monsoon session of the Karnataka Assembly is set to begin. Outside the hotel, Shivakumar was met by protesters and police who did not allow him to enter the hotel. The 10 MLAs were flown to the Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai on Sunday, and DK Shivakumar has been attempting to pacify the rebelling MLAs since the crisis began.  When Shivakumar was asked about the letter, he responded, "We believe yesterday [BJP MLAs] R Ashoka and KG Bopaiah forced them to complain against us. We are here to talk in friendly terms." On Tuesday, Speaker Ramesh Kumar said that he would personally speak to all the MLAs who had given their resignations before taking a decision. According to sources, Congress will use the delay as an opportunity to convince the MLAs to re-pledge their loyalty to the Congress-JD(S) coalition and prevent its collapse.  13 MLAs of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government attempted to submit their resignation letters to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker, who is the only person who can accept the resignation of elected legislators in the state.  The strength of the Assembly is 224 including Speaker. With the resignation of 13 MLAs, the quorum will reduce to 211. Following the spate of resignations, the Congress-JD(S) coalition has 104 MLAs while the BJP has 107 MLAs on its side. The coalition does not have the majority to rule the government if the speaker accepts the resignations.

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High drama at Mumbai hotel, DK Shivakumar stopped from meeting rebel MLAs

Politics

'I have no weapons with me, I only have a heart,' DK Shivakumar told the media.

TNM Staff

The drama surrounding the political rebellion in Karnataka peaked on Wednesday, when Congress leader and troubleshooter DK Shivakumar and JD(S) MLA Shivalinge Gowda reached the Renaissance Hotel in Mumbai. It is in this hotel that 10 rebel MLAs have been staying for the last two days.  As the two leaders reached the hotel, protests awaited them. Kannada channels reported that the protests were by supporters of the BJP. The duo were not allowed to enter the hotel by the sloganeering supporters and the police. Police were present in large numbers as the MLAs had sought protection citing threat from DK Shivakumar and HD Kumaraswamy.  Unable to meet the MLAs, DK Shivakumar said, "I don't have weapons. I only have a heart. Those are my brothers inside, members of my family. There is an issue going on in the family, but we can't immediately divorce," he said.  DK Shivakumar also said that he had reserved a room in the hotel and no one had the rights to stop him. "Is this a BJP htel? Anyone can come to the hotel. I have booked a room here, I have a card here. I am not a threat. I am here to talk to them," he said. Shivalinge Gowda questioned why they were denied entry. "This is a hotel, not a private space," he said.  On Tuesday, Mirror Now channel had telecast visuals of Mumbai BJP leader Jatin Desai chaperoning the MLAs in the hotel. BJP leader from Karnataka, R Ashok is also reportedly at the Mumbai hotel. These developments come after DK Shivakumar in another bid to save the coalition government had travelled to Mumbai to pacify the rebel MLAs and take them back to the Congress fold. The resignation of these MLAs, has not been accepted by the Speaker on grounds of technicalities.

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IMA scandal: 7-time Bengaluru MLA Roshan Baig asked to appear before SIT

Crime

According to officials, Roshan Baig been asked to appear before the police on Thursday.

TNM Staff

Seven-time Bengaluru MLA R Roshan Baig, who is currently suspended from the Congress party, has been summoned by the Special Investigating Team probing the multi-crore IMA scandal. The notice to Baig comes hours after he submitted his resignation as an MLA. Joining the rebellion against the Congress, Baig resigned on Tuesday and also publicly attacked former CM Siddaramaiah for the party’s poor results in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Mansoor Khan, the founder of IMA Jewels, in a widely circulated audio clip claimed that he had paid Rs 400 crore to Roshan Baig which had not been returned to him. Even though the allegation was denied by the Shivajinagar MLA, other ministers in the Karnataka cabinet like RV Deshpande told media persons that Roshan Baig had known Mansoor earlier and was seeking a loan from him. According to officials, Roshan Baig been asked to appear before the police on Thursday. "A notice has been given to ex minister Mr Roshan Baig to appear on the 11th July," a member of the SIT probing the case told The Mint. This development also comes just a day after the SIT had arrested Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Vijay Shankar (IAS) for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1.5 crore.   Earlier, the police arrested Assistant Commissioner of the Revenue Department LC Nagaraj, BDA Executive Engineer Kumar, city corporator Syed Mujahid and village accountant Manjunath for allegedly accepting bribes to the tune of crores from the tainted IMA founder Mansoor Khan. Those arrested include the 12 board directors of the compan, while Mansoor Kumar continues to avoid arrest and is allegedly hiding out in the United Arab Emirates.

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Congress seeks disqualification of rebel MLAs, urges Speaker to debar them for 6 years

Politics

The Speaker has set up meetings with 3 of the rebel MLAs - Anand Singh, Pratapgouda Patil and Narayana Gowda - on Friday and will only meet Ramalinga Reddy and Gopalaiah on Monday.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar on Tuesday said that eight of the 13 MLAs who submitted their resignations from the Karnataka Assembly have not followed procedure in their submissions. "Only 5 MLAs have submitted their resignations as per the format - Anand Singh, Ramalinga Reddy Pratapgouda Patil, Narayana Gowda and Gopalaiah," stated KR Ramesh Kumar said.  The Speaker has set up meetings with Anand Singh, Pratapgouda Patil and Narayana Gowda on Friday, the first day of the monsoon session of the Karnataka Assembly. The Speaker will meet Ramalinga Reddy and Gopalaiah only on Monday. "The rest of them have not submitted their resignations as per the correct format. Our office has intimated them to tell them this," said the Speaker.  He further added that he has no role to play in the resignations of independent MLAs H Nagesh and R Shankar as ministers in the Karnataka cabinet. " All copies are available. I will be transparent and will provide all the documents. There is no need to do investigative journalism to get it," he added.   ‘Not resigning from party’ Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the ten Congress and JD(S) MLAs who submitted their resignations from the Karnataka Assembly said that they intend to meet the Speaker and resign but clarified that they are not resigning from their parties.  Speaking to reporters at a hotel in Mumbai, rebel MLA ST Somashekar said, "We have grown in the Congress and even now we are Congress workers. We have submitted our resignations as MLA. In the last 15 months, there has been a public debate that the coalition government might stabilise and work for the development of constituencies. We have waited 15 months and we are hurt by one or the other issue." Somashekar further clarified that the rebel leaders are united in their decision to resign and will meet the Speaker to formalise their resignations soon. "The Speaker has said he wants to meet us. As soon as he calls us to meet, we will go and meet. Till now, nobody has contacted us," he added.  CLP seeks disqualification of MLAs The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) submitted a petition to the Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly KR Ramesh Kumar, asking him to disqualify the rebelling MLAs who have resigned and debar them from contesting elections for six years.  “Today we decided to petition the Speaker seeking disqualification of members who are trying to destabilise the government and indulging in anti-party activities. They have colluded with BJP and trying to destabilise the government. I request them to come back and withdraw their resignations. The party has taken a firm stand to request the Speaker to disqualify them. We also informed the Speaker that the resignations are not voluntary and genuine. This attracts anti defection law,” Congress Legislature Party chief Siddaramaiah said. Siddaramaiah accused the rebels of colluding with the BJP and attempting to destabilise the government. He accused the BJP of luring the rebel MLAs by offering them money and ministerial berths.  “Ever since this government was formed, BJP despite failing to prove majority in the floor of the house, they have been constantly trying to destabilise this government. This is the sixth attempt. In this attempt, not only is Karnataka BJP involved, but national level BJP leaders Amit Shah and Narendra Modi are directly involved in this. Only under their direction, the BJP in Karnataka is putting in efforts to destabilise the government. This is against parliamentary system of democracy and against the mandate of the people,” Siddaramaiah added.  Speaking to the media, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the party has an alternate plan to prove majority in case the rebels to not withdraw their resignations despite the ultimatum.  “Speaker is supreme. He will decide whether or not the MLAs have to be disqualified. We have submitted all proof to the Speaker showing that the MLAs have indulged in anti-party activities. If they (Rebel MLAs) di not return despite the warning, we have an alternate plan to prove majority when the BJP pushes for a no confidence motion on July 12,” Dinesh Gundu Rao added.    

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Juul arms to fight sweeping e-cig ban on its home turf

Juul defiantly announced its purchase two weeks ago of a 28-story downtown office building

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Three more Congress MLAs likely to resign in Karnataka as crisis intensifies

Politics

Sources say three Karnataka legislators Anjali Nimbalkar, MTB Nagaraj and Lakshmi Hebbalkar are likely to tender their resignations to the Speaker.

Theja Ram

Despite Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah warning of rebels MLAs of disqualification, highly placed sources in Congress say that three legislators – Anjali Nimbalkar, MTB Nagaraj and Lakshmi Hebbalkar will tender their resignations to the Speaker. “Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Anjali Nimbalkar and MTB Nagaraj have been contacted by BJP state President BS Yeddyurappa’s PA Santosh. Santosh has been in constant touch with the three MLAs and they will submit their resignation soon,” the source said. Lakshmi Hebbalkar is allegedly being pressured by Santosh to submit her resignation and fly to Mumbai as soon as possible and join the 10 rebels MLAs. “Anjali Nimbakar has also been pressurized a lot. She was approached initially by BJP leaders from Maharashtra. Now Santosh has been in touch with her. Lakshmi Hebbalkar and Anjali Nimbalkar are mulling over quitting as the move to BJP would safeguard their political career in Belagavi,” the source said. Anjali Nimbalkar and MTB Nagaraj chose to skip the Congress Legislature Party on Tuesday, while Lakshmi Hebbalkar was present. The source also said that Chikkaballapura MLA Dr K Sudhakar will not resign contrary to speculation that he would. "The BJP does not want to take Sudhakar into its fold. Yeddyurappa has explicitly told his PA that Sudhakar must not be approached," the source added.  So far, 13 MLAs – 10 from the Congress and 3 from the JD(S) have tendered their resignations to Speaker Ramesh Kumar’s office. On Saturday, when 13 MLAs of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government reached the Speaker’s office to submit their resignations, the Karnataka Assembly Speaker made a quick disappearing act. The Speaker is the only person who can accept resignations of elected legislators in the state. The crisis began after 13 MLAs - 10 Congress and 3 JD(S) - with the coalition submitted their resignations to the Speaker's office last Saturday. The disgruntled legislators met with the Governor and informed him of their decision to resign. Many of the MLAs were flown out to Sofitel Hotel in Mumbai. On July 8, Independent MLA H Nagesh withdrew support from the coalition and KPJP MLA R Shankar also withdrew support. Earlier this month, MLA Anand Singh had also resigned. The strength of the Assembly is 224 including Speaker. With the 13 MLAs resigning, the quorum has reduced to 211. With this spate of resignations, the Congress-JD(S) coalition has 104 MLAs while the BJP has 107 MLAs on its side. The coalition does not have the majority to rule the government if the Speaker accepts the resignation of the MLAs.      

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'Bengaluru civic workers should eat where it stinks': Official's remark sparks outrage

Protest

After pourakarmikas protested against this offensive statement, the erring official apologised, and the agitation was called off.

TNM Staff

The struggles faced by Bengaluru’s pourakarmikas seem to be never ending. In the most recent show of callousness towards the civic workers, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Harshavardhan P N official had an appalling idea to ‘sensitise’ pourakarmikas to the bad odour emanating from garbage near Vengayyana lake – to compel them to eat there. Protesting against this offensive comment, pourakarmikas agitated near Bengaluru’s KR Market. Following the protest, the offending official apologised. "The protest has been called off and a press release will be sent in the evening with further details of the actions taken," stated lawyer activist Lekha Adavi.   The IFS officer had stated that pourakarmikas who work at Vengayyana Lake would be made to eat lunch near the entrance to “sensitise them about the bad odour emanating from the garbage in the area,”. He suggested this, ironically, to “make them realise their responsibility to keep the surroundings clean and clear the garbage.” The officer stated that the women who sort wet and dry waste by hand, would be made to eat lunch near the stench-filled area next to the garbage reasoning that this would make them more inclined to keep the area clean. Incidentally, segregation should not be pourakarmikas’ job – it should be done at source, at the household level. However, these civic workers are compelled to segregate our garbage, because we do not bother to.   Following this offensive and condescending comment, several pourakarmikas along with members of the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) took to protesting on Tuesday at KR Puram.  “What do you want me to say? They treat us badly and we suffer a lot. It’s not much that we are asking for, just to be treated with some respect,” said 55-year-old Maheshwaramma, a civic worker. The pourakarmikas go through garbage brought in by the truck load every morning from nearby areas to segregate the waste. They have to endure gruelling conditions along with the foul odours as part of their work. Earlier too, pourakarmikas had protested for months as they had not been paid salaries for months. After this, they were regularised by the BBMP in July 2017 as a result of the state government’s intervention.  However, with casteist statements and crude remarks such as these being casually made by government officials themselves, it is clear that the rights of these workers are still under threat. The AICCTU has condemned the official’s remarks.

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