Ballary, (Karnataka) July 1 (IANS) The tussle within the Karnataka Congress over the Chief Minister’s post is escalating.

Congress MLA Shivaganga Basavaraj stated on Monday that Deputy CM and State Congress President, DK Shivakumar should become the Chief Minister.

Speaking to reporters in Kottur, Ballary District, MLA Basavaraj said, “Shivakumar built the party from scratch, and he should become the Chief Minister. He is the reason for the Congress party’s victory and winning nine seats in the General Election from just one seat in 2019. It’s certain that Shivakumar will be the CM. Once he becomes CM, a dozen Dy CMs can be appointed.”

Basavaraj added that it’s a Congress tradition for the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to become the CM, however, after the Assembly elections the high command made Siddaramaiah the CM for some reason.

He said that Shivakumar, as KPCC President, has strengthened the party from the ground level.

When asked about Minister KN Rajanna’s demands for more Dy CM posts, Basavaraj said those interested should discuss it with the high command.

“Senior leaders like Rajanna should be role models for junior leaders like us. Despite Shivakumar’s warning, he continues to make statements,” he said.

Regarding the Vokkaliga pontiff’s appeal to CM Siddaramaiah to vacate the seat, Basavaraj said it reflects the people’s and devotees’ sentiments.

“The BJP is carrying out a propaganda to come to power from the backdoor. The BJP should stop daydreaming about attaining power, the Congress is going to complete its five-year term,” he stated.

Reacting to questions about the CM’s post and additional Dy CM posts, CM Siddaramaiah stated in Bengaluru, “It’s not a matter for public discussion. We will follow the high command’s decision.”

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday announced that the state government will take a decision within three months regarding the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for teachers.

During the Question Hour, Ajit Pawar said the teaching and non-teaching staff working in semi-government and aided institutions of Maharashtra who joined service after the notification was issued would be provided relief.

Pawar responded to questions raised by BJP members Sanjay Kelkar, Ashish Shelar, and Congress member Balasaheb Thorat.

As per the government’s decision, those opting for OPS will have to contribute 10 per cent while 14 per cent will be added by the state.

Pawar said that the government recently decided to give an option of the OPS to government employees whose posts were advertised before November 1, 2005 but who joined service after that.

In this decision, the option has been given to apply for the provisions of the Maharashtra Civil Services Retirement Rules 1982, Maharashtra Civil Services Retirement Pension Scheme 1984, and General Provident Fund Rules for managing retirement funds, exclusively to government officials and employees under the jurisdiction of the Central government.

He told the House that the decision was not implemented in respect of teachers and non-teaching staff working in semi-government and aided institutions as the case was sub judice.

Ajit Pawar said that considering the economic situation of the country and states, the Central government decided to discontinue the OPS and start a new one.

Subsequently, various state government officials and employees demanded the implementation of the OPS, to which the Central government has responded positively.

State governments have also sought information from the Central government regarding this matter.

Ajit Pawar also said the state government had formed a committee of retired officials to understand their demands.

“Discussions have been held with the associations of government officials and employees in this regard. A request was made in the Nagpur winter session regarding the state government’s stance on implementing the old pension.

“Some states have also sought information regarding decisions taken in this regard. The current government is pro-employee, so they will not be left in the lurch. Proper justice will be given in this matter,” Pawar assured.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, July 1 (IANS) Hyderabad Police on Monday arrested BRS MLA P. Rajeshwar Reddy and other leaders when they reached Gandhi Hospital to meet a student leader, who is on a hunger strike demanding the state government to fulfil its assurances to the unemployed over job recruitments.

Tension prevailed at Gandhi Hospital as BRS leaders and members of various student groups reached there to meet Motilal Naik, the leader of Osmania University Joint Action Committee (JAC) who has been on hunger strike for the last eight days.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Rajeshwar Reddy, A. Rakesh Reddy and other leaders were arrested by the police. They were shifted to various police stations.

Rajeshwar Reddy was talking to media persons when police forcibly took him, Rakesh Reddy and others into custody and whisked them away in police vehicles.

The BRS leaders took strong exception to the police action and asked if this was the people’s rule of the Congress government. The protestors raised slogans against the government and the police.

Meanwhile, a group of student leaders tried to barge into the hospital but were stopped and arrested by the police.

Unemployed youth and job aspirants have been gathering at the hospital for the last couple of days in solidarity with Naik.

Leaders of BRS and BJP have also met Naik during the last couple of days to support his demands.

BRS leader and former minister T. Harish Rao had called on Naik on Sunday and appealed to him to end the strike.

The BRS leader reminded the Congress party of its promise to provide two lakh jobs in the first year after coming to power and asked why it failed to issue even one notification for recruitment even after seven months.

Meanwhile, students also held protests at Osmania University in support of Motilal Naik. They staged a sit-in at Arts College.

They alleged that the government betrayed them after making several promises including increasing Group – II and III posts during the Assembly elections.

They demanded the Congress government to immediately fulfil its poll promises including selection of candidates for Group – I Main exam in 1:100 ratio and increasing Group -I and II posts.

They want the government to keep the promise of adding 2,000 jobs to Group-2 and 3,000 jobs to Group-3 and ensure a two-month gap between exams.

The unemployed and students are demanding the identification of vacant posts and the release of a job calendar regularly.

They also wanted the state government to issue a mega DSC notification to appoint 25,000 teachers.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 1 (IANS) Rahul Gandhi’s maiden speech as the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha was marked by huge pandemonium and uproar in the Lower House on Monday.

Starting off his speech, the Congress MP waved a copy of the Constitution and also the photo of Lord Shiva while launching a broadside at the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideologue Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Rahul’s reference to ‘Hindus’ drew strong protest from the BJP MPs and also a rare intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Home Minister Amit Shah demanded an apology from the Congress MP for ‘linking’ the BJP with violence.

PM Modi stood up to interject the Congress MP and said, “Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter.”

Home Minister Amit Shah also took strong exception to Rahul Gandhi’s analogy of ‘violent Hindus’ with the BJP and demanded that the Congress leader tender an apology.

“He doesn’t know that crores of Indians in this country call themselves Hindu with pride. Does he want to say that each one of them talks violence? You cannot associate violence with any religion. I demand that he apologise,” Amit Shah said.

The trigger for chaos and uproar in the house was Rahul’s pointed attack on the ruling party, whom he accused of invoking violence and hatred for furthering its political interests.

Addressing the House, Rahul Gandhi said: “All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear…But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth… Aap Hindu ho hi nahi (You are not even Hindu)…”

–IANS

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Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday announced a stay on the Rs 200 crore Dikshabhoomi renovation project in Nagpur in the wake of ongoing agitation there.

Fadnavis said in the state Assembly that the makeover project was undertaken after due consultation with the Dikshabhoomi Committee. However, he added that a fresh discussion will be held involving the committee, the representatives of various organisations who staged agitation and the concerned contractors. He assured that the work would commence only after taking into account changes, if any, by those who were involved in the agitation.

The stay came after several opposition and ruling members raised the issue following the agitation launched at Dikshabhoomi against the work of an underground park there. They claimed that the work may endanger the original foundation of Dikshabhoomi as well as the Stupa.

Congress legislator Nitin Raut took strong objection against the ongoing work at the site and claimed that it posed a threat to the original structure and thus should be stopped immediately.

BJP legislator Narayan Kuche also sought the government’s intervention in seeking to stay the work.

Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar through his post on X claimed that due to the work at the Dikshabhoomi, the peoples’ sentiments have been hurt. “Therefore, it is our view that this work should be stopped immediately by respecting the sentiments of the people. This has created a law and order problem and the government should immediately intervene and discuss with the protesters,’’ he said.

–IANS

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