Bengaluru, May 17 (IANS) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar on Friday said that his Congress and INDIA bloc was winning the confidence of people across the country.

Talking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha about his election campaign in Uttar Pradesh, he said: “I am confident the INDIA bloc will win more than 40 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has announced 10 kilos of rice for the poor. We have explained to the people how the Congress will roll out its guarantees at the national level like we implemented our promises within a month of coming to power in Karnataka.”

Asked about the meeting on drought relief, he said: “We discussed drinking water, fodder for cattle and other aspects. We will also have a meeting on the impact of rains in Bengaluru soon. We will shortly give instructions to officials to fill up dried-up lakes with treated water. “We have given directions for the officers to prepare a report. The lakes in Bengaluru have dried up and officers are also directed to ensure clean water fills up lakes.”

A separate plan of action has been formulated to manage the situation during the rainy season, he added.

Asked about rainwater harvesting, Shivakumar said: “This year we had experience of water shortage. About 7,000 bore wells had dried up. This situation might recur in future if there are no rains… precautionary measures would be taken up.”

–IANS

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Mumbai, May 17 (IANS) The presence of MNS chief Raj Thackeray in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mumbai rally on Friday, ahead of polling in six constituencies in the metropolis, is seen as the BJP’s calculated move to project that the party is aligned not only with ‘asli’ (real) Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde but also with a leader who is the real claimant of Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, his Hindutva and “Marathi Manoos” USP.

It was also the BJP’s attempt to corner Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray for “compromising” on Hindutva to get power by joining hands with the Congress and the NCP.

The BJP and Raj Thackeray, along with MahaYuti partners, strongly hope to get political mileage from this association and therefore, they are betting big on Raj Thackeray laying claim on Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy to elect a maximum number of MPs to achieve the 400-plus Mission and later retain power in Maharashtra in Assembly elections slated for September-October this year.

The BJP’s move to join hands with Raj Thackeray is to “expose the unholy’’ nexus between Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Congress with a tagline ‘Congress ka saath Pakistan ke saath and Shiv Sena- UBT’s saath with Muslims”.

It also seeks to attack Uddhav Thackeray for beginning his speech not with “Jamlelya Tamam Hindu Bandhavano, Bhaginino and Matano (My Hindu brother, sisters and mothers)” but now by ”Deshbhakt Bandhavano, Bhaginino, and Matano”.

By taking Raj Thackeray on board, the BJP also has stepped up its efforts to increase its share in the Maratha vote bank not just during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections but also in the upcoming Assembly polls,

It was also an attempt to send a message to Uddhav Thackeray that his party was not the sole claimant of protector of “Marathi Manoos” but the BJP-MNS combine, and the MahaYuti in general, is well suited to protect the interest of the “Marathi Manoos” with the double engine government.

This is important as the Marathi-speaking population in Mumbai stands presently at the top at 35.96 per cent, but is expected to decline in the coming years due to the increasing presence. There are 22.98 per cent Hindi-speaking people, 13.53 per cent Urdu, 11.34 per cent Gujarati, 2.57 per cent Tamil, 2.57 per cent Marwadi, 1.38 per cent Konkani, and 1.31 per cent Bengali.

The BJP has also repeatedly claimed that Uddhav Thackeray does not have sympathy following the vertical split in Shiv Sena and the fall of the MVA government. It argues that this was a “media creation” as “the Modi-Raj combine has added value to the MahaYuti which enjoys not just sympathy but confidence of cross sections of the society”.

It is not just the BJP that expects political gains, but Raj Thackeray, with a sole legislator and few civic body representatives, sees it as an opportunity to consolidate his party’s position not just in Mumbai but the rest of Maharashtra.

–IANS

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Mumbai, May 17 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lashed out at Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, saying the “fake” Shiv Sena has betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray and the sacrifices of Shiv Sainiks.

Speaking at a rally here at the Shivaji Park ahead of polling in all six Lok Sabha constituencies of Mumbai on May 20, PM Modi said: “For the sake of power, he (Uddhav) sided with those who mocked Ram Mandir. For power, he went along with the people who were partying after the Mumbai attacks. He is sitting on the lap of the Congress which disrespects Veer Savarkar.”

The BJP and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) are contesting three seats each against Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and Congress.

Addressing the well-attended rally, PM Modi appealed to the Mumbaikars to turn out in large numbers and exercise their franchise as every vote will be a vote for him.

PM Modi also dared NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar to tell Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to not disrespect towards Veer Savarkar.

PM Modi also accused the INDIA bloc leaders of “repeatedly insulting the Constitution”.

“Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was against reservations on the basis of religion. The Constituent Assembly decided not to give reservations on the basis of religion. But the INDIA bloc is going to give reservations to those doing ‘vote jihad’ on the basis of religion,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi also lashed out at the INDIA bloc for playing appeasement politics for the vote bank, saying “these people caused bloodshed in Mumbai”.

“They said the surgical strike was false. The INDIA bloc has betrayed Mumbai… the entire country. Ajmal Kasab terrorised the people of Mumbai, painted this city with blood… but these people are giving him a clean chit,” PM Modi said.

PM Modi, who was accompanied by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar among others at the public meeting, accused the erstwhile Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government of hindering developmental work in Mumbai and rest of Maharashtra.

“They stalled a slew of projects including Bullet train, Mumbai Metro, dedicated freight corridor, JNPT container port. Modi has come to give back the rights of Mumbai. Today, the most modern infrastructure in the world is in Mumbai. The city of Mumbai does not just see dreams, it lives with them. In this dream city, I have come up with a dream of 2047. A dream… a resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. Mumbai is going to play a huge role in it. I guarantee that I am going to leave you with a developed India,” PM Modi said while speaking at the rally.

“That is why, with the mantra of Modi 24×7 for 2047… every moment in your name, every moment in the name of the country… he is engaged with all his heart and soul,” PM Modi said, adding he has a report card of 10 years and a roadmap for the next 25 years.

“On the other hand, you have the INDIA bloc, which has many prime ministerial candidates as there are many parties in the alliance. The country will go bankrupt if you go by the Maoist manifesto of the Congress party. They have an eye on the gold of our temples and ‘mangalsutras’ of women. They came up with the idea of ‘Inheritance Tax’,” PM Modi said.

For 60 years, PM Modi said, the Congress claimed to have eradicated poverty from the country.

“They used to talk about eradicating poverty in their speeches. In the last 10 years, we have pulled out crores of people out of poverty. It’s the power of your vote that made this feat possible. Today, Article 370 has been abrogated. And those who are nurturing dreams of bringing it back, they should listen carefully – no power in the world can bring back Article 370,” PM Modi said, while also slamming the opposition over Ram Mandir issue, saying the government has ensured construction of Ram Temple, bringing an end to years of waiting.

“Record investments are coming, and I guarantee that in a few years, we will become the third-largest economic power in the world,” PM Modi said.

He also took a swipe at the Congress, saying: “After Independence, had the Congress been dissolved on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi, India would have been ahead by five decades. The ‘Congressisation’ of all the systems of the country after Independence destroyed five decades of the country.”

Meanwhile, in his speech, Raj Thackeray urged PM Modi to provide a Classical Language status for Marathi after getting a third term, and also include the 125-year rule of Marathas in the History books, complete the delayed Mumbai Goa highway, beautify forts to regain their glory and provide more funds for development of Mumbai.

–IANS

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Bengaluru, May 17 (IANS) A female student at a private engineering college on the outskirts of Bengaluru was found dead in mysterious circumstances and police are probing the case, officials said on Friday.

The deceased student, identified as Harshita, 18, was a resident of Kodihalli in Arsikere taluk of Hassan district. and a first-year student in the electronic and communications branch at the college near Heelalige, close to Chandapura town.

According to police, her body was found hanging in her room in the college hostel on Thursday night.

The incident came to light when her friend, Pragathi, saw Harshita’s body hanging through the window. She informed other students about the incident, and they broke open the door, brought Harshita down, and attempted to rush her to the hospital. Harshita was staying alone in her room as her roommate had gone to her home. The exact reason for her taking the step is yet to be ascertained.

Her father Keshavamurthy told the police that at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Harshita had called up and spoken to him. However, he received a call from the college principal at 10.30 p.m. that she was found hanging in her room.

The father has asked police to probe the matter. Suryanagar police, which is investigating the matter, said that they will record the statements of her friends and staff of the college and hostel.

–IANS

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Hyderabad, May 17 (IANS) Actor-politician Vijayashanthi, who has been lying low since leaving the BJP to join the Congress in November last year, on Friday said that the BJP does not understand the self-respect and regional aspirations of the southern states.

Vijayashanthi, who did not contest the Lok Sabha elections and also stayed away from the Congress campaign, in a post on X, criticised Union Minister and state BJP President G. Kishan Reddy for claiming that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will no longer exist in Telangana.

The veteran film star wrote that southern states have been following the path of regional emotions and public sentiments for their self-esteem. Those who don’t understand this should know how people responded to leaders from Karunanidhi, M.G. Ramachandran, N.T. Rama Rao, Ramakrishna Hegde and Jayalalithaa to the BRS and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), she added.

Vijayashanthi said while the Congress understands the existence of self-respect in the south, the BJP has perhaps not even thought of it and this is reflected in Kishan Reddy’s statement.

Her comments to defend the BRS triggered speculations in political circles that she may be planning to return to the party. She, however, denied any such plans.

Vijayashanthi, who was a BJP national executive member, defected to the Congress just two weeks before Telangana Assembly elections.

It was in December 2020 that Vijayashanthi returned to the BJP after 15 years.

Popular as ‘Lady Amitabh’ for her action roles in Telugu films, she joined the BJP in 1997 and served as General Secretary of the party’s women’s wing. She quit the BJP in 2005 to float a separate outfit, Talli Telangana, to fight for separate statehood for Telangana. She later merged Talli Telangana with the TRS (now BRS) and was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Medak constituency in 2009.

In August 2013, a few months before the formation of Telangana, the TRS suspended Vijayashanthi for anti-party activities. She later joined the Congress and unsuccessfully contested from the Medak Assembly constituency in the 2014 polls.

After lying low for four years, Vijayashanthi again became active in Congress in 2017 and was named its star campaigner for the party in the 2018 Assembly polls. After the party’s debacle, she was not active in the party and returned to BJP in 2020.

Vijayashanthi, whose film career spans nearly four decades, has acted in over 180 films in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi.

–IANS

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