Karnataka: A Cheque, A Quip And A Light Moment At Congress Event
"Following his appeal, I have not put up any welcome banners today. I have saved that money and am handing over Rs 20,000 to the party in the name of the KPCC president": MLC Ivan D'Souza
MANGALURU: A light moment marked the Congress party's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) awareness programme on Tuesday in Mangaluru when MLC Ivan D'Souza presented a cheque for Rs 20,000 to KPCC president BK Hariprasad, saying he had saved the money by not putting up welcome banners for the event.
While inviting BK Hariprasad to address the gathering at the Town Hall, Ivan, who was compering the program, said the newly appointed KPCC chief had appealed to party leaders and workers not to spend money on garlands, bouquets and welcome banners, and instead contribute towards the construction of Congress party office buildings.
"Following his appeal, I have not put up any welcome banners today. I have saved that money and am handing over Rs 20,000 to the party in the name of the KPCC president," Ivan said.
He added, amid laughter and cheer from the gathering, that he could have spent nearly Rs 1 lakh on banners and publicity for the event but chose to contribute the amount to the party instead.
The remark prompted party leaders and workers present at the programme to jokingly ask why he had not contributed more.
"I could have given more, but I have given what I could," Ivan replied, drawing smiles from the audience.
ED searches premises linked to Excise official
Belagavi: The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at locations linked to the brother-in-law of minister Satish Jarkiholi on Wednesday. The official, Y. Manjunath, is an additional commissioner with the excise department. The ED is yet to issue any official statement regarding the searches.
Asked about the searches, Jarkiholi told reporters: "It could be a routine exercise. Let us wait till tomorrow, and I will react later". Asked whether the searches were politically motivated, Jarkiholi reiterated that he would comment later.
According to sources, the ED conducted simultaneous searches at around six locations linked to Manjunath in Belagavi, Bengaluru, Mysuru, and Arsikere in Hassan district. The official is said to be presently in Bengaluru.
Leaders siding with RSS have no place in Congress: Hariprasad
Hubballi: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president BK Hariprasad on Wednesday asserted that those who align with the RSS would have no place or position in the party.
Addressing reporters, Hariprasad said that Congress leaders and workers were bound by the party's ideology and principles.
“Any MLA, MP or leader who sided with the RSS could not expect to enjoy status or position within the organization,” he asserted.
When asked about supporters of MLAs seeking berths for their leaders in the cabinet, he said that legitimate demand and staging a protest are two different things. “In Congress we are seeing legitimate demand,” he added.
"In Congress, everyone has the freedom to place their demands and express their views. When we make someone a minister, MLA or MLC, we do not seek permission from Nagpur University. We act based on the aspirations and pulse of the people," he said, in an apparent reference to the RSS headquarters in Nagpur.