Cong not to have any understanding with AIMIM, says Yakshi

NEW DELHI: The Congress will not have any sort of understanding with the Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-eittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for the Karnataka Assembly polls, AICC secretary Madhu Goud Yaskhi said.

He refuted media report that the state Congress leaders had a secret meeting with AIMIM leaders to ensure that there was no division of votes of minorities.

The AIMIM is reportedly set to contest in 60 assembly segments, mainly in minoritydominated areas in the state.

The election to the 224-member assembly in Karnataka is to be held this year. It is the only big state under the Congress’ rule at present. Punjab, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Puducherry are the other states/ut where the party is in power.

“We never had any meeting with any AIMIM leader. It is fighting against the Con- gress. So, there is zero truth that there was any meeting with their leaders,” said Yaskhi, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary in-charge for the poll-bound state.

He further accused the AIMIM of having an understanding with the BJP to divide the votes coming the Congress’ way.

Yakshi also said the Congress would not have any sort of understanding with the AIMIM for the assembly polls.

According to a senior Congress leader, who did not wish to be named, the party already had a strategy in place to ensure that it got votes from minority communities.

Announcing K Siddaramaiah as the party’s chief ministerial face has also been a “good move” to see the votes are not divided, the leader added.

“Siddaramaiah has worked well to consolidate votes from Muslim, OBC and SC communities over the past four or so years”, he further added. BENGALURU: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally here, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday asked him to “find time” to resolve the interstate Mahadayi River water row with neighbouring Goa.

Claiming that Karnataka is the number one state in investment and innovation, and highlighting Bengaluru as a start up and innovation hub, Siddaramaiah boasted about having scripted several national firsts across key sectors through a unique model of development.

“I welcome PM @narendramodi to Namma Karnataka - the no.1 state in investments, innovation & progressive policies..

Through a unique model of development, we have scripted several national firsts across key sectors,” Siddaramaiah said in a tweet.

“I am confident that Karnataka’s success makes India proud,” he said.

“@narendramodi, I am glad you are making time to visit the country’s start up & innovation hub, Namma Bengaluru today.. On behalf of my people, I urge you to find the time for Karnataka’s drinking water needs & help us resolve the #Mahadayi dispute #Nammakarnatakafirst,” he said in another tweet.

Responding to Chief Minister’s tweets, state BJP Chief BS Yeddyurappa alleged that Karnataka has scripted several firsts like corruption, farmers suicide and collapse of law and order under Siddaramaiah’s regime.

“Thanks for the welcome CM @siddaramaiah avare! Yes.

Karnataka indeed has scripted several firsts - No.1 Corrupt State, 3,500+ farmer suicides, collapse of law & order, mysterious deaths of officers, transfers of honest officials, crumbling infra of Bengaluru. #Karnatakatrustsmodi,” he said in a tweet.

Karnataka has for long been demanding Prime Minister’s intervention in resolving the inter state Mahadayi river water sharing dispute by calling a meeting of chief ministers of riparian states that includes Goa and Mahrashtra.

Various Kannada organisations and farmers groups have called for “black day” on Sunday alleging that the prime minister was not heeding to their demand.

Recently ‘Kannada Okkuta,’ an umbrella organisation of various pro Kannada organisation along with farmers’ groups, had called for dawn-todusk Karnataka bandh on January 25, demanding the prime minister’s intervention.

Their plans earlier to observe bandh on Sunday also, on the day of prime minister’s visit had failed with the Karnataka High Court on Friday issuing the stay on the shut down after terming it as “unconstitutional”.

Karnataka, which has locked horns with neighbouring Goa on sharing Mahadayi River water, is seeking release of 7.56 tmcft water for the Kalasa-banduri Nala project.

The project is being undertaken to improve drinking water supply to the twin cities of Hubballi-dharwad and districts of Belagavi and Gadag.