Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar faced Congress ire after he met spiritual leader Sadhguru after the latter invited him to a Mahashivratri event in Coimbatore on Wednesday.
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00:00Karnataka deputy chief minister at Isha's Shivaratri bash.
00:17DK shows off Sadhguru's invite.
00:25Grateful DK Shivkumar thanks Sadhguru.
00:33DKS praises Sadhguru.
00:35Congress lashes out.
00:41Congress slams Sadhguru as RSS ally Rahul Kritik.
00:50DK Shivaratri invite controversy.
00:53Stop focus on 5 live.
01:00Thanks for being with me here on 5 live.
01:02I'm Shiv Aroor and DK Shivakumar is once again the topic of our lead story today and we'll
01:08tell you why in a moment.
01:09First as always the headlines.
01:13Mahatma concludes Prime Minister Modi writes a blog in praise says not easy to organize
01:19such a massive event.
01:21Chief Minister Yogi takes part in clean Ganga initiative announces big bonus for cleaning
01:26stuff.
01:46Government fact checks Pitroda porn at IIT Ranchi claim.
01:50Pitroda claims porn was played during an IIT seminar.
01:53The government claims Rahul's mentor is peddling false news to malign a reputed institute and
01:58there is no IIT in Ranchi.
02:02Recently I was speaking at the Ranchi IIT and someone hacked in and started showing
02:08all the pornography and we had to turn it off.
02:12Now is that democracy?
02:14Is that fair?
02:17Suspended Aam Aadmi Party MLA's block from entering Delhi assembly complex official site
02:23speakers directive Aatishi versus police showdown over denial of entry.
02:29Pune rape horror shocks India 26 year old raped on a bus accused identified by police
02:37as a history cheater manhunt is on to nab him.
02:44Oscar winning actor Gene Hackman wife Betsy and dog found dead at their home in the United
02:50States despite speculation police say they don't suspect any foul play yet.
02:56Hackman was 95 years old his wife was 64.
03:05He is the second in command in Karnataka and arguably the most visible face in the Karnataka
03:11Congress.
03:12Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is now in the center of a flashpoint and criticism
03:18from within his party after sharing an invitation to a Mahashivratri event hosted by Sadhguru
03:26Jaggi Vasudev in Coimbatore yesterday on the occasion of Mahashivratri.
03:32The visit followed a personal invitation from Sadhguru which DK Shivakumar accepted following
03:38a meeting at his residence.
03:40DK Shivakumar has now praised Sadhguru and spoken about their deep conversation on life
03:46and spirituality.
03:48However this move has not been appreciated by the Congress with certain sections even
03:55saying so in public.
03:59The
04:18long festivities were attended by a host of politicians including Home Minister Amit Shah.
04:25DK Shivakumar took to social media to talk about his Shiva Bhakti.
04:50While the Karnataka Deputy CM declared that Shiva is in his name, he drew the wrath of
04:56his own party member.
04:58All India Congress Committee Secretary PV Mohan accused DK Shivakumar of damaging the
05:04secular core of the Congress party.
05:37It's not just Shivratri celebrations, DK Shivakumar also took the dip at the Mahakumbh
05:43earlier this month where he praised the arrangements.
06:04The Karnataka Deputy CM has even declared Sonia Gandhi a Hindu.
06:34Shivakumar's Mahashivratri and Mahakumbh celebrations have triggered a political war
08:15Congress leadership in Karnataka.
08:17While he has declared that he was born a congressman, he has also maintained that he is a staunch
08:26Hindu at heart.
08:27With Sagar Raj in Bengaluru, Bureau Report, India Today.
08:37So what is DK Shivakumar doing?
08:39Should we be reading too much into his actions?
08:41He went to the Kumbh, he praised the level of organization at a time when his party has
08:47been rebuking and criticizing the Yogi government and the central government for organization
08:52in Prayagraj.
08:53He went for the Mahashivratri function with Sadguru.
08:57Sadguru is a person who has criticized both Rahul Gandhi, the UPA government and the Congress
09:02party stridently.
09:04So is there some message that DK Shivakumar is sending?
09:09Is he rubbing his party the wrong way deliberately or is he just exercising his own individual
09:15sense of religion and attending the Kumbh and the Mahashivratri functions?
09:20Well we all know that in a hyper-polarized environment, no actions can be seen simply
09:27on face value.
09:28Joining me live now, Dr. Sudha Halkai, spokesperson of the Karnataka BJP, Syed Asad Abbas, the
09:33political analyst, he speaks against the BJP on this issue.
09:37Before I go to the politicians and the analysts, I will go to Amitabh Tiwari, the political
09:41commentator.
09:42Amitabh, welcome and welcome to all of you.
09:45First to you Amitabh, you know clearly DK Shivakumar has rubbed the Congress the wrong
09:51way.
09:52Even though there is no, you know, senior level official reprimand over his actions,
09:58it is quite clear that there are misgivings within, you know, at a time when the Congress
10:03party has attempted to paint the Kumbh as a national failure, they don't like Sadguru
10:09very much.
10:10DK Shivakumar has made it a point, you know, to be at both those functions.
10:14How do you read it?
10:16See, I think DK Shivakumar is exercising his personal liberty of choosing to go into events
10:25which concern his religion.
10:26However, it comes at a time when the Congress party has been very critical of the Mahakam
10:32and some of the Congress functionaries have also been critical of Sadguru's closeness
10:37with the RSS.
10:38See, what is happening is that the Congress party is facing severe internal dissident
10:46in the Karnataka unit and it started from the day when the government was formed.
10:51There are clearly Siddharam Iya and DK Shivakumar camps.
10:56And there is a camp of senior party leaders like MB Patil and Parmeshwara who believe
11:02that they had a chance to become deputy chief ministers but were denied because of DK Shivakumar.
11:09So we see DK Shivakumar camp making statements or demands about this rotational chief ministership
11:15now and again.
11:16We saw the Siddharam Iya and the senior ministers camp demanding one man, one post position
11:22targeting DK Shivakumar.
11:24And again, it seems that because as you said, no senior Congress leader or central leadership
11:30has reprimanded DK Shivakumar for this.
11:33But we are seeing again that leaders from the Congress party unit in Karnataka attacking
11:39DK Shivakumar and these all probably belong to the Siddharam Iya camp or the camp of those
11:44senior ministers who are not happy with DK Shivakumar occupying two positions and not
11:50also letting others become the deputy chief minister.
11:54So I think it's all part of this.
11:57So we want to be very clear that Mr. Shivakumar obviously has every right to practice his
12:03prerogative and religious freedom and liberty to attend any function he wants to.
12:08But there is a political context in which they are happening as Amitabh has rightly
12:13illustrated and therefore we're trying to analyze what the flex really means.
12:18Mr. Sudha, not getting into the Congress versus BJP aspect of it, but how are you
12:23reading this?
12:24Because as Amitabh rightly pointed out, the DK Shivakumar versus Siddharam Iya dynamic
12:29has been there since government formation in Karnataka in 2023.
12:34Do you see DK Shivakumar going to these functions, which the Congress sees as problematic even
12:40though it's not saying so officially, do you see this as Mr. Shivakumar indulging in some
12:46kind of power projection, muscle flexing?
12:48What do you see?
12:49Absolutely no.
12:50I see it as him as a common man when 65 crores people have attended, devotees have attended
12:56the Mahakumar, DK Shivakumar is one among them I feel.
12:58We shouldn't make a big hue and cry about it that he has visited Mahakumar and something
13:02big miracle has happened when he has visited over there, one thing.
13:05Second thing is when he has gone to Sadhguru's, yesterday's Mahashivratri's program, he was
13:11an invitee by Sadhguruji and Sadhguruji had invited the governor of Orissa, governor of
13:17Telangana and he is one of the invitees and he has attended that because he told you know
13:22last year his daughter has attended that and she had praised about it and this time he
13:26went and attended.
13:27Anybody I think on earth would like to go and attend Mahashivratri in Sadhguru's program.
13:31That is obvious, Dr. Shukla, I don't mean to interrupt but that is of course clear.
13:36I mean yes he is one among many people who is choosing to visit but he is not just any
13:41aamjanta right, he is also a person who is the deputy chief minister of the Congress
13:46party at a time when the leadership of the Congress party has been attacking the Kumbh,
13:51the Congress ecosystem has been attacking Sadhguru, Sadhguru has been criticizing the
13:55Congress party.
13:56So these gestures have meaning ma'am, it's not just face value.
14:01Definitely, I'll come to the point, I'll come to the point.
14:03See there are two aspects which we have to look into over here okay.
14:06One thing is the Hindu phobia from right from Jawaharlal Nehru who has put the footstep
14:11you know he had asked Rajendra Prasadji not to attend the re-installation of the Somnath
14:14temple.
14:15From there the pedigree has been following this okay.
14:18Second thing is the hypocrisy.
14:20When D.K.
14:21Shivkumar calls the cooker blast people who are associated with the terrorists, he calls
14:26them you know they are my brothers, that time none of the Congress people give any statement
14:30against it.
14:31If they are parties organized they don't give any statement regarding, when there is a Christian
14:36regarding, if they go to church or anything they don't give any comment.
14:39Why only when a Congress leader attends a Hindu religious program there has to be a
14:45hue and cry.
14:45This clearly shows that there was a Hindu phobia and now time and again they are omitting
14:51it, that's it.
14:52And they always have a destructive property in them you know, they don't have a constructive
14:58mind at all.
14:58And there is also one more angle to all of this and Syed I'll bring you in on this,
15:05which is that Rahul Gandhi who is the kind of de facto leader of the Congress party who
15:10is you know been projected as a Janayudari Hindu person who goes to temples, Shiv, Bhakt,
15:16all of those things.
15:17He has very conspicuously stayed away from the Mahakum which is entirely his prerogative.
15:22It's his choice.
15:23I am a firm believer that religion cannot be imposed on anyone.
15:27It's his choice to go there but as a politician who has projected himself as a devout Hindu
15:33etc.
15:34He is also under criticism and pressure even from within the Congress party for not having
15:38gone to the Kumbh and it is in that atmosphere that D.K.
15:42Shivakumar kind of goes.
15:43Usually when you have a situation where the boss which is Rahul Gandhi is under criticism
15:49going to the Kumbh would seem unthinkable and D.K.
15:51Shivakumar has done that.
15:55Shiv, I will answer this to you clearly you know.
15:57Me and Said Applesfell, Newton was the one to ask why.
16:01Now people raise questions on D.K.
16:03Shivakumar and Rahul Gandhi and I will answer you why.
16:06In his recent official statement, D.K.
16:08Shivakumar Sahab or D.K.
16:09Anna as we lovingly call him in Karnataka has stated that he's a proud Hindu.
16:14He's born as a Hindu and he loves his religion.
16:17That does not take away from the fact that yes, Muslims are his brothers and you're a
16:21Hindu.
16:21I'm a Muslim.
16:22Aren't we brothers, Shiv?
16:23The fact of the matter today, the Bharatiya Janata Party is singing praises for D.K.
16:28Shivakumar.
16:29R. Ashok is one leader here in Karnataka who's always shot on the front, taken on the likes
16:35of Congress.
16:36But today he's singing praises.
16:37The fact is the Bharatiya Janata Party alone does not hold the certification of the Hinduism.
16:43I think Hinduism is a beautiful religion.
16:45Be it Congress, Janata Dal or even Bharatiya Janata Party, every single human being on
16:50the land of earth must.
16:51But then why is that?
16:54Sayyed, why is the Congress not comfortable with him going there?
17:08And you know what I mean.
17:09I'm not saying any official statements have been made, but it's not something they endorse
17:13or are comfortable with.
17:15Shiv, on a very honest note, you've raised the right question.
17:17This is the question which Karnataka is asking and as the India Today saying goes,
17:22Nataka in Karnataka has begun.
17:23Yes, sir.
17:24Your questions have set the cat among the pigeons.
17:27But the fact of the matter, I will present to you, sir.
17:29I've also heard a couple of rumours that if Sidhra Mayaji does not vacate his seat for
17:36D.K.
17:36Shivakumar, there is a high possibility of D.K.
17:40Shivakumar Sahib joining the BJP and ascending towards the throne of the chief ministership
17:46with the Vokaliga vote bank.
17:48But these are only rumours and rumours are being speculated.
17:52Sahib, these rumours have been going on for so long.
17:54Come on.
17:56These rumours have been going on since government formation.
17:59Remember the time it took until the chief minister was named.
18:02Absolutely.
18:03And I've totally enjoyed your coverage when you've been here and so on so forth.
18:06Let me get you to the point.
18:08One second, one second.
18:09Sahib, Sahib, Sahib.
18:10Let me, I just want to get Amitabh on that particular nugget and I'll come back to you
18:14for the next point.
18:16Amitabh, you know, you touched upon this that there is a level of muscle flexing that is
18:21going on from D.K.
18:22Shivakumar's side.
18:23Not all of this can be read simply as someone exercising their religious freedom.
18:27Do you think it's more than that?
18:30Syed suggests that there are strong rumours that, you know, something bigger may be at
18:35foot.
18:36We have heard this for a long time though.
18:37Amitabh, what are you hearing?
18:40No, so I would still give the benefit of doubt to D.K.
18:42Shivakumar because we've seen that in the past he has played key role in the Congress
18:47recovery in the state and also contributed a lot, not only in Karnataka, but also in
18:54other states as a dynamic leader.
18:55And he has always made clear that he is a staunch congressman and would die so, remain
19:01so.
19:01Correct.
19:02So I should not, I mean, I don't know if any other thing, if there are some plans which
19:08are going on behind the scenes.
19:10I am not aware of that.
19:11But what I'm saying is that, see, he went to the Kumbh on 9th or 10th of Feb.
19:16So that's two weeks ago.
19:18At that point of time, as you mentioned, there were still deliberations and discussions within
19:23the Congress party that a Gandhi family member should go or do not go to the Kumbh.
19:31So at that point of time, it was not clear that either Rahul or Priyanka would not be
19:36visiting Kumbh, though there were targeting BJP for the arrangements and some could argue
19:43rightly so.
19:44And his visit to the Sadhguru also should not be seen as he flexing muscles, but the
19:53statements of the Congress, because BJP is not, I mean, BJP would not deride those actions.
19:59Correct.
20:00It is the Congress itself which is deriding those actions.
20:03And that is part of the larger infighting within the Congress party for rotational chief
20:08ministership, for one man, one post, and for other senior leaders to become deputy
20:14chief minister whenever the next cabinet expansion takes place.
20:21So you don't see it as muscle flexing, but you do see it in the context of the power
20:26struggle within the government and the Karnataka Congress there.
20:30One second, Syed, I'll just come back to you in a moment.
20:32Dr. Sudha, you know, Amitabh is right.
20:35It's a strange situation now where the Congress is criticizing D.K.
20:40Shivakumar and the BJP appears to be praising him.
20:44Is there more than meets the eye?
20:47No, no, no, no, absolutely not.
20:48The matter of fact is that, you know, if somebody attending the Hindu religious function and
20:53they're being criticized and that doesn't...
20:56To be frank today, I'll tell you, you know, the Congress has lost its senses.
21:00They have lost their sensitivity towards the sentiments of the Hindus.
21:0365 crore people attend the Mahakumbha and you see that, you know, ASIC president says
21:08that if you're going to attend the Mahakumbha, is the poverty going to be declined?
21:11How do they give such anti-sentimental statements, you tell me?
21:16They don't understand.
21:17They're not understanding.
21:18They're not reading the pulse of the people today.
21:20And they're just like that.
21:21They're giving the statements.
21:24Okay, Syed, answer that.
21:27And also the question that I had raised earlier about, you know, this confusion within the
21:32Congress party about Hindu identity.
21:34Rahul Gandhi, you know, he should have gone.
21:36Why didn't he go?
21:37If he projects himself as a Jaleudhari Hindu, etc.
21:41I mean, surely it's his prerogative, but why didn't he do that?
21:44What's your reading of that?
21:46Shiv, my reading will be with this beautiful shairi I'd like to present to you on India today.
21:50Haqiqat chhup nahi sakti chhupane se, mahakumb nahi sakti kaagas ke phoolon se.
21:56The reality will definitely come out, Shiv.
21:59If you personally ask me, Shiv, I definitely think, be it the Congress leaders or the SP
22:04leaders or overall, I think the political parties must go because it is the single largest
22:09gathering of the world.
22:10Like we have in Karbala, Iraq.
22:12This is something very holy.
22:13Now, adding on to the point, Shiv, you're absolutely right.
22:17DK Shiv Kumar abhi BJP ke aankhon ka tara ban gaye hai.
22:20He's now the blue-eyed boy.
22:21They're singing praises and I'm shocked and amazed.
22:24The fact of the matter, let us understand.
22:25In politics, there are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies, sir.
22:29So you never know what the bowl will roll.
22:31But of course, Amitabh ji has made a valid point and I agree these are only rumours or
22:36there could be more than that.
22:37But the fact of the matter is, DK has always said he's a foot soldier of the Congress party.
22:43His life is Congress and he shall devote his life to his Congress till his last breath.
22:48So therefore, definitely an advantage to DK Shiv Kumar continuing to be.
22:53But yes, your question is right.
22:54Jaggi Vasudev has always supported.
22:56But then why are you people creating a U.N. team and he's going to walk over to the Congress
23:00program?
23:00I'll come to you, Dr. Sudha.
23:01I'll come to you, sir, for a closing comment.
23:03Just 10 seconds, ma'am.
23:04The fact of the matter, let us understand.
23:05Jaggi Vasudev, I've watched many of his lectures on YouTube and I can tell you, sir, many a
23:10times he supported the Bharatiya Janta Party, many of the bills, including the CIA and NRC,
23:15and he said he's not even read the draft on a lighter note.
23:19But the fact of the matter is, DK Shiv Kumar going there, maybe, maybe might just ruffle
23:24up the feathers right at the ACC High Command.
23:27He already has.
23:28Dr. Sudha, final comment.
23:29I'm almost out of time.
23:30Yeah.
23:30You're absolutely right, sir.
23:31There are no two ways about it.
23:33And you've said the cat among the pigeons, sir.
23:35And your questions are absolutely pointed.
23:37But to me, if you ask me as a Karnadiga, man in the soil, son of the soil, DK Shiv Kumar
23:42may not just leave the party.
23:43There could be many more chief ministerial posts coming up in the fray for him.
23:47So he will not leave the Congress party.
23:49Dr. Sudha, final word.
23:51Sure.
23:52The thing is, Congress was, is and will always be against Hindu.
23:56They have got a Hindu.
23:57No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
24:27, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
24:44I have to end because I'm out of time.
24:45Dr.
24:46The one thing we can be clear about is that no actions in a hyper-polarized atmosphere of politics is ever going to be seen just by itself or taken at face value.
25:00There is symbolism, there is messaging in everything.
25:03D.K. Shivakumar is a consummate politician who has been caught in a power struggle with his boss, Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, since government formation in 2023.
25:13And therefore, is there something bigger afoot? We don't know.
25:16We don't think D.K. Shivakumar is going to leave the Congress, but clearly some kind of a message is being sent out.
25:22You can call it a mini-rebellion, you can call it cocking a snook at a so-called party whip,
25:29but we'll leave it there and we'll let the public of Karnataka decide what this is really all about.
25:35Moving on now, Congress Overseas Chief Sam Pitroda, that's right, he's back in the news, has landed in yet another controversy.
25:44That's the only time you ever hear about this man, obviously.
25:46The Education Ministry has fact-checked Sam Pitroda on a statement he made about a virtual seminar he attended at IIT Ranchi
25:57being disrupted after students hacked his presentation and started playing pornography.
26:03The Education Ministry has hit out at Pitroda saying there is no IIT in Ranchi to begin with
26:09and called his remarks therefore baseless in an attempt to malign any reputed institution including the IITs.
26:17However, there is an Indian Institute of Information Technology or IIIT in Ranchi
26:23and the government says even they have confirmed that there was no such virtual seminar or physical seminar with Pitroda
26:31and therefore such an action does not arise.
26:34The government is also mulling taking legal action against Sam Pitroda for this latest comment.
26:39The Congress leader in a webcast, he is the head of the Congress abroad on his foreign wing,
26:46in a webcast alleged that someone hacked into his system and played pornography
26:50during his virtual interaction with IIT Ranchi students and there is no IIT Ranchi.
26:58Recently I was speaking at the Ranchi IIT to almost several hundred students
27:11and someone hacked in and started showing all the pornography and we had to turn it off.
27:18Now is that democracy? Is that fair?
27:22So I think institutional independence is at the core of democracy
27:27where people can do normal things without worrying about interference.
27:33Mr. Sam Pitroda seems to have made it a habit of coming up with statements that lead to controversy
27:39and perhaps because he is such a close associate or a key advisor of Mr. Rahul Gandhi,
27:43the whole Congress party jumps in to somehow protect his statements.
27:48Look at the falsehood of the statement.
27:50He says that this function is at IIT Ranchi. There is no IIT Ranchi.
27:56Then it's turned around to be the triple IIT of Ranchi.
27:59The triple IIT says we never called him.
28:01So which function was Mr. Sam Pitroda in?
28:04My objectionable content was put in there. Why blame the BJP?
28:08Why build this false narrative again and again to somehow try to build a political narrative
28:13against the BJP or anybody else associated with the BJP?
28:17And Piyush Mishra is live with me for more on this.
28:20Piyush, it looks like Sam Pitroda is only ever in the news
28:24when he says something that gets him into trouble or embassesses the Congress party.
28:29Is the government actually planning to take legal action against him?
28:33Well, that's what the Ministry of Education's statement says, Shiv,
28:37where the Ministry of Education has not only slammed Sam Pitroda
28:41but has also rejected the allegations.
28:43Those have been leveled by senior Congress leader.
28:45Remember that he is the one who is always the unknown for, you know, reaching controversies.
28:50He has also claimed that his program was disrupted by playing some pornographic content
28:57while he was talking to 700 students there at IIT Ranchi.
29:01But the Ministry of Education has made it very clear that there is no IIT Ranchi.
29:05In fact, yes, there is a triple IIT.
29:07In fact, a triple IIT has also made it very clear that no such event was organized
29:12whenever Sam Pitroda was invited.
29:14After the statement released by the Ministry of Education,
29:17there is no comment which has come in from any Congress leader or from Sam Pitroda himself.
29:22But yes, the Ministry of Education has made it very, very clear
29:25that if such attempts are made in the future,
29:28then yes, legal actions will be taken against the leader.
29:32Okay, Piyush, thanks very much.
29:34We'll leave it there.
29:35We'll get an update on whether Sam Pitroda has something to add,
29:39except that he wants to keep it low for a while now.
29:42Karnataka MLA is tireless warriors of democracy,
29:47toiling away under the oppressive burden of, well,
29:51sitting in a cushy assembly hall like the Vedana Sauda.
29:55But fret not.
29:56Speaker U.T. Kadhar, as you can see,
29:59has a solution so revolutionary, so ahead of its time,
30:03it might just redefine governance itself.
30:06Recliner chairs for post-lunch naps for MLAs of all the parties.
30:12Because nothing screams public service like a power nap
30:16after a hard day's work of not implementing the state's five guarantee schemes.
30:21Let's be fair.
30:22Nobody says MLAs don't need rest.
30:25Some of them are aging.
30:27After all, the mind-numbing monotony of discussing actual governance
30:31must be really, really exhausting.
30:33And sure, at least this might keep them inside the assembly
30:37rather than snoozing at home.
30:39But in a state where people are battling historic droughts and nightmarish traffic,
30:44what message does this send?
30:46We understand your pain, but first, let's catch 40 Winks.
30:50Here's the scene outside the assembly, in case you're not familiar with Karnataka.
30:55Water shortages crippling daily life in many districts,
30:58with farmers staring at barren fields and empty reservoirs.
31:02Traffic so hellish, especially in Bengaluru,
31:05that even the Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, admits
31:08that even God cannot save.
31:10Even divine intervention won't fix it.
31:13My colleague, Sagai Raj, reports from Bengaluru
31:16that the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, promising 2,000 rupees per month
31:20to 1.5 crore women, hasn't paid out for the last three months,
31:23leaving 7,517 crore rupees pending.
31:28The Annabhagya scheme, which guarantees BPL families extra rice or cash compensation,
31:33hasn't disbursed funds for five months.
31:36Yet while lakhs of families struggle to put food on the table,
31:40the ruling party is out there ensuring
31:43MLAs don't struggle to keep their eyelids open in the Vedant Sauda.
31:47Can you believe it?
31:49Chief Minister Siddaramayya's 2024-25 budget paints a bleak picture.
31:54A total budget of 3.71 lakh crore,
31:57but a 1.05 lakh crore rupee loan hanging overhead.
32:01Revenue expenditure at 2.9 lakh crore,
32:04while actual disbursement lags behind.
32:06A gaping 1.41 lakh crore rupee shortfall
32:10between what's allocated and what's spent.
32:13In short, while Karnataka's financial black hole deepens,
32:17the government has ensured one sector is well funded,
32:21or at least the Speaker is ensuring it.
32:23Luxury seating arrangements for MLAs.
32:27It gets worse.
32:28Education department, pending 13,253 crore rupees.
32:33Women and child development, pending 13,558 crore rupees.
32:38Food department, pending 5,786 crore rupees.
32:42But rest assured, the one thing Karnataka won't be short on,
32:46rest. Literally.
32:48While BPL families wait for their rightful aid,
32:51MLAs, and this is not just the Congress, it's all parties,
32:54will be reclining, unwinding, and perhaps even dreaming of a world
32:59where governance is just as effortless as their afternoon siestas
33:03now being guaranteed by the Assembly Speaker.
33:06At this rate, the only real guarantee in Karnataka
33:09is that its leaders will be well rested
33:12while the state runs on fumes.
33:15And let's see what the Karnataka Speaker, U T Kadar, said on this.
33:46We have a few arrangements we have to do.
33:49Now, you can't treat MLAs like enemies.
33:52You should treat MLAs like your parents, your father.
33:55If your father and mother are MLAs of that age,
33:58often if they want some to sit correctly and have a 5-10-15 minute nap,
34:04in your house, won't you make a small arrangement for them?
34:07I don't know why there's so much negative thinking,
34:10why few have negative thinking,
34:12and why you treat MLAs like enemies.
34:15Treat them like your friends, your parents.
34:17How many recliners are you buying?
34:19We are planning 10 and 5.
34:21The ruling side will put 10 and the opposition will put 5.
34:27What is wrong in that?
34:29The budget for that, sir?
34:30When you consider all the expenses, it's very negligible.
34:33If we don't buy, we have to buy some other sofa also.
34:36That is very old.
34:38Sagar Raj is live with me for more on this.
34:42He actually broke that story.
34:43Sagar, I quoted from your report from a couple of days ago
34:48on the various financial difficulties that the Karnataka government is facing.
34:53And it is at that time that this whole recliner story has come about.
34:57And to be very clear, I think MLAs deserve rest
35:02in order to be good administrators, etc.
35:07But this is something that sends out perhaps a wrong message.
35:11It's perceptionally quite bad.
35:17Absolutely, because they are also working just like us.
35:21And we don't get that kind of luxury or a facility like how these MLAs get.
35:25Because they are paid for it, they are public servants.
35:28Why this extra luxury facility that you need to give to perform your own duty
35:33is a question raised by the public.
35:35Because they have to go to work.
35:37They don't get a recliner at office.
35:39But why do you need to have an office?
35:41Because this is your primary duty.
35:42And you are elected for this to come to assembly
35:45and debate and discuss about the public issues inside Vidhan Sauda.
35:50Why do you need to take a nap?
35:51You are not allowed to take a nap inside a corporate office or any other office
35:55if you are working.
35:56Even government offices inside Vidhan Sauda, you are not allowed to take a nap.
35:58Why?
35:59That kind of a leisure that you are trying to give to the MLAs.
36:02The speaker has justified stating that there are MLAs who are above 50 to 60 years.
36:07Out of 228 MLAs, they are only keeping around 15 recliners.
36:11And even those recliners are hired.
36:13And that will be there only for 5 to 10 days of assembly session which happens in Vidhan Sauda.
36:20And after that, it will be taken back.
36:21Again, it will come back in the next assembly session.
36:24And he has also justified stating that from last 5 years, they have not upgraded the sofa.
36:29It is there from a long time.
36:30And it is a protocol.
36:31Instead of buying that, they are going to hire the recliners.
36:34And this is not going to be a major burden on the people.
36:37It's not the matter of money.
36:40It is the matter of the priorities which has gone wrong for the Karnataka government.
36:44And it's the message.
36:45It's the symbolism of the alacrity with which such decisions take place
36:51when all other things just wait for years and years
36:54at a time when Karnataka is facing a financial crisis.
36:57We leave it there.
36:58Thanks very much, Sagai, for getting us that story from Bengaluru.
37:03Meanwhile, a grand and spectacular culmination of the world's biggest spiritual gathering,
37:08the Maha Kumbh.
37:10Prime Minister Narendra Modi penned an emotional note on the success of the event
37:16while UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath heaped praise on Prayagraj,
37:21swachh warriors and devotees who made the Kumbh unlike anything the world has seen before.
37:27Take a look.
37:58brought immense energy to devotees.
38:01Modi hailed the world's largest spiritual gathering as a case study for planning and policy experts.
38:08Claiming the Kumbh bears no comparison to any other gathering in the entire world,
38:13the Prime Minister said the massive gathering laid a foundation for centuries to come
38:18and added that India is moving forward to a new future with new energy.
38:23Hailing the Kumbh of unity's success,
38:26the Prime Minister also sought forgiveness for any shortcomings at the Kumbh.
38:30And finally, the Prime Minister lauded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
38:35for his role in the success and thanked all service and support staff for their devoted contribution.
38:42Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath too held a thanksgiving for the Kumbh's success,
38:47reviewing cleanliness at the Ghats,
38:51and lunching with the swachh warriors.
38:54The government has decided that we will give a bonus of 10,000 rupees to all the swachh warriors
39:04associated with the Prayagraha Mahakumbh.
39:12This is why they have done this.
39:17He also performed the Ganga Aarti.
39:21Yogi was all praise for all who aided in the Kumbh's smooth functioning.
39:52Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also ripped into the opposition,
39:58claiming they were spreading lies on the Kumbh.
40:21Over 65 crore devotees flocked to Prayagraj for the special dip of faith,
40:35marking a spectacular end to this year's one of a kind Kumbh.
40:40Bureau report, India Today.
40:43A shocking rape in Maharashtra's Pune,
40:47where the horrific assault of a 26-year-old woman inside a state bus on Tuesday
40:54has triggered a huge political slugfest with the opposition up in arms against the state government.
41:00The survivor was raped at Pune's busiest Swargate bus depot.
41:04She was waiting for her bus when the accused got into the bus,
41:10was on a different platform, followed her inside and then raped her.
41:14The accused Datta Gade is on the run and has been for 24 hours now.
41:19That's a picture of him on your screen.
41:21A one lakh rupee bounty has been placed on him.
41:24The police have launched 13 teams to hunt for the accused, a history cheater.
41:29The National Commission for Women has taken suo moto cognizance of the crime
41:32and the opposition from the Uddhav Sena to the NCP Sharad Pawar faction
41:37have been protesting, claiming law and order is failing in Maharashtra.
41:41Deputy Chief Minister Shinde condemned the rape and the accused will be nabbed, he said at the earliest.
41:46He also vowed to give the harshest punishment to the rapist.
41:54Yes, yes, yes.
41:55Because it's a crime spot, that's why the bus is being taken for forensic investigation.
42:03A cash award of one lakh has also been declared for whoever nabs the accused.
42:07The incident that took place in Pune is very unfortunate.
42:10It's a condemnation.
42:11And because of this, I myself spoke to the Police Commissioner.
42:15Our Chief Minister is continuously paying attention to this.
42:19And he has also given the order to the Police Commissioner.
42:22Minister Ajit Dada is also following up on this.
42:25And he will be nabbed as soon as possible.
42:28A harsh investigation will be carried out on him.
42:30We have also given 50% compensation to our beloved sisters for this crime.
42:35And if a criminal commits such a crime,
42:42then he will not be spared.
42:47A harsh investigation will be carried out on him.
42:49He should be given a death sentence.
42:51Such criminals belong to such a government.
42:54In this way, rape takes place with women and children.
42:58So, I feel that the government is responsible for all these incidents.
43:04Such incidents are equivalent to the fact that
43:07if someone is close to power, he should be allowed to take action.
43:13He should be given time to take action.
43:16In this way, the law is being violated in Maharashtra.
43:20The people of Maharashtra are losing faith in the police department.
43:25So, there is a need to increase this.
43:27I expect that the police department will pay attention to this.
43:57So, now 13 crime branch teams are trying to hunt him down.
44:10Sniffer dogs are there.
44:12And since the morning, as per information by the top cops,
44:17since the morning, they are using a drone imaging system
44:21in rural parts and outskirts of Pune.
44:23Because the hometown belongs to the rural part of Pune.
44:26And that is why his relatives and eyewitnesses
44:29are all being cross-verified by the crime branch.
44:32But yes, the hunt is still on.
44:34Police are trying to reach him, but they are not able to locate his location.
44:38So, investigation is still underway.
44:4013 teams are there.
44:42Some eyewitnesses are also being cross-verified.
44:44But the process is still going on.
44:47Okay, Omkar. Thanks very much. Keep tracking that story.
44:50We will come back to you for an update.
44:52Dattatreya Gade is still out there.
44:54He hasn't been arrested just yet.
44:56Meanwhile, a woman from Maharashtra's Satara district
44:59is currently battling for her life in a U.S. hospital.
45:03Neelam Shinde's family has been facing difficulties
45:06in acquiring an urgent visa to the United States
45:09to attend to her and bring her back.
45:12She is all alone fighting for her life after an accident.
45:15Her family has also written to the Center for Medical Aid and Visa Assistance.
45:19In a major India Today impact,
45:21the External Affairs Ministry has now spoken to the U.S. Embassy.
45:24Take a look.
45:26Neelam Shinde, an Indian student,
45:29is battling for her life in California
45:31after suffering critical injuries in a road accident.
45:35She sustained serious injuries to her head, hands, legs and chest
45:40and had to undergo immediate surgery due to a head injury.
45:44Neelam is currently in coma
45:46and a family from Maharashtra's Satara district
45:49is struggling to get visa to visit her.
46:14Neelam's family has sought the Government of India's help in getting visa.
46:18Even as India Today highlighted the family's plight,
46:21the MEA stepped in.
46:48According to reports, the accident that left Neelam injured occurred on February 14th.
47:00One person has been arrested in the case.
47:03Bureau report, India Today.
47:10Two-time Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman
47:13and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa
47:16were found dead in their Santa Fe, New Mexico home
47:20along with their pet dog.
47:22The cause of death has not been confirmed
47:24but local police have said they don't believe it was foul play.
47:29Gene Hackman was 97 years old when he took his last breath
47:32while his wife was 63.
47:34The police are yet to announce the cause of their death.
47:37It's still under investigation.
47:39Apart from winning an Academy Award twice in his celebrated career,
47:43Gene Hackman has also won four Golden Globes and two BAFTA Awards.
48:13...provide any details of how they died.
48:16His wife was just 64 years old.
48:43Given the fact that Gene Hackman is one of those large,
48:46you know, last standing pillars of acting, as we say in Hollywood.
48:50He's a legend.
48:51And all of the current generation of actors look up to him,
48:54revere his body of work in Unforgiven and other films.
48:58So, this is a huge, huge loss for the industry
49:01and it comes on the heels of Oscar Awards, which is happening on Sunday.
49:05So, currently, everybody in Hollywood and in the US
49:08is talking about Gene Hackman and his death.
49:10Incredible, incredible loss to the industry.
49:13And I hope we get some answers as to how this happened.
49:16Obviously, there's going to be a big tribute to Gene Hackman at the Oscars.
49:20Tushar, thanks very much for getting us those details.
49:22We'll be keeping a close eye on this big loss
49:25for the entertainment industry and Hollywood.
49:28It's a wrap on Five Live. Thanks for watching.