Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Jun 27: State Congress incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala held a virtual meeting on Saturday, June 26 in order to pacify the different factions inside the Congress party of Karnataka. However, Surjewala did not stay long - he exited in just 15 minutes without resolving any differences. The meeting was continued by KPCC president D K Shivakumar.
Many out of the 315 Congress leaders spoke during the meeting. Former speaker K B Koliwada said that this was not the time to fight. With folded hands, Koliwada requested D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah to put off their differences and face the elections unitedly.
Former minister Motamma also supported suggestion of Koliwada. Motamma said that the fight between senior leaders of the state was embarrassing. Both must work unitedly and bring the party back to power in the state, she said. However, Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar did not reply to the appeals of Koliwada and Motamma and maintained silence.
Most of the people including Siddaramaiah, D K Shivakumar and Kagodu Thimmappa mentioned Covid issue in the meeting. They said that Karnataka has been in dire straits due to Covid pandemic. "BJP government has completely failed in handling the Covid situation. It declared lockdown without announcing compensation. We urged them to provide compensation and then announce lockdown.
"The BJP government announced relief package, but the same has not reached the intended beneficiaries. This has to be conveyed to the people. Compensation of only Rs 1 lac has been declared for kin of those who died due to Covid. How they can give compensation to only one person in a family? Kin of all those who have died should get compensation. Rs five lac should be given in compensation to the family of each person who has died because of Covid. Campaign should be held in July to know the issues of the public. We have to hear the people by visiting their houses,” they said.
The virtual meeting which was thought to be a high voltage one considering the differences between senior Congress leaders of the state, turned out to be damp one without any meaningful outcome.