‘Defections a conspiracy’

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi

July 6: Karnataka PCC president M. Mallikarjuna Kharge on Sunday lashed out at the BJP government in Karnataka for targeting Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs.

Mr Kharge, who arrived in the city at the head of a high-level party delegation to meet the Prime Minister, told this correspondent, "It is a conspiracy of the BJP to destroy the democratic system. The party is seeking to destroy other political parties by inducing defections." Mr Kharge said that the BJP was seeking to lure MLAs by offering power and financial benefit. "This is a bad sign for democracy. After all, the BJP government has not even completed one month in office. Such a situation has risen when the B.S. Yeddyurappa government has not even faced the Assembly and is even yet to present the state Budget," he said. KPCC president M. Mallikarjuna Kharge later called on AICC general se-cretary Prithviraj Chavan.

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Karnataka delegation meets PM

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi

July 6: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has directed Union fertilisers minister Ram Vilas Paswan to ensure the supply of fertilisers to Karnataka. The PM also asked Mr Paswan to ensure that there was no shortage of fertilisers and to personally monitor the situation. This was conveyed by Dr Singh to Karnataka PCC president M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, who led a Congress delegation here. Later, the Congress delegation also called on Union home minister Shivraj Patil seeking amendment to Article 371 of the Constitution for special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka.