Congress boycotts Karnataka assembly, seeks speaker's resignation

Bangalore, June 3 : The Congress Friday stayed away from the Karnataka assembly and decided not to attend the remaining eight days of the session, demanding Speaker K.G. Bopaiah's resignation following the Supreme Court's "strictures" against him over the disqualification of 16 legislators.The Congress had walked out of the assembly Thursday, the first day of the 10-day session, protesting Bopaiah's decision to disallow an immediate discussion on the Supreme Court's comments on his action to disqualify the 16 members - 11 of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and five Independents - last October."We will stay away from the session for the remaining period also as the speaker has no right to continue in office after the Supreme Court's observations," Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah told reporters here.The Supreme Court, restoring the membership of the 16 legislators on May 13, had said the speaker's action of disqualification was against the principles of natural justice.The other opposition party, Janata Dal-Secular, has also boycotted the session, seeking Bopaiah's resignation.Siddaramiah said the boycott decision was only for this session.Bopaiah has ruled out resigning, saying the Supreme Court has not passed any "strictures" against him but only commented on his decision to disqualify the 16 legislators.
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Muslims take out funeral procession to Nashik civic body's office

Nashik, Jun 3: In yet another unusal protest, the members of the Muslim community took out a funeral procession to the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) office here today, demanding the 'Qabristan (Graveyard) in the new Nashik (Cidco) area.A retired person who was working in NMC died today. The Cidco Masjid Trust had earlier warned the civic administration that if it did not solve the problem of funeral ground for Muslim community, they would take out a funeral procession to the municipal corporation and bury the body in its premises.The police rushed to the spot and assured the protestors that the problem of burial ground would be solved shortly. Thereafter, the Muslim people took back the body from NMC office.Police has made heavy bandobast near the civic office.The issue of burial ground has been pending till date because the Nashik district collector has been given the additional charge of municipal commissioner following the transfer of Bhaskar Sanap.Today's was the second such incident. Earlier on May 21, the members of Muslim community had taken the body of a woman for her funeral procession to the NMC office.
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SW Monsoon further advances in Rayalaseema, Coastal AP

Hyderabad, Jun 3 : Southwest Monsoon has further advanced over some more parts of Rayalaseema and parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh today.Conditions are favourable for further advance ment of Southwest Monsoon over remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh during the next two to three days.Under its influence, moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers may occur at many places over Rayalaseema over the next 48 hours.Light to moderate rain or thundershowers may occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the same period.Outlook for subsequent two days was that there would be no large change, the Met Office said here today.The sky would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood and rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of city over the next two days.The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 37 and 24 Degrees Celsius respectively.
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TDP to submit fresh notice for no-trust motion

Hyderabad, June 3 : The main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh will Saturday give a fresh notice for no-confidence motion against the state Congress government as the one submitted Friday has become infructuous.As the state assembly is meeting Saturday to elect the speaker and deputy speaker, the TDP decided to meet protem speaker J.C. Diwakar Reddy to give a fresh notice before the sitting.The opposition party also decided to field its candidates for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker.TDP chief N. Naidu told reporters that there was no question of going back on the decision to move a no-confidence motion against the government for failing to address the problems of people, especially farmers.Since the assembly is meeting for one day to elect the speaker and deputy speaker, the TDP may have to wait for its no-trust motion.Naidu said the debate on the motion has to take place within 10 days from the date of submitting the notice.The TDP, which has 88 legislators in the 294-member assembly, Friday submitted notice for the no-confidence motion to the legislature secretary as Deputy Speaker N. Manohar was not available. However, according to the assembly rules, the notice has to be submitted before commencement of the sitting for that day.The former chief minister said the TDP was sincere in moving the motion without banking on the support of any party.Meanwhile, the TDP has also decided to field its legislators K.E. Krishna Murthy and Suddala Devaiah for the posts of speaker and deputy speaker respectively. The move is being seen as an attempt to test the waters ahead of the no-trust motion.Deputy Speaker N. Manohar appears set to become speaker as the ruling Congress has 155 legislators and it also enjoys support of the Praja Rajyam Party and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, who have 18 and seven legislators respectively.The post of speaker has been vacant since November last year when N. Kiran Kumar Reddy became the chief minister.Government chief whip Mallu Batti Vikaramarka is the ruling party's candidate for the post of deputy   speaker. According to political observers, the TDP plans to assess the support enjoyed by YSR Congress party among Congress legislators as its leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, or Jagan as he is popularly called, had once claimed that the government was at his mercy Though only 10 legislators are being seen with Jagan, some leaders of the party have claimed that they have the strength to pull down the government.
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