Women will get representation in K’taka Cabinet, others need not worry: CM Shivakumar

Bengaluru, Aug 8 (IANS) Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday assured that women would be given representation in the Karnataka Cabinet, amid growing demands within the Congress for the inclusion of women ministers in the recently-expanded Cabinet.

“Our Cabinet will certainly have a woman minister. We will give more strength to women,” CM Shivakumar said.

The Chief Minister was speaking to reporters after paying floral tributes to the statue of former Karnataka Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa at the Vidhana Soudha premises on the occasion of his death anniversary.

Responding to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju’s, criticism over the absence of women in the Karnataka Cabinet, Shivakumar said the Congress had played a key role in introducing and passing the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament.

“The Congress was responsible for framing the Bill and getting it passed in the Lok Sabha. During the Lok Sabha elections, we had given more seats to women in Karnataka. The issue of Cabinet expansion will be resolved shortly. Rijiju need not worry about the Congress. He should think about his own party and government,” Shivakumar said.

Asked whether he would be travelling to New Delhi, Shivakumar said, “I have to go, don’t I? We will inform you before we leave.”

Paying tribute to S. Nijalingappa, Shivakumar described the former Chief Minister as a distinguished leader who brought honour to Karnataka and played a significant role in the state’s political and administrative history.

“We are remembering and paying our respects to former Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa on his death anniversary. I had discussions with Nijalingappa several times. S.M. Krishna and I visited him on several occasions. Sonia Gandhi had also travelled to Chitradurga to meet him,” Shivakumar recalled.

He said Nijalingappa played an important role in the movement for the unification of Karnataka and was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals.

“Nijalingappa was a distinguished leader who brought honour to Karnataka. He played a major role in the movement for Karnataka’s unification and adopted Mahatma Gandhi’s principles. He was one of the leaders from Karnataka who served as president of the Congress party. After him, Mallikarjun Kharge has become the Congress President,” Shivakumar said.

The Chief Minister also highlighted Nijalingappa’s role in raising the voice of Karnataka and Kannada interests at the national level.

Shivakumar said simplicity was one of Nijalingappa’s defining qualities and recalled his contribution to the state’s development, particularly in irrigation.

“His simplicity was his greatest asset. The government led by Siddaramaiah took steps to bring his property under government custody so that it would not go into the hands of others. Nijalingappa reflected secular values and the ideals of Basavanna through his administration,” he said.

Shivakumar said Nijalingappa’s contribution to the Congress and the country’s political history was well-documented, recalling his role during the 1924 Belagavi Congress session.

He also credited Nijalingappa with playing an important role in advancing irrigation projects, including the Bhadra and Upper Krishna projects.

“He provided important leadership for irrigation projects such as the Bhadra and Upper Krishna projects. His family should be supported and taken care of. Even though Nijalingappa served as Chief Minister, his daughter worked as a lecturer at the college where I studied. He led a simple life. His guidance and values will always remain important to us,” CM Shivakumar said.

–IANS

mka/rad