I proposed Rahul Gandhi’s name for Lead of Opposition: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU: Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday patted himself on the back, claiming it was he who had proposed Rahul Gandhi’s name as opposition leader in the Lok Sabha at a recent Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. Siddaramaiah said Rahul has shouldered the responsibility “in the larger interest of the nation”.
“At the working committee meeting in Delhi, I insisted Rahul is the appropriate choice to confront BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Siddaramaiah said.
But DK Shivakumar, deputy chief minister and state Congress president said it was the “wish of people and the demand of party workers” that Rahul accept the responsibility. “I’d also like to congratulate Sonia Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge for taking the bold decision and for insisting that Rahul accept this responsibility,” he said.
‘Hotels can’t hike prices’
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah reiterated that the govt has not raised the price of Nandini milk and that the state is only trying to exhaust a glut in supply through smart marketing.
“The quantity of milk in every packet has increased by 50ml and the price has gone up proportionately,” Siddaramaiah said. “Milk production last year was 90 lakh litres while now it is more than 99 lakh litres per day. We must purchase milk from farmers, and it must be exhausted. It cannot be disposed of just like that. We are merely marketing additional milk that has been produced. The rate has been fixed accordingly.”
When told that hotel owners were considering increasing prices of coffee and tea, Siddaramaiah said, “How can they increase prices if the cost of milk remains the same? Buyers are getting more milk for the extra money they pay. We are only helping farmers dispose of their produce.”