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Bengaluru : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday wrote to his Maharashtra counterpart Eknath Shinde asking him to release water from Warna/Koyna reservoir to Krishna river and from Ujjani reservoir to Bhima river for drinking water needs in his state. “The north Karnataka districts of Belagavi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Kalaburgi, Yadgir and Raichur are facing acute shortage of drinking water due to severe summer since March 2023. The earlier request of Government of Karnataka during this summer season, for release of 3 TMC of water from Warna/Koyna reservoir to Krishna river and 3 TMC of water from Ujjani Reservoir to Bhima River to meet the drinking water needs of human beings and livestock has been considered by the Government of Maharashtra and 1 TMC of water has been released to Krishna river in the first fortnight of May 2023. I hereby convey my sincere thanks to the Government of Maharashtra,” he said in the letter. Also Read Karnataka HC stays FIR against BJP ML

Bengaluru : As Karnataka awaits implementation of five guarantee schemes and opposition expresses doubts, the new Congress government has given good news for the government employees by increasing their Dearness Allowances. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah declared on Tuesday that the Dearness Allowance of employees of the state government has been increased from 31 per cent to 35 per cent. The state government has released an order in this regard and it will come into effect from January 1, 2023. “Government is pleased to enhance the rates of Dearness Allowance payable to the state government employees in the 2018 Revised Pay Scales from the existing 31 per cent to 35 per cent of Basic Pay with effect from Jan 1, 2023,” the order stated. Also Read Karnataka HC stays FIR against BJP MLA for remarks against Siddaramaiah The government also enhanced the rates of Dearness Allowance from the existing 31 per cent to 35 per cent of the Basic Pension/Family Pension with effect from Januar

Bengaluru : The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday stayed the FIR against former Deputy Chief Minister and Malleshwaram BJP MLA Dr C N Ashwath Narayan for four weeks. Narayan had approached the High Court seeking a direction to quash the FIR lodged against him for his remarks against the then Leader of Opposition and current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Justice M Nagaprasanna who heard the petition and arguments by senior advocate Prabhuling Navadgi said that prima facie the offence under Section 153 of the IPC (provocation for rioting) was not forthcoming. Also Read BJP MLA seeks quashing of FIR for ‘finish off’ Siddaramaiah remark In a meeting of BJP workers on February 15, Narayan had called upon the party supporters to “finish off Siddaramaiah just like Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda finished off Tipu Sultan”. The complaint against Narayan was lodged by one M Lakshmana in the Devaraja Police Station, Mysuru. Navadgi, the Advocate General in the previous government, argued Nara

Bengaluru: There is no question of compromising on the issue of protecting the harmony and secular heritage of Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Monday, asserting that hate politics will not be tolerated and the environment of fear will be eradicated. He gave these assurance in a meeting held with more than 40 writers and heads of various organisations at his home office ‘Krishna’. Also Read BJP MLA seeks quashing of FIR for ‘finish off’ Siddaramaiah remark Siddaramaiah congratulated the writers for taking a firm stand against the BJP, which is putting the country at risk and destroying its pluralism, and volunteering to warn the people in this regard during the recent Assembly elections. He assured that the act of polluting children’s minds through texts and lessons cannot be condoned. “As the academic year has started, we will discuss and take action so that the education of the children is not disturbed,” he said. False cases against Kannada fighters, farmers

Bengaluru : BJP MLA and former minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan has approached the Karnataka High Court seeking quashing of an FIR lodged against him over his “finish off” statement against now Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during campaigning for the recent state Assembly election. Senior counsel Lakshmi Iyyangar on Monday pleaded before a bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna for taking up the matter. “The development took place months ago. A complaint has been given after the change of the government in the state and an FIR has been lodged,” he argued. The bench said that the matter would be taken up on Tuesday. The petition claimed that the complaint is against the Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution and filed illegally. “The case has been lodged alleging criminal threat, causing riot and willful provocation without proof. No peace has been disturbed after the statement by the petitioner and it is not clear who will be affected by the statement and the complaint against him is

New Delhi:  Out of 1,001 analysed candidates in the recent Karnataka polls, 345 (34 per cent) candidates belonging to eight parties, including the BJP, the Congress, the AAP, and the JD-S, have declared criminal cases against themselves, a Karnataka Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report said. “Out of 1,001 contesting candidates analysed belonging to eight political parties, 220 (22 per cent) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves. Also Read ‘What’s need of new Parliament if it can’t give justice to wrestlers’, asks Siddaramaiah “Out of 345 candidates with criminal cases, reasons have been furnished for 287 (83 per cent) candidates. Out of 220 candidates with serious criminal cases, reasons have been furnished for 191 (87 per cent) candidates and for 58 (17 per cent) candidates with criminal background, no reasons for their selection have been provided by political parties,” the report said. According to the report, Manikanta Rathod

Bengaluru: Y.S. Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Reddy and YSR Telangana Party President, called on Karnataka Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at his residence in Bengaluru on Monday. #WATCH | YS Sharmila, president of YSR Telangana Party met Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar in Bengaluru. (Video: Office of DK Shivakumar) pic.twitter.com/JaNcfGnMu6 — ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2023 According to Shivakumar’s office, it was just a cordial meeting between the two leaders and did not divulge any details. Shivakumar is a close family friend of Sharmila Reddy since the days of late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Rajasekhara Reddy. Also Read KCR is ‘President of Taliban’, says Sharmila Sources said that Sharmila Reddy is keen on forging an alliance with the Congress party in Telangana state and she had spoken to Shivakumar in this regard. Congress is also looking forward to unite anti-Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) votes ahe

Bengaluru : Criticising the Narendra Modi-led Central government over the way it handled the wrestlers’ protest, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday wondered “what’s the need for the new Parliament building if it can’t give justice to the wrestlers who are protesting”. “It is unfortunate to know that a few wrestlers have been detained for demanding justice,” tweeted the Chief Minister after Delhi Police on Sunday detained the protesting wrestlers who were trying to march towards the new Parliament when it was being inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “We as humans and Indians should stand with them and voice their concerns. They have made Indians proud by winning medals for us and we should make them feel proud to be Indians,” Siddaramaiah said. Also Read ‘Shameful state of democracy!’: Opposition over manhandling of wrestlers The wrestlers who started the march from the site of the protest at Jantar Mantar were stopped by the police from proceeding toward

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has formed a full-fledged government, has fixed targets for all his Cabinet colleagues, saying they should all strive to win at least 20 of the total 28 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The Chief Minister on Saturday filled all 34 seats in his Cabinet by inducting 24 new ministers. Noting that the Lok Sabha elections are coming in a year, Siddaramaiah said, “We should win at least 20 Lok Sabha constituencies as a gift to party national president Mallikarjun Kharge and seniors Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.” The chief Minister has instructed the ministers to carry out their responsibilities by keeping this goal in mind and with commitment, honesty and agility, a statement from the chief minister’s office said. “We should strive sincerely to ensure that the guarantees assured by us reach the people. The mistakes of the past should not be repeated this time,” he was quoted as saying in the statement. Siddaramai

Chamarajanagara:  Senior Congress leader C Puttarangashetty, whose name has been cleared by the party for the position of Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly, on Sunday refused to accept the post. The MLA, who is a strong Ministerial aspirant, said he decided not to accept the post following the views expressed by his supporters and voters. “I won’t accept the Deputy Speaker post, my supporters and voters have asked me not to accept it, stating that I may not be accessible for them. So they don’t want me to accept it, so I will not accept it,” Puttarangashetty told reporters here. Noting that he represents the Uppara community and was aspiring to be a Minister, he said, if he accepts the responsibility of the Deputy Speaker, he cannot be amidst his people and it will be difficult for him to function. “I have conveyed this to Siddaramaiah (Chief Minister) too, but he insisted that I should accept it, but I had told him that I will ask my people and decide…..it will be difficul

Bengaluru : While joy swept Raj Bhavan as 24 ministers were sworn in on Saturday, the discontent among many senior legislators who were denied a ministerial position in the 34-member Cabinet of the Siddaramaiah government erupted in the form of protests outside. Dejected supporters of the legislators who could not make it to the Cabinet raised slogans outside the Governor’s residence where the ministers took oath. Apart from Bengaluru, protests were held in Sira in Tumakuru, Mysuru, Haveri, Kodagu and various other places as well, with many disgruntled legislators and their supporters voicing their discontent. In Bengaluru, supporters of Vijayanagar MLA M Krishnappa gathered near Raj Bhavan and shouted slogans. They said the four-time MLA deserved the cabinet berth more than anyone else. Similarly, the supporters of T B Jayachandra staged a demonstration outside Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s house alleging that a “grave injustice” has been meted out to the Kunchitiga community as

Kathmandu:  A Bengaluru-bound Nepal Airlines aircraft was forced to return to the Tribhuvan International Airport here on Saturday after it reportedly suffered a bird hit. The plane landed safely at the Tribhuvan International Airport and technicians were examining the aircraft, according to Spokesperson at TIA Teknath Sitaula. Also Read Delhi-Dubai flight delayed due to bad weather Passengers on flight RA-225 bound for Bengaluru reported hearing a loud noise, the Himalayan Times newspaper quoted TIA sources as saying. The flight took off from TIA at 1:45 pm, before being forced to return to the same airport after the incident. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bengaluru: After creating a furore with its proposal to ban the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) once it assumes power in Karnataka, the newly-elected Congress government on Saturday delivered a major a U-turn with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah denying any such claim by his party. While speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah asserted that strict action will be taken against any organisation that disturbs peace and harmony in society. He clarified that the party had not spoken about banning RSS. Notably, statements in this regard by cabinet minister Priyank Kharge had stirred a controversy in the state. Kharge had said that his party is ready to impose a ban on Bajrang Dal. He had also stated earlier that “We will not hesitate to ban organisations which indulge in moral policing. It might be RSS or Bajrang Dal or any other communal organisation.” Also Read ‘Will ban Bajrang Dal, RSS if…’: Karnataka min Priyank Kharge “We will change the laws brought by the BJP government. If any

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Cabinet was expanded on Saturday with new ministers taking the oath of office. Among those who were sworn in by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot were N. Rajanna, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Sharanabasappa Darshanapur, Shivanand Patil, HK Patil, Krishna Byregowda, N Chaluvarayaswamy, K Venkateshtake, Dr HC Mahadevappa, and Eshwar Khandre. The Congress party on Friday released a list of 24 legislators who were to be sworn in as ministers in the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led government on Saturday. With this, the Cabinet will reach its full strength of 34. The new ministers took oath in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar. Meanwhile, the supporters of Karnataka Congress leader Rudrappa Lamani’s staged a protest outside the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office demanding a ministerial post for the leader. Siddaramaiah took oath as the Chief Minister on May 2, along with DK Shivakumar who took oath as his deputy along wit

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Traffic police have diverted traffic between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. around the Raj Bhavan area in Bengaluru, given the swearing in ceremony of 24 Cabinet Ministers on Saturday. The traffic police have asked the public to cooperate with the police by taking note of diversions. The traffic between K.R. Circle to Gopala Gowda Circle would be stopped till 2 p.m. The public can use the Nrupatunga Road or from the roads which pass through Cubbon Park. The vehicles using the Balekundri Junction are diverted. The plying of vehicles towards the Coffee Board and Thimmaiah Circle is also prohibited. The plying of vehicles from Thimmaiah Circle towards Basaveshwara Junction is not allowed. The routes of buses which pass through Shivajinagar bus terminal towards Queens’ Circle and Siddalingaiah Junction have been changed. The movement of all kinds of buses, goods vehicles towards the Raj Bhavan and the Coffee Board are prohibited. The parking of vehicles in the surrounding

Bengaluru: Reacting to the ban proposal on RSS and Bajrang Dal, senior BJP leader and former Karnataka minister R. Ashoka has challenged the newly-formed Congress government in the state, saying “if the party bans even one branch of RSS, it would be nowhere in the state”. Speaking to reporters here, Ashoka, reacting to Karnataka cabinet minister Priyank Kharge’s remarks, said: “Your father was unable to ban RSS. It was not done by your grandmother. Even your great grandfather could not do anything. What can you do now?” Also Read ‘Will ban Bajrang Dal, RSS if…’: Karnataka min Priyank Kharge Ashoka said that the Congress had once a majority in the Parliament. “There were 15-20 state governments in the country. The current condition of Congress is pathetic in the country. If you have guts, ban the RSS. Your government won’t last long… for even three months,” he said. “Lakhs of branches of RSS are operating. Show us by imposing a ban on one of the branches,” Ashoka challenged,

Bengaluru: The Congress government in Karnataka completed the process of cabinet expansion, finalising the names for 24 cabinet berths on Friday. However, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who jumped ship to join Congress from the BJP and helped to tilt Lingayat vote bank, have missed cabinet berths, sources said. Also Read Siddaramaiah cabinet expansion on Saturday, says Surjewala As per sources, senior Congress leader from Gadag district H.K. Patil from Namdhari Reddy community, Krishna Byre Gowda representing Hebbal seat in Bengalurum, N. Cheluvarayaswamy from Mandya district, K. Venkatesh from Mysuru district, and M.C. Sudhakar from Chikkaballapura district, all hailing from Vokkaliga community, have been accommodated. Senior Congress leader Eshwar Khandre from Bidar, Sharanabasappa Darshanapur from Yadgir, Shivanand Patil from Vijayapura, S.S. Mallikarjun from Davanagere, and Laxmi Hebbalkar from Belagavi, all from Lingayat c

Bengaluru: A Hindu man on Thursday was thrashed in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur by a group of Muslim men after he was spotted having snacks at a food outlet with a Muslim woman who was also attacked and threatened “for visiting the eatery with a Hindu man”, the police said. Police said the man and the woman visited ‘Gopika Chaats’ in Chikkaballapur. The woman was clad in burka and hijab. The accused noticed them and learnt that the man accompanying her was Hindu. Also Read Reversing laws speaks of arrogance: Bommai on Karnataka Minister’s remarks They then called the Hindu man and attacked him. The Muslim woman came to his rescue, and told the attackers that she knew him “very well”, and questioned their behaviour. However, the Muslim men told her that “it was wrong on her part to visit the hotel with a Hindu man, and she should apologise for her mistake”. The police have got the video of the incident, and launched a hunt to nab the accused persons. Get the latest updates i

Bengaluru: Calling the new Siddaramaiah-led Congress administration in the state a “reverse gear government”, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said statements about changing the previous BJP government’s legislations “arbitrarily” after coming to power are talks of “arrogance”. He was reacting to Minister Priyank Kharge’s statement that the orders and legislations enforced under the previous BJP regime like school textbook revision and anti-conversion and anti-cow slaughter laws, which are against the state’s interest, would be revised or withdrawn by the new Congress government, after reviewing them. VIDEO | "The matter is already in the Supreme Court and I don't think any prudent government will roll back (erstwhile BJP government's order on hijab) when the matter is in the SC," says former Karnataka CM @BSBommai on reports of Congress government considering withdrawal of… pic.twitter.com/gVaXc9G2Ec — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 2

Bengaluru: An incident of a software professional waiting for a rapido bike being hit by an auto has been reported from Bengaluru. The auto driver got enraged when the victim refused to pay him exorbitant fare and decided to book a Rapido bike. According to police, the incident took place at 3.30 a.m. on Thursday in HSR Layout Sector One area. The act was caught on CCTV camera. The footage shows the victim speaking to the auto driver for sometime and walking away from his vehicle. Later, the auto driver suddenly crashes his vehicle on him. The techie fell on the road and by the time he got up, the auto driver had fled. Based on the CCTV camera footage, the police have launched a hunt for the auto driver. The identity of the techie is yet to be known. Police explained that the tussle between auto drivers and Rapido bike riders is an old one. Auto drivers have been protesting and demanding a ban on Rapido bikes. There have been many incidents of attacks on Rapido bike riders. The i

Mysuru : A case was registered against Karnataka BJP MLA and former minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan on Wednesday in connection with hate speech in Mysuru district. State Congress unit spokesperson M. Lakshman has lodged a complaint with the Devaraja Urs police station, seeking police initiate action against Ashwath Narayan over his statements of finishing off Chief Minister Siddaramaiah – then the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly – like erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan. The statement was made during the election campaign at Satanur village in Mandya district on February 15. The Congress leaders had lodged a police complaint in this regard on Febuary 17, but there was no action on the complaint. Also Read ‘Don’t disturb me’, says Shivakumar on row over full term for Siddaramaiah Lakshman has stated in the complaint that Ashwath Narayan had given public provocation by giving a call to finish off Siddaramaiah. Earlier there was an attempt made on Siddaramaiah’s life when he v

Bengaluru:  Former Minister and five-time Congress MLA U T Khader on Wednesday was unanimously elected as the new Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Khader (53) will be the first Muslim leader to serve as Speaker of Karnataka Assembly. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah proposed Khader’s name for the post of Speaker and it was seconded by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Also Read Karnataka government all set to overturn hijab ban As there was no other contender for the post, Protem Speaker R V Deshpande put the proposal made by the Chief Minister to vote, and it was unanimously adopted by the House. As per convention, the ruling party’s nominee is generally elected unanimously as the Speaker. Khader had served as Deputy Leader of Opposition in the previous Assembly and also as a minister in the past. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our c

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said 52 deaths have been reported so far due to pre-monsoon rains in the state, along with damages to properties, and directed officials concerned to provide immediate relief. He said authorities have been warned of strict action in case of dereliction of duty. The CM today chaired a meeting with Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of all districts and CEOs of Zilla Panchayats, over video conferencing, to discuss disaster management. Also Read 2 houses torched in fresh violence in Manipur, security tightened “Pre-monsoon showers have started in several parts, pre-monsoons are from April to June. This time pre-monsoon showers have been 10 per cent above normal. In this about 52 people have lost their lives so far, 331 livestock loss has been reported, crop loss has been reported in 20,000 hectare, and 814 houses have been damaged,” Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting. Immediate relief has to be provided for all thes

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday rapped Karnataka police officials and questioned them whether they are trying to saffronise the state police department. “Are you all set to saffronise the police department? We will not allow it under our government,” Shivakumar stated while addressing the meeting of high-level police officers of Karnataka at the Conference Hall in Vidhana Soudha of Bengaluru. “We know how police officers came to the police station wearing saffron shawls in Mangaluru, Bijapur (Vijayapura), Bagalkot and insulted the department,” he said. “You should have come to this meeting wearing a saffron shawl,” Shivakumar taunted the police officers. If it was to be patriotism, then they should have come to work wearing the national flag. “We will not allow saffronisation of the police department,” Shivakumar reiterated. #WATCH | "No more moral policing, no saffronisation, no illegal activities…there will be a corruption-free government in

Bengaluru: The second Trade and Investment Working Group meeting, under India’s G20 Presidency, will begin in Bengaluru on Tuesday. During this three-day meeting, over 100 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, regional groupings and international organizations will deliberate on reforming the multilateral trading system, integrating the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in global trade, making trade work for growth and prosperity and efficient logistics for trade. Also Read G20 event in Kashmir kicks off amidst tight security; Delegates given rousing welcome According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, a seminar on trade and technology will be organized on the first day. Themes, such as technology reshaping trade and the role of technology in driving inclusive growth will be deliberated in two-panel discussions, featuring domain experts, academicians and practitioners. The seminar will be followed by a guided city tour, a cultural

Bengaluru: Nayana Motamma, the newly-elected Dalit MLA of the Congress in Karnataka, has hit out at those trying to target her by circulating visuals from her private life on social media. The MLA from Mudigere Assembly constituency (reserved for Scheduled Caste) in Chikkamagaluru district said that her political opponents circulated visuals in which she is seen wearing dresses different from the sarees she wore while campaigning out of frustration due to the defeat in the elections. “Don’t let the frustration of defeat haunt you further. Yes… politics, me, myself, my personal life is the answer for those idiots who don’t know the difference,” tweeted Nayana, who posted about a minute-long clip of her pictures from her personal life used by the opponents to target her. In these pictures, she could be seen wearing clothes other than saree, and spending time with her husband and friends. Some of the visuals show her jogging or dancing or taking selfies or spending time in the swimmi