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Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai urged the state government to clarify whether the socio-economic and education survey report, commonly known as the caste census report, which was received by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru was the Kantharaj report or Jayprakash Hegde report, adding that there must be a public debate held on the report. He told reporters here on Thursday that the order issued to the then Backward Classes Commission Chairman Kantharaj was not for the caste census. Also Read Caste census report submitted to Karnataka govt, sparks renewed debate “Since it was the polling time, the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refused to accept it (caste census report). Besides, four to five petitions have been pending before the Supreme Court about who should conduct the caste census,” Bommai said. “In the current report, some sub-castes have been separated from the main castes and it was vice-versa in the case of other castes. The state g

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said in the Assembly on Thursday that the police have interrogated seven people and recorded their statements in connection with the case of raising of pro-Pakistan slogans in the Vidhana Soudha premises. Reacting to the BJP legislators, who staged a protest in the well of the House at the beginning of the Assembly session, CM Siddaramaiah said, “We have taken the matter seriously. We are in no way inferior to BJP when it comes to patriotism. The action is being taken as per the law.” Also Read Pro-Pak slogan issue: Karnataka BJP seeks Cong govt’s dismissal, NIA probe “The investigation is ongoing. We have taken a suo moto case. If a report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) proves the charges, whoever it may be, the action will be taken,” he explained. Dr. G. Parameshwara, the Home Minister said the FSL report was sought as the media was giving different versions. “The government is not supporting anyone and we will no

Bengaluru: In a bid to uphold regulatory measures and streamline healthcare services, the Karnataka government has issued a stern order to shut down private laboratories operating within a 200-meter radius of government hospitals. The directive comes after numerous complaints surfaced regarding the unauthorized operation of such facilities in violation of existing regulations. Despite the clear stipulation outlined in the 2019 order, prohibiting the establishment of new private medical laboratories within close proximity to government hospitals, reports indicate persistent non-compliance in certain areas. To address this concern, the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare Services has issued a comprehensive circular, emphasizing the need for strict enforcement of the law. The circular mandates all DCs and Chairpersons of Registration and grievances Authority, under the KPME Act, to take decisive action for the closure of private treatment laboratories found operating in breach

Bengaluru: The opposition BJP on Thursday demanded that the Karnataka Governor should recommend dismissing the Congress government in the state following the alleged ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans raised inside the Vidhana Soudha. Based on media reports, BJP alleged that the ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogan was raised by some Congress workers inside the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday night while celebrating its party candidate Syed Naseer Hussain’s victory in the Rajya Sabha election. He was among the three Congress candidates who won the RS elections, along with BJP candidate Narayansa Bhandage. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had reacted to the issue yesterday stating that serious action would be taken against those who allegedly raised slogan if the investigation found the charge to be true. “If the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) report proves that the slogan raised in favour of Pakistan is true, serious action will be taken in this regard. There is no question of protecting those

Bengaluru: After Congress Leader Syed Nasir Hussain emerged victorious in the Rajya Sabha polls on Tuesday, February 28, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused a worker of raising pro-Pakistan slogans during celebrations in the premise of the Legislative Assembly. Karnataka BJP on Wednesday launched a statewide protest to condemn the alleged incident of the raising of “pro-Pakistan” slogans. Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka took a protest march from the State Legislators’ House to the Vidhana Soudha slamming the Congress government for not addressing the issue seriously. The LoP in the Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojari, BJP General Secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar and other BJP MLAs joined him in the protest. Ashoka stated, “I have sought time from the Governor’s office. The BJP delegation will meet him and submit a memorandum to sack the Congress government immediately. The matter will be raised in the Assembly session in a big manner.” “It is shameful that people

Bengaluru: The polling for the election of four Rajya Sabha seats ended in Karnataka on Tuesday and in a setback to NDA, Shivaram Hebbar, the BJP MLA from Yellapur abstained from voting. Earlier, BJP MLA S.T. Somashekar had allegedly indulged in cross-voting and cast his vote for the Congress candidate. Also Read Did Karnataka BJP MLA vote for Congress candidate in RS polls? The counting will take place shortly and results will be announced by Tuesday evening. It is most likely that all three candidates of Congress, AICC Treasurer Ajay Maken, Syed Naseer Hussain, and G.C. Chandrashekhar are set to win. While the NDA candidate Narayansa Bandage, a BJP leader is also expected to get elected to the Rajya Sabha. However, Kupendra Reddy, fielded by JD-S may lose. Sources said that Congress candidate Ajay Maken secured 47, Naseer Hussain secured 47 votes and Chandrashekar secured 46 votes. BJP’s Narayansa Bandage has got 48 votes and Kupendra Reddy has managed to get only 35 votes

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD (S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said that not winning the election but his party’s top priority is to maintain unity among its cadre. “We need to show that our party cadre is united. Victory does not matter at this stage. We need to show unity over victory. The candidates have been fielded on this basis. Let us see who wins,” the former Chief Minister said. BJP and JD-S fielded Kupendra Reddy as the fifth candidate even as the election is being held for four seats only. BJP and JD (S) claimed that they would get the votes of independent MLAs and some of the Congress party legislators as well. Sources said that the 222 MLAs out of 223 have cast their votes for the Rajya Sabha elections. BJP MLA from Yellapur seat Shivaram Hebbar had not turned out for the polling when this report was being filed. The BJP which already witnessed the cross-voting by MLA ST Somashekar is crossing its fingers over the move by MLA Hebbar

Bengaluru : BJP’s Karnataka chief and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Monday attacked the Congress government over the water crisis in the state capital as well as the rest of the state. “The Congress government and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s catastrophic mishandling of Bengaluru’s water crisis is a testament to their ineptitude and disregard for the people they serve,” he said. Vijayendra further said that by prioritizing their political alliances in Tamil Nadu over the well-being of people of Karnataka, they have subjected the citizens to unbearable suffering. Also Read TN’s IJK to contest Lok Sabha polls in alliance with BJP “Failure of the Congress government in Karnataka to effectively represent our interests before the Cauvery Management Board has exacerbated an already dire situation leading us to massive water shortage in Bengaluru. “I urge the CM and government to wake up to the reality of the crisis they have created and take immediate action to provide relief to the citi

Bengaluru : Karnataka BJP has criticised the Congress over its plan to shift MLAs to a resort ahead of the Rajya Sabha elections for four seats scheduled to be held on February 27. “The Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is mired in enjoyment which came to power through blatant lies. It has indulged in enjoyment of the taxpayers’ money of the state and is back to resort politics again,” the Karnataka BJP wrote on social media. BJP alleged that the people in Karnataka are migrating to other states after getting their children out of the schools but the Congress is taking the MLAs to resort for enjoyment. “The ATM government has come to power not to develop the state, or to ensure welfare of the people. The Congress government is carrying out foreign trips, tours during Telangana state election, New Delhi trips to meet high command and resort tourism in the money of Kannada people and rendering them bankrupt,” the BJP said. Also Read Is BJP considering fieldin

Uttara Kannada: An aged woman died of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), known as monkey fever, in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district, taking the death toll due to the disease to four in the state. The deceased is a 60-year-old woman from Koorlakai village in Siddapur taluk. The victim was being treated for three days at Meggan Hospital in Shivamogga and succumbed on Sunday night. She was diagnosed with monkey fever 20 days ago and was suffering from symptoms of high fever. In Siddapur taluk alone, the number of monkey fever cases has risen to 43. Also Read Monkey fever spreads in Karnataka, 21 cases reported The state, which has 103 active monkey fever cases, had recorded three deaths so far, one each in Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada and Shivamogga districts. State Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao had recently held a high-level meeting with legislators and officers of three districts of the state where the outbreak of the disease has raised concern. The state government has

Bengaluru: Gali Janardhana Reddy, mining baron turned politician, on Monday met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his official residence Cauvery in Bengaluru. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi were also present during the meeting. The development has assumed importance in the backdrop of elections to the Rajya Sabha for four seats scheduled to be held on February 27 (Tuesday). Reddy, MLA from Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha (KRJP) had earlier declared his support to BJP. However, he praised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for granting Rs 100 crore for the development of Anjanadri pilgrimage centre, believed to be the birth place of Lord Hanuman in Koppal district of Karnataka. BJP and JD (S) were banking on Reddy to ensure the victory of their fifth candidate Kupendra Reddy. However, Janardhana Reddy has kept mum over which party he will support in the Rajya Sabha elections. The Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka are

Bengaluru : The BJP and the ruling Congress — the key contenders in the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka — are grappling with the challenges of finding winning candidates in several constituencies with stakes high for the two national parties. The BJP had swept the 2019 general elections, bagging 25 of the total 28 seats in the state, while an independent backed by the party had also emerged victorious. The Congress and the JD(S) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, which were running a coalition government back then and fought the election together, had come a cropper winning just one seat each. But the political scene has changed significantly: The Congress scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections in May last year and now appears battle-ready, determined to put up a strong show in the Lok Sabha polls. It is also a role reversal of sorts for JD(S) which joined the BJP-led NDA in September last year and wants to prove that it’s still a force to reckon with, pa

Karwar:  Calling Chief Minister Siddaramaiah “Siddaramulla Khan”, BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde has alleged that Karnataka is becoming bankrupt under the Congress government led by him, which wants to loot the state to garner votes. “Modi brought more than 370 schemes or programmes for the benefit of the people. Whether it is for agriculture, horticulture, industries, housing, Janaushadhi, almost in all sectors he has introduced programmes for the welfare of the people. He has not launched programmes that left the government bankrupt… he has rather strengthened it. India has today emerged as the fifth largest economy,” Hegde, a former union minister, pointed out. Speaking at a party event, he said PM Modi never compromised on the nation’s interest and his government’s guarantees have only made the country grow stronger. “But, our Siddaramulla Khan here — he claims to have given guarantees, but there is no money to pay salary to government employees, for development works, to give funds f

Hassan:  Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday blamed the opposition, especially the BJP, for the defeat of a bill to tax Hindu temples in the Legislative Council and accused the saffron party of spreading “misinformation” about it. The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 which was passed by the Legislative Assembly earlier this week, was defeated by a voice vote in the Upper House, where the opposition has a majority, on Friday. “There was nothing in it, they have done it intentionally. They are indulging in misinformation. The bill was to take a part of money from rich Hindu temples and give it to those Hindu temples (which earns) less, not for anything else, it will not be used for any other religious centres,” Siddaramaiah said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, “If we bring in a bill with this purpose, the opposition will defeat it in the Council, as they have a majority there.” To a question about BJP leaders

Bengaluru: An FIR was filed against nine activists and two nurses in an alleged “forcefully” conversion case in Kalaburagi district of the state. On February 22, two Christian nurses — Ashwini and Rubika — had allegedly tried to “forcefully” convert people in Ratkal village of Kalaburagi district to Christianity. The Hindu Jagruthi Sena, a Hindu organisation, had filed a case against the two nurses over their “forceful” conversion. Also Read Bilkis Bano rape convict enjoyed over 3 yrs on parole since 2008, gets 10 more days However, on Friday, one of the nurses, Ashwini, also filed a case under the Atrocities Act and IPC sections against Hindu Jagruthi Sena President Shankar Choka, Basavaraj, Vishnu and other activists. The Hindu Jagruthi Sena in its complaint said that the accused nurses were offering money and “forcefully” converting people to Christianity. “Members of Sena went to the spot and questioned the nurses. They had invited religious preachers and preached the Bi

Bengaluru : A police complaint was filed on Friday against two nurses by the Hindu Jagruthi Sene for attempting religious conversion in Kalaburagi district of Karnataka. The incident was reported from the government-run Primary Health and Welfare Centre at Ratkal village in Kalagi taluk. The complaint was registered against Ashwini and Rubika, both nurses. The Hindu Jagruthi Sene has stated in the complaint that the accused nurses were offering money and converting people to Christianity. After getting a tip-off, the members of Sene went to the spot and questioned the nurses. Also Read Karnataka BJP raises issue of ‘threat to burn down train from Ayodhya’ in LC “They had invited religious preachers to the premises of the hospital and preached the Bible. The accused are indulging in religious conversion and creating communal unrest in the village. “Being government staffers, instead of treating all patients without being bothered about their religion, the nurses were indulging

Bengaluru : Karnataka BJP on Friday raised the issue of “threat to burn down the train returning from Ayodhya” in Legislative Council (LC). Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in LC Kota Srinivas Poojari raised the issue in the house. “The miscreants have threatened devotees of Ram who were returning from Ayodhya. They threaten to burn down the train but the police have released the accused after detaining them,” he said. “I am forced to remember the Godhra killings. The government must answer,” Poojari said. The Chairman Basavaraj Horatti said that it is incorrect to raise the matter in the house without intimating through a proper notice. He said that he will allow the discussion on the matter during zero hour after the question and answer session. On Thursday night, devotees from Ayodhya were returning to Mysuru in a special train. When the train stopped near Hospet Railway Station in Vijayanagara district, a group of four youth belonging to the minority community tried to get into

Vijayanagara : A man has been arrested on Friday on the charges of threatening to burn down train returning from Ayodhya to Hospet Railway station in Karnataka. The incident occurred on Thursday night when the devotees were returning after visiting Ram Temple in Ayodhya. As the train stopped near Hospet Railway Station, a group of four youths belonging to the minority community tried to get into the bogey number 2 reserved for travellers to and fro from Ayodhya. When the passengers stopped the youths from boarding the bogey, an argument ensued between them. During the argument, the youths allegedly threatened that the train is not their father’s property and they will burn it down. The passengers strongly protested the matter and staged a protest demanding immediate arrest of the youth. Also Read Ram Mandir spurs demand for hotel rooms in Ayodhya: Study The police, who were present, intervened and allowed youths to travel in another bogey after which the passengers deboarded

Bengaluru : The Karnataka government has written to the External Affairs Ministry for the rescue of three young men from the state, amid reports that they were being forced to fight in Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine, Minister Priyank Kharge said on Thursday, February 22. He urged the Central government to take this matter seriously and come to their rescue immediately. In what is said to be a “job fraud,” according to reports, three from Kalaburagi district and one from neighbouring Telangana are stranded on the Russia-Ukraine border, after they were allegedly sent to Russia by their recruiters with a promise that they will be working as army security helpers, but were being forced to fight in Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine against their will. Also Read Forced to fight Ukraine war, how Hyderabadi youths ended up in Russia “After it came to our notice that they have been recruited into the Wagner Group (a private military allegedly funded by the Russian government) for wa

Bengaluru : Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has made an appeal to the Centre to intervene and rescue Indian youths, including three from the state, who were trapped and drafted into a private army in Russia. Speaking to reporters in Vidhana Soudha here, the Minister said on Thursday that he has got information from the Kalaburagi DC. “The youths were fraudulently taken there. We have written a letter in this regard to the representative of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Bengaluru. I have also spoken to the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge. “He has assured me that he will speak to Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and write a letter to him also. Also Read Priyank Kharge downplays Shivakumar’s power-sharing issue “The youths from Karnataka, Telangana are stuck there. Fraudulently and by means of cheating the youths were sent to the war. The Indian government must consider this development seriously. The central government must interfere and rescue the Indian youths fro

Bengaluru : Karnataka Minister for RDPR, IT and BT, Priyank Kharge on Thursday sought to downplay the ongoing issue of 2.5-year term for Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Priyank Kharge said that a discussion in this regard was held between four persons, and “whatever it is.. the high command of the party would take a decision..” He said this while answering questions over the remarks of D.K. Suresh, a Congress MP and brother of Shivakumar The Karnataka minister further said, “Whether it’s him or not …others do not have any information in this regard. No one has the authority to speak on the matter. It is going to be the decision of the high command. “As of now, our CM is Siddaramaiah. DyCM and Pradesh Congress Committee President is Shivakumar. We have faced the elections under their leadership and we will face the upcoming elections as well. There is no doubt that Congress is winning 20 MP seats.”. Also Read LS polls: Implemented poll promises, electorate will vote bett

Bengaluru : Condemning the move of Congress government to provide compensation to the family of elephant attack victim in Kerala, Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka said on Tuesday that the Kannada taxpayers’ money was going into Rahul Gandhi’s pocket. “Mr. Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, do you think the state of Karnataka is the property of the Indian National Congress and it can release the money paid as tax by the people of Karnataka as per the diktat of Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal? “Mr. CM Siddaramaiah, don’t your ministers have the capacity to question the high command courageously that it is the tax money of the people of Karnataka?” Ashoka questioned. Meanwhile, former National General Secretary of BJP C.T. Ravi took to social media, saying, “Why is Karnataka government dancing to the tune of a mere “CON”gress MP from Kerala? CONgress has time and again betrayed the interests of Karnataka at the altar of its masters. Also Read Rahul Gandhi appears

Mangaluru : DYFI has refused to remove a cut-out of Tipu Sultan erected at their local office as part of their Karnataka state conference to be held at Thokkottu near here from February 25. The Konaje police station inspector had served a notice to the president of the Harekala unit of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) on Sunday, instructing them to remove the Tipu Sultan cut-out placed near their office as the organisation had not taken prior permission for erecting it in a public place. Police requested that the cut-out be removed to avoid problems and maintain law and order. Also Read Karnataka: Youth arrested after garlanding of Tipu Sultan statue with slippers However, DYFI district president B K Imtiyaz said that as part of the state conference, they are using the cut-outs and flex banners of social reformers, freedom fighters and others and that the government had no right to place a ban on banners. The police in Dakshina Kannada district are still operating

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed proceedings against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and others in connection with a protest march held in the state in 2022. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and P K Mishra issued notice to the Karnataka government and the complainant in the case. The top court also stayed the high court order, which had imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him as well as Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, state ministers M B Patil and Ramalinga Reddy, and directed him to appear before a special court on March 6. Also Read Congress will win atleast 20 seats in Karnataka in LS polls: CM Siddaramaiah The case was registered against the Congress leaders after they took out a march to lay siege to the then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai’s residence in Bengaluru, demanding the resignation of K S Eshwarappa, who was then the rural development and panchayat raj minister in the southern state. The agitation was

Bengaluru : The Karnataka High Court has sentenced a youth to a three-year imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 for sexually harassing a minor school girl. The court has also quashed the judgment of a lower court which had acquitted the accused. The division bench headed by Justice Srinivas Harishkumar passed the order recently after considering the criminal appeal petition of the prosecution. The incident had taken place on October 26, 2014 in the limits of Baluru police station in Chikkamagaluru district. The accused was 18-year-old when he committed the crime and presently is 28. The court also refused to oblige the plea to give him benefit under the Probation of Offenders Act and release him. The bench further underlined that the POCSO Act was implemented on June 20, 2012. The benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act could not be extended to the accused in the crime cases committed under the Act, the court said. Also Read Karnataka to begin division of Belgaum