Page 4 - D K Shivakumar

Karnataka govt to not take hasty decision on caste census, says Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said that the government will not take any hasty decision regarding the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as the 'caste census', that was recently tabled before the state cabinet. He said the cabinet will go through the report and discuss it, and will do justice to all based on the facts, as he also called the statements being made against the report as "political". The Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes' report was placed before the cabinet on Friday, and it will be discussed at a special cabinet meeting scheduled on April 17. The Commission, under its then Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde, had submitted the report to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on February 29 last year, amid objections raised by certain sections of society and voices against it from within the ruling Congress. "The CM has spoken about it. I have not yet seen the report as I was visiting Belagavi and Mangaluru yesterday. It

DK Shivakumar hints at 1 paisa per litre water tariff hike in Bengaluru

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said that the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is likely to hike the city's water tariff by one paisa per litre. Defending the Congress government amid the BJP's protests against rising prices, he accused the saffron party of being "anti-farmer" for opposing the milk price hike, asserting that the increase was intended to benefit farmers. On Wednesday, the BJP launched a statewide day and night' protest against the Congress government, accusing it of imposing a financial burden on the public by increasing the prices of milk and diesel, hiking power tariffs, and raising bus and metro fares, among other measures. "BJP is not talking about the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) reducing power tariffs for certain sections. As for the milk price hike, shouldn't we support farmers? Let them (the BJP-led central government) reduce the prices of cattle fodder, petrol, and diesel to help farmers. BJP

'Our govt understands hardship, BJP only plays politics': DK Shivakumar

He added that the decision to increase water prices came due to "unavoidable necessity", but the government was not raising the prices "excessively" since it would affect people experiencing poverty

4% quota for minority contractors to protect backward classes: K'taka dy CM

The Karnataka state cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Minority contractors

Only PM, HM's words matter, not Annamalai, says Shivakumar on delimitation

The claims made by BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai over Parliamentary delimitation not affecting the southern states do not matter and it is the words of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister that count, Karnataka Deputy CM D K Shivakumar said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters here before departing for Bengaluru, the Karnataka Congress chief also took a jibe at Annamalai, saying he was "being loyal to the party" and not to Tamil Nadu. "Annamalai is not important here, it is important what the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) and the Home Minister (Amit Shah) are conveying to the country. Poor Annamalai doesn't know anything," he said. "He is just doing his job, he wanted to show more loyalty to his party.... he is not showing loyalty to his state, he is showing loyalty to his party," Shivakumar charged. The Deputy CM was here to attend the 'Fair Delimitation' meeting convened by DMK President and TN Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday. Stalin has been claiming that delimita

I'm a loyal Congress worker, those questioning me are deluded: Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said he was a loyal Congress worker and anyone questioning his dedication to the party and the Gandhi family is in illusion. He also asserted that the party will come back to power in the 2028 Assembly polls. Shivakumar was reacting to speculation about his recent meeting with party central leaders in Delhi, and talks about in political circles, especially in the ruling party, about the chief minister change, later this year, under a "rotational chief minister" or "power-sharing" formula. "I have not put any condition on any one and there is no need to put any condition. I'm a Karyakarta, I work according to what the party tells me. Putting conditions or blackmailing is not in my blood. I'm a loyal Congress worker," Shivakumar said, in response to a question on speculation about his visit to Delhi and that he had apparently put some conditions on party leaders. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "If anyone, let them be from

'Even God can't fix it', says DK Shivakumar on Bengaluru traffic woes

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the city needs meticulous planning and effective project implementation to resolve the issue

Offer incentives to aircraft makers to set up units in K'taka: Dy CM

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday appealed to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to consider and give incentives to manufacturers of aircraft and helicopters to set up their manufacturing facilities in the state and the country. He was speaking at the inauguration of the 15th edition of Aero India event here. "Karnataka plays a crucial role in India's aerospace sector, contributing 67 per cent of the country's aircraft and helicopter manufacturing for defence services and 65 per cent of India's aerospace-related exports," Shivakumar said. He said that despite these impressive figures, there is a significant gap in the industry. "While aircraft servicing and repair are well-established in India, the manufacturing of aircraft and helicopters is not yet taking place in India. Most of the aircraft and helicopters used by the country are still purchased from other nations," he said. Noting that Karnataka, particularly Bengaluru, boasts some of the best talent in the

Dy CM DK Shivakumar urges Sitharaman to fund Bengaluru infra projects

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, requesting the inclusion of more infrastructural projects in Bengaluru in the upcoming Union Budget 2025-26 to reflect its status as the 'Silicon Valley of India'. The letter dated January 23 emphasised that, as a Member of Parliament representing Karnataka, Sitharaman must be aware that Bengaluru, with nearly 1.5 crore residents, urgently requires major infrastructure projects to sustain its growth and maintain its status as a leading technological hub. In his letter, Shivakumar highlighted key infrastructure projects for Bengaluru proposed by the state government that require financial assistance from the Centre. According to him, one of the crucial projects for the city is an underground vehicular tunnel. He mentioned that the East-to-West corridor, spanning 28.5 km from K R Puram Circle to Nayandahalli Junction on Mysore Road and estimated to cost approximately Rs 25,000 cro

Will follow party's direction: Shivakumar rules out political turn with CM

Seeking to downplay the power tussle within the Congress, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said the people of the state have blessed the ruling party for five years and that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will continue functioning as per the directions of the high command. With supporters hailing him as the 'next Chief Minister' on his arrival here, Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress President, said he does not need anyone's support and will abide by what the party tells him. "No one should worry; there is no need for any political turn. People have blessed us and given us an opportunity, and we will continue for five years. All the talks going on are without any value. The Chief Minister and I will continue functioning as per the directions of the party," Shivakumar told reporters in response to a question. Asked about workers or supporters demanding that he should be the next CM, Shivakumar said, "I don't want anyone to demand anything from me

ED raids in BBMP an outcome of squabbling in BJP: Deputy CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the ED raids in the 'Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike' was an outcome of infighting in the BJP. The ED on Tuesday searched the offices of Engineer-in-Chief B S Prahlad and other engineers in the BBMP in connection with the borewells and Reverse Osmosis plants in the areas where Cauvery water connection has not been provided, sources in civic agency said. The raids were based on a complaint by a BJP leader and former BBMP Councillor N R Ramesh to the Anti-Corruption Bureau. The ACB later referred the case to the ED. "It's an internal fight in the BJP. A BJP leader had given a complaint against his own party MLAs because he was denied a ticket (to contest assembly election)," Shivakumar told reporters here. He said he had instructed the BBMP officials about one and a half years ago to be prepared for the possible raids and provide whatever documents the ED officials would ask for. "We will cooperate with them. There

'Pyari Didi' scheme in Delhi on lines of Gruhalakshmi: DK Shivakumar

Shivakumar said that the Gruhalakshmi scheme has brought a significant socio-economic change in poor and middle-class families

After AAP, Congress announces monthly Rs 2,500 aid for Delhi women voters

Congress' DK Shivakumar announced that under the 'Pyari Didi Yojana,' the party will provide Rs 2,500 to women voters if it wins the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections

Shivakumar seeks research centre at Bangalore University for Manmohan Singh

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday wrote to the state's Higher Education Minister, M C Sudhakar, requesting necessary steps to establish a research centre at Bangalore University in honour of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The centre would focus on studying, researching, and documenting Singh's programmes and policies. Manmohan Singh, widely regarded as the architect of India's economic reforms, passed away in New Delhi on Thursday night at the age of 92. "Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was one of the world's greatest economists. The globalisation, liberalisation, economic policies, and governance discipline introduced during his tenure made India economically strong," Shivakumar stated, in a note addressed to Sudhakar and the Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University. Highlighting transformative initiatives like the Right to Information Act (RTI), Right to Education Act (RTE), Food Security Act, and the Aadhaar Card (Unique Identity Card scheme), .

BJP diverting public attention with CT Ravi ill-treatment claim: Shivakumar

By claiming ill-treatment of party leader and MLC CT Ravi by police post his arrest, the BJP was attempting to deviate public attention from the original issue of him allegedly using derogatory language against a woman minister, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar alleged on Saturday. Highlighting that conscience was important, he hit out at the BJP leadership in the state for supporting Ravi, who was arrested for making a derogatory comment against state minister Laxmi Hebbalkar. "...ask them (BJP) if what he (Ravi) said was right or not. Let's discuss other things later. This shows the culture of their party and leader...what happened in the court is left to him (Ravi) and the police and the crime he committed. The main issue is his language and his culture," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on the High Court ordering Ravi's release on Friday. Alleging that Ravi has used derogatory language against several people in the past, the deputy CM said h

BJP not discussing issues during legislature session: D K Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday hit out at the opposition BJP, accusing it of indulging in "politics" and not showing any interest in discussing issues concerning the state and its people, during the ongoing winter session of legislature in Belagavi. He claimed that the saffron party in the state was a divided house, and hence they were not interested on discussing real issues. "BJP is not interested in any discussion, what to do?....they are not interested in anything else other than doing politics. There is no unity among them, so they are doing such things," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question about issues relating to north Karnataka not being discussed in the legislature session so far. The session that began on December 9 will continue during the coming week too. Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, has been hosting legislature sessions once a year since 2006. Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, modeled on the Vidhana Soudha, the state ...

No power-sharing pact in Karnataka, no one should talk about it: Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivkumar on Saturday said that no one in the party should talk about any power-sharing "agreement or formula" involving him and CM Siddaramaiah, as he clarified that there was no such a thing. He, however, said that they were working with some "political understanding". This statement from Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief, came days after Siddaramaiah rejected his claim that they have a power-sharing pact. "No one should talk about any oppanda (agreement). There is no formula (power-sharing formula) or anything. We are both working with some political understanding. I have never spoken about any formula, there is nothing. What I told the national channel is we have come to some understanding. "The CM has been entrusted with some responsibility and I'm entrusted with some. I'm functioning accordingly," Shivakumar said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "There is no need or there is no situation for anyone to speak about any ..

Delhi HC to hear DK Shivakumar's plea against money laundering probe in Jan

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday posted on January 23 a plea by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar against a money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate. A bench comprising Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma deferred the matter saying it was not possible for it to commence the hearing on Tuesday. "Counsel appearing for the parties say the matter will take some time. Owing to the part-heard matters already listed in court, it would not be possible to commence hearing. List on January 23," said the bench. Shivakumar moved the high court in 2022 seeking quashing of the investigation, including summons issued to him in the ECIR (complaint) registered by the agency in 2020 following an alleged disproportionate assets case. The senior counsel appearing for the petitioner said their arguments would take "half-a-day" as important issues were involved. In his petition, Shivakumar challenged the money laundering probe against him on several grounds, including the

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah meets PM Modi, seeks clearances for two projects

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting rectification in short term farm loan limit, Rs 10,000 cr in financial support and urgent clearances for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Kalasa Bandhuri projects. In the meeting in Parliament complex, Siddarmaiah pressed for several key interventions focusing on critical areas, including agriculture, water resources and urban infrastructure. Deputy Chief Minister and Irrigation Minister D K Shivakumar, Energy Minister K J George and Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh accompanied the CM for the meeting. The chief minister highlighted that NABARD has drastically cut the Short Term Agricultural Credit Limit for Karnataka from Rs 5,600 crore in 2023-24 to just Rs 2,340 crore in 2024-25, a 58 per cent reduction that could severely impact farmers' access to soft loans. "I request you to look into this and direct the Finance Ministry to rectify this situation so that farmers in Karnata

INDIA bloc happy: Shivakumar as he reaches Ranchi for Soren's swearing-in

Shivakumar praised Soren's administration, saying he has worked hard and gained the trust of the people