Page 2 - Karnataka Assembly

BJP raises allegations of pro-Pakistan slogans in Karnataka Vidhana Soudha

Rajya Sabha member Syed Nasir Hussain has denied the allegations, clarifying that his supporters were chanting "Nazir saab zindabad" not "Pakistan zindabad"

K'taka temple bill fails to pass in Legislative Council amid uproar by BJP

In a setback to the ruling Congress in Karnataka, a bill that sought to collect funds from temples with over Rs 10 lakh annual income was defeated by the opposition BJP-JD(S) combine in the Legislative Council. The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed by the Legislative Assembly earlier this week. It was defeated by a voice vote in the Upper House, where the opposition has a majority, on Friday. The bill among other things, proposes to collect five per cent from temples whose gross income is between Rs 10 lakh and less than Rs one crore and 10 per cent from temples whose income is above Rs one crore, to be put into a Common Pool Fund, administered by 'Rajya Dharmika Parishath', which is proposed to be used for Archakas' (priests) welfare and upkeep of 'C' category temples (state controlled) whose annual income is less than Rs five lakh. The act that was earlier amended in 2011 had made way for five per cent of the net .

Karnataka Legislative Council passes FAR Amendment Bill amid boycott by BJP

The Bill allows developers to build additional floors by purchasing additional FAR and paying a fee of 40% of the guidance value to the local planning authorities. The Bill also allows selling FAR

K'taka Assembly passes bill slashing penalty on property tax in Bengaluru

The Karnataka Assembly has passed a bill to slash the penalty on property tax in Bengaluru city limits by 50 per cent. The bill - Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Amendment Bill 2024 - was tabled in the Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio and was passed on Tuesday. "With the passing of this Amendment Bill, the penalty amount is halved, saving Bengalureans a whopping Rs 2,700 crore. The BBMP will be able to collect penalties worth Rs 1,000 crore," a statement issued by Shivakumar's office said. This important amendment will benefit around 13 to 15 lakh people in Bengaluru city including 5.51 lakh taxpayers, five to seven lakh people outside the property tax bracket and three lakh partial property taxpayers, it added. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the BJP would oppose this bill as it would lead to large-scale corruption. The Amendment Bill has a provision to give a special rebate to the poor. Governme

Karnataka govt announces Rs 100 cr for makeover of 'birthplace' of Hanuman

Karnataka budget 2024: The announcement was made during the 15th budget presentation by Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio of the state

Over 12 mn families coming out of poverty due to Cong's schemes: K'taka Guv

More than 1.2 crore families are coming out of the poverty line and rising to middle-class status because of the guarantee schemes implemented by the Karnataka Government, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot said on Monday projecting the state's model of development. In his customary address to both Houses of Legislature at the beginning of the budget session, he also said Karnataka gets less in terms of tax share (devolution), despite being ranked second among the states that collects highest tax in the country, remarks seen in the context of the Congress government taking a dig at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Interestingly, the BJP legislators were seen wearing saffron shawl during the proceedings today, and shouted "Jai Sri Ram", "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" slogans at the end of the Governor's speech. "In today's context of increasing economic inequality in the country, Karnataka is leading economically by following the path of development, by reducing economic inequality," Gehlot

It's unfortunate that Karnataka has to come here to protest: MP K Suresh

"They (BJP) have to rethink and reconsider, and to open their eyes , we are doing this protest," he added

K'taka Cong chief denies reports of Sonia being offered RS seat from state

Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar on Tuesday dismissed as false and speculation some media reports which claimed that former party President Sonia Gandhi may be offered a Rajya Sabha seat from the State, and clarified that no such discussions have taken place. There have been reports in a section of media that Sonia Gandhi may not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, and she may be given a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka. "All such information is false, no such discussions have happened. You (media) are writing such speculations, no such discussions have happened," Shivakumar, also the Deputy Chief Minister, said in response to a question on such reports. Sonia Gandhi had won the1999 Lok Sabha elections from Ballari in Karnataka, defeating veteran BJP leader late Sushma Swaraj. Meanwhile, Shivakumar hit out at BJP and JD(S) for the row over removal of Hanuman flag flying from the 108-ft flagstaff at Keragodu village in Mandya district. Such things are being done to create

BJP launches 'I'm also a karsevak, arrest me too' campaign in Karnataka

The BJP in Karnataka on Thursday launched a campaign, 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too' as it stepped up its protests in several parts of the State over the recent arrest of a Hindu activist in connection with a 31-year-old case related to the Ram Janmabhoomi agitation. Leading the campaign in Bengaluru, MLA and former minister V Sunil Kumar staged a sit-in demonstration near the Sadashivanagar police station, amid chants of "Jai Sri Ram" by BJP workers. Holding a placard with a message 'I'm also a Karsevak, Arrest Me Too', Kumar said he too took part in the Rama temple agitation in 1992, for which he should also be arrested. Later, the police took him into preventive custody. Senior BJP leaders K S Eshwarappa and C T Ravi lead the protests in the district headquarters town of Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru, respectively. Srikanth Poojari , a Karsevak, was arrested by police in the north Karnataka city of Hubballi last week in connection with a case of rioting registered in ...

188 additional Indira Canteens to come up, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

He was speaking to the media after garlanding the statue of Saint Kanakadasa at the premises of the Legislators House today

Karnataka attracts 62 investment projects worth over Rs 3,000 crore

The Karnataka government has approved 62 industrial investment proposals worth Rs 3,607.19 crore with an employment generation potential of 10,755 within the state. The proposals were cleared by the State Level Single Window Clearance Committee, headed by Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil at a meeting here on Tuesday. Eight of them envisaged more than Rs 50 crore investment, totaling Rs 2,088.44 crore. These hold the potential to create 6,360 jobs, the minister's office said in a statement on Wednesday. Some of the top investors include Texcon Steels, Hundri Sugars and Ethanol Private Ltd, Bren Life Sciences, Alpine Ethanol, Virupaksha Laboratories and Qualcomm India. Of the total 62 proposals, 51 investment projects are between Rs 15 crore and Rs 50 crore, totaling Rs 941.40 crore, promising employment generation potential of 4,395 within Karnataka, the statement said. Three projects with an additional investment of Rs 577.35 crore were

Karnataka Cabinet okays opening of 118 new Indira Canteens across state

The Karnataka Cabinet on Saturday approved opening of 188 new and repairing of 197 existing Indira Canteens, which offer subsidised food, in the urban local body limits across the state, other than Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). Indira Canteen was the flagship project of the earlier Siddaramaiah-led government started with an eye on wooing the urban poor, serving breakfast for Rs 5, and lunch/dinner for Rs 10. "The Cabinet has given approval for the opening of 188 new Indira Canteens in urban local body limits of the state, other than BBMP, and instructions have been given to prepare a DPR (Detailed Project Report) for this. It has also been directed to set the menu keeping the local cuisine in mind," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said. Briefing reporters about Cabinet decisions, he said, Rs 21.29 crore has been approved for repairing existing 197 Indira Canteens. "Per day cost of food for a person (one breakfast and two meals) in these canteens will

Three months on, 'Opposition' eludes Karnataka: Why BJP can't pick leader

At least one of the issues - who should be Leader of the Opposition - was on the agenda when Basava Raj Bommai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi last week

No funds for development work in constituencies: D K Shivakumar to MLAs

D K Shivakumar's statement comes a day after a letter from 10 MLAs of the ruling Congress to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed that ministers were not paying heed to the MLAs' requests

Opposition gives no-confidence notice against Karnataka Assembly Speaker

Opposition BJP and JD(S) MLAs gave a no-confidence notice against Karnataka Assembly Speaker U T Khader to the Assembly Secretary on Wednesday. It has been jointly signed by BJP and JD(S) MLAs, including former Chief Ministers Basavaraj Bommai and H D Kumaraswamy. "As the Speaker who has been elected by all the members of Karnataka Assembly, has lost the trust of the House, to remove him from the post, we request for an opportunity to move the motion as per rule 169 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly," the notice read. This move by the combined opposition came on a day when the Legislative Assembly witnessed chaotic and unruly scenes as angry BJP legislators tore papers, which were copies of the bills and agenda, and threw them at Deputy Speaker Rudrappa Lamani, who was in the Chair. Following this, Speaker Khader suspended 10 BJP MLAs for the remainder of the Assembly session for "indecent and disrespectful" conduct in the ...

K'taka assemby adjourns after BJP protests over 'failure' of govt

The Karnataka assembly was adjourned briefly on Tuesday following protests by the opposition BJP over alleged delay in implementation of five guarantees made by the ruling Congress ahead of the elections. BJP MLAs trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the ruling Congress, leading to a brief adjournment by Speaker U T Khader. The proceedings began with the Speaker allowing the star question to be raised. Accordingly, Congress MLA Shivalinge Gowda rose to raise the question. However, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai demanded acceptance of adjournment motion and discussion on the issue in place of the question hour. Joining him, BJP MLA R Ashoka accused the government of "cheating" people in the name of five guarantees. Soon other saffron party legislators too raised their voice demanding that their submission be allowed first. The speaker repeatedly appealed to the opposition BJP to allow the Question Hour to take place, but to no avail. Deputy Chief

BJP to elect 'Leader of Opposition' in Karnataka Assembly: Anil Baluni

Karnataka Legislative Assembly's Budget session will begin on Monday and it is expected that the Opposition will attack the government on the alleged delay in the implementation of the five guarantees

UT Khader unanimously elected as new Speaker of Karnataka Assembly

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. 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.

Karnataka legislators take oath in name of family deities, political gurus

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was the first to take the oath, followed by his deputy DK Shivakumar and eight cabinet minister

Karnataka Assembly session begins with RV Deshpande as pro-tem Speaker

Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Monday administered the oath of office to senior Congress leader RV Deshpande as pro-tem Speaker for the Legislative Assembly session.Two days after senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah took oath as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka, the first Legislative Assembly session in the southern state began today. It will be held for three days till May 24.All the 224 newly elected MLAs will be administered oaths during the three-day session, which will also witness the election of the new speaker.Meanwhile, Congress workers were seen sprinkling cow urine and performing Pooja at the State Assembly in Bengaluru.The workers said that they are "purifying" Vidhana Soudha.Earlier, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met with his predecessor Basavaraj Bommai at the State Assembly in Bengaluru.He also met with BJP leader and former Union Minister SM Krishna. Shivakumar's daughter married SM Krishna's grandson in 2021.Shivakumar was sworn in as the