Page 8 - Karnataka Government

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

Karnataka implemented first-of-its-kind experiment with Panchayat Raj: Min

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge said on Saturday the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat implemented the "Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Raj Fellowship" programme. In a post on 'X,' Kharge said that the Panchayat Raj experiment is the first of its kind in the country and was announced in the previous budget. "With the aim of strengthening local governance in the backward region of Kalyana Karnataka, an enthusiastic and talented youth community was given the opportunity to work in the Panchayat Raj system," wrote the State Panchayat Raj Minister. He added that this is a great opportunity for graduates interested in the social sector. "Fellows will need to understand the social, geographical, economic, and administrative context of the Kalyana Karnataka region and become active with the district administration," Kharge said. He stated that he attended the progress report presentation meeting with 44 trained fellows. Kharge added that it was rewarding to learn that these enthusi

Will amend law to help borrowers, control microfinance firms: Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the state government would amend the existing laws related to money lending business and introduce new legislation to protect the interest of the genuine borrowers. In the wake public outrage against the alleged harassment by micro-finance companies to recover money from borrowers, Siddaramaiah chaired an emergency meeting with his deputy D K Shivakumar, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Law Minister H K Patil, senior government and top police officials. Representatives of the microfinance companies association, regional officers of the Reserve Bank of India and NABARD officials were also present. Later, briefing reporters, the CM said he took the opinion of the microfinance companies as well as the RBI officials. "After taking their view, we told them that we won't say not to give loan or do not recover money from borrowers but while recovering money you should not torture and harass people," .

Karnataka court accepts closure report in bribery case against Siddaramaiah

A special court to try criminal cases against against elected representatives has accepted the closure report filed by the Karnataka Lokayukta police in a bribery case involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The case was based on allegations made by a BJP leader, who accused Siddaramaiah of receiving Rs 1.3 crore during his previous tenure as CM in exchange for appointing a steward at the Bengaluru Turf Club (BTC). In its ruling on January 18, the court stated, The closure report filed by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Karnataka Lokayukta, Bengaluru, dated 12.9.2024, is hereby accepted. The court further observed that while records indicated that Accused No.1 Mr. Siddaramaiah had received a sum of Rs 1,30,00,000 from Accused No.2 L Vivekananda, the same cannot be held to be an act of quid pro quo towards his nomination as Steward of BTC. Previously, the special court had instructed the Lokayukta police to reopen and investigate the case. However, following the inquiry, the ..

Govt to bring strict laws to regulate microfinance firms: K'taka Home Min

The Karnataka government is contemplating bringing in stringent laws to rein in microfinance companies, state Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Friday. With reports emerging from various parts of the state about people dying by suicide due to the "atrocities" of loan recovery agents, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened a meeting to address the issue, he said. "Across the state, many people have been complaining that they are in trouble due to these microfinance companies. It has come to our notice that there are shortcomings in the existing laws," Parameshwara told reporters. He noted that while there are provisions in the law to recover money, there are also laws to protect borrowers. "There are several reports from our department highlighting the inadequacies in the existing laws. If stricter regulations are required, the government will introduce them," Parameshwara said. He added that the government has instructed microfinance companies to stop harassing ...

SC maintains actor Darshan's bail in murder case, to examine state plea

In an interim order, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to cancel the bail granted to Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa, Pavithra Gowda, and others in a murder case but agreed to examine the Karnataka government's challenge against it and issued notice. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan issued notice to Darshan and others on the state's plea against the Karnataka High Court's bail order. The state government, said the apex court, apprehended other co-accused would take advantage of the high court order. "Since state is praying for cancellation of bail, it would not be proper to stay the operation of the order as it would amount to cancellation of bail. Yet, to protect the interest of prosecution, if any co-accused prays on bail, the court concerned shall not place reliance on the order challenged before us. Any bail application filed shall be decided on its own merit," clarified the bench. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra along with advocate Anil Nishani, appearing

Caste census report to be tabled in next cabinet meeting: Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Friday said a report on caste census in the state would be tabled in the next meeting of the Cabinet. The Karnataka Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, commonly known as the 'Karnataka caste census', was originally scheduled to be presented in the state cabinet meeting on January 16. "We didn't table the caste census in this cabinet meeting but we will table it in the next meeting," he told reporters here. Asked what was there in the report, he said, "I don't know what is there because it has not been tabled yet." On the Mangaluru bank heist, the chief minister said he has instructed police to find out the culprits. Caste census has emerged as a contentious issue, particularly among the state's dominant communities -- the Lingayats and Vokkaligas -- who have expressed reservations about the survey done, calling it "unscientific" and have demanded that it be rejected and a fresh survey be conducted. The survey was commissioned by the .

ED attaches Rs 300 cr assets in MUDA-linked money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has attached more than 140 units of immovable assets worth about Rs 300 crore in a MUDA-linked money laundering case involving Karnataka Chief Minster Siddaramaiah and others. The attachment is part of a money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in land allotment by Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The attached properties are registered in the name of various individuals who are working as real-estate businessmen and agents, the federal agency said in a statement. "It is alleged that Siddaramaiah used his political influence to get compensation for 14 sites in the name of his wife Smt. BM Parvathi in lieu of 3 acres 16 guntas of land acquired by MUDA "The land was originally acquired by MUDA for Rs 3,24,700. The compensation in the form of 14 sites at posh locality is worth Rs 56 crore." it alleged. The role of ex-MUDA commissioner D B Natesh has emerged as "instrumental" in the illegal allotment of compensation site

CM Siddaramaiah defers tabling of Karnataka's caste census report by a week

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the tabling of the caste census report before the state cabinet has been deferred by a week. The Karnataka Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, commonly known as the 'Karnataka caste census', was originally scheduled to be presented in the state cabinet meeting on January 16. "There was a plan to table the caste census report in tomorrow's cabinet meeting. However, it will not be taken up tomorrow. It will be placed a week later in a subsequent cabinet meeting," Siddaramaiah told reporters here. Asked about divergent views regarding the report's findings by different communities, the chief minister said, "Even I don't know the contents of the report. It has not been discussed in the cabinet yet." He added that the report will be made public after the cabinet decision. "We will decide after taking into account the public comments," he said. The ongoing public discussion is based on "assumption" as the report has not be

Karnataka caste census report likely to be placed before cabinet on Jan 16

With the Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as the 'caste census,' likely to be placed before the state cabinet on January 16, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara stressed that its contents should be made public. He said, any decision based on the report is the prerogative of the government and it will be taken after analysing it. Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes 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 ruling Congress. "It was decided the sealed cover (of report) will be opened before the cabinet, otherwise it may lead to leakage of information....whether there will be a discussion on it or not, I cannot speak about it now, once opened at least abstract information will be known to us," Parameshwara told reporters here replying to a question. To a question on the ...

Karnataka HC defers hearing on plea for CBI probe in MUDA scam till Jan 27

Karnataka High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing into the plea to transfer MUDA scam case to the CBI, till January 27. Justice M Nagaprasanna who heard the petition filed by activist Snehamayi Krishna seeking a CBI probe into the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allocation scam directed Lokayukta to submit the investigation report to court by January 27. Senior Advocate Ravivarma Kumar, Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while Maninder Singh represented the petitioner. During the argument, Singh alleged that original files are missing from Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The court said, "We will deal with everything. But first the Lokayukta had to give details of everything on record so far. All details of the investigation made so far." Finally the court directed Lokayukta to submit the investigation report to court by January 27. In the MUDA case, it is alleged that compensatory sites were allotted to ...

No differences within party, CM chair not vacant, says Siddaramaiah

He further claimed that the state government was a united government committed to fulfilling its guarantees

'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

CM Siddaramaiah challenges Kumaraswamy to prove corruption charges

With Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy accusing his government of corruption and ministers of extracting commission, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday challenged the JD(S) leader to prove his allegations with evidence. He said allegations should not be made without documents and proof. "Let him prove it. Ask him to prove that 60 per cent commission is taking place and there is corruption. Let him prove it. Not just making allegations, one has to prove it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here, responding to a question. He said the opposition's job is not only to make the allegations, they should also prove it with evidence and documents. Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Kumaraswamy targeted the Siddaramaiah-led government and accused it of corruption and extracting commission, while alleging that ministers themselves are involved in this. "Contractors supporting them (Congress party) are themselves saying that it (commission) has crossed 60 per cent and

K'taka govt likely finding excuses to halt guarantee schemes: Kumaraswamy

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday accused the Congress government in Karnataka of finding ways to discontinue its flagship guarantee schemes, while "burdening" the common people with increased costs such as the recent 15 per cent hike in public transport bus fares. Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said, "The Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) is someone who has presented the most number of budgets in the state, as he has also held a finance portfolio, with his consent the five guarantee schemes were implemented and they (Congress) claim that they have walked the talk, but to walk the talk they are playing with the lives of the common man." Expressing concern over the fare hike, he said it impacted farmers, labourers, and the working class. By increasing bus fares by 15 per cent, what has this government achieved? These hikes affect the lives of the common people, not the wealthy or ministers' families, he said, adding that the hike reflects the government's insensitivity towards

Siddaramiah refuses BJP's demand for minister's resignation in suicide case

In response to the BJP's call for a CBI investigation, Siddaramaiah questioned the party's faith in the state police

Elaborate security in place for New Year celebrations: Bengaluru Police

With just days left for 2025, the Bengaluru Police has made elaborate arrangements for the upcoming New Year celebrations in the city with tight security deployment on heavy footfall areas of the city to ensure safety of public and smooth flow of traffic. Addressing a press conference here, City Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that like every year, Bengaluru Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the New Year Celebrations in the city to ensure no untoward incidents take place. "Based on the previous year's incidents and experience, we are improving the security. We have identified the areas where people are going to gather in large numbers. MG road, Brigade Road junction, Koramangala, Indiranagar and so on, accordingly arrangements have been done," he said. According to him, meetings and discussions have been held with civic body BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike), Metro, and other organisations. They were appealed to make arrangements for lighting, ...

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), .

Steel sector grapples with weak demand, Chinese import, K'taka tax proposal

In November 2024, the per tonne prices of flat steel products, both HRC (hot rolled) and CRC (cold rolled), stayed flat month-on-month (M-o-M) at Rs 48,000 and Rs 55,500

BJP seeks K'taka Guv's intervention in arrest of CT Ravi, demands inquiry

The BJP described the arrest as politically motivated, accusing the ruling Congress government of using state machinery to silence dissent and undermine democratic principles