Page 21 - Karnataka

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

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Federal democracy under threat due to delimitation: DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said federal democracy was under threat due to the proposed delimitation, which will be done "solely on population". He termed the delimitation exercise a political assault on southern states for controlling population growth, improving literacy and empowering women. "The very foundation of our democracyfederalismis under threat. The very pillars of our federal democracy, enshrined by Babasaheb Ambedkar and the visionary framers of our Constitution, are being dismantled brick by brick," Shivakumar said during a meeting on delimitation in Chennai. On a call given by DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, chief ministers, ministers and representatives of various political parties assembled in Chennai to discuss the fallout of the delimitation process. The political parties in southern states are aggrieved that the delimitation based on population will render them powerless and they will have little say in the ...

Anurag Thakur slams Congress for 4% quota in govt contracts in Karnataka

He claimed that the Karnataka government's decision to provide 4 per cent reservation to minority contractors is against the law and added that they will have to face consequences

Karnataka observes 12-hour bandh called by pro-Kannada groups today

A 12-hour statewide bandh called by the pro-Kannada groups to protest the alleged assault on a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi last month for not knowing Marathi began in Karnataka on Saturday morning amid tight security. In several parts of the state, the pro-kannada groups took to the streets staging protests and they appealed to the shopkeepers to cooperate and extend their support for the cause. But most of the shops were open as usual. In Bengaluru, the activists gathered at the Mysore Bank circle and raised slogans holding placards. Some activists staged a demonstration at the BMTC and KSRTC bus stand at Majestic in the state capital. The protestors appealed to the bus drivers and conductors to support the call for Bandh. As their agitation intensified, police took them under preventive custody. In Mysuru, some pro-Kannada activists staged a sit-in protest by blocking buses at the suburban bus stand. They staged a dharna near the exit gate to block buses heading to Beng

Karnataka Bandh on March 22: What's open, what's closed in Bengaluru? | Karnataka news

Pro-Kannada groups have announced a statewide bandh in Karnataka on March 22 in response to the ongoing language dispute between Kannada and Marathi speakers.

Karnataka 2nd PUC 2025: Exam 1 answer key out, when and where to check?

The Karnataka 2nd PUC exam 1 answer keys have been released by the KSEAB. By going to the official website at kseab.karnataka.gov.in, students can challenge the answer key online

Karnataka Bandh: Will SSLC Class 10th exams be affected on March 22?

Pro-Kannada groups have called for a 'Bandh' (shutdown) on Mar 22 due to an ongoing Kannada-Marathi clash between two groups. However, it has raised questions for schedule of ongoing board exams

Karnataka Bandh on March 22: What's open, what's closed in Bengaluru?

Karnataka bandh: The bandh was called after a KSRTC bus driver and conductor were attacked during a dispute over language, sparking tensions in the state

Karnataka power tariff to rise from April 1; BJP slams state govt

Karnataka power consumers will have to pay an additional 36 paise per unit as a surcharge from April 1, after the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) allowed energy supply companies (ESCOMs) to recover the government's share of pension and gratuity (P&G) contributions from consumers. The P&G contributions will be revised for FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28, with consumers paying 35 paise and 34 paise per unit, respectively. Following the Government of Karnataka's order, the Commission allows ESCOMs to recover the government's portion of pension and gratuity contributions uniformly from their consumers as 'P&G Surcharge (Government Portion),' stated the KERC order dated March 18. "The aforesaid levy shall come into effect from April 1, 2025, and remain in force for the entire duration of the control period, commencing from FY 2025-26 and concluding in FY 2027-28, or as decided by the government from time to time," it added. Reacting to this, State BJP president B Y

'Harms our business model': X sues Centre for using IT Act to block content

X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, stated that arbitrary blocking orders pose a threat to its business model, which depends on users sharing lawful information

K'taka govt launches 'Beyond Screens' initiative to curb digital dependency

In a pioneering effort to promote responsible gaming and digital well-being, Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge on Tuesday launched India's first industry-led Digital Detox Initiative Beyond Screens. According to officials, the initiative a partnership between the Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology, and Science & Technology of the Karnataka government and the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), marks a significant step in addressing digital dependency and encouraging balanced technology use and aims to address the growing challenge of digital addiction through structured interventions. "Recognising the urgent need for digital wellness solutions, the Government of Karnataka and AIGF have worked together to develop a strategic roadmap with clear objectives. Powered by Kahamind Healthcare Private Limited, Beyond Screens serves as a comprehensive resource hub for individuals struggling with digital addiction. With a strong focus on education, support, and empowerment, ...

Revenue dept begins drive to clear Kumaraswamy family's land encroachment

The state Revenue Department on Tuesday initiated measures to clear the encroachment of 14 acres of land in Ramanagara district in Karnataka, allegedly by the family of Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, official sources said. Following the High Court's direction to reclaim government land from encroachment, the Revenue Department, in coordination with district authorities and the police department, deployed earthmovers. In January this year, the state government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the encroachment of government land in Kethaganahalli village, Bidadi, in Ramanagara district. The SIT found that 14.04 acres of land in survey numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 79 had been encroached upon, based on a joint survey conducted by the Revenue Department and the Survey Settlement Department, sources said. The case of encroachment is currently pending before the High Court. During a hearing on Monday, the court took a strong view of the failure to implement it

Health minister urges precautions as IMD issues heatwave warning for K'taka

Ainapur Hobli village in the Kalaburagi district recorded the highest temperature in the last 24 hours at 42.8 degrees Celsius

BJP slams Karnataka's 4% Muslim quota, questions Rahul's visits to Vietnam

The BJP on Saturday slammed the Karnataka government's decision to reserve four per cent of government contracts for Muslims as unconstitutional, alleging that it is part of the Congress' appeasement politics and will weaken the national unity. Addressing a press conference, BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to explain his "extraordinary fondness" for Vietnam, claiming the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha is spending more time in that country than his constituency. Gandhi is said to be in Vietnam during Holi after spending time there during the New Year as well, he claimed. "The frequency of his visit to that country is very curious," Prasad said. He accused Gandhi of seeking to lead the Congress in the competitive communal and vote bank politics among opposition parties, claiming that he is behind the Karnataka government's decision for quota for Muslim contractors. Such a decision may seem small but developments lik

Bengaluru court reserves judgment on Kannada actress Ranya Rao's bail plea

A Bengaluru Special Court for Economic Offences on Wednesday reserved its decision on the bail plea of Kannada actress Ranya Rao, who was arrested in a gold smuggling case. The court is expected to pronounce its judgment on March 14. During the bail hearing, Senior Advocate Kiran Javali, representing Rao, argued that officials from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) failed to follow proper legal procedures during her arrest and interrogation. Javali contended that the arrest memo issued at the time did not explicitly state the "grounds of arrest," as required by the Supreme Court's guidelines in the DK Basu case. He further asserted that such procedural lapses justify the granting of bail, regardless of the gravity of the allegations. Opposing the bail plea, the DRI's legal team highlighted the seriousness of the charges against Rao, alleging her involvement in a significant gold smuggling operation. They argued that granting her bail could hinder the ongoing investiga

Tax money misuse a shameful matter: BJP's Vijayendra slams Karnataka govt

BJP state president highlighted that the state government is in a dire financial situation, leading to the closure of nine universities. He stressed that there are several pressing issues

Siddaramaiah urges PM to implement price deficiency scheme for red chillies

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requesting for implementation of price deficiency payment scheme under Market Intervention Scheme for red chillies in Karnataka. In the letter, he expressed deep concern for the lakhs of red chilli farmers in Karnataka, particularly in the Kalyana Karnataka region, who are facing an "unprecedented crisis" due to the drastic fall in market prices. The Chief Minister noted that the Government of India has approved the Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Red Chillies (Guntur Variety) in Andhra Pradesh, fixing the Minimum Intervention Price (MIP) at Rs 11,781 per quintal with coverage for up to 25 per cent of production. "While this is a welcome step, the distress faced by Karnataka's red chilli farmers remains unaddressed," he stated in the letter dated March 10. Siddaramaiah highlighted that in Karnataka, the cos

BJP opposes Greater Bengaluru Bill, warns of non-Kannadiga mayors

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, R Ashoka, on Monday accused the Congress government of trying to divide Bengaluru with the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill -- which proposes up to seven municipal corporations in the city, as he also cautioned about non-Kannadigas becoming Mayors. Terming the bill as a "death knell" to the city that was founded by Kempegowda, a chieftain under the Vijayanagara empire, he said the Bill is against the 74th Amendment of the Constitution, as the power will be concentrated with the chief minister and not elected councils. The Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill, 2024 (as introduced in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and as recommended by the joint select committee) was placed for the consideration of the Assembly by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in-charge for Bengaluru Development. In July last year, the Bill was referred to a joint select committee. The committee tabled its report in the ...

Gold smuggling accused Ranya Rao was allotted land for steel plant: KIADB

The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) on Sunday said Kannada actor Harshavardhini Ranya alias Ranya Rao, arrested for smuggling gold from Dubai, was allotted land to set up a steel plant by the previous government in February 2023. The board was reacting to reports that a company linked to the actor was allotted 12 acres of industrial land by the KIADB in 2023. Sensing that the case was taking a political turn, the office of Minister for Medium and Large Industries M B Patil shared the government's final notification issued on February 22, 2023, regarding the allocation of land to Ranya's firm Ksiroda India at the Sira Industrial Area in the Tumakuru district. The Congress came to power after defeating the BJP in the Karnataka Assembly polls in May 2023. The proceedings of the Karnataka government, shared by the minister's office, said, "Approval to the proposal of M/s Ksiroda India Private Limited to establish a unit for manufacture of 'steel products - TMT bars,