Page 58 - Karnataka

Only to correct 'procedural lapse': K'taka HM on CBI probe against Dy CM

Defending the Cabinet's move to withdraw consent for a CBI probe against Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said the government has not gone into the merits of the disproportionate assets case against him, but has only corrected the "procedural lapse" on the part of the previous BJP regime. Maintaining that the Congress government's decision is not politically motivated to "protect" Shivakumar, he said the opposition BJP and JD(S) were free to interpret whatever way they want. "(B S) Yediyurappa (as Chief Minister) had given oral instructions to the Chief Secretary to give sanction to the CBI to investigate the case. Wasn't it politically motivated then? What we have done is within the framework of law. The then Advocate General during the BJP government has himself said, also our Advocate General also has said the same," Parameshwara said, in response to opposition allegation that the decision was politically motivated Speaking to

Sanction for CBI probe against Shivakumar in DA case illegal: Siddaramaiah

Defending his cabinet's move to withdraw approval for the CBI probe against Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in a disproportionate assets case, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said, the sanction given by the previous BJP government is illegal. The cabinet on Thursday deemed the previous BJP government's move to give consent to the CBI to investigate the DA case against Shivakumar as not being in accordance with the law and decided to withdraw the sanction. The then BJP government had given the sanction on September 25, 2019 following which the central investigating agency registered an FIR against Shivakumar on October 3, 2020. The CBI has claimed that Shivakumar amassed wealth to the tune of Rs 74.93 crore, disproportionate to known sources of his income from April 1, 2013 to April 30, 2018, when he was the Energy Minister in the then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of 2013-2018. "What we have said is that the sanction given is illegal. For an inquiry on any governm

LIVE: Opec+ meeting delayed over a dispute over some members' output

Catch the latest news updates LIVE from around the globe

Toyota Kirloskar Motor to invest Rs 3,300 cr to set up new Karnataka plant

Toyota Kirloskar Motor on Tuesday announced plans to invest Rs 3,300 crore to set up its third plant at Bidadi in Karnataka. The new unit, which will commence production by 2026, will have an annual capacity of 1 lakh units in two shifts. It will come up at the company's existing facility at Bidadi, near here where it currently has two units with a combined installed production capacity of up to 3.42 lakh units annually. The new plant, apart from producing multi-utility vehicle Innova HyCross, will be "future ready" to roll out models spanning across different fuel technologies, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) Executive Vice President & Country Head Vikram Gulati told PTI. "I believe, we are as a company future-ready, both in terms of access to technology, access to well-accepted products across various powertrains as also access to the ability to bring these products to market," he said. He further said in the industry, it doesn't take too much for the same line or some lines to be

LIVE: OpenAI staff threaten to quit, join Sam Altman unless board resigns

Catch all the latest updates from around the globe

Vijayendra Yediyurappa: The linchpin in Karnataka BJP's strategic overhaul

Uniting the BJP is only one of the many challenges Vijayendra, the younger son of former chief minister (CM) Bookanakere Siddalingappa Yediyurappa, faces as he takes on his new role

Will retire from politics, if proved I have taken money: Siddaramaiah

With JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy repeatedly attacking him and his son Yathindra, a former Congress MLA, accusing them of a "cash for transfer" racket, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said he will retire from politics, if proved that he has taken money, even in a single transfer case of government officials. He alleged such cash for transfer happened during Kumaraswamy's tenure. "I have told you not to ask about it (Kumaraswamy's allegations). Haven't I responded to it already? Let him tweet (post on X) a number of times. He is speaking about what they did during his tenure (as CM)," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question about Kumaraswamy's attacks. Speaking to reporters here, the chief minister said, "He (Kumaraswamy) is speaking about the money they (Kumaraswamy and JDS leaders) took for transfers. They took money during his tenure. In our tenure, we have not taken any money. I have already said -- I will retire from politics, if it's proved that I .

Kumaraswamy targets Karnataka CM, again alleges 'cash for postings' scam

The JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday alleged that an official's name mentioned in a phone conversation between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his son Yathindra has figured in the transfer list of police inspectors released on the previous night. On Thursday, Kumaraswamy, sought to link the phone conversation to alleged "cash for postings" scam, a charge categorically rejected by the Chief Minister. Kumaraswamy, a former Chief Minister, also shared the transfer list issued by the police department on November 17. The order list comprising 13 names shows transfer of an official by name Vivekananda from state intelligence to V V Puram police station in Mysuru city. Reacting to it, the CM said although the record has proved that his conversation with Yathindra Siddaramaiah related to the development of government schools in Varuna Constituency, Kumaraswamy has tried to peddle another lie today to mislead people. "Vivekananda, who is mentioned in our conversation, is

BJP will expose K'taka govt after R Ashoka appointed as LoP: MLA Shetty

"We have been handling the ruling party or the ruling government without the Opposition party leader and with the old state president also. There's nothing new to us," he added

Ex-Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy pays over Rs 68,000 fine for 'stealing power'

Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Friday that he has paid a fine of Rs 68,526 for drawing electricity from an illegal connection to illuminate his JP Nagar residence here during Deepavali, but termed it as "unjust and excessive". However, the JD (S) state unit president protested the way the fine amount had been calculated and found flaws in the FIR registered against him. Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, alleged a political witch-hunt against him for being vocal against the ruling Congress government. In a letter to the assistant executive engineer of Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) vigilance police station, Kumaraswamy blamed the electricity contractor hired by his staff who had for testing purposes drawn a wire and connected it directly to the electric pole opposite his house. "Immediately after coming to know the same, I informed my staff to disconnect the wire from the electric pole. I was not at home when th

JSW Infrastructure bags Rs 4,119 crore award for port in Karnataka

JSW Group's ports biz emerged as sole bidder for Keni Port

JSW bags award to develop greenfield port in Karnataka for Rs 4,119 crore

JSW Infrastructure on Thursday said it has received a letter of award to develop an all-weather, deep-water, greenfield port at Keni Port in Karnataka on a public private partnership basis for Rs 4,119 crore. JSW Infrastructure in a statement said the proposed Keni Port would have modern environment-friendly mechanised facilities for handling cape-size vessels. "To begin with, the capacity of the proposed port shall be 30 MTPA (million tonnes per annum) in the initial phase with further potential to increase substantially in the long run," the statement said. Keni Port is envisaged as an all-weather, greenfield, multi-cargo, direct berthing, deep-water commercial port for handling all types of cargoes on the west coast in the North Karnataka region to serve the industries in the area covering Bellary, Hosapete, Hubballi, Kalaburagi, and South Maharashtra, the statement added. The proposed Keni Port is located strategically between two operational major ports viz Mormugao Port in th

LIVE: Fantastic batting, good bowling, says PM as India enters WC finals

Catch the latest news updates from around the globe

K'taka CM writes to Shah, Sitharaman to expedite drought relief funds

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to expedite the process of releasing the drought relief funds to the state. In separate letters to the three Central ministers, Siddaramaiah highlighted the dismal rainfall this year which was the lowest in the last 122 years. The chief minister pointed out that out of 236 taluks, 223 have been declared drought hit in Karnataka. Among them, 196 are categorised as severely drought affected. Noting that Karnataka has estimated a loss of Rs 35,162.05 crore, Siddarmaiah said the state government has sought Rs 18,171.44 crore from the National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF) for undertaking drought relief measures in the state. The chief minister pointed out that there are 52.73 lakh small and marginal farmers with a land holding of less than two hectares, who are most impacted by drought as the majority of t

Yediyurappa's son Vijayendra formally takes charge as Karnataka BJP prez

Newly appointed Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday formally assumed charge at the state party office here. Former Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai and D V Sadananda Gowda and senior party leaders were present on the occasion. The 47-year-old first-time MLA and son of Yediyurappa, a BJP veteran and member of the party's all-powerful Parliamentary board, was appointed to the post on November 10. Vijayendra, who had earlier served as the party's state unit's general secretary and vice-president, replaced Nalin Kumar Kateel. Kateel, a three-time Lok Sabha member from Dakshina Kannada, had completed his three-year term as the BJP state president, and was given an extension last year. Vijayendra said earlier he has been given the responsibility as a party worker, and not just because he is the son of Yediyurappa. He had said further strengthening the party organisation by taking everyone together and winning the maximum number of seats in the state in

Posters calling Kumaraswamy 'electricity thief' appear near his house

Posters dubbing former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy as 'current thief' surfaced on the walls near his house a day after the Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company registered a case of power theft against him. Videos showing the posters went viral on social media. Learning about the posters, police rushed to the spot and removed them. The Congress in Karnataka on Tuesday accused former Chief Minister and JD(S) state chief Kumarawamy of drawing power illegally to light up his JP Nagar residence here with decorative lights during Deepavali. The ruling party posted a video along with a statement on micro-blogging site 'X' criticising the JD(S) leader and son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda. Accordingly, the BESCOM vigilance wing conducted an inspection and registered a case under Section 135 of the Indian Electricity Act. Kumaraswamy said it was not his fault but of a private decorator who gave the connection directly from a nearby electricity pole. When he got to

K'taka new BJP chief Vijayendra says LoP to be decided after Delhi visit

Vijayendra met Bommai for the first time after being appointed to the role of the state president of the party

BJP will not back off, will give befitting response to Cong: Vijayendra

Newly appointed Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Saturday said his party workers will not back off from agitations against the ruling Congress and will give a befitting response to the ruling party in the state in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He also said he would strive to strengthen the party right from the booth level. The BJP on Friday had appointed Vijayendra, the younger son of veteran leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, as its state unit president. He was until now the state vice-president of the party. "There is no example of BJP workers backing off from any struggle or agitation. It is in the blood of our party workers, there is no question of fearing and running away," Vijayendra said in response to a question about party workers allegedly not coming forward to take part in agitations due to the fear of the Congress government booking cases against them. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "Let Congress people be how ever vociferous they are,

Karnataka govt unveils revised draft EV policy, eyes Rs 50K cr investment

The Karnataka government on Friday unveiled a revised draft Electric Vehicle policy (2023-28) which aims to attract Rs 50,000 crore investment while creating a job potential for one lakh people over the next five years. "This proposed policy aims to transform Karnataka into a pioneering force in the field of electric mobility, embracing sustainable practices and equitable growth while fostering innovation and creating a robust ecosystem for EVs throughout the state," Minister for large and medium industries and infrastructure development, M B Patil, said on the occasion. Addressing an ideation session with representatives of EV industry, he said the government would soon convene a joint meeting of the ministers of finance, energy, transport, and urban development to iron out common issues before launching the final E-mobility policy. Responding to recommendations made by some of the EV industry players, Patil said that the government would develop model EV cities to promote EV ...

THDCIL inks pacts to develop 3,270 MW renewable energy projects in K'taka

THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) is planning to set up 3,270 megawatts (MWs) of clean energy projects, including pumped storage and floating solar, in Karnataka, its chairman and managing director R K Vishnoi has said. In this regards, the Uttarakhand-based company on Thursday signed two memoranda of understandings with Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) and Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) in Bengaluru. "These collaborative efforts encompass the development of a diverse range of projects, spanning ground-mounted, floating solar projects, and hybrid projects including pumped storage projects (PSPs) with a cumulative capacity of around 3,270 MW," Vishnoi said in a company statement. Gaurav Gupta, managing director of KPCL, and K P Rudrappaiah, MD of KREDL, signed the agreement with Bhupender Gupta, Director (Technical), THDCIL, in presence of K J George, Minister of Energy, Government of Karnataka. "This strategic alliance not only underscores THDCIL's commitmen