Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday listed the BJP's unfulfilled promises of two crore jobs a year and doubling farmers' income, among others, and mocked the saffron party over its manifesto, saying its government has never fulfilled a promise, nor will it in the future. Siddaramaiah said there has to be a review of what the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has done in the past 10 years. "Have they (BJP) fulfilled what they had promised earlier? It has to be discussed. Did they give Rs 15 lakh (to every bank account holder)? Did they generate 2 crore jobs (per year)? Did they double farmers' income? Did they do Make in India? Did 'achhe din' (good days) come? Did prices of all food products and essential commodities come down?" Siddaramaiah asked in response to a question about the BJP manifesto, while speaking to reporters here. The BJP-led government has never fulfilled any promises and they will not fulfill in the future too, he said. "They (BJP) may promi
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday alleged that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lied when she said that the drought relief fund was not released because the Model Code of Conduct is in force. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Sitharaman sought to defend the Centre saying procedures to release funds had taken time by which time the MCC came into effect. She said that after the Karnataka government submitted a memorandum in October and the inter-ministerial central team conducted a spot assessment, the release of drought relief had to go through a few procedures and that it had taken time. According to the finance minister, the central authorities had written to the Election Commission on March 28 to get prior approval to convene a high-level committee, given that the Model Code of Conduct in force -- and the EC's approval is awaited with regard to the grant of drought relief. Siddaramaiah said the state had submitted its memorandum for drought relief in Decem
CM Siddaramaiah wrote on X that the state submitted the 1st Memorandum to the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Home Affairs on September 23, 2023
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said the BJP is wrong if it thought that it can intimidate the Congress Party with "tax terrorism". Reacting to the Income Tax Department's fresh notice to the party asking to pay Rs 1,823 crore, Siddaramaiah alleged that the BJP is afraid of losing the Lok Sabha elections and hence "terrorising" the party by misusing central agencies. "The Bharatiya Janata Party, fearful of impending defeat in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, has been misusing autonomous institutions like the IT Department, ED, and CBI to undermine the Congress Party. "As part of this tactic, they have unleashed tax terrorism' on our party. The BJP is under the illusion that by weakening our party, it can win the election," Siddaramaiah said in a statement. Quoting Congress leaders, the chief minister said that between 2017 and 2018, the BJP obtained contributions from 92 undisclosed donors and from 1,297 donors lacking address details. "Should the same criteria
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the Congress will decide about making him the Chief Minister in future, bringing to the fore again the issue of leadership change. There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the Chief Minister's post after the Assembly election results in May last year, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy Chief Minister. There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a "rotational Chief Minister formula," according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two-and-half years but they have not been officially confirmed by the party. During a temple visit here, a priest prayed that God's blessings may be showered on Shivakumar, and he became the Chief Minister. Speaking to reporters here in Uttara Kannada district, Shivakumar, who has in the past made no secret of his ambition to become Chief Minister, amid speculations of change in guard
The Congress on Monday accused the Modi government of withholding funds that should "rightfully" go to Karnataka, saying the people of the state are being made to pay the price just because they exercised their democratic right to elect a Congress government. Congress general secretary in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is constantly trying to "throttle" the finances of India's states. His remarks came after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleged in a post on X that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is consistently denying the written word. "The interim report of the 15 FC (Finance Commission) for 2020-21 sanctioned Rs 6764 crores for three states, viz Karnataka (Rs 5495 crores), Telangana (Rs 723 crores) & Mizoram (Rs 546 crores)," Siddaramaiah said. "These grants were recommended not because of any special love for these states. These were recommended to ensure that no state receives a lower share in devolution in ...
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said giving tickets to the children and relatives of ministers was not dynastic politics but acknowledging the recommendation of voters. In its second list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on March 21 announced fielding its national president M Mallikarjun Kharge's son-in-law and children of five ministers in Karnataka. "Yes, we have given. We gave tickets to those whom the people of the constituency recommended. This is not dynastic politics but acknowledging people's opinion," Siddaramaiah told reporters. He was replying to a query about 10 family members and relatives of Karnataka ministers getting tickets to contest the Lok Sabha polls on behalf of Congress. Kharge's son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani will be in the fray in Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) Lok Sabha constituency. PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi's daughter Priyanka Jarkiholi will fight from Chikkodi. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy's daughter
According to local reports, water sources in many villages across the state have dried up. The problem has been further compounded by the depletion of groundwater
Rameshwaram Cafe blast: About 10 people were injured in the blast, which took place in the popular East Bengaluru cafe on March 1
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said Congress' list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state would be announced in two-three days and there is no "major controversy" with respect to their selection. He said the nominees will be finalised based on the opinion of the party's local leaders. "In two to three days Congress list may also get released. Tomorrow the central election committee is meeting. Karnataka candidates will also be finalised and announced in two to three days," Siddaramaiah told reporters in Karwar. "There is no major controversy. This time we are deciding on the basis of the opinion given by district in-charge Ministers, observers, MLAs, defeated candidates, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members, block committee presidents and district presidents," the Chief Minister said. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar said in Hubballi the list would be finalised after Thursday's meeting in the ...
The move is in sync with the Congress party's poll promise ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections to undo some of the changes made by the BJP during its tenure
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has issued a warning to water tanker owners across the state, stating that their tankers will be seized if they do not register with the authorities by March 7
"The priority is the development of irrigation projects and filling up tanks. Other works, such as roads, will be taken up subsequently. We have already discussed this with the Chief Minister"
The email threatens to blow up buses, temples, and public areas throughout Karnataka, which could be stopped if the perpetrators' demand of $2.5 million payment is met
Bengaluru cafe blast updates: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed the probe to the National Investigation Agency on Monday, which re-registered the case and started an investigation
Deputy CM said "Of the total 3,500 water tankers in Bengaluru city, only 10%, have been registered with the authorities. The govt will seize them if they don't register before the deadline."
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed confidence about nabbing the culprit involved in the blast at the city's popular eatery The Rameshwaram Cafe, as his movement has been captured by the cameras. He said it is still not known whether any organisation was involved in the incident at the quick-service eatery in Brookfield area in information technology corridor in east Bengaluru that left ten people injured, and the investigations are on. "The blast has happened. One person wearing mask and cap has come by bus, he has purchased 'Rava Idly' from the counter at the cafe and has sat at a place. Then he has set the timer and gone. The blast has occurred, about 9 people (actually 10) people are injured. All are out of danger," Siddaramaiah said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, the Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister had visited the spot on Friday, and on Saturday he too will be visiting the cafe and the hospital where injured are being treated. To a ...
As police intensified its probe into the March 1 bomb blast at a city eatery that left 10 injured, the Karnataka government on Saturday expressed confidence that those behind the incident will be nabbed at the earliest based on CCTV images but said it was not possible to specify at the moment if any outfit was involved in the incident. One person was reportedly detained for questioning late on Friday night over the low intensity blast, but there was no official confirmation. The government hinted at the possibility of someone's 'heartburn' as being a reaon for the blast. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has convened a meeting of the Home department to take stock of the situation. He expressed confidence about nabbing the culprit involved in the blast at The Rameshwaram Cafe, as his movement has been captured by the cameras. It was still not known whether any organisation was involved in the incident at the quick-service eatery in Brookfield area in the information technology corridor i
A bomb blast at a popular eatery in the city on Friday left nine persons injured and police have launched a probe from all angles after it emerged that an earlier suspected gas leak was not the cause of the explosion. Police suspect that a bag at the eatery with a possible improvised explosive device (IED) could have exploded, even as the NIA and the IB have been apprised of the matter. Officials from the local unit of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) later arrived at the spot. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said investigation is on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in Whitefiled, and added it might have been caused by an "improvised explosive" device. The incident should not be politicised and everyone should cooperate, Siddaramaiah said, adding strict action would be taken against those involved. State police chief Alok Mohan described the explosion as a "bomb blast" and said nobody was seriously injured. "At 1 PM, a bomb blas
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said investigations are on to ascertain the cause and nature of the explosion at popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on Friday, and added that it might have been caused by an "improvised explosive device". He said those involved will be found and strict action will be taken against them. "According to the information I have got, after 12 PM someone placed a bag and went. Investigations are going on, Siddaramaiah said, adding that all the injured persons are out of danger. Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, he said, "CCTV and other things are being examined. We have come to know about someone placing a bag. It is said to be an improvised explosive blast. We have to see, the investigations are on." Asked whether it was a terrorist act, the CM said, it is not known and investigations are on. Police are at the spot and he has asked the Home Minister also to visit the spot. "It was not a large-scale blast, it was an improvised ..