Page 2 - Karnataka Government

Tejasvi Surya, Kannada news portals' editors booked for spreading fake news

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and editors of some Kannada news portals have been booked for allegedly spreading fake news linking a farmer's suicide to land disputes with Waqf Board, police said on Friday. Sharing the article of the news portals on 'X', the Bengaluru South MP on November 7 alleged that a farmer in Haveri district died by suicide after finding his land had been taken over by the Board. "In their haste to appease minorities, CM@Siddaramaiah @BZ ZameerAhmed K have unleashed catastrophic effects in Karnataka that are becoming impossible to contain with every passing day," Surya alleged. The post was deleted by the MP later after Haveri district Superintendent of Police termed the news article as fake. "The news shared is false. No such incident was reported. The farmer mentioned here, Rudrappa Channappa Balikai suicide was reported on 06/01/2022 and it was reported due to loan and crop loss," the SP said. A case was registered under 174 CrPC in Adar police station and the fina

MUDA case: BJP asks Siddaramaiah to resign as he appears before Lokayukta

The opposition BJP in Karnataka on Wednesday staged a protest demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who appeared before the Lokayukta police here in response to the summons issued to him for questioning in the MUDA site allotment case. Protesters led by BJP MLA T S Srivatsa slammed Siddaramaiah, and asked him to step down from the CM post and face the probe. They wondered how there could be a fair probe against a sitting Chief Minister. Expressing doubts over the manner in which the Lokayukta probe is being conducted, Srivatsa demanded that the case be handed over to CBI. The protesters, who were holding placards and shouting slogans against CM Siddaramaiah and the Congress government, even alleged that the police were not letting them to stage a protest. Later, the agitators were whisked away by the police in vehicles. The CM, who has been named as accused number 1 in the FIR lodged by the Lokayukta police, is facing allegations of illegalities in the allotme

Kumaraswamy sheds tears during polls, vanishes when people cry: Shivakumar

Speaking to reporters at Mangaluru airport, he questioned, 'Tears well up in Kumaraswamy's eyes only during elections, where was he when the people of Kanakapura were in pain and tears?'

Karnataka govt approves tourism policy 2024-29 with Rs 1,349 cr funding

The Karnataka government has approved the Tourism Policy 2024-29, allocating Rs 1,349 crore to develop essential infrastructure and attract international tourists, state Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar announced on Friday. Speaking at the 'Karnataka Rajyothsava' celebrations here, the Women and Child Welfare Minister, who is also Udupi district in-charge, emphasised the government's commitment to transforming Karnataka into a global tourism hub through enhanced services and facilities. Highlighting Karnataka's investment appeal, Hebbalkar stated that Bengaluru continues to lead the nation in investment inflow, a feat credited to the government's strategic efforts. She noted that youth skill development programmes have equipped local talent to contribute effectively to various industries, further driving economic growth and investor confidence. Reaffirming the government's dedication to promoting the Kannada language, Hebbalkar urged the public to engage more deeply with Kannada literatur

Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah urges Centre to ensure fair tax devolution

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday underlined the need for justice in the devolution of taxes. He said no one should milk a milch cow completely, or else the calf would be malnourished. Addressing people on the occasion of the 69th state formation day at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here, Siddaramaiah said there is injustice happening to Karnataka. The state is contributing more than Rs four lakh crore as revenue to the Centre and it is the second largest contributor to the Central tax revenue after Maharashtra, he pointed out. "Even though we give more than Rs four lakh crore, we are only getting Rs 55,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore. Kannadigas should know this. We are getting 14 to 15 per cent only of our contribution," the chief minister said. Under the federal system, there should not be any injustice just because Karnataka is a progressive state, he observed. "Just because a milch cow is giving milk, we should not milk it completely. We should leave some milk for the c

No proposal to revisit 'Shakti' free bus travel scheme: CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said there is no proposal before the government to revisit the 'Shakti' scheme, which provides free bus travel for all women domiciled in the state. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar had on Wednesday indicated about revisiting the Shakti scheme. "There is no such proposal before the government, he (Shivakumar) only said what some women are saying. I don't know, I was not there. I will speak...." Siddaramaiah said in response to a question regarding the Deputy CM's statement. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "there is no situation for revisiting it at the government level. There is no such intention, there is no such proposal." Noting that many women had tweeted and emailed him about their willingness to pay for travel, and that they don't want free ride, Shivakumar, addressing an event, had said: "let's see, we will all sit and discuss it. They are a section (of women), they may be 5-10 per cent. Let's see, some have honestly

Sustainability summit: Six water sanitation startups win Rs 25 lakh each

For 29-year-old Shilpa K Nayana, nothing, not even her four-month-old baby son, Rio aka Rayan Nayana Arjun, could come in the way, as she pitches her already award-winning project Jalam, at Karnataka Water and Sanitation Sustainability Summit held in Bengaluru. She was among the 20 startup social entrepreneurs shortlisted from 119 applications to pitch their project at the summit on October 29. As the summit wound up late in the evening, six of the 20 were announced as winners of a grant of Rs 25 lakh and a chance to pilot their innovations in collaboration with the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR). Nayana's project Jalam, a low-cost water filtration technology that can be used at household level as well as community level, was among the six chosen projects. "The working cost for decontamination of water with my filter that uses nanotechnology is as low as Rs 2 per litre," said the social entrepreneur who envisioned Jalam as her final year project when she w

K'taka Home minister denies claims of actor Darshan's VIP treatment in jail

G Parmeshwara said that if somebody is not well in the prison, then the medical team of the prison takes care or they outsource the medical team from government hospital, denying this a VIP treatment

Heavy rains cause waterlogging in Bengaluru; Oppn slams Siddaramaiah govt

Leader of Opposition posted a news paper report on the floods and questioned Deputy CM DK Shivakumar who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister

Karnataka plans 1-2% levy on aggregator platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Uber

The levy of such a fee is part of the state govt's draft notification on Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024

CBI, ED, I-T should be impartial, not in favour of one party: Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday said central agencies like CBI, ED and Income Tax should be impartial and not function in favour of one party. He also said that the ruling Congress was ready to face and win November 13 by-polls in three assembly segments in the state. "Nagendra (former Minister B Nagendra) has told the media that he was pressurised by the ED. He also informed me that he was pressurised to name me and D K Shivakumar (Deputy Chief Minister). No agency should work in favour of a party. Whether it is CBI or ED or Income Tax, they should function impartially," Siddaramaiah told reporters. The Chief Minister was responding to former Minister B Nagendra's allegations that he was pressurised by the ED to name him and Shivakumar in the multi-crore scam in Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Nagendra had, after walking out of the jail on bail on Wednesday, also charged the ED (Directorate of Enforcement) with arresting him

By-polls: K'taka Cong to send candidates' list to high command in 2-3 days

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said the ruling Congress will send a final report on probable candidates for the November 13 by-polls for three Assembly seats in the state to the party high command in two-three days. The preparations for the by-polls will formally begin on Thursday, Shivakumar, who is also Congress state president, said. "We will do our job. Today we have some programme. Let it get over. From tomorrow, we will take it up (poll preparations). We have already held our local meetings. In two-three days we will send a final report on candidates (to the Congress high command)," he said in response to a question. Speaking to reporters here, he said that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will hold discussions on the by-polls and candidates on Wednesday. Noting that Congress general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal, who heads the Parliaments' Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is visiting the city to attend a PAC related meeting, Shivakumar

Our govt will manage Bengaluru rain situation, says Deputy CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday advised people to take necessary precautions following incessant rains in the city, as he declared the government's preparedness to deal with the situation. He said the government has the "strength" to manage the situation and "set right" the issues that have cropped up due to the rains. "I appeal to citizens to take necessary precautions in the wake of the rains. There might be some traffic issues today," Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in-charge of Bengaluru Development, said. He said he wouldd review the situation in the evening with the police, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), fire department and other concerned officials. Incessant rain on Tuesday threw normal life out of gear in central and southern parts of Karnataka, including the state capital Bengaluru, where several localities witnessed water-logging and traffic congestion. Hitting out at the opposition parties for criticising the government over

Gaming industry can possibly boost employment growth: Priyank Kharge

Calling Karnataka the "innovation and skilling capital of the country," he also highlighted the various centres for animations, visual effects etc., which have been set up in the state

Injustice to K'taka in tax devolution, we will fight it out: DK Shivakumar

Alleging that the Centre has done injustice by allocating less funds to Karnataka in the tax devolution, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said that the Congress government in the state would fight it out. Shivakumar, also the state Congress chief, attacked BJP MPs and union ministers from the state for remaining silent on the issue and termed it "shameful." "Injustice has happened to Karnataka. They have given more to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. We were given less than even Andhra Pradesh, which doesn't contribute much in tax. We will fight and protest this in the days ahead," Shivakumar said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, "We will formulate a programme to fight for - our tax, our right". "Why have BJP MPs and Central ministers not raise their voices? Despite having five Central ministers from the state, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, they remain silent even though injustice is happening to the state. This is shameful," he said. When pointed to

Kumaraswamy trying to scuttle probe in illegal mining cases, says ADGP

ADGP M Chandra Sekhar, who heads the SIT which is investigating illegal mining cases, on Friday lodged a police complaint against Union minister H D Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy for allegedly threatening him to scuttle the probe against the former CM. The probe against Kumaraswamy pertains to allegations that he illegally approved a 550-acre mining lease to Sri Sai Venkateswara Minerals (SSVM) in Bellary district in violation of law during his tenure as Karnataka chief minister from 2006 to 2008. He is now the Union minister for steel and heavy industries. "The SIT, after preparing the investigation report and having found substantial evidence and material to prosecute the accused (Kumaraswamy), had written to H E Governor of Karnataka seeking sanction for prosecution against the accused Sh H D Kumaraswamy on 21/11/2023," Sekhar said in his complaint lodged at Sanjay Nagar police station. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, vide his letter dated July 29, 2024, sought certai

Karnataka BJP chief predicts fast-paced developments, change of CM soon

Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Thursday predicted fast-paced political developments in the state in the next few days, including change of Chief Minister over the MUDA 'scam'. "Lot of political developments are certainly taking place in the state. In the next few days the kind of fast paced political developments will take place, which both you (media) and the people of the state will see," he told reporters here. Asked about his recent comments regarding change of Chief Minister after Dasara festival, he said: "I have said that fast paced political developments will take place, it includes everything." Vijayendra on Sunday claimed that, according to his information, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is facing a probe in the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority) site allotment case, may resign after Dasara. A few Ministers in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet had recently held closed-door meetings, fueling speculation about leadership change. On several leaders in the BJP "no

K'taka CM Siddaramaiah asks people to make Kannada their business language

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday gave a clarion call to the people of Karnataka to make Kannada their 'business language'. Speaking at an event to celebrate 50 years of naming the erstwhile Mysore state as Karnataka, the CM appealed to people to make Karnataka a Kannada state. "All the people living here are Kannadigas. No matter what your home language is, the business language' should be Kannada. Kannada should be the main and first language in the state," he said. "Learn every language, but Kannada should be the official language in the state," he added. Dwelling on the Gokak agitation, which was related to granting Kannada the first language status in the state, the chief minister said the 'Kannada Kavalu Samiti' was formed to create an atmosphere for Kannada to prosper in Karnataka. Later, the committee became the Kannada Development Authority, he explained. Siddaramaiah asked people to respect all languages, learn as many languages as possible but never be generous to

Karnataka govt is misusing officers to save CM in MUDA scam: HD Kumaraswamy

Reffering to Siddaramaiah's remark asking to resign for he is out on bail, Kumaraswamy replied that he has only taken bail and is not interfering in the investigation

MUDA scam: Karnataka CM questions ED for money laundering case against him

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday questioned the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) slapping a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against him, maintaining that the MUDA issue does not attract its provisions. I don't know on what grounds it's a money laundering case. Probably you too feel the same. According to me, it does not attract the money laundering case because compensatory sites were given. So, how is it a money laundering case? Siddaramaiah told reporters here. On Monday, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by police, against the Chief Minister over the alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the MUDA (Mysuru Urban Development Authority). The ED has invoked relevant sections of the PMLA against the Chief Minister and others in the ECIR. The Chief Minister also ruled out the possibility of his resignation over the MUDA case. I work with conscience. So there is no need for me to