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Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court today, upheld the state government’s decision to withdraw the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the illegal property gain case against Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
The court dismissed the petitions filed by the CBI and BJP leader Basanagowda Patil Yatnal, which had challenged the state Cabinet’s decision to halt the investigation.
This ruling comes as a major relief for DCM D.K. Shivakumar.
Bahraich(UP): A forest department team of Uttar Pradesh captured on Thursday a fully grown male wolf under its ‘Operation Bhediya’ launched to capture a pack of wolves on the prowl in Mehsi tehsil of Bahraich district that has so far killed seven people.
The department has so far captured four wolves.
Barabanki Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Akashdeep Badhawan, the in-charge of ‘Operation Bhediya’, that a male wolf was trapped in one of the cages set up near Sisayya Chudamani village in the morning.
The animal caught is a fully grown male, he said.
Six children and a woman have been killed by the animals in the last month and a half in Bahraich with the latest attack taking place in a village on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday.
Drone cameras and thermal drone mapping techniques are being used by the forest department to catch the wolves. Permission to tranquillise the animals has been granted by the chief wildlife warden, according to an official statement.
As per the forest department, there is uncertainty about the total number of wolves in the area, officials said.
Principal Chief Forest Conservator (Wildlife) Sanjay Srivastava on Wednesday said 16 teams were working to capture the wolves, and 12 district-level officers are also stationed here.
Additional Principal Chief Forest Conservator Renu Singh will remain on-site until the remaining wolves are captured, he added.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday requested the 16th Finance Commission to recommend capping of cesses and surcharges at five per cent of gross tax revenue, and anything exceeding that should be a part of the divisible pool.
In his address to Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission Arvind Panagariya and its members at a meeting here, he also requested the panel to recommend that vertical devolution should be at least 50 per cent of the divisible pool.
All non-tax revenues of the Centre should be included in the divisible pool of taxes by bringing the necessary Constitutional amendment, Siddaramaiah said.
The Chief Minister said economically advanced States are committed to supporting poorer States, but this should not come at the expense of their own residents or economic efficiency.
The Commission needs to carefully examine the impact of extremely high emphasis given to equity on the incentives of well performing states.
“Moreover, the taxpayers of such states expect their taxes to work for them. This creates public trust. The Finance Commission therefore needs to do a tightrope walk while balancing equity with efficiency and performance”, Siddaramaiah said.
Due to the disproportionate weightage given to equity by the 15th Finance Commission, Karnataka and similarly placed States ended up getting penalised for their good performance, both fiscally and demographically, the Chief Minister said.
Noting that cesses and surcharges are not part of the divisible pool, the Chief Minister said over the years, the Union Government has increased its reliance on them.
This has led to the divisible pool not growing in the same proportion as the Gross Tax Revenue, he said. This has caused substantial loss to all the States.
The loss to Karnataka on account of the non-sharing of cesses and surcharges from the divisible pool is Rs. 53,359 crore during the period 2017-18 to 2024-25, according to him.
The Chief Minister said reduction in central financial transfers is placing severe limitations on the ability of the States to invest in physical and human infrastructure, adding, this issue must be addressed urgently.
“Economically advanced States are committed to supporting poorer States, but this should not come at the expense of their own residents or economic efficiency,” Siddaramaiah said. “A larger proportion of resources generated by the States should be shared with them.”
He requested the Commission to take a bold view and approach, whereby equity considerations are balanced with sufficient reward for efficiency and performance.
Karnataka recommends that 60 per cent of contribution of a state to the divisible pool, for inter se allocation among states, should be given to that state, Siddaramaiah said.
Karnataka, the Chief Minister said, has been central to India’s growth story, adding, it contributes approximately 8.4 per cent to the national GDP with only about five per cent of the population. The State ranks second in total GST contribution to the country.
Despite Karnataka’s substantial contribution of about Rs four lakh crore to the Gross Tax Revenue of the Union every year, the state gets about Rs 45,000 crore in the form of devolution and about Rs. 15,000 crore grant-in-aid.
“This means that for every rupee Karnataka contributes, only 15 paise is returned to the state,” he pointed out.
The Chief Minister said Karnataka requires greater devolution by the Centre as it faces regional imbalances, especially in the Kalyana Karnataka region, and the challenges of urbanisation.
Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said, needs an investment of Rs. 55,586 crore over the next five years out of which the State requested for a grant of Rs 27,793 crore.
Similarly, for the equitable development of the Kalyana Karnataka region, the State is investing Rs 25,000 crore and requested a matching grant of Rs.25,000 crores over five years from the 16th Finance Commission.
To ensure effective disaster mitigation and timely relief and rehabilitation measures in the highly vulnerable region of Western Ghats, the State requested a grant of Rs.10,000 crore.
According to him, the 15th Finance Commission’s award reduced Karnataka’s share sharply from 4.713 to 3.647. This has led to a loss of Rs. 68,275 crore during the five-year period from 2021-26, he said.
The Finance Commission was conscious of the drastic cut Karnataka received and recommended state specific grants of Rs.11,495 crore, the Chief Minister said, adding, the Government of India, however, has not accepted the recommendation.
“So, Karnataka was deprived of these grants as well. The total of all the losses amount to Rs 79,770 Crores during the 15th Finance Commission period,”, Siddaramaiah said.
Karnataka, he said, has seen a revenue transfer of Rs 35,000-40,000 crore per year to other States, amounting to 1.8 percent of its GSDP, during the 15th Finance Commission period.
“The figure is astounding because the net transfers outside of Karnataka amount to about 50 to 55 percent of the total revenues it generates.”
Bengaluru: The High Court has adjourned the hearing on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s petition challenging the Governor’s permission for his prosecution in the MUDA case.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 31, which falls on Saturday.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented CM Siddaramaiah in the proceedings.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asserted that she did not threaten junior doctors at state-run hospitals, who have been continuing cease-work for 21 days now to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic.
Banerjee said accusations that have come from certain quarters of her threatening the agitating junior doctors are “completely false” and part of a “malicious disinformation campaign”.
“Let me most emphatically clarify that I have not uttered a single word against the (medical etc.) students or their movements. I totally support their movement. Their movement is genuine. I never threatened them, as some people are accusing me of doing. This allegation is completely false,” she wrote on X.
Addressing a rally organised by the Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad, Banerjee had on Wednesday urged the agitating junior doctors of Bengal to urgently consider returning to duty and said she doesn’t want to lodge FIRs against the striking doctors in consideration of their future careers.
Agitating doctors interpreted the chief minister’s remark as a “veiled threat” and rejected her appeal to join work.
Banerjee also wrote, “I have spoken against BJP. I have spoken against them because, with the support of the Government of India, they are threatening the democracy in our state and trying to create anarchy. With support from the Centre, they are trying to create lawlessness and I have raised my voice against them.”
The chief minister also issued a clarification with respect to her “snap back” message to her supporters against “the conspirators who need to be unmasked”.
“I also clarify that the phrase (“phonsh kara”) that I had used in my speech yesterday is a quote from Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The legendary saint had said that occasionally there is need to raise one’s voice. When there are crimes and criminal offences, voice of protest has to be raised. My speech on that point was a direct allusion to the great Ramakrishnite saying,” she posted on her social media timeline.
The BJP, on Wednesday, accused Banerjee of threatening opposition parties by abandoning her previous slogan of ‘badla noy, badal chai’ (no revenge, only change) in response to alleged insults from the opposition.
At the TMCP rally, Banerjee remarked that the slogan needed to be updated to reflect changing times and situations.
“The time has come to resist and protest when you are insulted and maligned with false propaganda. Although I never promote violence, when faced with such ugly attacks, do not take it lying down and snap back. How you respond is up to you,” she said, referring to a story around the 19th Century Bengal mystic Ramakrishna Paramhansa.
Actor Darshan
Bengaluru: Actor Darshan has been transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to Ballari Central Jail. The transfer, which occurred at 9:55 AM on Thursday, is connected to allegations that Darshan received preferential treatment while in custody regarding the Renukaswamy murder case in Chitradurga.
Authorities decided to move Darshan to Bellary Jail to ensure impartiality and address concerns about the special treatment he reportedly received during his stay in Bengaluru Central Jail.
BJP leader Smriti Irani | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi
New Delhi: BJP leader Smriti Irani cautioned against underestimating Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, stating that his recent actions, whether viewed as “good, bad, or childish,” represent a different kind of political strategy. Speaking on a recent podcast, Irani argued that Gandhi’s new approach is calculated and designed to appeal to specific demographics, marking a shift in his political strategy.
Irani claimed that Gandhi’s recent actions, including his focus on caste politics and symbolic gestures like wearing a white T-shirt in Parliament, are calculated moves designed to appeal to specific demographics. Smriti Irani also took a dig at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of adopting a new style of politics after believing he has “tasted success.”
She also highlighted that Gandhi’s recent political moves represent a departure from previous unsuccessful attempts at “soft Hindutva,” such as his temple visits during election seasons, which she claimed did not resonate with voters and were seen by some as insincere.
Additionally, Irani accused Gandhi of making provocative statements to stay in the public eye, citing his comment on the lack of Dalit or Adivasi contestants in Miss India as an example. She questioned the sincerity of his ideology, suggesting that his statements are more about strategy than genuine beliefs.
Bengaluru: A recent inspection by the Food Safety and Standards Department revealed alarming levels of contamination in food items across Bengaluru, particularly in kebabs. The special drive, conducted in July, found that 78 out of 275 kebab samples tested—approximately 28%—were unsafe for consumption due to the presence of harmful artificial colors like sunset yellow and tartrazine.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao highlighted these findings, and stressed on the department’s ongoing efforts to address food safety concerns. The inspection also revealed that 15% of gobi (cauliflower) samples contained unsafe artificial coloring agents, specifically sunset yellow and carmoisine.
Vegetables and fruits, while comparatively safer, were not entirely free from contamination. About 10% of the 266 samples tested showed high levels of pesticide traces and fungal growth. Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao assured the public that allegations about unsafe produce from Kolar were unfounded based on their tests. However, he noted that the department plans to collaborate with the agriculture department to study the effects of treated water on crops in the region.
The minister also mentioned that reports on the safety of other food items, such as paneer, khova, and cakes, which were collected in August, are expected soon. Additionally, food from several PG accommodations is under scrutiny following complaints.
In response to the findings, the department plans to release monthly reports on their activities, including sample analyses and past cases. The minister also announced an upcoming special inspection drive focusing on fish, meat, and egg preparations in hotels and restaurants, scheduled for August 30 and 31.
Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed the importance of food vendors obtaining proper licenses, revealing that 32% of vendors currently operate without one. He urged the Commissioner of Food Safety to ensure full compliance and suggested that vendors be trained on the harmful effects of certain food preparation practices, especially the use of artificial colors.
To increase public involvement in food safety, the department has acquired 3,400 food testing kits that will be available in malls and on streets. These kits, available for a small user fee, will allow consumers to test food for chemical content and quality, providing both confidence to the public and valuable data to the department.
The July inspection drive led to the examination of 3,467 food vendors, with 986 receiving notices for inadequate sanitation. Fines totaling Rs 4.9 lakh were imposed on 132 vendors, and 96 legal cases were filed against defaulters in the JMFC court, marking the first time such a large volume of cases has been brought to court in a single month.
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is set to commission India’s second nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Arighat, at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The event will be attended by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, Vice Admiral Suraj Berry, head of India’s strategic command, and senior officials from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The commissioning of the 6,000-tonne INS Arighat, also known as S-3, marks a significant step in enhancing India’s nuclear deterrence and second-strike capability. The submarine is expected to embark on a long-range patrol in the Indo-Pacific region, armed with K-15 nuclear ballistic missiles with a range of 750 kilometers. This development strengthens India’s nuclear triad, which already includes land-based and air-launch nuclear capabilities.
India’s first SSBN, INS Arihant (S-2), is already operational. With the addition of INS Arighat, India will now have two SSBNs patrolling the high seas. These submarines are crucial to India’s no-first-use nuclear policy, providing a robust second-strike capability.
In addition to the SSBN fleet, the Indian Navy has approached the Narendra Modi government for approval to build two nuclear-powered conventionally armed submarines (SSNs). Unlike diesel-electric submarines (SSKs), which need to surface frequently to recharge batteries, SSBNs and SSNs can remain submerged for extended periods, with limitations only due to logistics, supplies, and crew changes.
India’s third SSBN, INS Aridaman (S-4), is scheduled for commissioning next year, followed by a fourth submarine, codenamed S-4. These submarines will be more advanced, capable of carrying 3,000-kilometer range nuclear ballistic missiles, and will feature additional missile tubes.
The Indian Navy is also set to enhance its operational capabilities with the commissioning of several new vessels, including the guided missile stealth destroyer INS Surat, the stealth guided missile frigate INS Taragiri, and the sixth Kalvari-class attack submarine INS Vagsheer, all expected within the next six months. Further orders for three more Kalvari-class submarines are anticipated to be placed with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd later this year.
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru woman on the morning of 28th August, woke up to find her friend lying dead beside her with her throat slit. The victim, B. Navyashree, 28, a choreographer, was found by her close friend Aishwarya in a pool of blood on Wednesday morning.
The incident took place at Navyashree’s residence in Vishweshwaraiah Layout, Kengeri. Aishwarya, who works with a real estate firm in RR Nagar, had stayed over at her friend’s house to console her over ongoing marital issues. The police have identified Navyashree’s husband, A. Kiran, 31, a cab driver, as the prime suspect. Kiran, who had reportedly fled the scene after the crime, has since been detained for questioning.
According to the police, Kiran had become increasingly insecure about his wife’s profession and suspected her fidelity. The couple had frequent arguments, with Kiran demanding that Navyashree change her career. On the night of the murder, Navyashree had confided in Aishwarya about her marital troubles. The two friends, along with Kiran, had dinner together after which Aishwarya and Navyashree went to bed in one room, while Kiran retired to another.
The next morning, Aishwarya awoke to the gruesome sight of her friend lying in a pool of blood. She immediately screamed for help, alerting neighbors who then contacted the police. The investigation is ongoing.