B S Yediyurappa

Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday claimed that several Congress legislators were ready to join the BJP. He was responding to a question from reporters here on his statement that the Congress was trying to lure BJP leaders.

“They (Congress) will certainly make such attempts, but already several Congress legislators are ready to come with us. You will get to know soon who all they are. So any such attempts by Shivakumar (KPCC chief) or anybody else will not be successful,” he said. He said BJP will win more than 140 seats and come back to power.

Addressing the BJP state executive meeting at Davangere on Sunday, the veteran leader had asked party men not to take opposition parties lightly, as they have their own strategy and strengths, and that Congress leaders were trying to contact several party leaders.

He had also alleged that Shivakumar was making attempts to contact party leaders, but he would not succeed.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said the BJP’s state unit has sought permission from the central leadership to induct several leaders from various parties, and was waiting for the nod. “List has already been sent to the central leadership,” he said.

However, responding to Yediyurappa’s claims about him trying to contact BJP leaders, Shivakumar said he wouldn’t like to disclose his party’s strategy.

“Why should I disclose our strategy?. I don’t want to disclose our strategy. Who is with whom.. who wants to come with whom. Yediyurappa has said something, Ashoka has said something or some other leaders might have said something, lets wait for some time,” he said in response to a question.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said today that if any one wants to join the party voluntarily, it would be considered.

Bengaluru: Congress leaders and activists on Monday, staged a cycle rally from the KPCC office to Vidhana Soudha protesting the price hike in fuel and essential commodities.

Leader of the opposition in Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramaiah, who spoke to reporters, said that married women were selling their wedding chains due to rising prices. He accused the central government of not responding to the problem of the people.

Under the leadership of KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar, S. R. Patil, former ministers from the Congress party, MLAs, and Assembly members participated in the cycle rally, which was taken out from KPCC Office in Queen’s Road in Bengaluru to Vidhana Soudha.

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Union Minister Sadananda Gowda on Sunday claimed that the obscene viral video that is doing rounds across social media platforms was not his.

Taking to Twitter, Gowda noted that the obscene video of a WhatsApp video call with a woman, apparently showing him in compromising activity was being circulated by vested interests.

Gowda claimed the video was morphed and was created to malign his “impeccable” image.

“Dear well wishers, A morphed (deep fake) video of mine has been making rounds on social media. I would like to inform that, it is not me in the video, its created to malign my impeccable image by my adversaries with vested interest.” Gowda wrote in a tweet.

In another tweet, he said he had filed a complaint with Cyber Crime Police and hoped the “culprits will be nabbed soon”.

“Also, I as per the injunction order of the court, anyone forwarding/uploading the content will be punishable as per the relevant sections of the law. If you know of anyone doing the same, kindly inbox me.” He wrote in another tweet.

A video, purported to be that of Gowda went viral across social media platforms on Sunday creating tensions in political circles.

Says action will be taken on people forwarding, uploading video

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Union Minister Sadananda Gowda on Sunday claimed that the obscene viral video that is doing rounds across social media platforms was not his.

Taking to Twitter, Gowda noted that the obscene video of a WhatsApp video call with a woman, apparently showing him in compromising activity was being circulated by vested interests.

Gowda claimed the video was morphed and was created to malign his “impeccable” image.

“Dear well wishers, A morphed (deep fake) video of mine has been making rounds on social media. I would like to inform that, it is not me in the video, its created to malign my impeccable image by my adversaries with vested interest.” Gowda wrote in a tweet.

In another tweet, he said he had filed a complaint with Cyber Crime Police and hoped the “culprits will be nabbed soon”.

“Also, I as per the injunction order of the court, anyone forwarding/uploading the content will be punishable as per the relevant sections of the law. If you know of anyone doing the same, kindly inbox me.” He wrote in another tweet.

A video, purported to be that of Gowda went viral across social media platforms on Sunday creating tensions in political circles.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa

Davangere: Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday cautioned his party colleagues against taking the opposition lightly in the upcoming elections.

“I have a suggestion to all of you. None of you should take the opposition lightly. They have their own calculation and strengths,” Yediyurappa said at the BJP Core Committee meeting here.

The Lingayat strongman claimed that a few Congress leaders are in touch with some BJP leaders.

“You need to tread with confidence without giving chance to such incidents (defection). We have to make a sincere effort for the BJP to come back to power with 140 seats in the next assembly elections,” Yediyurappa, who stepped down as the Chief Minister on July 26, said here.

He said the party can be strengthened by inducting into the BJP leaders from SC/ST and OBC communities.

Further, he asked to include a team of 20 to 25 women and the BJP youth wing leaders at the booth level organisation.

Yediyurappa also appealed to the party functionaries to make the welfare programmes of the Centre and the state government reach every household.

He also told the gathering that he would take up a state-wide tour shortly to strengthen the party base.

Yediyurappa reminded the core committee members that the BJP has to win both Hanagal and Sindagi assembly bypolls because its failure will send the wrong signals.

“No one here should assume that Hanagal and Sindagi are easy turfs,” Yediyurappa said.

Speaking about the demolition of temple in Nanjangud in Mysuru recently, which drew widespread criticism, Yediyurappa said a decision has been taken not to allow destruction of any temples anywhere.

He also said that the BJP government will file a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking “correction” in the judgment.

“Whatever has happened is now over. It will not be repeated. Those party workers who are upset should take note of this,” Yediyurappa said.

BJP state chief Nalin Kumar Kateel and BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Arun Singh too addressed the gathering.

In his address, Kateel took a dig at Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding his criticism of temple demolition in Nanjangud.

He said this is one instance which occurred without the knowledge of the government but the Congress government turned a blind eye to the attacks and murders of many BJP workers in Karnataka.

Senior party functionaries such as union ministers Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karanjlaje and D V Sadananda Gowda, Karnataka ministers, former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, his son and BJP state vice-president B Y Vijayendra, BJP MLAs, MLCs, MPs and district level BJP functionaries are attending the event.

Bengaluru: Karnataka topped the COVID vaccination drive in the country on Friday by administering 26.92 lakh doses till 9 PM, Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education K Sudhakar said.

The State stood first in the country ahead of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which achieved over 26.62 lakh doses and 24.86 lakh doses respectively, his office said in a release.

According to data released by the state health department at 8:30 pm, Karnataka had achieved 85 per cent coverage by administering 26,92,955 doses, against the target of 31,75,000.

“I would like to thank all the health workers and other staff who have been involved in this historic vaccination drive,” Sudhakar said.

It is a phenomenal effort by Karnataka to administer more doses today than Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which have several times more population, he said, adding that “It is really apt that this effort coincides with the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has led the war on Covid from the front.”

Meanwhile, the state on Friday also crossed the “milestone” of administering over five crore doses of COVID-19 vaccine till date.

According to the release, the districts that topped in Karnataka during the drive are Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike- BBMP area (3.98 lakh doses), Belagavi (2.39 lakh doses), Dakshina Kannada (1.33 lakh doses), Ballari (1.33 lakh doses), Tumkuru (1.24 lakh doses) and Mandya (1.15 lakh doses).

Bengaluru Urban, Shivamogga, Dharwad, Ramanagara, Hassana, Davanagere, Chikamagaluru and Haveri districts achieved more than 100 per cent of the day’s target.

The vaccination drive, also called “Mega Vaccination Mela” was conducted in over 12,000 Covid vaccination centres across the State.

With today’s performance, total doses administered in the State in September have gone up to 87 lakh.

Karnataka administered a total of 5.12 crore doses till 9 PM on September 17.

“We are very confident of crossing the target of 1.5 crore that we have set ourselves for September, the minister said, also expressing confidence about vaccinating the entire adult population in the State by the end of November.

India today administered a “whopping” 2.25 crore doses today till 9 PM. The total doses administered in India till September 17 has crossed 79 crore.

Hassan: An earthquake of 2.3 magnitude on the Richter scale was reported in Hassan district, officials of state Disaster Management Authority said on Friday.

The earthquake occurred at 17:32:25 IST, epicentred 1.5 km NNE (North North East) of Rayapura of Salagame Hobli in Hassan Taluk, they said.

“The seismic intensity map of the earthquake from the epicentre is presented, wherein intensities observed are very low.

This type of earthquake do not create any harm to the local community, although there may be slight shaking observed locally. The community need not panic as the intensity observed is low and not destructive,” an official note said.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka assembly on Friday passed the ‘Identification of Prisoners (Karnataka Amendment) Bill,’ which seeks to include collection of blood, DNA, voice and iris scan samples as “measurements” of offenders for effective surveillance and prevention of breach of peace and crime.

The bill, which amends the Central act of Identification of Prisoners with respect to its application to Karnataka, also empowers Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioners of Police, in addition to the judicial magistrate first class, to order for collection of measurement to avoid delay and workload.

Piloting the bill for the consideration of the House, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said “till now foot-print impressions were collected. Now we have added blood, DNA, voice, and iris scan samples to it. Earlier the measurements were collected for those with rigorous imprisonment for a term of one year, now it has been changed to a term of one month.”

He said the bill empowers SPs and DCPs to order destruction of measurement after a period of 10 years, unless otherwise directed by the court or any other competent authority.

Participating during the discussion on the Bill, Congress MLA Tanveer Sait sought to know whether collecting measurement was necessary when such details are available in an individual’s Aadhar data.

Another Congress MLA Priyank Kharge said the government intends to create a database of biometrics and forensic tools needed for investigation and also sought to know whether the necessary infrastructure was in place. “Also, has the government thought about the right to privacy?”

Responding to the queries, the Minister said measurements were collected for those with Rigorous Imprisonment for a term of one month and above and it will be stored in the criminal tracking system in Bengaluru, so there will be no concerns of any breach.

He said it would also be helpful in identifying habitual offenders.

Also passed was a bill providing for the constitution of the Karnataka Prison Development Board for strengthening prisons and initiating correctional administrative measures.

Titled ‘Karnataka Prison Development Board Bill’, it also provides for initiating measures for skill improvement, welfare of prisoners and prisons’ staff and expanding prison industries.

The bill, in its statement of objects and reasons, said “it is considered necessary to provide for the constitution of the prison development board for development of modern prison industries and formulate a plan for job oriented technical programmes in different areas, to earn incentives.”

The board can suggest ways and means for improving coordination between different stakeholders, examine the present setup of prison industries and formulate a plan for modernisation and to start job oriented programmes including technical oriented ones, keeping in view the needs of prisoners after release, it said.

Participating during the discussion on the bill, several legislators, including Congress’ U T Khader said reforms are needed, but prisons should also be a place of deterrent for prisoners, while highlighting several illegal activities taking place in them.

Pointing out that the Minister for Prisons and other members of the board were all officials, some MLAs wanted non-official members like representatives of social organisations or journalists to be made members to have effective reforms, while others questioned powers of acquisition, maintenance and disposal of land and building given to the board.

The Minister, in his reply, said the board has been constituted for all-round reforms of prisons and representatives from various departments will be its members and added that experts can be invited for its meetings to take inputs.

“States like Haryana are generating revenue of about Rs 600 crore from Prisons. Manpower at prisons should not go waste,” he said.

He also made it clear that there should be no doubts about disposing of immovable properties, as it cannot be done without clearance from the government, and there is a clause for it. “The committee will rather look into effective utilisation of prison lands that have been lying unused.”

Another bill passed today is ‘The Code of Criminal Procedure (Karnataka Amendment) Bill’ that provides for recording of the evidence of the witness by audio-video-electronic means in the presence of the advocate of the person accused of the offence.

BENGALURU: Lending more grist to talk that the JDS  is leaning towards the BJP,  former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday refused to attack the government on the price rise by saying “it is wrong to make allegations against one another to gain political mileage.”

Terming price rise as a “continuous process”, the JDS leader asked the State Government to use the revenue generated from levying cess and taxes of fuel and other products, to rebuild the lives of the poor who are battered by both inflation and the Covid-19 pandemic.

During a debate on price rise in the Assembly, he said, “It is wrong to make allegations against one another to gain political mileage. We should look at what can be done to help the poor,” he said. Kumaraswamy also said he will not insist on a resolution in the House — as suggested by Opposition leader Siddaramaiah— to appeal to the Union Government to reduce taxes on fuel.  Siddaramaiah had demanded that the State Government  cut taxes on fuel. Many states, including Tamil Nadu, have cut  taxes on fuel.

“It is not just a BJP government… it is our government representing 6.5 crore Kannadigas. I urge Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to make best use of the revenue generated to rebuild the lives of the weaker sections affected by Covid-19 and price rise,” he added.  Asking Karnataka to become a model for the entire country, he urged the State Government to announce a special package of Rs 25,000 each to about 55 lakh affected families.

Kumaraswamy also demanded that the government drop populist schemes, including ‘Amrith’, to come to the rescue of the affected. Citing the CAG report, he slammed the State Government for borrowing Rs 48,499 crore during 2019-20 for development works.

Meanwhile, what was more surprising was that a senior Congress leader too was sympathetic towards 
the State Government. Former speaker Ramesh Kumar said that any one party or the government cannot be blamed for the price rise. “All of us are responsible for privatisation of essential services which is benefiting traders. These traders are those who give money for parties. It is inter-linked.

There is no point in blaming one party or government,” he said. “Those who are speaking here (MLAs) should reveal their property details that were filed during  polls. The price hike will not affect them. Gone are the days when MLAs used to voice common people’s concerns. Just 30 years ago, hardly a few MLAs used to come in cars… the remaining in cycles or buses. But now, they come in Audis… what can you expect from them,” he rued.