BY: Dr Rizwana Iqbal

Infertility has become a major health issue in recent years. It is estimated that 1 in 15 couples are suffering from infertility which is defined as failure to achieve a pregnancy after trying at least for 1 year.we find that 1/3 of the causes for not conceiving is due to problems in female and 1/3 due to male factor problems and 1/3 due to both. Delay in conceiving can lead to many social problems like; unhappiness, anxiety,depression, suicidal tendencies,family disharmony,arguments, social boycotting,nick naming generally females and in extreme cases domestic violence and divorce. Therefore, couples need to come forward and get themselves investigated so that treatment can be initiated early.

We at prime-care hospital provide a targeted counselling and investigate both the male and female partners. We have a full setup for diagnosis and treatment available under one roof and we offer only self egg- self sperm for treatment as it is shariah based fertility centre. Even in patients whose husbands have no sperms there is treatment available in which sperms are aspirated or extracted by a procedure called TESA/PESA or TESE from the male testis or epididymis.The sperm can then be used to fertilize the female egg that has been retrieved from the ovary after giving her hormonal injections, thus creating an embryo in the IVF Lab. As far as female factors are concerned poly cystic ovaries, hormonal disturbance,endometriosis, Fallopian tube blockages, uterine factor (fibroids and polyps etc). need to be thoroughly investigated and treated accordingly.

Infertility should be considered as a shared problem of couples and the close family members and friends should provide all the social support and encouragement rather then being the cause of stress which can cause a negative impact on treatment.

Bengaluru: Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge has criticized the much-touted Gujarat model championed by BJP leaders, calling it a “fake model.” In a post on the social media platform X on Friday, Kharge highlighted the rejection of Uttar Pradesh (UP) as a model state due to its focus on divisiveness, contrasting it with Karnataka’s development-oriented approach.

Kharge emphasized that the “Karnataka Model” is now emerging as a genuine example of development. He pointed out that a delegation of transport officials from Uttar Pradesh recently visited the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to study the efficient functioning of Karnataka’s transport system and learn about the innovative practices adopted by the state’s transport department.

“The term ‘guarantee’ that others have borrowed reflects how the Karnataka model has inspired not just various states across the country but also the central government and Prime Minister Modi himself,” Kharge stated.

Kharge also highlighted Karnataka’s leading positions in several sectors, asserting, “We are already No. 1 in the fields of IT, BT, public transport systems, financial systems, and tax collection. Our government is making sincere efforts to position Karnataka as a model state for the country in many areas.”

Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has issued a “stern warning” to his grandson Prajwal Revanna, who is currently accused in a sex scandal and is reportedly absconding from India. In a letter shared on his X handle, Gowda expressed his anguish and called for Prajwal to surrender to the authorities immediately.

Gowda shared the emotional and personal turmoil he and his family have endured since the scandal broke. “It took me some time to recover from the shock and pain Prajwal has inflicted on me, my entire family, my colleagues, friends, and party workers,” he said. Gowda reiterated his stance on the matter, stating unequivocally that if found guilty, Prajwal should face the harshest punishment under the law. This sentiment has been echoed by his son and former Karnataka Chief Minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy.

Acknowledging the harsh criticisms directed at him and his family in recent weeks, Gowda chose not to retaliate or seek to silence his detractors. “People have used the harshest words against me and my family. I am aware of it. I do not wish to stop them or criticize them. I will not try to argue that they should have waited until all the facts were known,” he stated.

Gowda addressed the public skepticism regarding his knowledge of Prajwal’s activities and movements, including his alleged foreign trip. “I also cannot convince people that I was unaware of Prajwal’s activities, that I have no desire to shield him, or that I was not aware of his foreign trip. I believe in answering to my conscience and to God, who knows the truth,” he asserted.

Choosing not to delve into what he described as political conspiracies, exaggerations, provocations, and falsehoods that have emerged in recent weeks, Gowda expressed his faith that those spreading such misinformation would eventually face divine justice. “I am very sure people who have done it will have to answer to God and pay for it heavily one day. I place my truth and my burdens at the feet of the Lord,” he said.

The core of Gowda’s message, however, was his direct warning to Prajwal. “At this juncture, I can do only one thing. I can issue a stern warning to Prajwal and ask him to return from wherever he is and surrender before the police. He should subject himself to the legal process. This is not an appeal; it is a warning,” Gowda declared. He stressed the consequences of not heeding this warning, highlighting the potential for total isolation from the family. “If he does not heed this warning, he will have to face my anger and the anger of all his family members. The law will take care of the accusations against him, but not listening to the family will ensure his total isolation. If he has any respect left for me, he has to return immediately.”

Gowda also emphasized his commitment to ensuring a fair investigation, free from any interference by him or his family. “I wish to make it clear that I will ensure there will be no interference in the inquiry against him from me or my family members. There is no emotion in this regard in my mind whatsoever, only the cause of justice for those who have suffered as a result of his alleged actions and misdeeds,” he said.

“It is of utmost importance to me to earn back the trust of the people. They have stood by me for over sixty years of my political life, and I am deeply indebted to them. As long as I am alive, I will never let them down,” he concluded.

Bengaluru : Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the state government has written to the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel the diplomatic passport of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued against him by a court.

The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and is the NDA’s candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women.

Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27, a day after Hassan went to polls, and is still at large.

“CM (Chief Minister) has already written to the Prime Minister, but the department (Home) writing it in accordance with law is different. Warrant has been issued now, on the basis of the warrant, a letter has been written stating that — warrant has been issued and the diplomatic passport has to be cancelled,” Parameshwara said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said if the passport is cancelled, it will be impossible for Prajwal to stay anymore in the foreign country, and he will have to come back.

“We have written to the Ministry of External Affairs as matters related to passports come under them, they will have to respond to it,” he added.

A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on Saturday against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the state government to probe the serial sex abuse charges against the MP.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had on May 1 written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to move the Ministries of External Affairs and Home Affairs to take swift action to cancel the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna.

A ‘Blue Corner Notice’ seeking information on Prajwal’s whereabouts has already been issued by Interpol, following a request by the SIT via the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Responding to a question on JD(S) leader and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy requesting Prajwal Revanna, who is also his nephew, to return to India and face the probe, Parameshwara said, “I have seen it in the media, it is their family’s internal matter, let him (Prajwal) come and face the law.”

Regarding Kumaraswamy alleging that 40 phones including his own and those of his family members and supporters are being tapped, the Home Minister said, “I have already said that the government has not tapped the phones of Kumaraswamy or 40 people that he has claimed. If he has accurate information that it has been done, let him give the information, we will get it investigated as to who has done it and why.”

Asked whether the purported audio of alleged conversation between Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and BJP leader Devaraje Gowda about the leak of explicit videos allegedly involving Prajwal Revanna, that has surfaced will also be probed by the SIT, Parameshwara said, “they (SIT) will decide it, at every level the government will not instruct about the investigation, we have nothing to do with it. SIT has been given total freedom to investigate and they will investigate as per their mandate.”

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: A group of litterateurs and academics of Karnataka have written to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanding the immediate arrest of Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women but has gone abroad, “absconding” from the law.

The state government has constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by Additional Director General of Police B K Singh to probe multiple instances of sexual abuse and related cases involving Prajwal Revanna, and the Interpol has issued a Blue Corner Notice against the Hassan MP, who reportedly left the country on April 27.

Prajwal is the son of MLA and former Minister H D Revanna, who too has been accused in a case of molestation and another case of abduction, and grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

Condemning the alleged sexual abuse of women by Prajwal, as many as 107 intellectuals comprising litterateurs, academics, playwrights, singers and social activists have written to Siddaramaiah demanding his immediate arrest.

In their letter, they said the incident shows the feudal mindset of a powerful family, whose members hold key positions in Parliament, the legislative assembly, the legislative council, panchayats and municipal bodies.

They said it is a big crime that the victims of sexual exploitation were allegedly threatened and kidnapped in order to “cover up a crime which has been happening for many years.”

The group highlighted the threat to the lives of the victims and the trauma their families are going through after the scandal broke out.

They said that some women after suffering ignominy attempted suicide while many stigmatised families migrated from Hassan.

The group said a fearless atmosphere should be created for victims to come forward and lodge complaints. They also sought a brake on trading of charges by political parties, and the completion of the SIT probe within a time-frame.

Reacting to the letter, state Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said the government would take it seriously.

“We will take their letter seriously because they are the ones who have concern for the society. They take note of the issues around them,” he said.

A 21-year-old B.Tech student allegedly died by suicide after jumping off from the sixth floor his college campus on Tuesday, May 14.

The deceased student has been identified as Karasala Rahul (21), a native of Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh. Rahul’s family has been residing in Ballari for the past few years and he lived with his mother at a rented home around 4 km away from the campus.

Rahul’s extreme step is alleged to have been triggered by being denied admission into the exam hall, as he was late for the examinations. Rahul was known to be doing well in studies and was saddened by this denial.

The deceased’s mortal remains were transported to Victoria Hospital for post-mortem. The Parappana Agrahara Police have visited the scene.

Bengaluru: The Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) has attacked the state Congress government for its failure to pay the salaries of 108 ambulance drivers, despite their crucial role in emergency healthcare services. The criticism comes amidst growing discontent over the government’s inability to fulfil its financial obligations.

In a scathing statement, the JDS accused the government of prioritising popularity over the welfare of its citizens. Highlighting the plight of the ambulance drivers, who have not received their salaries for three months, the party condemned the administration’s lack of accountability.

“The state Congress government is more addicted to popularity than people,” remarked the JDS spokesperson. “Irresponsibility is more evident than drought management. It’s a disgrace that these drivers, who risk their lives to save others, have been neglected in this manner.”

The issue gained further traction after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made a bold declaration during a speech in Bagalkot, promising to resign if any state government employee reported unpaid wages. JDS immediately seized upon this statement, calling for the CM’s resignation in light of the unpaid salaries of the ambulance drivers.

“If even a single government employee of the state comes to me and says that his salary has not been paid, I will retire from politics,” CM Siddaramaiah had declared.

Responding to the CM’s challenge, the JDS demanded immediate action to rectify the situation and ensure that the ambulance drivers receive their overdue wages without further delay.

New Delhi: Stepping up attack on the BJP over sexual abuse allegations against JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna in Karnataka, the Congress of Monday alleged that the Modi government has “always protected” those who commit crimes against women.

Former All India Mahila Congress chief Netta D’Souza said the BJP has only given slogans such as ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, but the reality is there before the people of the country.

“Be it the brave women wrestlers or daughters like Ankita Bhandari, the prime minister did not try to provide justice to any daughter. The BJP government has always protected those who commit crimes against women,” she alleged at a press conference at the AICC headquarters here.

“The women of the country are very angry on the issue of Prajwal Revanna. Women are forced to think that the real character of the person, who was under the protection of Modi ji inside Parliament for the last 5 years, has been revealed to the country,” she said.

“If someone else had done the same thing then Modi ji would have been saying all over the country — ‘Look, we have caught the criminal to protect our daughters’,” D’Souza said.

“But now when it comes to his favourite person, his attitude is in front of the entire country,” she said.

While the Congress has been attacking the BJP over the allegations of sexual abuse against leaders of its ally JD(S), the BJP has blamed the Congress government in Karnataka for the “delayed” action against the accused and said it would push for the full might of law against the accused.

D’Souza said PM Modi had shared the stage with Prajwal Revanna, who is seeking re-election from Hassan Lok Sabha seat, and sought votes for him.

“If Modi is there, then it is possible for Prajwal Revanna to flee abroad. If Modi is there, then it was possible for Prajwal Revanna to sit in Parliament. But today Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Smriti Irani are silent,” she said.

“Modi ji was saying that the vote given to Prajwal Revanna would strengthen him. Now the women of the country will give you an answer on ‘400 paar’,” she said, referring to the BJP’s election slogan.

Prajwal and his father H D Revanna were booked by police on Sunday on charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation based on a complaint from a woman who worked in their household.

Prajwal is the grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and a nephew of Karnataka’s former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Faced with unrelenting attacks from the Congress and other political parties, the JD(S), an ally of the BJP, has suspended Prajwal.

Karnataka JD(S) MLA H D Revanna was arrested by the Special Investigation Team on Saturday in a kidnapping case linked to sexual abuse allegations against his son Prajwal soon after a court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday said a ‘Blue Corner’ notice has been issued and Interpol’s help is being taken to bring Prajwal Revanna back to India.

JD(S) MLA H D Revanna

Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team probing the case against JD(S) MLA H D Revanna in connection with the alleged kidnapping and illegal confining of a woman carried out a spot inspection at his residence at Basavanagudi in Bengaluru on Monday.

In the absence of the Revanna family, the SIT team summoned his lawyer, Gopal, for the spot inspection.

Two days ago, the SIT had inspected the MLA’s house at Holenarasipura in Hassan district.

Revanna, son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, is facing two cases. One pertains to the molestation of the cook in which Revanna’s son Prajwal is also an accused.

The second one is a kidnapping case registered on May 2. The victim’s son charged that Revanna’s aide Sathish Babanna took his mother on a bike on April 29 and put her in an illegal confinement after videos surfaced showing Prajwal allegedly tied and raped her.

The woman has been rescued. The police team is going around the places where she was allegedly sexually brutalised.

Many explicit videos and photographs of several women have surfaced who were allegedly raped, molested and filmed by Prajwal.

The SIT took the two complainants to various locations where the rape and molestation took place.

Meanwhile, Revanna’s lawyer Gopal alleged that the SIT team did not let him inside the JD(S) leader’s Basavanagudi house.

He charged that he was given notice for the spot inspection but the SIT did not allow him inside.

“I am not allowed inside though I should have been present there. Illegal things are going on. I am not against spot inspection. When the SIT served me a notice to be present here, why I was kept outside? Did I say that I will not cooperate?” Gopal sought to know.

Stating that a list of seized items has to be provided, he wondered whom the SIT will hand over to.

“Shouldn’t you (SIT) provide it to the person authorised for spot inspection? The SIT is doing it in a one-sided manner. They are doing it keeping the process away from my glare,” the lawyer said.

Meanwhile, security personnel are on the alert at the Kempegowda International Airport anticipating the arrival of Prajwal from abroad. A Blue Corner Notice has also been issued against him.

A Blue Corner Notice is issued by the international police cooperation body to collect additional information from its member countries about a person’s identity, location or activities in relation to a crime.

(L-R) JD(S) MLA H D Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna

Bengaluru: JD(S) MLA H D Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna, the incumbent MP from Hassan, who have been booked for alleged sexual harassment, have been issued notices by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday, official sources said.

They have been asked to appear before SIT for investigation, they said.

A case was registered at the Holenarsipura police station in Hassan district on Sunday, based on a complaint by a woman who worked in Revanna’s house.

The father-son duo was booked under IPC sections 354A (sexual abuse), 354D (stalking), 506 (threat) and 509 (insult caused to the modesty of a woman).

The FIR was referred to the SIT, led by B K Singh, Additional Director-General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, formed to probe the alleged sex scandal involving Prajwal Revanna, after several explicit videos were in circulation.

Prajwal Revanna is not in the country and is said to have flown abroad after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka on April 26.

Prajwal Revanna is the BJP-JD(S) candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls on Friday.