In the aftermath of the Rajya Sabha election results in Karnataka, a misleading narrative emerged when several news channels reported that supporters of Congress candidate Naseer Hussain chanted “Pakistan Zindabad” during the celebrations. However, a closer examination of the video footage revealed that the supporters were actually shouting “Naseer Saab Zindabad.”

Major Kannada news outlets, including TV9, Suvarna News, Public TV, Vistara News, News First, and Republic Kannada, propagated the false claim that the slogans were in support of Pakistan.

Some reports suggested that a person standing next to Naseer Hussain was the one shouting “Pakistan Zindabad.” However, another video showed that the individual was, in fact, chanting “Naseer Saab Zindabad.”

Several news channels aired the misleading information, leading to BJP leaders expressing their intent to file a complaint with the Vidhana Soudha Police Station.

Alt News co-founder Muhammad Zubair also shared the video in slow motion on his X account, in which people can be seen chanting ‘Nasir Saab Zindabad’.

Bengaluru: A 57-year-old woman succumbed to Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), commonly known as monkey fever, in Shivamogga district, taking the death toll due to the virus in Karnataka to four since January this year, Health officials said on Monday. She hailed from Uttara Kannada district, one of the regions affected by the virus.

“One more death due to KFD was reported yesterday (Sunday) night. A 57-year-old woman died in Shivamogga. She was admitted in ICU for the past 20 days and was on ventilator support. She had multiple issues. Total death toll in the state due to this virus has now reached four,” a senior health official said.

According to the latest data shared by the health department, a total of 4,641 tests have been done from January one to February 25, of which positive cases stand at 120. As many as 95 people have been discharged. As on date, there are 22 active cases.

The first death due to KFD this year was reported from Hosanagara taluk of Shivamogga district on January eight wherein an 18-year-old girl succumbed to the virus. The other two deaths were reported in Uttara Kannada and Chikkamagaluru districts. Earlier this month, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao held a high-level meeting with legislators and officers of the districts which reported an outbreak of the disease. The state government is also in talks with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for bringing out an effective vaccination, officials said.

According to officials, KFD spreads due to bites of ticks that generally survive on monkeys. This tick bites humans which causes the infection. Humans also contract the disease by coming in contact with cattle bitten by ticks.

The authorities are carrying out door-to-door awareness programs about the precautions to be taken. Those living in and around the forest area need to be more careful as they are at high risk of contracting the disease, they said.

Mandya: Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh on Monday said she was confident of getting a BJP ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election from here even as there are strong indications that the party’s alliance partner JD(S) is firm on fielding its candidate in the segment.

Sumalatha contested the 2019 general elections as an independent and she was backed by the BJP. She had defeated former Prime Minister and JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda’s grandson and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

She said her confidence stems from the fact that the party demonstrated that it gave preference to women by passing the women’s reservation bill.

There is no doubt about getting a BJP ticket and my fight is to see that the BJP retains the Mandya seat. I am quite confident that I will get a BJP ticket from Mandya,” she told reporters here.

Sumalatha’s comments assume significance as there are some reports that the BJP may leave the Mandya seat to its alliance partner JD(S).

Sumalatha said, “You see, they (BJP) had supported me in the previous election. I too supported them (BJP) whenever they raised issues in the Parliament and brought important bills. Also I extended them my support from outside in the 2023 assembly elections.”

When reminded of BJP’s alliance with the JD(S) this time, she said, “Are they my enemy if they (BJP) become friendly with the JD(S)? It’s not like that. I am also part of the BJP-led NDA just as JD(S) is, since I too supported them(BJP).”

The JD(S), which joined the BJP led NDA in September last year to fight the Lok Sabha election together, is also keen on the Mandya seat, which has been its stronghold, party sources said.

On Sunday, JD(S) second-in-command Kumaraswamy had a meeting with the party leaders regarding Lok Sabha election in Mandya.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, he said “We had a long discussion on Mandya. They all expressed their thoughts on winning this seat. We have taken note of their thoughts.”

Bengaluru, Feb. 24: Onfyx as a business networking platform, is an excellent forum providing robust leadership and creating employers to provide employment, said a renowned cardiologist Dr Manjunath.

In his absence he sent a wish note congratulating the Onfyx for its 3rd anniversary he said that networking, market, guidance is crucial in today’s business.

Fear of failure in looming large in business. 
Post Covid several hotels and, industries have downed their shutters for want of business. This is a hard phase to go through.

To overcome such fear and hurdles,
Onfyx is a welcome move. There is an urgent need to create leaders, not political leadership but those who inspire and motivate.

Small entrepreneurship must grow, especially involving women. Like the
Little drops of water make a mighty ocean these small entrepreneurship will take huge shape in the days to come, he added.

He wished the founding team 𝘿𝙧. 𝙆𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙞𝙡 𝘼𝙗𝙗𝙖𝙨 – 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝘾𝙤-𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙉𝙚𝙝𝙖 𝙁𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙖, 𝘾𝙤-𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙝𝙖𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙂𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙢 a grand success.

Kavita gave inspiring speech and went down a nostalgia trip of her MNC lifestyle, entrepreneur and bureaucrat. All the speakers defined about networking in their own way.

The anniversary was inaugurated by
𝘿𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙚𝙠𝙖𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙠𝙠𝙖𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙮𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙖
Founder & Senior Joint Replacement Surgeon at Dhee Hospital Bangalore
𝙆𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙖 𝙂𝙤𝙬𝙙𝙖 . 𝙆𝘼𝙎, CAO – DPAR, e-Governance, 𝙂𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨𝙞 𝙎𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙬𝙖𝙢𝙮
President Suvarna Karnataka Digital Media Association, 𝘼𝙟𝙞𝙩 Guruji, Vedashree sathsanga Bengaluru, 𝘿𝙧. 𝙎. 𝙎𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙮𝙖 𝙈𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙝𝙮, President of Karnataka Unaided Schools Managements Association, 𝘿𝙧 𝙉. 𝙋𝙍𝘼𝘽𝙃𝘼𝙆𝘼𝙍𝘼𝙉  Former DRDO Scientist, Vice Chairman, Institute of Defence Scientists & Technologists (IDST), 𝙋𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙑 𝙆𝙪𝙡𝙠𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞, Asst Commissioner GST, 𝙍 𝙂𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙍𝙖𝙤 𝙄𝙀𝘿𝙎, Dy Director MSME, Dr. 𝙏. 𝙃 𝘼𝙣𝙟𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙖 Surgical Gastroenterology.

BENGALURU: Justice Nilay Vipinchandra Anjaria took oath as the 34th Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court on Sunday. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath to Justice Anjaria at Raj Bhavan here. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chairman of Legislative Council Basavaraj S Horatti, who were present on the occasion, greeted Chief Justice Anjaria.

Justice Anjaria is the third Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court in the last 32 days. Earlier Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on January 24.

A native of Mandvi in Kachchh district, Justice Anjaria hails from a lawyer family and his father had served in the judiciary. He started practice in the High Court of Gujarat in August 1988. He conducted matters involving constitutional issues and all categories of civil cases, labour, and service.

He had been a Standing Counsel/Panel Advocate for the High Court and subordinate Courts, the State Election Commission, the Gujarat Information Commission, Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, and Municipalities in Gujarat.

He was awarded a Research Fellowship in 1992 by Late Shri Navinchandra Desai Foundation, Ahmedabad on ‘Freedom of Speech and Expression – With Reference to Media’, and also served as honorary Associate Editor, Gujarat Law Herald. He has authored several articles on constitutional and legal subjects, published in books and law journals.

He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Gujarat on November 21, 2011, and confirmed as a permanent Judge on September 9, 2013.

BENGALURU: Raja Venakatappa Naik, sitting Congress MLA from Shorapura Assembly constituency in Yadgir district, passed away due to a heart attack at a private hospital in Bengaluru on Sunday. He was 67 years old. Naik is survived by his wife and two sons.

The four-time MLA was a close associate of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. He was recently appointed chairman of the Karnataka Warehouse Corporation. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Kharge, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and others paid their condolences. Naik’s last rites will be held with full state honours. Shivakumar said he met Naik four days back when the latter was shifted from the ICU.Video Player is loading.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.621.0_en.html#goog_38433535Close Player

“He wrote in a paper and told me that he would come to attend the Rajya Sabha polls that will be held on Tuesday. It is a sad day for me,” he said. Siddaramaiah, who visited the hospital, said Naik was a cultured politician. He always showed concern for people’s problems. “He was appointed chairperson for the Warehouse Corporation. Unfortunately, he could not work,” the CM said. Naik became MLA in 1994, 1999 and 2013.

The Legislative session, which was supposed to conclude on Monday, has been postponed to Wednesday as the houses will pay tribute to Naik. Siddaramaiah, who was to reply on the budget on Monday, told reporters that as the Rajya Sabha polls will be held on Tuesday, he will put forth his answers on Wednesday.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday a negative propaganda is underway for a long time that the Constitution is only for “salvation” of Dalits and not in accordance with the socio-economic situation.

This negative propaganda should not be tolerated, he said after inaugurating the ‘Constitution and National Unity Conference’ organised by the Social Welfare Department at the Palace Grounds here.

It should be realised that people who are against the Constitution are indulging in negative propaganda; Constitution clearly states freedom, equality and fraternity, the Chief Minister said. “This propaganda has been going on since it came into effect on January 26, 1950. This should not be tolerated. If the Constitution is protected, we will all survive. Otherwise we will be in danger”, Siddaramaiah said.

Eradicating social inequality is the responsibility of every government, he added. “In a society with social and economic inequality, political democracy can succeed only when it rests on the foundations of social democracy,” Siddaramaiah said.

“For the Constitution to succeed, it is important to know in whose hands the power rests. The Constitution will succeed if it is in the hands of those who are in favour of the Constitution, equality and those who want to build a humane society,” he said.

Faizan Rizwan Nasheman news

Mood in the team is very positive, says vice-captain Sneh Rana

Bengaluru, 24 February, 2024: The second season of WPL has commenced, and one of the most loved teams, the Adani Sportsline-owned Gujarat Giants, is all set to open its campaign against defending champion Mumbai Indians on Sunday. Captained by the Australian run-machine Beth Mooney, the Gujarat Giants team is keen to make a splash this year.

Ahead of the first game, head coach Michael Klinger, mentor and advisor Mithali Raj, captain Mooney and vice-captain Sneh Rana spoke at length about their preparation for the season.

“There’s a really excellent sort of vibe in the group as it has been together for a little while now. We worked through some things last week, and they have come to fruition. So, there’s a keen sense of anticipation for the first game. And I know the 11 that take the field tomorrow night will take full advantage of that and put their best foot forward,” said Beth Mooney.

Echoing the thoughts of her skipper, Indian all-rounder Sneh Rana, who led Gujarat Giants last year after Mooney picked up an injury, said the team is in a good place. “We have had a good experience so far, and the Adani Sportsline team has ensured players have all support they need. The mood in the team is very positive. We have gelled quite well and are hoping for a good start to the tournament.”

In its second season, WPL decided to move away from Mumbai to Bengaluru and New Delhi. Reacting to the move, she said, “It is good that WPL is happening in different cities as we have fans across the country.”

Mentor Mithali Raj said, “If WPL moves to every city, it gives the franchise a chance to develop a new audience, who can come and watch it play. This will only improve the profile of the tournament and the franchises.”

The former Indian captain touched upon her role, and said she was enjoying working with Gujarat Giants in a big platform like WPL. She said, “I have been enjoying this role as mentor, working with young players, sharing my knowledge, helping them stay in a good space and perform their roles to the best of their ability.”

The Adani Sportsline team is also doing its bit to help women’s cricket grow in Gujarat. Speaking on the response to women’s cricket since the advent of WPL last year, Sanjay Adesara, CBO, Adani Sportsline, said, “From the point of view of a franchise, we enjoyed the ups and downs and the journey so far. Since Season 1, we have noticed an increase in interest at our academies in Ahmedabad. We are sure the golden era of women’s cricket in India is yet to come, and we are keen to contribute to it in whichever way we can.”

Bengaluru: Strongly defending his government’s guarantee schemes, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said there was nothing called “Siddanomics” and he and his government believed in “good economics”, which means taxing the rich in accordance with law and spending the money on the poor for their uplift.

He also asserted that his government is working towards protecting the Constitution and making Karnataka “Sarva Janangada Shantiya Tota” (the peaceful garden of all communities) and alleged that the BJP believes in “Manuwad” and not the Constitution.

The CM was replying to the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address to the joint sitting of Karnataka Legislature, in the Legislative Assembly.

The motion was later passed by the Lower House, even as opposition BJP and JD(S) staged a walkout, alleging that the Chief Minister was making a political speech ahead of Lok Sabha polls, instead of replying to issues raised, while no developmental work has taken place in nine months since Congress came to power.

“Kumaraswamy (JDS leader) is not here, he used the term Siddanomics (describing Siddaramaiah’s approach to state’s finances), I have never come across this word. Is there such an economics, have you read it or heard it? Is there such a book? I haven’t seen it,” Siddaramaiah said.

Noting that there is good and bad economics, he said, “I believe in good economics. I present (the budget) under good economics. Our economics is taxing the rich in accordance with law and spending it on the poor. That’s what we have done.”

Through five guarantees the government has worked towards strengthening the poor and downtrodden socially and economically, he further said, “This is good economics. This is the economics of self respect….We have spent Rs 36,000 crore for five guarantees and I have set aside about Rs 52,000 crore in the budget for the next year.”

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai took a swipe at Siddaramaiah, saying the Chief Minister should take “Siddanomics” as a compliment and consider it as a brand given to his economics.

Defending his government’s policies and programmes, the CM alleged that the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was “anti-poor, anti-farmer, anti-backward class, anti-women, anti -minorities and anti-labourers”.

Also calling it “anti-Constitution”, he said, “they (BJP) want to change the Constitution, they don’t believe in the Constitution. They believe in Manuwad…the Constitution has protected us. If Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister, if they (BJP) have become MLAs, if we have become MLAs, it is because of the Constitution. We believe in the Constitution, we don’t believe in Manuwad.”

Hitting back at the opposition over its accusation that the Congress government in the state had made the Governor utter lies in his customary address to both Houses of Legislature, Siddaramaiah said the former has spoken the truth and it has reached the people, who have already given the “certificate” to his party.

“BJP is a party of lies and that party members were experts in speaking lies,” he alleged.

The Chief Minister attacked BJP and the union government over alleged “injustice” to Karnataka in tax devolution, grants-in-aid, delay in drought relief and delay in clearance or approval for several mega development projects, while highlighting the losses incurred by the state under the 15th Finance Commission.

Siddaramaiah said when he along with Ministers, Congress MLAs and MPs from Karnataka staged a protest in Delhi demanding that the injustice be set right, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of trying to divide the country.

“But, what had Modi said as Gujarat CM?” he asked.

Also, trying to defend “separate nation” remarks by Congress MP D K Suresh, he said, “Narendra Modi as Gujarat CM in 2012-13 criticised then central government on tax devolution to his state and had said — you (Centre) don’t collect tax from our state and also don’t give us anything (in terms of devolution) to us — What should we call it?”

Dismissing opposition allegations, he said law and order in Karnataka was maintained efficiently. Investments worth Rs 77,000 crore have flown into the state in the last nine months since Congress came to power.

Rejecting the narrative that the state government was adopting a confrontational approach with the Centre, Siddaramaiah explained the efforts taken by his government to get central funds and clearances for projects.

“We are not indulging in any confrontation or conflict, we are only seeking justice for Karnataka and demanding that the injustice be set right. If we don’t do it, we will be doing injustice to seven crore Kannadigas. It’s our duty and responsibility.”

He targeted BJP legislators and 27 MPs (along with one JD(S) and an independent) for not raising with the Centre “injustice” done to Karnataka and pointed out that “we are in a federal structure.”

Responding to the Chief Minister’s claim that the state government has been working for the uplift of SC/STs, Bommai sought to know about more than Rs 11,000 crore SC/ST funds being diverted to other schemes.

To this, Siddaramaiah hit back saying it was his government which brought in a law on Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan (SCSP-TSP) and challenged BJP to introduce a legislation on SCSP-TSP at the Centre, if it is really concerned about welfare of SC/ST communities.

“They (BJP) only talk about SC/ST and chant slogan ‘Sab ka Sath, Sab ka Vikas’,” he said.

When the CM tried to compare his government’s higher allocation for SC/ST with the previous BJP regime in the state, Bommai pointed out that budget size had shrunk then, due to COVID pandemic. “Give the correct picture, don’t lie,” the BJP leader said.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill to slash the penalty on property taxes in Bengaluru city limits by 50 percent.

The bill is titled Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Amendment Bill 2024. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru development portfolio, tabled the bill in the Legislative Assembly.

“With the passing of this Amendment Bill, the penalty amount is halved, saving Bengalureans a whopping Rs 2,700 crores. The BBMP will be able to collect penalties worth Rs 1000 crore,” a statement issued by Shivakumar’s office said.

This important amendment will benefit around 13 to 15 lakh people in Bengaluru city including 5.51 lakh taxpayers, five to seven lakh people outside the property tax bracket and three lakh partial property taxpayers, it added.

Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the BJP would oppose this bill as it will lead to large scale corruption.

The Amendment Bill has a provision to give a special rebate to the poor. Government residential buildings and buildings in slums are exempt from property tax penalties. Buildings up to 1,000 square feet which are for own use are exempt from property tax penalties.

Under the amendment bill, residential and mixed-use property owners will have to pay property tax penalties only for a maximum period of five years irrespective of the default duration. Interest has been waived off for dues beyond five years.

“This is a taxpayer-friendly amendment. We have brought this Bill to help the common people though it is a burden on the government,” Shivakumar told the Assembly.

He charged that the property owners in Bengaluru had to pay heavy penalties as the previous BJP government had passed an amendment bill which doubled the penalties resulting in a huge burden on the property tax payers.

The new amendment passed by the Congress government has reduced the penalty burden on the property owners significantly, he added.