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.

BENGALURU: The Social Welfare Department’s decision to replace the wording at the entrance of classrooms in its schools from “This is the temple of knowledge, come with folded hands” to “This is the temple of knowledge ask without fear” resulted in ruckus in both Houses of the legislature on Monday.

Opposition BJP legislators in the Assembly and Council slammed the department for making the change. In the Council, MLCs protested in the well, demanding a detailed statement from the minister.

BJP state president and party MLA BY Vijayendra and MLC N Ravi Kumar took up the issue in the Assembly and Council, respectively, during the zero hour. Vijayendra said the Social Welfare Department principal secretary has issued directions to change the wording at the entrance of residential schools run by the department.

“With this, the government has insulted Rashtrakavi Kuvempu,” Vijayendra said. An irked Krishna Byregowda, revenue minister, said the Congress government does not need BJP for lessons on respecting Kuvempu. “It is you (BJP) who removed Kuvempu’s chapter from the textbook. Why do you bring politics here,” he questioned.

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said Vidhana Soudha carries a slogan, ‘’Sarakari Kelsa Devara Kelasa”. “Will that also be removed? Who is he (the officer) to change the wording at the residential schools and who has given him the power,” Ashoka asked.

BJP members protested in the well in the Council when they were not allowed to discuss the issue during the zero hour. They were asked to take it up for discussion under a different provision after following the due process and Council opposition leader Kota Srinivas Poojary’s request was turned down. At one point, BJP and Congress MLCs were raising slogans against each other. The House was adjourned after the din.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka has demanded that the state government allow drilling of new borewells as the existing ones have gone dry. “We still have four months left for the monsoon and we are already facing a drinking water crisis now,” he told the Assembly. Ashoka said it’s not just people, even animals are facing a lack of water in Karnataka. With no rain, the state is facing a drought situation and underground water has depleted drastically.

“At some places, borewells are not able to pump water from even at a dept of 1,000 ft. People are forced to depend on private water tankers,” he said. Ashoka also pointed out that many experts have flagged the water crisis. “Reservoirs in the state have reached rock bottom, water is also getting evaporated and in the coming days the situation is likely to turn from bad to worse as monsoon is some four months away,” he said. The government should allow drilling of borewells in new locations. “The government should also provide Rs 10 lakh to each gram panchayat to resolve the issue,” he said.

Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar said a committee constituted by the department suggested changes in the system of grading in universities. The committee was constituted after a boy studying at a university died by suicide. The minister informed the Council that they will get a report from the Higher Education Council and see how they can bring in a uniform system in all universities. He was responding to MLC Manjunath Bhandari’s question on huge variations in marks given by different universities and the need to bring in a uniform system.

The Assembly witnessed a verbal altercation between Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal over contractors’ association president D Kempanna’s allegation of 40% commission. “The government is not paying outstanding bills to contractors. Earlier, Kempanna had said that there is ‘40% commission’ in the current government. But it is a pity that he kept quiet and I don’t know whether he was fed with honey or jaggery,” Yatnal alleged. Shivakumar responded by recalling that Yatnal had alleged irregularities in the previous BJP government during the Covid-19 pandemic, and suggested that he speak out on the matter. This lead to a war of words between the duo with each addressing the other in the singular.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his budget speech on Friday proposed to launch three new programmes aimed at maintaining Karnataka’s top position in the startup ecosystem, particularly to support early stage startups and women entrepreneurs.

Presenting the state budget for 2024-25 in the legislative assembly, Siddaramaiah announced Rajiv Gandhi Entrepreneurship Programme an early-stage funding programme that nurtures ideas and innovations to promote innovative endeavours and startups founded by students or inexperienced entrepreneurs.

These programmes will also include a new initiative to support early stage women entrepreneurs with a sector-wise and targeted approach. To promote agriculture startups in the state, five acres of land will be provided to C-Camp Agri innovation Park, the chief minister said.

“Karnataka has been a pioneering state in the field of technology. To expand the state’s footprint in this sector, a Centre of Excellence in Fintech, Space-tech and Automation Tech at a cost of Rs 10 crore will be set up over a period of five years in collaboration with entrepreneurs and educational institutions,” the chief minister said.

Bengaluru has more than 400 Global Capability Centres. In order to attract higher investment in this sector, it is proposed to introduce a new Global Capability Centre Policy in the current year, he said.

“Karnataka Innovation of Technology Solutions, in collaboration with KEONICS, will establish skilling and innovation centres in emerging technologies across Kalaburagi, Shivamogga, Hubbali, and Tumakuru, at a budget of Rs 12 Crore,” he added.

An Institute of Advanced Genome Editing and Gene Therapy will be established to promote study and research in genomics in the state which aims to become a hub for cutting-edge research in health, agriculture and other areas of life sciences, he said.

The Karnataka government will launch a AVGC-XR Policy 3.0 for the period 2024-2029, with an ambitious aim of generating 30,000 new high-quality jobs in this sector. There will be a new investment of Rs 150 crore towards this, Siddaramaiah said.

To showcase the growth of science and technology and to promote science education, a science city at Bengaluru will be established in association with the Government of India at total cost of Rs 233 crore.

“Karnataka holds the top position in terms of industrial growth. To maintain its top position and to attract more investment, New Industrial Policy will be formulated in the current year. Global Investors Meet will be organised in February-2025 to attract greater foreign investment into the state,” Siddaramaiah said during his speech.

The industrial estates existing in various districts will be upgraded through Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation in collaboration with the central government at an estimated cost of Rs 39 crore.

An industrial node will be developed near Dharwad in 6,000 acres of land under the Bengaluru-Mumbai economic corridor programme in collaboration with the central and state government. This will resolve the unemployment problem of the North Karnataka region and encourage economic development, he said.

The New Textile Policy 2024-29 will be formulated for the development of the textile and weaving sector, the chief minister announced. Through this, a capital investment of Rs 10,000 crore is expected along with generation of two lakh jobs. This policy will also promote greater investment and employment opportunities, he added.

The chief minister also announced that mini textile parks will be set up in 25 districts of the state for which subsidy will be provided with the existing policy.

Bengaluru: An Information Disorder Tackling Unit will be formed in collaboration with the Information Technology and Biotechnology department to take stringent action against those who create insecurity and fear in society by spreading fake news, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday.

Presenting the 2024-25 budget in the legislative assembly, the chief minister also said that the state government will initiate stringent action against those who engage in riots.

“As described by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu, our state Karnataka is a garden of peace for all communities,” Siddaramaiah said. “For hundreds of years, people belonging to different religions, languages, cultures and communities have been living in harmony in this land. Therefore, our government will initiate stringent action against those who engage in riots in the name of caste, religion and language.”

On the Information Disorder Tracking Unit, he said a special cell unit will be formed in the Home department which would be empowered to take suitable legal action against those who create insecurity and fear in society by spreading fake news.

In the wake of increasing cases of fake news and other cybercrime cases, 43 CEN (Cyber, Economic and Narcotics) police stations will be upgraded with a view to strengthening cybercrime branch in the state to investigate and take effective action against those who deceive innocent people, the chief minister said.

Artificial intelligence software, baggage scanners and other state-of-the-art equipment will be procured at a cost of Rs five crore to ensure the smooth administration and security of all prisons of the state.

High-security prisons will be constructed in Shivamogga district at a cost of Rs 100 crore, he added.

To increase efficiency of the Fire and Emergency department, one per cent cess will be levied on property tax of newly constructed multistoried buildings according to the Karnataka Fire Force Act, 1964.

Under the Police Gruha-2025 scheme, 1,128 police quarters have been constructed so far and the construction work of 2,956 police quarters is under progress at a cost of Rs 800 crore. Rs 200 crore will be provided for the year 2024-25 for this project.

“Own buildings will be constructed for the police stations and offices that don’t have buildings at a cost of Rs 30 crore, and necessary equipment and software will be provided to strengthen mobile forensic and audio-visual branch of Forensic Science Laboratories at the cost of Rs 10 crore,” the CM added.

Parmesh S Jain

Two ERSS-112,Police personnel of Doddaballapur police station felicitated for rescuing a woman who was about to end her life at her house 
Superintendent of Police,Bengaluru district, Mallikarjuna Baladandi on Wednesday felicitated two police personnel personnel attached to Emergency Response Support system (ERSS-112)of Doddaballapura police station for rescuing a woman who was about to end her life in front of her minor children following a fight with her in-laws in Melekote cross January 23.
The victim after a fight with her in-laws walked out of the house along with her minor children before calling 112 to report.
Based on the report the ERSS Team comprising on police constables Abhishek and Shivaraj reached within few minutes and found the mobile phone of the complainant was switched off . 
The duo with the help of control room staff managed to track down her location from the last call and started searching for her . 
While passing-by a dilapidated house,the police personnel heard the cry of children and rushed and broke open the door to find the woman was hanging to the ceiling before her children.
The duo managed to cut open the rope and rescued her before rushing her to the hospital along with the children. 
The woman is presently under treatment and the police are probing the case further .
Appreciating the sense of duty, the duo were feted with the letter of appreciation..

Parmesh S Jain

Double Murder of Elderly Men Over Property Dispute Shocks Bengaluru;Accused Called Cops and surrenders 
Two businessmen were found stabbed to death at their shop in kumbarapete on Wednesday under Halasurgate police station limits.
The deceased have been identified as Suresh,55 and his friend Mahendra,68.
Senior officers with other officers rushed to spot and after inspecting the spot and collecting information said that Suresh owned Hari marketing, a kitchen appliance shop in kumbarapete.
It is said the murder took place between 8 to 8.30 pm when Mahendra had come to visit his friend.
The assailants armed with lethal weapon barged into the shop and stabbed Suresh killing him on the spot.the accused also stabbed Mahendra when he suspected to have resisted to save his friend.
The police said that one of the assailant has been secured and the double murder is due to property dispute between the relatives.
The Halasurgate police have taken up a case of murder and investigating further.