Three-time MLA from Malleswaram, Dr Ashwathnarayan is a doctor, politician and is also vocal in his concern for environmental issues.

Doc-turned ‘accessible’ 3-time MLA 

Three-time MLA from Malleswaram, Dr Ashwathnarayan is a doctor, politician and is also vocal in his concern for environmental issues. Soon after he took oath as minister on Tuesday at Raj Bhavan, he appealed to his followers to plant a sapling instead of handing out  flower bouquets and other gifts. “That would be the best gift to mother nature and me.’’

Known as the ‘accessible man of Malleswaram’, Dr Ashwathn arayan is the only MLA from Bengaluru who has not held a ministerial portfolio. Having carried out several pro-people initiatives, voters in his constituency remember him as the ‘phone call away MLA’. Be it street light issues, garbage issues or any other major issue, he makes sure to solve them.

He also served as Senate Member of Bangalore University, Syndicate and Senate Member of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences Employees Association. He studied in Bengaluru and did his MBBS from Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru.  This doctor-turned-politician also served as president of Junior Doctor’s association. 

Prabhu Chauhan, 50, who hails from Bonthi Thanda of Aurad taluk, Bidar, told TNIE that he spent most of his life in Mumbai involved in the scrap business. He somehow managed to get into politics in Mumbai, and was a close follower of late Maharashtra CM Gopinath Munde. It is said that Munde sent Chauhan to Aurad, and former MLA Gundappa Vakil introduced Chauhan to B S Yediyurappa in 1999.

He got elected as MLA not only in the 2008 Assembly elections, but also in 2013 and 2018. Chauhan is the only MLA who got elected on a BJP ticket in 2018 from Bidar.Chauhan is currently inspecting flood-hit districts in Raichur. My seniority, commitment to the party and to the welfare of the people are the main reasons behind me getting a berth,” he told TNIE over the phone.Chauhan said that the immediate task before him is to develop Bidar, especially Aurad taluk, and all other works “entrusted to him by the chief minister.”

MLC and now minister in the state cabinet – Kota Srinivas Poojary was born on January 1, 1960 to Annappa Poojary and Lacchi Poojary, from Kota Thattu village in Udupi district. He didn’t have a political background, but his ‘fight for justice’ attitude has landed him in his present elevated position. Hailing from the Billava community, Poojary had discontinued his education due to poverty.

However, he his honed his skills and has written several columns on the panchayat raj system and the three-tier local governance for a Kannada daily.

His political journey started when he became a member of Kota gram panchayat in 1993. He became Udupi taluk panchayat member in 1996. He tasted defeat at the hands of K Jayaprakash Hegde when he contested as a BJP candidate in 1999 and 2004 in the state assembly election from erstwhile Brahmavara constituency. He was Inland Water Transport minister in 2012. He was re-elected as an MLC in 2015, and became the leader of opposition in the legislative council in 2018.  

Pallavi c.n

On 16th August, Friday, Shri VS ugrappa, Ex-MP addressed the press conference at KPCC office.    ” India oscillates between the situation of flood and drought resulting in irreplaceable damages to life and property. Amidst this natural calamity, the government at the center has exhibited a lack of responsibility and has played favorites with regards allocating the relief funds to disaster-prone states. According to the UN report title “Economic Losses, poverty and disasters 1998-2017″, India has lost 70.5 bn US dollars owing to climate-related disasters” he said. 

Pallavi Karnam

Mediation should become new mantra among lawyers: Justice M.N. Venkatachalaiah

Speaking at Legal Leadership Conclave, he said there was a loss of Rs 2 lakh crore per year as legal cases drag on and called for technological intervention. 

Bengaluru: Mediation should become the new mantra among lawyers before it escalates to any level, opined Justice M.N. Venkatachalaiah, former Chief Justice of India.

Speaking at the inauguration of the one-day Legal Leadership Conclave on “Challenges and Future of Arbitration and Mediation in India,” organised by India Legal Research Foundation, Justice Venkatachalaiah said with increasing number of litigants and cases, it was high time the country accepted and adopted mediation and arbitration as a formal legal route.

“We have 34 million pending cases across the country. Of the 22,000 subordinate courts in the country, there are a minimum of 120 litigants and 120 Lawyer’s plus witnesses who visit these courts everyday. Most of the time, they go back empty handed as their matters are delayed. This is a precious loss of man hours and we should not allow it to come to such a stage.”

Pegging such delays in economic terms, the justice said there would be a notional loss of Rs 2 lakh crore per year due to such delays. “Even if a reasonable amount of Rs 200 was spent by every person, the amount of money wasted in prolonged litigation and court visits is enormous,” he pointed out.

Justice Venkatachalaiah said the judiciary should adopt new tools and technology that will speed up the process and mitigate delays. “Recognising and giving more importance to arbitration and mediation of disputes is one way to reduce pending cases. Appointing more number of judges is not the answer as this also adds to spending,” he said.

The former CJ also said technology should be used to the optimum and even the use of Artificial Intelligence would be a big step. By just spending 5% of this cost in alternative dispute resolution mechanism, the people can benefit enormously. The Prime Minister, Law Minister and other stake holders should own up to this problem. “In days of digital dictatorship and digital divide, mediation is the right way in arbitration,” he added.

Union Minister for Highways, Nitin Gadkari said there was an economic slowdown in infrastructure building, especially in his sector of national highways, as contractors were being affected hugely due to delays in litigation.

Speaking from New Delhi, via a live feed, Shri Gadkari wished the conclave all the best and said time was very important and acknowledged that in many cases of litigations, arbitration was the best way ahead for the country.  

Justice B.N. Srikrishna, former Supreme Court judge, who headed a committee and gave recommendations on mediation as a forward looking idea, said even sovereign states should get into bilateral treaties and arbitration before third parties impose anything. 

He spoke on “Challenges and Reforms in Indian Arbitration and Mediation System – Way Forward” and said the 2015 Act was very clear as it was recognised as a cut-off-date as far as arbitration of disputes were concerned.

Justice Srikrishna also stressed on the fact that it is better to have institutional arbitration especially with Supreme Court and High Courts supervising such institutions.

“The future challenge is to make effective use of the new law which is a relevant and live substitute for antiquated laws,” he added.

Justice T.S. Thakur, former Chief Justice of India, who moderated the session, said the main challenge was that anyone should be able to access the arbitration mechanism.  “Even a small municipal contractor should have easy access to the arbitration mechanism to settle his dispute.”

He was also of the opinion that India should build an international and domestic arbitration hub.

Justice Alok Aradhe, Karnataka High Court judge and President of the Arbitration Centre said arbitration as a means of redressal featured even in the Upanishads. “It’s a very old system that we need to have. As there is a rapid escalation of trade, Parliament is bringing in Acts. These Acts facilitate quick disposal of commercial matters,” he said while speaking on “Challenges to Arbitral Awards – Commercial Courts and need for training of judges.”

He said State judicial academies should train judges in modern methods of arbitration.

Pramesh Jain

Karnataka CM,BS Yediyurappa orders CBI probe in alleged phone tapping,

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday said he will order a CBI probe into the alleged phone-tapping scandal that took place during the previous congress JDS-led coalition government of HD Kumaraswamy in the state allegedly done at the behest of former Chief Minister,HD Kumaraswamy.This comes just days after the CM had already directed the Chief Secretary to inquire into the matter.
On the telephone tapping issue, several leaders, including Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah,have said it should be probed and truth should come out,so I have decided to order a CBI probe tomorrow itself I will order the probe,Yediyurappa told reporters at his residence in Dollars colony in Bengaluru.He also said it was the expectation of the people of the state that a detailed inquiry should be made and the culprits should be punished I will write to the CBI on Monday seeking a probe into the phone-tapping charge as demanded by the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah and his party’s other leaders and members,BS Yediyurappa is running the government as One man show who is even a Home Minister too now till cabinet expansion is done he added.
Yediyurappa’s announcement comes amid signs that the case is gaining political steam ever since disqualified JD(S) MLA AH Vishwanath,who served as the JD(S) state president and turned rebel later,last week dropped the political bomb,accusing the Kumaraswamy government of tapping phones and spying on more than 300 leaders,including him.
Former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said he was ready for a probe by even an international agency.Let them do any inquiry,whether it is a CBI inquiry or any other agency of the international standard, or let them talk to Trump (US President Donald Trump),and get it inquired through someone from his side,I have been observing the conduct of electronic media, their intention and attempts are to keep Kumaraswamy away from people in state politics.They will not be successful in it,he said.Stating that he was not aware as to why his name was linked to the phone tapping case,Kumaraswamy stressed,If I was involved I would have panicked,I’m open.There is not even an iota to point fingers at me Kumaraswamy said.
The disqualified JDS MLA,AH Vishwanath,who served as the JDS state president and turned rebel later,last week accused the HD Kumaraswamy government of tapping phones and spying on more than 300 leaders,including him.This charge has been categorically denied by Kumaraswamy who said in a tweet,there was no need for me to remain in and save the chair (of CM) by tapping phones.Allegations made against me by some people in this matter is far from the truth.
Congress leaders,including Siddaramaiah,Mallikarjuna Kharge and the then Home Minister in the alliance government MB Patil,Dinesh Gundu Rao,KPCC President,have sought a probe while another key party leader and former Minister DK Shivakumar has rejected the snooping charges and appeared to side with Kumaraswamy.
According to reports,phones of those close to Siddaramaiah,who was the then coalition coordination committee chief, had come under the watch of the government.
Siddaramaiah has welcomed the decision of the chief minister even as he expressed apprehension if the agency was going to be used to unleash venomous political vendetta as has allegedly been done before.I welcome the decision of BS Yediyurappa to hand over the phone tapping case to CBI.But,in the past,BJP has used CBI as its puppet to unleash its venomous political vendetta.Hope BJP Karnataka leaders do not have similar intentions this time,Siddaramaiah’s tweet read.
Hitting out at the Congress,Senior BJP leader R Ashoka expressed surprise over differences in opinion on phone tapping probe within the grand old party.Pointing out that several Congress leaders, including Siddaramaiah, had demanded a probe,he said,Before handing over for probe they demanded inquiry,now they are blaming the Chief Minister, it is not right.Without even knowing who was behind the tapping, they are blaming us of vendetta politics.None of us knows who is behind it, it should come out through probe,” Ashoka added.
BJP MP, Sriramulu hits out at coalition over phone tapping row, says the coalition tapped phones to save govt.He adds that even phones of national leaders have been tapped and there is no political agenda behind ordering the CBI probe.He even said he held discussions and then decided to handover the case to the CBI.Nobody should involve oneself into phone tapping let it be the Chief Minister or former chief minister even though ministers are aware that phone tapping is a crime they have still indulged in it for which CM BS Yediyurappa has taken a very tough decision today the previous government was claiming that it is transparent but now its bad deeds have come to light he said reporters.
Disqualified MLA,Pratap Gowda Patil reacts on phone tapping row,says phones of many BJP MLAs have been tapped.He adds that the guilty will be punished after CBI probe he added.
Vishwanath had also claimed snooping would not have happened without the knowledge of the then Chief Minister as the intelligence wing was under his control.
Several BJP leaders,including former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, have directly accused Kumaraswamy of being behind the episode to save his government which was then rocked by dissidence within the coalition government ultimately collapsed last month with the chief minister losing the trust vote in the assembly.The controversy surfaced as Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao earlier this month ordered an inquiry into phone tapping incident against the backdrop of a recently leaked telephone conversation purportedly between him and someone in Delhi lobbying on his behalf with some politicians for the post he is occupying now.
IPS officers as,Bengaluru City Police Commissioner,Bhaskar Rao, his predecessor and Additional Director-General Police (ADGP) of the Karnataka State Reserve Police (KSRP) Alok Kumar and another ADGP of the state intelligence wing Kamal Pant were reportedly lobbying for Bengaluru city police commissioner’s post during that period.Kumaraswamy opted for Alok Kumar,who held the post for 47 days from June 17 to August 1,before Rao was appointed on August 2 and Pant was not considered for the job.
Congress power broker Faraz Ahmed is alleged to have played a key role in getting Alok Kumar replaced with Rao for the post.
Reports says CM Yediyurapa has ordered CID and CBI probe in the phone tapping case and in which Bhaskar Rao’s and Faraz khan power broker of Congress will be probed first by CID and then by CBI. As phone tapping was ordered by Alok Kumar who was the then Addlitional commissioner of police crime who was the head of CCB,who has signed the ordered and passed to DCP Crime,Girish S who was heading technical wing in the CCB along with him ACP,Ramachandraiah,Inspectors as,Mirza,Yathiraj,Malltesh and others will be questioned by CBI in the alleged phone tapping case once the case will be probed by CBI.
CM BS Yediyurappa even said that after the expansion of cabinet he will hand over the IMA Multi-Crore Fraud case to CBI after the expansion of cabinet on Aug 20th as now the kingpin Mansoor Khan is in Judicial custody till August 30th.
On August 14th Yediyurappa directed state Chief Secretary TM Vijaya Bhaskar to probe the case after an interim report by Joint Commissioner of Police (crime) Sandeep Patil revealed that Rao’s conversations with Ahmed were tapped thrice between May and June.
After audio tapes containing voices of Rao, Faraz, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel and others were leaked to a section of the local media News18 Kannada first Aired and telecasted the Audio tape bomb of Commissioner of Police,Bhaskar Rao and Congess Power broker Faraz Khan, Kumaraswamy refuted that he ordered tapping of their phones.
Kumaraswamy resigned on July 23 after he lost the trust vote in the state legislative Assembly that he moved on July 18, as the 15 rebel lawmakers resigned before they were disqualified.
Disqualified JD-S rebel A.H. Vishwanath also accused Kumaraswamy of snooping.
Yediyurappa, 76, who became chief minister for the fourth time on July 26, is also the state home minister as he has not expanded his Cabinet so far.
His allegation gave mileage to the controversy that had been swirling around the state for weeks.
Congress leaders,including Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge and home minister in the alliance government MB Patil, have sought an investigation.The other key leader and former minister, DK Shivakumar, has rejected the allegations.
The BJP government in Karnataka will expand its cabinet on Aug 20 in Bengaluru by inducting at least a dozen party’s legislators as ministers over three weeks after its state leader BSYediyurappa took oath as the CM for the fourth time on July 26.

Pramesh Jain

Six held,for ransacking Hindi boards,posters at Ganesh Bagh Jain prayer hall,Sent to Judicial custody :
Highlights. 
* Posters at Jain defaced.
* Explosive turn to language war.
* language war turns into violent by miscreants claiming pro-kannada activist.
* Communal pitch to language war.
* Kannada Fringe target Jains. 

“Kannada fringe targets Jains “
The Commercial street police of East Division has arrested six miscreants for ransacking and vandalising Hindi posters and banners put at the entrance of the Ganesh Bagh Jain community prayer hall in Bengaluru.
The six accused has been identified as,A1 Ramesh Gowda.T.resident of Hebbal.Anjanappa,resident of Dasarahalli,Harish Kumar B,resident of Maruthinagar,Manjunath.M,resident of JP Nagar,Chandrasekhar,resident of Tindlu, Madesh Gowda S,resident of JP Nagar,all the six accused were secured by Commercial Street police and has been sent to Judicial custody by magistrate.
Panic gripped at Ganesh bagh’s jain community centre when a group of alleged pro-kannada activist people created ruckus and ransacked the banners put up at the entrance to welcome dignitaries for chaturmas,a relegious program which will go on for four months.
The incident took place on Friday evening at Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Raod when some alleged pro-kannada activists forcefully ransacked posters written in the Hindi language on the entrance of a Jain prayer hall.
Complainants also alleged that the posters of religious gurus were also damaged.
The Jain community later jointly reported the matter to the police and lodged a formal complaint they said,The gang shouted against the organizers for Hindi banners and demanded that it should be in kannada language.When one of the organizers trying to reason with them.They turned it into voilent and forcibly tored the banners by climbing and also they have torn and stampede the shrine pics and threatened them with sure consequences. 
The accused had even recorded the act on mobile phone and uploaded on social media with a warning to follow kannada while in karnaraka. 
The incident soon spread among the community who vent their ire and alerted the commercial Street police.
Following the complaint, the DCP visited the incident site and assured action against all the accused. The alleged incident was duly recorded and uploaded on the social media site Facebook.
The video which was uploaded on social media was also provided to the police by the Jain community as evidence of the incident.
All India Jain Minority Federation,State President,Prasanna Sancheti and State Mahila President,Pavan Bafna with other delegation met Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and discussed about the yesterday incident at Ganesh bagh,after collecting the information about the incident Karnataka CM assured to take care of the Jain community and give instructions to DG&IGP Mrs.Neelmani Raju and Commissioner of Police,Bhaskar Rao to take strict action against those miscreants who has ransacked the posters and banners put up at the Ganesh Bagh entrance they said.Later a delegation of Jain community met the commissioner of police and submitted a complaint regarding the incident commissioner assured them of taking it very seriously and we will arrest all the accused and build confidence among the community people to not to be worried and appealed all to not be panic said by Bhaskar Rao to Community people.
Tejasvi Surya BJP MP Bengaluru South told media persons condemning the act which a alleged pro-kannada activist group of people ransacked posters at Ganesh Bagh Jain community prayer hall he told media persons that I I am a pro- kannada activist there are millions of people like us who are genuine lovers of kannada who want to protect our language and the culture those people who indulged in the vandalism today they are the ones who are a few rowdy elements and let us not call them pro-kannada activist and bring defamy or infamy who are genuinely working for the cause of kannada.As lot of Jain Scripts are in Kannada language attacking a Jain Munni attacking a Jain shrine just because there was Hindi banner on one of the shrine is nothing but vandalism and therefore we must condemn it and strict action must be taken against those people who choose to take law in their own hand.Those people who have absolutely no objection to English board have no objection to the Arabic script which is point to this land they have an objection to Devangiri  Lippi a Lippi that is routed in Indian language Idemology they were indulged in this kannada of vandalism on a board which has Arabic writing.The point is it is not about Hindi or Arabic it is about how you respond to it breaking law and taking law in their own hands condemenable I am not encouraging anyone to do this I want to expose their double standards they have no objection to Arabic they have objection to Hindi they are not pro-kannada activist they are rowdy elements strict action will be taken against them he added.
A President Of Jain Community told media persons that,On Friday evening some few miscreants they came here and they objected for the name boards being in only one language that is in Hindi.This name board we have put in Hindi just because all the Dashrathis who come here to visit our Guru Ji comes from all over every part of the India.So it is for their information only where as the main board of this Ganesh Bagh is written in all the three languages were we have given first respect to kannada language he added.Our delegates met to the Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Commissioner of Police and we have brought to their notice too as it is discourage and insult to our saint who has stampede and tore their banners as they would have come and requested to us we would have changed immediately and as it is a temperoary board so it is not compulsory to put also we got to know but if they want us to put we would have given first preference to kannada but ransacking and vandalising the posters which is welcome banner to the dashrathis we have registered a complaint against the miscreants and police have taken it very seriously and filed an FIR against the miscreants and they have arrested six persons who were involved in the vandaliing the posters incident we appreciate the efforts taken by the DCP East said by one of the President of Jain Community.
Senior officer said as soon as the incident reported of ransacking the posters forcibly by vandalising the banner and created ruckus at the Jain community hall as Ganesh Bagh as the group of alleged who alleged to be Pro-Kannada activist has posted a video on Facebook stating that it is a warning alarm to those who are imposing Hindi and are insulting Kannada language the same video was downloaded by the Jain community people and it was passed to all the Jain community papers through various social media platform which was been viral and the Jain community across India were anger on those miscreants who has ransacked the Shrine or Saint photos which was puted on the main entrance of Ganesh Bagh with Shrine pics a group of miscreants forcible ransacked the posters and even insulted the Jain Munni’s photo.As soon as the message was passed to DCP East,Rahul Kumar with other Senior officials with Commercial Street police Station inspector Nagaraj with their staff rushed to the incident spot and took all the stock of the situation and a group of Jain community people gathered at commercial street police Station outside demanding action against the miscreants the Jain community later met the DCP and explained him about the incident happened based on the complaint a case was registered against the miscreants with the video evidence of ransacking the poster and creating ruckus which was gripped in panic after registering the complaint DCP East,Rahul Kumar assured the community people he will take this matter very seriously and the culprits will be punished and we will even open a rowdy sheet against those people who are involved in this vandalism he said after registering the complaint DCP and his team with ACP,Inspector and their crime staff swung into action based on the concrete evidence the team apprehended four person in the late midnight and took them into custody and later in the morning we picked more two persons so totally we have arrested six accused who has taken law in their own hands by ransacking and vandalising the banners and posters of Jain Munni and all the accused has been identified as,Anjanappa,Harish Gowda,Ramesh gowda,Mahesh gowda,chandrashekar and Manjunath and case has been registered against them in commercial street police station in the cr.no.118/19.u/s,153(a) 427,504’506 ipc section which are non-bailable after arresting all the accused the commercial street police inspector and his staff produced all the six accused before the magistrate at his house in Koramangala judicial layout after verifying the information about the incident the Magistrate has remanded all the six accused to 14 days judicial custody and we warn all those miscreants who are taking law into their hand will be delt to severe punishment a strict action will be taken against them who indulge in this type of criminal activities if they have problem with any language imposition they should approach local police and seek their help in getting removed the other language board but taking law into their own hands and disturbing other community and creating panic situation across Bengaluru city means we have zero tolerance for this and we will take stern action against those who are indulging and provocating others to make this issue violent we are monitoring each and everything where as Jain community Shrine has asked their community people to maintain peace and said the cops are investigating the case and we should cooperate with the police  appealed  by Shrine or Guru Ji of Jain community to its community members through a video and I appreciate the team who has taken the case very seriously and arrested all the accused with in 24 hours he added.
Meanwhile the accused who were arrested by the police started releasing videos blaming Union Home Minister Amit Shah,MPs of Bengaluru as,PC Mohan,DV Sadananda Gowda and Tejasvi Surya they even blamed the Chief minister of Karnataka BS Yediyurappa and by slamming the government one of the accused we are ready to go to jail for 100 days also for the kannada culture and language and they even started releasing videos provoking other Kannadigas and other activists to show their strength in standing for them and many even started uploading threatening videos and warning the Jain community people that you are doing all illegal business and staying in our Bengaluru karnataka and are planning to bandh against us they were like if you have guts then block and show one road then we will show our Kannadigas power to you and a series of videos with open threat videos to Jain community as Marwari people was released by those accused and their followers who has even posted that they will intensify their protest across Karnataka and asked all the other organizations to support them in the protest which will be held tomorrow at 5.30 pm near Townhall against the Karnataka state government for arresting their members a post by alleged pro-kannada activist on social media says.
Sources in the police department said that we have taken all the precautionary measures to prevent any untoward incident and we will take strict action against those who are disturbing the society and community harmony with their provocating statements we will take stringent and severe action those who are indulging in this activities we will not spare any one who takes law in their hand they said.

Parmesh jain

High alert continues in Karnataka,security beefed up across Bengaluru important places where more the public footfall is high.
Bengaluru Policemen are on their toes after City Police Commissioner,Bhaskar Rao on Friday issued a high alert memo to all the senior officers to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
The memo,however, does not specify any threat,including any possible terrorist attack or any major sabotage activity in the city.
Check posts at important places and take all precautionary measures at Vidhana Soudha,High Court,Airport,all Railway stations, Bengaluru Metro,BMTC,KSRTC Bus terminals,Malls,temples and other religious places and all five star hotels and busy markets and check lodges,PGs,Hostels and be alert round the clock.
Memo issued by Commissioner says all Officers should be available on rounds at important places in their areas,and officers deployed at night should check all vehicles at borders and detain suspicious vehicles, the Bengaluru police commissioner has ordered.
Major towns and cities in Karnataka have been beefed up after a high alert was sounded on Friday.Police said it was only an extension of the usual alert sounded for the Independence Day.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner,Bhaskar Rao, in a memo to all senior police officers directed all top ranking officers to remain on high alert.They should sensitise the public about the alert at all iconic installations like Vidhana Soudha,Vikas Soudha,Airport,High Court,Railway stations,Bus stands,Bengaluru Metro Rail,High End schools,Malls,five star hotels,temples,Mosque, and markets with high footfall.Officials have also been asked to post pickets,ensure CCTVs were functional, high level of police presence and continuous visibility,verifying antecedents of suspects,seize unattended bags and vehicles and intensify night checking.Special attention should be paid to hostels,serviced apartments and accommodation near religious places,the memo said.Rao said reporters that,This has been issued just to keep my officers and force on high alert and see how they respond if any such high alert comes lastly he termed this as as a general alert and not a reaction to any specific threat he said.
Meanwhile 9 suspicious people hailing from Mangaluru,Madikeri Kerala have been arrested in Mangaluru by Kadri Police station from a lodge.The nine people were arrested from a lodge near pumpwell on late Friday night.Cops have also seized a vehicle carrying National Crime Investigation board from the suspects possession and are investigating them.
The high alert comes when Karnataka is facing natural Calamities as at least 65 human and 941 animals have so far lost their lives in the rains and floods that have lashed Karnataka in the last two weeks recording 279% more rain than normal from 3-10 August, which is the highest in the last 118 years.14 people are still missing.

15^th August 2019: India celebrated its 73rd Independence Day on August 15, 2019, and SIBM Bengaluru commemorated this auspicious occasion with incredible enthusiasm and patriotic fervour!

Over 300 students, along with the faculty, The Director & Deputy Director of the college were a part of the flag hoisting & the felicitous event. And to perfectly encapsulate the prestige of the day, the students of the college, through a spectrum of patriotic musical performances, displayed the spirit of freedom.

The confluence of Indian culture was also evident through the lively dance performances by the students of Symbiosis School of Media & Communication, Bengaluru. The performances added a dash of colour & energy to this momentous day!

In a time when the unity of our nation is under the spotlight due to new political developments, it is moments like these across the nation, that remind us that we all are one as the citizens of this country.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s comment on ‘note printing machine’ drew criticism from the Congress and the JDS.

By Express News Service

BENGALURU: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s comment on ‘note printing machine’ drew criticism from the Congress and the JDS. On Tuesday, in response to flood-victims in Shivamogga who demanded relief, the Chief Minister said that the government does not possess a currency note printing machine.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah criticised the statement saying, “The CM of Karnataka does not have a currency note printing machine to provide relief funds for flood victims but has Akshaya Patra to fund those MLAs whose greed exceeds the imagination of the common man.’’ He was referring to the MLAs of his own party who were allegedly lured by the BJP, and helped bring his government down. The JDS also added saying, “Who printed currency notes to ferry disgruntled MLAs in chartered planes and house them in a Five Star hotel?’’

This is with reference to HD Kumaraswamy’s 14- month government that was brought down after many of the coalition legislators resigned. The Karnataka Congress also lashed out at the chief minister for an advertisement with his picture in a vernacular newspaper. The advertisement was printed on the front page of the paper on Wednesday.

“BS Yediyurappa, what kind of a ‘Thirukana Shoki’ (showing off) is this? Narendra Modi has not visited the state to survey the flood, the government has not declared it a national calamity, they have not released Rs 5,000 crore for relief, and they have not yet expanded the ministry. Without doing work they spend money on advertisements, it is like insulting the flood victims.

Karnataka Congress further sarcastically added saying ”There was a note printing machine in the home of  KS Eshwarappa.’’

Thirty-eight police officers of the state have been conferred with the President’s Police Medal.

BENGALURU: Thirty-eight police officers of the state have been conferred with the President’s Police Medal. DySP, Chikkamagaluru sub-division B S Angadi has been conferred with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

The following 37 officers have been conferred with the President’s Police Medal for Meritorious Service: N R Mahantha Reddy, ACP, Chickpet; T Manjunath, ACP, Halasuru; K Ravishankar, DySP, CID; BR Venugopal, ACP, CCB, Bengaluru;  KC Lakshminarayan, DySP, Vijayapura sub-division; MK Thammaiah, DySP, ACB, Bengaluru ; SH Subedar, DySP, C sub-division, Kalaburagi; Prakash S, DySP, Central Range, Bengaluru; K Sundaraj, DySP, Hunsur sub-division; Ram Rao Kotwal, ACP, Bellary City sub-division; M N Rudrappa, ACP, Dharwad sub-division; Geetha D Kulkarni, DySP, CID; Thippeswamy GM, DySP, DAR, Davangere; Kallappa S Kharat, Police Inspector, Chandra Layout; BG Kumarswamy, PI, Chamarajpet; SD Shashidhar, PI, Ashoknagar; Iyanna Reddy, PI, Cubbon Park; BS Basavaraju, PI, SIT, Lokayukta; MV Sheshadri, PI, BESCOM, Tumakuru; HD Kulkarni, PI, Hennur, Bengaluru; BS Sudhakar, PI, CCB; Y Amaranarayana, Circle Police Inspector, Gowribidanur; Raju Gopal R, Assistant Reserve Sub Inspector, 3rd Battalion, Bengaluru; BS Sudesh Kini, ARSI, DAR, Chikkamagaluru; RS Siddappa, ASI, Tumakuru ; NR Kate, ASI, District Special Branch, Haveri; Sathish R, ASI, Joga, Shivamogga ; Rudraswamy, Head Constable, City Special Branch, Bengaluru;  Ravindra, HC, Intelligence, Bengaluru; Manjunatha Rao N, HC, ACB, Mysuru; Ramesh, Reserve HC, 5th Battalion, KSRP, Mysore;Vijayakumar PV, Armed HC, 4th Battalion, KSRP, Bengaluru; Ranganathan, HC, Aldur, Chikkamagaluru; Ramachandra B, HC, District Police Office, Davangere; Sumathi M, WHC, Women Police Station, Madikeri; Koppala Chandra, HC, CCB, Mangaluru City; D M Myageri, HC, DPO, Gadag.

He was last quizzed in IMA case in July and has been issued 5 notices since

BENGALURU: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore I Monetary Advisory (IMA) scam seems to have no option but to wait for the appearance of disqualified Congress legislator R Roshan Baig. Baig has so far been issued notices by the SIT team five times and the last he was supposed to appear before the SIT was on Tuesday, but he gave it a miss.

SIT sources say Baig seems to be buying time, but they are helpless as he has been citing health problems.
“As a responsible citizen — and as he had promised to SIT — he is supposed to be cooperating with us for questioning. But we have only been getting medical certificates seeking more time. We have no option but to wait,” said a senior officer.

The last time Baig was detained for questioning was in July when he was quizzed for over nine hours.
He has been accused of receiving Rs 400 crore from IMA founder Mansoor Khan. “It is important for us to record his statement as Mansoor has named him as one of the beneficiaries. He seems to be buying time since the very first time we summoned him,” a senior officer said.

However, this time the SIT has not yet decided as to what date to issue for Baig to appear again.
According to some political leaders from other parties, it is not helplessness but intentional delay by the SIT team.

“If he is not guilty of receiving any money then why is he avoiding questioning? This is all because he has the backing of the same government which once was so persistent on handing over the case to CBI,” said a Congress leader.

Meanwhile, a victim of the IMA fraud Sajida Ali, a resident of Shivajinagar said, “When will we get our money back? How can SIT or the government let them hide under the garb of medical reasons?”
Baig, however, has maintained that he is not involved in the scam and his name has been dragged unnecessarily. “I will answer to the SIT and not the media” he said.

Sigh of relief for many
More than 250 employees of IMA heaved a sigh of relief with the High Court allowing them to handover the original documents to its employees. A DySP-level officer has been designated for the same. “We are happy that we are getting the originals back. We have been unemployed for almost three months now,” said Mamatha Gangadhar, one of the employees.