Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday termed statements made by some leaders within the ruling Congress, indicating the Chief Minister change in the state, as personal opinion, and said one should not cross the “Lakshman Rekha” drawn by the party.

While speaking to reporters, he was responding to certain recent comments made by some party leaders, which led to speculations about a leadership change in Karnataka later this year.

Congress MLA, H A Iqbal Hussain, has claimed that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar may get an opportunity to become the Chief Minister of the state in two-three months; while Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna has indicated ‘revolutionary’ political developments in the state after September.

Responding to a question about statements by party leaders on leadership change, Parameshwara said, “Individually, they have expressed their opinions, to some extent I don’t think it is wrong, but then again, there is a Lakshman Rekha drawn by the party, beyond the point one shouldn’t go. Probably the AICC will look into it, through the General Secretary in charge.”

Asked about Rajanna’s statement indicating ‘revolutionary’ political developments in the state after September, he said he didn’t know anything about it.

There have been speculations within political circles, especially within the ruling Congress, for some time now, about the chief minister change later this year, citing a power-sharing agreement (which was not public) involving incumbent Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. But such talks had taken a backseat for some time, after strong instructions from the party high command.

Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala is visiting the state and will be holding separate meetings with party legislators.

Responding to a question on this, the home minister said. “Surjewala ji is our in-charge General Secretary of AICC, he keeps visiting Karnataka to look into various aspects, not necessarily governmental issues. Politically, in terms of strengthening the party, party programmes, and obviously, if there are any disturbances in the party or the government, naturally, as an in-charge General Secretary, he will guide us.”

Also, there were some statements by certain MLAs during the last couple of weeks, and he may also look into them, he added.

Parameshwara was referring to disgruntlement within the ruling Congress, with some legislators speaking openly against their own party government’s functioning.

Congress MLA from Aland constituency, B R Patil, had recently alleged bribery in the allotment of public housing under the Housing department; while MLA Raju Kage, who represents Kagwad assembly constituency had hinted at resigning, citing delays in developmental works and the release of funds, while alleging that the administration had “completely collapsed”.

Their open remarks have embarrassed the ruling Congress, with opposition BJP and JD(S) using it to target the government, accusing it of rampant corruption and demanding the resignation of CM Siddaramaiah and Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan.

To a question on RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale’s call for reviewing the words ‘socialist’ and ‘secular’ in the Preamble of the Constitution, Parameshwara said, RSS and BJP have kept the issue of emergency alive for obvious reasons, it is a political decision which they have taken, and the AICC will handle it.

“The constitution is a time-tested one, while others are appreciating the Indian constitution, within the country, we try to comment and say ‘do this, do that’. I don’t think it is necessary right now. I don’t know what their (RSS/BJP) agenda is within, but definitely it doesn’t go well in the democratic setup at the moment,” he added.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Amid a controversy over the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) allowing dairy giant Amul to open retail outlets at Metro stations here, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has been asked to initiate the process of setting up Nandini outlets at such stations.

Shivakumar’s response comes in the wake of criticism from several organisations, who accused the state government of allegedly favouring Amul over KMF’s own dairy brand, Nandini.

“The KMF has been instructed to submit an application to BMRCL to open Nandini outlets at eight Metro stations,” he told reporters here.

“BMRCL had issued a global tender and Amul was the sole applicant. We have now directed KMF to apply as well. KMF will open Nandini outlets in eight Metro stations.

“Amul has already opened outlets at two stations. It is not appropriate to shut down existing ones. We’ve asked BMRCL to allow Nandini outlets at the remaining stations,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

A BMRCL official said that Amul currently operates outlets at Benniganahalli and Byappanahalli Metro stations.

Additional outlets are planned at Pattandur Agrahara, Indiranagar, Trinity Circle, Sir M Visvesvaraya, Jayanagara, Majestic, National College, and Banashankari stations.

The official added that Nandini had previously opened outlets at MG Road, Mahalakshmi, and Vijayanagar stations. Of these, only the Vijayanagar outlet remains operational. “For us, both Nandini and Amul are equal. Whoever pays the rent will be allowed to operate,” the official said.

The move has reignited the debate between Amul and the KMF’s flagship brand Nandini.

Tensions over Amul’s presence in Karnataka first escalated in December 2022, following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to KMF facilities in Mandya. It triggered concerns among farmers and political parties about a possible attempt by the Gujarat-based dairy giant to expand its footprint at the expense of Nandini.

During his visit, Shah called for cooperation between Amul and KMF, suggesting joint efforts could lead to primary dairies in every village within three years. He also mentioned the possibility of technical support from Amul to Nandini.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday assured that the electricity supply companies (ESCOMs) in the state will not be privatised as long as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and he remain in power.

Karnataka has five electricity supply companies, namely, Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (MESCOM), Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM), Gulbarga Electricity Supply Company Limited (GESCOM), Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESCOM), and Hubli Electricity Supply Company Limited (HESCOM).

Shivakumar was speaking at the 60th Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of the Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) Employees’ Association and the launch of the Vajrajyoti commemorative issue held at Palace Grounds in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

“After I became the Energy Minister, the BJP government came to power at the Centre. ESCOMs in various cities across the country, including Mumbai and Delhi, were handed over to private companies. I was pressured to do the same in Bengaluru. But I told them that our employees, engineers, and board of directors are highly competent and can run the ESCOMs efficiently. As long as D.K. Shivakumar and CM Siddaramaiah are in power in the state, we will not allow the privatisation of ESCOMs,” he said.

“When I took charge of this department, the transmission loss stood at 19–20%. We have brought it down to 10%. This is a model for the country. Even today, other states report a loss of 17–18%. The Energy Department is growing stronger due to the efforts of all of you. Minister K.J. George has now taken over the department and is leading it in a transparent and excellent manner. We had taken many revolutionary decisions in the past,” he added.

“When I took charge of the Energy Department, Karnataka was generating 11,000 MW of electricity. By the time I left the department, the state was generating 23,000 MW. I also recruited 24,000 employees transparently, without accepting a single rupee in bribe. Earlier energy ministers used to take money for appointments. I am proud that I avoided that and provided jobs at your doorsteps,” he said.

“We made several decisions regarding wind power, solar power, and gas production in Bengaluru city. As a result, investors showed interest in our state. We are launching a new pumped storage power plant, which we plan to build in Savadatti and Varahi. We have also decided to generate 20–50 MW of electricity in each taluk to provide power to farmers during the daytime.

“When the Pavagada Solar Power Station was established, the price of agricultural land there was just ₹50,000 per acre. Instead of purchasing the land, we implemented the project by paying ₹18,000 per acre annually as rent to the farmers. Today, they are receiving ₹26,000–₹27,000 per acre per year. Even now, the farmers remain the landowners,” he explained.

“Your demands are being given due attention. OPS (Old Pension Scheme) is also part of our manifesto. Do not worry about it. In the past, when the issue of promotion arose, I resolved it on the very same day. Whenever the Congress government comes to power, it will work for your welfare. Remember, the salary of an IPS officer is the same as that of the KPTCL and ESCOM Chief Engineers. May your love and trust continue to be with us,” he stated.

Bengaluru: The state government has granted permission to construct a Kannada Bhavan using more than ₹2 crore of unutilized funds allocated for the 87th All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelan held in Mandya.

The state government has issued an order stating that funds were collected from various sources for the 87th Sahitya Sammelan. It has now authorized the Deputy Commissioner of Mandya district to utilize the unused amount of ₹2,18,68,392 for the construction of a Kannada Bhavan in the district.

The estimated cost of construction and related documents must be submitted to the government. The project should be implemented within the approved grant limit. The order also states that all instructions outlined in relevant government circulars must be strictly adhered to.

Bengaluru: Bengaluru Metro passengers will soon be able to book their tickets through mobility apps like Rapido, Google Maps, and Redbus, making travel more convenient and seamless, reported MoneyControl.

Quoting sources the report mentioned that Rapido has already started testing the Metro ticket booking feature on its app. Users will be able to book auto-rickshaws, cabs, and Metro rides all in one place. Rapido is also planning to offer a 20% discount on the first Metro ticket booked through its platform. Meanwhile, Tummoc, another mobility app that already offers BMTC bus passes, is also piloting Metro ticketing.

This new initiative is being launched through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), which has partnered with more than 10 mobility apps. A senior official from Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) told Moneycontrol that ONDC will allow users to book Metro tickets from any app of their choice. An official rollout of the ONDC-Metro ticketing integration is expected next month.

To enable this service across different platforms, BMRCL has partnered with SequelString AI (SAI), a technology solutions provider. In the coming weeks, ticketing will also become available through Namma Yatri and Google Maps.

Currently, BMRCL data shows that as of April 2025, 48.1% of Metro users used smart cards, 29% used tokens, and 22.8% used QR-code tickets. In that same month, 2.28 crore people traveled by Metro.

Meta-owned WhatsApp introduced QR ticket booking in 2022, but it does not yet support full journey planning, including first- and last-mile connectivity. BMRCL also has partnerships with Paytm for QR-code ticketing and Amazon Pay for smart card recharges.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday paid respects to Bharath Bhushan, who was shot dead in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu-Kashmir, and urged the central government to eliminate terrorists and ensure that such incidents don’t repeat.

Asserting that everyone is with the Centre in its action against the terrorists, he, however, reiterated intelligence failure in stopping the attack from happening.

Bodies of two tourists from Karnataka who were killed by the terrorists in the Pahalgam terror attack were brought to the Kempegowda International Airport here in the early hours on Thursday.

Manjunath Rao and Bharath Bushan were among the 26 people killed in front of their families after confirming their religious identity in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Most of those killed by terrorists were tourists.

While Rao’s body was taken to his hometown Shivamogga, Bushan’s body was brought to his residence in Bengaluru. The last rites are likely to take place later in the day.

“On behalf of the government and seven crore Kannadigas, I pay my respects to Bharath Bhushan. Still young age, he was 41 years old and a BE, MBA graduate. An untoward incident has happened. This is an inhuman act. I strongly condemn it,” Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters here after paying respects to Bhushan, he said that eliminating terrorists is the responsibility of the government. Terrorism and terrorist activities should have no place in the country.

“For no reason the government (central) should show any discount towards this. We are all with the central government. I urge the Centre to eliminate all terrorists. Our full support is there for this” he added.

Pointing out that innocent people who had gone to Kashmir as tourists were killed in front of their wives and children, the CM said, there cannot be another heinous and inhuman act than this. He further said that he strongly condemned it.

Citing the Pulwama terror incident in which around 40 soldiers were killed, he said, “Now this incident has happened. It should be ensured that such incidents don’t repeat. The terrorists should be traced and they should be eliminated from the country. I urge the central government to take such measures. I somewhere feel that there was intelligence failure.”

Noting that two people from the state have died and another person from Andhra who was a resident of Bengaluru was also killed and his body has been taken to his home state, Siddaramaiah said, Minister Madhu Bangarappa will be paying respect to Manjunath Rao in Shivamogga, on behalf of the government.

The government has announced Rs 10 lakh each to the family of the deceased, and will always be with them, he said.

A team of officers and Minister Santosh Lad rushed to Jammu and Kashmir to get back bodies to the state, and to ensure the return of Kannadigas who had gone there as tourists. 177 Kannadigas are being brought back. “It is the responsibility of the government,” the CM said.

Bharath Bhushan was shot dead by the terrorists while his wife Sujatha and their three-year-old son were spared. While Manjunath Rao, a realtor, was also killed in the presence of his wife and son.

Nasheman news

Easter marks the glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ – not merely as a historical event, but as a profound spiritual reality that continues to inspire faith, courage, and transformation in the hearts of believers and all people of goodwill.

Rev. Dr. Peter Machado Archbishop Of Bangalore

The message of Easter is universal. It speaks of peace where there is conflict, of reconciliation where there is division, and of compassion where there is suffering. When the Risen Lord appeared to His disciples, His first words were, “Peace be with you.” These words resound through the ages, reminding us of our collective call to nurture harmony, extend forgiveness, and build bridges of understanding in our communities and nation.

In the spirit of Easter, may we rise above despair and discouragement, embracing instead a renewed commitment to love, justice, and solidarity. May this holy season fill your hearts and homes with divine grace, inner strength, and lasting joy.

Our prayers and blessings extend beyond the boundaries of faith, reaching out to all the people of our State and Country. May this Easter inspire in each one of us a new dawn of peace, hope, and countless blessings.

Nasheman news

“Washing of the feet” – a profound gesture of humility and love demonstrated by Jesus at the Last Supper – was reverently reenacted by Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore, during the Maundy Thursday evening service held at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Bangalore.

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan requesting for implementation of price deficiency payment scheme under Market Intervention Scheme for red chillies in Karnataka.

In the letter, he expressed deep concern for the lakhs of red chilli farmers in Karnataka, particularly in the Kalyana Karnataka region, who are facing an “unprecedented crisis” due to the drastic fall in market prices.

The Chief Minister noted that the Government of India has approved the Price Deficiency Payment (PDP) scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS) for Red Chillies (Guntur Variety) in Andhra Pradesh, fixing the Minimum Intervention Price (MIP) at Rs 11,781 per quintal with coverage for up to 25 percent of production.

“While this is a welcome step, the distress faced by Karnataka’s red chilli farmers remains unaddressed,” he stated in the letter dated March 10.

Siddaramaiah highlighted that in Karnataka, the cost of production for Guntur variety of red chillies (Rain fed) has been assessed at Rs 12,675 per quintal by the Karnataka Agricultural Price Commission.

“However, farmers are forced to sell their produce at distress prices as low as Rs 8,300 per quintal in markets like Sindhanur. This not only results in massive financial losses but also threatens their very survival,” he said.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the Kalyana Karnataka region, one of the most backward and drought-prone areas in the country, is home to thousands of small and marginal farmers dependent on red chilli cultivation.

“The continued neglect of their plight will only deepen the economic distress and push many farmers into a debt crisis. It is therefore imperative that the Union Government extends the Price Deficiency Payment scheme under the Market Intervention Scheme to Karnataka, ensuring parity with Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

In addition, Siddaramaiah strongly urged certain modification to the existing scheme to better serve farmers.

The CM urged the Centre to increase MIP to Rs 13,500 per quintal.

“The current MIP of Rs 11,781 per quintal is inadequate considering the rising input costs and the significantly higher cost of production in Karnataka,” he said.

“Expand coverage to at least 75 percent of production. Restricting the coverage to just 25 percent of production will leave a large number of farmers unprotected. A minimum of 75 percent coverage is necessary to provide meaningful relief,” he said.

Siddaramaiah urged the Union Government to bear the full burden of the price deficiency payment.

According to him, as per the existing scheme, the financial burden is shared between the Centre and State in a 50:50 ratio. The prices of red chillies are largely dependent on the Union Government’s domestic and export policies which directly influence market stability and farmer earnings.

“Therefore, we request the Union Government to bear the full amount of the price deficiency payment to ensure fair compensation for farmers,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said the red chilli farmers of Karnataka deserve the same level of support that their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh are receiving.

“A fair and just intervention by the Union Government at this crucial moment will not only provide immediate relief but will also reaffirm the Centre’s commitment to the welfare of farmers across the country, irrespective of the state they belong to,” he added.

Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said 137 illegal migrants, including Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals, have been identified in the state and the government is initiating steps to deport them to their respective countries.

Replying to a question in the Assembly, the minister said 25 Pakistanis are kept in the deportation centres. There are Bangladeshis too in the centres, he added.

“In Karnataka, we have so far identified 137 outsiders, arrested them and initiated steps as per law for their deportation,” the minister said, while replying to a question raised by BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal.

According to him, 84 people were arrested in Bengaluru Urban district, 27 in Bengaluru Rural district, 12 in Shivamogga, 10 in Udupi, three in Hassan and one in Mangaluru. No one was arrested from Vijayapura.

“In 2016, 33 people from Bangladesh were found living there (Vijayapura). After due process, all of them were sent back to their country. Presently there are no Pakistanis and Bangladeshis in Vijayapura,” Parameshwara told the House.

He said the police continuously identify people from Pakistan coming to Karnataka.

“Thousands of people come to Bengaluru. Among them, foreigners come illegally from African countries. They indulge in drug peddling. This is a very big racket. We don’t let them go scot free,” the minister said.

Regarding the Bangladeshis, he said they get a job in the coffee estates in Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu. They get ration cards, and all kinds of identity cards, including voter ID cards, the minister said.

He added that the moment police get to know about their stay, they are arrested and sent to the detention centres.

“Our government does not compromise on this issue (illegal migrants). There is no need for it and our intentions are also not like that,” Parameshwara clarified.

Regarding the seizure of fire arms in Vijayapura, he said in 2022, three country pistols and six cartridges were seized; in 2023 three country pistols and 12 cartridges; in 2024, one pistol and one cartridge; and in 2025, 13 country pistols and 28 cartridges were seized.

About the land mafia operating in Vijayapura, the minister said police have registered 27 cases and the legal action is at different stages. In eight cases, charge sheets have been filed. In 10 cases, Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) report has been sought. In nine cases, investigation is underway, he said.

Parameshwara said that the police have registered cases against 173 land mafias.

Explaining the modus operandi, he said the land mafia identify and target elderly people. They prepare duplicate ration card, election cards and submit it in the sub-registrar’s office, change the land records and sell it.

Regarding the rice mafia operating in Vijayapura district, he said the dealers clandestinely obtain rice meant to be distributed at the ration shop to the weaker section at subsidised rates, and sell it in the open market.

“Rice mafia is a big network spread across Karnataka. In Vijayapura in 2022, 23 cases were registered and 13.16 tonne of rice were seized. In 2023, 22 cases were registered and 176 tonne were seized; in 2024, 12 cases were booked and eight tonne were seized, This year, only one case has been registered and seven tonne were seized,” the minister said.