Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday hit out at the BJP for not taking action against former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa against whom a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case has been registered.

He said the central government did a commendable job by suspending the National Film Award to be presented to choreographer Jani Master citing allegations of crime under POCSO Act

Anyone who is under investigation or inquiry for sexual harassment or molestation should not be honoured, the Minister said, adding that it was a good decision by the central government.

However, the party did not adopt the same yardstick when it came to Yediyurappa, the Health Minister said.

“However, my question is regarding B S Yediyurappa, who is facing a POCSO inquiry. An FIR has been filed, the CID has investigated the matter, and now the trial is set to begin. Why is the BJP not taking any action against Yediyurappa, especially considering the serious charge of sexual harassment of a 17-year-old girl?” Rao sought to know.

Stating that a chargesheet has been filed against Yediyurappa, the Minister said the “minimum action” the BJP should have taken is to remove him from “his post in the central committee”.

“Why are they keeping him? He is facing a Lokayukta inquiry for corruption, and now he’s facing a POCSO trial. When such serious allegations exist, especially concerning women, why is the BJP acting inconsistently?” Rao asked.

Yediyurappa is a member of the BJP parliamentary board, and central election committee.

Property registrations in major cities like Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Mysuru have dropped dramatically by 95% as a result of a major impediment to the Karnataka government’s initiative to digitize real estate transactions through the mandated e-khata registration system.

This sharp decrease comes as the stamps and registration department tries to boost revenue by keeping select sub-registrar offices open on weekends. In the first two quarters of this fiscal year, property registrations had shown a 5% increase compared to last year, generating ₹11,550 crore in revenue, up from ₹9,419 crore during the same period last year.

Out of Karnataka’s 257 sub-registrar offices, only 26 in Bengaluru are exempt from the e-khata requirement. In Bengaluru, 43 sub-registrar offices are spread across five registration districts. E-khata is currently mandatory in Basavanagudi and Gandhinagar, with plans to extend it to Jayanagar, Rajajinagar, and Shivajinagar next week.

Local authorities are tasked with issuing e-khata documents, which serve as legal proof of property ownership for tax payments. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has published draft e-khatas online for the city’s 2.1 million properties. To obtain a final e-khata, property owners must download the draft and submit various electronic IDs, including the sale deed, Aadhaar e-KYC, a 10-digit Bescom number, GPS details, and a photograph of the property, along with encumbrance details. However, many individuals have faced challenges due to reported glitches on the portal and a general lack of awareness about the process.

Launched on September 9, the e-khata system was introduced in four districts to curb fraudulent transactions and was expanded to eight districts by September 23 and the entire state by October 7. However, sub-registrar offices are now witnessing a dramatic drop in registrations. “Normally, a sub-registrar office registers 50-60 properties a day, but this has plummeted to just five to six due to technical glitches with the e-khata mandate,” said a sub-registrar from Bengaluru.

In light of these ongoing issues, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda convened a meeting with BBMP and revenue officials to address the challenges, particularly in Bengaluru. “I have informed Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who has directed BBMP officials to resolve these issues promptly. These are initial glitches, and once the system stabilizes, people will benefit from the digitization,” Gowda stated.

He reassured property owners that there is no immediate deadline for obtaining an e-khata. “Only those looking to sell their properties need to secure it now; others can take their time,” he added. To assist residents with the e-khata process, helpdesks have been established at various locations, including the BBMP ARO office, Bengaluru One, and local body offices in rural areas.

Senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi

Mysuru: Senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Tuesday said Siddaramaiah will remain as Chief Minister of Karnataka, and the Congress high command has not discussed with him and other party leaders about the possibility of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar replacing him at some point in time.

Speaking to reporters here, Jarkiholi, who is at the forefront of behind-the-scenes political activities within the Congress amid demands for Siddaramaiah’s resignation by the opposition following charges against him in the MUDA case, however, said the party’s central leadership can respond to questions whether he will hold the post for a full term of five years.

“I can only say that he will be there. Siddaramaiah will be there as Chief Minister,” the Public Works Minister, an ST leader with considerable standing in northern Karnataka, said. “Whether he will be there as CM for three years or five years doesn’t come at my level. I can only say Siddaramaiah will be there as CM and we are with him.”

On the possibility of Shivakumar, who is also State Congress chief, taking over as CM in the event of a change of guard, he said: “High command has not discussed with us about D K Shivakumar (being made CM)…you ask him. I can only say Siddaramaiah will continue as CM.”

There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, a powerful leader from the politically influential Vokkaliga community, for the Chief Minister’s post after the declaration of Assembly election results in May last year, and the Congress had managed to convince the latter and made him the Deputy Chief Minister.

There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached based on a “rotational chief minister formula,” according to which Shivakumar will become CM after two-and-half years but they have not been officially confirmed by the party.

Amid demand by opposition parties for Siddaramaiah to quit, Jarkiholi on Sunday met Home Minister G Parameshwara, a senior leader from the SC community, in Tumakuru, after last week’s meeting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, leading to intense speculations in political circles over leadership change.

There was also a closed-door meeting earlier between Jarkiholi, Parameshwara and Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa, who is also from SC community.

Amid calls for a Dalit/ST CM within a section of the party that has surfaced time and again, Parameshwara, Jarkiholi and Mahadevappa are seen as front-runners for the CM’s post if the situation arises.

Jarkiholi, however, ruled out any change in CM, stating that there is no such situation in the state. When the CM post is not vacant, how can he be in the race for the post?

“We have a CM and he will continue. Myself, other ministers, our party and high command have said it several times, so any discussion on it is irrelevant,” he said. “We have confidence in the CM’s leadership.”

On meetings between him and Jarkiholi, and Mahadevappa becoming a point of discussion in political circles, Parameshwara said: “It is good if there are discussions. Like ‘Chai pe Charcha’, we had a discussion over coffee.”

“Just because two of us meet over a coffee and because of that if one is made a CM, many such discussions would take place and a lot of coffee will get consumed,” he told reporters in a lighter vein in Bengaluru. “…nothing will happen if we discuss, high command is there. Also such a situation (for CM change) has not arisen, let’s discuss and place a demand when the situation arises.”

“The CM has said it several times that there is no need for him to resign and he won’t, and we too have also said the same thing,” Parameshwara said. “There is no need for the CM to resign, it has been repeatedly told.”

Meanwhile, taking a dig at “developments” within the Congress, Leader of opposition in the Assembly R Ahoka said there is a “running race” in the ruling party for the CM post. He said “breakfast and dinner meetings” are on among ministers to replace the CM.

“…don’t know how long the government will continue. There are rumours within the Congress that the CM may resign in 10-15 days, so leaders are counting MLAs in their support (for CM post),” the BJP leader said.

Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B M by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Siddaramaiah’s wife, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju — from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi — and others are named as other accused in the case by Lokayukta.

Bengaluru : JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday hit out at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for accusing the opposition of dragging his wife in the MUDA case and blamed the latter’s ‘wrongs’ for the woes.

The Union Minister also challenged Siddaramaiah for a debate on the Congress government’s achievements and developmental activities so far.

“Time and again you (Siddaramaiah) say the opposition is jealous and you are accusing the opposition of dragging your wife (into the MUDA case). You have brought your wife, who was respectfully at home, out (in this case). It is not done by us, the opposition. You have brought her out because of wrongs you have committed (in her name),” Kumaraswamy said.

Addressing reporters here, he said, “repeatedly you (Siddaramaiah) speak about AHINDA, what have you done for AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits)? Haven’t we seen what has happened in Valmiki Corporation (scam), the loot that has happened.”

Pointing to CM’s emotional appeal to people if they would forgive the opposition for targeting his wife over the MUDA ‘scam’, Kumaraswamy said, “Whether people will forgive or accept us, they will decide later. Let him ask the people what they will do to him (Siddaramaiah) for this kind of governance…”

Siddaramaiah had on Saturday come down heavily on the opposition BJP and the JD(S) for dragging his wife Parvathi B M in the MUDA case, who had never stepped into public life and was confined to her house.

He also charged the opposition with targeting him because they could not tolerate a person from a backward community in the Chief Minister’s post.

Siddaramaiah is facing the Lokayukta and ED probes into alleged irregularities in allotment of 14 sites to his wife by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

His wife Parvathi, brother-in-law Mallikarjuna Swamy, Devaraju — from whom Mallikarjuna Swamy purchased land and gifted it to Parvathi — and others are named as other accused in the case.

Alleging that the Congress government is entangled in scams, Kumaraswamy said, “No ministers including the Chief Minister have any concern for the troubles faced by the people… they speak about development, only god should save us.”

He challenged Siddaramaiah for a discussion on achievements and development work of the current Congress government led by him, with that of his (Kumaraswamy) 14 months JD(S)-Congress coalition government in 2018-19.

Claiming that he had to function as CM without proper cooperation from the Congress during the coalition government, Kumaraswamy said, “JD(S) had only 38 MLAs then… what all you (Siddaramaiah/Congress) did then? Today you are saying Kumaraswamy didn’t work for 14 months.”

Citing rain-related issues reported in the last couple of days in parts of the city, Kumaraswamy said, “A deadline was set to fill potholes… we are seeing the quality of the work that was done, following this rains.”

Not only in Bengaluru, in several parts of the state the post monsoon rains are more than expected, leading to damage of crops and people facing trouble, he said, while accusing the government of ‘failing’ to address the issues

Bengaluru: In view of the Dasara festival, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has arranged special bus services with over 2,000 vehicles to facilitate the travel of tourists arriving in Mysuru and other passengers availing holidays during this period.

Special bus services will be operated from October 9 to 14, connecting various locations in Karnataka and other states to Bengaluru. Buses will be departing from Kempegowda Bus Station, Mysuru Road Bus Station, and Shantinagar BMTC Bus Station. The services will cover destinations such as Dharmasthala, Kukke Subrahmanya, Sringeri, Horanadu, Shivamogga, Madikeri, Mangaluru, Davangere, Gokarna, Kollur, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Karwar, Ballari, Hosapete, Kalaburagi, Raichur, and more.

Additionally, special services will be available for Hyderabad, Chennai, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Salem, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukottai, Madurai, Panaji, Shirdi, Pune, Ernakulam, Palakkad, and other nearby states.

As part of the arrangements, KSRTC will deploy 260 additional buses from Bengaluru’s Mysuru Road Bus Station to Mysuru and operate 400 more vehicles to various tourist and religious destinations around Mysuru, such as Chamundi Hill, KRS Dam/Brindavan Gardens, Srirangapatna, Nanjangud, Madikeri, Mandya, Malavalli, H.D. Kote, Chamarajanagar, Hunsur, K.R. Nagar, and Gundlupet, totalling 660 special buses.

A direct ‘Fly Bus’ service will also be available from Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru, to Mysuru for passengers’ convenience.

KSRTC will operate special one-day tour packages for tourists visiting Mysuru from October 3 to 15. Under the ‘Giridarshini’ package, transport will be provided to Bandipur, Gopalaswamy Hill, Biligirirangana Hill, Nanjangud, and Chamundi Hill (Rs. 400 for adults and Rs. 250 for children). The ‘Jaladarshini’ package will cover destinations such as the Golden Temple (Bylakuppe), Dubare Forest, Nisargadhama, Raja’s Seat, Harangi Reservoir, and KRS Dam (Rs. 450 for adults and Rs. 300 for children). The ‘Devadarshini’ package will provide connectivity to Nanjangud, Bluff, Mudukutore, Talakadu, Somanathapura, and Srirangapatna (Rs. 300 for adults and Rs. 200 for children).

These package services will depart from Mysuru in the morning, covering the respective destinations, and return to Mysuru by evening. Online ticket booking is available through the KSRTC official website.

Kishore Kumar Puttur

Mangaluru: BJP on Tuesday announced the candidature of Kishore Kumar Puttur for by-election to the Karnataka Legislative Council from Dakshina Kannada Local Authorities’ Constituency.

The bypoll, necessitated following the election of former minister and senior BJP leader Kota Srinivasa Poojary to Lok Sabha, will be held on October 21.

The ruling Congress is yet to announce its nominee.

Congratulating Puttur, state BJP President B Y Vijayendra said: “Bharatiya Janata Party has always emphasised on social justice. In this regard, by selecting Kishore Kumar Puttur, who belongs to the most backward community, as a candidate, the party leaders have shown commitment to social justice and political representation for the underprivileged communities….”

The last date for filing nominations is October 3, and scrutiny will take place on October 4. October 7 will be the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

Votes will be counted on October 24.

Bengaluru The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited on Tuesday announced the partial curtailment of Metro train services on October 3 on its Green line for facilitating statutory safety inspection before opening a new section.

In a statement, the BMRCL said in view of the Statutory Safety Inspection of the newly constructed extension line between Nagasandra and Madavara Metro stations by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (Southern Circle), there will be changes in the metro train operations on the Green line from 10 am to 2 pm on October 3.

On this date, train services will not be available between Nagasandra and Peenya Industry Metro stations from 10 am to 2 pm.

“During this period, trains will run only between Peenya Industry and Silk Institute Metro Stations on the Green Line. The train leaving Silk Institute at 9 am will be the last train going up to Nagasandra before the above curtailment. There are no changes to the metro operations on the Purple Line,” it stated.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday registered a case against Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in connection with the alleged Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) land scam. The case was filed after the Enforcement Directorate took note of a First Information Report filed by the Lokayukta.

The MUDA case involves allegations of illegalities in the allotment of 14 sites to Siddaramaiah’s wife by the authority. It has been alleged that compensatory sites allotted to Siddaramaiah’s wife – located in an upmarket area in Mysuru – is far higher than the land acquired from her by MUDA.

Siddaramaiah is the latest Opposition Chief Minister to have been named as an accused in a corruption case. Earlier, the Central agencies had named and arrested Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal, who has since stepped down from the Delhi Chief Minister’s post.

Mysuru (Karnataka): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday promised action on the caste census report, which was submitted seven months ago, after tabling it before the cabinet.

Addressing an event organised by the Alumni Association of Hostels for Backward Classes in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah said the caste census was necessary to identify the backward and deprived communities.

“The system where we come from should be changed. We are trying to bring that change. Our government conducted the social census to recognise and uplift the marginalised sections of society. I lost power (in 2018) and it was not implemented,” Siddaramaiah said.

“Only recently we received the report. I will place it before the cabinet and get it implemented,” the chief minister asserted.

He added that the caste census has long been a “principle” of the Congress party.

“Since 1930, caste-based data has not been gathered as part of the national population census. Now, discussions on conducting caste census are gaining momentum across many states,” Siddaramaiah noted.

The much-awaited Socio-Economic and Education Survey report, popularly known as the “caste census” report, was submitted to Siddaramaiah by Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Chairman K Jayaprakash Hegde on February 29.

The report has faced objections from certain sections of society and even within the ruling Congress.

Discussing the importance of education, the chief minister on Sunday said that true education must promote scientific thinking and foster responsible individuals.

Siddaramaiah also called upon those who have benefited from government programmes, particularly former students of hostels, to give back to society.

“Many of you have achieved success in your fields. Now, it’s time to extend your support to those in need. Helping the weaker sections of society is the true way to repay the debt we owe to society,” he said.

He warned against the dangers of selfishness, stating that “those who think only of their families become self-centred, and this mentality has contributed to the rise in the number of old-age homes. We must all work together to bring about positive change in our society.”

Siddaramaiah recounted the introduction of student hostels in 1977, a move that played a crucial role in the education of Backward Class students.

“Today, these hostels accommodate 1,87,000 students. Such efforts have ensured that children from underprivileged backgrounds have access to education,” he said.

JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru, Sep 27: JD(S) leader and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday appeared before the Lokayukta police for questioning in connection with a land denotification case.

“He was questioned in the Gangenahalli denotification case,” a Lokayukta official said.

The ruling Congress in Karnataka last week asked the Lokayukta to expedite its probe against former Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa and Kumaraswamy, also a former CM in connection with the alleged denotification of land here.

Ministers Krishna Byre Gowda, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Santhosh Lad held a joint press conference on September 19 and released documents regarding the denotification of 1.11 acres of land at Gangenahalli in Kasaba hobli of Bengaluru North.

Kumaraswamy said he has nothing to do with the case and he has never done anything that is illegal while in power and during his tenure as CM.

“In connection with the Gangenahalli case, four Ministers had held a press conference against me. I had said that day too, I have nothing to do with it (case). Still they have spoken lightly for the sake of publicity,” he told reporters after appearing before the Lokayukta.

“… there were reports in the media that Kumaraswamy faces danger from Lokayukta. I have done nothing that is illegal and that will cause me danger, while I was in power. This government cannot do anything to me.”

Noting that as an opposition MLA he had raised several issues that had caused embarrassment to the then Congress government led by Siddaramaiah in 2015, Kumaraswamy said, this case was put against him then.

“Today it is 2024, already several times the statements have been taken for inquiry, once again today I was called, recently I heard from the media that Yediyurappa was also called. I have appeared and answered all their questions, let them conduct further inquiry, and this government is free to take any action in accordance with law,” he said.

Kumaraswamy said he has not come before Lokayukta after having committed wrong or illegal.

“I have come voluntarily today and have answered all questions by officers…there is no need for me to come once again, I have responded to whatever they have asked for.”

Alleging that a ‘benami’ named Rajashekharaiah, “who has nothing to do with the said land (that was notified)”, gave a petition when Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister in 2007, seeking denotification of the land, which was acquired 30 years ago, Krishna Byre Gowda had last week alleged that Kumaraswamy had then asked officials to move the file in this regard.

He had said that the original owner of the said land had 21 heirs, who gave a general power of attorney to Kumaraswamy’s mother-in-law.

Further pointing out that when Yediyurappa was the CM in 2010, and despite the then principal secretary to the urban development department K Jothiramalingam noting on the file that it was not a fit case for denotification, the former ordered denotification, Gowda had claimed.

“Subsequently after the denotification of the land in June, 2010, it was registered in the name of Kumaraswamy’s brother-in-law Channappa in July that year,” he had said.

The land costing several crores of rupees belonged to Bangalore Development Authority and should have been used for the poor, the Minister had said, asking: “is it not a systematic fraud.”