Bengaluru: In a bid to create a more conducive learning environment for school children in Karnataka, the Education Department has issued a circular directing all schools in the state to observe the third Saturday of every month as ‘bag-free day’, to be known as ‘Sambhrama Shanivara’.

The initiative aims to alleviate the burden of heavy textbooks carried by students during their studies. The new system of a ‘bag-free day’ will be implemented in schools starting from the academic year 2023-24.

To support this initiative, the Education Department has developed an instruction manual for teachers and ten self-explanatory modules covering various subjects for students. These resources aim to actively engage students in co-curricular and extracurricular activities, fostering the development of their civic consciousness. Teachers will receive further guidance on implementing these activities during progress review meetings conducted at different levels within educational institutions. District and block-level officers, as well as Cluster Resource Persons (CRP), have also been instructed to visit schools on bag-free days to provide additional support and guidance to teachers.

The Education Department has made student activity books and teachers’ guidance manuals available on the website of the Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT). Teachers from primary and high schools will receive instructions on effectively utilizing these learning materials.

The department emphasizes the active participation of schools in this project to ensure its success in creating an enjoyable educational experience for children. It further highlights that schools must submit comprehensive monthly reports on the activities conducted, including the observation of ‘bag-free day’, to the Educational and Vocational Guidance branch of the DSERT at.

CHIKKABALLAPUR:  A man took his friend to an isolated place and tried to drink his blood after making a small cut on his neck. The incident occurred at Suddapalli Cross of Chintamani taluk in Kolar district, and the police arrested two persons in this connection.

The accused, Vijay Kumar, hailing from Bathalapalle, and Maresh from Madanpalle, reside in Chintamani town and are both drivers. Sources said that recently, Vijay came to know that Maresh allegedly had a relationship with his wife.

He wanted to avenge the humiliation and hatched plans to kill his friend. Accordingly, he invited Maresh, took him to an isolated place, made a small incision on the neck and drank the blood oozing from the wound.Advertisementhttps://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2023/jun/26/karnataka-man-slits-friends-throat-drinks-his-blood-for-revenge-2588519.html

As he was performing the act, he asked Maresh to videograph the entire incident on the mobile phone. The incident occurred three days ago. The police arrested Vijay and another person. Maresh is out of danger.

BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said a total of Rs 59,000 crore to Rs 60,000 crore is required annually, for the implementation of Congress’ five poll ‘guarantees’.

He said, the fresh budget of the new Congress government, which he will be presenting on July 7, is likely to be of the size Rs 3,35,000 crore.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, was speaking after inaugurating the training camp organised for the newly elected MLAs of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

“The first budget after independence was twenty one crore three lakh rupees, today it is about three lakh nine thousand crore rupees.

I will be presenting a new budget on July 7 it may be (of the size) three lakh thirty to thirty five thousand crore rupees,” Siddaramaiah said.

Addressing the newly elected legislators, he said, “The present budget is around three lakh nine thousand eight hundred and ninety-six crore rupees, as I’m implementing five guarantees, I will have to provide rupees forty thousand crore for it, for the remaining period. A total of fifty-nine thousand to sixty thousand crore rupees is required for five guarantees.”

Noting that the previous BJP government had presented a budget in February by taking a vote on account for four months, the CM said, the budget he will be presenting on July 7 will come into force from August 1.

Urging the legislators to try to learn and understand budgets, he also asked them to learn about taxation, stating the rich should be taxed, not the poor.

The five guarantees are: up to 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), 10 kg of free rice to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 every month for unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders, both in the age group of 18-25 (YuvaNidhi), and free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti).

While the government has already launched the scheme which will provide free travel for women in public transport buses, the other four schemes are in various stages of implementation, and the timeline has already been fixed for their rollout.

Speaker of the Assembly U T Khader, Chairman of Legislative Council Basavaraja Horatti, Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Assembly Secretary M K Vishalakshi were present at the inaugural of the training.

The Legislature Session is scheduled from July 3 to 14.

Suggesting that MLAs and MPs should understand the “meaning” of budget, the CM said, “in the 12th century, ‘Kayakayogi’ Basavanna spoke about budget. ‘Kayaka’ and ‘Dasoha’ are the key factors of the budget. Kayaka means production, Dasoha means sharing.”

He explained that the value of the budget is just understanding where the production is and to whom we distribute it in the society.

The Assembly is the temple of democracy, Siddaramaiah said, as he called upon legislators to raise people’s problems effectively in the Lower House and develop a mindset to seek solutions.

Those who do not read and understand the Constitution cannot become good legislators and parliamentarians, he said, “So read the Constitution and understand its basic principles and objectives.”

“We made the rules of the House ourselves. He said that if you read and understand it properly, people’s problems can be brought before the house in a proper manner. We cannot make laws contrary to the Constitution. Therefore, reading the Constitution is essential,” he said.

Out of 224 MLAs, 70 have entered the Legislative Assembly for the first time.

Former MP and former Union Minister K H Muniyappa (now a minister in state government), and former Minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy are among them.

BJP National General Secretary C T Ravi

Chikkamagaluru (K’taka), Jun 16: BJP National General Secretary C T Ravi on Friday urged leaders of the community and pontiffs or heads of various maths across the state to convene a “Maha Panchayat” to “save Hindu society and the country”.

The former Karnataka Minister was reacting to Congress government’s decision to repeal the anti-conversion law brought in by the previous BJP government in the State.

“Is Congress in favour of forced conversion? The anti-conversion law prohibits religious conversion by force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means. So what is the stand of the Congress party? Are they in favour of forceful conversion?” Ravi asked.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, “if they are in favour of forced conversion, to save the country and the Hindu society, inevitably various mathadipatis, jagadgurus and sanyasis representing various communities, and leaders of communities — to stop religious conversion by force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means like Love Jihad — should call the Maha Panchayat.”

“Through the Maha Panchayat for the sake of self-defence and to save the country and the society, we should take certain self defence measures, and going a step ahead those who have gone away from the Hindu society should be brought back by using “Sama, Dama, Danda, Beda’..using these techniques measures should be taken for reconversion,” he added.

The Karnataka Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday decided to repeal the anti-conversion law brought in by the previous BJP government. The government will introduce a bill in this regard in the upcoming legislature session, which starts on July 3.

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Friday extended the stay on the FIR against Congress party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh and Supriya Shrinate till June 23, over the alleged copyright violation of music from the hit film ‘KGF Chapter 2.’

MRT Music, a sister concern of Lahari Music, had filed the complaint alleging that the music from the film to which it has the copyright was used by the Congress party in a promotional video of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The complaint is filed under Sections 120B, 403, 465 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 63 of the Copyright Act and Section 66 of the Information Technology Act.

MRT Music had approached a Commercial court against the copyright violation which had directed the blocking of the social media handles of the Congress party. It was subsequently revoked by the HC after assurances by the party that the offending videos would be removed. MRT Music then filed a criminal complaint against the violation which was challenged by the party and was heard by the High Court on Friday.

NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: Dhruv Advani from Karnataka secured the 5th rank in the NEET-UG exams whose results were announced on Tuesday. Advani scored with 99.30% with 715/720.

Tamil Nadu’s Prabanjan J and Andhra Pradesh’s Bora Varun Chakravarthi topped the NEET-UG exams with 99.99 percentile scores. Both scored 720 on 720 marks.

The third position was also bagged by a Tamil Nadu boy, Kaustav Bauri. He scored 716 marks with a 99.999068 percentile score. The sixth and ninth positions, too, went to Tamil Nadu boys — Surya Siddharth N and Varun S, who were among the top 10 on the merit list.

Among the girls, Pranjal Aggarwal from Punjab topped the list with 715 marks. She stood fourth in the all-India rank list. Ashika Aggarwal, also from Punjab, followed with 715. Her AIR is 11. The third position among girl toppers was bagged by Arya R S from Kerala with 711 marks. Delhi girl Mimansha Moun bagged the fourth position among the top 20 girls.

BENGALURU:  A smiling Siddaramaiah who is at AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal’s residence in Delhi will head to the AICC office and meet with the Congress leaders and will head back to Bangalore a little past lunch. He is expected to arrive in Bangalore to a specially prepared welcome at the HAL Airport with banners and cutouts which have been meticulously prepared since last night.

The Congress CLP meeting is scheduled to be held at 7 pm where his leadership which has been confirmed by the central leadership will now receive the necessary stamp of approval from the legislators. Sources said Siddaramaiah’s leadership will be proposed by DK Shivakumar and the others will endorse it as a mark of unity.            

In the power-sharing, Siddaramaiah will become CM for the first two and half years and DK Shivakumar will hold the office for the next two and half years. As far as the ministries are concerned DK Shivakumar will get a lion’s share of ministries, he will receive 20 ministries while Siddaramaiah and his team will receive only 13 out of a 34-member cabinet.  

It may be recalled that the All India Congress Committee on May 18, ending hours of deadlock selected Siddaramaiah as the 34th Chief Minister of Karnataka.

Officials at the PCC office were busy dialing the numbers of the Congress MLAs inviting them for the CLP that has been called at 7 pm this evening.

Meanwhile, preparations are also being carried out for the swearing-in of the CM and DCM that will happen on Saturday afternoon at the Kanteerava Stadium and invitations are going out .

Speaking about the breakthrough sources said the leaders were locked in a series of meetings with the central leadership to break the deadlock. Sources said each one of the issues raised regarding the executive leadership were ironed out threadbare to ensure there is no bitterness or residual ill feeling. The entire Congress central leadership stepped in to work a way out of the problem–Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, AICC president, Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretary K C Venugopal, state incharge general secretary Randeep Surjewala.    

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday hit out at the BJP for criticising it over the delay in deciding the Chief Minister of Karnataka, and cited examples when the BJP declared its chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh and Assam several days after winning the polls.

“Just to refresh memories of PM’s drum-beaters especially. 2017 UP Vidhan Sabha election results out on March 11th. Yogi appointed CM 8 days later on March 19th. 2021 Assam Vidhan Sabha election results out on May 3rd. Himanta Biswa Sarma became CM 7 days later on May 10th,” AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter.

“There are many more such examples,” he also said. Several BJP leaders are criticising the Congress for the delay in deciding on the chief ministerial candidate in Karnataka amid hectic lobbying for the top post.

The results in Karnataka were declared on May 13 but the party has not finalised its chief ministerial face yet and the process of consultations is on.

Karnataka’s two chief ministerial aspirants Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar held separate meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday as the party held hectic consultations to decide on who would lead the government in the southern state.

BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya said a sorry state of affairs prevails in Congress where president Mallikarjun Kharge sees himself more as a “postman”.

“Want to watch circus? Watch the Congress select their CM in Karnataka,” he said on Twitter.

Referring to the lobbying by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the post of chief minister, he said, “The BJP also holds discussions and deliberations to elect its CMs and has often ensured smooth transition of power, even between CMs.

Despite elaborate consultations, you will never find BJP aspirants falling over each other, rallying supporters and issuing veiled threats to the Party through the media”.

“On the contrary, last evening, Lutyens journalists, who DK Shivkumar hosted at the Claridges, almost appointed Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka CM. Sorry state of affairs in the Congress, where President Kharge sees himself more as a postman, let alone being a decision maker or even part of the decision-making team He keeps referring to some High Command,” he added.

HAVERI: As Congress surged ahead on Saturday according to leads, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai conceded defeat and said that the BJP will come back victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Congress surged ahead as it lead in 124 seats at noon while the BJP was ahead in 69 seats and JD(S) at 24 seats.

Bommai said that once the results will be out a detailed analysis will be done to analyse the gaps that were left at various levels.

“We’ve not been able to make the mark. Once the results come we will do a detailed analysis. As a national party, we will not only analyse but also see what deficiencies and gaps were left at various levels. We take this result in our stride,” said Basavaraj Bommai.

He further added that all the efforts put in by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP workers weren’t able to make the mark.

“In spite of a lot of efforts put in by PM and BJP workers, we’ve not been able to make the mark. Once the full results come we’ll do a detailed analysis. We take this result in our stride to come back in Lok Sabha elections,” said Bommai.

Bommai had earlier said that he was confident of a BJP victory

Meanwhile, Bommai is leading with 53.05 per cent votes from the Shiggaon constituency.

The counting of votes began at 8 am amid tight security across the state.

The exit polls predicted a hung assembly with some showing Congress returning to power with a majority. A few exit polls also showed BJP ahead. If there is a hung assembly, Janata Dal (Secular) can play the role of a kingmaker.

The fiercely contested election that saw high-pitch campaigns from the political parties is crucial for both BJP and Congress. 

NEW DELHI: Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the people of Karnataka to vote in large numbers to build a progressive and a “40-per cent-commission-free” state.

Voting for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Karnataka began early on Wednesday in a state where the ruling BJP is eyeing to script history by retaining its southern citadel while a combative Congress is seeking a comeback ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

In a tweet in Hindi, Gandhi said, “Karnataka’s vote for 5 guarantees, for women’s rights, for youth employment, for the upliftment of the poor. Come, vote in large numbers.”

“Let’s build a 40 per cent commission-free, progressive Karnataka together,” Gandhi tweeted in Hindi using the hashtag ‘Congress Winning150’.

He also shared a graphic featuring the Congress’ five guarantees.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who also campaigned extensively in Karnataka, urged the people of the state to vote for change.

“As the polling for the assembly elections begins, I urge all my sisters and brothers in Karnataka to go out there and vote for change,” she said on Twitter.

“It’s time to bring in a strong, development-oriented and capable government that works tirelessly to make your lives better,” she tweeted and used the hashtag “Congress Winning 150” along with the tweet Polling is being held for 224 seats in what is being seen mainly as a three-cornered contest between the ruling BJP, the Congress and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s Janata Dal (Secular).

The voting that began at 7 am amid tight security will go on till 6 in the evening.