CHIKMAGALUR: Slamming the Congress on Tuesday, BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel said that without power, the Grand Old Party is indulging in “political hypocrisy”. Addressing reporters here, he said that he was emphatic when he stated that the BJP is ready to face Assembly polls in April or May. But the Congress, which is lagging behind in organisational matters, is busy levelling baseless charges against his party. After completing the boothlevel victory campaign, which succeeded in eliciting voters’ opinion, the BJP has launched ‘Vijaya Sankalpa Abhiyan’.

Accordingly, teams led by BJP national president J P Nadda, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and former CM B S Yediyurappa will inform people about the achievements and schemes of the state and Union governments led by his party. “Our aim is to enrol one crore members and distribute one crore pamphlets. Unable to digest this, the Congress is indulging in political hypocrisy. It is misleading the people by making false promises,” Kateel alleged.

He said the Congress is facing a shortage of party activists for campaigns. Moreover, it is also facing internal bickering, with CLP leader Siddaramaiah himself looking for a safe constituency. There is confusion over a CM candidate in the Congress, which is scared that the BJP will capture 150 seats in the polls. Referring to corruption charges levelled against the BJP government, Kateel sought to know why the Siddaramaiah government dismantled the office of the Lokayukta.

Stating that three cases have been filed against Siddaramaiah with the Lokayukta, Kateel said no cases have been filed against any BJP leader. The KPCC chief has gone to jail on charges of corruption and most of the Congress leaders are out on bail, he charged. On the allegations of Yediyurappa being sidelined in the BJP, Kateel said the former is the party’s supreme leader and the allegation is baseless.

BELAGAVI: Hitting the road in poll-bound Karnataka, the Congress on Wednesday began its statewide bus tour called ‘Praja Dhwani Yatre‘, jointly led by party state unit President D K Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah.

The tour kickstarted at ‘Veer Soudha‘, a memorial where Mahatma Gandhi had presided over the Congress session in 1924, after paying tributes to the father of the nation.

AICC General Secretary In-charge of State Randeep Surjewala, and senior leaders including campaign committee chief M B Patil, were among others present.

The tour covering 21 districts will see the party sharing its ideas with the people and assuring all-round development of the state while attacking the BJP government with a “charge sheet” it has prepared, Congress leaders said.

As part of the bus yatra, both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, who are nursing chief ministerial ambitions in the event of the Congress coming to power, will travel in the same vehicle until January 29.

Thereafter, in the second week of February, two separate teams would be formed, with one headed by Siddaramaiah set to tour Assembly constituencies in the north Karnataka region, while Shivakumar will be leading the way in southern districts.

Congress leaders symbolically swept the street with a broom and said they will “wipe out the corrupt” BJP government from the state, where elections are due by May.

Siddaramaiah said the Congress is beginning the yatre from Belagavi to “wipe out the BJP government’s corruption and its misrule” from the state.

“Our intention is to place before the people a charge sheet against the BJP government in the state because the entire government is submerged in corruption, there is growing misrule, and they are indulging in a politics of hate. If anyone questions, they are being intimidated with false cases and arrests,” he said, adding that “corruption is rampant and people are fed up.”

Shivakumar said the BJP government has been a “curse” for this state as “scandals are coming out every day”, and to wipe it out, Congress is taking up this yatre.

“The BJP has made Karnataka the capital of corruption, this has to be ended and people need to be given a good administration, they should have confidence towards the government, so we are taking up this yatre with a promise of good governance,” he said.

Listing out “various corruption and scandals” in the state and accusing the government of giving a clean chit to those involved by filing a b-report in such cases, he alleged, “estimates have been doubled in PWD and irrigation contracts, everything will be looked into, all scandals and B report will be inquired into on Congress coming to power.”

Bhatkal: The two-day Millennial celebrations of Jamatul Muslimeen Bhatkal kicked off with a massive traditional rally in the town on Tuesday.

The rally was organised to give a traditional fervour to the celebrations, with people wearing traditional local costumes as a mark of respect to their culture and traditions.

Local sports clubs joined together and presented tableau of traditional wedding and other significant events of the Nawayath history.

The locals also wore the traditional Lungi as their outfit during the rally.

The two-day event will see a massive event to celebrate the 1000 years of the organisation on the first day while on the second day a get together with local non-Muslims and their leaders will also be organised on Thursday.

Jamatul Muslimeen Bhatkal has been preparing in full swing for over three months for the event and has called on people to attend the celebrations in numbers to make it a grand success.

Mysuru: Six people sustained injuries with two of them said to be in a critical condition after a cylinder exploded here in the city on Wednesday morning. The incident took place at the Fire Brigade’s quarters on Mysuru-Bengaluru road here.

According to the reports, Mahadev, a serviceman in the Fire Brigade department, and his wife have sustained critical injuries and are said to be in critical state. The gas cylinder exploded at Mahadev’s house. Along with Mahadev and his wife, their daughter and three of the neighbours have also sustained injuries.

The injured victims were rushed to a private hospital in the city where they are being treated.

Local Police have registered a case in this regard.

Bengaluru: Congress leaders on Tuesday demanded the arrest of Karnataka BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali and five others named in the FIR in connection with the alleged suicide of a businessman, and urged the state government to ensure justice to his family.

Siddaramaiah, who is Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly and Randeep Surjewala, who is Congress general secretary in-charge of the State, along with KPCC working president Ramalinga Reddy, met Pradeep’s family at their residence here.

Pradeep (47) was found dead in his car at Nettigere near here on Sunday. He had allegedly shot himself in the head inside his car.

The deceased had purportedly left behind an eight-page death note that named Mahadevapura MLA Aravind Limbavali and five others, following which an FIR was registered by the police against them.

“This is an unfortunate incident linked to a financial deal, it should not have happened. Pradeep’s wife Namita with sorrow said her husband should get justice and that he had invested Rs 1.5 crore into a financial deal, out of which there was no profit of even a paisa so far. The family wants that money back,” Siddaramaiah said.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the family, he said, as MLA of the locality, Arvind Limbavali is said to have tried to settle things.

“Namita is not alleging anything, she is only saying that she wants justice and was not angry with anyone, but when the inference is drawn, six names are mentioned in the death note, which also includes the name of Limbavali. If his name is taken, he is in some way responsible for the death, or else why he would write,” he added.

Noting that the FIR has been registered against Limbavali and five others, the Congress legislature party leader said police should immediately ensure the financial issue is settled and the family gets the money that was invested by Pradeep.

“Also, immediately everyone should be arrested and action should be taken in accordance with law against those responsible for the death. Arrest should happen and criminal trial should follow, and police should ensure that the culprits are punished whether it is a MLA or anyone else. Mistake is a mistake, whoever it may be, they should be punished as per law,” he said.

Suggesting that if not arrested, he claimed evidence may be destroyed by the accused. “Family even alleged that the police took the mobile phone late at night. Police trying to link different angles to the case now is not correct,” he said.

Referring to a similar case against then Minister K S Eshwarappa in connection with the death of a contractor, who made bribery charges against him, Siddaramaiah said the case was closed and demanded that the government should not interfere in the process of law.

“Many incidents of such suicides, mercy petitions are cropping up recently, it is because of corruption and inaction against the corrupt,” he alleged.

Limbavali on his part has said that he had only tried to help Pradeep, and was ready for any inquiry. “In fact, I demand for an inquiry, for the truth to come out.”

The legislator said he doesn’t know as to what was the motive behind mentioning his name in the death note, and ruled out the possibility of any conspiracy against him.

Surjewala said Pradeep was a victim of the “dubious corrupt practices” in the state, and demanded that all perpetrators of this “murder” have to be arrested, whether they are a MLA or a senior BJP leader or somebody else, and the government must ensure every penny is returned to the family.

“In this hour of grief and with a heavy heart, I have to say that the dubious deal and 40 per cent commission is now claiming life after life in Karnataka,” he said, pointing at the recent deaths of contractors – Santosh Patil and Suresh – stating that they committed suicide because of the financial problems and that they couldn’t pay commission.

Questioning as to why should a legislator or a BJP leader be negotiating financial settlements as a judge and jury, Surjewala asked, why should BJP leaders meddle into financial affairs of people.

“Driving a 47-year-old happy man with a happy family to suicide is nothing but a murder, it is not abetment to murder, it is plain and simple murder,” he said, asking can the Chief Minister and BJP leaders wipe the tears of the family.

Congress will see to it that justice is done with regard to Pradeep’s suicide note and what happened with Santosh Patil suicide case don’t repeat, Surjewala said.

“We want to remind Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai the raja dharma and his duty towards the people of Karnataka, which is above any BJP leader,” he said.

Santosh Patil case, which both leaders repeatedly referred to was regarding the Belagavi-based contractor who was found dead at a hotel in Udupi in April last year, weeks after accusing then Minister Eshwarappa, who is also a senior BJP leader, of corruption.

D K Shivakumar KPCC President

Hubballi: Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar on Monday said the party high command will decide as to who the chief minister will be in the event of the party coming to power in the Assembly elections, likely by April-May.

Conveying good wishes to people of the state and all political parties for the New Year, he however wished that the Congress comes to power.

“I wish good for media, people of the state for the New Year, I also wish good for all parties, but we (Congress) should get the power,” Shivakumar said.

Speaking to reporters here, in response to a question, he said, “It is not that I should become the chief minister, it will be decided by the high command. Mallikarjun Kharge (AICC President), Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi (former AICC Presidents) will decide. What ever they decide is like prasada.”

With Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah too along with Shivakumar nursing chief ministerial ambitions in the event of the party coming to power in the state, there seems to be a game of political one-upmanship, between the two leaders as the election nears.

The Congress appears to be a divided house, with supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar often openly projecting their leaders as the next chief minister.

Calling the BJP “university of lies” on the Mahadayi river water issue, Shivakumar said, “for three-and-a half years they (BJP) couldn’t do any thing, despite their own government in Maharashtra…they have taken most of our MLAs through ‘Operation Lotus’ in Goa and are in power there too, as they did here in Karnataka.”

“Without doing anything for three years, as we are preparing to raise a voice on the issue, instead of giving necessary clearances they have now issued a draft note…They (centre) have put a rider pointing to the Supreme Court’s final order on the issue, instead of getting the cases filed in the SC withdrawn,” he said, adding despite having 25 BJP MPs from the state, they did not meet the PM on the issue even once in order to get the work started.

“Who is going to stop you (Karnataka government) from taking up work within your state, with your money,” he questioned the ruling BJP.

Condemning the “delay” by the BJP government in getting the necessary approvals for the Mahadayi project, the Congress today is holding a massive rally in Hubballi to highlight the issue.

Recently, the Union government had approved Karnataka’s detailed project report (DPR) on the Kalasa-Banduri (Mahadayi) project, which was opposed by Goa.

Karnataka wants to use the Mahadayi river water from its tributaries Kalasa and Banduri to supply water to drought-hit districts of north Karnataka.

The proposed project will use 3.9 tmc water – 2.18 tmc from Banduri and 1.72 tmc from Kalasa river canals – for drinking water needs.

Mangaluru: Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) will carry out major rehabilitation and recarpeting work on its runway for a little over four-month period starting from January 27.

The work will take place between 9.30 am and 6 pm from Monday to Saturday on all days except Sunday and national holidays until May 31, 2023.

The airlines will be operating their schedules prior to 9.30 am and after 6 pm in the period, a release from MIA here said Sunday.

The 2,450 m long and 45-metre-wide concrete runway was opened for traffic in May 2006, making MIA the first airport in Karnataka not only to have two runways, also the first airport to have a rigid pavement or concrete runway.

This rigid pavement runway has since then undergone periodic maintenance. The scheduled rehabilitation and recarpeting will see MIA asphalt or blacktop the runway to standards specified by the regulator.

The runway will be recarpeted to improve its micro and macro texture, and other allied repairs conceptualised over the years. The recarpeting work also includes installation of the runway centreline lights which will aid the aircraft operations at night and in low visibility conditions and improvements to runway end saftey areas (RESA).

This will enhance the safety as suggested by the committee of inquiry that probed IX 1344 plane crash at Kozhikode in Kerala.

MIA has discussed the recarpeting project with the airline and stakeholders concerned prior to obtaining regulatory approvals. The airport has worked along with the airline partners to ensure that while the flight timings are altered to accommodate the all-important runway recarpeting work, there will be no cancellation of flight to any destination, both international and domestic, the release said.

BENGALURU: As many as 14,320 members and representatives of the Federation of Karnataka Quarry and Crusher Owners Association staged a massive protest against the state government in Belagavi on Wednesday. 

Among many demands, the protesters said that the government should not demand excess royalty. They claimed that most of them have already paid royalties and questioned as to why they were being penalised to pay more. They alleged that it amounted to extracting double revenue from them.

The protesters threatened to launch a ‘Bangalore Chalo’ march in the first week of January if their demands are not met.

Minister for Mines Halappa Achar met the protesters and assured them of taking up their demands with the government. The matter has been conveyed to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who reportedly said that he would need a week’s time to respond to the demands, as the government is busy with the winter session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

The protesters pointed out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one-nation-one-tax policy and questioned why it was not being applied here.“If there is one tax, why are we being made to pay more,” asked Ravindra Shetty, president of the association.

The association also threatened to take up the matter with Union minister Nitin Gadkari if the state authorities do not respond to their demands.

State government sources have expressed concern that developmental work across the state may get affected because of the protest. There is also concern that the state authorities may invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

HASSAN: The owner of a courier office was seriously injured after a mixer-grinder exploded at Kuvempunagar Extension in Hassan on Monday evening.

The incident occurred at the DTDC branch office when Shashi, who owns the unit, opened the parcel and tried to test the mixer. The blast ripped his right hand, and shattered the windowpanes of the office. He also sustained injuries on his stomach and face.

SP Hariram Shankar, who visited the spot, said the incident occurred when the parcel, returned by one of the customers two days ago, was opened. The customer reportedly returned the parcel saying it was delivered to the wrong address.

The preliminary investigation did not raise any undue suspicion, but still the case has been referred to the Forensic Science Lab team, which will arrive from Mysuru on Tuesday. The courier boy has all the information about the company, the agency that dispatched the mixer and the address of the customer. The exact reason for the blast will be known after a thorough investigation, he said. Some suspect a short circuit.

HUBBALLI: Voices of dissent are growing louder as it is alleged that organisers of the upcoming Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in Haveri are ignoring Muslim writers and poets. In rebellion, some senior Kannada writers are planning to organise an alternative meet, Jana Sahitya Sammelana, in Bengaluru on January 8.

Last week, when the Kannada Sahitya Parishat announced the names of writers and poets who are taking part in the sammelana, a section of Kannada writers objected to the list, saying Muslim writers have been ignored. While the state has hundreds of Muslim Kannada writers, only a few have been considered for the sammelana, they pointed out.

Since then, there has been a campaign on social media to organise an alternative event or Paryaya Sammelana, parallel to the Haveri meet. Many writers have agreed to be part of this rebel lit fest.

But organisers alleged that petty politics is being played in the name of sammelana. The Kannada Sahitya Parishat has no intention of avoiding writers based on their religion, they said. “There are six Muslim writers and poets who are part of the Haveri Sammelana. It has become a routine for some people to create a controversy during the mega Kannada event,” an organising committee member said.

In 1979, when the sammelana was held in Dharmasthala, a parallel Bandaya Dalit Sammelana was organised, as the interests of Dalit writers were compromised. The then sammelana president, Hampa Nagarajaiah, had turned down a demand to hold a discussion on Dalit issues and the then Chief Minister Devaraj Urs had to intervene for the smooth conduct of the sammelana.

That was the trigger and soon, the Bandaya Dalit literature became hugely popular across the state. Later, journalist and writer P Lankesh had called for an alternative Sammelana to the Hubballi meet, but did not meet with much success.

The upcoming 86th Sahitya Sammelana will be held for three days from January 6 in Haveri and final preparations are on to make it a grand event. It will be inaugurated by Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who has taken a special interest as his home constituency of Shiggaon is in Haveri district.