Chitradurga: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said he doesn’t agree with “rampant privatisation” of government assets and that the party would not allow the privatisation of public sector units (PSUs) if and when voted to power.

The former AICC president said his party upon coming to power would put in a strategy both at the national- and State-levels, which would ensure jobs for youngsters.

“I don’t agree with the rampant privatisation of government assets and if we are in power we will not allow the rampant privatisation of public sector units,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Interacting with around 1,800 youth from all over Karnataka on unemployment, as part of the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by him, he said it is public sector units that can give employment to the weaker sections.

“Public sector units that are given the right space and right environment to operate in, that are given the freedom to operate properly, do perfectly well,” he added.

AICC general secretary in-charge (Communications) Jairam Ramesh, general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, State Congress president D K Shivakumar among others were present at the interaction.

Stating that there has to be a strategy for job creation, Rahul Gandhi said, “Jobs don’t just get created like that, we will put in a strategy both at the national- and State-levels which will ensure that millions of youngsters get jobs.”

At the first place jobs can come in by filling vacancies in the government sector, and that is something his party is absolutely committed to, he said, “so the first place from where the large number of jobs can come from is healthcare and the education sector. The Congress government is going to spend much more money on public health and public education and these will be government jobs.”

Further noting that the largest number of private sector jobs in the country come from small and medium businesses, and small traders, the Member of Parliament said his party when in power would have a much more balanced policy and support small and medium businesses, and give them access to finance from the banks.

“We will also create special financial instruments to help young entrepreneurs to build their own businesses, and, of course, as I’m speaking in Karnataka, it goes without saying that we will also look at outsourcing and IT and connecting India with the rest of the world and creating more of those types of jobs here,” he added.

Rahul Gandhi also asserted that a society that is not harmonious, not at peace and that is violent, cannot grow economically or give jobs to its youngsters and have a future.

BENGALURU: Congress shed its lethargy and erupted in protest across many districts all over the state after party leader Siddaramaiah was attacked with eggs by BJP protesters in Kodagu on Thursday.-ADVERTISEMENT-Ads by 

While BJP leaders KG Bopaiah and Renukacharya tried to wriggle out of the situation, saying it was not BJP workers who protested, KPCC president DK Shivakumar slammed them, saying, “The other name for BJP is lies. They don’t have the courage to tell the truth. If you have done it own up.’’

Congress Campaign committee president MB Patil, Council Opposition Leader BK Hariprasad, working presidents — Ramalinga Reddy, Saleem Ahmed and Druvanarayan — and every other Congress leader criticised BJP.

Druvanarayan in Mysuru said, “Home Minister Araga Jnanendra has to resign. Siddaramaiah is a mass leader so he is being targeted. What was the government doing? This is definitely state sponsored.’’
Congress is planning to lay siege to the deputy commissioner’s office in Madikeri on August 26 and hold a massive protest across Kodagu. The district, where both MLAs are from BJP, is a saffron party bastion like Dakshina Kannada.

While Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai condemned the attack, an unconvinced Siddaramaiah alleged that the police were in cahoots with BJP attackers and were indifferent and inactive during the attack. “The police are with the protesters. We will take out a Madikeri Chalo rally against police inaction. The attack was sponsored by BJP and it was an act of cowardice. They have done this when I was there to assess rain-related damage in the district. The government has not provided relief to rain-hit Madikeri,’’ he said. On VD Savarkar, he said, “What freedom fighter is he … He wrote multiple petitions to the British seeking mercy.’’

In Chamarajanagar, Congress leader Puttaranga Shetty said, “Can’t we also do it to shame BJP leaders who come here?’’ In Koppal, Raghavendra Hitnal said, “We can throw stones at BJP.” In Mysuru, BJP leader Thotadapppa Basavraj, who contested against Siddaramaiah, filed a police complaint against the Congress leader, saying his statement that “Congress workers too know how to throw eggs” was provocative. The police registered the case.

Tension prevailed in the communally-sensitive Shivamogga city, with one person being stabbed, marring the 75th Independence Day celebrations on Monday. A controversy erupted over flexes of VD Savarkar and Tipu Sultan placed at Amir Ahmed Circle. While the police attempted to disperse two groups from a confrontation, a 20-year-old youth was stabbed in another area of the city

It all began when a group tried to put up a flex of Savarkar at Amir Ahmed Circle without getting permission from the authorities concerned. An argument ensued with the police when they did not allow the flex to be put up at the circle. The group then tried to forcibly place the flex in the circle.

Later, police personnel along with the Shivamogga City Corporation managed to remove the flex. Meanwhile, in response, another crowd gathered and approached the circle insisting on putting up a flex of Tipu Sultan. The police did not allow that either. The police resorted to a mild lathi charge when the group came close to the circle.

The first group staged a dharna demanding permission to put up Savarkar’s flex. Both the groups were dispersed and the police placed a national flag at the circle. However, while the police were controlling the mob at the circle, a youth identified as Prem Singh was stabbed at Gandhi Bazaar. He was attacked when he was returning after shutting a cloth shop he was working in. He was shifted to McGann Hospital for treatment.

The District Administration imposed Section 144 of CrPC in the city to maintain peace. Prohibitory orders were also issued at Bhadravathi town, which is also considered a communally-sensitive area. Meanwhile, two people have been arrested for the stabbing. The accused are identified as Nadeem (25) and Abdul Rahman (25). 

Schools to remain shut in S’mogga today

Schools and colleges will remain closed in Shivamogga and Bhadravathi urban areas on Tuesday. The Shivamogga district Superintendent of Police B M Laxmi Prasad and other senior officers monitored the situation.

“We are requesting the public not to move around unnecessarily. Any violations of the curfew order will be seriously dealt with. We are continuing to monitor the situation. No arrests have been made yet. We are trying to identify the accused,” the SP said. Additional police forces were brought from neighbouring districts to control the situation. Earlier, on Saturday, a verbal duel took place over placing Savarkar’s
portrait alongside those of several other freedom fighters at a shopping mall in Shivamogga city. A group forced the mall staff to remove the portrait. Later, BJP protested and a case was registered against the accused.

MANGALURU: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a probe into the murder of BJP worker Praveen Nettaru. A team of NIA officials have arrived in Dakshina Kannada and have been gathering information regarding the murder. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai confirmed the same. Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru, he said the process to hand over the investigation to the NIA is on and soon the case would be handed over to them. However, he said the NIA has already been intimated informally and they are engaged in gathering preliminary information in Mangaluru and Kerala. The CM said that he would be visiting the families of Masood and Mohammed Fazil too in the coming days.

On BJP MLA Bharath Shetty threatening to protest in front of the Police Commissioner’s office if innocents are arrested in Fazil’s murder case, Sood asked how can one say that they are innocents. “We will arrest the suspects and if they are innocent, then they will be left out from the charge sheet,” he said.

Further, he appealed the public and politicians to join hands with the police and share any information they have about the murders. “There will be someone who will have some information. If they share the same, it will help detect the crime. If not, it means they are part of the crime,” he said.

NOT DISCRIMINATED AGAINST ANYONE: CM
davanagere: “BJP is a national party and treats everyone equally. We have not discriminated against anyone and allegations against us are baseless,” said CM Basavaraj Bommai, commenting on BJP’s Yuva Morcha workers resigning en masse. In the city to attend a Bhovi community programme, he said, “Leaders of previous regimes should introspect on their conduct and then comment on such issues.”  He said that protests by party workers have subsided as a sense of confidence is building among them with the investigation progressing in the right direction.

Kodagu: In light of the alleged armed training camp held at Kodagu by certain fringe right wing organisations which were circulating on social media platforms, Kodagu SP M A Aiyappa on Monday said that arms were not used during the training and justified that it was an annual camp organised by VHP and Bajrang Dal with the consent of the school authority.

“No armed training was held. It was an annual camp by VHP and Bajrang Dal for their youth workers. They have consented to the school authorities in advance. However, it has come to our knowledge through social media posts that air guns were used during the training camp. The district police are investigating in this regard,” he said.

Further, he said, “according to the regulations of the Arms Act and Arms Rules, one does not require special permission for the purchase and use of air guns. We will provide additional information in this regard after a detailed investigation.”

However, he clarified that no complaint in this regard has been registered so far while confirming that the current investigations are carried out based on social media posts alleging use of arms at the camp.

The police investigation into the violence and stone pelting reported on the night of April 16 in the Old Hubballi area has revealed that the stones were collected from a nearby road repair site.

However the senior cops have refused to divulge any information regarding questioning of the arrested, but said that the accused are undergoing a verification process. “The police have verified before taking the accused into custody. If anybody is innocent will be released,” said Hubballi Police Commissioner Labhu Ram, while reacting to the claim of parents of accused who stated that innocents were picked up.  

The police sources also said that half of the CCTVs in and around the protest site were not in working condition. “The police could manage to get some 20 plus cameras which are in working conditions. While seven cameras were stolen or damaged, about 20 cameras were not working,” informed a police official. 

Meanwhile the Hubballi police are on the lookout for a person whose video from the protest site has gone viral. In the video a man is seen standing atop a police vehicle and shouting slogans. The police said the man is yet to be arrested. So far 103 people have been arrested for the violence. 

HUBBALLI:  Twelve police personnel were injured and seven police vehicles were damaged after thousands of people, protesting over a social media post that hurt their religious sentiments, went berserk and attacked a police station on Saturday night. In all, 87 people have been arrested for the riots, and more are likely to be picked up. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been clamped across the city and additional police forces have been deployed to prevent any further untoward incidents. 

It was a scene of complete chaos in this commercial hub late on Saturday night as crowds ran through the streets in the dead of the night attacking policemen, private property and public vehicles. The trigger was the derogatory post by Abhishek Hiremath (24), on his social media account. Members of a community filed a complaint and immediately, the police arrested Abhishek from his residence at Anand Nagar and brought him to the Old Hubballi police station. Soon, a large crowd gathered at the police station, demanding that the police hand over the accused to them. 

The police tried to pacify the crowd saying the law will take its course, but the protesters went berserk, throwing stones at the police station and their vehicles. They turned off the high-mast streetlight, adding to the chaos.

They also targeted a religious place and a hospital located near the police station. The crowd divided itself and started attacking the police from different directions. The policemen fired nine times in the air, lobbed teargas shells and fired rubber bullets to bring the situation under control.

Hubballi Police Commissioner Labhu Ram said, “We are also investigating how such a large number of stones were collected during the protest. More arrests are likely. We are also getting reports of private vehicles being damaged and public being injured.” 

Police conduct route march

Additional police forces from other districts have been deployed to prevent any further incidents. On Sunday, platoons of RAF and armed police personnel conducted a route march in sensitive areas of the city. Dharwad Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil visited the Old Hubballi police station and held a meeting with top officials.

Patil said that the arrests are being carried out based on the CCTV footage and other evidence available. “The situation is under control and prohibitory orders will be in place till further orders,” he added. “Though the police had arrested the person who had posted a social media post, some people assembled in front of a police station and incited trouble,” CM Basavaraj Bommai said.

85 arrested following clashes in Kurnool
As many as 85 people were arrested following clashes when a Shobha Yatra was being taken out at Holagunda village in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district late on Saturday. When the procession was passing by a place of worship, some miscreants pelted stones, injuring five persons. “An inquiry has been initiated and people from both the sides booked,” said SP Ch Sudheer Kumar Reddy.

HUBBALLI: Tension prevailed in parts of Old Hubballi after hundreds of protesters gathered demanding action against an arrested youth late Saturday night. 

The protests began after a derogatory post by the accused Abhishek Hiremath went viral on Saturday night. Upon complaining, the police picked up the youth from his residence in Anand Nagar and brought him to the Old Hubballi police station. 

The police said the accused in his post had put up a saffron flag atop a mosque and had posted the same as his status. Many who saw the post objected and brought it to the notice of the police after which the arrest was made. 

The protesters gheraoed the police station and also damaged police vehicles. At least three police officers including an inspector were injured in the incident. Police resorted to dispensing tear gas, firing in the air and caning to disperse the crowd.

As the inquiry was underway, large numbers of people started gathering in front of the police station demanding action against Hiremath. As the agitating group did not move from the police station, the cops resorted to taking action. The situation was soon brought under control. Prohibitory orders are in place in the Old Hubballi area. 

Dharwad: Local police on Sunday evening arrested one person, reportedly affiliated with right-wing Hindutva organization Sri Rama Sene in the case pertaining to the vandalism of pushcarts of Muslim vendors near a temple in Dharwad.

The arrested person has been identified as Mahalinga Igali, a worker of Sri Rama Sene.

Earlier today, the Dharwad Rural Police had registered an FIR in the case based on a complaint filed by Nabi Saab, one of the four Muslim vendors whose pushcarts were vandalized by the fringe right-wing activists for stalling their pushcarts near the temple here.

DHARWAD: Tension prevailed on Saturday evening at Nuggekeri Hanuman temple in Dharwad after members of right-wing members and pro-Hindu organisations destroyed the watermelons belonging to the Muslim community seller. As many as four such pushcarts were destroyed.

The members who arrived shouting slogans started to throw the fruits and other items from the pushcarts belonging to the Muslim community. The tense situation gripped as both the community members get into heated arguments and later the intervention of the police controlled the happenings. However, police troops have camped on the temple premises. 
 
The pro-Hindu activists alleged that they have given the memorandum to the temple authorities around fifteen days back seeking not to permit other religious people for doing business and the same was also convinced to the people involved in the business at the temple premises. But people doing business have ignored the requests and finally, they have to face the heat.
 
A trader named Nabisab, hailing from Muslim community, said from the last 15 years he is in the same business and there were no issues with Hindu brothers but the sudden change by a few members has made him to worry. 

“The temple authorities or anybody haven’t instructed us to vacant the place. We have faced a loss of thousands of rupees and who is responsible. A police constable was on the spot but he was helpless as the group of people were doing ruckus,” he added. 
 
The senior administrator at the temple said they were not aware of the issue and now the meeting is being held to know what has happened.
 
A senior police officer said the meeting is will be held with temple authorities and after a detailed investigation the further course of action will be decided.

Dharwad rural police have registered a case against the right-wing members who vandalised the fruits