Kalburgi: Vice-Chancellor Parimala Ambedkar Tuesday cancelled Kanhaiah Kumar’s lecture, which was schedule to be held at Dr BR Ambedkar Research and Study Center at Gulbarga University.

“The lecture has been cancelled following an oral instruction from the higher education department,” she said. Section 144 has been imposed surrounding Dr BR Ambedkar Auditorium.

Former President of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union Kanhaiya Kumar was scheduled to deliver a lecture at 11 am here. But as per the latest development in the morning, restrictions have been imposed on the programme.

 The Palace City of Mysuru has been decked up for the world-famous Jamboo Savari, which will mark the grand finale of the Dasara festival on Tuesday.

MYSURU: The Palace City of Mysuru has been decked up for the world-famous Jamboo Savari, which will mark the grand finale of the Dasara festival on Tuesday. As the countdown has started for the cultural extravaganza, the city has been flooded with lakhs of tourists. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, along with cabinet colleagues and family members, will arrive in the city to inaugurate the event between 2.15 and 2.58 pm at Makara Lagna on Tuesday.

The CM will offer puja to Nandi Dwaja in front of Mysore Palace’s Balarama gate. Yediyurappa, along with a member from the Mysuru Royal family, will shower flowers on presiding deity Chamundeshwari, placed in a golden howdah, carried by the elephant Arjuna.

National and state highways to Mysuru have been registering high-density of vehicular movement ahead of the Jamboo Savari. All the hotels in and around Mysuru have been sold out. The roads are choked with traffic jams. There is an increase in footfall on the streets as people are venturing out to witness the colorful lighting which has turned out to be a special attraction this time.

The Dasara procession will have a tableaux of various departments from all 30 districts in the state and and more than 150 cultural troupes will perform. Artistes from across the country are giving final touches to the tableaux that will showcase the programmes of the Union and state governments, cultural and tourists spots in the state.

The district administration has made seating arrangements for VVIPs, foreigners, gold card holders, at Mysuru Palace and on either side of New Sayyaji Rao Road that will accommodate lakhs. The torchlight parade will be held at Bannimantap stadium at 7 pm. Governor Vajubhai Vala will inaugurate the festival.

A complete ban on single-use plastic, including water bottles and water cans, has been imposed at Bhagamandala and Talacauvery temples in Kodagu. Alternative water carriers, including steel and bronze water cans, are being arranged to implement the ban. The decision was taken by MLA K G Bopaiah and other officials during a planning meeting. Cauvery Tula Sankramana will be observed at Talacauvery at 12.59 am on October 18.

Govt estimated damage at Rs 35,000-Rs 1 lakh crore; While state BJP leaders express gratitude to PM, Cong, JDS flay Centre for ‘inadequate’ funds

BENGALURU: On a day when an embattled CM BS Yediyurappa confessed that the “state government’s financials are not sound”, the release of Rs 1,200 crore came as a shot in the arm for the BJP government.
BJP general secretary N Ravi Kumar said, “The Centre has announced interim relief of Rs 1,200 crore, and in the next few days, the state will get more relief from the Centre.’’

While BJP ministers and leaders said the release of funds would help speed up relief work in flood-hit areas, the Congress and JDS called it “too little, too late”. The state had estimated the damage across the state to be Rs 35,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore.

Former CM HD Kumaraswamy was quick to criticise the sum released. “They have succumbed to the protests and public anger, and have measured and weighed and released Rs 1,200 crore. Even if the treasury has funds, the state government had forgotten the flood victims, this is our misfortune. At least now let them become alert.’’

“The relief announced by the Centre is grossly insufficient. While the state government had sought Rs 38,000 crore, they have sanctioned a pittance, a mere Rs 1200 crore,” said former CM Siddaramaiah.
Former Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, “It is too little, too late. When a leader(referring to Yatnal) raises the flood issue, they slap him with a notice! After 45-50 days, you release such a miniscule sum. The estimated loss is Rs 1 lakh crore and even the state BJP government had demanded Rs 5,000 crore. This is not going to help anyone. When you don’t respond to an urgent need in time, what is the use of a delayed lethargic response?’’

Congress and JDS leaders insisted that the Centre needs to release more funds expeditiously to help victims.

BJP leaders, meanwhile, heaved a sigh of relief as the Centre announced the flood relief, even as public anger was growing. Leaders from within the party were also questioning the delay in release of funds.
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayana expressed gratitude for the support from PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the funds. Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda said, “Our government has released an amount of Rs 1,200 crore in advance.’’

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy said, “We are happy they have done something, we have faith that they will release more funds in the future.’’ Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the “advance release of funds to Karnataka would speed up relief and restoration work in Karnataka’’.
“The relief announced by the Centre is grossly insufficient. While the state government had sought Rs 38,000 crore, they have sanctioned a pittance, a mere Rs 1200 crore,” said former CM Siddaramaiah.

CM: finances not sound In response to rising demands by farmers in flood-hit areas to release crop compensation on the lines of the Maharashtra government, Yediyurappa said he had directed Deputy Commissioners to study the Maharashtra model to check if it was financially viable for Karnataka. Addressing a meeting at Darur, Yediyurappa admitted that the financial position of his government was not sound, but said that a sum of Rs 5 lakh was being provided for construction of each damaged house.

In spite of the odds he was facing, the CM said he had been trying to provide maximum relief to those who had lost their properties in the recent floods. Yediyurappa said that within the next 15 days, his cabinet would give its nod to implement a multi-village drinking water project worth Rs 80 crore in 16 villages of Athani taluk.

BELAGAVI: Despite his inability to get funds for flood-relief work from the Centre, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa issued work orders for the construction of houses in Belagavi district.

Despite his inability to get funds for flood-relief work from the Centre, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa issued work orders for the construction of houses in Belagavi district.

While stating that his government had already credited the first instalment of Rs 1 lakh into the bank accounts of each of the beneficiaries who lost their houses to the floods, Yediyurappa said his government was committed to providing Rs 5 lakh for the construction of a house that totally collapsed, and reconstruction of homes which were unsafe to live in flood-hit areas.

While asserting that the Centre will release funds within the next three to four days, Yediyurappa said his government had initiated several measures to ensure that each affected family received compensation without delay.

At a meeting on Thursday evening, the CM, “If the houses in flood-hit areas got damaged beyond repair or are not in a state for a family to live in, the DC’s concerned must provide Rs 5 lakh compensation for construction of a new house to the inmates,’’ he asserted.

“The government will provide at least Rs 5 lakh for the construction of classrooms in schools damaged in the floods. Separate funds will also be given for construction of damaged Anganwadis,’’ said Yediyurappa.

B Sriramulu admitted to the delay in receiving relief package from the Centre

BENGALURU: Even as BJP and Congress leaders continue to spar over Central assistance to the state for flood relief works, Health Minister B Sriramulu on Thursday admitted that there has been a delay in getting funds, and apologised for the same.

“We have to admit that there has been a delay in getting the central assistance for taking up flood relief works in the state, and we apologise for it,” the minister said. “The Central government earlier used to provide assistance quickly, but now, it has gotten delayed as they are looking into our report on damage to the extent of over Rs 38,000 crore. Though it is already late, I am confident that we will get assistance very soon,” the minister said. 

An inter-ministerial team comprising senior officers from different departments had visited the state to assess the damage, and Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa also expressed confidence in getting the assistance soon.

The Central and the state governments have come under fire from the Congress and JDS, as well as some BJP leaders, over the delay. On Thursday, former Union minister and BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal yet again hit out at Union ministers for failing to meet the PM over the issue. 

“We would not have faced such a situation had Ananth Kumar been alive today. He would have convinced the PM and got assistance from the Centre. One of the three (Union ministers from state) should take up such a role and be the bridge between the state and the Centre,” Patil said. “Unfortunately, today we do not have anyone who can even meet the PM and take up the issue,” he added.

Meanwhile, members of Uttara Karnataka Sangha Samsthe Gala Mala Samsthe, a federation of associations from the North Karnataka region, staged a demonstration in Bengaluru on Thursday morning, protesting against what they called a failure of the state and Centre in helping people in flood-hit regions of North Karnataka. “Lakhs of people were rendered homeless by the floods. Even two months after the floods, the state has not received any assistance. What are our MPs doing?” questioned Shankar Bidari, former state police chief.  

 State health minister B Sriramulu seems to be a saviour for the sick and injured.

UDUPI: State health minister B Sriramulu seems to be a saviour for the sick and injured. He came to the rescue of yet another woman, who was injured in an accident, in Kumbhashi on Saturday. While passing through Kumbhashi on NH 66, the minister noticed the woman, on the side of the road, bleeding. 

He immediately stopped his convoy and shifted the woman to NR Acharya Hospital in Koteshwar,  in Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat’s vehicle. 

The injured woman is Tharamathi (55), from Kundapur. The accident occurred when an auto rickshaw, she was travelling in, hit the median and toppled. Her daughter-in-law Divya (26), who was in the same auto, suffered minor injuries.

Tharamathi injured her shoulder and is undergoing treatment at the hospital. Kundapur traffic police have registered a case about the accident.

Eshwarappa said that when Yediyurappa left the BJP and launched the KJP, he won only three seats. 

SHIVAMOGGA: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister KS Eshwarappa, while criticising Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah, ended up taking a dig at his own Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, to drive home the point that no leader is bigger than his party. Eshwarappa said that when Yediyurappa left the BJP and launched the KJP, he won only three seats. 

“Power is not permanent. Be it me, Siddaramaiah, Yediyurappa or Kumaraswamy, all politicians need the support of parties to rise to power. One should not act like a dictator,” Eshwarappa told reporters here on Saturday. Eshwarappa, who was among the most vocal critics of Yediyurappa when he left the party, remained critical even after Yediyurappa rejoined the BJP. This was apparent again on Saturday. 
Eshwarappa also expressed displeasure over allocation of the additional portfolio of youth empowerment and sports, and said he would speak to Yediyurappa whether to take charge of it or not. 

Eshwarappa said the Congress was defeated in the Assembly election and performed poorly in the Lok Sabha polls in the state due to the conspiracies of Siddaramaiah. “But when he was chief minister, Siddaramaiah behaved like a dictator. As a result, the Congress is nowhere in the state at present. It’s a lesson for not only Siddaramaiah but all politicians,” Eshwarappa said. “Siddaramaiah planned to form his own party but didn’t succeed. Yediyurappa launched his own party, KJP, but was not successful. Politicians need strong parties.”

Eshwarappa said that though senior Congress leader K H Muniyappa had accused former Speaker Ramesh Kumar of plotting his defeat and demanded his ouster from the party, Siddaramaiah made Ramesh sit next to him and didn’t take any action against him. There should be no support for those who deceive their own parties,” he said.

The minister expressed confidence that disqualified MLAs would get justice in the Supreme Court. 
“Ramesh disqualified the MLAs at the behest of Siddaramaiah. Did the apex court ask the then Speaker to disqualify MLAs? No. He accepted the resignation of Chincholi MLA Umesh Jadhav. The same Speaker disqualified MLAs who submitted their resignations. I don’t understand this,” he said.

‘Don’t oppose power project’

Eshwarappa requested environmentalists not to oppose the proposed underground power project in the Sharavathi Valley. “Deforestation is bad, but at the same time, there should also be continuous electricity generation. The project also helps supply electricity to villages in the Sharavathi Valley, so the project should not be opposed,” he said.

According to state government officials, the testing of drone or aerial vehicle called ‘Rustom-2’ was in progress when the incident occurred.

Courtesy: ANI

BENGALURU:

DRDO’s unmanned aerial vehicle ‘Rustom 2’ crashed in Karnataka while undergoing test flights
 

An unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV belonging to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) crashed during a trial in an agriculture field in Karnataka’s Chitradurga district on Tuesday.

No casualties were reported in the crash.

The incident created quite a scare at Jodi Chillenahalli village as a loud noise was heard after the drone crashed.

Soon, large number of people gathered at the spot. Confirming the incident, Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Arun K told news agency Press Trust of India that the UAV crashed in the Areca nut farm this morning.

Photos of the broken UAV were shared on the social media.

According to state government officials, the testing of drone or aerial vehicle called ‘Rustom-2’ was in progress when the incident occurred.

When contacted, a DRDO official declined to comment on it.

 After engaging in a blame game over the collapse of their coalition government, JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Thursday indicated his party is still open for continuing its alliance with the Congress.

“To get rid of the bad situation in the country, we have to keep aside our personal jealousy,” he told reporters here in an apparent attack on the BJP-led NDA rule without naming it.

Gowda hinted he was open for an alliance with the Congress in 17 assembly constituencies, where bypolls have been necessitated following the disqualification of rebel MLAs, but said it all depended on the decision of the national party’s interim president Sonia Gandhi.

In the bypolls, the JD(S) was not inclined to contest all the constituencies as the Congress was more stronger on many of the segments, he said adding it was for Sonia Gandhi to take the decision.

He said she cannot decide without consulting Karnataka Congress leaders.

I don’t know what is the stand of the local leaders, I have not discussed with anyone every one knows about developments that are happening in the country. so if they come to a decision, if local leaders of that party come to a consensus, we will give cooperation I have said. There is nothing to misinterpret, he added.

Gowda and Congress strongman in the state Siddaramaiah had traded charges, blaming each other for the collapse of the H D Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July after it was rocked by dissidence.

Both Congress and JD(S) leaders have also been non- committal over the continuation of the alliance after the fall of the coalition government.

Congress leaders including state party chief Dinesh Gundu Rao and Siddaramaiah, who is the Congress legislature party leader, have maintained that continuation of alliance will be decided by the high command.

However, several top leaders of the party on condition of anonymity had recently said the entire rank and file of the party were happy to end the partnership with JD(S).

The two parties, considered arch rivals, especially in old Mysuru region, had bitterly fought against each other during the 2018 assembly polls but came together to form a post-poll coalition following a hung verdict.

However, the alliance was not accepted by lower level leaders and the cadres of both the parties and this culminated in the open revolt by 17 MLAs of the combine and the fall of the government, paving the way for BJP’s return to power.

The then assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar had disqualified 17 Congress-JD(S) MLAs under the anti-defection law. They have challenged it in the Supreme Court.

On the three seats represented by the JDS, Gowda said he would field candidates based on local leaders’ decision.

Referring to the criticism of JDS by Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah, during the assembly elections that it was a “B” team of BJP, Gowda said no one now say so. “…it is a gone thing now. I gave cooperation despite all these things.

“The point is both the parties had suffered badly on account of remarks against each other (during 2018 assembly polls), what was the use? They had 130 seats with them (in the previous assembly), they got reduced to 78,” he said.

Mangaluru: A private Bus driver on Saturday was fined with a whooping sum of Rs.5000/- for using phone while driving here at Jokatte Cross in Mangalore.

As the Mangaluru North Police were checking vehicle at Jokatte cross on Saturday night, the private bus driver was caught while he was speaking on the phone with someone.

Soon a penalty of Rs.5000/- was issued against him for using the phone while driving.

As the Amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act has been made, it was brought into effect at Mangaluru on Saturday. However the officials clarified not to worry about the challans if people are carrying valid document