BENGALURU/TUMAKURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior Congress leaders on Monday slammed BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) for allegedly inciting people to hoist a saffron flag in Keragodu village in Mandya. Siddaramaiah, talking to reporters, alleged that BJP whipped up the flag-hoisting incident as it fears that it would lose the Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka.

“BJP created an issue out of a non-issue and propagated communalism. JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy too joined the BJP’s protest for political gains and the entire incident is part of a political conspiracy,” he charged.

Siddaramaiah said people from Keragodu village had given letters of undertaking to the authorities that they would fly either the national flag or Kannada flag, instead hoisted Hanuma Dhwaja, violating the rule of law. “Action will be taken against those who take law into their hands. The police resorted to lathicharge as they were attacked. Should they remain mute spectators,” he asked. On BJP leader CT Ravi’s statement that the Congress government will collapse, Siddarmaiah hit back, saying Congress has the mandate of 136 MLAs and 43% vote share compared to BJP’s 37%.

DCM DK Shivakumar accused BJP of stirring up emotions in Mandya to build a political base in the district and for political gains. “BJP candidates lost their deposit in many constituencies in Mandya and they are trying to find a political base by joining hands with JDS. Their efforts will not pay off as the people of Mandya are tolerant and secular and they won’t fall for gimmicks like this. Our objective is to ensure peace,” he said.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said BJP and Sangh Parivar, who had made coastal Karnataka a laboratory of communal politics for long, have now started their experiment in Mandya.

He accused Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka of lowering the dignity of the position he holds. He said the Keregodu villagers had sought permission to hoist only the national flag. “If BJP does not like the national flag, country’s Constitution and unity, let them go to their beloved Pakistan,” he added.

NEW DELHI: The biennial elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats that would fall vacant in April, will be held on February 27. The Election Commission announced the schedule for the polls across 15 states on Monday.

Former PM Manmohan Singh, BJP president JP Nadda and nine Union ministers including railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, environment minister Bhupendra Yadav and health minister Mansukh Mandaviya are among the MPs retiring just before the Lok Sabha elections.

Nadda is a Rajya Sabha MP from his home state Himachal Pradesh, where the Congress is in power at present. Singh represents Rajasthan in the Upper House.

Uttar Pradesh will have maximum vacancies with 10 seats. This is followed by Bihar and Maharashtra, where the tenure of six MPs each will come to an end. The other states where vacancies will arise are Madhya Pradesh (5), West Bengal (5), Karnataka (4), Gujarat (4), Odisha (3), Telangana (3), Andhra Pradesh (3), and Rajasthan (3). Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Chhattisgarh will have one seat each.

A press note issued by the EC on Monday said that it had decided to conduct biennial elections to the Council of States for which the last date of filing nomination would be February 15. The counting of votes will take place on February 27.

BJP members Anil Agrawal, Ashok Bajpai, GVL Narasimha Rao, Sudhanshu Trivedi and Harnath Singh Yadav, and Samajwadi Party member Jaya Bachchan from Uttar Pradesh are among the MPs retiring. MoS for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, MSME Minister Narayan Rane, former Union minister Prakash Javadekar, Congress member Kumar Ketkar, NCP’s Vandana Chavan and Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Desai is completing their term as RS MPs from Maharashtra. After the splits in the Nationalist Congress Party and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, the RS polls in the state will be keenly observed.

Poll to be held on Feb 27

The biennial elections for 56 Rajya Sabha seats across 15 states will be held on February 27. Uttar Pradesh will have maximum vacancies with 10 seats.

KALABURAGI: Violent protests broke out here on Tuesday after a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar was found to be desecrated at a village on the outskirts of Kalaburagi in the morning.

Though the protest started off peacefully, it turned violent towards noon with protesters throwing stones at shops, hotels and other business establishments at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle, Humnabad Base and Super Market areas.

The trouble started after members of Dalit organisations noticed the desecration of the statue at Kotnoor village. The activists blocked the state highway near Ram Mandir Circle early in the morning. Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanika Sukriwal rushed to the spot and tried to convince the agitators, but they refused to. The protesters made the DCP clean the statue and then garland it.

Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Tarannum, who too arrived at the spot, had to walk nearly half a kilometre as a huge crowd had gathered around the statue. When she requested the protesters to withdraw their agitation, they told her they would do so only after the perpetrators were arrested.

By afternoon, more roads were blocked and protesters threw stones at business establishments, breaking glass fronts. They went around forcing business owners to down shutters. Kalyan Karnataka Regional Development Board Chairman D Ajay Singh, who is also Jewargi MLA, condemned the incident and said the Congress government in the state has the utmost respect for Dr Ambedkar. Kalaburagi South MLA Dattatraya C Patil Revoor also condemned the incident.

BJP leaders too requested the agitators not to indulge in violence and maintain peace. Kalaburagi MP Dr Umesh Jadhav released a video appeal requesting the agitators not to indulge in violence.

BELAGAVI: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday warned the Maharashtra government against letting its officials enter Karnataka to implement the health insurance scheme which the neighbouring state is planning in 865 border villages of Karnataka.

To questions from reporters in Belagavi, Siddaramaiah said, “Our chief secretary has spoken to his counterpart in Maharashtra, asking them not to enter Karnataka.’’

The state government has already initiated measures to stop Maharashtra from going ahead with its insurance scheme, which is aimed at helping the large Marathi population staying in those villages.

Last week, Karnataka authorities closed several outlets that were opened to help people enrol under the scheme.

The CM said he was fortunate to lay the foundation stone for the Sangolli Rayanna Sainik School in Sangolli near Belagavi during his previous tenure, and he has inaugurated it as CM now.

Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara

Bengaluru: Amid rising incidents of hooliganism under the tag of religion in the state, Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G Parameshwara stated on Thursday that stringent action would be taken against those involved in religious hooliganism. “Strict instructions have been given to the officials of the department to take stringent legal action and the offenders won’t be let go easily,” said Parameshwara addressing the press at his Sadashivnagar residence.

Furthermore, responding to a question about the Congress party’s stand to decline the Ram Temple consecration ceremony invitation, he said, “that the construction work of Ram Temple has not yet completed. They(BJP) have rushed to inaugurate the Temple, in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. In this background, the party high command has decided not to attend the event.”

BENGALURU :  The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to add 100 more Pallakki sleeper buses, following wide appreciation from public.

Pallakki buses that operate under the tagline ‘Happiness is travelling’ have been running to full capacity since their launch, the primary reason being that it is budget-friendly.

KSRTC MD Anbu Kumar said, “We introduced Pallakki sleeper buses in October and ever since it has been among the most sought-after services of KSRTC. We launched 40 buses this year and given the overwhelming response, we will be adding 100 more Pallakki buses in 2024.”

Further explaining factors that made the bus the most preferred, Kumar said, “We have many sleeper bus services– the recently introduced Ambari Utsav, Ambari Dream Class among others. These are premium and air-conditioned. The prices of these services are also dear. However, Pallakki on the other hand is a non-AC sleeper bus that is budget-friendly, thus rising its demand.”

Those who wish to avoid travelling in AC sleeper buses prefer Pallakki, he said and added that these buses help people reach long destinations without tiring themselves, Kumar said. Gradually, we will be adding 100 Pallakki buses and they will be pressed into duty to cover long destinations from Bengaluru and other districts, he added.

BENGALURU: The total of Covid active cases in the state touched 1,000 on Sunday. Bengaluru Urban topped the list with 517 cases, followed by Mysuru 83 and Mandya 42. Of the total active cases, 943 are in home isolation.

The state also reported 229 new positive cases, but no deaths. The Health Department carried out 3,527 tests across the state of which 2,972 were RTPCR and 555 RAT.  The positivity rate was 6.49%.

Since December 15, the state has sent 247 samples for Whole Genomic Sequencing (WSG) and the results of 60 have arrived till now. Of the 60 samples, 34 were identified with the new variant JN.1.

Also since December 15, the state witnessed 13 deaths in total of which three positive patients were infected with the new variant JN.1. The Health Department is awaiting the reports of the remaining samples. 

CASE FILES
Positive cases on Dec 31: 229
Active cases: 1,000
22 in ICU, 35 in general
Tests done: 3,527
Deaths: 0
Positivity rate: 6.49 percent

NEW DELHI: The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to ensure the release of the stipulated quantity of flows as per the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

 According to the final CWDT award, Karnataka should release 7.35 tmcft water for the rest of December, at the interstate connecting point Biligundulu on an average daily flow of 2,744 cusecs. 

In the 91st meeting of the CWRC under the chairmanship of Vineet Gupta, the panel made a decision based on storage position, inflows and outflows of eight designated reservoirs and hydrometeorological conditions in the Cauvery basin. The next meeting will be held on January 9.  

“The state of Karnataka needs to ensure flows at Biligundulu stipulated by  CWDT,  as modified by the Supreme Court, for the remaining period of December 2023 and January 2024, when the hydrometeorological conditions in the Cauvery basin will be reviewed,” Gupta told TNIE. 

A good northeast monsoon has come as a relief to Tamil Nadu and also, the committee recognised the critical drought-like condition in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka. 

“After January 31, there is no need for extra water required as harvesting of crops would start in February in TN while Karnataka needs to maintain the environmental flow of the river,” Gupta added. The committee observed that the live storage in the four reservoirs of Karnataka is 42.546 tmcft, which is 40.69% of the total live storage. In  Tamil Nadu, it is 54.089 tmcft, which is 41.77% of the total live storage.

BENGALURU: The health department on Tuesday issued a Covid advisory with the number of cases increasing in neighbouring Kerala. According to the advisory, those aged 60 and above, and pregnant and lactating mothers should wear masks while venturing out. They should avoid visiting closed, poorly ventilated spaces and crowded areas. 

Those having respiratory problems, symptoms of fever, cough, cold and running nose should seek immediate medical help. The advisory was issued based on the Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee’s (TAC) recommendations. According to the advisory, people should maintain hygiene, including frequent washing of hands. Those unwell should stay at home and avoid meeting others, especially the elderly. People travelling overseas should be vigilant and follow precautions such as wearing masks at airports.

 79 active cases in Karnataka

 “Testing of all SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infections) cases and at least one in 20 ILI (Influenza Like Illness) cases for Covid-19 at all private and government tertiary centres, including medical colleges, should be taken up,” Health Commissioner Randeep stated.

District surveillance officers should coordinate and send positive samples with Ct (cycle threshold) value less than 25 to Bangalore Medical College and Research Centre (BMCRI). All government and private hospitals should conduct mock drills to ensure operational readiness, the circular stated. Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who held a meeting with top health officials, said that daily testing will be ramped up to 5,000 by this weekend. Union Health Minister Mansuk Mandaviya will hold a meeting of health ministers of all States on Wednesday.

A TAC member said, “We have submitted recommendations. There is no need to panic or impose any rigid restrictions as of now. We are closely monitoring how Covid 19 variant, JN.1, is behaving. While it is spreading in neighbouring Kerala and other countries, it is not yet listed as the variant of concern.” He said there are over 70 active Covid cases in the State and based on the situation, the government will be asked to take measures.

RULES FOR NY CELEBRATIONS NEXT WEEK 
Guidelines for New Year celebrations by the Bengaluru city police will be released next week, City Police Commissioner B Dayananda has said. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said that meetings with the other departments concerned in this regard have taken place. A final meeting will be held with the police officers attached to Bengaluru Police Commissi-onerate before releasing the guidelines, he added. The previ-ous years New Year celebrations will be analysed to ensure more precautions and security this year. New Year celebra-tions at Brigade Road and MG Road will be as usual.  “All measures will be in place to ensure safety to the public and to those participating in the celebrations,” he added.  

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and sought Rs 18,177 crore as assistance for drought relief works in the State.

Siddaramaiah urged PM Modi to direct Union Home Minister Amit Shah to hold an emergency meeting of the high-powered committee and take immediate steps to release funds to tackle drought.

Addressing reporters, Siddaramaiah said the committee headed by Shah should have held a meeting by now. “We have submitted three memorandums, but the central officials did not convene any meeting,” he added.https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.609.1_en.html#goog_1032962961Advertisement: 0:02Close Player

“We placed five demands and Modi responded positively to them. We hope to get central funds at the earliest. Farmers are in distress because of drought and they need help,” he said.

In his petition, Siddaramaiah stated that the State submitted its first memorandum three months ago. The inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) made its field visits in the State two months ago. Yet, the State hasn’t received any financial assistance from the Centre. 

 Crops have failed and farmers are in distress. There is a dire need to pay “input subsidy” to the affected farmers at the earliest, the CM added. Of the 236 taluks in the State, 223 have been declared as drought-hit. Of the 223 taluks, 196 have been severely affected, the CM stated in his petition.

On the Mekedatu reservoir project, the CM said that it has been gazetted. “There is no hindrance to the project. But it is yet to get environmental clearance from the Union Government. We have completed the project estimation. Only after getting environmental clearance, we can start work. This is why we have been urging the Union Government to grant it at the earliest,” he said.

On the Upper Bhadra project, he said Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a Central grant of Rs 5,300 crore and the then chief minister Basavaraj Bommai announced equal contribution from the State. The Centre should release the grant soon.

Mekedatu is a drinking water project and it will also help the people of Tamil Nadu. “This will help us get drinking water as well as generate 400 MW of power. Tamil Nadu can make use of both. We have urged Modi to help the State implement this project,” Siddaramaiah said.

State’s demands

• Funds for drought relief works
• 150 MNREGA mandays
• Funds for Upper Bhadra project
• Environmental clearance for Mahadayi, Mekedatu projects