Karnataka – Page 17

B S Yeddyurappa's nephew arrested in cheating case

December 2, 2014 by Nasheman

Mysuru: A nephew of former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa has been arrested by police for cheating a man after receiving huge amount of money.

Yeddyurappa’s sister’s son Rajesh was arrested by Hanumanthanagar police in Bengaluru on Monday following a complaint by K G Krishnappa, resident of Banashankari in Bengaluru.

In the year 2008, when the Yeddyurappa government came to power, Rajesh had allegedly promised to get 11 acres of land, previously owned by Krishnappa at Mogaralli on KRS Road, denotified.

The land had been acquired by Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board from Krishnappa in the year 2007.Rajesh had received Rs 20 lakh cash, a cheque amounting to Rs 20 lakh, and a Honda City car from Krishnappa in return for the favour. However, he failed to get the land denotified, as per the complaint.

Krishnappa filed a complaint with Police Commissioner, Bengaluru on September 28, 2011. Shortly after, Rajesh too filed a complaint against Krishnappa with the Banashankari police, stating that the latter had been threatening him. Hanumanthanagar police also seized the Honda City car found at Rajesh’s house.

Abuse, insult of Backward Castes may soon attract penal action

December 2, 2014 by Nasheman

Karnataka Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya

Bengaluru: The State Government is considering a proposal to enact legislation aimed at preventing abuse of the backward classes on the basis of their caste, according to Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya.

A proposal to this effect has been made to the Law Department. “We are keen on it and we will take a call based on the department’s opinion,” the minister said on Monday.

A meeting of leaders from backward communities, intellectuals and writers, chaired by Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya, resounded with vehement demands for a law to end abuse and insult of people belonging to the backward castes.

The meeting, on Monday, was held ahead of the launch of a caste-based census covering all of Karnataka. “Even today, seeing people of certain communities when setting out for important work is considered a bad omen. People engaged in some traditional vocations are insulted and abused by their caste names,” Anjaneya said, explaining the need for a new law.

“We are also considering banning the use of words that insult people belonging to certain castes. This is affirmative action to prevent caste discrimination,” the Social Welfare Minister added.

250 acres allotted to Coca Cola in Yadgir to set up bottling plant

December 1, 2014 by Nasheman

Kalaburagi/Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has finally started process of handing over 250 acres land in Yadgir district to Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd to set up a greenfield bottling plant.

The previous Bharatiya Janata Party government had cleared Coca-Cola’s investment plan in Yadgir. But due to a High Court stay, the government could not allot the land immediately.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said the government had approved land for setting up a Coca-Cola factory at the proposed industrial area near Kadechur and Badiyal villages in Yadgir district.

He said he held talks with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited on Friday and decided to accept its proposal to set up its soft drink plan in Yadgir.

The government decided to draw 25 MLD of water for the industrial area from Joladgi-Gudur barrage built across River Bhima.

Textile Minister Baburao Chinchansoor said water would be drawn from Bhima and Krishna rivers for the plant. However, when asked, Siddaramaiah did not say where the government intended to draw the water from for the industrial area and the cola factory.

Ratna Prabha, State Additional Chief Secretary, Commerce and Industry Department, said the company is expected to invest Rs. 1,000 crore in Yadgir. She said that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has started making payments to land owners in Yadgir, and the area has been notified for industrial development. The KIADB will soon hand over complete 250 acres at Kadechur village in Yadgir taluk to the company.

Fertile land

Nearly 3,330 acres at Kadechur and Baliyala have been reserved for industrial purpose. Spread across three taluks — Shahapur, Shorapur and Yadgir — the district is known for its cluster of cement industries and a distinct stone popularly know as ‘Malakheda Stone’. The district has a vast stretch of fertile black cotton soil and is known for red gram, cotton, jowar and groundnut cultivation.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru: Group of Congressmen set to revolt against Digvijay Singh

December 1, 2014 by Nasheman

Bengaluru/Agencies: A number of current and past legislators belonging to Congress party are up in arms against Digvijay Singh, who has been in charge of Congress affairs in Karnataka since sometime. These people, who wield considerable clout in the party, have together begun an effort to divest Digvijay of Karnataka Congress affairs, and they have initiated efforts to bring pressure on the party high command to make this happen, sources said.

It is said that some state ministers and legislators are making efforts to ensure that Singh is relieved of charge relating to Karnataka, as they expect All India Congress Committee to be revamped during January or February 2015. Sources say that the issue has already reached Congress national vice president, Rahul Gandhi. These Congressmen are angry at keeping legislators and past legislators at bay while allotting seats in boards and corporations, and that the decisions of a single person is being imposed on all the people without justification.

It is gathered that top leaders in Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) and government were ready to consider these people for heading corporations and boards, but Digvijay stuck to his stand against doing so. The party people are also angry that Digvijay had done so entirely on the advice of an individual.

It is learnt that Digvijay Singh has already instructed both Siddaramaiah and Dr G Parameshwara, to fill posts of directors in all urban development authorities, corporations, and boards in the state without further delay. He has told them to post loyal party workers to urban development authorities and to corporations and boards after obtaining resignations from present office bearers.

KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwar, has suddenly left for New Delhi, fuelling speculations about the purpose of his visit.

Karnataka: TV9 & NEWS9 taken off air, D K Shivakumar blamed

November 25, 2014 by Nasheman

D K Shivakumar. Photo: The Hindu

Bengaluru: Two news channels in Karnataka have alleged that they were taken off air in Bengaluru for several hours on the state government’s orders.

TV9 and NEWS9 – both belonging to the TV9 group – allege that cable operators blacked them out on Monday night in Bengaluru and surrounding areas. After criticism and backlash, both are back on air.

TV9 has alleged that the operators acted on a directive from the state Energy Minister DK Shivakumar but the government has denied it.

“The action of the cable operators emanates from a meeting between them and Karnataka minister for Energy D K Shivakumar a few days ago, at which the minister ordered them to stop telecasting TV9 and NEWS9. He threatened them that the government will impose heavy penalties on them if they did not stop telecasting TV9 and News9. As a consequence, the cable operators’ association sent the following directive to its members on Monday,” a press release issued by the channel said.

The minister was accused of telling operators that the channels had been working against industry standards. The channel alleged that it was being punished for airing an investigation against Mr Shivakumar.

Former union minister and Congress leader Janardhan Poojary on Tuesday criticized D K Shivakumar for the alleged orders to ban the two news channels.

Addressing a press meet in Mangaluru, Poojary said, “D K Shivakumar is curbing the freedom of the press. Media is an important part of the democracy.”

“The Indian Constitution clearly states the freedom of the press in Article 19 (1) (A). D K Shivakumar needs to read it,” he added.

“While taking oath as minister you (DKS) promised to respect and abide by the Constitution. Now you have done a mistake. Every human being commits mistake, but greatness lies in accepting them. Even Mahatma Gandhi committed mistakes and accepted them, so did Indira Gandhi after the Emergency,” he said.

Addressing DKS further, he said, “If you admit your mistake, will anyone behead you? The chief minister is doing good work in the state, do not embarrass him and the party with such actions. The Congress party has given you power.

“If this issue is raised in the Parliament it will be a matter of shame to Sonia Gandhi,” he added.

“You (DKS) are trying to spoil the image of the party. Correct your mistakes, I am saying this as your well-wisher,” he said.

“The CM should intervene in this matter. Freedom of press keeps democracy alive. Do you want to murder democracy?” he questioned DKS.

After 18 months haul, CM Siddaramaiah appoints chiefs for State Boards, Corporations

November 25, 2014 by Nasheman

Bengaluru: More than a year after assuming power, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has finally ended the uncertainty over appointments of chairpersons to State-owned Boards and Corporations in the State and the State Government has issued orders for appointments through the respective departments.

Chairpersons to 90 State-owned Boards and Corporations coming under different departments were appointed through appointment orders issued on Monday.

The appointments were cleared by the Congress party high command with the rider that sitting MLAs and those who were defeated in the assembly elections would not be considered and only party workers would be given preference.

As many as 20 women Congress workers have been appointed heads to various government entities.

A good number of office-bearers of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee have been awarded for their hard work.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC President Dr G Parameshwara, who held several rounds of consultations to prepare a list of candidates, had even consulted the AICC in charge for Karnataka Digvijaya Singh before finalising the names.

The Chief Minister and KPCC Chief had obtained approval for the final list from the party high command last week.

The newly appointed chiefs and deputy chiefs will have a tenure of only 18 months. Noted film director S V Rajendra Singh Babu has been appointed as chairman of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy, while Congress member Vijayalakshmi Urs will head Kanteerava Studios Corporation Limited.

The other appointees

M Ramachandrappa (D Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation); Nanjayyanamath (chief, KHB); Gaddadevaramath (Warehousing Corporation Limited); Syed Ahmed Hussain ( State Tourism Development Corporation); Subhash Chayagol (Border Area Development Authority); L Haumanthaiah (Kannada Development Authority); Rangaswamaiah (Karnataka State Temperance Board); Lohith D Naikar (vice-chairman, KSRTC); Nabiraju (chairman, BMTC); Shivakumar Gowda Shetty (vice-chairman, BMTC); MD Saudagar (chairman, NWRTC) Anand Kumar (Compost Development Corporation) and Bheemanna Saali (chairman, NERTC), Rani Satish (chief, Hutti gold Mines), LN Murthy (chief, Marketing Consultancy and Agency); Veronica Karneel (chief, Soaps and Detergents Limited); Jayaram (chairman, State Textile Infrastructure Development Corporation); B Gurappa Naidu (chairman, State Small Industries Development Corporation); AM Pathan (vice-chairman, State Small Industries Development Corporation); Kadur Nanjappa (chief, State Coir Board); Veena Achhaiah (chief, Handicrafts Development Corporation); CB Rajappa (chief, State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation); Lakshman Rao Chingale (chief, State Khadi and Village Industries); Mallikarjuna Nagappa (chief, Handloom Development Corporation); Ananth (chief, Mysore Paints and Varnishing Ltd); Gurucharan (chief, Mysore Electrical Industries Limited); and ML Anil Kumar (chairman, MSIL).

Keep Gauri Lankesh away from naxal panel, tells BJP; CM refuses

November 15, 2014 by Nasheman

Photo: K . Bhagya Prakash

Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party has urged the Karnataka Governor to direct the state government to keep senior journalist Gauri Lankesh away from the committee formed by the government to help bringing the naxals into the mainstream by convincing them to shun violence and surrender.

A delegation of the BJP leaders comprising legislators and leaders from the Malnad region C. T. Ravi, D. N. Jeevaraj and Bhanuprakash, accused Ms. Lankesh of having a soft corner for naxals and said it would not be possible for the government to have a dispassionate view on the issue if she was present on the panel.

Emerging from Raj Bhavan after submitting a memorandum to governor Vajubhai Vala, former minister, C.T. Ravi claimed Ms Lankesh, who is convenor of the Civilian Forum for Peace, was a Naxal supporter and her presence on the committee was likely to help the ultras rather than the government.

Criticising the ongoing efforts to ensure surrender of naxals Sirimane Nagaraj and Noor Zulfiqar, the BJP said the two were old and ill. Instead, efforts should be made to convince the young and active naxals to shun violence.

Meanwhile Chief Minister Siddaramaiah shunned the BJP’s suspicions over Ms. Lankesh. He accused the party of seeing everything with a biased view.

Dhoni rested for first Test against Australia; Rahul, Karn get call-ups

November 11, 2014 by Nasheman

Mumbai: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has been rested for the first match of the four-Test series starting Dec 4 against Australia while Karnataka opening batsman K.L. Rahul and Railways leg-spinner Karn Sharma received call-ups to the 19-member squad announced Monday.

Virat Kohli will lead the Indian team in the first Test of the series, which will be preceded by two two-day practice games in November.

“Virat Kohli will lead India in the first Test, starting on 4 December 2014, in Brisbane. M.S. Dhoni has been rested for the first Test as a prophylactic measure to ensure optimum recovery. He will join the team from the second Test onwards, and will lead the team for the rest of the Test series,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Patel said.

Left-hander Suresh Raina has returned to the squad after two years while Madhya Pradesh wicketkeeper Naman Ojha will be Bengal glovesman Wriddhiman Saha’s back-up for the first Test.

Right-hander batsman Rahul was a serious contender for the reserve opener’s slot after scoring centuries in each innings of the Duleep Trophy final against Central Zone at the Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi Oct 29-Dec 2. In the previous season of the Ranji Trophy, the 22-year-old accumulated 1,158 runs to become the second highest scorer.

The selectors have picked five pacers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron while the spin department got an addition in the form of Meerut-based spinner Karn, who made his Twenty20 debut against England.

BCCI’s All-India Senior Selection Committee, which met here Monday, also rested opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja for the last two One-Day Internationals (ODI) of the five-match India-Sri Lanka series.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa, Karn Sharma, Vinay Kumar and Kedar Jadhav have been selected for the last two games to be played in Kolkata (Oct 13) and Ranchi (Oct 16).

India squad for Tests in Australia: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, K.L. Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Wriddhiman Saha, Naman Ojha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Karn Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohd. Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron.

India squad for ODIs against Sri Lanka: Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Axar Patel, Karn Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Stuart Binny, Vinay Kumar, Kedar Jadhav.

(IANS)

CM Siddaramaiah to reshuffle cabinet, at least six ministers to be shown the door

November 10, 2014 by Nasheman

CM Siddaramaiah (Photo credit: IE)

Bangalore: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is planning to revamp his council of ministers by this year-end, and according to sources at least six ministers to be shown the door.

Under-performance and ill-health are said to be the two main factors that are going to determine the reshuffle. The chief minister has held a preliminary round of consultation with AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Digvijay Singh, in this regard. But the final nod from the party high command is yet to come, says one media report.

According to sources, the ministers likely to be dropped are: Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Horticulture), Qamarul Islam (Minority Welfare), Kimmane Ratnakar (Primary Education), Parmeshwara Naik (Labour), Abhaychandra Jain (Fisheries) and Baburao Chinchanasur (Textiles).

DHNS says, Siddaramaiah has already directed his office to compile a report on the performance of each of the ministers. The report is being prepared based on implementation of budgetary programmes, number of review meetings held, touring the State for inspection and file clearance, sources added.

However, neither Siddaramaiah nor the party high command has prepared a tentative list of names for new ministers. The process to select names is likely to commence after the winter session of the State legislature likely to be held in December at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi.

Both Parameshwara and Siddaramaiah are likely to meet the party top brass on November 16 to finalise the list of names for boards and corporations, besides those to be inducted into the ministry. The CM, who did not want to go in for expansion, had to change his plans due to mounting pressure from within the party over non-performing ministers.

The high command had recently asked the CM to give a dossier on each minister.

It's official: Bangalore is now Bengaluru; 11 other Karnataka cities renamed

November 1, 2014 by Nasheman

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addressing the 59th Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations.

Bangalore: Bangalore is now officially Bengaluru. Twelve cities in Karnataka woke up to new names on Saturday, which is also the 59th Karnataka Rajyotsava.

The state government issued a special gazette notification on Friday to bring the new names into effect from Saturday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly announced the change of names of the 12 cities, from his residence, according to The Hindu.

Now, Mangalore will be called Mangaluru, Bellary will be called Ballari, Belgaum will be called Belagavi, Hubli has become Hubballi, Tumkur is Tumakuru, Bijapur has changed to Vijapura, Chikmagalur to Chikkamagaluru, Gulbarga to Kalaburagi, Hospet to Hosapete and Shimoga will now be known as Shivamogga.

Bengaluru is said to be a derivation from the older name Benda-Kaal-Uru, which means ‘the city of boiled beans’.

“We have changed the names. It is now left to institutions and government bodies to make suitable changes,” law and parliamentary affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra was quoted saying by The Hindu.

While authorities have suggested that institutions must adopt the new names, some, such as the Bangalore University, are not keen.

“The name change applies only to cities and not to the institution,” Bangalore University vice-chancellor B Thimme Gowda told The New Indian Express. “When names of cities like Madras and Bombay were changed, university names remained the same,” he said.

Gowda added that the university had not received any communication on this from the government.

The central government approved the renaming of 12 Karnataka cities on 17 October, eight years after the first proposal by the state government was put forth. The ministry of home affairs formally cleared the proposal.

It was late Jnanpith awardee U R Ananthamurthy who first brought up the idea of renaming Bangalore during Karnataka’s golden jubilee in December 2005, which he suggested to then chief minister N Dharam Singh.

“I want Brand Bangalore to become Brand Bengaluru. I want the distinctive Kannada syllable ‘u’ to be on the lips of people all over the world. Let this bit of ‘ourness’ be part of our international presence,” Ananthamurthy, who passed away in August, had said, as reported by Bangalore Mirror.

Old Name	New Name
Bangalore	Bengaluru
Mangalore	Mangaluru
Bellary	Ballari
Belgaum	Belagavi
Bijapur	Vijapura
Hospet	Hosapete
Hubli	Hubballi
Chikmagalur	Chikkamagaluru
Mysore	Mysuru
Tumkur	Tumakuru
Gulbarga	Kalaburagi
Shimoga	Shivamogga