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Bengaluru: The state government has issued an order to constitute a Bengaluru Blue Print Action Group headed by CM Siddaramaiah.
The Action Group will have several industry leaders, retired bureaucrats and urban experts as members, like N.R. Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, Azim Premji, Chairman of Wipro Ltd., Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, and new-age entrepreneur Sachin Bansal of Flipkart, among others.
Bengaluru: As political pressure mounted on Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over nepotism charge, his son has resigned from a firm that was given a contract to set up lab and diagnostic facility at a government-run hospital here.
Amid Opposition attack and advice from the Congress High Command, the Chief Minister’s doctor son Yathindra Siddaramaiah tendered his resignation as director of Matrix Imaging Solutions India Private Limited.
Yathindra said in a message to the media, “By the way, I am quitting Matrix (Imaging Solutions India).”
The resignation comes amid reports that the Congress high command was unhappy with the development, which was snowballing into a major controversy with the Opposition questioning the contract to the company owned by Yathindra’s friend, a pathologist, in which he is a partner.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, in charge of party affairs in Karnataka, had openly said yesterday that he had suggested to Siddaramaiah that his son quit the company.
Singh had, however, maintained that the entire process was “totally transparent” with the contract given to the lowest bidder.
He had denied reports that he had asked the Chief Minister to order an enquiry into the matter.
“I have only advised that he withdraws. It is not an order, but an advice. Legally, the son does not have to quit.
As a (matter of) propriety, he may,” Singh had said.
Unfazed by the controversy, both Siddaramaiah and Yathindra had been maintaining that there was no wrongdoing on their part.
Yathindra had alleged that a group of doctors at government-run Victoria Hospital, where the facility was to come up, were raking up the controversy as it would cause a loss to those who were sending the patients for outside reference to get commission in cash.
He had also maintained that his company did not put any pressure on hospital authorities to follow procedures that suited them in order to win the contract.
Siddaramaiah had said that his son was a doctor who was a director in a company owned by his friend.
“They had participated in the tender. They are the lowest bidder. It is for service to the people, there is no money involved from the government,” he had said.
(Agencies)
Bengaluru: The rate of growth of Karnataka’s economy has slowed down from 7.8 per cent during 2014-15 to 6.2 per cent during 2015-16.
Reading out the State budget for 2016-17 in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, attributed this slowdown solely to decline in growth rate of the agriculture sector.
The agriculture sector is estimated to decline by 4.7 per cent during this year, mainly due to drought in 137 taluks during kharif and 62 taluks during the rabi crop seasons.
Presenting his 11th budget overall, and the fourth after he assumed office, Chief Minister said decline in farm growth mainly attributable to fall in foodgrains production from 126 lakh tones during 2014-15 to 110 lakh tones in 2015-16 due to drought.
He said the service sector is growing at 9.1 per cent while the industrial sector is expected to register a growth of 4.5 percent during the current year.
In a major relief to planters, the budget proposed to abolish agriculture income tax and it would benefit coffee, tea and rubber and other plantation crop growers.
The total budget size of 2016-17 is pegged at Rs. 1,63,419 crore, of which the plan size is fixed at Rs. 85375 crore, an increase of 17.6 per cent over the plan size of Rs. 72,597 crore during the last year.
Of the 1,63,419 crore, the estimated revenue receipts is pegged at Rs. 1,30,758 crore and capital receipts at Rs. 31,198 crore including borrowings of Rs. 31,036 crore. The fiscal deficit is expected to be Rs. 25,657 crore, which at 2.12 per cent of GSDP, complies with the Karnataka Fiscal responsibility Act.
Agriculture
For redressal of grievances of farmers of the state and converge schemes of agriculture department and other departments, the Chief Minister proposed to set up a Karnataka State Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Committee headed by Chief Minister. Agriculture department and other departments related to welfare of farmers would be brought under the committee.
To give more focus to farmers and effective techniques adopted by them, special agricultural zones would be identified in parts of the State on the lines of SEZs formed for industries.
The budget proposed to develop 100 villages in four districts across four revenue divisions as Model agricultural villages under the “Suvarna Krishi Grama Programme”.
Tax reliefs
The budget exempted from the tax handmade paper and hand-made paper boards, including hand-made paper products manufactured and sold by dealer recognised by the Khadi and Village Industries Board as an eco-friendly measure.
It reduced VAT on office files made of paper and paper boards from the present rate of 14.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent.
It cut VAT from the present rate of 14.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent on articles of nickel, titanmum falling under heading HSN 7505, 7506, and 8108 to encourage aerospace industry.
Other goods that set to become cheaper are: rubber sheet, set top boxes for viewing TV content, multi-media speakers, LED bulbs. Taxes on all these goods reduced from 14.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent.
Mr. Siddaramaiah would seek a Vote on Account for the first four months of the financial year, ending July 31. This has been the norm in Karnataka.
(Agencies)
Bengaluru: Siddaramaiah-led Congress government on Monday set up an Anti-Corruption Bureau to provide a transparent and efficient administration.
Though Karnataka was the first state to set up an anti-corruption watchdog – the Lokayukta (ombudsman) in 1984 under the Karnataka Lokayukta Act (KLA), there is also the Prevention of Corruption Act empowers police to investigate graft charge against officials.
“The KLA and PC Act are different legislations, as the former empowers the quasi-judicial Lokayukta to only inquire into complaints against public servants but does not allow criminal investigation against them and others accused of seeking or taking bribe,” an official statement said here.
Though the state government entrusted the investigation powers into corruption charges to the police wing of the state Lokayukta, the Supreme Court in the C. Rangaswamaiah versus Karnataka Lokayukta case in 1988 held that police officers probing cases under the PC Act were autonomous.
The Karnataka High Court had also held that the Lokayukta did not have the jurisdiction to supervise criminal investigation under the PC Act through its police wing on the basis of the top court’s Rangaswamaiah judgement.
The state government has therefore decided to separate the two roles by forming the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on the lines of the central government.
“The ACB will be a statutory authority to investigate graft offences, while the ombudsman’s police wing will assist Lokayukta and Upa Lokayuktas in carrying their duties under the KLA,” the statement said.
The state government has also decided to set up vigilance wings in its departments, boards and corporations with vigilance officers, as directed by the high court on February 2.
Bengaluru: Mired in a controversy over a luxury watch gifted to him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday handed it over to the Speaker amid uproar in the state Assembly, declaring it a state asset.
As the Assembly was rocked by the controversy for the second consecutive day, an angry Siddaramaiah gave the watch and a letter to Speaker Kagodu Thimappa as BJP and JDS members continued to stage a dharna in the well of the House.
Siddaramaiah’s dramatic gesture came when the House reassembled after two adjournments with BJP and JDS persisting with their demand for a discussion on the issue. The Chief Minister said in the letter to the Speaker, who read it out, that he had paid “advance tax” for the watch.
He said the pre-owned “HUBLOT BIG BANG-301-M” wrist watch was presented to him by his Dubai-based NRI friend Dr Girish Chandra Varma in July last at Bengaluru as a personal gift. Siddaramiah also said Varma has no official dealings with Government of Karnataka or its organisations.
Opposition BJP leader Jagadish Shettar dismissed Siddaramaiah’s action as “high drama” and said he was doing so thinking that the controversy would end. A high-level probe by a central agency should be conducted, he said.
The Chief Minister is in the eye of a storm over the diamond-studded watch.
As controversy erupted, he declared last week that the watch, claimed to be worth Rs 70 lakh, would be declared as state asset and handed over to the government. As the Assembly met for the day, BJP members entered the well of the House and demanded that a discussion on the issue be allowed and Speaker should reconsider his decision on not allowing an adjournment motion on the issue.
However, Thimmappa, who rejected BJP’s appeal on Tuesday to allow adjournment motion, stuck to his decision. Following this, BJP continued its protest, stating that affidavit, documents and receipt relating to the watch had to be made public by Verma, who is said to have gifted it.
As both opposition and treasury benches were involved in war of words, the House was adjourned by the Speaker who called the floor leaders for a meeting. When the House reassembled, opposition members again entered the well and demanded a discussion.
Amidst sloganeering and protest by opposition, the Speaker even allowed introduction and passage of Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pension and Allowances (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015, aimed at making provision to provide family pension to family members of the member deceased before December 26, 1978 operative from February 22, 2014.
As the protest continued, the Speaker once gain adjourned the House till afternoon.
(PTI)
Bengaluru: Karnataka Legislative Assembly was today rocked by the controversy over a luxury watch gifted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as the BJP pressed for an adjournment motion on the issue, triggering a war of words between the ruling and opposition sides.
As the issue was raised soon after obituary reference, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa allowed Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar to make a preliminary submission to convince the chair to take up the issue as an adjournment motion, amidst resistance to it from the ruling Congress members.
In his submission, Shettar while calling the watch issue a matter of public interest accused Siddaramaiah of violating the code of conduct for ministers and Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and demanded discussion and response from the government on the issue.
After hearing the matter, the Speaker said it could notbe taken up as an adjournment motion and asked the opposition to discuss it during the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address.
Following this, BJP members entered the well of the House in protest, leading to adjournment for lunch. Defending himself, Siddaramaiah alleged that the Opposition was indulging in “character assassination”. “I have already stated in public that I got the watch as gift in July from a Dubai-based NRI friend, by March I will declare about it in my IT returns. To Lokayukta I have to declare in June, I will be doing it. I have also said that I will deposit the watch to the state government,” he said. “FCRA is not applicable to this case as the person who gifted it is not a foreign national, but an NRI,” he added. Siddaramaiah has come under attack over his luxury diamond studded Hublot watch.
As the controversy erupted, he declared last week that the watch, claimed to be worth Rs 70 lakh, would be declared as state asset and handed over to the government. As Shettar questioned Siddaramaiah who claims himselfto be a “socialist” and “follower” of Ram Manohar Lohia for his conduct, Siddaramaiah in a rebuttal reminded BJP of Prime Minister Narendra Modi wearing a “Rs 10 lakh monogrammed suit”.
When the House met after the lunch, BJP members continued with the protest by entering the well of the House demanding discussion on Siddaramaiah’s watch issue. As Speaker’s attempts to conduct the proceedings failed, he adjourned the House till tomorrow.
The controversy was stoked by JD(S) leader H DKumaraswamy after which the Chief Minister disclosed that the expensive watch was gifted to him by his close friend DrGirish Chandra Verma who visited India last July.
(PTI)
Bengaluru: Under attack from the Opposition over his luxurious watch, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah on Thursday said he would declare it as a state asset and hand it over to the government.
“About the expensive watch I was wearing, which has been discussed almost everyday and reported in the media, I have this much to say that I will be declaring it as a state asset and deposit it with state secretariat,” he told reporters here.
(Agencies)
Bengaluru: After making a statement that the expensive wrist watch that he used to wear until recently was a gift, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah appears to be in a soup.
According to the Income Tax Act 1961, a person has to pay tax if he or she receives a gift costing more than Rs 50,000. However, tax exemption can be availed if the gift is from one of the family members.
It is said that now Siddaramaiah has to prove whether he has paid the tax if the expensive watch was a gift from a friend or “somebody” else. If it is within the family, he must have the bill. Spouse, brothers and sisters of one’s parents, one’s lineal descendants (including spouse) and lineal descendants (including spouses) of one’s spouse come in the bracket of family members according to the Income Tax Act.
Even if the gift is within the family, taxmen normally verify the source of money for the purchaser, official sources in the I-T department said.
JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy has been claiming that the chief minister’s watch was a diamond-studded Hublot costing a whopping Rs 60 lakh to Rs 70 lakh.
Besides, he charged that the chief minister’s sunglasses cost Rs 1.5 lakh and claimed that he had proof to substantiate his charges. But Siddaramaiah has been dismissing the charges as not true and offered to sell them to the JD(S) leader at Rs 5 lakh if he was ready to buy them.
It is however not clear whether Siddaramaiah has declared having received these expensive gifts in his affidavit of assets and liabilities before the Karnataka Lokayukta.
Public servants have to file the affidavit every year according tothe Karnataka Lokayukta Act. And the chief minister has not revealed as to when he received the gifts. However, the details have not been made public.
Sources in the JD(S) said the party would soon come out with more details as to when and who gifted the watch to Siddaramaiah.
The JD(S) had released a video clipping of Siddaramaiah sporting the watch when he visited former MP H?Vishwanath at a hospital in Mysuru.
According to party sources, Siddaramaiah visited the hospital about 8 to 10 months ago. But the watch he offered to auction was a gold watch and not the diamond-studded watch.
(Agencies)
Mysuru: “I advise BJP leaders to mind their tongue as language denotes personality of the speaker,” said chief minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, January 24 here.
The chief minister was speaking to media persons at his house in Mysuru reacting to a statement made by BJP leader Subramanian Swami on Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Subramanian Swami had called Sonia ‘brigand, liar and thief’ during the media briefing on Saturday.
“Let them make allegations against the party and nobody will object to it. However, one should be cautious about his or her language while making allegations against Sonia Gandhi,” Siddaramaiah added.
The chief minister also revealed during the occasion that the party had already sent the list of candidates to the high command for by-elections to three assembly constituencies in the state and it will be finalised within two days.
The list of candidates for Zilla and taluk panchayat elections too is being prepared, the CM added.
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that Make in India is happening in Karnataka, citing the investments the state has attracted.
Speaking at an event here, the chief minister said: “During the last two years, we have approved more than 450 projects bringing in investments of around Rs.1.21 lakh crore and generating 2.44 lakh employment opportunities, but much more needs to be done.”
“Shell, Tata Power SED, Bosch, Scania many others have made investments and capacity expansions. All of them will Make in Karnataka – for India and the world,” he said.
Other investments cited by the chief minister include Honda’ two wheeler manufacturing plant in Narasapura, Asian Paints paint manufacturing plant in Mysuru, GlaxoSmithKline manufacturing unit, HAL copter unit in Tumkur and Toyota’s expanding operations in Hassan.
He said 90 percent of the $500 million worth of components sourced by Air Bus for its aircraft A 330, A 350 and A 380 are supplied by Karnataka based companies.
Siddaramaiah said he entrusted Industries Minister R.V. Deshpande to personally look into the ‘ease of doing business’ initiative.
“Our focus at all times is to ensure economic growth so as to improve the lives of each and every person in the State. Through Invest Karnataka-2016, we want to convey and reiterate the same message,” he added.
(Agencies)