Belagavi: Aimed at curbing rampant irregularities and use of corrupt and unfair means in public examinations in the state, the Karnataka government on Wednesday tabled a bill in the Assembly proposing strict provisions of imprisonment up to 10 years and fine up to Rs 10 crore.

Provisions in the bill, titled Karnataka Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Corruption and Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2023, also include confiscation of property.

The bill in its statement of objects and reasons states that it has been proposed to provide for effective measures to prevent and curb the offences of leakage of question papers and use of unfair means at public examinations for the purpose of recruitment to any posts under the state government including autonomous bodies, authorities, boards, or corporations.

The new law will work as a deterrent against the rise and trend of unfair means in public examinations and also works as a deterrent for the examinees and criminal masterminds who resort to such tactics, it said.

A designated court for the trial of such offences is provided in this law.

There is no extra expenditure involved in the proposed legislative measure, the bill added.

The government also tabled the Karnataka Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023, replacing an ordinance notifying 28 per cent GST on online games, horse racing and casinos.

The 10-day winter session of the Karnataka legislature will start on Monday in Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi.

The entire state machinery will descend on the border city known for its mouth-watering sweet delicacy ‘Kunda’, and pleasant weather, raising expectations from people in North Karnataka.

Several important issues, including drought relief measures, warrant urgent and productive discussions. It is the collective responsibility of the ruling and the opposition parties to ensure that they keep people’s issues and interests as the focus of discussions, although it is impossible to keep aside politics completely.

For the opposition, the session provides a forum to put the government on the mat over what it perceives as the administration’s shortcomings, while the government presents its standpoint even as it attempts to take members into confidence in the process of formulating laws.

This time around, the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) will be working together to take on the Siddaramaiah government on a plethora of issues. Newly appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka and BJP state president BY Vijayendra, also a member of the assembly, will be keen to prove their legislative prowess and ability to coordinate with the regional party leaders to take on the government.

The state cabinet’s decision to withdraw the consent given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe a disproportionate assets case against Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and Minister for Minority Welfare and Wakf BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan’s remarks that all senior BJP MLAs in the state have to bow before a Muslim Speaker is likely to rock the session. They may even derail the proceedings if the government fails to handle the situation deftly.

The new BJP state president has stated that they will not allow Zameer Ahmed Khan to take part in the session. The BJP will also question the government over drought relief measures, power crisis, failure to make much headway in irrigation projects, development works coming to a standstill, and shortcomings in the implementation of guarantee schemes.

Former CM and JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy has also made it clear that he will join forces with BJP to corner the government. JDS and Congress leaders were engaged in a bitter battle over alleged corruption in transfers, allegations against the CM’s son, and power theft charge against Kumaraswamy. The animosity between the ruling and opposition leaders is likely to cast its shadow over the session.

From the Opposition perspective, there are many potent issues to take on the government, and BJP and JD(S) will not let go of those issues. However, those issues should not lead to a deadlock, disrupting the proceedings endlessly as that is not the only strategy to convey the point to the people. Most of all, the Opposition must use all the provisions available within the legislative set-up to corner the government, and the ruling party should accommodate and take the opposition into confidence instead of taking a confrontational path.

Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shetttar, a veteran Congress leader from North Karnataka, who attended all the sessions held in Belagavi, is of the view that conducting the legislative session in Belagavi gives people a sense that the government has come to the region, and it is important to have constructive discussions.

Shettar was the Revenue Minister in the BJP-JDS coalition government when the session was held for the first time in Belagavi in 2006 on the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC) campus. He was also the Assembly Speaker when the foundation stone for the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha was laid. It was inaugurated by then-President Pranab Mukherjee when Shettar was the CM in 2012.

So far, the session has been conducted at Suvarna Soudha for only 90 days. The government annually spends nearly Rs 5 crore for its maintenance and not many state-level offices were shifted to either Suvarna Vidhana Soudha or the North Karnataka region as announced by governments earlier.

Shettar suggests cabinet meetings should be held in Suvarna Soudha once in three months and ministers should hold department meetings once a month.

Ironically, the magnificent structure comes to life just once a year when it is cleaned up and illuminated for the session. For most of the year, it goes almost unnoticed. That should not be the case with the governance and discussions held during the winter session. Members cutting across the party lines should strive to make it count.

Nasheman news

Bengaluru: SVKM’s NMIMS Bengaluru hosted an insightful Y20
Talk on the topic ‘Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance’ featuring Ms.
Surabhi Hodigere. The transformative session was hosted in association with
INDGenius and Y20 India.

The guest speaker at the enriching session, Ms. Surabhi Hodigere, is a prominent public
policy specialist on technology policy and is currently a top research fellow at the
prestigious Aapti Institute in Bangalore. The eminent speaker has a Bachelor’s degree in
Economics (Honors) from the acclaimed Christ University and a Master’s in Public
Policy from the globally renowned Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
She is a well-known advocate of responsible use of technology in improving public
service delivery and public administration. Ms. Surabhi has vast experience working as
a civic-technology entrepreneur and is also a recipient of the noteworthy LAMP
fellowship.

Established by students, alumni and professors from premier educational institutions
across India, INDGenius is a platform for youth, scholars, and young academicians
across premiere private universities, eminent institutes and top boarding schools in
India and aims to act as a network for students offering holistic growth of an individual
with a development-oriented outlook.

Meanwhile, Y20 is the official engagement platform of the G20 and comprises
prominent young leaders and changemakers from the G20 countries. The platform is
aimed at encouraging dialogue and knowledge exchange among top youth leaders of
India and across the world over the challenges facing our generation and for them to
collectively strive to make a positive impact on the world. Together, the top youth
forums hosted the session as part of their ‘Project I-Leads’, an effort to envision India’s
leadership at G20 with a global perspective.

At the enthralling Y20 session, Ms. Surabhi touched upon a range of important topics,
from her experiences in politics to her return from the United States with a desire to
serve the country. She spoke about India’s leadership at the G20 and the massive
success of the G20 Summit held in New Delhi earlier this year. The guest spoke
extensively about the importance of social entrepreneurship and appealed to the young
audience to take the lead in bringing social change. During her interaction with the
young attendees at the session, she stressed the need for reading.
The Y20 Talk at NMIMS Bengaluru was an enriching experience for keen students, who
were provided with an exclusive opportunity to network with professionals and explore
new ideas and perspectives, helping them broaden their horizons.

Expressing her thoughts at the insightful session, Ms. Surabhi Hodigere said, “In order
to bring about social change, the youth of today will have to play a transformative role
and take important responsibilities in governance and drive public policy.”
Appreciating the initiative taken up by INDGenius and Y20 India and thanking Ms.
Surabhi for her gracing the occasion, Dr. Narayani Ramachandran, Deputy Director,
NMIMS Bengaluru, said, “We welcome the initiative taken up by INDGenius and Y20
India to empower the youth and students of India with interactive and insightful
programmes like the Y20 Talk. Additionally, we would like to thank Ms. Surabhi for
gracing our campus and providing her rich insights to our students.”

About NMIMS Bengaluru
The School of Business Management (SBM) Bengaluru campus has been ranked first in
the “Top B-Schools under Private Universities” category in Karnataka by Open
Magazine. NMIMS Bengaluru was ranked second in the city-wise category by Fortune
India Magazine and was awarded a rating of A+++ by Business India Magazine. Business
Today Magazine ranked NMIMS Bengaluru third in the city-wise category, seventh in
the south-zone category, and 15th among the private B-schools.

KALABURAGI:  Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka on Tuesday said that the BJP will put pressure on the Congress State Government in the upcoming winter session of the legislature to provide crop loss compensation to drought-hit farmers of Karnataka.

Ashoka was in Kalaburagi as part of BJP’s state-wide drought study tour. He visited agriculture fields in Srinivasa Saradagi village of Kalaburagi taluk and Kadaganchi village of Aland taluk.

The BJP leader told Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not to blame the Centre and mislead people on crop compensation. “Let the CM inform people of the real facts,” he said.

Ashoka said that when he was the revenue minister, the government led by Basavaraj Bommai released double the amount prescribed in NDRF norms. “The Centre will release the compensation as per NDRF norms and the State Government has to add some amount to help the affected farmers,” he said. NDRF norms were framed when Manmohan Singh was the PM and the amount was enhanced after Narendra Modi became the PM, he added.

“Instead of blaming the Centre, let the State Government release money for compensation or let it tell the people that it has become bankrupt,” the BJP leader said, adding that the government announced the guarantees just to win the elections. He said the BJP would put the government on the mat in the upcoming session. “The Congress claims that the BJP has no issues to target the government. The Congress fails to understand that the party itself has given many weapons to fix it in the Assembly.

Apart from crop loss compensation, we also raise the issue of the ‘cash for transfer’ scam and removing the portrait of Veer Savarkar from the Council, among other issues, he said. Commenting on the recent attack on BJP leader Manikanta Rathod, Ashoka said, “Gunda culture has increased after the Congress came to power this May.”  He also said that if Congress touches the RSS, it is nothing but digging its own grave.

Suspended JD(S) leader C M Ibrahim

Bengaluru: Suspended JD(S) leader C M Ibrahim claimed on Monday that he is still the party’s Karnataka president and whether former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda will remain its national president will be known on December 9. Ibrahim said he will be moving to court seeking a stay of his suspension from the party and will also be writing to the Election Commission in this regard.

Ibrahim was on November 17 suspended from the JD(S) for alleged anti-party activities.

Gowda earlier had replaced Ibrahim as the party state president on October 19 and appointed his son and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy in his place.

“I’m still the state president of JD(S) even now. If he (Gowda) is national president, will be known on December 9…where will he (Gowda) remain as national president, if national council members and state presidents remove him?,” Ibrahim said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, “I still appeal to Deve Gowda — you are 90, don’t do it (go with BJP) — for the sake of your son. Don’t sacrifice the principles you stood by for your entire life. Even when Ramvilas Paswan and Sharad Yadav went away, you stood by your ideology, and Janata Dal Secular came into existence (after the split of Janata Dal in 1999).” A meeting of JD(S) leaders from various states held in Thiruvananthapuram last week, decided to hold a national plenary session of the party at Bengaluru on December 9 to formally reject the decision of Gowda to join the BJPled National Democratic Alliance.

Party national vice-president C K Nanu had said unless Gowda revokes the decision to join the NDA, the party’s plenary would be held on December 9 to formally reject the decision, and go ahead with further actions against Gowda for taking a unilateral decision.

Responding to his suspension from the party by Gowda, Ibrahim said, “What madness is this? Is he himself in the party? Who is with him? A National Council meeting happened, 11 party state presidents had come for the meeting, they (Gowda and others) are in a panic. Ask them to call at least a state executive meeting. They are meeting in either resorts or a home or hotel with eight to ten people.”

The meeting was called by Nanu, he said. “He (Gowda) wrote to them not to call a meeting, but the meeting was called…where they decided to give time to Gowda and others till December 9; if they don’t change their decision (to join NDA) we will take our further step. I was also part of the meeting.”

Stating that he wasn’t served any notice or letter before suspending him from the party, Ibrahim, responding to a question, said: “Is it his (Gowda) home? Am I his servant? He can do that to Kumaraswamy or anyone else he has employed….He can’t do it to me. I’m moving to court and seeking a stay. I’m also writing to the Election Commission. I’m waiting for the December 9 meeting.” Ibrahim had raised a banner of revolt against the JD(S) leadership, following its decision to join the NDA.

A former union minister, Ibrahim, had earlier even claimed that his faction is the original JD(S) for being “secular” and that, being the state president, he could take a decision about the outfit in Karnataka.

BENGALURU: Newly appointed state BJP chief BY Vijayendra has said that his priority is to win Karnataka for PM Narendra Modi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Vijayendra downplayed the issue of senior BJP leaders, including BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh, Pralhad Joshi, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, and V Somanna skipping the event in which he took charge as state party chief on Wednesday.

“The first person to wish me was Union Minister Pralhad Joshi. BL Santosh Ji is among the tallest leaders of the party. As far as leaders V Somanna and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal are concerned, I will visit and speak to them,” Vijayendra added. “If anyone opposes me, he is opposing Modi,” the 47-year-old MLA from Shikaripura added. On BJP leader Arvind Bellad giving the event a miss, he said, “I have spoken to him and he has wished me all success. I have visited so many leaders. I visited Basavraj Bommaiji at his residence. He came to the party office and blessed me even though he underwent surgery recently. He told me that it is his duty to bless me.’’

On being compared to Abhimanyu of Mahabharata and that forces opposing him would try to pin him down and harm his political career ahead of the LS polls, Vijayendra said, “Who made me the party president? Was it Yediyurappa? It is PM Modiji, Home Minister Amit Shahji and party president JP Naddaji. My job is to deliver all 28 seats in Karnataka to Modiji. If anyone opposes me, they oppose Modiji. I am confident that even Somanna and Yatnal and all others will work unitedly for the party. I have tried to reach out to Yatnal. I am confident that seniors in the party and other leaders will talk to them. I will personally go and reach out to them. Things will take time but will settle down.”

Vijayendra said he would visit New Delhi on 23, 24, 25 this month and meet Modiji, Shah and Nadda. While there was a talk that he would hold a formal celebration meeting in Bengaluru on November 25 for his supporters, he said nothing has been decided as yet. He also expressed confidence in the BJP performing well in the LS polls.

“There is a pro-incumbency wave in favour of Modiji. What does the Congress government have to offer except for some half-baked guarantees? People have realised that they have been let down. What fresh programme has the State Government offered to the state except for blaming the Centre?”

Asked how many seats the BJP would win in Karnataka in the polls,  he said with confidence, “Wait and see.’’

When asked about social media posts alleging that senior leaders skipping Vijayendra’s installation ceremony was a sign of resentment, he said, “We will all come together. I am confident.’’ 

It is clear that Vijayendra’s first big challenge is to take everyone along and quell the “dissent” in the state unit of the party. He said he would tour Karnataka after his return from Delhi. 

Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday said that the Legislature Party meeting is scheduled to take place on November 17, during which the election of its leader, who will also be the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, is likely to be announced.

Earlier in the day, Vijayendra formally took charge as the state BJP president.

“The Legislature Party meeting is scheduled for 6 PM on Friday. Central observers will be coming. According to information, two observers will be coming. We will get to know tomorrow, as to who will be coming,” Vijayendra said in response to a question.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, the Leader of Opposition is likely to be announced on the same day, based on the opinion of all the legislators, in the presence of Central observers.

The BJP, which is the principal opposition party in the state, has not appointed its legislature party leader yet, who will also play the role of the Leader of Opposition in the assembly.

The previous assembly session in July was held without the Leader of the Opposition.

In the elections to the 224-member assembly held in May this year, the Congress ousted the BJP from power with a landslide victory. The Congress got 135 seats, the BJP 66 and the JD(S) 19.

The BJP legislature party meeting to elect its new leader is taking place ahead of the winter session of the state legislature in Belagavi, from December 4.

The party had been facing intense criticism from the ruling Congress for its inability to make an appointment to the post, and there was disgruntlement within the party over the delay.

Stating that he has sought appointment from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vijayendra said, after getting the appointment, he will be visiting New Delhi, during which he will also meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party’s national president J P Nadda and party’s general secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh, and seek their blessings.

Responding to a question about Congress criticising his appointment by pointing at the alleged disgruntlement within the BJP, he said, “…we will reply to their criticism in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.”

The BJP last week appointed Vijayendra, the younger son of veteran leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, as its state unit president. He was until now the state vice president of the party.

The 47-year-old, who is the first time MLA from Shikaripura in Shivamogga district has replaced Nalin Kumar Kateel, a three-time Lok Sabha member from Dakshina Kannada, who had completed his three-year term as the BJP state president, and was given an extension last year in view of the impending assembly elections.

BENGALURU: The BJP high command, having appointed former chief minister B S Yediyurappa’s son B Y Vijayendra, a Veerashaiva Lingayat, as chief of the Karnataka party unit, is likely to choose a leader from either a backward class or Vokkaliga community as leader of the opposition (LoP) in the assembly. Other criteria are ideological commitment and an RSS background. 

Central observers will be taking part in the BJP Legislature Party meeting, slated to be held on November 17, and a decision will be taken after collecting the opinions of all 66 MLAs. Since the BJP has forged an alliance with the JDS, which is headed by Vokkaliga leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, it is unlikely to select a leader from that community as opposition leader, a BJP source said. 

Appointing Sunil Kumar as LoP could be the BJP’s plan to win back the Billava vote bank, as a section of the community had backed the Congress in the May 10 assembly polls, according to political pundits. “The opposition leader is like a watchdog, and a deserving candidate should be given that post. I don’t agree with appointing an opposition leader on the basis of caste as it could benefit only temporarily,” remarked senior BJP leader C T Ravi. However, according to sources, the high command has even discussed the appointment of the LoP with B S Yediyurappa and is relying on his strategy.

BENGALURU:  Over five hundred bus shelters across the city installed with automated digital boards providing Passenger Information Systems (PIS), at BMTC bus shelters across the city. The digital boards are set up at select bus shelters and works are going on to set up a few more.

“The project to install digital boards at the bus shelters was pending for long. The project is part of the Nirbhaya Scheme, where bus shelters are set up digital boards that will provide details of BMTC bus routes, the bus registration numbers, the destination of the bus, and the estimated time of arrival in English and Kannada language.”

He said that the main prerequisite for setting up the digital boards is power supply and they were not able to do it in some of the places because of the non-availability of it.

BENGALURU: JDS state president HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday tore into the state Congress government and its leaders for rampant corruption and failure on all fronts and appealed to voters in five election-bound states, including Telangana, not to be misled by their false assurances.

“I request voters in five states not to be misled by false assurances by Congress leaders,” the former CM said while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru. “In Karnataka, they not only announced five guarantees, but many of their candidates also distributed (gift) cards to people to purchase material worth Rs 5000 after the election. Be careful, one or two days before voting they will announce this (gift card) guarantee to mislead you. They did the same in Karnataka to come to power and want to expand it to the entire country,” he said.

Taking a dig at CM Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said they promised to provide 200 units of free power but pushed Karnataka into darkness and now they are talking about giving five hours of uninterrupted power to farmers in Telangana, the state that gives 24 hours of power to farmers. Congress leaders are talking about filing 2 lakh government jobs in Telangana, but they have not been able to fill 2.5 lakh jobs in Karnataka, he said.   

The Congress leaders are talking about the Shakti scheme (free travel for women in state transport corporation buses), but there is a shortage of buses and staff to maintain the fleet, and many women, including CM’s home district Mysuru, have not received money under the “Gruha Laxmi” scheme, he said and added that and there is a severe staff shortage in many departments, including Agriculture department.

He also slammed the Siddaramaiah government for stopping the Rs 4000 additional amount that was given to farmers along with Rs 6,000 from the PM Kisan Samman scheme. It was started during the BJP government in the state and stopped by the Siddaramaiah government, but now they are talking about giving financial assistance to farmers in Telangana, which is the first state in the country to give Rs 10,000 
to farmers under the Raita Bandu scheme, he said.

The JDS leader accused the Congress central leadership of setting targets for all ministers to collect money for elections in other states. The former CM said there is no question of the regional party merging with BJP and they have retained their identity. “ We are part of NDA,” he said. ‘Rs 1.9 crore for imported furniture’

Kumaraswamy said a minister got Rs 1.9 crore worth of furniture imported for the CM’s official residence. He said as per his information it was not government money, but a minister got it. “It is an updated version of the Hublot watch,” he said referring to the controversy over gifting of an expensive watch to Siddaramaiah during his previous tenure as CM.