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A P J Abdul Kalam’s mortal remains reach Delhi

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A P J Abdul Kalam

New Delhi: The body of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a lecture at the IIM-Shillong on Monday, was flown to Delhi early Tuesday morning by a special aircraft.

President Pranab Mukherjee received the body of Kalam. Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung was present at Palam Airport.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar too were present at Palam airport.

The Army, Navy and Air Force paid their last respects to the mortal remains of the former president.

Kalam’s body will be kept at his residence in Rajaji Marg, New Delhi, for public to pay their last respects from 4 pm.

Leaders pay tribute

Several leaders including Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and senior IAF officials joined in paying tribute to India’s ‘Missile Man’ whose departure has plunged the nation into overwhelming grief.

“It is an irreparable loss to the nation. He loved children, he loved the nation. I have met him many times. I took him to rural areas of Assam. He was a very simple and honest man. Along with India, entire state is mourning his death,” Mr. Gogoi said.

Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Anjan Dutta and other senior party leaders were also present and paid their respects.

State mourning

Wrapped in the tricolour, the casket carrying his body was taken inside the aircraft as a mournful hymn played in the background.

The Union Cabinet is expected to hold a special meeting in New Delhi to condole his death.

The government has announced a seven-day State mourning in honour of Kalam. “As a mark of respect to the departed dignitary, seven days of state mourning will be observed throughout India from July 27, 2015 to August 2, 2015, both days inclusive,” an official statement said.

President, PM condole

Condoling Kalam’s death, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “India mourns the loss of a great scientist, a wonderful President & above all an inspiring individual.”

President Pranab Mukherjee said in a message, “In his passing away, we have lost a great son of India who dedicated his entire life for the welfare of the motherland and its people. Mr. Kalam was a people’s President during his lifetime and will remain so even after his death.”

Parliament pays tribute to Kalam

Paying glowing tributes to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Union Cabinet today passed a resolution saying the country has lost “a visionary scientist, a true nationalist and a great son.”

The meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed its profound sorrow at the sad demise of former President of India yesterday in Shillong.

In the resolution, it said, “in his passing away the country has lost a visionary scientist, a true nationalist and a great son”.

Both Houses of Parliament adjourned for the day after paying glowing tributes to Kalam.

(Agencies)

Bengaluru City police and Amnesty International India partner to enable safe reporting of sexual violence

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Amnesty International India will also inform people about the process of filing an FIR through virtual reality kiosks in select neighbourhoods, Interactive voice responses, WhatsApp, e-learning videos and Haptik (a mobile-based chat platform that offers support services).

by Karuna Mishra

Nasheman.in reporter Karuna Mishra understanding the process to file FIR by the ready to report campaign.

Nasheman.in reporter Karuna Mishra understanding the process to file FIR by the ready to report campaign.

Bengaluru: The Bengaluru City Police and Amnesty International India today launched the ‘Bengaluru, get Ready to Report’ initiative to empower women in the city to report sexual violence with safety and dignity.

The initiative is part of Amnesty International India’s ‘Ready to Report’ campaign. It will involve local neighborhood communities working with the Bengaluru police to enable safe and dignified reporting, in line with international standards.

Launching the initiative at the Ashok Nagar police station, M. N. Reddi, the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, said “We want to encourage women to report instances of sexual abuse or harassment to the police without any loss of time. Unless women are ready to report, it is difficult for the police to act.”

“We are collaborating with Amnesty International India in 10 police stations where our staff and officers will take a pledge to enable women in the area to freely report cases of sexual abuse and harassment.”

Speaking to Nasheman.in, he said, “he is concerned with the sexual harassment faced by the women in the city and the police is trying its best to reduce it by educating such concept.”

The Commissioner inaugurated a ‘virtual kiosk’ set up by Amnesty International India that offers a simulated experience of being inside a police station and explains the step-by-step process of filing an FIR in Kannada and English. He joined local residents in painting the wall of the Ashok Nagar police station on the theme of ‘women’s safety’.

sexual violence

“National statistics show that for every one woman who reports sexual violence to the police, there are 99 that do not. Women often do not feel confident about walking in to a police station to report any form of sexual violence. Sometimes, they are not aware of the formal procedure to file an official complaint,” said Gopika Bashi, Amnesty International India’s Women’s Rights Campaigner.

“Through our ‘Ready to Report’ campaign, we hope to inform and make it easier for women to approach the police.”

Amnesty International India will also inform people about the process of filing an FIR through virtual reality kiosks in select neighbourhoods, Interactive voice responses, WhatsApp, e-learning videos and Haptik (a mobile-based chat platform that offers support services).

The police stations from the six divisions of Bengaluru that will be part of the initiative are: North – Yeshwantpur, West – Chickpet, Central – Cubbon Park, Sadashiv Nagar, Ashok Nagar, East – Indira Nagar, South – Electronic City, Basavangudi, South East – Whitefield, Koramangala. The stations will host events to build relationships with neighborhood communities.

The artist Ullas Hydoor, Zoom car, Logical Indian, Flippar and Haptik are the other partners in the initiative.

​Lalu Prasad Yadav arrested as RJD bandh cripples life in Bihar

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lalu prasad yadav

Patna: RJD President Lalu Prasad and several of his supporters were today arrested here while trying to enforce the day-long Bihar bandh called by his party as the shutdown adversely affected life across the state.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vikas Vaibhav said, “Prasad has been arrested along with his supporters while enforcing bandh. He has been taken to the camp jail of Bihar Military Police – 5 located on the outskirts of Patna. He might be given bail if the sections imposed are bailable ones.”

An FIR has been registered against Prasad at Kotwali police station under sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty, 323 (voluntarily causing hurt).

332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 431 (mischief by injury to public road), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 506 (criminal intimidation).

The bandh disrupted normal life as few trains were halted by lathi-wielding mobs, which also forced few shops and educational institutions to shut operations. The working of the Patna High Court was also hit.

Officials said several judges got delayed in reaching the High Court due to the bandh and wanted to know if the state government was supporting it. They also questioned the security preparedness of the state government.

Earlier, Prasad had come out from his residence riding a ‘tamtam’ or ‘tonga’ (a single-horse drawn carriage) draped with his party colours and symbol.

He and his hundreds of supporters then proceeded towards Dak Bungalow crossing, the nerve centre of city traffic, enforcing bandh all the way.

“Our motive is to demand caste census data and remove BJP from power. ‘BJP hatao, desh bachao’ (Remove BJP, save the country) because it is ‘Bharat Jalao Party’. The bandh is a huge success. I have never seen this type of bandh in my life except during the JP movement,” Prasad said.

The RJD chief denied any untoward incident by his party workers anywhere in the state and asserted that “youths have punctured BJP”. He also gave the call to remove Narendra Modi from the post of Prime Minister.

Officials said shops remained shut, colleges and educational institutions were forced to close down, roads including national highways were blocked and vehicles were attacked during the shut-down called by RJD.

Hordes of RJD supporters armed with sticks and canes were seen burning tyres and bamboos at busy thoroughfares in the state capital. They also disrupted classes and forcibly closed colleges affiliated to Patna University, officials said.

(Agencies)

Lokayukta joint commissioner Syed Riyaz arrested

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Lokayukta scam

Bengaluru: Karnataka Lokayukta joint commissioner Syed Riyaz was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Sunday night for his alleged involvement in collecting bribes from state officials.

“We have taken Riyaz into custody from a private hospital where he was taking treatment for blood pressure and diabetes,” said a senior investigating officer.

As part of its probe into the graft charges against some unidentified officials in the watchdog, though the SIT team summoned Riyaz for interrogation, he delayed by extending his leave from July 17 to July 31 on returning from pilgrimage to Makkah on July 19.

“Preliminary investigation and interrogation of three suspected extortionists whom we arrested last week revealed that Riayz was one of the kingpins in threatening many officials of booking graft cases and raiding their premises if they did not pay up over the years,” the officer said.

The SIT, headed by Additional Director General of Police Kamal Pant, was set up by the state government on the request of Lokayukta, Justice (retd.) Y. Bhaskar Rao on June 30 to probe the graft charges, including a bribe of Rs.1 crore sought allegedly by his son Ashwin Rao.

The SIT is also on the lookout for Riyaz’s brother-in-law Sadiq for allegedly being part of the extortionist gang.

The three co-accused in the scam are Ashok Kumar, Srinivas Gowda and Shankare Gowda, who used to threaten officials and extort money after collecting information against them through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

(Agencies)

Petition by eminent personalities urges President to pardon Yakub Memon

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Yakub Memon

New Delhi: Leaders of various parties including BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha and its expelled MP Ram Jethmalani, eminent jurists and persons from different walks of life today submitted a fresh petition to President Pranab Mukherjee requesting him to waive off the death sentence of Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon.

In the new petition urging stay against imminent execution of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, the signatories claimed that there are “substantive and fresh grounds” that can be considered on merits.

Memon is scheduled to be executed on July 30 as per the execution warrant issued by TADA Court.

The petition has come at a time when there is a huge political controversy over Memon’s hanging and the BJP has condemned the remarks by parties against the hanging of Memon saying such a defence is happening due to “petty politics”.

BJP MP Sinha, who had a day before met and praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has once again gone against the party’s stand on the Memon issue.

In the 15-page petition, the signatories have cited varioius legal points and international committments to argue that Memon should not be hanged.

“We most humbly request your Excellency to consider the case of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon and spare him from the noose of death for a crime that was master-minded by someone else to communally divide the country.

“Grant of mercy in this case will send out a message that while this country will not tolerate acts of terrorism, as a nation we are committed to equal application of the power of mercy and values of forgiveness, and justice. Blood letting and human sacrifice will not make this country a safer place; it will, however, degrade us all,” the signatories said.

Besides Sinha and Jethmalani, those, who have signed the petition include MPs like Mani Shankar Aiyar (Congress), Majeed Memon (NCP), Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI), K T S Tulsi and H K Dua (nominated) and T Siva (DMK), former CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat, CPI(ML)-Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, Brinda Karat (CPI-M) and filmmakers and actors like Naseeruddin Shah and Mahesh Bhatt, M K Raina and Tushar Gandhi.

It also included various academicians, members of the legal fraternity, activists and retired judges – Justice Panachand Jain, Justice H S Bedi, Justice P B Sawant, Justice H Suresh, Justice K P Siva Subramaniam, Justice S N Bhargava, Justice (retd) K Chandru, and Justice Nagmohan Das, noted lawyer Indira Jaising.

Others include academicians like Irfan Habib, Arjun Dev, D N Jha, and social activists Aruna Roy, Jean Dreze and John Dayal.

They cited that India is a signatory to an international commitment to abolish death penalty and hence death penalty cannot be imposed in India.

“Yakub Memon was not given advance notice of the death warrant hearing and as a result of which he and his lawyers could not participate and contest the issuance of the death warrant. Lack of hearing makes the present death warrant void,” they said, citing a Supreme Court decision in the May 2015 Shabnam versus Union of India and Others case.

They said that there are some very “disturbing” aspects of this case which make the award of death sentence to Yakub Memon as “grossly unfair, arbitrary and excessive”.
“Yakub Memon has served more than 20 years in prison since his arrest. His trial took 14 years to complete. While the Supreme Court used this long period of incarceration as a mitigating circumstance to commute the death sentences of the other 10 co-accused persons, it applied a different yardstick to Yakub.

“The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that lengthy incarceration during pendency of appeal in death cases is a significant mitigating circumstance which ought to be considered in determination of sentence. In the interests of justice we request you to give due importance to this,” they said.

They also argued that Memon is mentally unfit for execution as he has been suffering from schizophrenia for the last 20 years.

“His mental condition has been certified by jail doctors. Schizophrenia as a mental illness has been held by the Supreme Court to render a convict unfit for execution,” they said.
They have also cited that commutation of death sentences of convicts in other terror cases like late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

“It is also worthwhile to note that death sentences imposed on the aides of Veerappan (convicted and sentenced to death under TADA), Rajiv Gandhi killers and Devender Pal Singh Bhullar have been commuted recently by Supreme Court.

“While the mercy petitions of Verappan’s aides, Rajiv Gandhi’s three killers and Devender Pal Singh Bhullar were decided belatedly by the President, thereby giving them the claim of delay jurisprudence, the Home Ministry has moved swiftly to reject Yakub Abdul Razak Memon’s mercy’s petition,” they alleged.

The petitioners said that it seemed that “subjective factors” were the basis of decisions which lead to arbitrary actions.

They also argued that the death sentence has been awarded under TADA which was repealed.

“Memon has been tried and sentenced to death under TADA, a special law which was repealed by Parliament on account of it having been used to target minorities,” they said and referred to a Supreme Court judgement, which according to them doubted the legality of prosecutions pursued after the repeal of TADA.

“Given the highly compromised rule of law credentials of TADA, executing Yakub Memon will perpetuate the dark legacy of this law,” they said.

(PTI)

Terror strikes Punjab, SP among 6 killed, 1 militant eliminated

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Terror strikes Punja

Gurdaspur: In the first major terror strike in Punjab in eight years, heavily-armed militants in army uniform today sprayed bullets on a moving bus and stormed a police station, killing six persons, including an SP, and injuring eight others in Gurdaspur bordering Pakistan.

One militant was killed and another seriously injured in the gunbattle with security forces that stretched for over 10 hours as the terrorists, who went of a rampage at around 5 AM, were holed up in a vacant building adjacent to Dinanagar police station.

The terrorists have killed six persons– three civilians and three policemen including Superintendent of Police (Detective), Baljit Singh, a Punjab provincial service officer, police said.

Official sources said it was too early to say which terrorist outfit had carried out the strike, but finger of suspicion is on Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba as the modus operandi of the militants was similar to the attacks in Jammu region in recent past.

According to Punjab Police IG (Counter Intelligence) Gaurav Yadav, SP Baljit Singh succumbed to bullet injuries sustained in the gunbattle.

Police said out of the eight injured brought to civil hospital at Gurdaspur, seven seriously injured were referred to Amritsar. They all were aged between 15-54 years.

One militant was killed and another seriously injured in the operation, Deputy Commissioner, Gurdaspur, Abhinav Trikha, said.

According to police, the attackers first targeted a roadside eatery and took off in a white Maruti 800 with Punjab registration number. They shot dead a roadside vendor near Dinanagar bypass.

They opened fire on passengers of a moving Punjab roadways bus before targeting a community health centre adjacent to Dinanagar police station.

The gunmen barged into the Dinanagar police station and opened indiscriminate fire. The militants also targeted another part of the complex where the families of police personnel reside and hurled grenades.

An alert has been sounded along the international border in Punjab and Jammu as the terrorists are suspected to have infiltrated from there, the sources said.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval about the situation.

Singh said he will make a statement on the issue tomorrow in Parliament, where members today sought a detailed government response.

On October 14, 2007, seven persons were killed and more than 30 were injured when a powerful explosion took place at the cinema hall in Ludhiana, the last major terror attack in the state which had grappled with Sikh militancy for several years from 1980s.

Security agencies have heightened vigil across the contry especially Punjab and neighbouring states as well a Union Territory of Chandigarh in the wake of the attack which came just three weeks ahead of Independence Day.

In a related development, five live bombs were found on Amritsar-Pathankot railway track and the train services on the route have been suspended.

Dina Nagar town, which is close to Pakistan, falls in Gurdaspur district. It is sandwiched between Gurdaspur town on one side and Pathankot on the other and lies about 260 km from capital Chandigarh.

Officials said schools, colleges and other institutions have been shut today in the town in view of the incident.

Local resident Kamaljeet Singh Matharu, who said that the assailants had snatched his car after firing at him, said they were dressed in army uniform and were heavily armed.

Matharu received gunshot injuries and is admitted to hospital.

Three of the dead were identified as Ghulam Rasool, Asha Rani and Amarjeet Singh.

Ishwar Chandra Sharma, IG, Border Zone, said the gunmen attacked a Punjab roadways bus and then entered the police station complex.

“We have engaged them in an adjoining building which is an abandoned building and a barrack,” he said.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said there is no hostage situation.

According to Civil hospital authorities at Gurdaspur, SP Baljit Singh was brought dead to the hospital.

Fear gripped the town this morning and people largely remained indoors.

“People are in a state of shock and terrified here after they came to know about the attack,” said Jatinder Kumar, whose house is just 500 metre away from the Dina Nagar police station.

“We could clearly listen to the sound of firing going on at police station between and security personnel and (suspected) militants,” Jatinder, who is an employee of Punjab Health department, said.

Strongly condemning the terror strike, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that terrorism was a national problem.

“Terrorism is a national problem, it is not a state problem. It has to be tackled by national policies,” Badal said and demanded that the border be sealed.

(Agencies)

Extortion racket: SIT arrests Karnataka Lokayukta’s son Ashwin Rao

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Ashwin Rao

Bengaluru: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday arrested Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao son, Ashwin Rao, for allegedly running an extortion from the ombudsman’s office. He was arrested by the team led by DCP Labhu Ram in Aurangabad, Maharashtra.

Ashiwn will be brought back to Bengaluru by evening. Meanwhile, his arrest has delivered a serious blow to embattled Lokayukta Rao, who has been refusing to quit despite protests from various quarters.

This is the second high-profile arrest in the case in less than 24 hours. On Sunday, Joint Commissioner (PRO) Syed Riyaz was held on the charges of the corruption by the SIT. He has been the PRO for the watch dog for 18 years now. So far six have been arrested in the case.

The SIT arrested Riyaz in connection with the FIR (56/2015) pertaining to threatening and attempting to extort money from PWD Executive Engineer M N Krishnamurthy. Though the SIT had already arrested three individuals, Riyaz is the first Lokayukta official to be arrested.

Sources said Riyaz had played a vital role in the Krishnamurthy case. Ashok Kumar, the first to be arrested by the SIT, had been in constant touch with Riyaz. Ashok, a realtor, had made several calls to Riyaz. The pattern of these calls is interesting as after each call from Ashok, Riyaz would immediately call Y Ashwin, son of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao. Ashwin was named accused number one by the Lokayukta police in the FIR registered on July 1.

(Agencies)

Former PM Deve Gowda begins hunger strike on farmers’ suicide issue

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Deve Gowda

Bengaluru: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Monday began a hunger strike here demanding discussion in Parliament on the farmers’ suicide in the country.

Flanked by party MPs, MLAs, and Samajwadi Party supporters at Jantar Mantar here, the JD(S) leader said that his hunger strike will continue till a discussion takes place on the issue of farmers’ suicide in Parliament. Asked about Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh’s reply in Parliament on farmers’ suicide, he said it was the worst statement made by the Agriculture Minister.

“It is one of the worst statements made by the Agriculture Minister. It is unbecoming of the Agriculture Minister at the national level. I am so sorry, how Prime Minister Narendra Modi tolerated this type of statement,” Gowda said adding that it should be condemned. Stressing that it is the beginning of a struggle, he expressed concern over the death of thousands of farmers in the country.

“In particular, 16 farmers are committing suicide in Karnataka everyday. Even today nine farmers died,” Gowda said, SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, CPI(M)leader Sitaram Yechury, JD(U) Sharad Yadav, CPI leader D Raja have extended their support to the hunger strike.

(PTI)

Modi praises Nitish, targets Lalu and Congress

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Modi referred to Nitish Kumar seven times in his speech, praising him for his various requests and suggestions related to the development of Bihar

Modi-Nitish-

Patna: In a clear bid to divide the anti-BJP opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar but targeted his allies RJD leader Lalu Prasad and the Congress on the issue of Bihar’s development.

Modi, who arrived here earlier in the day, referred to Nitish Kumar seven times in his speech here, praising him for his various requests and suggestions related to the development of Bihar.

Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal-United, Lalu Prasad’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party have formed a grand alliance to defeat the BJP-led coalition in the upcoming Bihar assembly election.

Modi, who shared the stage with Nitish Kumar at the Veterinary College ground, admitted that he agreed with the chief minister that railway projects for Bihar started when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister were delayed after the Congress took power in 2004.

But Modi made no effort to spare Lalu Prasad and the earlier Congress-led UPA government – the RJD leader was its railway minister – for allegedly blocking and delaying some projects meant for Bihar.

Modi did not take Lalu Prasad’s name but made references to the railway minister then. But he attacked the Congress by name.

Modi made the comments after flagging off the Daniyawa-Biharsharif railway line and the Patna-Mumbai railway line here.

Modi also blamed the Congress-led UPA government for failing to complete the Barauni fertilizer factory and other projects in Bihar.

Modi was seen regularly interacting with Nitish Kumar during the inauguration and launch of different projects here and at the foundation day function of the ICAR here.

At another venue, Modi said development was the answer to all the plaguing the country ills including poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.

“There is no alternative to development. Development is the answer for all problems,” Modi said.

On a day-long visit to Bihar, Modi was received by Governor K.N. Tripathi and Nitish Kumar when he flew in here.

The prime minister said his government’s agenda was to develop eastern India including Bihar. “Unless Bihar is developed, the country cannot be developed.

“I will announce a special package for Bihar at the right time, not now,” he added.

(IANS)

Karnataka: Angry Siddaramaiah flings copy of budget into well of Assembly

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Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Ruling Congress and BJP members were locked in a verbal clash in Karnataka Assembly today over alleged cut in funding of centrally-sponsored schemes, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, angry with disruptions, flinging a copy of the budget into the well of the House.

Amidst chaos and charges, the Assembly passed demands for grants by various departments and the money Bill by a voice vote.

The two parties sparred during the Chief Minister’s reply to the discussion as he accused the NDA government of reducing funding for centrally-sponsored schemes.

Angered by BJP’s repeated disruption and allegations of giving wrong information, Siddaramaih threw a copy of budget into the well of the House, which led to heated arguments between both sides.

Following this, the BJP members entered into the well of the House shouting slogans against the Congress government and the Chief Minister.

As repeated attempts by Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa to convince BJP members to allow Chief Minister to continue with the reply failed, he put the demands and money Bill to vote, and amidst protest and sloganeering they were passed by a voice vote.

In his reply, Siddaramaiah claimed his government is transparent and corruption free.

“Ours is a corruption free, pro-people government. There have been no allegations of corruption against our government in the last two years,” he said.

He also measured transparency standard of his government by pointing out that it has handed over six cases till date to CBI while the previous BJP government had not handed over even a single case.

(Agencies)

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