Bengaluru violence last year was SDPI plan to create communal unrest: NIA chargesheet

Bengaluru Riots

The agency said that SDPI cadres were well prepared to respond to any situation and to execute their plans for a violent attack.

PTI

File Image/PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a chargesheet, recently presented in a special court in Bengaluru, cited that the violence that erupted in the city on August 12, 2020, was part of a larger conspiracy by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) to create communal disharmony in the country. Dalit Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s house and two police stations were torched in August over a Facebook post by the MLA’s nephew Naveen. The NIA charge sheet said that SDPI cadres provoked him with a derogatory message to insult Hindu gods in a social media post and tagged him to incite violence.  "The SDPI in Bengaluru was unhappy with the decisions of the Union government on certain matters which are repeal of Article 370, issue of CAA/NRC, Supreme Court verdict on Babri Masjid case, Triple Talaq etc. They were waiting for an opportunity to create communal disharmony and thereby create unrest in the country,” the chargesheet stated. Reacting to the chargesheet, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said it was a conspiracy by the SDPI and added that social media had become an easy tool for such organisations. "These handlers (of social media) are not only in India, but also outside. I am confident that justice will be done," Bommai told reporters. The National Investigation Agency took up the investigation following orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The agency has named 247 people as accused in the case, according to NIA sources. After prime accused Fairoz Pasha joined the SDPI, Mohamed Shariff, Muzammil Pasha and other SDPI Bengaluru district leaders hatched a criminal conspiracy, it said. "In furtherance to the conspiracy, they decided to post some derogatory message to insult and provoke Hindu gods and the Hindu community through Fairoz Pasha's Facebook account," the NIA said. It added that the conspirators intentionally selected August 11, 2020 because it was ‘Krishna Janmashtami’, an auspicious day for Hindus. The agency said SDPI cadres were well prepared to respond to any situation and to execute their plans for a violent attack. Accordingly, on August 11 afternoon, Fairoz Pasha posted a video and audio clip, it said. “Blasphemous and utterly derogatory comments [in English] were made on Hindu gods and goddesses,” the chargesheet said, adding that Fairoz then tagged Naveen in the post and provoked the latter to respond in a similarly aggressive manner against Prophet Mohammed. After noticing Naveen's reply, Fairoz approached Muslim community members and organisation leaders for lodging a complaint against him and pressurise the police and government to act against Naveen, it said. The post was widely circulated in WhatsApp and other social media accounts. Fairoz then mobilised SDPI cadres and others to attack the houses of Naveen and Murthy along with the KG Halli, DJ Halli police stations and police personnel, stated the charge sheet. Four people were killed in the violence including three in police firing and one due to abdominal injuries while many vehicles and shops were torched and damaged inside and outside the police stations. The city police, which is investigating the case simultaneously, has accused former Congress Mayor R Sampath Raj, who is a corporator of DJ Halli ward, of being part of the conspiracy to politically damage his own party's MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy. Sampath remained absconding for many weeks before he was finally caught. He is now out on bail.

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‘I had faith in our judiciary’: Disha Ravi’s mother tells TNM after bail order

Disha Ravi Arrest

The 22-year-old climate change activist was granted bail on Tuesday after her arrest on February 13.

Prajwal Bhat

Hours after 22-year-old climate change activist Disha Ravi was granted bail by a Delhi court on Tuesday, her friends and family praised the decision. Disha had been arrested more than nine days ago by the Delhi police in Bengaluru on February 13. She was granted bail by the Patiala House Court in Delhi against two sureties of Rs 1 lakh each.  “My mind feels lighter after hearing about the bail today,” Disha Ravi’s mother Manjula told TNM.  “I had faith in our judiciary and after I saw what happened today, my faith has only strengthened. Even if the process was slow, the right thing has happened in the end. I am waiting for her to return,” she said.  Read: No sedition or call to violence in toolkit: Delhi court judgment on Disha Ravi bail Judge Dharmender Rana noted that the Delhi police had not produced any evidence to suggest that she subscribed to ‘secessionist’ ideas. In a strong bail judgment, the judge observed that the crime of sedition is not made out from sharing a ‘toolkit’ and only being the editor of an ‘innocuous’ toolkit is not an offence. “Today's decision feels like a good start to many better decisions to come. We need this in order for the judiciary to uphold our democracy,” said Vineeth Vincent, Disha’s friend.  Disha’s one-day police custody ended on Tuesday, and though the Delhi police had filed a plea seeking four days of police custody, it was disposed of since bail was granted.  Disha Ravi was arrested on February 13 and charged with criminal conspiracy and sedition in connection to a probe into the Google document, called a ‘toolkit’, on the farmers’ protests. The ‘toolkit’ had been shared by global climate change activist Greta Thunberg on social media.  ‘Toolkits’ are Word or Google documents that are frequently used to organise campaigns around social media or in planning protests. It typically includes basic information such as tweet suggestions, hashtags to amplify tweets, suggestions for tagging on social media etc. These kinds of documents are often used by individuals and groups, including political parties, to organise and mobilise crowds.    

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No sedition or call to violence in toolkit: Delhi court judgment on Disha Ravi bail

Disha Ravi arrest

The judgment questioned Delhi police’s attempt to link Disha Ravi to the violence in Delhi on January 26, and said that disagreeing with state policies does not mean citizens should be put behind bars.

Prajwal Bhat

Sanyukta Dharmadhikari

Delhi's Patiala House Court on Tuesday granted bail to 22-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, noting that the Delhi police had not produced any evidence to suggest that she subscribed to any ‘secessionist’ idea. Pronouncing the order, Judge Dharmender Rana observed that the crime of sedition is not made out by sharing a toolkit and that just being an editor of an 'innocuous' toolkit is not an offence. The judgment rubbished the Delhi police’s attempt to link Disha Ravi to the violence in Delhi on January 26, and said that disagreeing with state policies does not mean citizens should be put behind bars. The judge also said that the police had failed to point out how Disha had provided a global audience to ‘secessionist elements’ — adding also that freedom of speech included the right to seek a global audience for an issue.  ‘Secession’ theory bunked “It would be worthwhile to observe that there is nothing on record to suggest that the applicant accused subscribed to any secessionist idea. Further, the prosecution has, except for pointing out that applicant/accused forwarded the toolkit to Ms Greta Thunberg, failed to point out as to how the applicant/accused gave a global audience to the ‘secessionist elements',” observed the Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana in the bail order. “Citizens are conscience keepers of the government in any democratic nation. They cannot be put behind the bars simply because they choose to disagree with State policies. The offence of sedition cannot be invoked to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments,” said Justice Dharmender Rana. "In my considered opinion, the freedom of speech and expression includes the right to seek a global audience. There are no geographical barriers on communication," the judge added. No call for violence The judge pointed out that the prosecution had not placed any evidence linking the toolkit to the violence in Delhi. The judge has included the part of the toolkit that called for action including protesting outside Indian embassies and tweet storm in the judgment copy and found that “any call for any kind of violence is conspicuously absent”. “The offence of sedition cannot be invoked to minister to the wounded vanity of the governments,” the judge said adding, “Except for a bare assertion, no evidence has been brought to my notice to support the contention that any violence took place at any of the Indian Embassies pursuant to the sinister designs of the applicant/accused and her co conspirators.”  The judge stated that the ‘toolkit’ did not reveal any call for violence. “The perusal of the said 'Toolkit' reveals that any call for any kind of violence is conspicuously absent,” the order stated. On Disha deleting a WhatApp group on farmer protest The judge also rejected the prosecution's charge about Disha's role in the case, and the violence in Delhi on January 26, observing that merely editing or deleting a WhatsApp group does not implicate her. “In my considered opinion, creation of a WhatsApp group or being editor of an innocuous Toolkit is not an offence. Further, since the link with the said toolkit or PJF has not been found to be objectionable, mere deletion of the WhatsApp chat to destroy the evidence linking her with the toolkit and PJF also becomes meaningless. Further, it is rightly pointed out by Ld Defence Counsel that the protest march was duly permitted by the Delhi police therefore there is nothing wrong in co accused Shantanu reaching Delhi to attend the protest march. Still further, the attempt to conceal her identity seems to be nothing more than an anxious effort to stay away from unnecessary controversies,” he said.  Not a crime to ask for international support The right to dissent is firmly enshrined under Article 19 of The Constitution of India. In my considered opinion the freedom of speech and expression includes the right to seek a global audience. There are no geographical barriers on communication. A Citizen has the fundamental rights to use the best means of imparting and receiving communication, as long as the same is permissible under the four corners of law and as such have access to audiences abroad. One hyperlink objectionable, but not seditious The government had said that the toolkit had two hyperlinks. The judge found that one link has nothing objectionable. However, on the second link which lead to a website called Genocide.org, the judge noted that “the imputations are really objectionable in the said website. However, even if the said imputations are found to be objectionable in nature, I cannot but disagree with Ld. ASG that the said material is seditious in nature.” ‘PJF not linked to Khalistan’ The Delhi police in its first information report (FIR) in the case had said that the ‘toolkit’ led to the violence that took place in Delhi on January 26 and that it was linked to the Khalistani movement through the Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF), a Canada based organisation. Another organisation — the banned Sikh Justice Foundation (SJF) — is mentioned in the FIR, however, the Delhi police is yet to provide any link between SJF and Disha Ravi. The judgment also pointed out that Poetic Justice Foundation, which created the toolkit, is not linked to Khalistan movement, nor is it banned. “Ld. Addl. Solicitor General fairly admitted that PJF is not a banned organisation and even no criminal action is pending against the above said Mo Dhaliwal and Anita Lal,” the judgment said.  “Furthermore, there is nothing on record to establish any direct link between the applicant/accused and Mo Dhaliwal and Anita Lal. Still further, there is nothing on record to suggest that there was any call, incitement, instigation or exhortation on the part of the applicant/accused and the above said organisations and its associates to foment violence on 26.01.2021,” the judge said.  The judge further questioned the police’s argument that Disha was secessionist for engaging with PJF. “In my considered opinion, it is not mere engagement with persons of dubious credentials which is indictable rather it is the purpose of engagement which is relevant for the purpose of deciding culpability. Any person with dubious credentials may interact with a number of persons during the course of his social intercourse,” he said.  “As long as the engagement/interaction remains within the four corners of law, people interacting with such persons, ignorantly, innocently or for that matter even fully conscious of their dubious credentials, cannot be painted with the same hue,” the judgment said.  ‘No link to Sikhs for Justice’ “It is further submitted by Ld. ASG that during further investigation, it was revealed that on 11.01.2021, a banned terrorist organization 'Sikhs for Justice' issued an open communication declaring a reward of $250,000 for anyone who will hoist the flag of Khalistan at India Gate on Republic Day. There is absolutely no link established on record between the applicant/accused and the said banned organisation,” the judgment said.  ‘Why should Disha be in custody?’ The court also agreed with Disha's counsel that there was no need to keep Disha in custody when the other two co-accused in the case, Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk, have been granted interim protection from bail and have joined police probe. The judge said that it would be neither legal nor logical to keep Disha in jail any further based on “general and omnibus accusations”. “No specific article sought to be recovered from the possession of the accused has been brought to my notice. The resistance to the bail plea seems to be more of ornamental in nature,” the order said. “Considering the scanty and sketchy evidence available on record, I do not find any palpable reasons to breach the general rule of ‘Bail’ against a 22 years old young lady, with absolutely blemish free criminal antecedents and having firm roots in the society, and send her to jail,” he said. Read: Fridays for Future was on govt radar long before Disha Ravi's arrest: An inside view The judge said that the strength of the material collected so far is not enough to keep her in custody. “The investigating agency made a conscious choice to arrest the applicant/accused upon the strength of material so far collected and now they cannot be permitted to further restrict the liberty of a citizen on the basis of propitious anticipations,” it added. Disha was arrested from her home in Bengaluru on February 13 and has spent nine days in police custody — a total of six days in police custody and three days in judicial custody. She was arrested in connection with the Delhi police's probe into the 'toolkit' on farmers' protests. A ‘toolkit’ is a Google document or Word document often used to organise a social media campaign or to plan protests. A toolkit contains basic information on any issue, tweet suggestions and information on what hashtags to use, whom to tag on social media, etc. These documents are regularly used by various individuals and groups, including political parties, to organise social media campaigns and mobilise crowds. Disha was released on bail on the conditions that she should cooperate with the ongoing investigations and shall join the investigation as and when summoned and that she shall not leave the country without the permission of the court. Read: Disha Ravi gets bail nine days after her arrest in ‘toolkit’ case  

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20 COVID-19 cases in apartment in Bengaluru's Mahadevapura, blocks sealed

COVID-19

The new cluster is located in the Mahadevapura zone in Bellandur.

TNM Staff

Picxy

Ten new cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the Bengaluru apartment complex in Bellandur which has been converted to a containment zone. With this, there are 20 COVID-19 patients in this cluster, located in the Mahadevapura zone in Bellandur. The cluster was confirmed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner M Manjunath Prasad. According to data available, a total of 20 cases have been detected out of 511 samples which were sent for testing on February 22. 544 more samples have been sent for testing, for which results are awaited. Six blocks of the apartment complex have now been sealed. The total number of blocks or towers in the complex are 9. The other three blocks are 200 metres away from the containment zone. A total of 1500 residents are staying in the apartment complex. Around 1055 samples including those of apartment complex staff, security, domestic help etc have been sent for testing. "The first 10 cases came to light between February 15 and 22. Nine mobile teams were deployed, 500 RT-PCR samples taken and results are expected by Tuesday," Prasad said in the statement. Prasad added that sanitisation has been carried out in the premises of the apartment complex and that the civic body has also deployed a health team with four doctors in the zone. Prior to this, on February 15, another cluster in an apartment complex was detected in Bommanahalli, after 104 residents of the apartment complex turned positive. Out of this 96 of them were above the age of 60 years. The complex housed a total of 1052 people. Karnataka reintroduced stricter protocols of COVID-19 management on February 16 in the wake of a sudden rise in cases including the above mentioned clusters. The rules also said that if a cluster of five or more people are identified in places such as hostels and educational institutions, those places will be declared ‘contamination zones’ and additional steps, such as retesting after seven days, will be taken. Apart from these rules, all those arriving in the state from Kerala including those checking into hotels, resorts, hostels, home stays, and dormitories will have to compulsorily produce a negative RT-PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours.

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All quota stirs must be resolved constitutionally: Siddaramaiah

Reservation

"Only those communities should get reservations who deserve it the most in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution," Siddaramaiah said.

IANS

PTI

Indicating support to the ongoing quota stirs launched by various communities in Karnataka, Leader of the Opposition, Siddaramiah on Monday suggested the state government should resolve quota struggles well within Constitutional provisions. Launching the 108-km-long 'Jana-Dhwani' padayatra by the Congress across the coastal region at Padubidri in Udupi to oppose the steep hike in petrol and diesel prices, he said that all those are demanding reservations are well within their constitution rights. "Any community can demand reservations. That is not wrong. But, I feel that only those communities should get reservations who deserve it the most in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution," he said. Asked if there was any constitutional crisis in the state due to several communities demanding quotas, he said that there can be no constitutional crisis per se by just a community or several communities making such demands. "The law of the land has constituted a permanent Backward Class Commission and this authority has the authority over who should be included or excluded in the OBC list. That should ensure that constitutional provisions must be upheld in such scenarios without succumbing any pressure or favour," he said Replying to a specific question about the ongoing Panchamasali quota stir, Siddaramaiah cryptically maintained that the state government must decide well within stipulated norms of the Constitution. "It (the state government) will have to take a call on such matters. But one thing is clear, any community can seek reservation or better reservation for its community... that is not wrong in any way," he said.

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Reconsider complaint against CT Ravi, Anant Kumar Hegde: HC to Bengaluru court

Courts

RTI activists Alam Pasha had sought action against the two ex-ministers over their controversial tweets made against Tipu Jayanti.

TNM Staff

File image of Anantkumar Hegde

The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed a Bengaluru court to reconsider a criminal complaint filed against former Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde and former state minister CT Ravi in relation to controversial tweets made by them. The metropolitan magistrate court in Bengaluru had rejected the application filed by RTI activist and industrialist Alam Pasha who sought criminal proceedings against the BJP leaders, reported The Hindu. Pasha had taken exception to the contents of tweets by the two leaders which were against the Tipu Jayanti celebrations in October. 2017. Pasha had sought a probe alleging that the contents of the tweets attracted provisions under the Indian Penal Code. To this effect, he had sought the local jurisdictional officer register a case against the two leaders. However, the Bengaluru court rejected Pasha’s application in November 2017 citing lack of a state government sanction required to probe a sitting Union Minister. Following this Pasha had approached the High Court.  Justice John Michael Cunha on Monday allowed the petition by Pasha and observed that sanction is required only after a probe is completed. According to The Times of India, Justice Cunha observed that the magistrate had failed to apply his mind in this case and misinterpreted sections of 196(1) and (1-A) of the Criminal Procedure Code. He also directed the court to consider the matter again. TNM had reported how Hegde in 2017 had called the state's Tipu Jayanti celebrations a shameful event. "I have conveyed to the Karnataka government not to invite me to a shameful event that glorifies a person known to be a brutal killer, wretched fanatic and mass rapist,” he had said in a tweet. It may be recalled that the BJP government led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had stopped  the state-sponsored celebration of Tipu Jayanti in 2019 which was started by his predecessor Siddaramaiah. 

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Six killed in explosion at quarry site in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district

Accident

Karnataka Minister K Sudhakar visited the site and said the quarry was storing gelatin sticks illegally.

TNM Staff

At least six persons have died in what is suspected to be a gelatin explosion at a quarry site in Chikkaballapur near Bengaluru on Tuesday morning. Health Minister and District-in-charge Minister Dr K Sudhakar visited the accident site. This tragedy comes just a month after a similar mishap was reported from Shivamogga district where six quarry labourers died in a quarry site due to an accidental explosion of a similar nature.  Speaking to reporters, Dr Sudhakar said that the quarry was storing gelatin sticks illegally and in an irregular manner which led to Tuesday’s explosion and two persons have been arrested in the case.  "These are illegally held explosives. This will be dealt with law, strict action will be taken," he told reporters. Both the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Prime MInister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of the victims and assured strict action. Also read: At least 6 dead in Karnataka's Shivamogga after explosive-laden truck blasts Read: Truck explosion in Shivamogga kills 6: Retrieving bodies a struggle for authorities “The death of six people near the village of Hirenagavalli in Chikkaballapur, which killed six people, is a shock. Information has been obtained from the District Ministers and senior officials, who have been instructed to conduct a thorough investigation and take stern action against the guilty,” CM BS Yediyurappa said. He added, “I pray that god may grant peace to the souls of the dead and give their families the power to end this grief. A high-level investigation into the disaster is underway and strict action will be taken against the guilty.”  “Pained by the loss of lives due to a mishap at Chikkaballapur in Karnataka. Condolences to the bereaved families. Praying that the injured recover quickly,” the Prime Minister’s office said. In the Shivamogga disaster, a lorry carrying explosives inadvertently exploded killing all five on top of the vehicle. Following the incident, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had ordered a drive to check on illegal quarrying and mining setups in the state. He had also ordered that all illegal explosive usage be stopped immediately,  

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Won’t allow TN to use surplus Cauvery water: CM Yediyurappa

Cauvery dispute

Karnataka objected to the TN govt laying the foundation for the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar river interlinking project.

IANS

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has said that his government will not allow Tamil Nadu to use surplus Cauvery water and will take strong measures to protect the state's interests. This after the Cauvery river water sharing dispute erupted again after the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday laid the foundation for the Rs 14,400 crore Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar (262-km) river interlinking project, which will divert 6,300 cubic feet of surplus water during floods and increase the groundwater levels in southern districts to meet drinking water needs. Yediyurappa on Monday told reporters that the state government has decided to file objections before the Union government against the project. "We will not allow it. We are taking strong measures. We will not allow Tamil Nadu or others to use surplus water," he said. After emerging out of the meeting with the state's legal team on the inter-state water dispute in Delhi, Karnataka Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi said that the state will apprise the Central government over Tamil Nadu's river interlinking project. Jarkiholi, who met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday, had said that the state will take all steps to protect its interests. "We will soon convene an all-party meeting to seek their opinion," he said. Karnataka is of the stand that after ensuring 177.25 tmc feet of water to Tamil Nadu in a normal year at Biligundlu water gauging centre, the rest belongs to the state, which includes its share of 284.75 tmc feet and surplus water available. Meanwhile, both opposition parties in Karnataka - Congress and JD(S) - too opposed Tamil Nadu's move to divert the surplus water. Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah terming Tamil Nadu's move to take up the river interlinking project as 'illegal'. "The Chief Minister of that state should stop it immediately," he said on Twitter. In a tweet, Siddarmaiah also asked the Karnataka Chief Minister to question the project in the Supreme Court, and write to his Tamil Nadu counterpart asking him to drop the project. In a series of tweets, another former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy expressed surprise over the project of this magnitude not coming to the notice of the Karnataka government. He also alleged that the Union government was funding this project. Pointing out at the Tamil Nadu government's objections to the state's Mekedatu project, Kumarswamy said Tamil Nadu had been objecting to this as it will not get surplus water if the dam comes up. "We will not allow even a drop of surplus water being used by them," he said.

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Bengaluru: Fresh COVID-19 cluster detected in apartment complex with 10 cases

COVID-19

Six blocks of an apartment complex in Bellandur have been declared a containment zone by BBMP.

TNM Staff

Representational image

In less than 10 days, another COVID-19 cluster was detected in Bengaluru with 10 cases being reported from an apartment complex, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said on Monday. According to a statement, the cases were reported from an apartment complex in Bellandur of Mahadevapura Zone. This apartment complex comprises nine blocks housing 1,500 people. Based on the findings, six blocks of the apartment have been declared a containment zone by the Bengaluru civic body, while other three blocks are 200 metres away and have not reported any case among their residents. "These 10 cases came to light between February 15 and 22. Nine mobile teams were deployed, 500 RT-PCR samples taken and results are expected by Tuesday," Prasad said in the statement. He added that the sanitisation has been carried out in the apartment premises and a health team with four doctors has been deployed. On February 13, the first cluster was found at Manjushree Nursing College near Kaval Byrasandra in the city, where 42 students of 210 students tested positive. Most of them are from Kerala. On February 15, another cluster was found as 104 residents of an apartment complex in Bommanahalli, tested positive, with 96 of them above the age of 60 years. The apartments house 1,052 people. As reported by TNM, Karnataka reintroduced stricter measures of COVID-19 management on February 16 in the wake of a sudden rise in cases including these two clusters. The rules also said that if a cluster of five or more people are identified in places such as hostels and educational institutions, those places will be declared ‘contamination zones’ and additional steps, such as retesting after seven days, will be taken. Along with those rules, it was also mandated that all those arriving in the state from Kerala including those checking into hotels, resorts, hostels, home stays, and dormitories will have to compulsorily produce a negative RT-PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours. Read: Karnataka govt issues fresh containment zone rules

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Will set up e-vehicle charging points in metros, malls, apartments: Karnataka Dy CM

Sustainability

The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking virtually at the Harvard-India Conference.

TNM Staff

Twitter

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayanan said on Monday that in the next 2-3 years, the state government is aiming to replace 50% of government vehicles with electric vehicles. Dr Narayanan added that to boost sustainable mobility, the state would also take regulatory measures to set up charging infrastructure in high-rise buildings, metro stations, malls, IT parks, and apartments, as well as along some important highways in the state such as the Bengaluru-Chennai, Bengaluru-Myrsuru highways. The Deputy CM was speaking on “future of sustainable mobility” at the Harvard-India Conference virtually, when he made these statements. He added that the state would also establish a “world-class Karnataka Electric Mobility Research & Innovation Centre.” “The lack of charging infrastructure still remains as a major concern and the state is working towards improving the situation. The government also has assessed the situation and has received feedback from citizens regarding discounted charging at public places, dedicated parking for e-cabs, and mandating electric vehicle (EV) charging facility in building bye-laws to improve the EV infra in the state,” Dr Narayanan said. According to a press note shared by the Deputy CM’s office, Karnataka is planning a policy framework to be able to garner 50% market share of ‘digital engineering innovation economy segments’ like clean tech, electric vehicles, aerospace, medical tech, construction etc. as they offer significant opportunities for growth, Narayanan said. Presently, the state has been able to garner a share of more than 30% market size, the minister added. Dr Narayanan tweeted about the same, and said, “Spoke about how Karnataka has been pioneering the Clean Tech space in India. We were the first state to launch the EV & Energy Storage Policy to boost the entire EV ecosystem.” Being home to many emerging startups & thriving R&D firms in the sector, we are working tirelessly to ensure easy access to charging infrastructure for our citizens. Our Govt's commitment to renewable energy for a sustainable future remains unshaken.https://t.co/vfUdci1Bjo 2/2 — Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N. (@drashwathcn) February 22, 2021 Apart from Dr Narayanan, Anita George, Executive Vice-President, and Deputy Head, CDPQ Global, and Vignesh Nandakumar, a clean tech investor were the other two panellists on the discussion. 

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Bengaluru: NIA chargesheets two alleged LeT operatives arrested in 2012

Arrest

Sabeel Ahmed and Asadulla Khan were arrested by the Bengaluru police in August 2012, after they were caught in possession of arms and ammunition.

Shishir Rao

Representational Image/PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a chargesheet against two alleged Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives, who were arrested from Bengaluru in a conspiracy case dating to February 2012. Basaveshwaranagar Nagar police in Bengaluru had arrested the two accused — Dr Sabeel Ahmed and Asadulla Khan — on August 29, 2012, after they were caught in possession of arms and ammunition. In 2016, the NIA special court in Bengaluru had convicted 13 other accused persons in the case.  The case pertains to an alleged conspiracy that was hatched by members of the terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba (L-e-T) and Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HuJI) “to commit subversive activities and wage war against the government of India. They had procured illegal arms and ammunition for targeted killings of important personalities of the Hindu community in Bangalore and Hubli in Karnataka, Nanded in Maharashtra and in Hyderabad, Telangana, to disturb the communal harmony and strike terror in society,” said NIA.  The investigation agency accused Sabeel Ahmed and Asadulla Khan of being members of the terrorist organisation, LeT. "They were involved in a criminal conspiracy along with other accused person in supporting and furthering the cause of LeT in Dammam and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They had actively participated in conspiracy meetings,' it said. ' The two have been charged under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to criminal conspiracy; as well as section 18 (conspiracy), 38 (offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation), 39 (offence relating to support given to a terrorist organisation) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act or UAPA. The NIA Special Court, Bengaluru, had earlier convicted 13 accused persons on September 16, 2016, with five years imprisonment, with a fine for their involvement in offences under various sections of UAPA, IPC, the Arms Act, 1959, and Official Secrets Act (India).  The NIA has also said that the trial against the three accused, who had been named in the chargesheet earlier, is going on and further investigation against the six absconding accused is continued.

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In memory of lives lost at Bengaluru Carlton fire, govt to observe fire awareness day

Fire Safety

Eleven years ago, a fire broke out at Carlton Towers on Old Airport Road when many suffocated to death and others jumped from the high-rise building to escape the fumes.

Shishir Rao

Twitter/Beyond Carlton

Tuesday will be observed as the first 'Fire Awareness and Prevention day' in Karnataka, in remembrance of the Carlton Towers fire accident in 2010 in which nine people lost their lives and several were injured. Every year from now on, the fire department will conduct awareness programs among the public on February 23. This idea was the brainchild of Beyond Carlton, an organisation formed by families of victims and survivors of the Carlton fire. Beyond Carlton has been conducting annual events since the accident to raise awareness about fire safety and have pushed the government to enact several laws to prevent such a disaster again. “After all these years we have been able to set the ball rolling in terms of creation and ensuring safety measures within the system. However, if you ask me we still have a long way to go until we are a completely fire safe city.” Uday Vijayan, Managing Trustee and President of Beyond Carlton, told TNM. Eleven years ago, a fire broke out at Carlton Towers on Old Airport Road when many suffocated to death and others jumped from the high-rise building to escape the fumes, resulting in nine deaths and several being injured. The incident revealed severe flaws in fire protection rules and its implementation. Uday Vijayan, a parent who had lost his 23-year-old son in the tragedy, reached out to the families of the other victims and survivors and formed Beyond Carlton, India's first citizen-led fire safety community. Speaking at an event organised by Beyond Carlton on Sunday, Kamal Kishore, member of NDMA, India’s apex body for disaster management, explained the importance of building an atmosphere where fire safety is taken seriously and fire fighters are seen as heroes. He suggested schools invite fire chiefs to school events to create such an atmosphere. Roshin Mathew, Executive Director & President Engineering, Brigade Enterprises Ltd, explained the importance of fire safety in buildings and how it can be ensured during construction. Vidya Goggi, a resident who lives in a high-rise building, spoke about the importance of fire safety awareness among occupants of high-rise buildings and the general mindset about fire safety. During the event, musician Raghu Dixit and his team presented several songs about loss, hope and taking action. Beyond Carlton believes that some day these steps will lead to creation of a fire safe Bengaluru.

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‘Not differentiating science from quackery’: Scientists slam UGC ‘cow science’ circular

Controversy

Several scientists have expressed worries that pseudoscience would actually reduce the prestige of Indian achievements.

Shishir Rao

IMAGE FOR REPRESENTATION (CREDITS: RASHTRIYA KAMDHENU AAYOG)

Several scientists and scientific forums have criticised the University Grants Commission (UGC) after it sent circulars to universities across the county for an online voluntary national-level exam called ‘Kamdhenu Gau Vigyan Prachar Prasar Exam’, to test students’ knowledge on “cow science”. The Rastriya Kamadhenu Aayog (RKA) has labelled this event under “vigyan prachar”, dissemination of science. Forums have said that the UGC has chosen to not differentiate science from quackery. The Breakthrough Science Society, a non-profit science organisation, said in a statement, “Education should give knowledge and awareness to be able to question tall claims, such as the Indian cow’s ‘special powers to absorb the sun’s energy… leading to more nourishing milk’. For an education agency, specifically vested with the responsibility of dissemination of modern education in the country, to prostrate itself before blatant attempts at promotion of specific ideology is a dangerous sign, and does not bode well for the education and science in the country.” RKA was set up by the Union Government under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying to encourage conservation, protection and development of cows and their progeny. Breakthrough Science Society’s statement further added, “Instead of promoting scientific temper in education, the UGC, in asking institutions under it to attempt to gather evidence for the tall claims being spouted in the RKA’s “study material”, and thus asking educational institutions under its care to embrace pseudoscience, has chosen to forget its raison d’etre.” Several scientists have expressed worries that pseudoscience would actually reduce the prestige of indian achievements and also prevent us from being proud of what we actually need to be proud of. Speaking to TNM, scientist and senior professor at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics Jayanth Murthy said, “If some private charity wants to conduct these exams it is not wrong. But the UGC being a government body asking universities to conduct them to promote a particular agenda is wrong. Science works by proposing a theory and trying to prove it, but now what they are doing is that they state an idea without any theory as to how something could work except miracles.. The danger with this approach (of glorifying pseudoscience) is that there is much for us to be proud of our past like Aryabhata when he added the ‘0’ and so many others. All this does is make one disbelieve all this real glory of our past and be proud of all the wrong things.”

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Begin restoring three Bengaluru lakes: Karnataka HC orders BBMP

Environment

The bench further directed the civic body to erect fences around the lakes after they agreed to start the restoration process of the following lakes.

TNM Staff

Representative Image/Wikimedia Commons/Shyamal

The Karnataka High Court has ordered the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to implement and initiate measures to restore Arehalli, Kamakshipalya and Tavarekere lakes based on the recommendations made by CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in their Phase one report. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum passed the verdict based on parts of the report containing restoration plans for these three lakes.   The court had been hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition cases pertaining to the issues of lake and stormwater drain maintenance. According to The Hindu, the bench further advised the civic body to include residents in the restoration work; they observed that the work cannot be done without their assistance. The court ordered the BBMP to take measures to de-water the Arehalli lake before desilting and removing the sediment up to a depth of three metres. Subsequently, works for removal of unwanted silt up to a depth of two metres and deepening of Tavarekere lake will be undertaken as per the recommendations of NEERI— planting perennial plants like crocuses, tulips, irises and delphiniums and introduce fish/larvivorous fish species in the lake to control mosquito. The bench further directed the civic body to erect fences around the lakes after they agreed to start the restoration process of the following lakes. BBMP had expressed reservations in restoration and deepening of the Kamakshipalya lake on the grounds that the area is small, the bench, however, directed them to seek NEERI’s opinion and asked them to comply if NEERI advises immediate action. The NEERI is expected to submit a detailed plan in their Phase two report. Concurrently, the bench directed the BBMP to submit a report by April 15 to monitor the implementation of the NEERI report. L Venkatesh, Executive Engineer of the civic body’s lake department, confirmed the same while Chief Engineer Mohan Krishna BT remained unavailable for comment. NEERI Report CSIR-NEERI studied nearly 210 lakes of Bengaluru and prepared a comprehensive report—which was submitted in the Karnataka High Court in the second week of February—in which they suggested long-term and short-term measures to rejuvenate the lakes. In their report, they stated that only 21 of 210 lakes in the city have water fit for drinking. The report also stated that those lakes were termed as disused lakes and except Arehalli and Tavarkere, others were encroached upon. The report suggested that desilting and dredging are essential to restore the water in lakes. 

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COVID-19: Karnataka to use marshals to enforce COVID-19 guidelines in wedding halls

COVID-19

The Health Minister said the government is making efforts to improve vaccination numbers.

TNM Staff

Representational image

Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Monday said that marshals will be deployed in marriage halls across the state to ensure COVID-19- guidelines like wearing masks and physical distancing is followed in the wake of rise in cases in the state. Further, he said that catering service providers should be tested before they are deployed for events. Dr K Sudhakar made these announcements during a virtual meeting with district administrations in the state. A detailed standard operating procedure or a circular on the same issue is yet to be issued by the government. Earlier marshalls in Bengaluru and other urban areas in the state were deployed to check enforcement of mask rule and collect fines in case of violations. “Meetings and gatherings are happening in violation of the COVID-19 guidelines. We may have to enforce strict guidelines if cases increase. We don’t want a situation like Maharashtra where lockdown has been reimposed in certain areas,” Dr Sudhakar told reporters. The state Health Minister reminded that entry into Karnataka from Maharashtra and Kerala will be allowed only with a negative RT-PCR test as a preventive measure. He also said that the state government is trying to improve vaccination numbers. “More than 4.24 lakh health department employees and 1.20 lakh front line warriors have been administered the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. We are cleaning up registration data by eliminating duplicate entries. We have a target of 80% and 90% coverage for Health Department staff and frontline warriors respectively by the end of this month. All officials have been requested to get the dose,” the minister said. He also added that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa himself is monitoring the vaccination drive and will be conducting a video conference with officials this weekend. Bengaluru is lagging in vaccination.  Bagalakote, Bengaluru, Dharwad have registered less than 50% coverage. Meanwhile districts like Chikkaballapura (79%), Tumkur (78%) Uttara Kannada (73%), Gadag (71%) and Chikkamagaluru (70%) and Chamarajnagar (70%) have achieved more than 70%.

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Disha Ravi sent back to police custody for one day

Disha Ravi

The Delhi police had sought five more days of custody to confront Disha with the other two accused, Nikita and Shantanu.

TNM Staff

A Delhi court on Monday sent 22-year-old Bengaluru-based climate activist Disha Ravi to one day police custody as it turned down Delhi police’s request for five days police custody. Disha has already spent eight days in custody — first five days in police custody and then was remanded to three days in judicial custody. She was produced in Delhi’s Patiala House Court after her three-day judicial custody ended. The Delhi police claimed that they had to question the young activist more and sought five more days of custody. A Sessions Court in Delhi is due to pronounce orders on her bail plea on Tuesday, February 23.  Appearing for the Delhi police, the Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) claimed that in her interrogation, Disha has shifted the burden to others accused — Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk — in the case. Shantanu and Nikita on Monday appeared before the Delhi police in connection with the case. “I have to confront her with the other accused, Nikita and Shantanu. They came to Delhi today (Monday) morning,” the prosecutor told the court. “We have seven more days as Nikita's transit bail ends in three weeks and Shantanu's in ten days. Those two accused persons are given protection therefore we are here helpless,” the APP added.  “There are 60-70 more people who participated in the Zoom meeting. We are investigating the case and we need cyber experts to probe it as well. We can't close all evidence until we confront her,” the APP said. Appearing for Disha, advocate Siddharth Agrawal asked why Disha had to be in custody when the other two have relief and have even appeared before police for investigation. Agarwal told the court that police custody is justified only when investigation is otherwise not possible. “I (Disha) was in Bengaluru. I was not here. Those two people (Nikita and Shantanu) are not in custody. The investigation is not throttled,” the lawyer told the court. “If the interrogation of an accused is possible even when he is in judicial custody, then the issue of seeking police remand should not be encouraged,” he added.  Disha’s counsel submitted to the court that the police have already had eight days to question her, and 12 paragraphs in the Delhi police’s application to the court seeking further custody are identical to the application filed by the police on February 14.  “They are arguing as if this is the first police remand being asked. They are arguing as if the facts are being known by them for the first time today,” advocate Siddharth Agarwal told the court. “It is just a way to get Disha back to police custody,” he added.  Disha’s counsel pointed out that she was not a part of the Zoom meeting, and said, “The issue is that they want to talk about everything else and everyone else to say that she did something wrong.” Agarwal also argued that the police should not be granted remand by the trial court without any justification. “Remand can be asked for only cases where there is necessity. Magistrate should refrain from giving remand where there are chances of police extracting confessions,” Agrawal said. “The other two accused are not in remand and the investigation has not been throttled. Today investigation can be done through virtual conference links also,” Agrawal said. Earlier, on February 19, the same court had sent Disha to three-further days of judicial custody. Disha’s judicial custody ended on Monday and her bail order is reserved for Tuesday. Disha was arrested on February 13 by the Delhi Police in connection with the probe into the ‘toolkit’ or the Google document on farmers’ protests under controversial circumstances. Disha’s lawyers say she was flown to Delhi without a transit remand following detention by the Delhi police. It is to be noted that toolkits are nothing but Google Documents or Word documents often used to organise a social media campaign or to plan protests. A toolkit contains basic information on any issue, tweet suggestions and information on what hashtags to use, whom to tag on social media, etc. These documents are regularly used by various individuals and groups, including political parties, to organise social media campaigns and mobilise crowds. It is to be noted that a separate Delhi court bench is hearing her bail plea and has reserved orders for Tuesday, February 23. During the hearing on Saturday, Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana had questioned the lack of material evidence against Disha during the bail hearing. Appearing for the Delhi Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju opposed bail for Disha and said that it was not a simple ‘toolkit', that the ‘toolkit’ preceded the violence that took place in Delhi on January 26 and that it was linked to the Khalistani movement through the Poetic Justice Foundation (PJF), a Canada based organisation. However, the ASG said that the PJF was not a banned organisation. 

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Day after capture of tiger, calf killed in suspected leopard attack in Kodagu

Wildlife

However, forest officials speculate that the calf may have been killed by a leopard as well.

Soumya Chatterjee

Following a slew of attacks on people as well as animals in Karnataka’s Kodagu, another calf was killed suspectedly of a tiger attack on Monday. The calf’s death comes after officials captured a tiger, which is suspected to be responsible for the death of two persons, a 16-year-old boy and 60-year-old woman, in Kodagu’s Ponnampet taluk. Due to the close proximity of time and distance between the incidents, forest officials believed that the same tiger was responsible for both the deaths. The death of the calf on Monday morning comes after the tiger suspected of killing the two people, was captured by the forest department. As reported earlier, forest officials captured the animal with the help of trained elephants. Though its capture came as a relief for local residents, their sense of fear is back after the calf’s death on Monday. Read: Tiger suspected to have killed two people in Kodagu captured “We are not sure if Monday’s calf killing was done by a tiger as of now. It may have been a leopard, too, behind this calf killing. We are combing the area to spot pug marks and ascertain the details. The area is around 2 km from where the tiger was captured yesterday,” Hiralal, Chief Conservator of Forests and a senior Indian Forest Service officer, told TNM. Meanwhile, reports of the heads of cattle being found, suspectedly killed by big cats in Virajpet taluk, have also surfaced. This has prompted district and forest authorities to comb the area for the animals. Vijaykumar Gogi, senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife, had told TNM that the animal in question is a tigress of around nine years, who has an injury on her right paw. It is now being treated by the forest department and is unlikely to be released back into the wild, as it is old and injured. Read: Tiger kills woman in Kodagu, second such death within 24 hours Kodagu, located in Western Ghats, is a tourist hotspot and has been the site of increased human-tiger conflict in recent months. Conservationists suggest that recurrence of these events are due to loss of habitat, increased encroachment of forests and cutting off of migration paths of wild animals due to road and rail projects.  

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Karnataka shuts 13 Kerala entry points amid rising COVID-19 cases

COVID-19

As of date, there are around 58,000 active COVID-19 cases in Kerala.

Screengrab of a Protest video

Amid rising cases in neighbouring Kerala, authorities in Karnataka have decided to close 13 points of entry located in  Wayanad and Kasaragod district. This has come as a jolt for Kerala residents living in these border areas as the open borders provide a huge succour to the people living on either side. They move freely for various needs, especially the farming community who regularly move from Kerala to engage in such activities on the lands they either own or take on lease in Karnataka. NA Nellikunnu, senior opposition Legislator representing Kasargode Assembly constituency, said this is an unwarranted action by the authorities of Karnataka and is a violation of the unlock guidelines of the Centre. As of date, there are around 58,000 active COVID-19 cases in Kerala. "We are given to understand that their authorities are now insisting on the RT-PCR test results from all those travelling from Kerala and entering Karnataka. Fail to understand the logic, while people in Kerala strictly follow Covid protocols and wear masks, no such thing is happening in Karnataka and yet they do this unlawful act. We expect immediate intervention of the Kerala government," said Nellikunnu. At the entry points to Karnataka in the Wayanad district, people were caught unawares after vehicles were stopped by the Karnataka authorities. "We have no clue on this sudden decision to close the borders and are insisting on RT-PCR tests. This is going to create untold miseries to all those who used to freely cross the borders for various needs," said angry Wayanad residents, who were unable to move freely. Playing down the incident, Surendran said this might be an act done by Karnataka authorities as a measure of caution with COVID-19 cases continuing to rise in Kerala.

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It's 2021 but the ideal woman in Kannada TV serials is still in the kitchen

Entertainment

With the advent of remakes in the industry, the regressive quotient of these shows has increased manifold.

Sanjana Deshpande

Representative Image/Picxy/lakshmiprasad

The Sooraj Barjatya era of the Hindi cinema industry, even today, is etched in the minds of many film buffs for better or worse. The chief of conglomerate Rajshri Productions, he has produced and directed many films that propound the idea of ‘ideal family’ through his [questionable] hits like Hum Saath Saath Hain. Mamaji [maternal uncle] from Hum Saath Saath Hain once said the family where ladies serve men, at the dining table, is an ideal family. The daily soaps took it so seriously, they still follow it. It has been decades since! Following suit are Kannada TV serial makers who have continually created regressive shows. With the advent of remakes in the industry, the regressive quotient of these shows has increased manifold. These serials have been silently advocating patriarchal ideas that make women the centre of familial life, and any woman with modern sensibilities is vilified since she does not represent what an “ideal woman” looks like. From Subbalakshmi Samsara to Bramhagantu, the plots of shows have worsened, and so have standards for women. Subbalakshmi Samsara, a remake of the popular Marathi serial Mazhya Navryachi Bayko (My Husband’s Wife), was a disaster in most aspects but was well received by the audience. The plot revolves around a married couple wherein the husband is having an affair with another woman. On one hand, the wife—Subbalakshmi—is shown to be an obedient and righteous character, on the other hand, Shanaya is depicted as a woman of no morals; she is a manipulative and selfish character. The two are constantly pitted against each other by the supporting cast to fight over the man. The show only gets ridiculous from there. The two women are forever trying to shove each other down. Even when Subbalakshmi tries to start her own business, it is only to win over her husband. Until it went off-air in May 2020, the serial had managed to impress the viewers with its archaic plot that suggests women are always each other’s nemesis. One would have thought that this trope has been exploited by serial makers enough, but there are more serials that are based on the same concept. This popular Kannada serial takes the trope a notch higher by adding supernatural elements to the mix. Yaare Nee Mohini’s plot revolves around the character Mutthu, whose stepmother secretly plots to kill him and amass all his wealth. However, his first wife Chitra's spirit is always around to foil all her attempts. The stepmother, in her quest to amass wealth, plans to get Mutthu married to her niece Maya, who’s shown to be equally sinister. However, Maya has to compete with Belli, a naïve relative who had harboured the dream of marrying the male protagonist ever since she was a child. What ensues is a back-and-forth fight between the characters, with the assistance of tantric means to get rid of the enemy. In this day and age when people are striving to promote scientific and rational thinking, this serial upholds the veneration of superstitious beliefs in black magic and spirits. As if the show was not regressive enough already.  Decades of debates surrounding feminism and women's issues in the country lose ground when serials like these are produced ever so often. Such shows reiterate and amplify the patriarchal system that women have been trying to fight, by glorifying the idea that a woman's life revolves around that of her husband, and by extension, his family.   Another remake of a Hindi show, Bramhagantu, became the epitome for setting the standard for how women are expected to silently bear with all the abuse hurled their way and keep being the glue that holds the family, no matter what. Geetha is an obese woman who often has to bear constant remarks from her sister-in-law and always has to go through trials and tribulations just to see her husband Lucky fulfil his dream of playing kabaddi professionally. It is the same husband who once was body-shaming her, bullying her because he had an athletic build unlike her. She puts up with it silently while her mother-in-law shoots daggers her way because she was not keen on the match either. The protagonist often throws herself under the bus, wanting to safeguard familial ties, only to be met with more criticism. In spite of it all, the serial is touted to be one of the more progressive ones for breaking conventional norms, like having an overweight lead.  The lopsided narrative of the shows relegates the real issues that need to be discussed in the backseat while enabling abusive behaviour directed at women. They solidify the belief that women are subdued and the "weaker sex". Attempts at creating more progressive shows eventually meet the same result; they stay within the safe confines of gender stereotypes.  It is about time this changes. 

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Karnataka private school associations to protest on Feb 23 over 30% fee cut

Education

The private school associations have been demanding the repeal of the state government order on tuition fees.

TNM Staff

Representative Image/PTI

The private schools’ associations in Karnataka will be staging a protest in Bengaluru on February 23 over the government’s order asking schools to take a 30% cut in tuition fee. The associations are agitating against the state government’s order dated January 29 that private schools can collect only 70% of tuition fees and cannot charge fees under any other header. School managements have been demanding that the order be revoked, and labelled it “unscientific”. The protest will begin from Bengaluru’s Sri Krantiweera Sangolirayanna Railway Station to Freedom Park. Teachers, non-teaching staff and management members of ten private school associations across the state including KAMS, Independent Schools’ Federation of India, Archdiocesan Board of Education Bengaluru, will be participating in the protest. As many as 25,000 people including teachers, non-teaching staff and management members will be a part of the protest, said Shashi Kumar, General Secretary of Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka (KAMS) in a press release. “The objective of the protest is the financial distress of private education institutions, unscientific fee reduction, the imposition of a new school clause for the old schools under the COVID-19 pandemic in the name of accreditation renewal,” the press note read. The private school managements have been alleging that fee cut will intensify their financial crunch and that they have been facing harassment at the hands of Block Education Officer (BEO) and Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) officers and have not received any reimbursement for students admitted under Right to Education scheme. They had earlier in February asked the government to cap the limit of fees concession to 15 per cent, demanded waiver on property tax, water bills and had submitted a memorandum of the same to Health and Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar. The Karnataka Private Schools’ Parents’ Associations’ Coordination Committee has urged the government not to give in to pressure being exerted by private schools to revoke the order. Demanding a fee determination committee, parents alleged the school associations have been creating an unnecessary ruckus. They also had warned of protests if the order is changed based on the school associations’ insistence. 

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