Deve Gowda relinquishes Hassan seat, grandson Prajwal Revanna to contest for JD(S)

Politics

Deve Gowda has been the MP from Hassan constituency since 2004.

TNM Staff

Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda announced on Wednesday that he will not contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Hassan constituency. Speaking at a public campaign held in Mudalahippe village in Holenarasipura taluk in the district, Deve Gowda, the incumbent MP, also said that his grandson Prajwal Revanna will be the JD(S) candidate from the constituency taking over from him. “I have decided I will not stand for the elections from here,” Deve Gowda told reporters. He, however, could yet contest for the JD(S) from the Bengaluru (North) constituency or the Mysuru-Kodagu constituency.  Prajwal Revanna is the son of Karnataka PWD Minister HD Revanna. The duo celebrated the news at their residence in Holenarasipura and also embarked on a tour of temples.   Deve Gowda thanked the people of the constituency for standing by Prajwal. HD Revanna and Prajwal appeared to be visibly upset at Deve Gowda’s announcement and television visuals showed that both leaders were in tears during the campaign. Deve Gowda has made the Hassan constituency his bastion over the last three decades. He has been the MP from Hassan constituency since 2004 and has won three elections in a row defeating HC Srikantaiah of the Congress, KH Hanume Gowda of the BJP, and A Manju of the Congress. He had earlier been elected from the constituency in 1991 and 1998 and was defeated in 1999. Deve Gowda further added that the Congress and JD(S) are yet to decide on the seat-sharing arrangement. “Out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats, we have not decided how many Congress will contest and how many JD(S) will contest. A meeting will be held on Friday with Rahul Gandhi in which a final decision will be taken,” he added. JD(S) had earlier asked the Congress for 10 Lok Sabha seats out of the 28 seats in the state as part of the pre-poll alliance struck between the two parties.  Prajwal Revanna and HD Revanna campaigning in Holenarasipura Prajwal could contest the elections against A Manju. The former Congress minister has apparently expressed his displeasure to the party leadership for allowing the JD(S) to field Prajwal from Hassan. BJP sources say it is likely that he will defect to their party, paving the way for him to contest against Prajwal. State BJP President BS Yeddyurappa has also indicated that Manju has met him two or three times and has his approval to contest from Hassan.  Manju was earlier a minister in the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet and is also close to him. However, he is reportedly unhappy that Deve Gowda has picked his grandson over him as the candidate from Hassan.  Meanwhile, the BJP accused Deve Gowda of playing dynasty politics by giving way for his grandson to contest from the Hassan constituency. This comes after Nikhil Kumaraswamy, his other grandson and son of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, was confirmed as the coalition’s candidate from the Mandya constituency. Kumaraswamy’s wife, Anita, is an MLA from Ramanagara Assembly constituency. Reacting to the question of dynasty politics, Prajwal Revanna told reporters that the BJP was looking to field Yeddyurappa’s son BY Raghavendra from Shivamogga. “Tell me who is contesting from Shivamogga from BJP and we will discuss after that,” he retorted.

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Asked to vacate homes overnight, B’luru tenants unite against real estate agency Homigo

Consumer compliants

Tenants are being asked to vacate their homes immediately and the company has claimed that they will be ‘unavailable’ for two months.

Soumya Chatterjee

Many Bengaluru residents who had started living in apartments on a lease or a rental basis via the real estate agency Homigo have suddenly been asked to vacate their homes overnight. This after the company has reportedly gone bankrupt and has not paid the original property owners their due. According to its website, Homigo, founded by IIT-Kanpur alumni Jatin Mitruka, Aaskash Verma and Nikunj Batheja, had offerings from 32 properties across various locations in the city. They worked on a model where they leased properties or apartments and sub-leased it to a customer after furnishing. The company had raised its funding from investors such as Mebelkart and Livespace. While the company is not returning calls from the customers, some of the customers have received an email in which the company has claimed that they will be “unavailable” for two months. In addition to losing their homes, the tenants are also at risk of losing their deposit amount and lease money. Security deposits up to Rs 50,000–  and for some, lease amounts in the tune of lakhs – are with Homigo. Ali Abid, one Homigo customer staying in ‘Homigo Cinzel’ in Sarjapur has been told by the original property owner to leave the premises by 20th of this month. “There are total 11 flats in the building. Four are leased by clients and rest are have been rented out. The company didn't tell us anything. They just vanished. I emailed them about circumstances two-three days ago but they never responded,” he said. Arul, another such customer, told TNM, “There was a lease agreement for three years and we have already paid the amount to Homigo four months ago. Homigo, meanwhile, was paying the landlords on a monthly basis. We have recently come to know that the company has shut down. It seems that all the employees have been sacked and they are not responding to calls. We are worried as in many other Homigo places, the owners have asked the tenants to leave.  Our landlord is currently out of town, and we do not know what will happen to us.” “In February, we had received an email saying that they will be temporarily unavailable for 2-3 months. But how can we trust the email when the company itself is shut down? There has been no reply to the email,” he added. With no response from the company, the customers, around 400 in number, are uniting under the umbrella of ‘Action against Homigo’ and are mulling legal action against the company. City-based lawyer Faizan Mirza Asad said that the tenants can get temporary relief from court over the matter. “Tenants have certain rights which are protected by the law. They can approach the civil court and seek a legal remedy in case of illegal eviction by the landlord/rental company by getting a stay from eviction,” the lawyer said. He added, “The tenants can file a suit for injunction, in an appropriate court to legally impede the landlord from evicting the tenant under State’s Rent Act.” Not just customers, even property owners, furniture suppliers, lift operators and security guards working in these properties are also facing a loss since none of them has been paid. Founders Jatin and Nikunj could not be reached for a comment.

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Bengaluru-based Artelus India wins Qualcomm Design in India Challenge 2018

Tech Shorts

Artelus India focuses on leveraging cutting-edge technologies like deep learning and AI to increase the capacity of healthcare providers.

IANS

Twitter / @qualcomm_in

Bengaluru-based medtech firm Artelus India Pvt Ltd took home $100,000 after winning chipset maker Qualcomm's challenge for start-ups in India, the company said on Wednesday. Artelus India focuses on leveraging cutting edge technologies like deep learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to increase the capacity of healthcare providers. It has developed Diabetic Retinopathy Intelligent Screening System Integrated (DRISTi) -- a deep learning based AI algorithm that reads digital images to detect and identify early signs of diabetic retinopathy that could lead to permanent blindness. Biometric device maker Mobiusworks Pvt Ltd and medtech firm Chingroo Labs Pvt Ltd -- both based in Bengaluru -- secured first and second runners-up spot, respectively, in the competition called Qualcomm Design in India Challenge 2018. Mobiusworks developed Wagr, a smart wearable and a mobile app that helps keep your dog safe and fit. Chigroo Labs Private Limited developed Cradlewise, which is a smart-cradle for baby sleep management and health monitoring. The first and second runners-up received $75,000 and $50,000, respectively, Qualcomm said. Launched in 2016, the Qualcomm Design in India Challenge is an incubation programme that encourages start-ups to develop innovative hardware products using Qualcomm's advanced technologies. It has been inspired by the tremendous potential of Smart Devices and products that can be built in the domains of Smart Infrastructure, Biometric Devices, Payment Terminals, Agricultural Technology, Medical Technology and Rural IoT. With the 2018 edition coming to an end, the programme has supported 39 start-ups with an overall investment of over $12.3 million, the company said. Currently, The Qualcomm Design in India Challenge 2019 is underway with applications open until April 21. Upto 15 startups will be shortlisted, which will be announced in May 2019 and each startup will be awarded with a prize money of $10,000 each. Post shortlisting, they will be incubated at the Qualcomm Innovation Lab and the winners will be announced in March 2020.

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Former Cong leader Umesh Jadhav to be BJP candidate from Gulbarga

Politics

If Umesh's selection is approved by the party's central unit, he is likely to go up against Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge in the Lok Sabha elections.

TNM Staff

BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa on Wednesday announced that former Congress leader Umesh Jadhav, who joined the BJP last week, may contest the Lok Sabha elections from Gulbarga constituency. Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru, Yeddyurappa said, "Umesh Jadhav will definitely contest elections. There is no problem at all. He has every right to contest elections and he will contest elections from Gulbarga". If Umesh's selection is approved by the party's central unit, he will likely go up against Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge in the Lok Sabha elections. Yeddyurappa revealed that the state leadership will finalise the list of preferred candidates in a core committee meeting scheduled for Friday. Yeddyurappa will then travel to New Delhi to confirm the names selected with the party's central unit. "We will announce the first list of candidates from 20-22 constituencies by 16 March (Saturday),” he added. Incumbent MP and Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge has retained a vice-like grip on the Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency, having won back to back elections. He defeated BJP candidate Revunaik Belamagi in 2014 and 2009. Umesh was elected as the MLA from Chincholi in the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections but he submitted his resignation to the Speaker on March 4. He defected to the BJP from the Congress on March 6. However, his resignation is yet to be accepted by the Speaker. Umesh was one of the four Congress MLAs that the party wanted to be disqualified for failing to follow the order of the party whip in attending the budget session of the State Assembly. He had also missed several party legislature meetings in the run-up to the budget session and was also missing when the Congress party MLAs gathered at the Eagleton resort in Ramanagara in January in response to the threat of BJP attempting to prise their MLAs away. Umesh had earlier made his displeasure known to senior Congress leaders, particularly regarding the decision to induct Priyank Kharge, son of Mallikarjun Kharge, a first-time MLA, into the Cabinet in 2013 during the tenure of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Even HD Kumaraswamy, who succeeded Siddaramaiah, inducted Priyank into the Cabinet as the Social Welfare Minister.

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Over 3000 trees to be axed, lakes will be impacted by Bengaluru elevated corridor: EIA

Environment

Despite stiff opposition from a section of citizens, a tender was called on the same day a conditional environmental clearance was accorded.

Soumya Chatterjee

Representational Image

A 2017 study conducted by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science using satellite imagery, remote sensing data and multi-criteria decision-making techniques had predicted that Bengaluru, once known as the Garden City, will have a tree cover of only 2.96% by 2020. This, as opposed to 68.2% in 1973 and 38.7% in 2002. But now, the situation might deteriorate further if the contentious 96 km long elevated corridor project criss-crossing the city sees the light of day. In fact, not only will the loss be as high as 3009 trees but the project will also cut through a section of the city’s remaining untouched green cover, which had escaped concretisation. Another 601 trees will be pruned in addition, due to the project, according to the Environmental Impact Assessment report. The study conducted by consultants Aecom, Deloitte and Infra Support, accessed by TNM, says that 858 trees in “sensitive wooded stretches” including Cubbon Park and Coles Park, will be sacrificed for the project. Cubban Park, Kasturabha Road 120 Near Bengaluru Palace, Jayamahal Road 356 Coles Park, Promenade Road  47 IISc Campus to Mekhri circle, CV Raman Road 195 IISc Campus to Yeshwanthpur circle, CV Raman Road 32 Raja ram Mohan Roy Road 108 Despite stiff opposition from citizen activists, the Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited had called for a hurried tender for the first phase of the project on the same day a conditional environmental clearance was issued by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority. A mega protest like that against the steel bridge, consisting of a 8,000-strong human chain will be formed on Saturday by different citizen activist groups. Even though the EIA has stipulated that every tree that is cut should be replaced with minimum 10 new trees as per the compensatory afforestation policy under Forest Conservation Act (1980), activists remain skeptical since no trees have been planted by any government authority in the city in the last two years. Urban eco-conservationist Vijay Nishanth said, “The 3,000 trees figure seems very understated. During steel flyover project only, we saw that there were 2,000 trees in a 7km stretch when the government said there are 800 trees. This time also we will count the trees and in no way we will let this project continue. They cannot do this as there was no mandated meeting with the Tree Committee.”  Not only trees but lakes too The EIA said that other than impacting the tree cover, the city’s already dwindling lakes will be further impacted due to this project. In fact, the proposed alignment will violate the National Green Tribunal ruling on buffer zone of lakes, rajakaluves on 10 counts. Lake Distance in metre from lake boundary Hebbal Lake 5 KR Puram Lake 20 Pond near Sarvagna Nagar 20 Ulsoor Lake 5 Varthur Lake 5 Vrishabhavathi Nalla 5 Agara Lake 30 Challkere  30 Banaswadi rajakaluve 1 Shantinagar Rajakaluve 1 The report reads, “There are many water bodies along the proposed route of elevated corridors. Construction of the project corridor and the associated activities will impact the water bodies and its ecology. The debris generated from the demolition of structures and excavation for pile foundation could potentially find its way to the nearby water bodies adjacent to the project corridor. This will not only silt up the lakes but also impact the aquatic life in these water bodies.” ‘Illegality’ Senior advocate and member of Environment Support Group, Leo Saldanha said the entire project proceedings is a subterfuge of law.  “The project is illegal as it has not been formulated in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act. The environmental clearance has been given under duress. Both the tender and EC given are invalid in law. This is a typical case of subterfuge of law. Both the government and regulatory authority have subverted the law. It is a case of corruption in decision making,” the senior lawyer told TNM. Read: No trees planted by BDA in Bengaluru in 2 years: Green cover to reduce to 2.96% in 2020  

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Shooting for ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ begins, aims to release in summer 2020

Sandalwood

The ‘KGF’ filmmakers are also in discussions with Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt to star in it.

TNM Staff

The shooting for KGF: Chapter 2, the sequel to the blockbuster hit KGF: Chapter 1 began on Wednesday. Popular actor Yash, who starred in the wildly popular first chapter of the film, confirmed the development on social media. And it begins.. After KGF 1 being loved by u all, CHAPTER 2 is all set to create double the Dhamaka!! Need your love and blessings as always pic.twitter.com/yI1Xb2r3Aa — Yash (@TheNameIsYash) March 13, 2019 The cast and crew of the film prayed at the Kodandarama Temple in Vijayanagar in Bengaluru to mark the start of their journey. "Today at 9:30, with the blessings of god and love and support of all of you, we are starting the shooting of KGF Chapter 2," tweeted Vijay Kirgandur, the producer of the film under the banner Hombale Films.  Today @ 9:30 with the blessings of god and love and support of all of you, we are starting the shooting of KGF Chapter 2. #KGF2 @TheNameIsYash @hombalefilms @bhuvangowda84 @SrinidhiShetty7 @excelmovies @AAFilmsIndia @VaaraahiCC @gumediacompany @VffVishal @BasrurRavi pic.twitter.com/eJojXmCrxb — Vijay Kiragandur (@VKiragandur) March 13, 2019 Rocking Star @TheNameIsYash , @VKiragandur , @prashanth_neel, @SrinidhiShetty7 and @bhuvangowda84 at #KGFChapter2Muhurtha  pic.twitter.com/Tc2y8wxmyZ — Hombale Films (@hombalefilms) March 13, 2019 Journey of #KGFChapter2 begins today...@TheNameIsYash@VKiragandur @BasrurRavi @bhuvangowda84 @Karthik1423 @hombalefilms @SrinidhiShetty7 pic.twitter.com/OP4S912mHt — Prashanth Neel (@prashanth_neel) March 13, 2019 Speaking to TNM, the film's executive producer Karthik Gowda said, "We are geared up to start the second chapter of our magnum opus KGF. It gets bigger and more announcements will be on the way". The filmmakers are aiming to complete shooting by January 2020 and release the film in the summer. They are also aiming to rope in Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt to play the role of the villain opposite Yash in KGF: Chapter 2. He is currently reading the script of the film "We are in discussions with him and we will announce the update soon," added Karthik.  KGF: Chapter 1 released in December 2018 to an ecstatic response from the audience breaking several box office records. It became the first Kannada film to enter the Rs 200-crore club worldwide and was dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Malayalam. It was also released in several countries including Pakistan and became the first Kannada film to be commercially released in the neighboring country.  Alongside Yash, the film starred Srinidhi Shetty, Achyuth Kumar, Malavika Avinash, Nassar, Anant Nag and Vasishta N Simha.

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No license for firearms in Bengaluru ahead of Lok Sabha elections

Lok Sabha 2019

City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar said the ban will be in force till May 27, after the end of vote count on May 23.

IANS

Representational image

With the model code of conduct in place for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka on April 18 and 23, the issuance of licenses for fire arms and their possession have been banned in Bengaluru, an official order said on Tuesday. "All the fire arms of license holders in Bengaluru shall be deposited with the jurisdictional police station with immediate effect," said the order dated March 11 from Bengaluru City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar. The ban will be in force till May 27, after the end of vote count on May 23. However, the State and the Central government departments, public and private sector agencies to whom firearms were issued for security, sportsmen who are part of the National Rifle Association and communities entitled to display weapons by long standing law and custom, are exempted from the ban. The Lok Sabha elections in the southern state will be held in two phases -- on April 18 for 14 seats and on April 23 for another 14 seats. The seats going for polls on April 18 are  Udupi, Chikmagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada,Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Central, Bangalore North, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore South, Chikkballapur, Kolar The other 14 seats—  Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga,Raichur, Bidar,  Koppal .Bellary. Haveri. Dharwad. Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Shimoga will go to polls on April 23. The counting of ballots for the Parliamentary Election will take place on May 23. If you have not registered to vote or if you have found that your name is not on the electoral rolls, then you have only a few days left to register and fill appropriate forms. If you are registered to vote in the seats which are going to see elections on April 18, you need to register your vote before March 16. .The last date for voter registration is March 29 for the other 14 seats which are going to polls on April 23.  

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