President Donald Trump's renewed push to gut Obamacare could sabotage the rest of his health agenda.
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Monday, April 1, 2019
B'luru's Fatima Bakery, Hotel Tom's may shut shop in May for Namma Metro
The two eateries – Fatima Bakery and Hotel Tom’s – will, however, relocate and open shop in a new location.
Come May, Bengaluru’s iconic Fatima Bakery will likely shut its doors as the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) will demolish the building for metro construction. The BMRCL will begin construction for underground sections of the Gottigere-Nagavara line in May and several iconic eateries near Vellara Junction will be demolished including Fatima Bakery, Hotel Tom’s and a portion of All Saints Church. A meat-lover’s delight, Fatima Bakery is one of Bengaluru’s oldest eateries, which was started in 1957. Speaking to TNM, VF David, owner of Fatima’s says that shutting down the bakery has been a heart-breaking process. “The bakery was located in Johnson Market when it started. We moved to the Vellara Junction area in 1961 and have been here ever since. It is painful to shut the place down. But we are opening in a new location,” David adds. Fatima Bakery will open in May near Sacred Heart Church on Richmond Road. Hotel Tom’s, better known as Tom’s, known for its mouth-watering Mangaluru cuisine, is also shutting down. Tom’s is located right next to Fatima Bakery currently and is known for its seafood dishes. Speaking to TNM, Prashant, manager of Tom’s said that they would be shutting down in a couple of months as well. “We will be relocating to Brigade Tower on Brigade Road. We have already opened another outlet in Koramangala. Once we bring this place down, we will move to Brigade Tower,” Prashant added. In 2017, BMRCL had decided to acquire over 30 properties near Vellara Junction in order to have two entry and exit points for the Vellara Junction Metro Station. However, due to several disputes with landowners, BMRCL decided to have only one entry and exit point, which would come up near Fatima Bakery. In February this year, Larson and Toubro bagged the contract for constructing the underground segment between Vellara Junction and Shivajinagar, and Shivajinagar and Pottery Town. This stretch will include five metro station including Vellara Junction, MG Road, Shivajinagar, Cantonment and Pottery Town. Speaking to TNM, Ajay Seth, Director of BMRCL said that currently, the agency was finalising compensation amounts, which is to be given to landowners. “Karnataka Industrial Area Development Bank is going to fund the land acquisition and the Church of South India (CSI), which owns most of the properties near Vellara Junction is slated to get over Rs 90 crore and the rest will be given to other landowners,” a senior BMRCL official said. The source said that the land where Fatima Bakery and Hotel Tom’s currently stands belongs to CSI and that the owners would have to take it up with the Church if they want compensation. “Owners of Fatima’s and Tom’s and the petrol pump will only get compensation for the structural damage but not the money for the land itself,” the source added. BMRCL sources say that members of the All Saints Church near Shoolay Circle have urged the BMRCL not to acquire a portion of the church as it is a heritage structure. The members of the church were not given notice for acquisition of 52022 sq ft of land. “If this land is acquired, then both gates of the church would be closed and people cannot go in and out. BMRCL is trying to find another way to see if we can do without this land. However, if we compromise on space, it could lead to structural defects in the metro, which is not ideal,” the official added. Read: End of an era? Bengaluru's 60-year-old Fatima Bakery may shut down, thanks to Namma Metro
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Hike in road toll on way to Bengaluru International Airport from Monday
The toll paid at the Sadahalli (Navayuga Devanahalli) plaza will be increased by Rs 5 for single and return trip for cars.
PTI/file photo
Starting from Monday, April 1, travelling between the city and Bengaluru International Airport is set to become costlier as the toll on National Highway 44 is going to be increased. The toll paid at the Sadahalli (Navayuga Devanahalli) plaza will be increased by Rs 5 for single and return trip for cars. Until now, the toll for cars for single and return journeys was Rs 85 and Rs 130 which will now become Rs 90 and Rs 135 respectively. Similarly, the monthly pass for cars has been increased to Rs 3,020 from Rs 2,895 while the monthly pass for local vehicles will be fixed at Rs 265. Compared to cars, the toll for buses will increase by Rs 10 for a single journey and Rs 15 for return journeys, while the monthly pass will cost Rs 9,330. Reports suggest that this might prompt the cash-strapped Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to increase fares. However, there is no official announcement from the BMTC yet. The Hindu quoted an official of the NHAI as saying, “It is a routine revision. It was done in the last financial year as well. The revised toll fee will be applicable till March 31, 2020.” Deccan Herald reported that the toll for multiaxle cars will be increased by Rs 35 to Rs 830 for a roundtrip. Speaking with DH, Sanjeev Dyamaannavar, an urban mobility expert and activist said that the state government should expedite work on the alternate toll free road and provide rail connectivity with the airport. “At present, the approach road is 30 feet wide. It has to be widened to 100 feet. The government should also run affordable public transport to the airport instead of forcing people to shell out more on the toll,” he said. Prior to March 2018, users did not have to pay toll while going towards the airport. After the alternative route via Hennur was ready, the NHAI started levying toll on the way towards airport. Earlier, to avoid congestion on the way to the airport, the NHAI used to collect toll only on the return journey.
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Election Commission replaces Hassan Deputy Commissioner on BJP MLA's complaint
IAS officer Priyanka Mary Francis, who was posted as the Director of Tourism is Hassan's new Deputy Commissioner.
The Election Commission (EC) has shunted out Hassan Deputy Commissioner Akram Pasha following a complaint from Hassan legislator Preetham Gowda (BJP) who accused him of working in a partisan manner, an official said on Sunday. "On the EC's directive, the state government has replaced Pasha with IAS officer Priyanka Mary Francis as Hassan's new Deputy Commissioner to ensure a free and fair vote on April 18," poll official Surya Sen told IANS.. "Preetham Gowda had complained to us that Pasha was trying to obstruct the BJP nominee from campaigning and was influencing his Vokkaliga community to vote for JD(S) candidate Prajwal Revanna," said Sen. A BJP spokesman told IANS Pasha was favouring ruling Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) candidate Prajwal in the high-profile constituency. Prajwal is the grandson of JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda and son of Gowda's second son and state Public Works Department Minister H.D. Revanna, elder brother of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. Gowda, a six-time MP from Hassan since 1991, opted to contest from Tumkur, to enable Prajwal enter the fray from the JD(S) bastion against BJP candidate A. Manju. Deve Gowda's other grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy is JD(S) candidate from Mandya against actress Sumalatha Ambareesh who is contesting as Independent, supported by the BJP. Nikhil is the son of Kumaraswamy and an upcoming actor in the Kannada film industry, which is supporting Sumalatha, whose husband M.H. Ambareesh was also an actor. A Mandya native, Ambareesh passed away at 66 on November 24. 2018 in Bengaluru.
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'Aim to defeat BJP’: Deve Gowda, Rahul Gandhi hold joint rally in B’luru to show unit
This was the first political rally jointly held by the two parties since announcing a pre-poll alliance in 2018.
Coalition partners Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) led by their respective party heads, Rahul Gandhi and HD Deve Gowda, shared the stage at a rally in Bengaluru in an attempt to send a message of unity in their efforts to upstage the BJP government at the Centre. The 'Parivartana Samavesha' rally held in the Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre on Tumakuru Road in the northern part of the city, was the first political rally jointly held by the two parties since announcing a pre-poll alliance in 2018. Congress President Rahul Gandhi chose the occasion to remind his party workers that they should support JD(S) candidates and also stated that he expected the JD(S) to support his party. "I want to tell the Congress workers and leaders that they must support the JDS candidates wherever they are contesting and also expect the same from JD(S) workers. The aim of our two parties is to defeat Narendra Modi and BJP", he said at the start of his address. Rahul's speech in Hindi was translated to Kannada by Congress leader BL Shankar. His statement comes at a time when reports of disagreements between party workers of traditional rivals Congress and JD(S) have emerged from places like Mandya, Mysuru, Hassan, Tumakuru and Udupi. The party has warned its cadre to work in tandem with the JD(S) and ensure that the alliance wins the maximum number of seats in Karnataka. Rahul also highlighted the Congress' proposed minimum income scheme and claimed that it was the party's 'surgical strike on the poor'. "Modi said he'd give Rs 15 lakh to everybody. But I'll tell you the truth. The government cannot put Rs 15 lakh in everybody's accounts. But it can put Rs 72000 into the accounts of the poorest 20%. In five years, we will put Rs 3.6 lakh crore in the accounts of the poor. This is our surgical strike on poverty. 25 crore people will benefit and five crore families will get money deposited in the account", he added. JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda meanwhile said that regional leaders from across the country had come together to fight PM Modi. “For the first time in the country, all regional leaders had come together on May 23, 2018, when the coalition government was formed in Karnataka. This was to prove that this country is not a Hindu Rashtra as per the RSS vision,” he said. As per the pre-poll alliance struck between the two parties, Congress is fielding candidates in 21 constituencies while the JD(S) is fielding candidates in seven constituencies. There are a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. The JD(S) surrendered the Bengaluru (North) seat to the Congress after the party was not able to finalise a candidate. Congress leader Pramod Madhwaraj meanwhile is contesting on a JD(S) ticket from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru. Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy also spoke on the occasion. He defended the coalition government's flagship farm loan waiver scheme. "We decided to waive loans worth Rs 45,000 crore. But Modi claimed that this was a lollypop scheme and that it had not benefited anybody, but I want to tell you that 44 lakh people are benefiting,” he said. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President Dinesh Gundu Rao and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also spoke at the rally which was attended by thousands of Congress and JD(S) supporters. All top leaders of the Congress and JD(S) were present at the rally which marks the beginning of the coalition's campaign.
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Krishna Byre Gowda interview: ‘Limited time is a challenge, but Cong-JD(S) strength high’
In an interview with TNM, the two-time state minister speaks on the popularity of PM Modi, the controversial elevated corridor project as he aims to beat former CM Sadananda Gowda.
At 45, even for a second-generation politician, Krishna Byre Gowda can be considered an overachiever by the standards set in Indian politics. After winning his first election in 2003 following the death of his father and former Janata Dal leader C Byre Gowda from Vemagal in Kolar, Byre Gowda left the Janata Dal and joined the Congress. Since then, he has five Assembly victories under his belt, and has retained his place in the cabinet in the current Kumaraswamy-led government. But now he faces an uphill task of beating incumbent MP and Union Minister Sadanada Gowda from Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituency, after being named as the candidate for the coalition partners at the last minute. This is an exact repeat of when a decade ago, he was announced as the Congress candidate against the mercurial Ananth Kumar of the BJP from Bangalore South. Though Byre Gowda emerged only second, four-time incumbent Ananth Kumar’s margin was brought down to less than 40,000 votes. Having been elected successively from one of the Assembly segments in the constituency, Byre Gowda is upbeat about his prospects of representing his state and party at the national level. “Limited time is a challenge but Congress and JD(S) voters’ strength in this constituency is very high. We have seven MLAs, and in the last Assembly election, we had a margin of two and a half lakh votes over BJP. So, we are starting from a position of strength. I also have the credibility of being connected, visible, and active as an MLA for the last 10 years. I have worked with people from the entire Bangalore North region, and have close contact with party workers and the general public,” the Karnataka Minister for Rural Development says in an exclusive interview with TNM. He adds, “Compare that to our opponent who got elected five years ago and was really invisible. He wouldn't get involved and work with the people of this constituency. So for him, there is no connect, there is no performance to speak of, and he was not accessible to people. So compared to that, even with the time constraint, it still puts me at an advantage because I have my voter base and the strength of cadre of both the parties across all eight segments.” Excerpts from the interview: Didn’t you initially refuse to be a candidate for this election citing fatigue from the Assembly elections? What made you change your mind? You are right. Having just gone to an election less than a year ago, I was not prepared. But the demand from the public, workers, and leaders of both parties was tremendous. In public life, I can't always be thinking of my own preferences. It's out of a desire to respect the will of people and party leaders that I accepted the challenge. You have said the incumbent MP was invisible. Can you give us one example of how you would have done things differently? See, the least we can do is to be available to the people. I don't think that's negotiable. To give one example, the Old Madras Road is choked with traffic and it is under the National Highway Authority of India. During UPA, the government commissioned elevated roads on Ballari Road, Tumkur Road, and Hosur Road. Because of these elevated roads, traffic is moving. But if you look at the last five years, as an MP and a union minister, he (Sadananda Gowda) could have prevailed upon the central government to build an elevated road from KR Puram. Sometimes, it is not possible to get things done but he has not tried. Like this, I can go on giving you examples. Personally, for you, you had won the 2018 Assembly elections with a narrow margin. Isn’t it a matter of worry? No, there are a total of eight Assembly segments, and putting all those together it puts us at an advantageous position. As I said, we have two and a half lakh votes more than the BJP in the entire constituency going by the Assembly elections. You have been very vocal on many issues but you have not been heard enough speaking on matters related to Bengaluru. What is your stance on the controversial elevated corridor project? I don't know how you are saying this. I have spoken on every issue that has been asked of me. We believe the elevated road network is necessary along with other forms of solutions to solve Bengaluru's traffic problem to ensure future growth of Bengaluru. Every government in the last 20 years had considered elevated road network as a necessary part of the set of solutions for Bengaluru's traffic problems. This government is not suggesting elevated roads as an alternative to other solutions. And our Chief Minister has said that we are willing to discuss with anybody who has disagreements, as we have an open mind. We are pushing metro aggressively in all directions. We have dedicated Rs 11,500 crore for the suburban railway. Recently, we passed a resolution to commit Rs 6,000 crore for land acquisition for the Peripheral Ring Road although we were expecting the Centre to provide the cost. With regards to the central government, you have said the state has been denied its fair share of financial allocation. But the Centre says the state government does not cooperate with them. What is your take? Even in the release of 14th Finance Commission grants, Centre has not released our full share. For MNREGA, 90% of this money is supposed to come from the Centre, but the Centre has not paid its share – to the tune of Rs 700 crore. Because people are suffering and these are daily wage earners, the state government had to step in and pay close the Rs 700 crore which the central government should have paid. These are facts and figures, not an allegation I am making. Also coming to 15th Finance Commission, the Terms of Reference are penalising progressive states like Karnataka which are losing out devolution money because of the formula decided by the current government. We have made efforts to control our population over the last 25 years as a contribution to the national interest. So I do not know what cooperative federalism and promoting performance they speak of. Obviously, the central government is unfair, if you look at the disaster relief given to Karnataka. They have given Rs 4,700 crore to Maharashtra but has given Karnataka only Rs 949 crore. Where is the parity? Why should a common person vote for Congress? Many believe that Congress is no match for Prime Minister Modi in terms of personal popularity. It’s true, there is no match for Modi Saab when it comes to making promises and marketing blitz. But when it comes to performance, in every performance indicator you will find 10 years of UPA was far better. Be it in economic growth, job creation, financial sector performance, elimination of poverty... In every real parameter, 10 years of UPA were better of five years of Modi Saab. Where is the promise of creating jobs? Perhaps, I have a little bit more respect for people's intelligence than maybe others. I believe people can differentiate between promises and actual work. And people will vote for performance.
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