President on 3-day visit to Karnataka from October 10

Politics

President Kovind will participate in various educational, religious and judicial functions.

IANS

President Ramnath Kovind will be on a three-day official visit to Karnataka from October 10 to participate in various educational, religious and judicial functions, an official said on Sunday. "This is the first time the President will be on a three-day visit to the state. On October 10, he will flag off the centenary celebrations of the erstwhile Mysuru Maharaja Jayachamaraja Wadiyar at the famous royal Amba Vilas Palace," a state protocol official told IANS in Bengaluru. Mysuru, the cultural capital of the southern state, is about 150 km southwest of Bengaluru. On October 11, Kovind will visit the Chamundi Devi temple atop a hill on the outskirts of Mysuru before going to the Sree Srikanteshwara temple in Nanjanagud, 25 km southeast of Mysuru. "On the same day (October 11), Kovind will lay the foundation stone for the JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research at Varuna in Mysuru district. Varuna is the home town of former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. On October 12, the President will interact with the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice and judges over a breakfast meeting at the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru in the presence of state Governor Vajubhai Vala. "Kovind will also visit the residence of former Union Minister late H.N. Ananth Kumar and meet his widow Tejaswini and family members," said the official. Kumar, a six-time Lok Sabha member from Bangalore South constituency, passed away at the age of 59 on November 12, 2018 after a brief illness. The President will also visit the Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Sansthana University at Jigani on the city's southern outskirts to interact with the students and the faculty. "Later in the day, Kovind will leave for Ahmedabad from the state-run HAL airport in the city's eastern suburb on a special IAF aircraft," the official added.

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Too late, too little: BJP slammed over interim relief given by Centre for Karnataka floods

Floods

Former Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has said that out of the Rs 1,200 crore given as interim relief, Rs 303 crore is part of State Disaster Relief Fund’s yearly allocation.

TNM Staff

File image

The much-delayed release of meagre central aid for floods that ravaged Karnataka in August has resulted in the BJP — which is in power in both State and the Centre — being slammed. More than 80 people died in the floods and thousands were left homeless for days. Apart from the delay in receiving aid, opposition parties and social organisations are castigating the BJP that the Rs 1,200 crore sanctioned as relief is not only too late but also too little.  The Rs 1,200 crore, termed as interim relief, came nearly two months after the disaster struck the state and is only a minuscule part of the total Rs 35,161 crore estimated loss. In fact, in a memorandum, CM Yediyurappa had asked for Rs 8,790 cr as interim relief for the damage caused in 103 taluks of the state, spread across 22 districts. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, CM BS Yediyurappa said that he will visit the Prime Minister soon to seek prompt disbursement of further funds. However, former Karnataka Minister Krisha Byre Gowda has stated that even out of the Rs 1,200 crore, Rs 303 crore was given as part of the central government’s regular allocation for the State Disaster Response Fund. Slamming the Prime Minister, KBG said, “This is released in 2-3 instalments. In times of calamities, instead of large hearted humane response, we get mean spirited optical games. Chest is 56 inches. But heart is 56 mm.” Central Govt has played a clever game. Out of the 1200 cr announced, ₹303 cr are coming from our regular statutory allocation- the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Every state has fixed SDRF allocation every year. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/s2XM0SMUXt — Krishna Byre Gowda (@krishnabgowda) October 5, 2019 https://twitter.com/krishnabgowda/status/1180381806844997633?s=20 As earlier pointed out by the Opposition, KBG also went on to say that when the state flooded in 2009, when there was a UPA government at the Centre and a BJP government in the state, the relief amount sanctioned was higher.  “In 2009, flood related losses were estimated to be ₹7400 cr. Karnataka got ₹1500+ cr from Centre. This year, bcoz of #KarnatakaFloods losses are estimated to be ₹38000 cr. After 50+ days , we are getting ₹897 cr,” he tweeted. In 2009, flood related losses were estimated to be ₹7400 cr. Karnataka got ₹1500+ cr from Centre. This year, bcoz of #KarnatakaFloods losses are estimated to be ₹38000 cr. After 50+ days , we are getting ₹897 cr. — Krishna Byre Gowda (@krishnabgowda) October 5, 2019 Speaking on the same, JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy termed the central government aid as “negligible”. Addressing reporters, he said, “The State estimated the loss at above Rs 38,000 crore. But the Centre has released only Rs 1,200 crore. As interim relief, the Centre should release at least Rs 10,000 crore.” He also announced that the JD(S) will hold state-wide protests on the issue starting October 10. Ashok Chandargi, President of the Belagavi District Kannada Organizations’ Action Committee, which held protests along with farmer associations, said, “Not only is the amount too low, it will create problems further of how money should be distributed among the 100-plus taluks and what work can be done. We urge the CM to follow Chamarajanagar MP Srinivas Prasad’s advice and take an all-party delegation to the PM.”

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Controversy over ex-Bigg Boss couple’s on-stage proposal at Dasara event in Mysuru

Controversy

Minister-in-charge of Mysuru district V Somanna asked the police to issue a show cause notice to the couple for using a public stage for private use.

TNM Staff

Kannada rapper Chandan Shetty’s impromptu proposal to his fellow former Bigg Boss contestant Nivedita Gowda during the official Yuva Dasara event in Mysuru on Friday did not go well with all. On October 4, the rapper went down on his knees for the proposal on the stage at the Mysuru Maharaja’s College Grounds in front of the crowd during the state government program. The singer had said, “I thought it would be the right opportunity to take our relationship to another level. It is music that binds us,” according to The Times of India. Reacting to the incident, Minister-in-charge of Mysuru district V Somanna asked the police to issue a show cause notice to the couple for using a public stage for private use. “I have told the police to issue a show cause notice. We will consider action as per the law. It is wrong to misuse the platform,” Somanna told reporters, stating he was not happy with the “surprise act.” He added, “Yuva Dasara stage is sacred as it is associated with Dasara festival, which has religious significance. He shouldn’t have used it to ask a girl to marry him.” Other than the minister’s objection, three private complaints were also registered with Lakshmipuram police against the duo. The rapper later apologised in a video posted on social media, saying, “This was done purely for entertainment to keep my fans happy. But I had not informed the organisers about this,” according to The Hindu. He further stated that he did not want to hurt the sentiments of people. While Chandan received a lot of criticism, there was a mixed response on social media over the proposal. Finally @chandanspshetty proposed #Niveditha officially. Love you guys . So happy for you both .#madeforeachother #bbk5 #biggbosskannada #chandanshetty — Namrata Bhat  (@Happiegirlsoul) October 5, 2019 OMG OMG OMG.... I'm so so so so freaking happyyyyyyyyyy.....#ChandanShetty & #nivedithagowda getting married.... M soooooo happyyyyyyyyyy... I just can't believe  Lots of love from Kannadigas #ChanNivi#BiggBossKannada — I_live_for_ARR (@ARRunlimited) October 5, 2019 Shame on organisers to allow such indecency on public platform. Should hav cut off power, as soon as they got a glimpse of it. #ChandanShetty. Fame can't get u manners. — vishwas (@Vishwas_Hwy) October 5, 2019 ಇದೇನು ಖಾಸಗಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಾನಾ? ಅವರಿಷ್ಟ ಬಂದ ಹಾಗೆ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು. ಇದು ನಾಡ ಹಬ್ಬ ದಸರಾ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ. ಇವರು ನಿಯಮಗಳನ್ನು ಗಾಳಿಗೆ ತೂರಿ ಈ ರೀತಿ ನಡೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುವುದು ಎಷ್ಟು ಸರಿ #yuvadasara #ChandanShetty pic.twitter.com/2icQdfx2KK — Dhanush Shetty (@DhanushShetty_) October 5, 2019

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'Don't have other clothes? Follow Indian rules': B'luru man harasses woman in shorts

Moral Policing

The incident that was caught on camera took place near Bengaluru’s HSR Layout.

Theja Ram

“You must follow Indian rules. Please wear proper clothes,” a man can be heard saying to a mobile camera. The man shooting the video, who is clearly outraged, questions the moral policing and says, “I know the Constitution? Do you know the Constitution? We have the freedom to wear whatever we want.” This video was shot near Bengaluru’s HSR Layout, where a couple was stopped and subjected to moral policing by a passerby. The 28-year-old techie from Mumbai was targeted by an unidentified man, who began telling her that she must “wear proper clothes”. The incident that occurred on Thursday night was caught on camera and later uploaded on Facebook. At around 10 pm on Thursday, the woman, a resident of HSR Layout, was out shopping with her boyfriend. The couple was returning home on their two-wheeler when a stranger on another scooter allegedly stopped them. Speaking to TNM, the woman, who does not want to be named, says, “I heard someone yelling. I was riding pillion and I looked to my right side. There was a man on a two-wheeler, who began yelling at me and said, ‘Don’t you have any clothes at home?' When I asked him what his problem is, he began yelling at me, saying that Indian women must not wear ‘such’ clothes. I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I don’t see what the problem is." Her boyfriend, who is also a resident of HSR Layout, parked his bike near the sidewalk and demanded that the man, too, get off his bike. He then started shooting the video. “My boyfriend began questioning him and when the man realised that we were shooting the whole thing, he lowered his voice and became polite. But he did not stop telling me that I must not wear such clothes and that it's ‘Indian rules’. My boyfriend yelled back; he told him that we are free to choose what we wear and he has no right to tell me what to wear,” she added. The woman says that the man allegedly kept telling her to change her clothes. “Maybe he expected us to be scared. I also told him that I would go to the police. That’s when he got back on his bike and fled,” she says. She said that she wanted to file a police complaint but strongly feels that the police would not support her. “Even the police have the same mindset. If I went to them, they would probably ask me to wear other clothes too, so I did not file a complaint,” she says. This is not the first time such an incident has been reported in Bengaluru. In May this year, four men who decided to play moral police, harassed a woman and attacked her boyfriend in Banaswadi, when they went for a ride at night. The men waylaid the couple and asked them what they were up to at midnight. When the man, Kiran Kumar, told them it was none of their business, the gang attacked them by throwing a stone at Kiran’s head and they allegedly molested the woman. In March this year, students from Christ College had complained to DCP Isha Pant, alleging that women police officers were moral policing students in the locality.  

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Siddaramaiah, HK Patil vie for post of Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly

Politics

Congress sources say that HK Patil went to New Delhi on Friday to hold talks with the high command in this regard.

TNM Staff

With the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly slated to begin soon, the Congress high command is under pressure to appoint a leader of opposition in the Assembly. This has started a fresh round of lobbying with both Siddaramaiah and Gadag MLA and former Karnataka Congress Campaign Committee chief HK Patil, vying for the post. A game of one-upmanship is underway with HK Patil flying to New Delhi on Friday, in a bid to convince the high command to offer him the post. Congress sources revealed that the party is reluctant to give Siddaramaiah the post as it intends to curb his power in the state unit of the party. “But at the same time, Siddaramaiah cannot be distanced. KH Muniyappa and Veerappa Moily, both seniors in the party had been unhappy with Siddaramaiah. In turn, Siddaramaiah worked against these two leaders during the Lok Sabha elections, which is why the leaders in Delhi have not yet decided,” the source said. Sources say that HK Patil pushed for more representation of North Karnataka leaders in the Congress and said that appointing him as the leader of opposition would be the first step. “HK Patil also wants the responsibility of building the party at the grassroots level in north Karnataka. The BJP’s grassroots movement there is very strong and to counter it, HK Patil told the high command that he should be put in charge. He also wants to be projected as the Congress’ face of north Karnataka,” the source added. Party sources stated that HK Patil proposed that Siddaramaiah remain the leader of the Congress Legislature Party but he must be given the post of the leader of Opposition. “The high command is not convinced. But there are many leaders in the state unit who are not happy about giving Siddaramaiah full reign of the party,” the source added. Congress insiders say that the high command is also mulling over a new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President. “Dinesh Gundu Rao was given a chance to build support for the party during the Lok Sabha elections but factionalism intensified. Senior Congress leader Madhusudhan Mistry had come to Bengaluru on Friday to discuss the issue. A list of names has been suggested to the high command,” the source added. 

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Bengaluru civic body makes it mandatory to use treated sewage water for construction

Civic Issues

“If treated water from the sewage treatment plants is not used, then BBMP will not issue occupancy certificates to the building owners,” a senior BBMP official said.

TNM Staff

In order to conserve groundwater, Bengaluru’s civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to make it mandatory for treated water to be used at construction sites. Earlier this year, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had requested the BBMP to bring in a rule to ensure that groundwater and Cauvery water are not used for construction purposes. The BBMP has now made it mandatory for building owners to use water treated at various sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the city to construct buildings. “If the treated water from STPs is not used, then BBMP will not issue occupancy certificates (OC) to the building owners,” a senior BBMP official said. BBMP officials say that there are 16 STPs in Bengaluru that produce 27.1 MLD water every day. The new rule will make it mandatory for property owners to show documents of purchase of treated water to the BBMP before obtaining the OCs. “The property owners will have to furnish the bills of purchasing the water from STPs. Without this, they will not be given OCs,” he added. According to data obtained from BWSSB, 60% of residents in Bengaluru are dependent on groundwater and currently, the city has 4,464 legal bore wells in the city. Of these, around 1,500 of them have run dry and the groundwater level has reached 1,100 ft. BWSSB sources say that based on the survey conducted, the city has around 3.6 lakh illegal bore wells. BWSSB officials say that they receive over 200 requests every day to dig bore wells in the city and that some of the requests are approved as the residents have no other source of drinking water. “There are so many buildings in Bengaluru without occupancy certificates. Even several commercial buildings do not have OCs and yet they continue to pay fines. The challenge will be in monitoring and ensuring that the STP water is being used,” he added.    

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Bengaluru civic body makes it mandatory to use treated sewage water for construction

Civic Issues

“If treated water from the sewage treatment plants is not used, then BBMP will not issue occupancy certificates to the building owners,” a senior BBMP official said.

TNM Staff

In order to conserve groundwater, Bengaluru’s civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to make it mandatory for treated water to be used at construction sites. Earlier this year, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had requested the BBMP to bring in a rule to ensure that groundwater and Cauvery water are not used for construction purposes. The BBMP has now made it mandatory for building owners to use water treated at various sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the city to construct buildings. “If the treated water from STPs is not used, then BBMP will not issue occupancy certificates (OC) to the building owners,” a senior BBMP official said. BBMP officials say that there are 16 STPs in Bengaluru that produce 27.1 MLD water every day. The new rule will make it mandatory for property owners to show documents of purchase of treated water to the BBMP before obtaining the OCs. “The property owners will have to furnish the bills of purchasing the water from STPs. Without this, they will not be given OCs,” he added. According to data obtained from BWSSB, 60% of residents in Bengaluru are dependent on groundwater and currently, the city has 4,464 legal bore wells in the city. Of these, around 1,500 of them have run dry and the groundwater level has reached 1,100 ft. BWSSB sources say that based on the survey conducted, the city has around 3.6 lakh illegal bore wells. BWSSB officials say that they receive over 200 requests every day to dig bore wells in the city and that some of the requests are approved as the residents have no other source of drinking water. “There are so many buildings in Bengaluru without occupancy certificates. Even several commercial buildings do not have OCs and yet they continue to pay fines. The challenge will be in monitoring and ensuring that the STP water is being used,” he added.    

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