Not a secret anymore: Karnataka disqualified MLAs talk openly on how BJP poached them

Politics

BJP leaders had denied even in the floor of the assembly that they had anything to do with the poaching.

Theja Ram

“No one from the BJP has spoken to the MLAs in Mumbai. We have no role in the rebellion. They are disgruntled leaders.” – These were the words spoken by BS Yediyurappa, the incumbent Chief Minister of Karnataka, ahead of the vote of confidence in the Karnataka Assembly on July 23. Ever since the Congress and JD(S) leaders resigned en masse in early July, the BJP and its leaders, especially BS Yediyurappa have consistently denied playing a role in toppling the Congress-JD(S) coalition. However, these words are being proved wrong by disqualified Congress and JD(S) leaders, who are openly taking about how the plan to topple the coalition was formulated and executed. Former legislator from Gokak, Ramesh Jarkiholi on Friday told his constituents that he conceptualised the plan to bring down the coalition government. Ramesh Jarkiholi also said that he had met with Yediyurappa, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP Karnataka in-charge Muralidhar Rao, and plans were approved to execute Operation Kamala. Read: Plan to topple coalition formed during Eagleton stay: K’taka rebel Ramesh Jarkiholi Operation Kamala is a moniker for the Karnataka BJP’s plan of poaching leaders from the ruling party to bring down the government in a bid to clinch power. Along with Ramesh Jarkiholi, former JD(S) state President AH Vishwanath too has spoken about how the BS Yediyurappa contacted him with an offer to join the BJP and quit the JD(S). He told TNM that BJP MP from Chamarajanagar, V Srinivas Prasad contacted him with an offer. AH Vishwanath is a long-term friend of V Srinivas Prasad. Both leaders share a camaraderie over their mutual dislike for former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Both Vishwanath and Srinivas Prasad had quit the Congress after accusing Siddaramaiah of trying to sabotage their political careers. While Srinivas Prasad had joined the BJP, Vishwanath had jumped to the JD(S). “It was V Srinivas Prasad and Yediyurappa who contacted several MLAs with offers. I would not have accepted the offer if any other leader had asked me. It was only because Prasad asked me, that I decided to join the BJP. I did what Siddaramaiah did when he left JD(S) and joined Congress. Siddaramaiah took seven MLAs with him. We were tired of the caste politics in JD(S) and Congress,” AH Vishwanath said. During the political drama that unfolded in the Karnataka Assembly ahead of the vote of confidence, Yediyurappa, Hubballi MLA Jagadish Shettar, the incumbent Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy and most of the BJP leaders had strongly denied any role in orchestrating the coup in the Assembly.    

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Mysuru sanitation workers to receive free breakfast daily after new caterer signs on

Civic

Though the scheme was introduced last year, it was discontinued due to the poor quality of food.

Prajwal Bhat

Pourakarmikas, the sanitation workers, in Mysuru who are instrumental in keeping the city's streets clean will now be provided free breakfast every day.  On Friday, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) launched a free breakfast scheme for all pourakarmikas working in the city. The scheme was launched at Madegowda Circle and Mysuru Mayor Pushpalatha Jagannath had breakfast with the pourakarmikas working in Ward 11 (Rajivnagar). Though the scheme was introduced last year, it was stopped in December following complaints from pourakarmikas about the quality of food. "Initially, when the scheme was introduced, food prepared in Indira Canteens were provided for pourakarmikas. But after complaints were made about the quality and hygiene of the food provided, it was discontinued," Mayor Pushpalatha explains.  A call for a fresh tender was issued and mass caterer Rao Raghuveer Singh Seva Samiti was awarded the contract for a period of one year. The expenses for the year will be Rs 1.83 crore, Pushpalatha added.  On Friday, pourakarmikas were served upma, kesaribath and a sweet. The menu will change daily and pourakarmikas will be served dishes such as uppittu, ricebath, four idlis, bisibele bath, curd rice, tomato bath and lemon rice. The breakfast scheme will cover all 2,500 pourakarmikas working in the city, and will be available between 8 am and 10 am at designated points in each ward in the city.  "This is important because pourakarmikas begin their work as early as 6 am and if breakfast is not provided, they sometimes turn to eating in roadside outlets. It is not always possible to prepare breakfast at their home. There are times pourakarmikas would skip meals as well," says Jayanth, the Chief Health Officer in the MCC. Pourakarmikas are tasked with keeping the city's streets clean. Mysuru was named the third cleanest city in India in the Swachh Survekshan 2019 after topping the charts for the two consecutive years in 2014 and 2015.  

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SC allows K’taka to build dam across Thenpennai river tributary: An explainer

Dispute

The Supreme Court has junked Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking a stay on Karnataka’s efforts to build a dam across a tributary of the Thenpennai river.

Megha Kaveri

Wikimedia Commons/By TheZionView [CC BY-SA 3.0]

The Supreme Court on Thursday junked Tamil Nadu’s plea to grant a stay on Karnataka’s efforts to build a dam across a tributary of the Thenpennai river. What’s more, the Tamil Nadu government’s reluctance to expressly request the central government to constitute an interstate river water dispute tribunal might have cost it the case. Thenpennai river or South Pennar river originates in Karnataka and flows through Krishnagiri, Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts of Tamil Nadu before merging with the Bay of Bengal.  What is the dispute? Markandeya river is a tributary of Thenpennai river which joins the main river after travelling for around 30 kilometres inside Tamil Nadu, near Krishnagiri reservoir.  The rights of the riparian states in using Thenpennai water is put down in an agreement entered into between the State of Madras and Mysore, the predecessor states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, in the year 1892. The agreement specifies how to use, control and distribute the waters of the inter-state river. This agreement was modified in 1933. The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board has been constructing a dam of 500 Mcft storage capacity across the Markandeya river in order to meet the drinking water requirements of Malur, Kolar and Bangarpet towns and 45 villages along the river’s route.  About the project The Markandeya dam project, near Yargol village in Bangarpet taluk, was approved in 2007 at an estimated cost of Rs 240 crore. Of the Rs 240 crore, Rs 160 crore is to be pitched in by the government of Karnataka and Rs 79.92 crore is to be granted by the Central government.  The government of Karnataka began the construction in 2013 and is 75-80% complete, as per the affidavit filed by the counsel of the government of Karnataka.  The contention between TN and Karnataka Among the contentions that the government of Tamil Nadu put forward was that the construction of a dam across Markandeya river would severely impact the flow of water into Tamil Nadu, thereby adversely affecting the livelihood of farmers living in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts.  The counsel for Tamil Nadu also stated that as per the clauses of the 1892 agreement, Karnataka is not supposed to take up any new irrigation works without previous consent from Tamil Nadu.  Meanwhile, the government of Karnataka contended that it has not violated the terms of both agreements —  1892 and 1933 — and that as per the 1933 agreement, there is no requirement to get consent from Tamil Nadu if a dam is being constructed for the supply of drinking water.  “... but the consent of the Madras Government will not be required under the agreement of 1892 for the construction of any anicut (dam) if there is to be no irrigation under it.” The counsel for Karnataka also stated that 75% of the river basin and the catchment area lies in Tamil Nadu and hence the dam across Markandeya river will not affect Tamil Nadu.  Centre, meanwhile, stated in court that both the state governments had not requested for the setting up of a water dispute tribunal to sort out the issue.  The SC order The Supreme Court stated that there is no reason for the court to order a stay on the project since it is around 75% complete and construction has been going on for a few years, with the sanction and permission from all concerned authorities. The court also said that Tamil Nadu, even in its petition, has not sought a direction to set up an Interstate river water dispute tribunal.  “We repeatedly asked Mr Naphade, learned Senior Advocate to show any communication where the plaintiff (government of Tamil Nadu) had invoked the power of the Central Government and sought constitution of an Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal to consider the present controversy. Mr Naphade accepted that there was no such express communication but submitted that the request ought to be inferred from various communications addressed by the plaintiff (government of Tamil Nadu) to the Central Government,” reads the order.  In effect, the court meant that the project has been going on since its approval stage in 2007 and since it began construction in 2013 and no efforts have been taken by either of the states involved —  Tamil Nadu and Karnataka — to request the Centre to set up a separate tribunal. And because of this, the court can now do nothing but to allow construction of the dam across Markandeya river. However, Tamil Nadu can request the central government to intervene and set up an interstate river water dispute tribunal within four weeks of the order for further action.  Also read: Last weavers of Karnataka’s Salikeri: The two sisters keeping the craft alive

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Bus priority lane kicks off in Bengaluru: List of new one-ways, traffic diversions

Transport

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao said that only BMTC buses, ambulances and fire engines will be allowed to ply on the stretches marked as bus priority lane.

TNM Staff

The Bengaluru Police, on Friday, notified the bus priority lanes along Outer Ring Road on Friday after the project was launched in the morning. The Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao also notified certain stretches as one-ways in order to facilitate the bus priority lane programme.  Bus priority lane aims at creating importance for the use of public transport, especially Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses. The project kick-started along Outer Ring Road between Silk Board and KR Puram on Friday. Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Friday said that only BMTC buses, ambulances and fire engines will be allowed to ply on the stretch that is marked as a bus priority lane. “Section 115 of the Indian Motor Vehicle Act that gives power to the state government to restrict the use of vehicles on roads or bridges and IPC Section 188 (disobedience to an order by a public authority) can mean imprisonment for a term of up to six months, or a fine which may be up to Rs 1,000, or both,” Commissioner Bhaskar Rao’s order states. Bhaskar Rao also notified traffic diversions in KR Puram, HAL, HSR Layout and Madiwala police station limits. The order stated that the bus lanes — planned by BMTC, BBMP, traffic police and the Directorate of Urban Land Transport — are meant to reduce traffic congestion and hence, the rules would be implemented strictly. Here is a list of one-ways notified by Bengaluru police: Commuters can now travel only from south to north from Marathahalli Bridge to HDFC Home Loan building. Those intending to travel from north to south along this stretch must take the service road and reach the median near HDFC Home Loan building, which connects to the Kartik Nagar junction and then make a U-turn to ply towards Marathahalli bridge. Commuters plying from Marathahalli bridge to E-Zone night club can only travel in the north-south direction. Commuters must take the service road and go through the Marathahalli bridge and reach Kartik Nagar junction via the service road, make a u-turn and move towards E-Zone club. From E-zone to Jeevika Hospital, commuters can only travel in the north-south direction. Commuters travelling in the opposite direction will have to turn right at Jeevika Hospital and reach the service road to Kartik Nagar bus stop, where the stretch meets the main road. Commuters going from Kadubeesanahalli to Marathahalli Bridge cannot use the Outer ring Road as it has been made into a one way. Commuters will have to take the service road and go up the Kadubeesanahalli bridge and make a U-turn and reach the main road. Those plying from south to north along the Kadubeesanahalli-Devarabeesanahalli Road will have to take the service road and make a u-turn at Devarabeesanahalli junction and reach Kadubeesanahalli via the Outer Ring Road. Commuters can travel only in the south-north directions on the service road between Kadubeesanahalli and Marathahalli bridge. Those going in the opposite directions will have to make a U-turn on Marathahalli bridge and then take the service road to reach Kadubeesanahalli. Commuters can only go from east to west between Silk Board to 14th Main Road, Silk Board junction to Agara and Agara junction to Iblur bus stop. Motorists will be allowed to commute in the north-south direction from Iblur to Ecospace Flyover. Those travelling from Iblur Lake to Ecospace up ramp flyover can only go in the north-south direction.     

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Plan to topple coalition formed during Eagleton stay: K’taka rebel Ramesh Jarkiholi

Politics

Ramesh Jarkiholi, who started the rebellion, allegedly convinced 16 other MLAs to resign and bring down the coalition government headed by HD Kumaraswamy in July this year.

TNM Staff

Amidst much fanfare and pomp, disqualified MLA from Karnataka’s Gokak, Ramesh Jarkiholi, on Friday received a warm welcome in Belagavi. Known as the man who conceived the plan to topple the Congress-JD(S) coalition, Ramesh Jarkiholi said that he first conceptualised the idea during his stay at Eagleton resort on May 17. During his speech at Gokak, a video of which has been released, he revealed the details of how he conceptualised and carried out the plan to bring down the coalition government. Ramesh Jarkiholi’s statement comes even as BJP leaders have consistently insisted that they had no role in toppling the government. Ramesh Jarkiholi, who started the rebellion, allegedly convinced 16 other MLAs to resign and bring down the coalition government headed by HD Kumaraswamy in July this year. Addressing constituents in Gokak, he said, “When we were taken to Bidadi to stay at the resort on May 17, R Shankar and I did not like the atmosphere there. I was not happy about the way MLAs were being treated like pawns in a game by DK Shivakumar.” Calling former Congress Chief Minister Siddaramaiah “arrogant” and former Water Resources Minister DK Shivakumar “corrupt,” Ramesh Jarkiholi said that he was convinced he had to “teach both these leaders a lesson.” “Siddaramaiah’s arrogance and ego was one of the reasons why I decided to leave. Siddaramaiah thought that he could sack me easily from the cabinet. He appointed me to get back at my brother. He wanted to finish off the Jarkiholis and our political career. He never wanted a leader from the backward caste to grow,” Ramesh Jarkiholi said. How Ramesh claims he conceptualised the plan In an emotional appeal to BJP party workers and his supporters, Ramesh Jarkiholi said that he met BS Yediyurappa a few days after the coalition government was formed. Ramesh Jarkiholi said that he met Yediyurappa in Bengaluru and informed him that he wanted to bring in 17 MLAs to topple the coalition. “He was not sure whether I could be trusted because I had remained loyal to Congress for over 20 years. But he believed me and I met Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) and Muralidhar Rao in Hyderabad later, where I them about my plan,” Ramesh Jarkiholi said. Ramesh maintained that his only condition to orchestrate the rebellion was that BS Yediyurappa be made the Chief Minister. “My efforts to bring in more MLAs failed eight times. Yediyurappa also told me that it may not be wise to continue and that I must stay back with the Congress. But I decided to persist and I succeeded,” Ramesh Jarkiholi added. Ramesh Jarkiholi also said that former Water Resource Minister Dk Shivakumar and Belagavi Rural MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar tried to finish him off politically. “DK Shivakumar’s corrupt ways was also one of the reasons I was unhappy. He and Lakshmi Hebbalkar tried to end my political career,” he added. The former Gokak MLA said that he felt betrayed by his brother, Lakhan, who may contest on a Congress ticket from Gokak. “I feel betrayed by my own brother. I had told him to wait another term before entering politics. Now he is going against me. Until December 5, he is not my brother but political rival. Let’s see how he can win,” Ramesh said.      

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CBI conducts search on Amnesty India in Bengaluru, Delhi, NGO denies wrongdoing

Controversy

The search was reportedly based on an alleged violation of regulations related to foreign funding of NGOs in India.

TNM Staff

The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday carried out searches at the offices of Amnesty International India Private Limited and Indians for Amnesty International Trust in Bengaluru and New Delhi. The search was reportedly based on an alleged violation of rules and norms related to foreign funding on NGOs in India. Media reports speculated that recently the Ministry of Home Affairs had sent a list of NGOs which had allegedly violated the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) regulations to the CBI, and Amnesty was part of the list. Reports also suggested that the CBI would file a separate case against Amnesty. Reacting to the searches by the CBI, Amnesty said, “The Central Bureau of Investigation today conducted searches at the offices of Amnesty International India Private Limited and Indians for Amnesty International Trust in Bengaluru and New Delhi. Over the past year, a pattern of harassment has emerged every time Amnesty International India stands up and speaks out against human rights violations in India.”  Claiming that the organisation is compliant with all norms, the statement said, “Amnesty International India stands in full compliance with Indian and international law. Our work in India, as elsewhere, is to uphold and fight for universal human rights. These are the same values that are enshrined in the Indian Constitution and flow from a long and rich Indian tradition of pluralism, tolerance, and dissent.” It added, “As part of the Nobel Prize-winning movement, Amnesty International India holds itself to the highest evidentiary standards. Over four million Indians have supported Amnesty International India’s work in the last six years and around 100,000 Indians have made financial contributions. Our work in India, as elsewhere, is to uphold universal human rights and build a global movement of people who take injustice personally.“ In October 2018, the Enforcement Directorate had carried out similar searches at Amnesty's office in Bengaluru. At that time too, it was reported that ED conducted the search due to an alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). In 2016, the Bengaluru police registered a sedition case on Amnesty India based on a complaint filed by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for organising a programme which sought to project the human suffering of the Kashmir conflict. The police charged Amnesty India under section 124A of the IPC (Sedition—Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law). Cases were also filed on the representatives of Amnesty under sections 142,143, 147, 149 (unlawful assembly and rioting) and Section 153a (promoting enmity between groups).

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Spectators vandalise Bengaluru Turf Club after horse racing accident

Crime

People who had put their money on one of the injured horses is suspected to be behind the vandalism.

TNM Staff

Screengrab

In an unfortunate incident, more than two horses fell during the first race of the winter season. This accident triggered off a chain of events leading to violence and vandalism in the age-old Bangalore Turf Club. Speaking to TNM, High Grounds Inspector told TNM, “Today was the first day of the winter season. Due to an injury, one horse fell during the race, this led to two other horses falling. The jockeys also suffered minor injuries.”  The injured jockeys include Srinath, Suraj Narredu and Kiran. According to many, Suraj was the favourite to win the race. The police have registered a case of vandalism against unidentified persons and are collecting CCTV footage of the vandalism incident.  An eyewitness of the incident said, “The horse which fell down had a lead of approximately 200 m but when it reached the centre of the track, it kind of wobbled and fell. That led to the other horses falling down.” He added, “Moreover, the club authority did not declare the race null and void so a less known horse won the race which meant a lot of punters lost their money which made them angry.” The inspector said this decision apparently triggered the spectators on the ground to vandalise and break things. The eyewitness said the jockeys unanimously agreed that the turf was too soft for the race to take place which led to the horse’s leg getting stuck in the soil.  Videos posted on social media showed spectators thrashing glass panels of counters, TVs and window panes amidst loud noise. According to club officials, all the seven races that were set to be held were cancelled.  Reports said that the club officials will host a mock race on November 19 and take further decisions to resume the season after holding a stakeholder meeting.

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