'Sweep floor outside BJP office’: Cong MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan to ex-party leader Baig

Politics

A war of words broke out between the two leaders after Roshan Baig accused the Congress of supporting SDPI.

Theja Ram

Zameer Ahmed Khan

A war of words has broken out between former Congress MLA from Shivajinagar Roshan Baig and Chamarajpet Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan. Zameer Ahmed Khan lashed out at Roshan Baig for making statements against the Congress party and said that Baig shoudl instead “sweep the floor outside the BJP office”. The row began after Roshan Baig told the media that the Congress had been “patronising” the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), for over 10 years. “Roshan Baig, instead of making false allegations against the Congress party and proving that you are faithfully to the Sanghis, do what Eshwarappa had asked you to. Sweep the floor outside the BJP office,” Zameer Ahmed Khan tweeted, while adding, “...they (BJP) will probably respect your seniority, impose a 10 year moratorium on you for contesting the elections, and then give you a ticket to contest elections in 2023. Please begin work towards this from today.” On Sunday, former Congress leader Roshan Baig had accused the Congress of supporting the SDPI for over a decade. He had accused the Congress and SDPI of exploiting the poorer sections of the minority community for votes. “Congress has been patronising SDPI for the past 10 years and then they could not protect their own MLA. Congress is to be blamed for this incident. Police personnel have been working as frontline warriors amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Those people (involved in the violence) could have gone to the police or Commissioner's office. What was the need for thousands of persons to gather?” Roshan Baig had said. His statement was made after the violence in Bengaluru where two police stations and the under-construction home of Shivajinagar Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy was set ablaze by a mob. The violence broke out after Srinivas Murthy’s nephew P Naveen posted a derogatory comment against Prophet Muhammed on Facebook. Zameer Ahmed Khan accused Baig of “not caring” about the Muslim community while he was the MLA of Shivajinagar. Roshan Baig was expelled from the Congress party after he was accused of being involved in the multi-crore IMA (I Monetary Advisory) scam in 2019. “For over three decades, while in the Congress party, Roshan Baig did not care about the issues suffered by the Muslim community including poverty, illitracy and unemployment. It is indeed a joke that Roshan Baig, who used innocent Muslims for political gains, is now shedding tears over their problems,” Zameer Ahmed Khan said. He further indicated that Roshan Baig could have helped the SDPI in the violence that erupted in Bengaluru on August 11. “Why did the SDPI, which never contested polls in Shivajinagar when Roshan Baig was the candidate, suddenly begin contesting elections there? Roshan Baig should answer why the SDPI is contesting elections in Shivajinagar with the aim to break the votes of the Muslim community, which has been a Congress vote bank. The police can find answers to their investigation if they look at why Roshan Baig is suddenly trying to bridge the gap with SDPI and make false allegations against the Congress party,” Zameer Ahmed Khan added. He further said that Roshan Baig was resorting to “self destruction” by making false allegations against the Congress, while not condemning the derogatory post that was put up against Prophet Muhammed. “Roshan Baig did not utter a single word to condemn the act of accused Naveen, who put up a defamatory post against the Prophet. But he is taking the self-destructive route by talking about the “relationship” between Congress and SDPI,” he said.

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Judge halts Trump's rollback of transgender health protections

Monday's decision didn't address other provisions of Trump's revised nondiscrimination rules.

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Kiran Mazumdar Shaw tests positive for coronavirus

COVID-19

The Biocon chief said she has mild symptoms.

TNM Staff

Biocon Executive Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said on Monday night that she has tested positive for COVID-19, and has exhibited mild symptoms.  "I have added to the Covid count by testing positive.  Mild symptoms n I hope it stays that way," she tweeted. A biotech industry veteran based out of Bengaluru, Shaw recently questioned Russia’s claims of developing the world's first safe coronavirus vaccine, citing absence of data on clinical trials and "more advanced" programmes elsewhere. Biocon is one of the companies working in making drugs to fight COVID-19, and in July, received the approval of the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to market a repurposed injection, Itolizumab. It was originally launched in 2013 for treating chronic plaque psoriasis. On Monday, Karnataka reported 6317 new COVID-19 cases and the state currently has almost 80,000 active COVID-19 patients. The highest number of patients were reported from Bengaluru Urban district. The city reported 2053 new patients on Monday and has a total of 34,408 patients. Many prominent people in the state have contracted the infection including Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The two veteran politicians and even Health Minister Sriramulu who had tested positive, recovered and were discharged. Other than them, a handful of ministers, MLAs, MPs like Sumalatha Ambareesh and film actors like Dhruva Sarja and his wife Prerana tested positive. All of them have recovered from their mild or asymptomatic infections.

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‘Bengaluru airport station a gift from Railways’: Piyush Goyal's tweet draws flak

Controversy

The rail station is being built by the Bangalore International Airport Ltd, the company managing the airport.

Soumya Chatterjee

A tweet by Union Rail Minister Piyush Goyal taking credit for connecting the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru with the city central railway station through a rail network has not gone well with a section of Bengalrureans. While some pointed out that the project was delayed without any rationale, others pointed out that it was not the railways but the airport management which is building the station. On Sunday, the Union Minister tweeted, “Railways' Gift to Bengaluru Flyers: Fulfilling decade-old demand of people, a halt Railway Station is coming up near Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru. Providing relief from road traffic, this facility will allow people to comfortably travel to the airport.” Along with the text was a video with Hindi narration stating the benefit it will give to thousands of workers and flyers alike and how it will also decongest Bengaluru. Railways' Gift to Bengaluru Flyers: Fulfilling decade-old demand of people, a halt Railway Station is coming up near Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru Providing relief from road traffic, this facility will allow people to comfortably travel to the airport. pic.twitter.com/MlkjiEmgDt — Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) August 16, 2020 Rajkumar Dugar, convenor of Citizens for Citizens (C4C), a citizen who has been advocating for the station for long, reminded that it was the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) which is building the railway station. “The BIAL should be congratulated for doing a good job, along with the Railways for facilitating the same. But the Railways need to focus on a few things to ensure that travelling in trains to the airport becomes successful.” He opined that technical issues like electrification of Devanahalli-Yelahanka section, setting up of a crossing station at Doddajala have to be fixed swiftly. Further he asked that the station should be given access to the Highway side and the South Western Railways should run trains to the airport and back not only from Majestic but also other routes like Cantonment, Hosur, Bangarpet, Tumakuru, etc. TNM has earlier reported how the railway station coming up near the Kempegowda International Airport is almost in the final stages and will be ready for operation by August-end. AK Singh, General Manager, South Western Railways confirmed that trains can start any time from September with the approval of the ministry. Tara Krishnaswamy, a Bengaluru-based citizen activist and co-founder of Citizens for Bengaluru, reminded that the wait was not for a decade but actually for 15 years and it was the failure of successive governments that the station has not been inaugurated till now. Tara, like many others pointed out that the video was made in Hindi, not Kannada or English. #BengaluruAirportHalt #SuburbanToKIAL, thank you! FYI 1/ KIAL started 2005, 15 years wait for train not decade. 2/ KIAL sanction was conditional on train to airport; failure of successive govts DESPITE lines existing 3/ Speak Kannada/Tulu/Konkanai to us, or English; not Hindi. https://t.co/P7PG0Nscqt — Tara (@tarauk) August 17, 2020 Vishu Guttal, an assistant professor in Indian Institute of Science, tweeted the Minister’s tweet highlighting that the ministry took more than a decade to ready the station and the video was made in Hindi which is not majorly used by the city residents His tweet read, “Although we knew the immense benefits of it, we took more than a decade to build a small train station, and it's not even ready yet. Made a video in a language that the majority of local people don't understand." Many took exception to the fact that the Minister called the railway station a 'gift' to Bengalureans, when it was a legitimate demand and made using taxpeyers money. Fixed it for you: "Although we knew immense benefits of it, we took more than a decade to build a small train station, and it's not even ready yet. Made a video in a language that the majority of local people don't understand." https://t.co/Adajsxm8gU — Vishu Guttal !! ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ ಗುತ್ತಲ್ (@vishuguttal) August 17, 2020 What on earth is this ‘gift’, honourable @PiyushGoyal avare? Has this been done free of cost to call it a gift? Is fulfilling a demand from a decade called a ‘gift’? And for whom is the message in only Hindi and English intended for? BiMaRU states? https://t.co/8R4qyJmyMS — Kannadiga (@Kannadiga1956) August 17, 2020 Sir, This halt stn is being built by @BLRAirport and was supposed to be ready by Dec 2019. In fact, BIAL offered to build this stn in 2014. Doubling & electrification of Bengaluru-Devanahalli section & clearing suburban rail project will have a greater impact. https://t.co/eCD3TcVvfb — ChristinMathewPhilip (@ChristinMP_TOI) August 17, 2020

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Karnataka prohibits processions for Muharram due to COVID-19

Coronavirus

Guidelines were issued for observing Muharram with restrictions from August 21-30.

IANS

The Karnataka government has prohibited Muharram processions this year, in view of the Coronavirus pandemic, an official said on Monday. "Public gatherings and taking out of processions are strictly prohibited," said Minority Welfare, Haj and Waqf Secretary A.B. Ibrahim. "This order of restricting the celebration issued only this year in view of the infectious pandemic of Covid and shall not be a precedent for future cases," Ibrahim said. The senior officer issued guidelines for observing Muharram with restrictions that stretch from August 21-30. All the ashurkhanas, masjids and dargahs have to be sanitised and disinfected while no alams or panjas should be installed in public places. "The number of participants may be reduced at fateha and for Majilis-e-Imam Hussain (religious sermon). Preferably, the general public and devotees are advised to offer fateha and majilis at their respective homes in view of Covid," said Ibrahim. Though the religious sermon is allowed, it is only permitted in halls, maintaining physical distancing with all preventive measures. The management committees of the religious places should display the number of devotees who can be accommodated in asthanas or ashurkhanas for majilis and close the gates after the devotees enter. "Carpets should be removed and sitting places should be clearly marked by maintaining physical distance after every sermon," he said. Entry of devotees should be monitored to avoid large gatherings and no congregation will be allowed in graveyards. Likewise, sharbat, tabaruk and water can be distributed only in sealed packets. People above 60, those with comorbidities and children below 10 years should not be allowed for ziyarat and have been advised to offer prayers at home. Maintaining physical distance of 6 feet, compulsory thermal scanning and the provision of liquid soap and hand washing facility should be made available. Likewise, unknown visitors should be monitored and no beggars are allowed outside the religious place. The state government has issued these guidelines considering that the ashurkhanas, masjids and dargahs are practically not in a position to maintain physical distancing during Muharram rituals. Muharram rituals are known for attracting huge crowds, including children, senior citizens and also people from other faiths.

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With abysmal footfall, Karnataka hotels face loss of Rs 3,000 crore

Coronavirus

Around 2,000 hotels are up for sale in Bengaluru alone, and the owners have decided to shut down operations due to insurmountable losses.

Theja Ram

Representation photo

It has been over two months since restaurants in Karnataka were allowed to open for dine in services but the industry continues to reel under massive loss. In Bengaluru alone, the losses incurred due to the pandemic in the last six months can be pegged to Rs 1700 crore. This amount is over Rs 3,000 crore in the entire state, according to various hotel owners’ associations.  Hotels have started using disposable cups and glasses for dine in services. Hand sanitisers are made available at every table. A mandatory temperature check is being conducted across dine-in restaurants. However, the fear of infections is keeping people indoors, says Chandrashekar Hebbar, President of the Karnataka Pradesh Hotels and Restaurants Association (KPHRA).  The myriad problems “There are 21,000 hotels in Bengaluru and 3,500 lodging cum hotels. Of these, many have not opened for business as the maintenance costs are higher than the profits they will tend to make now,” says PC Rao, President of the Bruhat Bengaluru Hotel Association.  He says that around 2,000 hotels are up for sale in Bengaluru alone, and the owners have decided to shut down operations due to insurmountable losses. According to the figures provided by the KPHRA, only 40% of the total number of hotels in the state were operational during the lockdown. This has now increased to 60% after restaurants were allowed to open for dine-in services  on June 8.  “Close to 5,000 hotels in Bengaluru alone have not opened because the maintenance costs are high. One of the biggest concerns is rent. During the lockdown, business was at 10%. Since the dine-in services were open, business is at 30% of what we were making before the lockdown. Currently, hotels in Bengaluru, falling under our association have incurred a collective loss of around Rs 300 crore per month,” PC Rao adds.  Chandrashekar Hebbar maintains that the biggest losses come from the lack of footfalls during the weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Hotel owners lament that families and groups of friends, who were regular customers on weekends, now choose to spend time at home, due to fear of getting infected.  “Close to 500 restaurants in Koramangala and another 500 in Indiranagar are facing severe losses as the IT and BT employees are now working from home. Most of our customers were people who come from other states, the blue collar workers, who would eat their meals at smaller hotels. Since many people have started working from home, footfalls are drastically reduced. Now it is only 30% of what we used to have last year,” PC Rao says. Another reason for the restaurant business to suffer losses is the lack of corporate outings, corporate meetings, large weddings and parties. “Caterers are suffering more than ever. Even restaurants had lots of business with parties. Many are under loss as they cannot serve alcohol,” Chandrashekar Hebbar adds.  Demand for relief The added cost of exorbitant rents, has also led to losses, hotel owners said. The minimum rent for a commercial space in core areas in Bengaluru is anywhere between Rs 1.5 lakh to 2 lakh per month. “This is for larger spaces. Many hotels have not even opened due to maintenance costs. They still have to pay huge amounts of rent and salaries for staff. The loss is at least Rs 3 to 4 lakh per restaurant per month. How can we sustain?” PC Rao questions.  The hotel owners associations say that if the state government waives payment of property taxes, building owners can be persuaded to reduce the rent. In addition, restaurant owners want the government to stop collecting fees for liquor licenses per month. “Even though we cannot sell liquor, we have to pay for the license. This cost is around Rs 75,000 per outlet. How can we pay so much money when we are not even allowed to sell alcohol for dine-in services?” Chandrashekar Hebbar adds.  The KPHRA has also requested that the state government waive the fixed electricity costs levied from them. “If this is waived, we can reduce our maintenance costs. We have sent so many representations and requests to the state government but they are not interested in helping us. We are hoping the central government will help this industry from collapsing altogether. Realistically, the industry is going to suffer until next March. Until then, we are asking for some relief,” PC Rao adds. 

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Bengaluru violence: Cost of damages to be recovered from culprits, decides govt

Bengaluru violence

The state government is set to approach the Karnataka High Court to appoint a Claims Commissioner to carry out this task.

TNM Staff

PTI : Bengaluru violence

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday announced that the state government will assess damages caused in the violent mob attacks in Bengaluru last week and recover the cost from the culprits. The state government is set to approach the Karnataka High Court to appoint a Claims Commissioner to carry out this task.  The decision was taken following a meeting chaired by Yediyurappa on Monday. Senior police and IAS officers briefed the Chief Minister about the investigation into the August 11 violent mob attacks on two police stations and the residence of Congress MLA Akhand Srinivas Murthy in the Banaswadi sub-division in eastern Bengaluru.  "Stringent action has been initiated against the culprits of DJ Halli and KG Halli violent incidents including invoking the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) Act," Yediyurappa said in a tweet.  A Special Investigation Team was formed to conduct a detailed investigation into the violence and the SIT will consider invoking the Goondas Act if warranted, Yediyurappa said. A team of three special public prosecutors will be appointed for conducting the cases.  Local residents in Banaswadi sub-division have alleged that the police have picked up a large number of Muslim youth without verifying whether they were part of the mob.  Bengaluru police have so far arrested over 200 people in connection with the violent mob attacks.  Around 80 accused persons were shifted to Ballari while the others have been detained in locations in Bengaluru. "We are reviewing the footage and zeroing in on the suspects. We have taken footage from the media, social media and those shot by our officers," SD Sharanappa, Bengaluru (East) DCP told TNM.  Those arrested so far include Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) leaders such as its Bengaluru district president Muzammil Pasha and Kaleem Pasha, who is the husband of a Congress corporator Irshad Begum. The violent mob attacks were triggered by a Facebook comment posted by Naveen P, a relative of Congress MLA R Akhand Srinivas Murthy, which was found offensive by Muslims. The violence began on August 11 night and was quelled only in the early hours of Wednesday morning after police opened fire against the mob.   A curfew has been in place since the violence died down in the Banaswadi sub-division in the city. Heavy police and paramilitary forces are also in place in the area.  Following the incident, BJP leaders Tejasvi Surya and CT Ravi had called for the seizure of the properties of rioters involved in the mob attack.

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