BS Yediyurappa asserts he will complete his term as Chief Minister of Karnataka

Politics

In a meeting with press, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa quashed leadership change speculations and spoke about his administration through the pandemic

PTI

Facebook/BS Yediyurappa

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday contended that he will complete the remainder of two years of his term and that there was no confusion pertaining to this within Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This comes as a reaction to intense speculation that the BJP high a command is considering leadership change in Karnataka in the days to come considering Yediyurappa's age (77 years).  The BJP General Secretary in-charge of the state Arun Singh made it clear that there are no issues for the next two-and-half years and Yediyurappa will continue as Chief Minister, such questions do not arise at all. He further added that his focus was on work and development in response to a question on leadership change and its effect on administration. Despite clarification pertaining to the issues, the speculations are not doused owing to open statements and expressions of disgruntlement by senior leaders like MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal.  When quizzed about the same, Yediyurappa said that their concerns will be addressed. “I will be holding a division wise meeting with all our legislators," he said. Referring to financial struggles and challenges owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, he said that the year has been “trial of fire”. Talking about the impact of Covid-19 on the state and its economy, the CM said that state may face a fiscal setback of Rs 25,000 to 30,000 crore and might persist until next budget.  CM Yediyurappa, despite setbacks, is planning to emphasize on development of the state including the welfare of farmers, farm labourers, SC/ST community and backward communities. He also expressed the government’s desire to make Karnataka the most developed state in the country.  Noticing that his desire and dream was to take Karnataka to the first place in the development map of the country, Yediyurappa said all his cabinet colleagues were collectively working towards achieving the goal. Stating that BJP is strengthening its base across the country including Karnataka, the Chief Minister claimed in the recent Gram Panchayat polls, for which counting took place on Wednesday, more than 60 per cent of BJP candidates won and created history. According to information, of 5,728 Gram Panchayats, BJP backed candidates have won in the majority in around 3,800 panchayats, he said, as he gave credit to collective leadership for the achievement, while acknowledging efforts of district in-charge ministers, MLAs and party workers. Though the Gram Panchayat polls don't take place on party symbols, all political parties had put in efforts to ensure that the candidate supported by them wins, so as to have their hold on grassroot level politics, which may prove advantageous for them in taluk or zilla panchayat and even assembly polls whenever it happens. Also citing BJP winning 12 out of 15 assembly seats that went for bypolls in December 2019 and the win in the Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Sira segments earlier this year, Yediyurappa said these results show that the party has made inroads to the stronghold of opposition parties. Highlighting his government's management of Covid-19 crisis while also supporting distressed communities, he said, it also ensured that development works continued despite the pandemic.   "Our government has topped in attracting FDI even during Covid-19 pandemic. As many as 95 proposals worth Rs 1.54 lakh crore have been received," he said. 

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'I’ll be there for people’: Trans person Devika on winning Karnataka panchayat polls

Karnataka Gram Panchayat elections 2020

Forty-six-year-old Devika is among the two transgender persons who have been elected in the Karnataka Gram Panchayat elections 2020.

Prajwal Bhat

Cast aside and marginalised, transgender persons are typically accustomed to using their wits to survive. Devika, a transgender person from Mysuru, was no different. But the residents in her area —  in Mysuru’s Saligrama panchayat — believed in her, encouraged her and then empowered her to bring about a change. Forty-six-year-old Devika was elected from ward number 7 in Saligrama panchayat in the Karnataka Gram Panchayat elections 2020. She secured 115 votes, defeating her closest rival Yashoda by five votes, as the results were declared on Wednesday.  'Devika Akka', as she is known in Saligrama, is a popular figure among the residents in Saligrama. "I have been living in Saligrama for 35 years. I decided to contest the elections after my friends encouraged me. Besides, the people here encouraged me when I went to their house seeking votes. Now, I want to give back to the community that elected me," an elated Devika told TNM after her victory. According to residents of Saligrama, Devika never identified herself with any party. “The people here, especially from her colony, helped elect her," a resident said.  Devika was born in Chunchanakatte in Mysuru district. However, like many others in her community, she decided to leave her home at the age of 16. She found work in Ghatkopar, a suburb in eastern Mumbai, living with members of the transgender community. "I survived by begging. I lived with my friends and I used to keep visiting my home in Saligrama often," she said. Devika is also a dancer who has taken part in plays. "I grew up acting and dancing in plays. The plays were held during festivals and we would enact stories from mythology. It was when I was taking part in plays that I realised that I started identifying myself as a transgender person. I then moved out of my house," she recounted. Devika said that she will continue to stay in Saligrama so that she can help serve the people in her locality. "I will listen to the concerns of residents in my locality (ward 7) and highlight whatever issues they come to me with. I aim to be available to my residents for even the smallest of needs," Devika added.     The 46-year-old was among the two transgender persons who won the Gram Panchayat elections in Karnataka on Wednesday. In Ballari district's Hosapete village, a transgender person named Sudha won the elections in Kalahalli after she secured 622 votes. She won by more than 400 votes in the first gram panchayat elections held in the village in 26 years. Candidates were elected unanimously in the last 26 years in the village.

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Roopa IPS questions Addl Chief Secy’s inaction in probe against officer Nimbalkar

Controversy

Roopa has questioned why she has been subjected to prompt action while there’s no action against Nimbalkar despite CBI seeking his prosecution.

Soumya Chatterjee

The tendering process of the multi-crore Bengaluru Safe City Project has exposed rifts in the top IAS/IPS circles within the Karnataka government over alleged double standards in dealing with corruption charges. A letter by senior IPS officer D Roopa to the Chief Secretary Vijaya Bhaskar (dated Tuesday) has highlighted details of inaction with regards to corruption charges against another senior IPS officer Hemanth Nimbalkar. The letter which TNM has accessed, highlights lack of disciplinary action not only in respect to the Safe City Project but also the multi-crore IMA scam where he has been chargesheeted by the Central Bureau of Investigation. She has also sought “an independent inquiry and proper action” against these delays or inaction from the CS in this letter. In this letter, Roopa has alleged that while the Home Department had started a prompt enquiry against a “false and motivated” complaint against her, it has hesitated to do the same against Nimbalkar even after months since the CBI sought sanction of prosecution. The letter mentions that the CBI has sought sanction of prosecution in September 2020. Her letter reads, “However, for months, the ACS, Home Department, Sri Rajneesh Goel IAS has failed to submit the draft major disciplinary proceedings to the DPAR(Services). The said delays are deliberate and help Shri Hemant Nimbalkar, IPS. Kindly, contrast this with immediate and lightening speed approval of enquiry by the same ACS, Home Department, Sri Rajneesh Goel IAS on the false and motivated report of Shri Hemant Nimbalkar submitted on Safe City Project issue.” Nimbalkar has been chargesheeted by the CBI in the IMA case along with other co-accused. In her letter, Roopa pointed out that while junior police officers accused in the IMA scam were suspended, there has been no action against Nimbalkar and another IPS officer (Ajay Hilori). Read: Bengaluru top cops Hilori and Nimbalkar to be prosecuted by CBI in IMA scam She also pointed out that the Home Department has not taken any action on the complaints made against the tendering process for the Safe City Project made by Bharat Electronics Limited (a public sector unit). Incidentally, there were other complaints made against the tendering process by anti-corruption activists and the JD(S). Read: Roopa IPS accuses Nimbalkar IPS of making ‘fake and motivated’ complaint against her Also read: IPS officers Roopa and Nimbalkar in war of words over tender process in Bengaluru Safe City project It has been widely reported how Nimbalkar, Additional Commissioner of Police (Administration), Bengaluru and chief of the tendering committee for the project and Roopa have exchanged allegations of wrongdoing surrounding the project. Roopa has alleged that Nimbalkar being the chief of the tendering committee was favouring a particular committee violating norms. Nimbalkar on the other hand had alleged that Roopa, Home Secretary was interfering with the process without any authority. However, Roopa has maintained that she was made part of the decision making process by the Chief Secretary himself.  The Times of India on Thursday has reported that Nimbalkar has offered to give up his place from the tendering committee citing sources. 

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Tejasvi Surya, Ananth Hegde oppose naming streets in Bengaluru ward after Muslim leaders

Controversy

The two MPs wrote to the BBMP Commissioner over naming of streets within Padranyanapura ward.

BJP MPs Ananth Kumar Hegde and Tejasvi Surya on Thursday wrote to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner Manjanath Prasad opposing naming of roads after Muslim names in a Muslim majority (Padarayanapura) neighbourhood in the city. In two separate letters, the two leaders known for their hardline Hindutva approach, opined that the naming of streets only after Muslim names will set a dangerous precedent and go in line with the two-nation theory propgaged by the Muslim League. Both leaders have stirred controversy multiple times in the past for making unparliamentary and communally sensitive remarks. Read: BJP MP Tejasvi Surya says Hindus should control state power in India for 'dharma' These letters have been written in context of a December 16 notification which was passed by the BBMP Revenue Department. “Christening of roads in a Muslim-dominated locality with only Muslim names reeks of the same communal mentality of the two-nation theory and Muslim League's demand of separate electorates for Hindus and Muslims. This is dangerous and must be condemned,” the letter by Tejasvi Surya, the MP from Bangalore South read. He added, “There is no dearth of non-Muslim public figures and patriots on whom our roads can be named after.” Read: Why Anantkumar Hegde must be held accountable for misogyny, Islamophobia He asked the Commissioner to revise the list and finalise the list of roads to be named after personalities only after wide public discussion. Incidentally, the decision was approved by the BBMP Council led by former Mayor Goutham Kumar of the BJP. Similarly, Hegde, the veteran MP from Uttara Kannada in his letter to the BBMP Commissioner said that the roads be named after martyrs. “Only names of Muslim leaders have been recommended in this particular ward. It is not appropriate to undertake such a step in the name of social work, which is nothing but promotion of one particular community,” he wrote.  Padarayanapura within the Chamrajpet Assembly constituency has been in the news since it became the first ward in the city to get sealed as per COVID-19 containment measures taken by the BBMP in April. A ruckus had also broken out in the area after some residents, secondary contacts of COVID-19 patients refused to go to institutional quarantine as asked by the BBMP. In that incident, around 100 people gathered and vandalised some camps,set up the authorities, threw chairs, and destroyed CCTV cameras and barricades. TNM had reported how residents of the ward were mistreated on suspicion of being Tablighi Jamaat attendees.

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How Trump warped HHS long before Covid-19

Political interference and tensions with scientists preceded — and set the stage for — the disaster of 2020.

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Dakshina Kannada police detain 3 men for alleged pro-Pak slogans in SDPI celebrations

Sedition

Police are investigating three videos from the celebrations including one video that was shared widely on social media.

Prajwal Bhat

Police in Karnataka's Dakshina Kannada district detained three men in connection with a sedition case registered over alleged shouts of 'Pakistan Zindabad' during celebrations by Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) members in Ujire. The three men — Mohammed Harshad (22), Dawood (36) and Isaak (28), are residents of Pilichandi Kallu Kuvettu village in the district. On Wednesday, police officials at Belthangady police station registered an FIR (first information report) after pro-Pakistan slogans were allegedly raised during celebrations by SDPI members when their candidate won in the Gram Panchayat elections. The celebrations were held outside SDM College in Ujire around 2.30 pm in the afternoon. Police officials said SDPI and BJP members were present near the counting centre where party members had gathered. A video of the celebrations was widely circulated on social media however, many raised doubts about whether the shouts in the video were 'Pakistan Zindabad' or 'SDPI Zindabad'. Speaking to TNM, Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police (SP) BM Laxmi Prasad said there are two videos, apart from the one that was shared widely, that the district police are investigating. "In the video that was circulated yesterday, the (shouts) are too difficult to understand. But we have found two other videos of the incident, where it can be heard," BM Laxmi Prasad said. Police have sent the videos for an analysis to determine what was said and by whom. The counting of votes in the gram panchayat elections in Karnataka was held on Wednesday. BJP leaders including Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje called for a ban on SDPI based on the videos circulated. The FIR was registered under Sections 124A (sedition), 143 (Punishment for a member of an unlawful assembly), read with 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

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Rashmika Mandanna signed her second B’wood film, will star alongside Big B

Bollywood

Rashmika Mandanna is making her B-Town debut with ‘Mission Majnu’ starring Sidharth Malhotra in lead

Digital Native

Digital Native

Popular South Indian actress Rashmika Mandanna, noted for her roles in films like ‘Kirik Party’, ‘Geeta Govindam and ‘Dear Comrade’, is all set to enter the world of Bollywood. The latest is that Rashmika has next signed a film with director Vikas Bahl. The star will be acting alongside superstar Amitabh Bachchan in this film. According to sources, the story of the film will revolve around the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery with undertones of humour. It is a slice-of-life comedy film that explores a father-daughter story. Ekta Kapoor and Reliance Entertainment are financing the film. The shooting of the film will commence in March 2021. Rashmika is making her B-Town debut in Shantanu Bagchi directorial ‘Mission Majnu’, opposite Siddharth Malhotra. It’s an action film set in the 70s. She turned down the offer to star opposite Shahid Kapoor in the Hindi remake of Jersey because she wanted to focus on commercial films. Speaking on her Bollywood debut, she said in a statement," I have been fortunate to receive so much love from audiences across languages. As an actor, it is always the story of the film that I connect with, and the language of the film is never a barrier for me.  I am grateful to the makers for offering me Mission Majnu which is written beautifully, and I am super excited to be part of a team that has so much passion. We are all working together to make it even more amazing. I am super excited to start my journey in Hindi cinema and to reach out to newer audiences.”   Rashmika has a slew of films in her kitty. She currently awaits the release of Sulthan in Tamil in which she is paired with Karthi. This will be her Tamil debut which is currently in post-production. Bakkiyaraj Kannan directed this film. Rashmika’s will be seen opposite Allu Arjun in her latest Telugu venture Pushpa; the film is directed by Sukumaran. She also signed a film titled Adallu Meeku Joharlu, directed by Kishore Tirumala; she will share the screen with Sharwanand. Her latest Kannada film Pogaru, in which she starred opposite Dhruva Sarja, is scheduled to release in 2021.

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