Adani News

Tag: Karnataka

  • Karnataka: Maha Police inspects Hindalga jail after Gadkari receives threat calls

    Karnataka: Maha Police inspects Hindalga jail after Gadkari receives threat calls

    Belagavi: The Maharashtra police have conducted raids at the Hindalga prison in this district of Karnataka in connection with threat calls to Union Minister for Highways Nitin Gadkari, police sources said on Saturday.

    According to police, the raid was conducted on Thursday evening. The calls were made from Hindalaga prison to the office of Gadkari in Nagpur city on March 21. The office has received three calls of threatening and extortion, the sources said.

    The caller has been identified as Jayesh Poojari, an inmate of Hindalga prison. He had demanded Rs 10 crore extortion money from the minister. Gadkari will have to bear the consequences if he fails to pay up, the miscreant added. The calls were made to Gadkari’s office in the month of January also.

    The team from Maharashtra seized the mobile possessed by Jayesh Poojari illegally in the prison. Security has been tightened at the office and residence of Gadkari in Nagpur.

    According to police sources, two sim cards and as many mobiles were found in the prison. Nagpur police will shortly take Jayesh Poojari into custody for investigation. The accused Jayesh Poojari is convicted of life imprisonment. He was initially awarded a death sentence in connection with dacoity and murder case. Later, the punishment was reduced to life imprisonment.

  • Karnataka: Siddaramaiah hints that he may contest from Varuna and 1 more seat

    Karnataka: Siddaramaiah hints that he may contest from Varuna and 1 more seat

    Chitradurga: Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday indicated that he might contest from his home constituency of Varuna in Mysuru district in the upcoming Assembly polls.

    The Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly also hinted at fighting the elections from two constituencies, including Varuna, like he did in 2018.

    Varuna is currently represented by his son Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah.

    Siddaramaiah had earlier won twice from Varuna, and even went on to become the Chief Minister after winning from the seat in 2013.

    “From many constituencies they (supporters and party workers) are asking…. From 25 constituencies they are asking (me to contest). I cannot contest from all 25 constituencies. There is one opinion at home that I should be contesting from Varuna, so I have said (to the party’s central leadership), clear Varuna, let’s see,” Siddaramaiah said.

    Speaking to reporters, he said, “…at home they are saying that I should be contesting from one more constituency, let’s see, I haven’t thought about it.”

    The Congress legislature party leader who is nursing chief ministerial ambitions in the event of the party coming to power, and has been looking for a “safe seat”, had announced in January that he would contest from Kolar, reportedly after conducting surveys. He did say, however, that it would be subject to the approval of the party’s central leadership.

    Last week there were reports that the Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the party’s Central Election Committee meeting, advised Siddaramaiah not to contest from Kolar, which is said to be “risky” for him.

    Following this, Siddaramaiah on Tuesday told a large group of supporters from Kolar who had gathered near his residence here that the Congress high command had asked him not to take even “one percent risk” while choosing a constituency to contest the elections.

    Stating that the high command had left the decision to him, and had asked him to be available for campaigning across the state ahead of the elections, he had said, “I will speak to my son and my wife and arrive at a decision.”

    Siddaramaiah, who currently represents Badami segment of Bagalkote district in the northern part of the state, has repeatedly indicated that he may not contest from there, citing his inability to give more time to people and party workers of the constituency as the reason.

    The 75-year-old leader, who has announced that the 2023 assembly polls will be his last, has made it clear that he would not contest from his former constituency of Chamundeshwari in Mysuru. As the then sitting Chief Minister, he lost the 2018 polls in Chamundeshwari to G T Deve Gowda of the JD(S) by 36,042 votes.

    He, however, won Badami, the other constituency from where he had contested the 2018 polls, and defeated B Sriramulu of the BJP by 1,696 votes.

    Making his debut in the Assembly in 1983, Siddaramaiah had got elected from Chamundeshwari on a Lok Dal Party ticket. He has won five times from this constituency and tasted defeat thrice.

    After neighbouring Varuna became a constituency in 2008 following delimitation, Siddaramaiah represented it till he vacated the seat for his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah (MLA) in the 2018 Assembly polls and went back to his old constituency of Chamundeshwari.

  • Two laborers died of suffocation in Karnataka

    Two laborers died of suffocation in Karnataka

    On Tuesday, while clearing a drainage in the Jagaluru taluk hamlet of Basavanakote, two municipal workers became unwell and passed away at the Chigateri district hospital.

    Eyewitnesses were present during the imcident and said said that Dundappa (45) and Nagappa (42) from Basavanakote village perished from suffocation.Each one of them supported himself only via work. Without providing them with any safety equipment, Dundappa and Nagappa were instructed to clear the obstructed drainage by Shashidhar Patil, the panchayat development officer of Basavanakote village.
    The workers ended up breathing in hazardous gas coming from the drains as a result of this. They soon complained of discomfort and were transferred to Arsikere PHC. They received first aid in Arsikere before being transferred to the district hospital in Chigateri, where they passed away.
    Dundappa and Nagappa reportedly became ill while cleaning the drainage, according to Chandrashekhar, the executive officer of the Jagaluru taluk panchayat. He noted that additional inquiries are ongoing.

    M Shivanna Kote, Chairperson, of the Safai Karamchari Commission explained that before requesting the personnel to enter the manhole, adequate safety measures had to have been performed. Without using safety equipment, the workmen entered the 4-foot manhole. They died as a result of this. He continued by saying that he would pay a visit to Dundappa and Nagappa’s kin on Thursday and make sure they received all advantages.

  • Kolar conundrum poses more problems than solutions for Congress in Karnataka

    Kolar conundrum poses more problems than solutions for Congress in Karnataka

    MYSURU: The Congress high command’s strategy of withdrawing Opposition leader Siddaramaiah from the contest in Kolar to avoid a possible defeat seems to have caused more trouble than finding a solution to the Grand Old Party in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

    It is likely that even before a formal announcement of seats is made, rumours will spread about the high command not fielding Siddaramaiah from Kolar which will affect the prospects of Siddaramaiah as well as aspiring party candidates from Kolar and neighbouring Chikkaballapur districts.

    Within a day of the rumour that party senior leader Rahul Gandhi asked Siddaramaiah not to contest from Kolar and to choose a safe seat like Varuna, it has had an effect on the image of the Congress Legislature Party leader. But there has been pressure on the party to field Siddaramaiah from both Kolar and Varuna.

    For the party, it has been a bitter development, demoralising the rank and file, who were gearing up to take on JDS and BJP. Many councillors, panchayat presidents and activists who joined Congress from other parties extending support to Siddaramaiah too have been left disheartened.

    It has also led to cracks in Siddaramaiaha’s long-standing friendship with other leaders, including Ramesh Kumar, Nazeer Ahmad, Srinivasa Gowda and Krishne Byre Gowda, who had influenced him to contest from Kolar. Their hope was to cash in on the success of the KC Valley project that has changed the landscape of the drought-hit Kolar district

    Disputing an internal survey report that has expressed apprehensions over Siddaramaiah’s chances of victory in Kolar, former MLA Sudhakar said the situation is favourable and Siddaramaiah will win by a big margin. Siddaramaiah backing out of Kolar will have horrible consequences in five-six constituencies and will demoralise the cadres, who had high expectations of seeing development in both Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts, he added.

    Thousands of cadres are now planning a massive protest in front of Siddaramaiah’s house, wanting to know why he should withdraw when they are working on the ground.

    Opposition parties have seized the issue by branding Siddaramaiah a political coward running away from the contest to avoid defeat. Many insiders too feel that it has inflicted irreparable damage to his stature with four decades of colourful political history. They observed that a psychological advantage has been handed over to opposition parties.

    On Monday, all eyes were on Belagavi, where Siddaramaiah was to speak to Rahul and the AICC president on the emotions of the party cadres from Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts and to go ahead and contest from Kolar. The Ahinda leader had also assured his followers that he has an open mind on contesting from any seat and will not bow to his rivals within the party.

  • Two workers suffocate to death in manhole in Karnataka

    Two workers suffocate to death in manhole in Karnataka

    DAVANGERE: Two civic workers who were cleaning a drainage at Basavanakote village in Jagaluru taluk on Tuesday fell ill and died at Chigateri district hospital.

    According to eyewitnesses, Dundappa (45) and Nagappa (42) from Basavanakote village died due to suffocation. Shashidhar Patil, panchayat development officer of Basavanakote village, asked Dundappa and Nagappa to clean the clogged drainage without giving them any safety gear. This resulted in the workers inhaling toxic gas emanating from the drainage. They were immediately shifted to Arsikere PHC after they complained of uneasiness. They were given first aid at Arsikere and taken to Chigateri district hospital where they died.

    Both were sole breadwinners.

    Meanwhile, the executive officer of Jagaluru taluk panchayat Chandrashekhar said Dundappa and Nagappa fell ill while they were cleaning the drainage. Further investigations are on, he added.

    M Shivanna Kote, Chairperson, of the Safai Karamchari Commission, said, “I have sought a report from the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and the ZP CEO on the reasons for the death of two workers.”

    “We will conduct an inquiry and action will be initiated accordingly. The official, who had given the work order should be arrested immediately,” he said.

    Adequate precautions should have been taken before asking the workers to get into the manhole. The workers got into the 4-foot manhole without any safety gear. This resulted in their death. “I will visit the family members of Dundappa and Nagappa on Thursday and ensure that all benefits are extended to them,” Shivanna said. Bilichodu police have registered a complaint.

  • Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai calls Congress’s electoral guarantee ‘fake’

    Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai calls Congress’s electoral guarantee ‘fake’

    Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday dismissed Congress’ poll ‘guarantees’ as “bogus announcements”, and said their leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the poll-bound state will not have any impact.

    He said, the people of Karnataka will not give any value to the former AICC President’s words, after his recent controversial statements in London, regarding the state of democracy in the country.

    During Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Belagavi on Monday, the Congress announced its fourth ‘guarantee’ “YuvaNidhi’ — Rs 3,000 every month for graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders (both in the age group of 18-25) for two years, 10 lakh jobs in five years and filling up of 2.5 lakh govt jobs within one year, in the event of the party coming to power in the State, where Assembly elections are due by May.

    “Rahul Gandhi has come and gone several times (to Karnataka), he has done the Bharat Jodo Yatra also, but it has not made any effect. Monday’s announcement was a bogus announcement, there is no impact,” Bommai said in response to a question.

    Speaking to reporters, he said, “there is a lot of difference between Rahul Gandhi’s last visit and Monday’s. His speech in London in between the two visits, against the country and regarding democracy, is being condemned across the country, including Karnataka. So people of Karnataka will not give any value to his words”.

  • Congress promises Rs 3,000 allowance to unemployed graduates in Karnataka

    Congress promises Rs 3,000 allowance to unemployed graduates in Karnataka

    Bengaluru | Congress made a big announcement in Karnataka on Monday. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said Rs 3,000 allowance will be given to unemployed graduates in Karnataka if voted to power. Addressing the Yuva Kranti Sammelan in Belagavi on Monday, Rahul Gandhi also announced an allowance of Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders. The allowance will be provided for two years. He said, the Congress government will provide 10 lakh jobs in the state.

    Rahul Gandhi further said that his party’s government in Karnataka will also fill 2.50 lakh vacant posts which are lying vacant.

    Rahul Gandhi said, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, women have put forward their sufferings. Under the Griha Laxmi Yojana, every woman householder will get Rs 2,000 as promised allowance and 10 kg rice will be given free of cost to poor families. Under the Griha Jyoti Yojana, the Congress party has decided to provide 200 units of free electricity to every household.

    Rahul Gandhi said, the government should complete the process of increasing reservation for scheduled castes from 15 to 17 percent and for tribes from three to seven percent. We should unite to fight against the corrupt BJP and throw out the BJP government. I will come wherever you say. We all should defeat BJP.

    Rahul Gandhi recalled the Bharat Jodo Yatra and thanked the people of Karnataka for their unprecedented support. This country belongs to all, he insisted. It is not of one or two persons. The country belongs to farmers, youth and poor.

    Rahul Gandhi said that the PM has not responded to the letters written about 40 per cent commission and corruption in Karnataka. The government had defended the MLA when his son was caught red-handed and Rs 8 crore recovered in connection with the Karnataka Soap and Detergent Limited (KSDL) scam.

    He said that there is a scam in the recruitment of PSI, Associate Professor, Assistant Engineer. Lakhs of youths are complaining about this.

    –IANS