Students in hijab outside a school in Udupi. (Reuters/File)Karnataka News Highlights: Amid the raging Hijab controversy in Karnataka, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said unnecessary controversies should not be encouraged and students should be guided by the school uniform. “Unnecessary controversies should not be encouraged like the controversy going on in Karnataka. In a school, you are all guided by the school uniform, whatever uniform it is,” Naidu said after inaugurating the indoor sports arena and L’atelier at a private school in Bengaluru.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said that his government will provide all help to students arriving from Ukraine to reach their homes in various parts of the state after landing in Mumbai and Delhi. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Bommai said that the state’s principal resident commissioner in the national capital had been instructed to make arrangements for food and accommodation for the students.
In other news, a Bajrang Dal activist has been taken into custody for allegedly killing a Dalit man on Wednesday at Dharmasthala in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district. Sources said that Krishna alias Kitta allegedly attacked Dinesh, a 41-year-old Dalit man, after the latter told others he had helped Krishna get the land where his shop stands.
Shivamogga: RAF personnel inspect the riot-affected areas after section 144 was imposed amid tension in the town over the murder of a Bajrang Dal activist, in Shivamogga, Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)
Karnataka on Saturday logged 514 fresh Covid-19 infections and 19 deaths taking the total infections and fatalities to 39,40,429 and 39,919 respectively, the state health department said.
In its daily COVID-19 bulletin, the department said 1,073 people were discharged, taking the total number of recoveries to 38,93,532. Active cases stood at 6,940. Bengaluru Urban district reported 345 infections and 13 deaths.
Other districts too had fresh cases including 20 in Belagavi, 18 in Mysuru, 16 in Kodagu, 14 each in Dharwad and Gadag, 11 in Uttara Kannada and 10 in Shivamogga. (PTI)
Scores of citizens took to the streets on Saturday and staged a protest at SBM Circle in Bengaluru decrying Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he has spoken to the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to bring back Kannadigas back to Bengaluru, who are stranded in the war-torn Ukraine once they reach Delhi or Mumbai.
Stating that the Indian government is in touch with the Ukrainian and Russian authorities besides the countries neighbouring Ukraine, Bommai said he has also spoken to many stranded people.
"We will provide every assistance to bring Kannadigas to Bengaluru who land from Ukraine to India at Delhi and Mumbai. I have spoken to the External Affairs Minister. He told me that since the war is on, many of the arrangements are not in place anymore," Bommai told reporters. (PTI)
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee will take up afresh its march for water from Sunday to demand the implementation of the Mekedatu project across Cauvery in Ramanagara district of the State. From January 9, the party held the 'padayatra' from Mekedatu, the confluence of rivers Cauvery and Arkavathi but stopped the yatra midway.
The 10-day padayatra in January was supposed to end in Bengaluru but the march was suspended on January 13 due to the Karnataka High Court cracking the whip as the Congress ignored the restrictions imposed by the State government in view of the third wave of the surge in COVID-19 cases.
Unlike the first yatra, the second march, to be for five days, would begin from Ramanagara town instead of Mekedatu. It would pass through several areas of Bengaluru before concluding at the National College Ground on March 3, where there would be a public meeting. (PTI)
Amid the raging Hijab controversy in Karnataka, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday said unnecessary controversies should not be encouraged and students should be guided by the school uniform.
"Unnecessary controversies should not be encouraged like the controversy going on in Karnataka. In a school, you are all guided by the school uniform, whatever uniform it is," Naidu said after inaugurating the indoor sports arena and L'atelier at a private school in Bengaluru.
Underlining the need to realise the beauty of diverse Indian culture, the Vice President said, "Vividhata mein Ekta, Bharat Ki Visheshta (Unity in Diversity, that's India's specialty). Alag Bhasha, Alag Vesh - Phir Bhi Apna Ek Desh (Different languages, different constumes -- Yet we are one nation). (PTI)
Congress State chief DK Shivakumar Saturday reviewed the preparations for the Mekedaatu padayatra 2.0 programme, which will begin Sunday, at Ramanagara's TR Mill ground.
Pointing out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's talks with Russian President Vladmir Putin have proven fruitful, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Saturday said: “Our External Affairs Minister has spoken to the officials concerned in those countries neighbouring Ukraine. The Centre has deployed representatives who can speak Russian to facilitate smooth passage of Indians through these countries bordering Ukraine."
The Chief Minister further said: “There is scope for bringing these stranded Indians by road through the western region of Ukraine. The process has already started. Kannadigas who return would be provided all necessary help to reach respective homes without any hassles. Both the Union government and Karnataka government have set up helplines. We are in constant touch with them. More than 200 people from Karnataka are in touch."
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday told the media that he spoke to a few students stranded in Ukraine and provided them necessary contact numbers for assistance.
“I have assured them all help and have asked them to keep their morale high. Our Prime Minister's talks with the Russian President are showing good results. All the Indians and Kannadigas would be brought home safely," Bommai said.
“As the war is raging, there is no order. There is chaos in cities and towns where Russians have entered. Indians too are stranded there. But no major mishap has happened. But they are suffering due to lack of proper shelter and food. Most of them are taking shelter in underground Metro bunkers,” the CM pointed out.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday asserted that the state government would provide all necessary help to Karnataka students who have reached Mumbai/Delhi from Ukraine reach their respective homes in various parts of the state.
Speaking to the media at Vidhana Soudha, Bommai said: “The principal resident commissioner in Delhi has been instructed to provide food and accommodation to these students. We have also sent the list of our students to External Affairs Minister Jaishankar after I spoke to him about the issue. It has been decided to bring those stranded in the western part of Ukraine by road. Their details are being collected."
“Most of the students are in the Kharakhai region of Ukraine. They have been instructed to remain in safe places and avoid unnecessary movement in roads. Our Prime Minister has spoken to the Russian President and requested for safe passage of flights to bring our students back home. He has accepted the request. The process will begin once the war subsides. All measures would be taken to bring our students back home in the next few days,” he added.
A day after the Congress announced that it would restart its Mekedatu padayatra, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai responded stating the world knew why Congress leaders were taking out the padayatra. “They are calling it Padayatra-1 and Padayatra-2. For them (Congress leaders), only politics is important,” Bommai alleged.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, he said: "They derailed the legislature session too for politics. They are now continuing it outside."
Replying to a question on whether prohibitory orders would be imposed in Bengaluru on the padyatra day as part of Covid precaution, Bommai said, “There are minimal Covid restrictions and everyone should follow it.”
Ahead of the presentation of the state budget next month, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) has requested the Karnataka government to announce the abolition of trade licenses for service and trade sectors.
“Trade license has always been a bone of contention as it is expensive, time consuming and results in unnecessary burden for traders and small businesses,” the pre-budget memorandum said. Read more
A Bajrang Dal activist has been taken into custody for allegedly killing a Dalit man on Wednesday at Dharmasthala in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district.
Sources said that Krishna alias Kitta allegedly attacked Dinesh, a 41-year-old Dalit man, after the latter told others he had helped Krishna get the land where his shop stands.
“Angered by this, Krishna dragged Dinesh around and punched him to his stomach and abdomen,” said a police complaint lodged by Dinesh’s mother Padmavathi. Read more
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai held a pre-Budget meeting with the members of various associations, including the Transport Association, in Bangalore on Saturday.
Bommai, who also holds the Finance portfolio, will present the Budget for 2022-23 FY on March 4.
The Karnataka Assembly Budget session is scheduled to be held from March 4 to 30.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday assured Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai full cooperation and support from the Government of India to evacuate people from Karnataka who are stranded in Ukraine.
The Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), led by its commissioner Dr Manoj Rajan, said in a statement that Bommai called Jaishankar and spoke regarding the stranded people from the state, most of whom are students.
According to the KSDMA, as many as 347 people from the state are stranded in Ukraine. The KSDMA also said the Chief Minister's Office, Chief Secretary P Ravi Kumar and the nodal officers were personally pursuing stranded cases with the MEA and Indian Embassy in Kyiv. (PTI)
Chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) R Madhavan said the defence PSU is trying to implement the next generation Advanced Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH) under the special purpose vehicle (SPV) model involving private players. Speaking at the webinar ‘Aatmanirbharta in Defence: Call to Action’ organised by the Ministry of Defence on February 26, Madhavan said, “We are trying to implement the projects through the SPV route where we want the private players to have a majority stake so that it does not become a full government entity. The procurement process will also be easy. The advantage is that it will cut procedural delays. On AMCA, we are working with DRDO.”
Adding further he said, “SPVs cannot raise debts based on the sponsor’s assets. So, it has to create assets or they have to ensure that the financing institute has a say in the cash flows of the future. We have worked out on that. There are a couple of things which are required from the government as guarantees for the SPV to function.” Read more
The murder of a 27-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha Hindu in the city of Shivamogga in Karnataka by a gang of armed men on February 20 is being currently viewed by police as a localised crime stemming from a long-standing communal rivalry, even as investigations are looking closely at how the gang of 10 people who have been arrested so far assembled to carry out the murder. All the arrested individuals have been sent to police custody till March 7 by a local court.
The timing of the murder of the right-wing activist, who has antagonised Muslims in the region in the past with derogatory remarks against Islam on social media, amid the ongoing protests over restrictions on wearing the hijab by Muslim girls in schools and colleges is also under police scrutiny. Read more
Amid criticism from city residents accusing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) of not maintaining parks properly, senior officials of the civic agency say that developmental activities could not be taken up as the custody of over 200 parks are disputed. There are a total of 1,358 parks in Bengaluru. “We can only take care of our properties. These 200 parks or more are very small in size and are not fenced since they do not belong to us. Some are maintained by the corporate entities and resident welfare associations. We have no jurisdiction over them.” Read more
Bengaluru is expected to have partly clear sky conditions on Saturday. Fog and mist is very likley during the early morning hours. Maximum and Minimum temperatures are likely to be around 31 and 17 degrees Celsius respectively.
For 48 hrs.: Mainly clear sky. Fog/Mist very likely during early morning hours in some areas. Maximum and Minimum temperatures very likely to be around 31 and 17 degree Celsius respectively.
Karnataka on Friday reported 628 fresh coronavirus cases and 15 virus-related fatalities, taking the aggregate to 39,39,915 and the death toll to 39,900. There were 1,349 discharges, pushing the total number of recoveries in the state to 38,92,459, a health bulletin said.
Of the new cases, 346 were from Bengaluru Urban that saw 769 people being discharged and 12 virus-related deaths. The total number of active cases across the state is now 7,518. While the positivity rate for the day stood at 0.92 per cent, the case fatality rate (CFR) was 2.38 per cent.
Of the 15 deaths, 12 were from Bengaluru Urban, and one each from Belagavi, Dharwad and Tumakuru. After Bengaluru Urban, Belagavi recorded the second highest number of cases at 30, Chitradurga 22, Kodagu and Mysuru 21, Udupi 17, Tumakuru 15, followed by others. (PTI)
All the 10 people arrested in connection with Bajarang Dal worker Harsha’s murder have been sent to police custody till March 7 by a local court in Karnataka on Friday. Police had on Thursday arrested 24-year-old Abdul Roshan, a resident of Bhadravati, and 55-year-old Jafar Sadique, a resident of Wadi-e-Huda in Shivamogga city. Before this, Feroz Pasha, Abdul Khadar, Mohammed Kashif, Syed Nadeem, Afsifullah Khan, Rihan, Nihan and Abdul Afnan had also been arrested in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, even as BJP leaders visit Harsha’s residence, activists from pro-Hindutva groups have demanded that his mother or sister be given a ticket from Shivamogga district in the next Karnataka Assembly election. Read more
Days before the presentation of the state budget, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said his government is focused on the welfare of minorities, especially those steeped in poverty, through programmes founded on social development and social justice.
The CM inaugurated the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Bhavan built by the minorities development department Friday. In his address later, CM Bommai said that minorities should adapt to the fast-changing world to achieve their goals and join the social mainstream. “The 21st century is the knowledge century. Children should be prepared to face the competitive world. We should help them utilise the opportunities and rise to the international level,” he said. Read more
Kannada film actor and activist Chetan Kumar A, who was arrested for allegedly making comments against a Karnataka High Court judge, was granted bail on Friday. The bail order said, “The accused shall not commit an offence similar to the offence of which he is accused. He shall not make, publish, post, or circulate any derogatory/ provocative statements in any manner so as to disturb communal harmony and public peace.”
On Tuesday, the Bengaluru police had arrested Chetan for allegedly making comments against a Karnataka High Court judge who is part of a bench hearing the hijab issue. The police, who took up a suo moto case, arrested him under sections 505 (2) and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The arrest raised eyebrows as the action came six days after he tweeted. Read more
Chairman of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) monitoring committee, Karnataka, Subhash B Adi, in a meeting with officials of the municipal agency and the state pollution control board said concrete steps need to be taken to address the issue of garbage disposal in the state.
During a meeting on the Implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016 and the managing, transportation and the processing of solid waste within Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits, he said officials need to keep a track of people registered for waste collection. Read more
Former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Friday said that the Congress was planning to restart the Mekedatu Padayatra from February 27 to demand the implementation of Mekedatu project. The Congress, had earlier suspended the Yatra in January due to the rise in Covid-19 cases in the state.
"Mekedatu project will culminate with public meeting at the National College grounds on 3rd March. We request the support of everyone to make this padayatre a grand success," Siddaramaiah said.
The Karnataka high court on Friday reserved its judgment in the matter involving the restrictions imposed on wearing the hijab in classrooms after two weeks of daily hearings of a batch of petitions filed by Muslim girls from government pre-university colleges in the Udupi district. Before the hijab-linked petitions were reserved for judgment, S Balan, a social activist and lawyer, filed a public interest litigation (PIL) stating that Muslim girls were being harassed by the media and the education authorities by forcing them to remove headscarves outside school and college campuses. The HC full bench comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, Justice Krishna Dixit and Justice JM Khazi did not issue any orders but disposed of the PIL, saying “whoever is aggrieved can make complaints to appropriate authorities”.
The Karnataka High Court on Friday said it has called for a report from the state government on the role of radical organisations behind the Hijab controversy in the state.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Ghanshyam Upadhyay who sought an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the row that started from the coastal district headquarters town of Udupi and spread to different parts of Karnataka last month. "We have already called for a report from the government and we will consider your submission," Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi told senior advocate Subhash Jha from Mumbai, who represented Upadhyay.
Presenting his argument before the bench, Jha said the agitation pushing for wearing of Hijabs in class-rooms was the handiwork of radical organisations, which are funded by some foreign nations. (PTI)
Chairman of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) monitoring committee, Karnataka, Subhash B Adi, in a meeting with officials of the municipal agency and the state pollution control board said concrete steps need to be taken to address the issue of garbage disposal in the state.
During a meeting on the Implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules-2016 and the managing, transportation and the processing of solid waste within Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits, he said officials need to keep a track of people registered for waste collection.
“All citizens of the city, who understand their responsibility, should segregate waste (dry and wet) before giving it to the waste collectors. It should be examined whether the people are aware of their responsibilities in connection with solid waste management. About 40 per cent (more than 100 kg of waste) of waste comes from bulk generators. The authorities need to keep a track of how much waste is being collected and where the waste is being disposed of,” Adi added. Read More
Amid criticism from city residents accusing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) of not maintaining parks properly, senior officials of the civic agency say that developmental activities could not be taken up as the custody of over 200 parks are disputed. There are a total of 1,358 parks in Bengaluru.
“We can only take care of our properties. These 200 parks or more are very small in size and are not fenced since they do not belong to us. Some are maintained by the corporate entities and resident welfare associations. We have no jurisdiction over them.”
The horticulture department is also planning to take up plantation works in and around lakes. “We have shortlisted 36 lakes where the vacant spaces in the recently rejuvenated lakes will see plantation of native species. Rs 12 crores budget has been sanctioned for this project and the works will be completed by early next year. 16 lakes will see the plantation in its vacant patches this year itself. I want to clarify that no recreational set up will come up at the lake in the name of greenery. The step is taken to complement the lake’s ecology,” said Chandrashekar, deputy director, horticulture department. Read More
Amid criticism from city residents accusing the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) of not maintaining parks properly, senior officials of the civic agency say that developmental activities could not be taken up as the custody of over 200 parks are disputed. There are a total of 1,358 parks in Bengaluru.
“We can only take care of our properties. These 200 parks or more are very small in size and are not fenced since they do not belong to us. Some are maintained by the corporate entities and resident welfare associations. We have no jurisdiction over them.”
The horticulture department is also planning to take up plantation works in and around lakes. “We have shortlisted 36 lakes where the vacant spaces in the recently rejuvenated lakes will see plantation of native species. Rs 12 crores budget has been sanctioned for this project and the works will be completed by early next year. 16 lakes will see the plantation in its vacant patches this year itself. I want to clarify that no recreational set up will come up at the lake in the name of greenery. The step is taken to complement the lake’s ecology,” said Chandrashekar, deputy director, horticulture department. Read More
Stranded Indian Medical students are seen taking shelter in the basement of the college located in Kharkiv, a northeast city of Ukraine.
According to Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), as per the district wise information of stranded persons received by its control room till 6 AM today, 91 students (pursuing MBBS) are in Ukraine.
Among the students stranded 28 are from Bengaluru, 10 from Mysuru, five each from Ballari and Hassan, followed by others. (PTI)
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has appealed to Union Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar to bring back Karnataka students safely from Ukraine. Speaking to reporters Bommai Friday said, “I have spoken to the Union External Affairs Minister in the morning. The Union government is doing everything possible to bring back the stranded Indians safely. Possibilities of bringing them back to safety through land route options are being explored as the air services have been hit due to the war with Russia. There is information about secure movement possibilities towards the western part of Ukraine and the Indian Embassy in Ukraine is in touch with stranded Indian students.”
"We have appealed to ensure the safety of the students and make arrangements for their food and accommodation. Helplines have been set up by both Union and State governments. The Union Minister for External Affairs has appealed to the students to be careful till the war subsides," Bommai said.
The anti-corruption bureau (ACB) of Karnataka on Friday conducted searches at the offices of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) offices.
"I don't know why the court is taking such a long time. They should come up with whatever solution they have," DK Shivakumar, KPCC President, said on Friday.
"As far as the Congress is concerned, we're worried about the education of children irrespective of their dress. Government shouldn't interfere in it," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
DK Shivakumar, KPCC President, on Friday said that the Congress, BJP, and JDS have fought together for the rights of Karnataka and submitted a report to the central government that there should be balance in the reservoir at Mekedatu.
"Today we are appealing to the central govt. to implement this after environment clearance. The land and water belongs to Karnataka," Shivakumar was quoted as saying by ANI.
Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, "The hurry to disinvest banks is worrying and is backed by unfounded economic approach. The recent announcement by Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitaraman to sell public sector banks as part of disinvestment programme...lacks exhaustive research, consensus among banking professionals, experts and bank employees, and the analysis of the outcome."
"The decision stems more from the failure of the government to increase the revenue since last 8 years, rather than the structural need to disinvest," the letter read.
Outlining the consequences of disinvestment, he wrote, "In the interest of every Indian, I urge you to withdraw the decision to disinvest banks to ensure equality, to promote economic participation of every individual and in nation-building."
The Karnataka government has created a web portal to collect relevant information about stranded people in Ukraine who hail from Karnataka. You can access the portal here.
The information collected will be shared with the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The app also provides the latest updates from the MEA and contact numbers needed for help.
The Shivamogga police have arrested two more persons in the Bajarang Dal activist Harsha murder case. The arrested are Abdul Roshan (24) and Jaffer Sadhik (55). The total number of arrests in the case now stands at 10.
Even as an interim order of the Karnataka High Court on not wearing hijab is restricted only to pre-university colleges running class 11 and 12 courses, postgraduate Muslim girl students wearing the headscarf were turned away on Thursday from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) College in the coastal town of Udupi.
The postgraduate students said that they were not allowed to attend their classes or enter the college premises by the principal, which was in violation of the HC order.
A similar incident was reported at Ullal where students wearing hijab were denied entry to the college. Later, a meeting was held with their parents and the students were allowed to sit while wearing hijab for a day. A meeting has been scheduled to discuss the matter. Read more
While the row over allowing hijab in educational institutions in Karnataka continues, a 17-year-old Amritdhari (baptised) Sikh girl was asked by her college to remove her turban in accordance with its dress code and the interim order of the Karnataka High Court. The court earlier had restrained students from “wearing saffron shawls, hijab and religious flags or the like in classrooms of colleges which have prescribed a uniform”.
The student of Mount Carmel PU College, Bengaluru, who is also the president of the students’ association, was politely asked to remove her turban for the first time on February 16 to which she refused. The college later spoke to her father stating they understood the importance of the turban for a Sikh but were bound by the High Court order.
The student’s father Gurcharan Singh responded, “Thanks for your mail, as mentioned in my earlier mail, I have gone through this order and this High court order does not mention anything about Sikh Turban, it should not be misunderstood. However I am also in touch with our community advocates and various organisations. I am sure none of us wants to spend time on such matters and we should focus on education and personality development which is the core objective of the institution. I hope you would consider this case and oblige by allowing her with her turban to attend the classes.” Read more
Karnataka on Thursday reported 588 fresh cases of Covid-19 and 19 related deaths. Of these, 353 were from Bengaluru Urban, which also saw 690 people being discharged and 14 related deaths, PTI reported.
After Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru recorded the second highest number of cases at 28, followed by Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada (23), Belagavi (18), Kodagu and Udupi (15).
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