https://www.sahilonline.net/en/state-news SahilOnline, Leading news portal from Coastal Karnataka, bringing you latest updates from the Coast, State, Nation and the World, in Kannada, Urdu and English. State News https://www.sahilonline.net/en/sahilonlines-bhatkal-new-website-at-sahilonlineorg SahilOnline's new news portal is in final stages of development, readers are requested to access SahilOnline's new website at this address. www.sahilonline.org https://www.sahilonline.net/en/new-sahilonline-site-is-under-construction-english-site-can-be-get-by-clicking-sahilonlineorg SahilOnline's new news portal is in final stages of development, readers are requested to access SahilOnline's new website at this address. www.sahilonline.org https://www.sahilonline.net/en/sahilonlines-new-website-at-sahilonlineorg SahilOnline's new news portal is in final stages of development, readers are requested to access SahilOnline's new website at this address. www.sahilonline.org https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-budget-government-to-set-up-startup-park-near-bengaluru-airport  Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said a state-of-the-art startup park would be established at a cost of Rs 30 crore near Kempegowda International Airport here. Presenting his government's last budget in the present term, he also said new industrial clusters will be established in nine places by Karnataka State Small Industries Development Corporation (KSSIDC). https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-budget-2023-24-projects-worth-9698-crores-announced Seeking to woo farmers in an election year, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday announced an increase in the limit of interest-free short-term loan given to farmers from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh from the coming financial year. This would ensure availability of hassle-free and need-based loan facility for making necessary preparation for farm-related activities, Bommai, who also holds the finance portfolio, said presenting the 2023-34 budget in the state Legislative Assembly. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/congress-starts-flower-on-ear-campaign-against-ruling-bjp-in-karnataka Intensifying its election campaign in poll-bound Karnataka, the Congress on Saturday launched a 'poster war' against the BJP by pasting 'Kivi Mele Hoova' (flower on the ear) on BJP posters in Bengaluru and Dakshina Kannada districts. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/3-eci-teams-visit-karnataka-to-find-solutions-for-low-voter-turnout-in-polls Three teams of the Election Commission of India (ECI) visited some districts of Karnataka and held meetings with the local officials to review the district-level preparations for upcoming Assembly polls. The visit was intended to find the possible reasons and solutions to poor voter turnout in the state during Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The team led by Deputy Chief Commissioner of ECI, Ajay Badu, visited the Yadgiri district and conducted preliminary inspections of EVMs and VVPATs, here. He initiated the programs organized for voter awareness and held a meeting with Kalaburagi zone district commissioners regarding the pre-election preparations. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/mhadei-row-various-organisations-in-goa-allege-water-diversion-by-ktaka-plan-protests  Various organisations in Goa have planned protests against the alleged diversion of Mhadei river water by the neighbouring Karnataka in the coming days. The NGOs under the aegis of ‘Save Mhadei Save Goa Front’ on Saturday appealed to people to light diyas (earthen lamps) on Sunday at 7.30 pm. Activist Prajal Sakhardande said various programmes, including corner meetings, will be held in the coastal state over the issue. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/ktaka-collected-record-gst-of-rs-6085-cr-in-january-cm-bommai   Karnataka made a record Goods and Service Tax collection of Rs 6,085 crore in January this year, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday. In a set of tweets, the Chief Minister also gave credit to the reforms, vigilance and better compliance by taxpayers which made it possible. “A record collection of 6,085 crore has been made under GST this month. Karnataka continues to be state with the highest growth rate of 30% in the GST tax collection,” Bommai tweeted. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/aero-india-to-see-largest-ever-united-states-delegation US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Elizabeth Jones will lead the largest-ever US delegation to Aero India to be held here from February 13. “It will be an honour to lead the largest-ever US delegation to Aero India to showcase the world-class equipment, training, capability and interoperability the U.S. industry and military offer," Ambassador Jones said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/poll-fever-poor-attendance-set-to-cast-shadow-on-last-session-of-karnatakas-15th-assembly The last session of the 15th Legislative Assembly of Karnataka commencing on Friday is likely to witness poor attendance as a significant number of legislators are expected to give it a miss as they will be busy campaigning for the assembly polls, due by April-May. The 11-day-long session, which will begin with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot addressing the joint sitting of the legislature, will see Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presenting his government's last budget on February 17. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah is likely to skip the Governor's address on February 10, as he will be on the Congress' "Praja Dwani Yatre" in the northern parts of the state, as per his tour plan. According to sources close to him, he is likely to take part in the session for a very few days, that includes the day on which the budget will be presented. According to Congress sources, party's state unit President D K Shivakumar, and several of its legislators are also likely to stay away on most of the days, as they will be either part of the yatre or will have to fulfill their responsibility relating to preparation for the polls. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bengaluru-school-marks-ukg-student-fail-govt-seeks-clarification A private school in Bengaluru has failed a six-year-old UKG student following which the state education department has sought clarification. The parents and educationists have slammed the school management for their insensitive approach towards the kid. The incident took place at the Saint Joseph Chaminade Academy, located in Deepahalli in Anekal town on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The marks card issued to the girl child mentions that she has failed. It showed that in one of the subjects Nandini scored five marks out of 40. BJP MLA and former Education Minister S. Suresh Kumar slammed the school management. "What is this so-called institution up to regarding the child? I want to visit this 'wonderful' school once," he said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/people-wont-value-caste-talks-leaders-must-desist-from-such-statements-cm-bommai-on-hdks-brahmin-remark After the JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy sparked a row over his remarks on Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s caste, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that the people of the state will not support any caste-based statements and ‘advised’ him to “desist” from these type of comments. “The State of Karnataka has completed 75 years and the people will not support any caste-based statements. So, they must desist from talking about what is not liked by the people,” Bommai said while talking to the reporters here. “He will not like to give reaction to such statements,” he added. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/no-hindus-died-in-clashes-when-i-was-cm-says-siddaramaiah Former chief minister Siddaramaiah has claimed that no Hindus were murdered in communal clashes in Karnataka when he was chief minister. He told reporters here on Tuesday that some Hindus and minorities were killed during his regime as chief minister, but that was a different issue. He blamed the BJP and RSS for these murders. “Several Hindu organisations had created a hue and cry against my government over the murder of Paresh Mesta at Honnavar in Uttara Kannada district in December 2017, and demanded a CBI inquiry. My government handed over the investigation to the CBI, which gave its report that it was a natural death,” Siddaramaiah said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/cong-asks-ec-to-launch-inquiry-into-charges-of-bribing-voters-in-karnataka : The Congress asked the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday to conduct an inquiry into charges of bribing voters in Karnataka in the run-up to the state Assembly polls and ensure fairness in the electoral process. A delegation of Congress leaders met EC officials and demanded a thorough investigation into charges that seek to “decimate the electoral process” and “hijack democracy” by offering bribes. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala also gave a representation to the EC against Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state BJP chief Nalin Kumar Katil and the saffron party’s MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi for allegedly offering bribes for votes in the upcoming Assembly polls. He said on January 22, former Karnataka minister Jarkiholi announced in Belagavi that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would pay every voter in the upcoming state election. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-cong-chief-gets-ed-summons-daughter-served-cbi-notice Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar on Wednesday said he has been asked by the ED to appear before it on February 22, while his daughter has been served notice by the CBI. The former Minister, who is currently undertaking “Praja Dhwani Yatre” as part of the party’s preparations for the coming Assembly polls due by May, alleged that the Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation are “directed” only at opposition leaders and not at those from the ruling party. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/h-d-kumaraswamys-comments-on-brahmin-cm-stir-debate-in-karnataka  Comments on Brahmanism and the BJP 'making a Brahmin candidate the CM' by former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy have stirred a controversy in Karnataka. However, on Tuesday he did a u-turn and clarified that he has no objections to a Brahmin becoming the CM. He said he has nothing against Brahmins, but his comment was on Union Minister for Mine, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi. "If the BJP plans to make Union Minister for Mine, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs Pralhad Joshi as the CM if the BJP is voted to power, the party must declare his candidature before the Assembly elections. I don't have any objections if any candidate from the Brahmin community is made the CM. There are deserving candidates in the community. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bommai-not-expanding-cabinet-because-siddaramaiah-slams-karnataka-cm-ahead-of-assembly-polls Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is not expanding the Karnataka Cabinet as it is avoiding appointing the son of its senior leader BS Yediyurappa. "Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is not expanding the cabinet as he is avoiding giving a ministerial position to the son of Yediyurappa. Another reason for not expanding the cabinet and keeping multiple portfolios with himself is the increasing acceptance of bribes here," Siddaramaiah said adding that Yediyurappa has been wrongly treated by the BJP. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/sdpi-seeks-opening-of-its-sealed-office The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has sought unlocking of its office in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. A petition in this regard was heard by the High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday. The SDPI claimed sealing of 17 of its offices without a notice and said the outfit needs to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka and use its office. Justice K Natarajan heard the plea. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/hindutva-supports-murder-violence-and-discrimination-congress-leader-siddaramiah : Former Karnataka chief minister and the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramiah, on Monday triggered controversy with his remark that he is not anti-Hindu but anti-Hindutva as according to him, Hindutva is for murder, violence and discrimination. Speaking in Kalaburagi during the launch of a book - a biopic of former congress MLA BR Patil, Siddaramiah said, "Hindutva is against Constitution. Hindutva and Hindu dharma is different. I'm not against the Hindu religion. I'm a Hindu but oppose Manuvad and Hindutva." https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bjp-to-launch-vijaya-yatras-in-poll-bound-karnataka In the run-up to the big battle of Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party will launch four mega rath yatras which the party is likely to call 'Vijaya Yatras'. These four Raths will be launched from four different areas of the state and will converge into one mega-finale yatra. "The Yatras are in the planning stage and will be launched by end of February or the beginning of March and will cover all the 224 Assembly constituencies," a top party source told ANI. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/cong-forms-screening-committee-for-karnataka-polls  The Congress on Monday constituted its screening committee for the Karnataka Assembly elections with Mohan Prakash as its chairman. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the constitution of the screening committee for the ensuing Karnataka polls, with Prakash as the chairman and party MPs Neeraj Dangi, Mohammad Jawed and Saptagiri Ulaka as its members. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/cop-28-president-appreciates-indias-goal-of-achieving-500-gw-clean-energy-by-2030 UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Jaber attended the Asian Ministerial Energy Roundtable meeting in Bengaluru on Tuesday. Al Jaber noted the significant rise in investment in renewable energy in recent years and India’s drive to add 500 GW of clean energy in its energy output by 2030. He also highlighted that UAE is keen to partner with India and the world on advancing clean energies. In his first international visit as the UAE COP 28 President Designate, Al Jaber made the case of COP 28 of a pro-growth and a pro-climate agenda to support an all-inclusive energy transition that leaves no one behind. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/rss-bjp-planning-to-make-pralhad-joshi-as-karnataka-cm-h-d-kumaraswamy JD (S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, has courted a row by saying that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is trying to impose Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, as the next chief minister of the state if the party wins the assembly elections which is scheduled to be held this year. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/g20-members-agree-on-joint-efforts-to-achieve-energy-efficiency-and-security The G20 member countries participating in the first Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting in Bengaluru have agreed on collective efforts in priority areas to achieve energy security and diversified supply chains of new energy sources, the Ministry of Power said on Sunday. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/animal-husbandry-minister-cant-tell-goat-from-cow-siddaramaiah Former Karnataka chief minister and the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramiah, on Saturday launched an attack on state Animal Husbandry Minister, Prabhu Chauhan, calling him a ‘fool’ who cannot tell a goat from a cow. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bjp-cong-engage-in-cooker-politics-to-woo-voters-in-karnataka With the Karnataka Assembly polls drawing near, the ruling BJP and Opposition Congress ave unleashed a charm offensive on the people and are wooing them with pressure cookers. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/pm-modi-to-inaugurate-new-helicopter-manufacturing-factory-of-hal-in-karnatakas-tumakuru In yet another step towards Aatmanirbharta in the defence sector, Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the HAL Helicopter Factory in Tumakuru. Its foundation stone was also laid by the Prime Minister in 2016. It is a dedicated new greenfield helicopter factory which will enhance the capacity and ecosystem to build helicopters. Asia’s largest helicopter manufacturing facility, this helicopter factory will initially produce Light Utility Helicopters (LUH). LUH is an indigenously designed and developed 3-ton class, single-engine multipurpose utility helicopter with the unique feature of high manoeuvrability, informed the government on Saturday. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/nation-fast-changing-into-developed-one-karnataka-will-drive-this-piyush-goyal : Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday said the country is on the path of rapid transformation into a developed nation and Karnataka is the “jewel” that would drive that change. He expressed confidence that BJP would come back to power in Karnataka with a big majority after the upcoming Assembly polls. “India is on the path of rapid transformation into a developed nation. Karnataka, of course, is the jewel that will drive this transformation and the growth faster and more efficiently,” Goyal said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/yediyurappa-predicts-karnataka-assembly-polls-before-april-10-12 Predicting that the assembly polls in Karnataka is likely before April 10-12, Veteran BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Saturday exuded confidence that the party would come to power on its own in the state with absolute majority, banking on the achievements of state and Centre. Insisting that there is no confusion in the BJP and all are united, the party strong man urged its workers and leaders to take the programmes of state and central government door-to-door, with special focus towards gaining the support of women, youth and SC/STs. He also said, gone are the days of Congress coming to power using the means of money, muscle and communal politics. “The assembly polls are expected before April 10-12. No one can stop the BJP form forming a government with clear majority by winning 130-140 seats in this election,” Yediyurappa said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bjp-appoints-union-minister-dharmendra-pradhan-poll-in-charge-for-karnataka The BJP on Saturday appointed Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan its in-charge for the upcoming Karnataka assembly polls, a party statement said. Tamil Nadu BJP unit president K Annamalai will be the co-incharge for the high-stakes polls where both the ruling party and the opposition Congress have launched intensive public outreach for the elections likely to be held in April-May. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/reduce-sslc-pass-marks-from-28-to-20-panel-to-karnataka-govt With an aim to increase the pass percentage in the SSLC examination, the Karnataka Administrative Reform Commission - II has recommended to the state government to reduce passing marks in theory exams from the present 28 marks to 20 marks out of the total 80 marks. The panel, headed by former chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar, submitted its fourth and fifth reports to CM Basavaraj Biommai on Friday.  According to the Commission, the Gross Enrolment Ratio of children getting admitted to Pre-University (PU) classes is the lowest among all south Indian states. One of the main reasons for this is students failing SSLC exams. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/unheard-of-in-karnataka-hc-on-threat-to-senior-advocate-ms-shyam-sundar The High Court of Karnataka on Friday expressed its concern over a threat to senior advocate MS Shyam Sundar and said such things were unheard of in the State. The senior counsel filed an affidavit before Justice V Srishananda that some rowdy elements were seen outside his house. The personal affidavit stated also that a woman colleague of his was stalked. Justice V Srishananda said, “This court has got a tradition and culture and you are trying to spoil that. A responsible member of the Bar is making allegations against you. This was unheard of in Karnataka.” MS Shyam Sundar, representing Alliance University, in a petition sought cancellation of bail granted to the former chancellor of the university Madhukar G Angur. Angur was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case and obtained bail. The court in no uncertain terms took him to task for the threats on the advocate. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/ameer-ke-saath-gareeb-ka-vinash-siddaramaiah-on-union-budget Karnataka's Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah on Wednesday termed the Union budget 2023-24 as a continuation of the policy of "ameer ke saath, gareeb ka vinash" (supporting the rich, destroying the poor) followed by the central "trouble" engine government. About sanction of Rs 5,300 crores for Upper Bhadra Project, he said the project needs Rs 23,000 crores for completion, and the Central government has agreed to give only a quarter of it. "If 40 per cent commission is taken off, the project will only get less than Rs 3,000 crore. It is not shown whether the sanctioned amount is for the period of one year or five years," he said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/vote-nota-if-theres-no-good-candidate-says-karnataka-speaker Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri on Wednesday urged voters to choose ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) if they do not find any candidates to be suitable. Kageri was speaking at an interaction organised by the Bengaluru Urban district administration on election reforms, a subject that he has been pursuing.  Kageri said voters must select the best candidates in the election. “If they don’t find anyone to be the best, then they can cast NOTA,” he said.  https://www.sahilonline.net/en/siddaramaiah-and-shivakumar-to-lead-separate-bus-tours-in-north-and-south-karnataka Leader of Opposition in Karnataka, Siddaramaiah and state Congress President D K Shivakumar will embark on separate bus tour from Friday, as part of party’s ‘Praja Dhwani Yatre’ ahead of assembly elections, after concluding the joint tour in the first phase. One team of Congress leaders headed by Siddaramaiah will tour Assembly constituencies in north Karnataka region, while Shivakumar will be leading the way in southern districts. Siddaramaiah, a former Chief Minister, who also commands popularity in the northern part of the state, will kickstart his bus tour along with a team of 35 party leaders from Basavakalyan in Bidar district. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/youth-beaten-to-death-for-chatting-with-girl-in-bengaluru-four-held A 20-year-old youth was brutally murdered for allegedly chatting with a girl in Bengaluru, the police said on Thursday. Four persons have been arrested in connection to the youth's murder, they said. According to officials, the deceased has been identified as Govindaraju. "The accused have been identified as Anil, Lohit, Bharat and Kishore. They have been arrested for murder a 20-year-old for allegedly chatting with a girl," DCP North Division Devaraj told the media. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/union-budget-met-expectations-of-ktaka-state-budget-to-be-pro-people-cm Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said the Union budget has fulfilled the State government’s expectations in all the key priority sectors, and now he is focused on presenting a budget for the State that is “pro-people”. He said the Union budget lays the strong foundation for ‘Amrit Kaal’, with the farsightedness of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and focus on micro to macro-level, aimed at fast-paced development of the nation. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/if-accused-is-dead-fine-can-be-collected-from-successors-high-court Bengaluru:The Karnataka High Court in an important judgment stated that the fine can be collected from the property or from the successors who inherit from the accused even after his death. The bench headed by Justice Shivashankar Amarannavar gave this order on Wednesday while looking into the petition by late Tottile Gowda from Hassan. He had submitted the petition when he was alive. The bench stated that the petitioner will not get an exemption from accountability of paying fine as per the court order even in case of his death. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/sharavathi-project-fresh-bid-to-get-land-ownership-rights-for-displaced-families A high-level committee on Thursday decided to approach the Centre afresh with a plea to denotify about 9,600 acres of forest land in favour of 11,000 to 12,000 families displaced due to the Sharavathi river project in Shivamogga district of Karnataka and rehabilitated there decades ago. The panel is headed by State Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, both of whom hail from the district. After a meeting here, Yediyurappa told reporters that a fresh proposal would be sent to the Centre with a request to denotify the forest land in favour of those displaced families who have not yet got rights over the land. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/thought-nirmala-sitharaman-would-give-boost-to-karnataka-in-union-budget-dk-shivakumar State Congrees Chief DK Shivakumar on Thursday said “Karnataka has got nothing” in the Union Budget in spite of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman being “from our state.” “Karnataka has got nothing in the Union Budget, except that they have released some amount for Tungabhadra, which has already been there. The budget does not impact Karnataka straight and we are very sorry that we thought Nirmala Sitharaman is from our state and she will give a boost to the state but nothing has been done,” Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar said talking to mediapersons. Nirmala Sitharaman in her budget speech on Wednesday announced a grant of Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project in Karnataka. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/two-held-for-trying-to-dump-waste-in-forest-in-karnataka Two persons with 15 sacks of plastic waste were nabbed by the Makutta Wildlife Range officers on Monday evening. The accused allegedly tried dumping the waste, which was allegedly brought from Kerala, at the Makutta Reserve forest area in Kodagu. The Makutta forest borders Kodagu district and Kerala state is gradually turning into an open dump yard, with waste brought in loaded trucks from Kerala. The reserved forest and wildlife forest area has been filled with plastic, bottles and other litter. A complaint in this regard was forwarded by a few alert residents to the district Chief Conservator of Forests. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/light-combat-aircraft-tejas-to-be-at-centre-stage-of-india-pavilion-at-aero-india-2023 A full-scale Light Combat Aircraft-Tejas aircraft in Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration will be at the centre stage of "India Pavilion" at Aero India 2023, to be held from February 13 to 17 at Yelahanka Air Force Station here. The 14th Edition of the biennial aero show and aviation exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Defence, will have a separate "India Pavilion" based on 'Fixed Wing Platform' theme to showcase India's strides in the fixed wing area and future prospects in the field, a Defence release said on Thursday. The India Pavilion will further showcase the growth of India in developing an eco-system for fixed wing platform which includes the demonstration of various structural modules, simulators and systems, among others, of LCA-Tejas aircraft being produced by private partners. There will also be a section for "Defence space, New Technologies" and a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) section which will give an insight about the growth of India in each sector. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/aap-sets-agenda-for-karnataka-assembly-polls-to-fight-all-224-seats Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi on Tuesday said her party is setting the agenda for the upcoming Karnataka assembly election with BJP promising 'Namma Clinic' on the lines of Delhi's Mohalla Clinics and Congress promising 200 units of free electricity as has been implemented in the national capital. The party will fight in all the 224 assembly constituencies across the state in the election, which is less than three months away, and the list of candidates would be announced in the first week of March, the AAP leader said at a press conference here. The party leader said people do not want a "copycat version of the Delhi model of governance and want the original". Hence, the party has decided to fight the election in Karnataka with all its vigour. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/5300-crore-assistance-to-drought-prone-central-karnataka-n-sitharaman Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday said the Centre would provide ₹ 5,300 crore assistance for the Upper Bhadra project in Karnataka, an announcement cheered by the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Several BJP leaders, including National General Secretary C T Ravi and state party chief Nalin Kumar Kateel praised the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha, calling it "farsighted and pro poor". "Rs 5,300 crore has been announced for the Upper Bhadra Project, which is a major irrigation project from Karnataka and has a status of national project. I welcome this, as the project is important, aimed at providing irrigation and drinking water to vast areas of drought affected central districts of the state," Chief Minister Bommai said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/budget-2023-centre-announces-new-clean-energy-funds BENGALURU: India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced several new clean energy initiatives in the government's annual budget speech on Wednesday, saying "green growth" is a top priority for the country. More than USD 8 billion dollars were announced for projects like mangrove restoration which help suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, converting waste into biogas and speeding up renewable energy initiatives. But details of how the funds will be spent are yet to be disclosed. The minister said the injection of 35,000 crore rupees (USD 4.3 billion) into India's energy transition will be channelled through the ministry of petroleum and natural gas to help India reach its goal of net zero emissions by 2070. India is currently the world's third highest-emitting nation. The new funds form part of the government's USD 550 billion budget aimed at ramping up spending to spur economic growth and create jobs ahead of the general election next year. Sitharaman mentioned the scaling up of clean energy for the economy and jobs within the first few minutes of her speech. Sitharaman also proposed government incentives for energy storage systems in India that would aid round-the-clock renewable energy use and announced a new framework for pumped storage systems for hydropower. She set out an additional 20,700 crore rupees (USD 2.5 billion) to facilitate new clean energy production in the Himalayan region of Ladakh, where electricity grid infrastructure remains a key sticking point. Other programs to incentivize the use of alternative, less-polluting fertilizers and to cut down on chemical fertilizers were also announced, but details of how much will be spent were unclear. Import taxes for components required to produce lithium-ion batteries, a key component in many electric vehicles, will be slashed, Sitharaman said. But no exemption was provided for protective taxes in the solar power sector. The budget will now be debated by both houses of parliament before it can be enacted, which is likely to happen as Modi's party holds a strong majority. The move toward clean energy and away from fossil fuels has increasingly become a priority for India and nations around the world as countries try and limit global warming. India's government recently announced a green hydrogen initiative for clean fuel and a climate action program to encourage more sustainable lifestyles. But the country is still heavily dependent on planet-warming coal burning for its energy needs. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/wont-criticise-siddaramaiah-i-have-immense-respect-for-him-karnataka-minister Karnataka Minister KC Narayana Gowda has said that he has “immense respect” for Congress leader and former chief minister Siddaramaiah and would not criticise him. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/wont-join-bjp-rss-even-if-they-make-me-pm-siddaramaiah Congress leader and former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has lashed out at the BJP and JD-S saying that those parties have no ideology or rationality. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/goa-assemblys-panel-on-mhadei-to-meet-on-feb-8 The preliminary meeting of the Goa Assembly’s House Committee on the Mhadei issue will be held on February 8, a senior official said on Monday. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/opposition-targets-goa-cm-over-hm-amit-shahs-remarks-on-mhadei-water-for-karnataka-he-says-state-govt-wont-compromise-on-issue Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said there will be no compromise on the Mhadei issue and that his government was working to protect the river water from being diverted after the Opposition sought his resignation over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks that BJP has given the water to Karnataka. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/unga-president-arrives-bengaluru-interacts-with-academics-at-indian-institute-of-science United Nations General Assembly President Csaba Korosi arrived in Bengaluru and interacted with the academics at Indian Institute of Science, and representatives from civil society organisations. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/jds-leader-hd-kumaraswamy-challenges-siddaramaiah-to-form-his-own-party Janata Dal (Secular) President HD Kumaraswamy challenged Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and Congress leader Siddaramaiah to form his own party and try and win five seats if he has the strength. Speaking to the reporters at Mittimalkapur in the taluk on Saturday, he said, “after the election, JDS will attract the attention of the country, wait and see.” https://www.sahilonline.net/en/last-rites-of-wing-commander-martyred-in-morena-air-crash-to-be-held-in-karnatakas-belgaum The funeral of Wing Commander Hanumanth Rao Sarathi, who lost his life in an air crash in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena on Saturday, is going to be held here in Karnataka’s Belgaum on Sunday evening. Wing Commander Hanumanth Rao Sarathi lost his life in the air crash on Saturday over Madhya Pradesh’s Morena. He was an ace Mirage 2000 fighter aircraft pilot & instructor at the IAF Tactics & Air Combat Development Establishment (TACDE) in Gwalior. The Indian Air Force on Saturday evening issued an update that Wing Commander Hanumanth Rao Sarathi sustained fatal injuries after two Indian Air Force fighter jets– a Sukhoi Su-30 and a Mirage 2000 — crashed during a training exercise on Saturday in Madhya Pradesh’s Morena. Wing Commander Hanumanth Rao Sarathi was in the Sukhoi Su-30 aircraft. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/there-is-a-pro-bjp-wave-across-the-state-karnataka-cm-basavaraj-bommai Speaking on Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s one-day visit to Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Sunday that the visit has instilled the party workers with strength and enthusiasm. “The one-day visit of Home Minister to the State has instilled more strength and enthusiasm among workers in Karnataka. There is a pro-BJP wave across the state. We’re going before the people with the achievements of the State & Central govt”, said the Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai. Talking to reporters here on Sunday, he said the BJP has been quite strong in Kittur of Karnataka and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has instilled more strength and enthusiasm among workers. The feelings of the people were reflected in all the meetings. The Congress leaders are posing as if they have already come to power. Let anybody say anything but the truth is different. And it is expressed during the visit of the BJP leaders. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/ktaka-students-evacuated-from-hostel-over-protests-against-bad-food-in-ballari Students of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes have been ordered to be expelled from a hostel due to their protest against the poor quality of food being served in the hostel in Ballari in Karnataka. JDS Legislative party leader and former CM HD Kumaraswamy said in a statement, “Providing quality food is the responsibility of the Social Welfare Department and District Administration.” https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bengaluru-airport-to-get-additional-1700-cisf-personnel  A fresh deployment of about 1,700 CISF personnel has been sanctioned by the central government for providing anti-terror cover to the recently expanded Bengaluru international airport, officials said on Sunday. This will be in addition to the 3,500 men and women personnel of the paramilitary force already deployed at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in the Karnataka capital, they said. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the airport’s Terminal-1 is engaged in frisking passengers, scanning their cabin luggage and providing a comprehensive armed anti-hijack and counter-terrorist cover, the officials said. The Union home ministry recently sanctioned a fresh manpower of about 1,700 CISF personnel for the Bengaluru airport in addition to the 3,500 staff currently posted there, a senior security officer told PTI. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/kumaraswamys-word-final-on-bhavanis-ticket-from-hassan-seat-revanna Seeking to end the controversy over Bhavani Revanna's wish to contest from Hassan constituency in the upcoming Assembly election, her husband H D Revanna said his younger brother and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's word will be final. Bhavani had created ruffle within the first family of Janata Dal (Secular) by announcing that her candidature has been cleared for the assembly election due by May. Kumaraswamy later issued a clarification that it was not necessary that she would contest from Hassan as there were many other capable candidates. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/integrate-forensic-science-investigation-with-criminal-justice-system-to-increase-conviction-rate-amit-shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday emphasised the importance of integrating forensic sciences investigation with the criminal justice system to increase the conviction rate. “The crime rate has been increasing significantly as the criminals are several steps ahead of the police, be it hawala transaction, border intrusion, narcotics, cyber crime or the crimes against women. Crime prevention is not possible until the police remain ahead of the criminals. To attain this goal, the first condition is to increase the conviction ratio but unless the investigation is recorded scientifically, you cannot punish any criminal and hence for this, any crime that holds a punishment for six years or more should be studied by forensic science,” Home Minister Amit Shah during the stone laying ceremony of the ninth campus of the National Forensic Science Centre (NFSC) at Dharwad. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bjp-is-nightmare-for-dk-shivakumar-karnataka-cm-bommai Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that there is no dissidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party Karnataka unit and they are just organising the party for the state’s good. “There has been no dissidence in the party anywhere. The progress of the party is important for which everyone must strive. They have only one aim for Belagavi, Dharwad, Kittur Karnataka, Hyderabad-Karnataka and South Karnataka and to achieve this, the party is being organised,” Bommai told reporters ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah’s programme in Hubballi. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-amit-shah-takes-part-in-road-show-in-kundgol-hits-out-at-cong-and-jds-for-dynasty-politics Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday took part in a road show here, as part of Karnataka BJP’s ‘Vijaya Sankalp Abhiyan’, in the run-up to the Assembly polls in the state, due by May. Targeting the opposition Congress and JD(S) and accusing them of dynasty politics and corruption, he sought support for the BJP to form a government with full majority in Karnataka. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/dont-trust-jds-they-can-win-max-20-seats-cong-leader-siddaramaiah Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah asked people not to trust JD(S) and claimed that the regional party can win a maximum of only 20-22 seats in the 224 member legislative assembly, and cannot come to power. The Vokkaliga dominated Mandya district is the bastion of JD(S). Calling the BJP government “communal, corrupt and anti-people”, the former Chief Minister asked people to remove it and give Congress an opportunity to come to power in Karnataka, where Assembly elections are due by May. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/expect-pro-people-state-budget-this-year-karnataka-cm-bommai Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai assured the people of Karnataka that the state’s budget this year will be pro-people and in the interest of all its citizens. While talking to the media on Friday, CM Bommai said, “Like last year, the state budget for the year 2023-24 will be pro-people and the entire Karnataka can expect something from the budget.” Earlier on January 14, Bommai announced that he would present a budget that would focus on farmers and the poor. “We will launch a scheme for women and girls. This will help them to tackle their day-to-day problems and will help them to lead their lives. The scheme will be titled Stree Samarthya Yojana (Women Empowerment Scheme),” he added. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-polls-hassan-seat-a-bone-of-contention-as-deve-gowdas-daughter-in-law-appears-keen-to-be-in-fray here seems to be a conundrum within the JD(S) and its ‘first family’ led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda over selection of the party candidate to Hassan assembly segment for the upcoming Karnataka polls. The seat is turning out to be a major bone of contention, as Gowda’s daughter-in-law Bhavani Revanna, who had thrown her hat in the ring, has not relented, despite JD(S) legislature party leader and her brother-in-law H D Kumaraswamy making it clear that she will not be fielded. Bhavani Revanna, a former Hassan zilla panchayat member, is the wife of Kumaraswamy’s elder brother and former minister H D Revanna. Two days after Bhavani Revanna publicly claimed that her name had been finalised by the party for the Hassan seat and a formal announcement will be made soon, Kumaraswamy on January 25 said her contest was not necessary there (in the constituency) as the party has a capable candidate. JD(S), which has already announced a list of 93 candidates for the assembly polls due by May, is yet to finalise one for Hassan constituency. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-to-offer-puc-education-in-state-run-residential-schools-from-next-academic-year Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai today announced that the state government-run residential schools, will have colleges offering pre-university courses (PUC) from the next academic year. The announcement was made by the CM on Friday in the context of the govt-run residential schools which have completed 10 years. These residential schools will also have to conduct competitive examinations amongst students so that they are prepared for such challenges once they complete their education and go out in search of jobs, Bommai said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/first-priority-must-be-given-to-provide-basic-facilities-to-children-says-cm-bommai Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said that the first priority must be given to providing the basic infrastructure to the children. Speaking after opening the Science Fair-2023 here on Friday, he said, “the government spends crores of rupees on residential educational institutions. Money is spent on building, compound walls and other things.” “As told in the State cabinet and functions, special attention must be given to providing basic facilities to kids. First, you make the changes to be done and then focus on other things,” he added. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bengaluru-airport-18-non-indigenous-animals-recovered-from-passengers-arriving-from-bangkok The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has recovered 18 “non-indigenous” animals in the checked-in baggage of three passengers arriving from Bangkok. Acting on specific intelligence, DRI said its officers intercepted three passengers, including a lady passenger, arriving from Bangkok at the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru on January 22. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/im-your-son-strengthen-my-hands-shivakumar-in-a-seeming-chief-ministerial-bid In what is seen in some quarters as another attempt by him to openly express his Chief Ministerial ambitions, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Friday urged voters in Vokkaliga-dominated Mandya to support the party in the upcoming Assembly polls. Shivakumar, who is a Vokkaliga, had earlier too called on the Vokkaliga community, which forms a major votebank in the old Mysuru or southern Karnataka region, to strengthen his hands. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/s-m-krishna-says-he-is-too-humbled-dedicates-padma-vibhushan-to-people-of-karnataka Veteran politician and former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna, who has been conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, the second-highest civilian award of the country, on Thursday said he will dedicate the award to the people of the state, who have nurtured him for six decades. Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 90-year old leader, who has been given the award in the ‘Public Affairs’ category said, he is ” too humbled” to accept the award. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bengaluru-crime-branch-busts-racket-selling-fake-degree-certificates-one-held A man was arrested for selling fake university degree certificates for the past many years, the Central Crime Branch of Bengaluru said. As many as 6,800 fake certificates of 15 universities, 22 laptops, computers and 13 mobile phones were seized from the man, the CCB said in a statement here on Friday. The CCB said it carried out simultaneous raids at New Quest Technologies, System Quest, Aruhi Institute, Vishwajyoti College and Benaka Correspondence College as part of its investigation in the case. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/cong-will-win-100-pc-former-karnataka-cm-siddaramaiah-bullish-on-partys-assembly-poll-prospects Former Karnataka chief miunister and the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramiah, on Thursday said he was confident that the Congress would win the next Assembly elections in the state. The state is scheduled to go to polls sometime in April-May this year. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-minister-r-ashok-faces-heat-in-mandya-with-go-back-posters A day after Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai appointed Revenue Minister R Ashok as the Mandya district in-charge Minister, the latter faced 'boycott' with 'Go back Ashok' posters. Several posters saying 'Go Back Ashok' was put on Bengaluru's roads as he visited the district to unfurl the tricolour on Republic Day. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/cong-gave-birth-to-illegal-things-corruption-in-country-karnataka-cm  Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the Congress is the one that gave birth to “illegal things and corruption” in the country, as he hit out at the opposition party’s police complaint against him and BJP leaders calling it “laughable and ignoble”. Alleging that Congress legislators were caught “red handed” in Kunigal in Tumakuru district recently distributing pressure cookers to voters and were fined by the Commercial Tax department, Bommai called it “pressure cooker party”. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/siddaramaiah-will-lose-in-kolar-he-is-misled-by-local-leaders-ktaka-minister-k-sudhakar Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Wednesday, claimed that former Karnataka CM and Congress leader Siddaramaiah is being “misled” to contest from Kolar, and he will lose if contests from that seat in the upcoming state assembly elections. Speaking to the media in Kolarl, Sudhakar said, “Some local leaders in the district are trying to bring Siddaramaiah to contest in Kolar for their own benefit. According to me ultimately Siddaramaiah will not contest in Kolar and will chose Varuna.” “We will work hard and try to win in all constituencies of Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Bengaluru Rural districts. Even if Siddaramaiah contests in Kolar we will ensure our party candidate will win here,” he added. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-hc-forms-panel-to-find-out-if-krishik-samaj-building-is-on-cubbon-park-land The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday constituted a fact-finding committee to assess whether the Karnataka Pradesh Krishik Samaj building near Hudson Circle in Bengaluru stands on land belonging to Cubbon Park. The committee comprising engineers from the Public Works Department and the Assistant Director of Land Records will conduct the survey on February 4 and submit a report to the court on February 8. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Justice Ashok S Kinagi issued the order. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/give-details-on-disposing-of-jayalalithaas-seized-assets-bengaluru-court-tells-pio  A civil court here has set aside an order of the public information officer (PIO) who had refused to share information on disposing of the immovable assets of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. RTI activist T Narasimhamurthy had sought information on the Special Court’s directions regarding the auctioning of the assets that were seized on December 11, 1996 from Jayalalithaa’s residence in Chennai. The disproportionate assets case against her and others was transferred to Karnataka by the Supreme Court in 2003 and the seized assets including sarees, shawls and footwear were shifted to Bengaluru. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/hc-okays-marriage-of-bride-aged-below-18  The High Court of Karnataka has held that a marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act cannot be termed void even if the bride is below 18 years of age. A lower court had declared a marriage void under Section 11 of the Act but the High Court pointed out that this section does not include the condition of the bride being 18. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/congress-will-stop-breathing-after-karnataka-assembly-polls-yediyurappa Attacking Congress which staged a protest in Bengaluru against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state, former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said Congress would stop breathing after the assembly polls. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bjp-files-complaint-with-karnataka-lokayukta-on-irregularities-in-tendersure-projects-during-congress-regime The ruling BJP on Monday said they have filed a complaint with the Lokayukta against former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress alleging irregularities in ‘TenderSURE’ (Specifications for Urban Road Execution) projects back in 2013-14. Speaking to reporters after filing the Lokayukta complaint, BJP SC Morcha president and MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said the Congress is making “40 per cent commission” allegations without any proof and also carrying out a misinformation campaign against the BJP and the state government. “We have lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta. We have proof for the allegations we are making, but they don’t. They have not been able to produce any proof till now,” Narayanaswamy said. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/everyone-must-unite-when-it-comes-to-karnatakas-interest-cm-bommai Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said the ‘Naarishakti’ tableau, which will be featured in the Republic Day parade, has been prepared in just 8-10 days. Speaking to the media, he said the Karnataka tableau has been a feature of the Republic Day Parade for the last 14 years. “I spoke to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi after which permission was given to feature our tableau at the Republic Day parade,” he added https://www.sahilonline.net/en/siddaramaiah-wont-contest-assembly-polls-from-kolar-claims-yediyurappa Senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa on Monday claimed that Congress leader Siddaramaiah was allegedly playing a drama by saying he would not contest the Assembly polls from Kolar segment as announced, and may go back to his home district of Mysuru instead. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/when-people-fear-the-state-there-is-tyranny-karnataka-high-court When people begin to fear the State or its agents, there is tyranny, the High Court of Karnataka has observed. "When the State or its agents fear the people there is liberty; when the people fear the State or its agents, there is tyranny," Justice M Nagaprasanna has said in his judgment on a petition filed by a 23-year-old advocate from Dakshina Kannada district who was manhandled by the police. He was also paid a compensation of ₹ 3 lakh which will be recovered from the police officers. Kuldeep, the advocate from Puthila village in Belthangady had approached the High Court after his complaint against Suthesh K P, a sub-inspector of police, was not registered. Even after the direction by the court, there was delay in registering the FIR. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/siddaramaiah-says-he-and-his-party-leaders-will-retire-from-politics-if-unable-to-fulfill-poll-promises Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Sunday claimed that he and his party leaders will retire from politics and go home, in case they are not able to fulfill promises made to people, on coming to power in Karnataka, after the Assembly polls by May. The former Chief Minister assured that his party will fulfill the promises made to people, however difficult it may be. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/cong-to-stage-protests-during-peak-traffic-hours-in-bluru-police-deny-permission The Congress on Monday will stage silent protests during the peak traffic hours at 300 locations across the state capital to demand the eradication of corruption to ‘save’ Bengaluru. The police department has refused to give permission for the protest. Congress party sources stated that the party will go ahead with its protest plan. The protest will be staged at 51 metro stations, 26 flyovers and 200 traffic signals. The party has said that they will not create any trouble for the passengers, vehicle riders and drivers during their morning rush hours through the protest. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/deve-gowda-urges-pm-to-instruct-steel-ministry-to-drop-visl-closure-proposal  Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to instruct the Ministry of Steel and the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) authorities to drop the proposal for closure of Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Limited (VISL) at Bhadravati. The JD(S) supremo also has urged the Prime Minister to do the needful for the revival of VISL. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/ktaka-students-write-to-bommai-seek-shelving-flyover-project  A total of 2,000 students have sent handwritten postcards to Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s office at Vidhana Soudha demanding shelving of the proposed Sankey flyover project in Bengaluru to save 40 trees. The letter was written by children from schools of Malleshwaram, Sankey Tank, Vyalikaval and Sadashivanagar localities. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/cong-to-counter-polarisation-politics-with-40-cut-charge-free-power-promise The Congress is trying hard in Karnataka to talk about the issues of development and corruption and not to fall in the polarisation trap of the BJP as the party is pushing it’s election agenda and talking of the ’40 per cent cut’ issue which has been haunting the BJP. The party has appointed a senior leader from a different state to oversee the election preparations in each Lok Sabha constituency while state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala is devoting more time to the state and trying to bridge differences between senior leaders of the party and push the party’s agenda. Surjewala has been consistent in talking about the corruption issue and that there is one scam a day in the Bommai government. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bjp-launches-vijaya-sankalpa-yatra-from-two-major-lingayat-maths-in-karnataka Intensifying its campaign in poll-bound Karnataka which will see assembly election in a few months, the ruling BJP launched its nine-day ‘Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra’ in the state on Saturday. The BJP kick-started its aggressive poll campaign from two important Lingayat Maths – Jnana Yogashrama in north Karnataka and Siddaganga Math in Tumakuru in south Karnataka, apparently to woo the state’s dominant Lingayat community, which Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and his predecessor B S Yediyurappa belong to. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/will-win-from-kolar-even-if-pm-modi-and-amit-shah-campaigned-against-me-siddaramaiah Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah, who has decided to contest the upcoming assembly election in Karnataka from Kolar segment, asserted on Saturday that he will surely win even if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were to campaign against him. The former Chief Minister has decided to shift his constituency from Badami in Bagalkote district in North Karnataka to Kolar citing age factor and the distance. "Let (BJP national general secretary) B L Santhosh come, BJP national president J P Nadda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Union Home Minister Amit Shah and campaign against me. I will surely win from Kolar," he told reporters. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/ktaka-hc-quashes-case-against-matrimonial-company-in-fraud-case Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR filed against two staffers of a matrimonial site for allegedly cheating a young woman by promising a good bridegroom through its site. A single bench of Justice Hemanth Chandan Goudar, which had taken up the petition by Kannada Matrimony staffers Vijay Kumar and Chandrashekar, delivered the order recently. The bench after verifying the complaint and documents in this regard stated that the main allegation against the accused is of receiving of Rs 3,700 by promising a good bridegroom. The allegation is made that they have not done their job and cheated the complainant. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-jds-sindagi-assembly-candidate-sivananda-patil-dies-of-heart-attack Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) candidate for Sindagi Assembly Constituency, Sivananda Patil passed after late on Friday night after suffering a cardiac attack, former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Saturday. Shivananda Patil, 54, was recently announced as the party’s candidate from Sindagi constituency for the next assembly elections. Patil was immediately rushed to the hospital where he died on Friday night. Kumaraswamy in a tweet condoled the sudden demise of Patil. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/pm-modi-on-political-tourism-will-forget-karnataka-after-polls-siddaramaiah Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah on Thursday said that the former is embarked on a political tourism of Karnataka ahead of the Assembly elections. Addressing the Congress’ Praja Dhwani Yatra here, the former chief minist https://www.sahilonline.net/en/preparations-in-full-swing-for-bjps-rath-yatra-in-karnataka-cm-bommai The modalities for launching the Rath Yatra from four directions by the end of February and other issues were discussed in today’s meeting held here on Friday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said. CM Bommai was speaking to reporters after the in Bengaluru and said the meeting discussed the programs to be held this month and the next month, party organisation along with the session, completion of Jan Sankalp Yatra before February and preparation of the district and state level election manifesto and the visit of national leaders to the state. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bmtc-starts-process-to-reinstate-sacked-employees Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation on Friday said the employees who were sacked two years ago for participating in wage revision agitation are being re-instated in a phased manner. According to the state-run entity, Karnataka Transport Minister B Sriramulu gave re-appointment orders to 54 dismissed employees. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/bommai-to-table-ktaka-budget-on-feb-17 The budget session of the Karnataka legislature would start on February 10 and Chief Minister Basvaraj Bommai would table the budget on February 17, State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said on Friday. “It has been decided to conduct the budget session from February 10 with an address by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Chief Minister will table the budget on February 17. The business advisory committee will decide on the duration of the session,” Madhuswamy briefed reporters after the Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet decided also to regularise quarrying for those who are into manual mining and mistakenly carry out their activities in different areas. The government decided to increase the cess from sugar producers. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/detail-probe-underway-into-threat-call-to-gadkari-karnataka-home-minister Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Friday said that a detailed probe is underway in connection with an alleged threat call made to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from Belagavi Central Prison and that the jail authorites have been issued several instructions. Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Jnanendra said that instructions have been given that criminal cases will be taken against inmates found in possession of contraband articles and also against the suppliers. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-students-stage-protest-against-ksrtc-for-adequate-bus-services-in-mandya Hundred of students on Friday staged a protest against the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) demanding additional bus services to the district via Malavalli-Dugganahalli and Kadukottanahalli routes. The students said that they are facing a lot of problems in reaching the district due to fewer busses from different villages so they have sat on the protest at Mandya bus stand against the KSRTC. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/top-bjp-leaders-to-fan-out-to-different-parts-of-ktaka-for-vijaya-sankalpa-yatra ntensifying the election campaign in poll-bound Karnataka, top Bharathiya Janata Party leaders right from the party president JP Nadda to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai would fan out to different parts of the State to launch the nine-day Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra (VSY) on Saturday. While Nadda would flag off the VSY from Vijayapura in north Karnataka, Bommai would conduct the VSY in Tumakuru. “We will start the Vijaya Sankalpa Yatra from all the four directions, for which the action plan has been prepared. We have to continue this Yatra till February-end,” the Chief Minister told reporters here. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/pm-launches-title-deed-distribution-for-over-52000-nomadic-families-in-north-karnataka Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the ‘Hakku Patra’ (land title deed) distribution drive for over 52,000 nomadic Lambani (Banjara) families in five districts in north Karnataka. The Prime Minister distributed ‘Hakku Patra’ to five nomadic couples on the occasion. This Hakku Patra will secure future of thousands of people living in the “Thandas” (Lambani habitats) in Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgiri, Raichur and Vijayapura districts, he noted. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/our-priority-is-only-development-not-vote-bank-says-pm-in-poll-bound-karnataka Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that the BJP government’s priority is only development, as he targeted the other party government’s which ruled Karnataka, and their “vote bank” politics for the backwardness of certain regions of the state. Referring to the positive aspect of having a BJP government at both state and Centre, he said, double engine government means double benefit, double welfare and double fast paced development, and Karnataka is the best example for this. https://www.sahilonline.net/en/karnataka-withdraws-proposal-to-lower-minimum-age-for-drinking The Karnataka government has withdrawn its proposal to lower the minimum age for drinking in the state following "objections raised by public, associations and media", the government said in a statement. The development comes after the proposal had been submitted for lowering the legal age for consumption of alcohol from the current 21 years to 18 years. The proposal was placed into the public domain to elicit opinion for a period of 30 days. After encountering growing opposition from people across the state, the Basavaraj Bommai government immediately withdrew the said proposal.