Not concerned with TN BJP chief’s fast over Mekedatu: Bommai

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Not concerned with TN BJP chief’s fast over Mekedatu: Bommai

Reacting on Tamil Nadu state BJP state President K. Annamalai’s announcement of fasting opposing the implementation of Mekedatu project, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Saturday that he is not concerned about it.

“I am only concerned over implementation of the Mekedatu project. Annamalai is fasting or not, it is none of my concern. We have rights over the water. Our share has been allocated. We have already prepared a detailed project report on Mekedatu. After getting approvals, we will surely begin the Mekedatu project. There is no question of second thought on that, no matter who sits on fasting,” Bommai stated.

Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai, a former IPS officer, who attained star status while working as an IPS officer in Karnataka announced that he will sit on hunger strike opposing Karnataka government’s plans to start work of Mekedatu project on August 5.

Meanwhile, various organizations who commended K. Annamalai’s work in Karnataka as a senior police officer and took to streets whenever he was transferred, have now called for protest against him over his statement on the Mekedatu project.

Odisha CM writes to Mandaviya on short supply of fertilizers

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Odisha CM writes to Mandaviya on short supply of fertilizers

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to Union chemicals and fertilizers minister Mansukh Mandaviya over short supply of fertilisers to the State.

Patnaik thanked the minister for the allocation of fertilizers in the monthly movement supply plans as per the requirement of the State and supply during the month of April. However, during the month of May, June & July there has been severe short supply of different fertilizers, he said.

During the current Kharif season, till date, the State has received only 1,45,145 MT of urea against the allocation of 2,31,530 MT and agreed supply plan of 2,10,000 MT.

Similarly, during the period, the State has received 97,763 MT of DAP against the allocation of 1,52,000 MT and agreed supply plan of 1,45,000 MT, the chief minister stated.

In his letter, Patnaik further mentioned that 42,867 MT of MOP and 1,05,798 MT of NPKS has been supplied against the allocation of 67,200 MT and 1,68,400 and agreed supply plan of 60,000 MT and 1,42,000 MT, respectively.

Overall the supply of urea has been 62 per cent against the allocation and 69 per cent against the agreed supply plan. For other fertilisers, the supply amount stands in between 60 per cent and 74 per cent, he further said.

“The farmers in the State have suffered severe crop loss due to recent YAAS and several cyclonic storms during the previous years. Therefore to optimize their production the supply of the most critical input i.e. fertilizer should be as per requirement,” he wrote to Mandaviya.

As mid-July to September is the peak consumption period for urea and July to August is the peak period of demand for all other fertilisers, Patnaik said the short supply of fertilisers to the State at this juncture will adversely affect the agricultural production in the State and unnecessarily invite law and order situation in most of the districts.

He sought personal intervention of the Union minister for supply of fertilizers as per the monthly agreed supply plan including the backlog of the previous months.

BJP shouldn’t listen to everything Yediyurappa says: BJP leader

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BJP shouldn’t listen to everything Yediyurappa says: BJP leader

Senior Karnataka BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, known for pungent remarks on B.S. Yediyurappa, on Friday said that the party doesn’t need to listen to everything that the former Chief Minister says.

The five-time MLA and former Union Minister hinted that the party will take its own decisions in connection with cabinet formation.

“Party will not take diktats from Yediyurappa. The party didn’t need to bring him down if it would have listened to all that he said,” he said.

Yatnal maintained that Yediyurappa was determined to see to it that he did not get the plum post.

Training his guns on Lingayat seers who supported Yediyurappa, he claimed that they reduced themselves to ‘chelas’ (disciples) of Yediyurappa, and asked them to “focus on issues like love jihad and gohatya (cow slaughter)”.

He warned that if the inexperienced are given power in the government, the party will pay a heavy price.

Former Union Minister Ananth Kumar’s daughter bats for JD-S

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Former Union Minister Ananth Kumar’s daughter bats for JD-S

Late veteran BJP leader and former Union Minister H.N. Ananth Kumar’s daughter Vijeta Ananthkumar created a buzz on Thursday by putting out a tweet supporting the opposition Janata Dal-Secular.

“Why Karnataka politics is really interesting? JDS is still a very strong political force,” she tweeted.

The comment has surprised many in state political circles.

Ananth Kumar was always known for following party principles and never issued any statement against the party in his entire career. However, the party did not field his wife Tejaswini Ananth Kumar from Bengaluru South constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in spite of the state unit recommending her name.

The party, instead, chose young turk Tejasvi Surya and he went on to register a thumping victory sealing the political fortunes of Tejaswini Ananth Kumar. Though she was found attending BJP party functions, it was evident that the party had moved on from her.

Sources say that the tweet by daughter Vijeta is just a reflection of anger at her family being sidelined by the state as well as central BJP units after the demise of Ananth Kumar.

Meanwhile, JD-S state chief and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy welcomed Vijeta’s statement of appreciation for his party.

“I thank Vijeta for issuing such a statement to the party in this situation. It has energised the spirits of party workers. Any development can take place in politics. If Tejashwini Ananthkumar wants to join JD-S, she is welcome,” he said.

Jagan misusing SC, ST Atrocities Act, alleges TDP

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Jagan misusing SC, ST Atrocities Act, alleges TDP

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader and former minister Nakka Anand Babu on Thursday advised Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Andhra Pradesh government to refrain from alleged rampant misuse of the SC, ST Atrocities Act for political vendetta.

He claimed that the government is using this legal provision to suppress the principal opposition party and all the dissenting voices in the state.

“Jagan regime was indeed hatching a conspiracy to get the atrocities law revoked at the national level. Already, the Supreme Court received petitions about the political misuse of this law by the ruling Governments across the country,” said Babu.

The TDP leader asserted that the Supreme Court could take a serious view of the alleged ongoing indiscriminate misuse of the SC/ST law.

He questioned whether the government was making a mockery of the SC/ST law by applying it on former minister and TDP leader Devineni Uma Maheshwar Rao.

“CM was not just getting cases filed against the political opponents but he was also getting them jailed,” he alleged.

According to Babu, Reddy ‘opened a dark chapter in the history of the country’ by allegedly getting SC, ST atrocities cases filed against Dalit victims as well.

He demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister as to why he was allegedly misusing the laws created to safeguard Dalits for political and personal victimization.

“The atrocities law was brought in to ensure prevention of atrocities against Dalits. The CM has been openly misusing this law. The Dalit officers were being used to perpetrate political harassment,” he alleged.

He claimed that Reddy came to power with Dalit votes but he was allegedly using them to create chaos in the state.

Babu noted that Dalits were facing unprecedented attacks and victimization ever since Reddy came to power.

“For just opposing sand mafia activities, Dalit youth Vara Prasad was tonsured and humiliated in East Godavari. SC, ST cases were filed against Dalit farmers in Amaravati and they were sent to jail for 20 days. They were handcuffed by the AP police,” he alleged.

Babu made these remarks in the light of the police arresting Rao for allegedly attacking YSRCP leaders.

Railways conducts drone mapping of Ghat area in Karnataka

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Railways conducts drone mapping of Ghat area in Karnataka

The South Western Railway (SWR) zone conducted an aerial survey of Castle Rock-Kulem Ghat section using a drone camera in Karnataka’s Uttar Kannada district, an official said on Wednesday.

“The drone mapping of vulnerable locations in Castle Rock-Kulem Ghat section helps in taking preventive steps against landslides and water logging on the tracks,” a SWR spokesman said in a statement.

The 27 km Ghat section on the Karnataka-Goa border is part of the rich bio-diverse Western Ghats, which receives heavy rainfall during the south-west monsoon from June-September every year.

Castle Rock in the state’s northwest region is located in a heavily forested area, where vegetation is most tropical deciduous.

The Ghat section has only a single railway line with no road connectivity.

“Steps have been taken to safeguard the tracks in the Ghat section, which is prone to land slips and water-logging. Embankment walls, sandbags and shoring up of side walls with sleepers have been put in place,” said the official.

As additional safety measure, drone camera was used to record video of spots of water logging on hill-top, weak spots and loose boulders.

“If any weak spot is noticed, a team of engineers, technicians and trackmen takes remedial action to prevent damage or blocking of the railway track,” added the statement.

Sandbags, ballast, boulders, tools and equipment in monsoon wagons are kept ready at Castle Rock, Kulem and Tinaighat to attend to emergencies in the Ghat section.

Indo-US partnership will be of even greater significance in coming years: PM Modi

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Indo-US partnership will be of even greater significance in coming years: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that the India-US Strategic Partnership will be of even greater global significance in the coming years, in the context of the challenges posed by Covid-19, global economic recovery and climate change.

Modi made these remarks in a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken conveyed greetings of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to the Prime Minister.

He briefed the Prime Minister on his fruitful exchanges with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishakar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval earlier in the day and expressed strong commitment to further deepen India-US strategic relations in various sectors including defence, maritime security, trade & investment, climate change, and science & technology.

The Prime Minister conveyed his warm greetings to President Biden and Vice President Harris and his appreciation for the initiatives taken by President Biden including those related to the Quad, Covid-19 and climate change.

Blinken appreciated the increasing convergence between India and US on a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, and the commitment of both strategic partners to convert this convergence into concrete and practical cooperation.

Prime Minister Modi said that the societies of US and India share a deep commitment to the values of democracy, freedom and liberty, and the Indian diaspora in the US has contributed immensely to the enhancement of bilateral ties.

Punjab CM asks Modi to reopen Kartarpur Corridor

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Punjab CM asks Modi to reopen Kartarpur Corridor

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reopen the Kartarpur Corridor, in view of the improvement in the Covid-19 situation, to facilitate people’s visit to the historic shrine in Pakistan.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, Amarinder Singh said his government would be happy to work in conjunction with the Centre to ensure adherence to proper Covid-19 protocols, including testing and vaccination of pilgrims using the corridor.

He hoped for a positive consideration by the Prime Minister in this regard.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the movement of devotees to Kartarpur through the corridor was suspended in March 2020 due to the pandemic outbreak.

“The Covid-19 situation in Punjab has shown signs of significant improvement in the past one month and I am happy to share that yesterday, no Covid-19 related death was reported, after almost a period of one year,” he wrote.

He said in the changed scenario, the people have obviously again evinced their desire to have ‘darshan’ at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.

The Chief Minister further said that “we have been fortunate that the Kartarpur Corridor was opened on the auspicious occasion of the 550th Prakash Purab of Guru Nanak Dev in November 2019”.

It helped fulfill the long-standing demand of “khulle darshan deedar” of the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur, located just across the international border in Pakistan, he added.

AP govt acting vengefully against Devineni Uma: TDP

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AP govt acting vengefully against Devineni Uma: TDP

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national general secretary Nara Lokesh on Wednesday alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government is allegedly acting in a vengeful way against former minister Devineni Uma Maheshwara Rao because he is exposing corruption.

“Just because Uma is exposing corruption, the ruling party is vengeful against him. What happened to the police when some rowdies attacked the former minister?” alleged Lokesh.

He questioned whom the law is favouring and demanded to know if people will be killed if they question?

“Is this democracy?…The DGP has to answer,” he said.

According to the TDP’s second in command, Rao was targeted because he questioned the alleged illegal mining in Kondapalli forest worth thousands of crores of rupees by YSRCP leader Vasanta Krishna Mohan.

Lokesh alleged that Rao is being targeted at the behest of government adviser Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy.

The TDP general secretary claimed that police did not arrest the people who allegedly attacked Rao under IPC sections.

If this was the case with a former minister, he wondered what would happen to common people and warned the police that they meet the fate of their boss living in Tadepalli.

Lokesh said it will take only a little time but the culprits will stand before the law soon.

Police arrested Rao and shifted him to Nandiwada for allegedly perpetrating an attack on ruling party leaders.

Bommai rains sops in first cabinet meet

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Bommai rains sops in first cabinet meet

Basavaraj Bommai, the new Chief Minister of Karnataka announced a slew of measures to reach out to people including a scholarship programme for children of agriculturists, on Wednesday at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. He also underlined that vaccination to face third Covid wave would be his priority.

Bommai, after holding a cabinet meeting, announced that a scholarship scheme for children of agriculturists has been introduced in the state as per his vision. “It’s going to help students from agrarian families to pursue higher education,” he stated.

Bommai himself chaired the meeting with the Chief Secretary and other top government officers as the full fledged cabinet is yet to be formed.

The scheme will be drafted in consultation with experts and implemented soon for the first time in the state, he added.

Under Sandhya Surakha Yojana, 35.98 lakh beneficiaries got Rs 1,000 so far, will get Rs 1,200. This will increase the burden on the exchequer by Rs 862 crore.

The amount under the Widow pension scheme has been increased by Rs 200 and physically challenged persons are going to get Rs 200 more.

These measures have been taken considering inflation. The section of the society which needs social security will be reached out by our government, he underlined.

He further explained that he had given orientation for the bureaucrats in the first meeting. “I have stressed inter-departmental coordination, teamwork and time-bound implementation of schemes to avoid extra expenditure and corruption,” he stated.

He has said that the “chalta hai” attitude from the government officials will not be tolerated.

“I have especially spoken with the Chief Secretary on ‘file clearance drive’, wherein information of movement of all files in government departments will be obtained in two days and should be disposed of in about 15 days,” he explained.

Bommai said directions are given to cut down on unnecessary expenditures by a minimum of 5 per cent without affecting programmes as the Covid situation affected the economy.

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