C M Ibrahim’s unopposed election to Council a boost for Cong’s morale

News Network
August 22, 2017

Bengaluru, Aug 22: He brings alive drab political speeches in public with wit, sarcasm as well as Basavanna's vachanas and Sanskrit shlokas.

The unopposed election of Congress candidate C M Ibrahim to the Karnataka legislative council (formal announcement of his election will be on August 24) from the assembly set at rest speculation of his quitting the party as the JD(S) and BJP were reportedly trying to woo him.

"When the bride is good-looking, there are many suitors for her,'' he said, after his name was cleared by the Congress high command for the council seat.

After he filed his nomination papers, he was asked whether the 10-month tenure as MLC would be enough to implement his plans. Ibrahim quipped: "Many things happen in nine months.''

The vacancy to the council was caused following the death of BJP MLC Vimala Gowda, whose tenure was to end in June 2018.

Ibrahim, a confidant of chief minister Siddaramaiah, finished his schooling and has been with the Congress and undivided Janata Parivaar since 1978. He became an MLA in 1978 on a Janata Party ticket, joined the Congress in 1980 and quit but only to rejoin in 2008.

His proximity to former PM H D Deve Gowda peaked in 1996, when he became the second in command in the latter's cabinet as minister for civil aviation.

His induction into the Union cabinet was Gowda's thanksgiving as Ibrahim was one of the contributors of the Janata Parivaar victory in the assembly elections with Gowda becoming the CM in 1994.

A few years later, Ibrahim fell out with Gowda and in 2008 rejoined the Congress. Ibrahim's first mentor was former CM S Nijalingappa, who is said to have spotted him at an election meeting as a 12-year-old boy giving election speeches for his father's friend contesting on a Congress ticket from Bhadravati in 1967.

In 1969, when the Congress split, Nijalingappa entrusted Ibrahim to former chief minister Veerendra Patil with whom he stayed till his death.

Apart from his oratory, Ibrahim is also remembered for the Rolex watch controversy. Acording to Ibrahim, he visited Dubai as food and civil supplies minister in Gundu Rao's cabinet.  

He was presented a steel Rolex watch which then cost Rs 1,000. Although it was declared at customs, Ibrahim said former MLC A K Subbaiah had made an issue of it.

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News Network
January 10,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 10: Working President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Eashwar Khandre on Friday said that his party has extended its support to the demand made by the former chief minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy, that a House Committee should be formed to probe into Mangaluru violence.

Emphasising the need for a judicial probe into the incident, Khandre said, "Congress has always said that the truth should prevail and that there should be a judicial inquiry and investigation by a sitting Supreme Court judge or a High Court judge into the incident."

"We support his (HD Kumaraswamy) statement that a House Committee should be set up to probe into the incident of Mangaluru violence. Two innocent people lost their lives during the anti-CAA protest, it is very unfortunate," he added.

Two people were killed in Mangaluru in the alleged police firing after protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act turned violent on December 19.

The Act grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who entered India on or before 31, 2014.

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News Network
April 4,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 4: Sixteen coronavirus cases have

been confirmed in Karnataka, taking the total number of the affected in the state to 144, the Health department said here on Saturday.

A 75-year old man, who is a resident of Bagalkote, who was confirmed positive on Friday and was being treated at a designated hospital in the district, expired last night.

"Till this evening, 144 COVID-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes four deaths and 11 discharges," the health department said in a bulletin.

Out of the 129 active cases, 126 patients (including 1 pregnant woman) are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable and three in Intensive Care Units (one on oxygen and two on Ventilators), it said.

Among the total of 144 cases detected and confirmed so far, eight are transit passengers of Kerala who landed in airports in Karnataka and are being treated in the state, it said.

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News Network
June 3,2020

Mangaluru, Jun 3: Mangaluru MLA and former minister U T Khader has urged the state government and Dakshina Kannada district administration to take steps to facilitate the return of Indians stranded in foreign countries amid covid lockdown.

A delegation comprising Mr Khader, DCC President K Harish Kumar, and MLC Ivan D’Souza met District In-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary and submitted a memorandum on Tuesday.

“Kannadigas who are working outside the state are in distress due to the lockdown. More than 50,000 people had uploaded applications on Seva Sindhu portal seeking permission to return to their villagers and are waiting for permission. With the authorities failing to take any decision, they are worried,” said the delegation.

The government should initiate measures to get them back and quarantine them, urged the delegation.

Mr Khader said, “Many workers stranded in foreign countries are eager to return home. The district administration should make arrangements to quarantine those returning from foreign countries and other states.

There are thousands of migrant labourers from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar stranded in DK. They are waiting to return to their families. The state government should facilitate their return journey, the delegation urged.

MLC Ivan D’Souza said, “Assistance should be provided to private bus staff, beedi workers, tailors, garage labourers and street vendors who are in distress. The price of Covid-19 tests in private laboratories should be reduced.”

The delegation informed that after Wenlock Hospital was converted into the designated COVID-19 hospital, poor patients are facing many inconveniences. A portion of the hospital should be earmarked for treating other patients, they said.

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