Watch row: Cong high command not happy with CM's explanation

February 28, 2016

New Delhi: Feb 28: Although Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave his version of the row over the “gift” of a luxury watch sported by him, the Congress high command is not fully satisfied that he will be able to weather the political storm generated by the episode.

watchWith new angles being added to the row by the Opposition leaders, the high command was mulling ways to contain the damage to the Congress' prospects in the remaining two years of its rule in the State.

Party sources said the high command was not happy over such rows coming to light when Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhhi had himself led a strong campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “suit-boot” government. It was pointed out to the chief minister that if the controversy was not contained immediately, it could tell upon

Congress' campaign against the BJP in several states and at the Centre, on corruption.

The Congress high command is also unhappy that the State government's popularity was not showing an upward trend as reflected in the Zilla and Taluk panchayats polls.

Though the chief minister, during his meeting with party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday, defended the watch issue saying it was gifted by his friend, it was learnt that the high command wanted him to act further to prevent recurrence of such controversies.

Karnataka Congress president G Parameshwara, who had met Rahul Gandhi a couple of days before the chief minister's Delhi visit, is understood to have conveyed that the watch controversy was one of the main reasons for the party's average performance in the recently held elections.

Despite the chief minister claiming that he had delivered a good administration in the past three years, many state leaders had told the high command that the latest controversy had only sullied the State government's image.

A section of party leaders who are upset with the chief minister, are of the view that, as part of damage-controlling measures, “urgent corrective steps” are reuqired to be taken. But the party high command is not clear as yet as to what steps should be taken, sources said.

Not Cong culture'

Senior party leader B K Hari Prasad on Friday also criticised the chief minister over the watch row and said wearing luxury watches is not Congress culture. Attacking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for poor performance in the recently held Assembly by-poll and zilla and taluk panchayats polls, the party national general secretary also said it was a strategic blunder committed by the chief minister.

Criticising the chief minister's style of functioning, Hari Prasad said, “The chief minister has not adapted to Congress culture. He should not ignore old Congress leaders.”

Comments

Mani
 - 
Sunday, 28 Feb 2016

Congress is not happy because ...Siddu is different than the rest . as he delivered Good governance ...

Congress will be happy if Babies killed in Muzaffarnagar...is happy if Muslim called anti national....is happy when Afzal guru hanged ...is happy when introducing UAPA which is almost used against Muslims

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 4,2020

Mangaluru, May 4: The district administration has set up seven check-posts to monitor those entering Dakshina Kannada from other districts and states amidst coronavirus crisis.

The check-posts are located at up seven check-posts at Talapady, Hejamady, Gundya, Jalsoor, Charmadi, Naravi and Kallugundi. 

According to Deputy Commissioner Sindhu B Rupesh, all those who enter the district will be screened. Those who come from outside the district and state will be asked to remain in quarantine. 

As the relaxation is announced for 12 hours, the public should be cautious while venturing out of the house. Wearing a mask in public is mandatory in addition to maintaining social distance. 

Further, she said of the 24 cases reported in the district, only four had symptoms of breathlessness and others were asymptomatic. Of the nine active cases in the district, the condition of one patient is serious while two are likely to be discharged from hospital shortly, said the DC.

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News Network
February 13,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 13: After pro-Kannada outfits called for a state-wide bandh today, the police are on high-alert to avoid any untoward incidents.

The dawn to dusk bandh was called demanding implementation of Sarojini Mahishi report which recommended certain percentage of jobs to Kannadigas in private & public sector companies.

There is no official holiday declared for schools and colleges. Besides, all government institutions and private establishments are open.

But, in some parts of Karnataka, autorickshaws and taxis, including Ola and Uber stayed off the roads.

Even though the bandh is unlikely to hit normal life in coastal Karnataka, stones were pelted on a Tirupati-Mangaluru bus in Farangipet.

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 20,2020

Mangaluru/ Udupi, Jul 20: Dakshina Kannada has recorded 89 new covid-19 cases and five deaths whereas as Udupi recorded 98 cases in past 24 hours. 

Dakshina Kannada 

With five new deaths, the covid-19 death toll in the district mounted to 82. Among the five deceased, two are from Mangaluru taluk, one from Beltangady taluk, one from Bantwal taluk and one from Chikkamangaluru district. The deceased include a 2 month old child (from Bantwal). 

Out of the 89 cases, eleven persons had contracted the disease from primary contacts. Two persons had returned from the Gulf. Forty-five persons are suffering from influenza-like illness (ILI), and sixteen persons are suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). The health officials are tracing the contacts of fifteen others.

Meanwhile, 57 persons were also discharged from the hospital after complete recovery.

Udupi

With 98 new covid-19 cases, the total number of cases in the district today mounted to 2,321. Among them only 661 are currently active. 

1650 patients have been discharged from the hospital after complete recovery, and 11 persons have succumbed to COVID-19 in the district.

As of now, 213 throat swab samples are pending for results, 54 samples were sent for testing on July 20. On Sunday, July 20, 251 samples have tested negative. As of now, a total of 22357 swab samples out of the 24891 have tested negative for the coronavirus.

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