BJP is the greater evil: Prashant Bhushan tells voters in poll-bound Karnataka

News Network
March 26, 2018

Bengaluru, Mar 26: Human rights activist and Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan has warned the people of Karnataka that the “greater evil” for them is the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“Though the choice before voters in Karnataka is between the devil and the deep sea, the BJP is a far greater evil,” he told presspersons here on Sunday after addressing a gathering on political corruption and dangers to democracy.

“The [Assembly] elections are approaching and money power is going to play a major role. There will be a politicians-bureaucracy-contractors nexus that will bring in the money,” he said.

“D.K. Shivakumar is there, and the likes of (Ashok) Kheny have joined the Congress, which has ignored the corruption cases against them. The BJP has B.S. Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate and leader of the poll campaign, despite the cases in the Lokayukta and the Central Bureau of Investigation. The Reddy brothers are behind the BJP. The parties have all been partners in crime, but the people are stuck,” he said.

Opining that more transparency was required in funding of parties and candidates, he said that unless there is transparency, electoral reforms were not possible.

“When we speak of transparency in funding political parties, electoral bonds have become instruments of changing black money to white. They are bearer bonds with no name or serial number. Bonds are given to a party and they cash it in. No one knows where the money came from or even if it is a clear kickback on a deal,” he said.

Mr. Bhushan urged all democratic forces to join in advocating for transparent, corruption-free governance ahead of the elections.

Comments

Danish
 - 
Monday, 26 Mar 2018

Mr. Bhushan is an ambitious guy. Like brutus. He wanted power and position always

Supreeth
 - 
Monday, 26 Mar 2018

The reason for the support of common people is nothing but BJP govt always stood for common people and farmers

Mohan
 - 
Monday, 26 Mar 2018

Even now also BJP have strong common people support. I got scold from some people for speaking against Modi and his govt

Suresh Kalladka
 - 
Monday, 26 Mar 2018

Brainy people are against BJP. If BJP wanted to win, they have to tamper EVM

Ganesh
 - 
Monday, 26 Mar 2018

Great.. If all thinkers and activists speak against BJP then BJP cant even dream about victory

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 29,2020

Mangaluru, June 29: Six more personnel from Ullal Police Station in Mangaluru taluk have tested positive for covid-19. 

With this, the total number of covid positive cops from the Ullal Police Station mounted to 10.

Official sources said that throat swabs of five police personnel and a Home Guard from Ullal today received positive report today. Earlier, four other cops were tested positive. 

In addition to the police personnel, two undertrials arrested by the Ullal police on the charges of murder attempt at Thokkottu Olapete too were tested positive for Covid-19 June 28.

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News Network
May 17,2020

Bengaluru, May 17: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi on Sunday wrote to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari requesting to issue new lockdown guidelines including permission to operate public transport and said the lockdown has caused a financial loss of Rs 16,00 crore to all four Karnataka Transport Undertakings.

In view of these problems, the state Transport Minister requested Gadkari to permit the deployment of Non-AC buses on scheduled routes to ensure the adequacy of services.

The four State Transport Undertakings (STUs) in Karnataka which are providing bus-based public transport services within the state and to the neighbouring states are Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC), North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC).

"KSRTC, NWKRTC and NEKRTC operate buses for mofussil services i.e. Interdistrict, intradistrict and interstate, whereas BMTC operates only in urban and suburban areas in the city of Bengaluru. The four STUs put together hold a fleet of about 24,900 buses including 1,520 air-conditioned buses and operate about 71.00 lakh km. per day and carries about 98.00 lakh passengers every single day," Savadi outlined in the letter.

The Minister said due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the lockdown that ensued have brought regular bus operations and functioning to a grinding halt.

"This has caused a devastating impact on the operations of all the four STUs due to the combination of lack of revenue and continuing fixed costs such as salaries and pensions to staff, payables against existing loans etc. It has been estimated that the lockdown has caused a financial loss of INR 1,600/- crore to these four STUs," he added.

Savadi said even after post-COVID lockdown, operations and revenues won't reach its previous demand& supply patterns in the next six to eight months due to reduced economic activity and users' perceived risk of contacting COVID in public transport.

In addition to that, "occupancy should be allowed up to seating capacity (without standees). This is essential to meet minimal demand," he said in the letter.

"The crew should wear facemask and hand gloves. The crew with health issues should not be deployed. The face masks should be made mandatory for all the passengers. Only asymptomatic persons should be allowed to travel in public transport. The Government of India may consider staggering working hours for various sectors to reduce peak hour traffic demand," the minister listed out these recommendations in the letter.

Savadi said that with social distancing norm of reduced seating capacity in public transport, it will not be possible to provide transport facility to all the daily passengers. This will create demand for more buses, which cannot be met.

"Restrictions on public transport will lead to passenger commute by overcrowding in smaller vehicles like cars, maxi cabs, goods tempos etc. which will adversely affect preventive measures," he added.

Therefore, Savadi requested Union Minister to look into the above matter and issue fresh guidelines to all the states / UT's.

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News Network
February 26,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 26: The Karnataka Pre-University Board issued a five-page booklet on Coronavirus ahead of the forthcoming examination to spread awareness among the students, the Board said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Board said that the booklet contains details on symptoms of the disease, measures to be taken in case of an outbreak and other information. The Board has directed the Directors in all districts to disseminate the information to students through college principals.

The PUC examination begins from March 4 and continues till March 23.

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