Congress to sweep Karnataka polls; JD(S) may suffer a major blow: Survey

Mangaluru, Jun 29: As many as 49 fresh covid-19 cases were reported in Dakshina Kannada district in past 24 hours taking the district’s tally to 568.

At the same time 38 persons were also discharged from the hospital after complete recovery from covid 19.

Out of the 49 positive cases, 14 persons had returned from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar. 17 persons had contracted the disease from patient number 9590. 3 persons are suffering from an influenza-like illness (ILI), and 4 persons are suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection.

The health officials are tracing the contacts of six others. All the 49 persons have been shifted to hospital for treatment. Most of them are said to be asymptomatic.

Mangaluru, June 10: Former minister and Mangaluru MLA U T Khader has hit out at the Karnataka government for what he opined that it is misusing the Epidemic Diseases Act to target opposition parties. 

The statement comes in the backdrop of state government’s move to scuttle oath taking ceremony of KPCC president designate D K Shivakumar.

Asserting that the oath taking will be a grand affair, Mr Khader said that Congress will not be browbeaten by the tactics of the BJP.

Citing the blatant violation of all norms laid down under the Act by minister for health B R Sriramulu at Chitradurga earlier this month, Khader told reporters that the BJP is using the Act for its narrow political gains.

“KPCC has twice deferred swearing in ceremony of Shivakumar after being given the oral go ahead,” Khader claimed, adding the state government must explain to people the issue it has with the Congress organising this function.

Referring to the back-to-back virtual political rallies – one for Bihar and the other for Odisha – on Sunday and Monday that union home minister Amit Shah conducted, Khader wondered if the Act did not apply to the BJP leadership.

Bengaluru, Jul 14: The Karnataka government on Tuesday made changes to the Land Reforms Act 1961 through an ordinance to allow non-agriculturists to buy and own farmland for farming.

“The Land Reforms Act has been amended through an ordinance and notified after Governor Vajubhai R Vala gave his assent to it on Monday night,” a Revenue Department official told media persons.

It now permits non-farmers to buy farmland and grow food crops. But they can’t use it for other activities.

“Sections 79 A, B and C of the Act have been repealed, paving way for bona fide citizens to invest in farmland and take to farming as a hobby, passion or additional occupation, which is rewarding,” the official said.

The amended Act will enable the state to attract investment in the farm sector and boost food output. The farm sector’s contribution to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been less than the manufacturing and services sectors over the last two decades.

Criticism by farmers, the Congress and the JD(S) since the cabinet approved changes on June 11 forced the state government to retain section 80 of the Act, with an amendment, to prevent sale of dam water irrigated farmland.

“The ordinance has also added a new section (80A), which says relaxations under the Act will not apply to land given to farmers under the Karnataka SC and ST (Scheduled Caste and Tribe) Act 1978,” the official said.

The changes permit mortgage of farmland only to the state-run institutions, firms and cooperative societies specified in the Act. The ordinance also makes legal cases pending in courts against the sections amended redundant as the new Act addresses the concerns raised in them.

“Besides generating substantial revenue for the state government, the Act will now allow farmers who find the occupation non-remunerative and risky due to droughts/floods and labour shortage to sell their surplus land to urban buyers,” the official said.

Ruling BJP Rajya Sabha member KC Ramamurthy from Bengaluru said the amended Act would allow any citizen to buy farmland.

“Though hundreds of people petitioned successive governments for the past 45 years to abolish the ‘draconian’ sections, they were ignored. I compliment Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and Revenue Minister R Ashoka for the decision to allow everyone to buy farmland irrespective of their occupation or profession,” Ramamurthy told media persons.