Final decision on Ram temple to be taken by Sadhus at Dharma Sansad: VHP

Bengaluru, Jan 19: The long-awaited discussions on cabinet expansion finally took place between BJP national president Amit Shah and the state party unit on Saturday, but they produced no result.

Latest indications are that new members will be appointed only after CM BS Yediyurappa returns from Davos, Switzerland, on January 25.

The party held a close-door party meeting at a top hotel in Hubballi. The subject of expanding the cabinet, which currently has 16 vacancies, featured in the talks.

Earlier, Yediyurappa reportedly had a one-on-one with Shah during their 45-minute flight from Bengaluru to Hubballi. He is said to have insisted on accommodating all 11 newly MLAs in the cabinet. These legislators were earlier a part of Congress and JD(S); they contested the December byelections on BJP tickets and won.

This apart, BJP sources said, Yediyurappa and Shah had a brief chat at a private event at Palace Grounds . Separately, Shah, who is the Union home minister, held meetings with Jagadish Shettar, Laxman Savadi and Prahlad Joshi, seeking their views on cabinet expansion.

Shah also wanted to get an idea of what people think about the Yediyurappa government’s performance.

Newly elected MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi, BC Patil and Srimanth Patil greeted Shah. “We only met him to wish him; we didn’t discuss the cabinet issue. That’s something state BJP members will do,” said Hirekerur legislator BC Patil.

Saturday’s deliberations fail to break the stalemate over the cabinet appointments. There are clear differences in the camp about whether all Congress-JD(S) defectors should be made cabinet members, according to a senior minister attended one such meeting.

Shah reportedly wants only seven to eight newly elected MLAs to be made ministers; the rest of the spots should go to BJP loyalists. Yediyurappa disagrees with this position as he had promised all 13 turncoats places in the cabinet. Two lost in the bypolls.

Shah has now asked Yediyurappa to visit Delhi after returning from Davos to finalise the composition of the cabinet, according to the sources.

Yediyurappa will leave for Davos early on Sunday, while Shah will fly directly to Delhi from Hubballi.

Chikkamagaluru, June 6: The Chikkamagaluru district has become free from confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The last two of the 16 covid patients in the district were discharged today after they were treated and tested negative.

P 2765, a 28-year-old man and P 2766, a 38-year-old man were discharged, said Deputy Commissioner Dr Bagadi Gautham. Nine others were discharged from hospital yesterday.

Till May 22, Chikkamagaluru district had not recorded any positive and had remained a green zone till then.

However, with the influx of stranded people from Maharashtra and Delhi, the district had registered 16 covid positive cases.

 “As on today, there are no active covid-19 cases in the district. However, we should be attentive and take all the precautionary measurers,” the DC said.

The officer has appealed to the public to maintain social distancing in public places and wear masks.

Mangalore, Mar 11: There everybody busy in hailing ‘Padmashree’ Harekala Hajabba. They wondered how an orange seller turned into an educationist with his grit and high objectives. However, the center of attraction- Harekala Hajabba was thinking how to transfer a cheque of rupees one lakh to a current account of his school!

Dakshina Kannada District Kannada and Culture Department had an interaction program with Harekala Hajabba at Ravindra Kalabhavana of University College Mangaluru on Wednesday. The department, as well as Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners’ Association felicitated the achiever. They also honored Hajabba with a cash of rupees one lakh. Instantly, the man decided to utilize the amount for his school! 

In his address, Guruvappa N T Balepuni, who introduced Harekala Hajabba to society opined that with his simplicity, humbleness, moreover his service without any expectation, Hajabba is being respected everywhere. Though he is an illiterate, three universities have made his life as lessons for students. “He has kept around Rs 50-55 lakh, including his award money for the development of school. January 25, the day on which ‘Padmashree’ award has been declared to Hajabba is a memorable day for me too,” he added. 

Dakshina Kannada District Bus Owners’ Association President Dinram Alva and former president Jayaram Shekha opined that there is lot to learn from Hajabba and he is a model for the society. Recalling his old- harsher days, Hajabba said, “Parents should make mind to save government schools. A literate can achieve anything, he can lead the society,” he said and called upon for the communal harmony. 

Presiding over the function, Principal Dr. Uday Kumar M A said that Harekala Hajabba is best example how a pure-hearted man achieves any height, simplicity can make someone so rich. In his welcome speech District Kannada and Culture Department Deputy director Rajesh G, depicted Hajabba as ‘modern time Mahatma Gandhi’. Economics PG Coordinator Dr. Jayavantha Nayak and M.Com Coordinator Dr. Abobakkar Siddiq were present on the occasion.