Former CM Siddaramaiah unhurt, 5 SUVs damaged in serial crash

Bengaluru, May 8: Karnataka Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar on Friday said that the next academic year will have to be shortened as it will delayed due to the COVID-19.

Mr Kumar in a meeting with Education Department officials said that the syllabus and curriculum for the academic year will have to be designed according to time available. Additional content in the syllabus will have to be removed, according to a statement issued here by the education department here on Friday.

The Minister also stated that plans are underway to conduct CET examination meant for admission into professional courses immediately after the SSLC examination.

He also advised the officials to make the Department’s YouTube channel feature more subject-wise and chapter-wise content for the aid of the students.

Additionally, a booklet will be launched to teach students on how to adjust to life in the post-COVID-19 world.

Bengaluru, Jul 3: Opposition leader in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday opined that there is no other option left but to resort to 'Jail Bharo' agitation to expose the ruling BJP government's indulge in 'Corona Corruption' which runs into more than Rs 2000 crore.

Siddaramaiah said that according to a submission to the Karnataka High Court the government has submitted that it has incurred Rs 3,392 crore expenditure for Corona in the State so far. While the market price for equipment purchased will not exceed Rs 1163 crore and it clearly shows that the corruption is to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore.

Siddaramaiah speaking to a private TV channel here on Friday said the chief minister B S Yediyurappa-led State government should come out with a White Paper on the money spent for purchases made facilities provided to patients. 

According to submission to the Court, the Government has purchased 1000 Ventilators by paying Rs 120 crore, while the market price is Rs 40 crores at Rs 4 lakh for each Ventilator. Why is Rs 120 crore more paid, does it not lead to doubt the government's claim. For purchase of kits, mask, gloves etc. it amounted to Rs 1,500 crores but paid by the government was Rs 9,000 crore."

New Delhi, Jun 6: With the coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of abating, it seems unlikely that Muslims from India will be able to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage this year.

However, the government will take a final decision on the matter only after Saudi Arabia makes its position on hosting the pilgrimage clear.

A circular issued by the Hajj Committee of India on Friday said only a few weeks are left for the preparatory work in India for Hajj 2020, yet the Saudi authorities have not communicated any further development regarding the pilgrimage.

"In view of the several inquiries received and concerns expressed over uncertainty over Hajj 2020, it has been decided by the Hajj Committee of India that, those pilgrims who desire to cancel their Hajj journey this year, their 100 per cent amount paid so far will be refunded without any deductions," the circular issued by Hajj Committee of India CEO Maqsood Ahmed Khan said.

"Coronavirus cases are increasing in Saudi Arabia and two lakh people have to go from here. We had made preparations, but now there is very little time left. We are waiting for an official word from Saudi Arabia," a top source said.

In response to a question, the source said, "This time, it is unlikely that people will be able to undertake Hajj from India."

Uncertainty has been looming large over this year's Hajj in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and though Saudi Arabia has not made a decision on whether the annual pilgrimage will be held or not, it did ask Muslims to delay their bookings till there is more clarity.

The bilateral annual Hajj 2020 agreement between India and Saudi Arabia was signed last December. In 2020, a total of 2 lakh Indian Muslims were expected to perform Hajj.

Over 95,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 600 deaths have been reported in Saudi Arabia due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

Some countries have decided not to send their people for Hajj this time. The most prominent among these is Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

The Hajj 2020 is proposed in the period between late July and early August.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam which every Muslim is required to complete at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so.