One arrested in connection with Forest Fire in Bandipur National Park

Bengaluru, Feb 19: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is facing major dissent within the party and the BJP MLAs held a meeting on Tuesday night at former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar's residence to discuss the functioning of Yediyurappa-led government, said BJP sources.

According to BJP sources, some of the unhappy BJP leaders and MLAs met last night at Shetter's place and expressed that they are not satisfied with Yediyurappa's leadership.

Last night's meeting shows that party leaders are looking to bring down Yediyurappa from the Chief Minister's post by sending a clear message to the high command that Yediyurappa is incapable of continuing as the CM, said BJP sources.

Other sources in BJP have also asserted that BJP leadership in Karnataka is looking for a "leader" who can lead the party in upcoming elections which is going to be held after three years. At this point of time, it's crucial for BJP to promote second-line leadership.

Meanwhile, a letter is being circulated in the BJP party forum and over social media against Chief Minister Yediyurappa's leadership.

It looks like the same team which is unhappy with Yediyurappa's leadership is trying to convey the same message to their high command. The letter which is being circulated says to be written by one of these leaders' groups against Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra.

On this, Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy told media, "Maybe the letter is written by the same MLAs because after the expansion of Karnataka cabinet so many leaders from BJP were kept out."

"There is a lot of discontent among BJP MLAs that the ones who have toiled for the party day and night have been neglected from the cabinet expansion. This will definitely result in destabilisation in the government," said Eshwar Khandre, KPCC Working President.

Now party high command needs to look into Karnataka leadership to manage the government in the state.

"Now BJP leadership in Karnataka and Delhi need to look into the matter and need to solve the issue after cabinet expansion," said a BJP leader.

Bengaluru, Jan 29: The high court has granted bail to a 37-year-old Bangladeshi woman from the Christian community on the strength of Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019.

The court cited Section 2 of the amended Citizenship Act 1955, according to which minorities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014 should not be treated as illegal immigrants, while granting her bail.

Allowing the petition filed by Archana Purnima Pramanik, an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh, who claims to be staying in India since 2003, justice John Michael Cunha on Monday directed her to furnish a bail bond for Rs 2 lakh to the satisfaction of the investigating officer and cooperate with the probe.

The judge observed the allegations made against her must be proved in a full-dressed trial. Archana was booked for obtaining documents such as PAN and Aadhaar cards and also fraudulently obtaining an Indian passport on March 28 last year. Based on a complaint filed by the assistant passport officer, Archana was arrested on November 7, 2019 and her bail petition was dismissed by a sessions court on December 4, 2019.

Born on March 23, 1983 at Tanore, Rajshahi district of Bangladesh, Archana came to India in 2003 to pursue a career in nursing. After obtaining a diploma in general nursing and midwifery at Ranchi in 2006, she worked in many reputed hospitals.

In 2010, she got married to Rajashekaran Krishnamurthy and the marriage was registered at Ranchi. After the wedding, she moved to Bengaluru and obtained PAN, Aadhaar and voter ID cards.

On April 1, 2019, Archana applied for a visa to Bangladesh for herself and her son. During her journey on May 20, 2019, they were detained at Kolkata airport and released later. However, the regional passport office issued a notice revoking Archana’s passport and she was arrested by RT Nagar police on November 7, 2019.

Bengaluru, Apr 25: Bajrang Dal's former Karantaka satate convenor Mahendra Kumar, who dedicated last decade of his life to expose the misdeeds and lies of Sangh Parivar, passed away today due to cardiac arrest here. He was 47 years old.

Kumar was undergoing treatment at Ramaiah hospital Bengaluru where he breathed his last today (April 25) morning. His final rites will be held in his hometown, sources said.

Kumar, who hailed from Koppa in Chikkamagaluru was a resident of Bengaluru.

He had reportedly involved in the 2008 attacks on Christians' places of worship in Mangaluru and Chikkamagaluru and had faced arrest for that. 

However, he quit Bajrang Dal same year and the apologized to Christians. He joined Janata Dal (Secular) in 2011.

After quitting Bajrang Dal and adopting left ideology, he openly attacked the ideology of right-wing outfits. 

He founded Jana Dhwani movement as a voice for the oppressed classes of the state. He used social media to attack the "manuvaad" for past one decade.