Reimburse money spent on CM's rallies: Shobha tells Congress

Bengaluru, April 3: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday held a meeting with Muslim leaders and legislators, seeking their cooperation in containing COVID-19.

In a press statement, the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that the Muslim leaders have agreed to give details of persons who visited Tablighi Markaz in Nijamuddin and has also assured that they will convince the attendees to undergo tests for coronavirus and also follow quarantine rules.

CM Yediyurappa also informed media that the Muslim leaders are also advising the members of their community to offer prayers at home and also to stay indoors to maintain social distancing during "azan".

Also, an appeal has been made to the Muslim community to cooperate with the health workers during the treatment.

The Karnataka Chief Minister also appealed the masses not to pay heed to any sort of rumours pertaning to COVID-19. "Let all of us strictly follow precautionary measures and win the battle over caronavirus."

Bengaluru, May 13: Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday called the measures announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as 'disastrous' and said it is 'non-existent' in terms of benefits to poor migrants, labourers, contract employees and farmers.

"The first set of measures announced by @FinMinIndia @nsitharaman, after 8 PM speech by @narendramodi, is disastrous & non-existent in terms of benefits to poor migrants, labourers, contract employees, farmers, etc," Siddaramaiah said in a tweet.

The Congress leader said most of the intended benefits may not reach the end recipient.

This comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 20 lakh crore special economic package to revive the COVID-19 hit economy.

"The contribution by the government for the schemes announced are mostly notional and less of actuals and the devil lies in the detail," the Congress leader said in another tweet.

After Sitharaman announced support measures for MSMEs, Siddaramaiah said, "The credit infusion to MSMEs may help them clear dues to vendors but it is doubtful if they shall utilise the credit available to pay their labourers & to prevent job cuts. @FinMinIndia should have taken measures to pay part of the salaries to the employees in MSMEs."

Further questioning the Centre on 'ignoring the spending for boosting consumption', Siddaramaiah said, "The government is interested in capital infusion in the form of credits but totally ignorant of the actual spending that needs to be done to boost consumption. How can credit be considered as government spending?"

Siddaramaiah said the next set of measures should benefit the marginalised sections.

"Will be looking forward to next set of measures & I hope it will be something to benefit the marginalised sections. Direct benefits to the poorest sections will help them survive this pandemic. COVID-19 fight should not be another perception battle but a real one," he added in another tweet.

Sitharaman earlier announced Rs 3 lakh crore collateral-free automatic loans for businesses, including MSMEs.

Besides this, she also stated that to provide stressed MSMEs with equity support, the government will facilitate the provision of Rs 20,000 crore as subordinate debt.

Madikeri, Jan 17: Kannada and Telugu actor Rashmika Mandanna is likely to be further interrogated by Income Tax (I-T) officials on Friday.

The residence and properties by the family of Rashmika were raided by I-T officials on Thursday morning. Following summons issued by I-T officials, Rashmika rushed to her residence on Thursday night and gave details on investments and other financial transactions.

After the interrogation, the I-T officials left for Serenity hall, which is owned by Rashmika's father, at Virajpet at around 2.30 am and stayed back there.

The I-T officials have reportedly directed Rashmika and her father Madan Mandanna not to leave the house.