Secularism of Cong, Left is euphemism for hating Hindutva, says BJP

Bengaluru, Jan 31: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday got the green signal from the BJP central leadership for the much-awaited cabinet expansion in the state and he is mostly likely to induct 11 ministers. Yediyurappa said the date of swearing-in will be decided in a day or two, although he indicated that it would most likely be held on February 3.

Currently, there are 18 ministers, including the chief minister, in the cabinet that has a sanctioned strength of 34. Sixteen berths are vacant. "Many of our suggestions have been accepted by Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda. If there are differences, we will discuss in Bengaluru and finalise it," Yediyurappa told reporters after meeting Shah in the Parliament Complex here.

Except for one or two, most of the disqualified JDS-Congress MLAs who got re-elected in the bypolls on BJP tickets will be made ministers, he said, adding there won't be any additional deputy chief ministers. However, sources said, a total of 11 ministers would be inducted into the cabinet.

"We discussed yesterday and now also. Shah has agreed to almost everything," Yediyurappa said, adding he is returning back "happy" after getting the nod for the cabinet expansion. "I am going happy," he said.

Yediyurappa had been anxiously waiting for the party high command's approval to expand his ministry amid intense lobbying by the aspirants. Opposition parties have been critical of the BJP and Yediyurappa over the delay in the cabinet expansion, alleging he was weak and that his administration had collapsed.

Bengaluru, Apr 1: As many as 12 of the 40 identified people from Karnataka, who attended Tablighi congregation in Nizamuddin, Delhi, have tested negative for COVID-19, state Health Minister B Sriramulu said in a tweet on Wednesday.

It is also learnt that 62 foreigners from Indonesia and Malaysia, who attended the congregation, have visited the State and 12 of them have been quarantined, the tweet said.

''The health department, in association with the Home department, has jointly started the process of identifying all the 300 who attended the event,'' he said.

Mangaluru, Jan 10: A gang of smugglers, who were planning to illegally export 4,000 kg of red sandalwood worth Rs 2 crore through New Mangalore Port, were nabbed in a joint operation by the anti-rowdy squad of Mangaluru North sub-division and sleuths of Panambur police station.

The arrested have been identified as Tabrez (36), Lohith (35), Rakesh Shetty (44), Hussain kunhimonu (45) and Farooq (45).

Commissioner of Police Dr P S Harsha said that red sandalwood worth Rs 2 crore were seized from the accused.

The other seized properties from the arrested include a Maruti Brezza, Renault Pulse, Tata Ace, two plywood boxes and seven mobile phones valued Rs 19 lakh.

Based on a tip off, the police raided a godown on the road leading to Jokatte from Baikamlady Industrial Area and seized 4,000 kg of red sanders worth  Rs 2 crore.

A case has been registered under Sections 50, 62, 80, 104 of Karnataka Forest Act and 144, 165 of Karnataka Forest Rules at the Panambur police station.