Security tightened in Mangaluru for PM Modi’s visit

Bengaluru, Mar 5: Karnataka is facing unprecedented economic difficulties following a Rs 8,887 crore reduction in the state's share in central taxes, cut in allocation under 15th finance commission and a Rs 3,000 crore hit in GST compensation, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa indicated on Thursday.

Presenting the state budget for 2020-21 in the Assembly, he said Karnataka's share in central taxes has come down by Rs 8,887 crore in 2019-20 as per the revised budget estimates of the central government. Therefore the state's revenue resources have been reduced. Apart from this, Rs 3,000 crore GST compensation will also be reduced as collection from the GST compensation cess is not as expected, the Chief Minister said. "With all this it has become difficult to reach to reach the 2019-20 budget targets and to manage this situation within the bounds of the Karnataka Fiscal Responsibility Act, an inevitable situation has arisen this year to cut down the expenditure of many departments," he added.

As per the interim report submitted by the 15th finance commission, there is a reduction in the state's share of central taxes to 3.64 per cent compared to 4.71 per cent fixed by the 14th finance commission. In view of this, there will be a reduction of Rs 11,215 crore in the state's share of central taxes in 2020-21 budget, when compared to the previous one.

He, however, noted that the allocation recommendation of the 15th finance commission is limited to one year only and the complete report for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 will be submitted in October 2020.

"Our government will soon submit a revised memorandum to the commission to set right the loss caused to the state with regard allocation for the year 2020-21 and give more allocation for the remaining period," the Chief Minister said. He also said, when compared to the previous year, there is an increase of approximately Rs 10,000 crore for 2020-21 with regards to government employees salary, pension and interest on government loans, but there is no proportionate increase in resources as compared to committed expenditure. "Due to this reduction of the state's share of central taxes as per the 15th finance commission report and other developments, serious difficulties are being faced in resource mobilisation efforts of the state," Yediyurappa said. "This magnitude of economic difficulties was never faced in the previous years by our state," he added.

However, the state's own tax revenue collection is excellent during this year, he said. As compared to the previous year, there is a growth of 14 per cent in State GST collection. "Based on this, in the new budget, efforts are being made to manage the reduction in the share of central taxes by stabilising the state's own resources more", the Chief Minister said.

Karnataka recorded a gross state domestic product growth rate of 7.8 per cent in 2018-19 and Yediyurappa said for the current financial year it is estimated to be 6.8 per cent.

Mangaluru, Jan 23: Bajpe Police on Thursday registered yet another case against the prime accused in Mangaluru International Airport case, Aditya Rao.

According to the police, a complaint was received from the officials of Indigo flight that they had to delay their flight scheduled to take off for Hyderabad at 1615 hrs after receiving a hoax call from Aditya, threatening of bomb.

They also asserted that the passengers were de-boarded from the flight and the luggages were brought back to security check again.

Bengaluru, May 9: Dubai NRI Kannadigaru president and entrepreneur Naveed Magundi in a video message thanked government of India for helping stranded Indians in Arab countries to return home. 

The video was shared by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan on Friday on Twitter. 

"Kannadigas, who are in trouble in the Arab countries and wanting to return home, have got the central government's rapid response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gratitude video on behalf of Dubai President Kannadigas," Narayan said in the tweet.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has prepared a chart for the first phase evacuation of over 14,000 Indian nationals stranded in 13 foreign countries by 64 flights in week one of the operation.

ಅರಬ್‌ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿ ದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ವಾಪಸಾಗಲು ಬಯಸಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ವಿಮಾನದ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡುವಂತೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಕ್ಷಿಪ್ರ ಸ್ಪಂದನೆ ದೊರಕಿದೆ.

ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಶ್ರೀ @narendramodi ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಕರಿಸಿದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ದುಬೈ ಅನಿವಾಸಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ ಬಾಂಧವರ ಪರವಾಗಿ ಕೃತಜ್ಞತಾ ವೀಡಿಯೊ - pic.twitter.com/BUcFZ3VuKj

— Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N. (@drashwathcn) May 8, 2020