Siddu writes to Sonia, Rahul defending his move to form separate ACB

March 23, 2016

Bengaluru, Mar 23: Under fire over forming a separate Anti-Corruption Bureau, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddarmaiah has written to his party top brass Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi defending the move, even as he rejected the Opposition demand for ACB withdrawal in the Assembly on Tuesday.

siddaSiddarmaiah has "assured" Congress President Sonia Gandhi that what has been done in Karnataka is in tune with the pattern prevailing in at least 12 other important states, officials in CM's office said.

"It is the endeavour of our Government to give more attention and focus to fighting corruption in the system. In view of that, ACB has been set up and I am confident that this will deliver better results than what is happening at present," a part of the letter shared with media read.

Siddaramaiah has also written similar letters to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary Digvijay Singh, and Leader of the party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge.

In the Assembly, Siddaramaiah maintained that there was no "mala fide" intention to shield the corrupt or to weaken the Lokayukta through the constitution of ACB.

Replying after BJP and JDS called off their dharna in the well of the House demanding withdrawal of ACB, he said he was willing to discuss with the opposition ways to strengthen Lokayukta. Countering the BJP attack, Siddaramaiah said the police wing in the Lokayukta would also continue and a similar system prevailed in 15 states.

"There is no mala fide intention behind our decision. Nor are we trying to shield anyone," he said.

Refusing to step back, he said, "There is no question of withdrawing the ACB."

Leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar (BJP) said the ACB should be withdrawn "at any cost" and his party would take the fight to outside the House and announced withdrawal of their protest to facilitate smooth functioning to discuss other "burning" issues like drought situation in the state.

Opposition BJP and JD(S) have accused government of "destabilising" Karnataka Lokayukta by creating ACB, and have demanded its immediate withdrawal.

Meanwhile, BJP state President Prahlad Joshi has also written to Sonia Gandhi requesting her to advise the Karnataka government against creating ACB and instead make Lokayukta stronger.

Comments

IBRAHIM.HUSSAIN
 - 
Wednesday, 23 Mar 2016

Lokayukta is a one of the corrupt institution which cannot be denied as per the recent incidents ofJustice Bhasker Rao & son, and Justice Madi.
May be Siddaramayya wanted more transparency in administration and right to punish the government corrupt officials, the only way to appointing ACB department. Those talking about this move and agitating, Gujarat have the same ACB and lokayukta is toothless tiger in Gujarat.

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News Network
May 10,2020

Bengaluru, May 10: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar said that Congress will make travel arrangements for stranded Keralites in the state in order to facilitate them to reach their homes.

"On the request made by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has appointed MLA NA Haris as in-charge coordinator to look after the Kerala citizens stranded in Karnataka," DK Shivakumar, President of Karnataka Congress said in a letter addressed to Kerala Congress.

"MLA Haris will guide and assist the Kerala citizens and make the travel arrangements for those who have obtained travel passes from concerned districts after discussing with government officials to send them to their respective places with government's approval," he added.

Shivakumar shared the contact details of MLA NA Haris and a helpline number for people to register their details.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 1, issued an order to extend the ongoing lockdown by two more weeks from May 4 and also allowed the movement of migrant workers, tourists, students and other persons stranded at different places, by special trains, to their homes.

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News Network
January 12,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 12: Protesters plan to intensify their anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act movement from sit-down satyagrahas and rallies to street and door-to-door campaigns in different parts of the city.

The street campaigns began on January 1 with 20-30 volunteers of Hum Bharat Ke Log, reaching out to people in Koramangala and Whitefield and explaining the CAA, National Population Register (NPR), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and related issues. They have organised four campaigns.

According to Zia Nomani, member of Hum Bharat Ke Log, the campaign will intensify soon. “Over 200-400 volunteers will organise nukkad sabhas and other activities around JP Nagar and Banashankari,” Nomani said.

She added that though protests began as a medium for people to vent their concerns, more needs to be done.

“We have realised that many people have begun working on their personal documents and want to help them understand what CAA is all about,” Nomani said.

Volunteers will talk to people at street junctions, discuss issues and run signature campaigns. They say: “Our movement is focussed on reaching out to people. Pro-CAA workers too started a door-to-door campaign last week.”

Avani Chokshi, an advocate who participated in a campaign, said though people had a cursory idea about these issues, they didn’t know the details. “It through such campaigns that we can reach more people. It’s important to talk to people who haven’t made up their mind about the issues or are even pro-CAA,” said Avani, adding, “It hard to combat hatred in a short span of time. The movement needs to be sustained.”

Activist Geeta Menon, who has been at the forefront of the street campaign, says they were heckled at some places.

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News Network
March 21,2020

New Delhi, Mar 21: Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister B. Sriramulu on Saturday informed that one more person was tested positive for the coronavirus in the state.

He said that a total of 16 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 in the state so far.

The victim had come from Mecca and was kept in quarantine facility by the state authorities.

"For a 32-year-old man, who had just returned from a trip to Mecca has found COVID-19 positive. The infection has been confirmed. He has already been treated at an isolated ward of the hospital. Citizens must not have any sort of anxiety," tweeted Sriramulu.

Also, the news and public relations department, the Indian Red Cross Society and the Karnataka State Labour Studies Institute have invited volunteers for the programme to provide real-time information to people to avoid spreading rumours and misinformation about coronavirus.

At least four volunteers will work in four shifts per day in each taluk of the state. There are about 120 volunteers in Bengaluru city and about 3,000 Corona Warriors are expected to register from across the state. Over 400 volunteers have registered via online application on the first day.

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