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What are the key issues for voters in Karnataka polls?

Agencies
May 11, 2018

New Delhi, May 11: Elections in Karnataka will be held on Saturday and the state has seen fever pitch campaigning by top leaders, each attempting to woo voters through their unique campaigning styles.

Here are some of the key issues that voters would consider while exercising their franchise tomorrow:

• FARMER CRISIS: The BJP claimed during its campaign that more than 3500 farmers committed suicide under the "anti-farmer" Siddaramaiah Government. The BJP said that if the Yeddyurappa Government is voted to power in the state, farmer loans of up to Rs 1 lakh would be waived off for each farmer. The BJP also promised that with a fund of Rs 1.5 lakh crore, every field in Karnataka will be watered.

The Congress, on the other hand, has promised to double farmers' income and constitute a statutory Farmers Income Commission. To tide over the agrarian crisis in 2017, the Siddaramaiah Government waived off farmer loans of up to Rs 50, 000 per farmer at an estimated cost of Rs Rs 8,165 crore to the state exchequer. The Congress Government in Karnataka also asked the Centre to waive off farmer loans from nationalised and rural banks. It also promised to compensate farmers against the loss of crop revenues owing to natural calamity or otherwise, through the Annadaata Fund at a state or district levels.

The Janata Dal (Secular) in its manifesto also promised to waive off 100 percent farmer loans. Also, Additional procurement price of Rs 150 per quintal on all cereal crops and Rs 500 for pulses.

• POLLUTION and TRAFFIC CONGESTION : The Congress has promised to reduce incidences of urban flooding and minimise its impact on the people. The Congress said that it will ensure that cities and their surroundings are free from all filth and ensure zero adverse impact of municipal solid waste on the environment and society.

The Congress said it will introduce a technology-enabled, auto-synchronized traffic management system with connected signals across the city to improve traffic movement across the city.

The BJP manifesto said that it will set up 24x7 Air Quality Monitoring Stations in urban centers of all city corporations with live updates about the level of pollution being made available on the KSPCB website. Also, it plans to strengthen the state pollution control board to ensure effective functioning and accountability.

It also promised to invest Rs. 2,500 Crore in the "Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Fund" to clean and revive the lakes and rivers of Bengaluru and also free Bengalureans from the clutches of the water tanker mafia.

To avoid the traffic menace, the BJP said it will introduce a comprehensive infrastructure action plan recommended by a committee of infrastructure and traffic experts to be constituted after forming the government.

The JD(S) manifesto aimed at rehabilitating all mining areas in the state. It also said solid waste management will be given highest priority in both urban as well as rural areas. And added that steps will be taken to eliminate open defecation in all the Corporation areas, CMC and TMC areas in next five years.

• WOMEN: The BJP has promised to give free smart phones to women and three-gram gold mangalsutra for all brides in the below poverty line category. The manifesto also promised to constitute a Special Investigation Cell, under a woman police officer, to investigate crimes against women.

The Congress also promised to give three-gram gold to all women belonging to the BPL category. And said that it will give free education to girls at post-graduation level. The Congress also promised to Implement sexual harassment prevention policy in all establishments and constitute fast track courts to try sexual harassment cases.

The JD(S) has manifesto promised assistance of Rs 6,000 per month for three months to pregnant women, prior to delivery and after. They also said that hostels for distressed women will be constructed in every district. And a suitable legislation would be brought to address domestic violence

• YOUTH, EMPLOYMENT: The BJP in its manifesto promised to provide every college-going student with a free laptop. It also offered Government-sponsored foreign education for more than 400 Schedule Tribe students.

The BJP also promised to set up six "K-Hubs" as the biggest incubators and working spaces for startups in India at Hubbali, Bengaluru, Raichur, Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Kalaburgi.
The Congress promised smartphones to college-going students between age of 18 and 23. And also said that it will provide free education in Government schools until grade 12.

According to the Congress manifesto, startups will get a subsidy of about Rs 1 crore to kick-start production. The subsidy will also have a grant component up to Rs 25 lakh and loan up to Rs 75 lakh.

The JD(S) manifesto has promised that healthcare would be provided to labourers of unorganised sector. They will also be provided with identity cards.

The JD(S) manifesto has also talked about increasing the minimum wages of labourers.

• SOCIAL SCHEMES: The BJP manifesto claims that more than 300 Annapoorna Canteens would be set up Corpus of Rs 7500 crores would be invested to provide modern amenities to OBCs, and housing schemes for the SC, ST communities.

The Congress has promised to set up a separate OBC commission and 75% concession in education admission for OBC studies. The Congress manifesto also talked about POCSO courts being held in child-friendly rooms.

The JD(S) manifesto announced schemes for the welfare of SC/STs, minorities and the youth and promised free education for girls in all courses.

• CORRUPTION: India's national parties continue to level corruption charges against each other.

The BJP has accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka of being the most corrupt party in the nation. The BJP called the Karnataka Government "10 percent commission government". Even two days before the BJP accused the Karnataka Government of resorting to foul means to win the election when fake voter ID cards were recovered from Jalahalli area of Raja Rajeshwari Nagar constituency. However, Congress refuted such claims, and Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah said that the BJP is using state machinery to its advantage. The BJP told the voters that by voting for the party they will vote for a corruption-free government in the state.

While the BJP has been rallying on the cards of developmental politics and populist manifesto, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress is relying on the Chief Minister's resonance with the Kannadigas in the state, and their time-tested AHINDA formula - Alpasankhyataru (Minorities), Hindulidavaru (Backward Classes) and Dalitaru (Dalits), calling themselves a party for all.

An incumbent Congress is leaving no stone unturned to remain in power in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections, while the BJP is looking at this election as its gateway into the South under the leadership of B.S Yeddyurappa.

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News Network
March 30,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 30: Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd (CDEL) has received the first tranche of Rs 2,000 crore following disinvestment of Global Village Techparks to repay debts following the death of its founder V G Siddhartha.
In August last year, CDEL executed definitive agreements with entities belonging to Blackstone Group and Salarpuria Sattva Group for investment in GV Techparks, a wholly-owned subsidiary of group company Tanglin Development Ltd (TDL), at an enterprise value of Rs 2,700 crore.
The balance amount is expected to be received after the receipt of few statutory approvals, CDEL said in a statement.
"Out of the money received in first tranche, the company has paid off its debts in full including principal and interest amounting to Rs 1,644 crore to the lenders despite difficult economic conditions," it said.
Post this payment, the consolidated debt of the company and its subsidiaries stands at Rs 3,200 crore as on March 27. This includes debt of Rs 1,400 crore of its subsidiary Sical Logistics Ltd where disinvestment process is in progress.
"The company and subsidiaries have repaid around Rs 4,000 crore to the lenders since the beginning of this financial year," CDEL said.
"With the continuous support of stakeholders of the company, the current management is working to ensure better liquidity and operational efficiency. The company is confident of the future ahead despite various challenges," it added.
The company has been in rough waters after its founder V G Siddhartha took his own life as debt strains began to emerge in his company. Since his death in July last year, CDEL has been trying to divest its assets to pare debts.
On July 30, 2019, CDEL informed stock exchanges about Siddhartha's disappearance. In a letter that was purportedly written by him, the Cafe Coffee Day founder said: "I could not take any more pressure from one of the private equity partners forcing me to buy back shares."

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News Network
January 10,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 10: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa said on Thursday he might not attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos, Switzerland, and would most likely visit Delhi this weekend for discussions on the pending cabinet expansion.

He was expected to join Union ministers Piyush Goyal and Mansukh Mandaviya, chief ministers Amarinder Singh (Punjab) and Kamal Nath (Madhya Pradesh) and over 100 Indian CEOs at WEF’s 50th annual gathering on January 21-24.

“Mostly, I may not go for Davos (meet),” he told reporters on Thursday. Last week, he had said he was not keen on travelling to the Swiss town but was considering it as some chief ministers’ attendance was required at the high-profile event.

Eleven Congress-JD(S) turncoats, who contested the bypolls on BJP tickets and won, reportedly pressured Yediyurappa to take a decision on cabinet expansion before the now-uncertain Davos trip; it was even suggested that he should simply cancel the trip. The newly elected BJP MLAs are widely expected to be inducted as ministers. But officials in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said his disinclination to travel had nothing to do with the cabinet exercise.

“It’s mainly because of his health. That place (Davos) has got temperature of minus 4-6 degrees and it will be quite tedious for Yediyurappa at the age of 76,” one official said. BJP functionaries, however, claimed that he was wary of taking a trip amid tensions in the party. “The new MLAs have been breathing down Yediyurappa’s neck. They have pushed him into a corner, demanding that he complete cabinet expansion before going anywhere,” a senior functionary said.

On Thursday, the chief minister said he had sought a meeting with party bosses in Delhi. “To discuss cabinet expansion and other important issues, I plan to travel to New Delhi on January 11 or 12. However, I am still waiting for an appointment with the BJP national president and prime minister,” he said.

While Yediyurappa, his additional chief secretary P Ravi Kumar and political adviser MB Maramkal may not visit Davos, a 10-member delegation from Karnataka, including Jagadish Shettar, is expected to travel. There are reports ministers’ family members might join the delegation.

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News Network
January 2,2020

Tumakuru, Jan 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid respects to the 'Gadduge' (final resting place) of Shivakumara Swamiji at Siddaganga Math, a prominent Lingayat seminary here, and said the Swamiji's work would continue to inspire everyone.

The Swamiji, who was known as the 'Walking God' among his countless followers, had passed away last year at the age of 111. The Prime Minister, who arrived at the Yelahanka Airbase in Bengaluru, went directly to Tumakuru, where the Math is located, by a chopper along with Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda among others. Modi, after offering respects to the 'Gadduge', planted Bilva plant (Aegle marmelos) on the premises of the Math and also laid the foundation for the construction of a museum dedicated to Swamiji here before addressing the gathering, largely comprising students. Speaking on the occasion, Modi said he was feeling blessed to begin 2020 from the sacred land of Siddaganga, but at the same time was feeling the "vacuum" in the absence of Shivakumara Swamiji. "It is rare see the number of people swamiji had inspired during his life time. I'm really fortunate to lay the foundation for the museum in swamiji's memory. Through this museum, his works will continue to inspire generations," he said. Also, Prime Minister remembered Vishwesha Theertha of Udupi's Pejawar Math who passed away recently. Yediyurappa and the present pontiff of the Math Siddalinga Swamiji were among the others present. Known as "trivida dasohi" for his triple sacraments - food, shelter and education - among his followers, Shivakumara swamiji was considered as the incarnation of Basavanna, the 12th-century social reformer, as he accepted all irrespective of their religion or caste. There has been a growing clamour from people of different walks of life, including politicians, for conferring "Bharat Ratna" on the late Swamiji.

After the Swamiji's demise, the then Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had written to Modi urging him to confer the country's highest civilian order on the late seer.

Opposition Congress on Thursday questioned the Prime Minister about not conferring the"Bharat Ratna" on Shivakumara Swamiji.

Questioning Modi as to why he did not visit Tumakuru when Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Math passed away, the principal opposition party in the state assembly in a tweet also sought to know why the seer was not conferred with the Bharat Ratna yet, while pointing out that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had written a letter in this regard in January 2018.

The present seer of the seminary Siddalinga Swamiji presented Modi a silver statue of Shivakumara Swamiji as a memento.

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