Bharat bandh likely to cripple normal life in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi

coastaldigest.com web desk
September 9, 2018

Mangaluru, Sept 9: The day-long Bharat Bandh called by an alliance of Opposition parties and trade unions on Monday (September 10) against the rising prices of petroleum products and daily essentials is likely to affect normal life in coastal Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

With the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition in Karnataka supporting the cause, the bandh is expected to cause hardship to people. Even though the coastal region considered as a bastion of Bharatiya Janata Party, dozens of organizations have extended support to bandh.

The Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners’ Association has said that it will “morally support” the ‘Bharat Bandh’. Bus services in the district may be affected if there are any obstacles for traffic movement on that day, Dilraj Alva, president, and Prakash Shekha, general secretary of the association, said.

They, in a release, said that hike in diesel prices has hit the owners and it has become difficult to operate buses.

They said that the association urges the Union government to bring petroleum products under the ambit of GST.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference here, B. Ramanath Rai, former Congress Minister, questioned why the BJP is mum on the increasing prices of fuel. Mr. Rai said that the hike has hit people resulting in increase in the prices of essential commodities. He said that the party appealed to the people to support the bandh.

The Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has also supported the bandh. In a release its state president Muneer Katipalla said that the economic policies of the Union government are destabilising the life of common people.

Staying away from supporting the bandh, the Old Bunder Kirana and Allied Merchants’ Association, Mangaluru said on Saturday that its members will not close down their establishments on Monday in view of Gouri and Ganesha festivals on September 12 and September 13. In a letter to the Deputy Commissioner, president of the association P. Panduranga Bhandarkar sought security to the business of the members of the association on Monday.

 The Udupi District Congress Committee has given a call for a voluntary bandh and claimed that several organizations have extended support.

Janardhan Tonse, DCC president, told presspersons that his party had approached bus operators, autorickshaw operators and other voluntary organisations in the distict. All of them had agreed to support the bandh, he claimed.

Ever since the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance came to power, the prices of fuel and LPG cylinders had been increasing. The wrong economic policies of the Union government were responsible for the rupee losing its value. If the value kept on falling, the day was not far when petrol will be available at Rs. 100 per litre. The Union government had not reduced the price of petrol and diesel when the price of crude oil had dropped in the international markets, Mr. Tonse said.

The Centre earned revenue of Rs. 11 lakh crore due to increase in fuel prices. Despite public anger, the Centre had taken no action on this matter. Hence, the Congress had called for the bandh, Mr. Tonse added.

What may be affected?

BMTC, KSRTC operations, taxis, autorickshaws, Ola, Uber, airport taxi service, schools, colleges, commercial activities, cinema halls and multiplexes, shopping malls.

What will not be affected?

Hospitals, emergency services, milk supply, medical shops, Metro services.

Comments

Ibrahim
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

If govt supporting to this then its state govt holiday

Kumar
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

People should cooperate with this. This is for proper reason.

Danish
 - 
Sunday, 9 Sep 2018

Govt should announce it as holiday. Its for people

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News Network
January 10,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 10: Barely 24 hours after the standoff between BJP workers and students of Jyoti Nivas College (JNC) in Bengaluru over CAA became breaking news, it took political hues with the saffron party and the Congress locking horns over the issue.

Taking the battle to the anti-CAA camp on Thursday, the BJP aggressively defended its party workers, who on Wednesday erected a pro-CAA banner on the college compound wall and allegedly forced students to sign on it as a mark of support.

With one of the workers who had locked horns with JNC students by his side, deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan, at his official residence, questioned students’ right to protest party cadre erecting a pro-CAA banner on their college compound wall.

“How can you tell people not to create awareness about a law that has been passed in this country? Who gave students the right to question political workers? If there was anything wrong, let them report to the police,” retorted the minister, who also holds the higher education department portfolio.

On the other hand, the Congress, cashing in on simmering anger over the assault on JNU students in Delhi, used the JNC standoff to project the ruling party as prime culprits in stifling the voice of students. BTM Layout MLA and seasoned politician R Ramalinga Reddy even warned the BJP against “allowing JNC to become another JNU”.

Reddy met with the JNC administration and extended his support against any “threats” to students. It is being alleged that Reddy was the first to “leak” the video of Wednesday’s row to the media. The college falls in his assembly constituency.

Taking a cue from his colleague’s stand, former CM and opposition leader Siddaramaiah also leaned into the matter and sent a strong message “backing” students in the standoff. “BJP goons are threatening students of Jyotinivas College to support CAA. MrYediyurappa, I am strictly warning you to control hooligans from your party. Don't subvert knowledge & institutions for your selfish motives. We won't let Ktaka to be victim of your Hitler rule!” said Siddaramaiah in a tweet.

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News Network
February 17,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 17: A combative ruling BJP is bracing to face the onslaught of the opposition Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in the year's first legislature session beginning on Monday.

"We are ready to counter the opposition parties on any issue they want to raise or discuss, keeping in view the spirit of fairness in a democratic set-up, as we have the numbers to provide a stable government," party's state unit spokesman G. Madhusudhana told news agency here.

Ahead of the 3-day session, the BJP's legislature party met here under the leadership of Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa to chalk out its strategy to address issues, move bills and present the state budget for fiscal 2020-21.

"We hope the Congress and JD-S members will allow Governor Vajubhai Vala to address the joint session of the legislature on Monday and not disrupt his speech or walkout of the House before he concludes to maintain the dignity of his office," Madhusudhana said after the BJP meeting at a private hotel over dinner.

The legislature will resume the month-long budget session on March 2 with a special discussion for two days on the Constitution, markings the 70th year of its adoption and enforcement.

About 100 legislators, including the three Deputy Chief Ministers, the newly sworn-in cabinet ministers, council members and party's state unit members participated in the 2-hour long meeting.

"Yediyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, will present the state budget for fiscal 2020-21 on March 5, which will be the fifth time as the fourth Chief Minister in over a decade," the official said.

Both the Houses will deliberate on the budget proposals and pass it by March 31.

In the 225-member Assembly, including one nominated, the ruling BJP has 117, opposition Congress 68, Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) 34, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) one, Independents 2 and vacant 2.

Buoyed up by winning 12 of the 15 seats in the December 5 assembly by-elections, the party is confident of passing the finance and other bills, as it has the support of 119 members, including 2 Independents in the lower House.

"There is no threat to our government, which will complete the remaining 3-year term of the Assembly till May 2023. Yediyurappa has already won the majority test on July 29, 2019, three days after he took office for the fourth time," Madhusudhana said.

The Congress, however, asserted that it would raise the alleged misuse of police against the opposition members, anti-CAA protestors and minorities.

"We will question the morality of the government in making a tainted legislator like Anand Singh a forest minister when a dozen illegal mining cases are pending in the courts," a Congress official told news agency.

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News Network
February 4,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 4: Karnataka High Court on Monday reserved order on plea, seeking cancellation of bail granted to Nithyananda for skipping the trial and fleeing the country.

After hearing the arguments, the court has reserved the matter for further orders which will be pronounced on February 5.

The plea, which was filed in the high court on January 23, was heard by Justice John Michael Cunha.

The counsel for the complainant Lenin put forth arguments that the self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda had fled the country to escape the trial. "Nityananda has been claiming to be in India in his exemption petitions filed before the trial court but during that time he sought asylum in Ecuador and is having a second passport," said Lenin.

The prosecutor informed the court that they do not need his presence for the trial at this time.

Nithyananda, accused of rape and child abuse, has been absconding since November 2018.

In December 2019, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the passport of Nithyananda was cancelled and a fresh application of the same was denied as he did not get the requisite clearance from police and several criminal cases have been lodged against him.

Police in Ahmedabad had arrested two woman administrators of the ashram, allegedly owned by Nithyananda, and freed two boys who were held captive there.

Two of his disciples, Pranpriya and Priyatattva, were arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by one Janardhan Sharma who alleged that his daughter was held captive in Nithyananda's ashram.

The police took the two women to Nithyananda's ashram in Hathiajan for an investigation and seized laptops, mobile phones among other things.

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