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Nothing wrong in Siddaramaiah contesting from 2 seats: Kharge

Agencies
April 22, 2018

Bengaluru, Apr 22: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said today there was nothing wrong in Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah contesting from two constituencies in the May 12 assembly polls, and expressed confidence he will win both the seats.

To build Siddaramaiah's case, Kharge recalled even Prime Minister Narendra Modi contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from two seats - Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Vadodara in Gujarat.

He termed the reported fears about Siddaramaiah losing from Chamundeshwari seat in Mysuru as BJP's "false propaganda." 

The Karnataka chief minister is likely to file his nomination from Badami in north Karnataka on Tuesday.

"He can contest (from two constituencies). What is wrong in that? This is the high command's decision. People in Badami wanted him to contest from there also," Kharge told reporters.

"Didn't Modi contest from two constituencies? Did any question arise then," the Congress floor leader in Lok Sabha asked.

Siddaramaiah has filed his nomination papers from Chamundeshwari. He has said he was under pressure from party leaders in Bagalkote and Vijayapura districts to contest from Badami, but he would leave the final decision to the Congress "high command".

Responding to a question if Siddaramaiah was contesting from Badami because of the fear of losing in Chamundeshwari, Kharge said: "It is a propaganda of BJP. They are experts; false propaganda is their job." 

He said "circumstances" have forced the Karnataka chief minister to contest from two constituencies.
Badami has a strong presence of Kuruba community, to which Siddaramaiah belongs. The constituency is seen as a safer option for him as reports have suggested the battle on Chamundeshwari seat will not be easy for the chief minister.

Siddaramaiah has won five times and defeated twice in Chamundeshwari. He has represented the Varuna constituency in Mysuru since 2008. It's now been allotted to his son Yatindra.

Asked whether Siddaramaiah's candidature from Badami was an after-thought, as another candidate's name was announced in the first list, Kharge said changes happen in all parties.

In the second and final list announced by Congress today, Siddaramaiah replaced Devraj Patil from Badami constituency.

Patil's name was there in the first list announced on April 15. But issuance of the 'B-form' to him was put on hold.

Siddaramaiah's reported wish to contest from two seats, was said to have met with stiff opposition from Kharge and another leader Veerappa Moily, after which the party decided to field Patil.

Kharge and Moily reportedly opposed two constituencies for Siddaramaiah stating it will consolidate Vokkaliga votes in favour of JD(S) in Mysuru region, and it will also send a wrong message about the chief minister lacking confidence.

Asked whether Siddaramaiah will be the chief minister again if Congress comes to power in Karnataka, Kharge said: "There is no such question. This is a hypothetical question. High command will decide." 

On the promulgation of an ordinance for stringent punishment to child rapists, Kharge said Congress welcomes all measures to protect women, children and Dalits, but he questioned why the central government was not implementing properly the existing laws.

"As you did not implement the existing laws like the Nirbhaya law properly, there is a 500 per cent increase in crimes against women and children. This is an ineffective government," he alleged.

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News Network
April 19,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 19: A recent government order prohibiting congregations, Ramadan prayers is discriminatory and needs to be withdrawn, JD(S) MLC B M Farookh has demanded.

In a letter to the chief secretary, Farookh pointed out that the order contained certain conditions such as restriction of the use of public address system and delivering Azan in low decibels, which had nothing to do with the prevention of Covid-19 disease.

“These days, Azan includes a call for the community to pray at home and does not offer namaz at mosque. The order also prohibits preparation and distribution of porridge, which has always been taken up in the interest of the poor. The High Court has noted that the relief distribution by NGOs or individuals should not be prevented and the state machinery has to coordinate the same by ensuring social distancing. The ban on distribution of porridge by mosques amounts to discrimination. The order needs to be withdrawn or revisited,” he wrote in his letter.

Further, observing that a religious fair was conducted in Kalaburagi recently, in violation of the government’s social distancing norms, Farookh sought the government to ensure that social distancing norms are enforced with regard to festivals of all communities without discrimination.

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coastaldigest.com news network
June 9,2020

Mangaluru, May 9: An Indian expatriate worker from Karnataka’s coastal district of Dakshina Kannada died of in Dubai after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

The deceased has been identified as Yashwant, 37, hailing from Malali Kajila House in Tenkulipady village, on the outskirts of Mangaluru.

He was working as an air-conditioner mechanic in Dubai for the last two years.

As per sources, he suffered a heart attack. However, the exact cause of this death is yet to be known.

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News Network
July 20,2020

Bengaluru, July 20: The Karnataka government has reiterated that no final decision has so far been taken on reopening of schools in the state.

The clarification comes after minutes of the July 15 HRD ministry meeting where Karnataka education department officials said schools are reopening on September 1 went viral on social media. 

“The state government has not decided yet on starting schools. That they will reopen in September was only a general opinion expressed by our officials at the meeting. At present, we have no plans to start schools unless there is a conducive environment. There’s no need for anxiety,” said primary and secondary minister S Suresh Kumar.

Kumar said the government is involved in meeting the education sector’s changed priorities in the current scenario.

The minutes were of a virtual conference on school-safety plans, with representatives of state governments and Union territories expressing views on reopening of schools. 

Against the name of Karnataka, “After September 1” was written. Similar datelines were given by Kerala, Ladakh, Manipur, Rajasthan, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, while in case of many other states it said “no decision”.

An education department official said Karnataka submitted to MHRD that it will be able to take a decision only after September 1, depending on the situation in the state.

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