Bengaluru:

Rejecting the media reports stating that his visit to the US to meet some top leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and US Vice President Kamala Harris, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar clarified on Sunday that the visit was purely personal.

“I am travelling to the US along with my family till September 15. The media reports that I am meeting former US President Barack Obama and US Vice President Kamala Harris are incorrect. It is a personal visit,” he clarified in a press statement.

The Deputy Chief Minister also released to the media a letter that he had written to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding his visit to the US.

“Regarding my upcoming visit to the United States of America, I would like to dispel the ongoing rumours–my visit is purely for personal reasons and is no way related to any political motive, nor is it due to any political invitation. I request everyone to kindly refrain from indulging in any kind of conjecture,” wrote DK Shivakumar on social media platform X.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Shivakumar urged Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to work towards getting approvals for the Mahadayi project and funds for the Upper Bhadra project rather than wasting his energy on raising issues like Muda and Darshan arrest.

Speaking at his Sadashivanagar residence, he said, “I appeal to Pralhad Joshi with folded hands on the Ganesha Chathurthi to get us approval for the Mahadayi project and funds for the Upper Bhadra project.” He was responding to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s statement that the Congress government was trying to distract the people from the Valmiki Corporation scam by releasing a photograph of Darshan purportedly smoking inside the jail.

“I will speak to the Chief Minister in about 15 days on whether to call for an all-party meeting, Mahadayi, or to call for a meeting of the Commission. We will discuss the nature of our fight for Mahadayi,” Shivakumar said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Rejecting the media reports stating that his visit to the US to meet some top leaders, including former US President Barack Obama and US Vice President Kamala Harris, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar clarified on Sunday that the visit was purely personal.

“I am travelling to the US along with my family till September 15. The media reports that I am meeting former US President Barack Obama and US Vice President Kamala Harris are incorrect. It is a personal visit,” he clarified in a press statement.

The Deputy Chief Minister also released to the media a letter that he had written to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge regarding his visit to the US.

“Regarding my upcoming visit to the United States of America, I would like to dispel the ongoing rumours–my visit is purely for personal reasons and is no way related to any political motive, nor is it due to any political invitation. I request everyone to kindly refrain from indulging in any kind of conjecture,” wrote DK Shivakumar on social media platform X.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Shivakumar urged Union Minister Pralhad Joshi to work towards getting approvals for the Mahadayi project and funds for the Upper Bhadra project rather than wasting his energy on raising issues like Muda and Darshan arrest.

Speaking at his Sadashivanagar residence, he said, “I appeal to Pralhad Joshi with folded hands on the Ganesha Chathurthi to get us approval for the Mahadayi project and funds for the Upper Bhadra project.” He was responding to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi’s statement that the Congress government was trying to distract the people from the Valmiki Corporation scam by releasing a photograph of Darshan purportedly smoking inside the jail.

“I will speak to the Chief Minister in about 15 days on whether to call for an all-party meeting, Mahadayi, or to call for a meeting of the Commission. We will discuss the nature of our fight for Mahadayi,” Shivakumar said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday said that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) should be “ashamed” for issuing a notice to the state government in connection with the alleged diversion of funds meant for SC/STs.

The deputy chief minister said that there is nothing wrong with using the SCSP (Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan) and TSP (Tribal Sub Plan) funds for guarantee schemes.

“After Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka is the only state in the entire country that has brought a law to allocate and use separate funds for the welfare of SC/STs. If the National Commission issues a notice, it should be directed to the Central government. Our government is utilising these funds for the welfare of Scheduled Castes,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes has sought a detailed report from the Karnataka government within seven days regarding the utilisation of funds meant for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste and Tribe.

Joint Secretary Rajeev Kumar Tiwari of the commission said that suo-moto cognizance has been taken by the commission following the media report on the utilisation of SC/ST funds to welfare schemes.

“The Karnataka government decided to utilise funds allocated under the Karnataka Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for implementing five guarantee schemes,” the commission said.

It said that the government of Karnataka has taken the decision to divert Rs 14,730.53 crore from SCSP and TSP allocation to guarantee schemes.

New Delhi:

Crate after crate of liquor bottles, long queues of men waiting for their turn and police providing security at the event — a thanskgiving event organised by supporters of Karnataka BJP MP and former minister K Sudhakar has drawn criticism for free and public distribution of liquor.

The Chikkballapur MP’s supporters organised the event to thank people for his victory in the recently-held general election. BJP’s K Sudhakar defeated Congress MS Raksha Ramaiah by a margin of more than 1.6 lakh votes.

Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader DK Shivakumar said BJP national president JP Nadda must issue a clarification. “I don’t want the local leaders to… I want the BJP national president to issue a clarification,” he said, adding that “this is the culture of the BJP”.

Asked if the state government will take steps in this matter under the state excise policy, the Deputy Chief Minister said, “That is the next point. First, let the party answer.”

At the centre of the row, Mr Sudhakar said he is not aware if liquor was distributed by the organisers of the event or those attending it brought their drinks along. He added that he had no connection to this. “If this was done by workers of our party or the JDS, it’s wrong. In my 25 years in politics, I have never distributed alcohol during elections or at any event. I have no connection to this issue. This has brought me pain,” he said.

“In the future too, be it any event or election campaign, alcohol must not be served. Serving alcohol like this is an offence and a blunder. I have spoken to them (organisers) over the phone last night.”

Visuals from the event show long queues and rush among people to collect liquor bottles. What’s bizarre is that Mr Sudhakar had written to the local police ahead of the event, seeking police deployment for the event. And this letter mentioned that food and liquor will be served at the event. A big question then is why the event was allowed and cops deployed.

Commenting on the row over liquor distribution, CN Ashwath Narayan, former minister and BJP MLA said, “We can’t blame anybody unless this is properly looked into. If there is a system, the government would have fixed responsibility. If the government feels whatever has happened (is wrong), let them take action.”

New Delhi:

Amid voices raised in Congress for making more Deputy Chief Ministers in Karnataka, state Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday said that there is “no demand”, adding that some people just wanted to have their names circulated in the news.

“There is no demand. All is this media creation. Some of them just wanted to have their names circulated in the news. That’s it,” DK Shivakumar said.

Earlier on June 25, Karnataka Minister and Congress leader KN Rajanna on Monday demanded additional Deputy Chief Ministers in Karnataka and asked the party high command to consider the request.

“Because of the parliament elections, it was delayed. I want the party’s high command to consider my request. Many ministers think that many communities who are supporting the Congress party should be given representation of Deputy CMs. But I am not the aspirant,” KN Rajanna told ANI.

The demand for more Deputy Chief Ministers was also raised before the Lok Sabha elections by the Congress leaders.

DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, serves as the only Deputy Chief Minister of the state.

The Karnataka Assembly elections were held last year in which Congress won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled.

BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar today mocked demand from some Ministers to create three more posts of Deputy Chief Minister, saying they will get no “solution” by discussing it before the media.

Some of the Ministers have been pitching for leaders from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST and minority communities to be given the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

Currently, DK Shivakumar, a member of the Vokkaliga community, is only the Deputy Chief Minister in the Siddaramaiah-led government.

“Let those speaking to papers (newspaper or media) go and speak to high command, get a solution and come. Let them go and get whatever solution they want. There is no need to discuss before the media. I will also not discuss anything before the media,” Mr Shivakumar said, making no secret of his displeasure.

“Let anyone go and get whatever solution they want, who will say don’t? Neither newspapers nor TV channels will give a solution for this, you (media) only give publicity, that’s all,” he told reporters here.

To a question regarding demand from some quarters in the party about the need to change the KPCC (state Congress) President — the post he currently holds, Mr Shivakumar said, “very happy, they should not waste time, they should go and find a solution for it….let them go and find solution from wherever they want, we don’t have any objection.” According to sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has apparently urged ministers not to issue statements seeking additional Deputy Chief Minister posts in public.

Siddaramaiah is said to have spoken to Minister KN Rajanna, who is in the forefront with such a demand, over the phone and cautioned him against making any more public statements on the issue. He opined that public statements on this would negatively impact the government and the party.

A section within the Congress is of the opinion that the statement by the Ministers seeking three more Deputy CMs, was part of a plan by Siddaramaiah’s camp to keep Mr Shivakumar in check, amid talks he might seek the CM post after two-and-half years of this government’s tenure, and to counter his influence both in the government and party.

Co-operation Minister Rajanna, Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and a couple of others — all considered to be close to Siddaramaiah — earlier this week once again raised the pitch for three more Deputy CMs.

The Congress had decided that Mr Shivakumar will be “the only” Deputy Chief Minister amid stiff competition between him and Siddaramaiah for the Chief Minister’s post after the Assembly election results in May last year, according to party sources.

It was also said to be a “commitment” made by the Congress leadership to Mr Shivakumar while convincing him to give up his claim for the CM post and to take up the role of Deputy Chief Minister, the sources said.

Meanwhile, leaders in Mr Shivakumar’s camp too seem to have started coming out openly in support of their leader.

Channagiri Congress MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga on Wednesday urged the party to make Mr Shivakumar the Chief Minister.

Rajanna, also hinting about the need to change state party President, had said the party after Assembly polls had announced three things — Siddaramaiah will be Chief Minister, Mr Shivakumar will be lone DCM, and that he (DK Shivakumar) will continue as party President till the Parliament election. “I will remind the party about the third point.”
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Instead of waiting for authorities to take action, students and techies in Bengaluru took matters into their own hands and came together to clean a dangerous stretch of Balagere Road. Notably, the slit buildup on the busy Balagere road between Kadubeesanahalli and Varthur made the road slippery for two-wheelers and hazardous for pedestrians. 

Frustrated by the situation, several IT engineers, college students and even schoolchildren, decided to step in. Pictures and videos of the cleaning drive that have surfaced on social media show several people donning gloves and removing the silt build-up on the road with cleaning tools. The citizens’ action comes after Bengaluru’s civic body, BBMP turned down multiple requests to clean the roads, citing a lack of funds.

See pictures and videos:

Clearing the way for the road side drains all by themselves. Roads are always flooded for little rain. Multiple requests to clean were turned down sighting no budget.#BalagereDemandsRoad#SaveMahadevapura@CMofKarnataka@DKShivakumar@0RRCA@WFRising@BPACofficialpic.twitter.com/QgnfeSAJy7

— NammaMahadevapura (@OurMahadevapura) June 23, 2024

The wonderful act of community service was praised by social media users. One user wrote, ”Techies in Bengaluru work for corporates during weekdays, earn, pay taxes, and spend their weekends  fixing BBMP’s neglected issues.”

Meanwhile, many also slammed the authorities for their inaction. A second user commented, ”This is shocking. Bangalore municipal bodies should be ashamed of themselves for harassing honest tax-paying citizens.”

A third stated, ”Just imagine how annoyed and irritated they must have been with the roadside dirt causing pollution that they took up the responsibility to clean it up instead of complaining.” A fourth added, ”Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also reacted to the cleanliness drive and said that he has instructed BBMP officials to take immediate action to ensure the safety of residents.

He wrote on X, ”Sometimes some lessons turn out to be the best learnings, and taking a cue from the incident of Bengaluru residents cleaning Balagere Road, the concerned officials at BBMP have been personally instructed by me to take immediate action. The comfort and safety of our Bengaluru residents is of priority to us, and therefore BBMP has been also instructed to ensure that no such incident is ever repeated in the future.”

Bengaluru:

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday urged the Centre to scrap the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and allow states to conduct their own entrance tests.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, “The irregularities in the NEET exam are serious. It is a question of the future of lakhs of students. The Centre must scrap NEET and allow states to conduct their own entrance tests. Students from across the country can participate in the tests conducted by states.” “Injustice is being meted out to the students from Karnataka. Karnataka has built colleges, but it is benefitting students from North India and depriving its own students. We have to fight unitedly against this. The Centre must conduct an inquiry into the NEET exam irregularities also,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, regarding the NEET exam, said there has been injustice to students who have worked hard.

“…..there has to be a probe about it, and a re-exam has to be done. NTA (National Testing Agency) has not conducted the exams properly. Giving grace marks is not a good practice, no one should be passed by giving grace marks,” he said.

The NTA has come under criticism amid allegations of irregularities and inflation of marks in the medical entrance exam.

To a question regarding city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress chief said elections will be announced soon and there is a need to prepare the party for that.

“We (Congress) are confident of doing well….We have held discussions with the block level leaders of the party on preparations for the BBMP elections. We have given instructions to replace ineffective office bearers and fill up vacant positions,” he said.

Asked about the division of BBMP, DK Shivakumar said, “We have the committee report on this. Currently, there are 225 wards and the division can be done later as well”.

On the Zilla Panchayat elections, he said, “We have to conduct the election in view of the court order. We are committed to conducting elections.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Bengaluru:

DK Shivakumar’s statement is false, said the trustee of a temple in Kerala after the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister said that political opponents were performing a ‘black magic’ ritual against him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah near the Rajarajeshwari temple.

“There is no such puja that taking place at the Rajarajeshwari temple… We would know if there is any such activity but we still checked,” said Madhavan, the Devasthanam trustee.

Mr Shivakumar, while speaking to reporters, said that he had credible information that a yagya  (special worship) was being conducted by “aghoris” at an isolated place near the temple. “The ritual is underway and is being conducted against me, the Chief Minister, and to destabilise the Congress government,” he reiterated.

He also claimed that 21 red goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheep, and five pigs were being sacrificed for black magic.

The trustee, however, said that there was no such near the temple where goats and buffaloes were sacrificed.

Terming the minister’s remark “disappointing”, he expressed “dissent in dragging the temple into this”. “No such puja takes place here. It’s just Brahmin puja that takes place. That’s all we want to say,” he added.

When asked if leaders from the BJP or JD-S are carrying out this ritual, Mr Shivakumar maintained that politicians from Karnataka are responsible. “I know who is conducting this ritual. Let them continue their efforts; I don’t bother. It is left to their belief system. Despite their attempts and experiments to cause harm, the force which I believe in will protect me,” he said.

“I pray to God for a minute every day before going to work,” he added.

Elections in Karnataka, campaigning for which saw a high-octane fight between the Congress and BJP, were held in two phases on April 26 and May 7, with 28 seats, in which five seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes and two for Scheduled Tribes.

Bengaluru, Karnataka:

After Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, accused in the alleged obscene case, alleged conspiracy against him, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Monday that he was free to say anything but is bound to face the law.

“Prajwal Revanna may say whatever he wants, but eventually he will have to face the law once he lands,” DK Shivakumar told reporters at the KPCC office in Bengaluru on Monday.

On asked about Prajwal Revanna’s allegation that the alleged case against him was a conspiracy of the Congress party, DK Shivakumar said, “I don’t have much information on Prajwal Revanna’s video, but I came across it through the media. No matter what he says, he doesn’t have a choice but to present himself before the SIT for investigation. The law will take its course in this case.”

“Rahul Gandhi has spoken about Prajwal based on media reports, there is nothing wrong with it. Time will answer Prajwal’s allegation on Rahul Gandhi,” he added.

Prajwal Revanna, earlier in the day, released a self-made video in which he alleged political conspiracy behind the case and said that he will appear before the SIT on May 31.

The Hassan MP also claimed that he “went into depression” and “isolated” himself as he accused Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders of sparking a discussion on the issue as part of an alleged conspiracy.

Prajwal Revanna is facing a probe by a Special Investigative Team (SIT) constituted by the Karnataka government over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household.

Prajwal Revanna’s video comes days after his grandfather and JDS patron HD Deve Gowda, issued a stern warning to return to India from abroad and face the law in the obscene video case.

“I have already said that he should be given the harshest punishment under the law if found guilty. I also cannot convince people that I was unaware of Prajwal’s activities. I cannot convince them that I have no desire to shield him. I cannot convince them that I am not aware of his movements and that I was not aware of his foreign trip. I believe in answering my conscience. I believe in God, and I know the almighty knows the truth,” the former PM said in a post on X on May 23.

“I will ensure that there will be no interference in the enquiry against him from me or my family members,” the former PM added.

According to the sources, the Ministry of External Affairs of India has received a letter from the Karnataka government for the cancellation of the diplomatic passport in respect of MP Prajwal Revanna. The request is being processed.

Siddaramaiah had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 1 and May 23 urging him to take action to cancel the diplomatic passport of the Hassan MP, who is said to have flown to Europe after being accused of sexually exploiting several women.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Siddaramaiah said that it is shameful that Prajwal Revanna fled the country on April 27, 2024, to Germany using his diplomatic passport, shortly after news of his heinous actions emerged and just a few hours before the first FIR was filed against him.

Speaking on the Karnataka government’s request for cancellation of Prajwal Revanna’s diplomatic passport, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received a request only on May 21 to impound Prajwal Revanna’s passport.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, S Jaishankar clarified the procedural aspects, saying, “To impound a passport is governed by an act called the Passport Act. We need a judicial court or a police request to do so. The MEA got this request from Karnataka only on May 21.”

Highlighting the adherence to legal procedures, S Jaishankar emphasised that the external affairs minister acted promptly upon receiving the request. “We immediately acted on it. On 23rd of May… we have to follow a certain procedure and the procedure is initiated,” he added.

However, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that they did not get any written communication from the MEA in this matter.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)