Who is Siddaramaiah?

naeem@coastaldigest.com (PTI)
May 13, 2013

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Bangalore, May 13: K Siddaramaiah is not known to mince words or hide his ambitions. Whenever BJP members in the last government taunted him about being ambitious, Mr Siddaramaiah, then Leader of the Opposition, would aggressively and without hesitation declare that he would one day be Chief Minister of Karnataka.

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Today, he was sworn in as the 22nd Chief Minister of the state.

Luck seems to have played its part too in Mr Siddaramaiah reaching his destination. The shock defeat of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara in the May 5 Assembly elections made things that much easier for him.

Influential among legislators, Mr Siddaramaiah, who has the distinction of presenting as many as seven state budgets as Finance Minister, pipped veteran Congress leader and Union Labour Minister M Mallikarjuna Kharge in a straight contest.

Mr Siddaramaiah was the frontrunner and the only thing that could have gone against him was the fact that he has not been a Congressman very long. An HD Deve Gowda protege, Mr Siddaramaiah narrowly lost the Chief Minister's job in 1996 after then CM, Mr Gowda, went on to become Prime Minister. Mr Siddaramaiah, who hails from the Kuruba community, a backward caste, was then edged out by JH Patel.

A product of the 'Janata Parivar', Mr Siddaramaiah was influenced by the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia brand of socialism. An advocate by profession, he bid adieu to his legal career and entered politics, making his debut in the Karnataka Assembly in 1983 after being elected from the Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysore on a Lok Dal party ticket. He later joined the ruling Janata Party, which merged with other parties to become the Janata Dal in 1988.

When the Janata Dal split into Janata Dal (United) and Janata Dal (Secular) in July 1999, he sided with the latter headed by Mr Deve Gowda and became president of the party's state unit.

Mr Siddaramaiah was sacked from the JD(S) in 2005, at a time when Mr Deve Gowda's son HD Kumaraswamy was the rising star in the party. JD(S) critics say he was thrown out of the party beacuse Mr Deve Gowda was keen to promote Mr Kumaraswamy as the party's leader.

Mr Siddaramaiah joined the Congress with his followers in 2006. In December 2007, he was elected in a by-election from Chamundeshwari constituency.

Born on August 12, 1948 at Siddaramanahundi, a village in Mysore district, Mr Siddaramaiah hails from a shepherd community. He graduated from Mysore University with a B.Sc. degree and later got his law degree from the same university.

Mr Siddaramaiah resides in the Kuvempunagar neighbourhood of Mysore city, where his supporters have been celebrating non-stop since counting day, when it became clear the Congress had won handsomely and Mr Siddaramaiah emerged as the top contender for the Chief Minister's post.

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News Network
February 20,2025

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Puttur, Feb 20: In a heartbreaking incident a 13-year-old boy died by suicide at Tannirupanta village in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada. 

The deceased has been identified as Shravan, a Class 7 student at a private school in Uppinangady. He was the son of Dombayya Gowda. 

According to reports, Shravan had dinner with his mother on Tuesday night (February 18), which included a chicken dish prepared by his aunt. 

After his mother fell asleep, he is believed to have taken his own life by hanging himself from a ceiling fan. Disturbingly, he had saved some of the chicken dish for the next day’s meal and had gathered flower buds for morning prayers, making the incident even more puzzling.

Described as a cheerful and well-liked student, Shravan showed no apparent signs of distress, leaving family, friends, and teachers shocked by his tragic decision. He is survived by his parents and a sister.

As a mark of respect, his school organized a silent prayer to honor his memory.

Mental health matters. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help. Call the toll-free helpline at 9152987821. Remember, no problem is too big to be solved.

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News Network
February 12,2025

Mangaluru: A woman in Mangaluru fell victim to a sophisticated scam, losing Rs 14.02 lakh to fraudsters posing as police and CBI officials. The scammers deceived her under the pretense of a "digital arrest," using fake legal threats and official-looking documents.

The Deceptive Call

On November 12, 2024, the woman received a call from a customer care number claiming that Rs 1 lakh had been fraudulently transferred in Delhi using her ID. The caller warned that an FIR would be filed against her.

Shortly afterward, she received a WhatsApp video call from someone pretending to be a Delhi Police officer. The imposter accused her of being involved in 25 black money cases and instructed her to contact two alleged senior CBI officers.

The Fake Supreme Court Link

While at a research center of a private university, the woman received a suspicious link, supposedly from the Supreme Court. Upon opening it, she saw what appeared to be an official case number, an arrest warrant, and legal documents implicating her in black money transactions.

The fraudsters claimed she would be arrested within two hours unless she took immediate action. To "verify her innocence," they instructed her to transfer money to the RBI, assuring her that the funds would be refunded later.

The Financial Trap

Fearing arrest, the woman complied and transferred Rs 6.50 lakh via RTGS on November 13. To further cement their deception, the scammers even sent her a receipt. However, the threats didn’t stop.

Over the next two weeks, between November 13 and 30, the fraudsters continued pressuring her with dire warnings of imminent arrest and a seven-year prison sentence. Panicked and desperate to clear her name, she transferred a total of Rs 14.02 lakh to multiple accounts.

The Realization and Police Complaint

It was only after discussing the situation with her family that she realized she had been conned. She immediately filed a complaint at Ullal police station.

Authorities have urged citizens to be cautious and verify any legal claims before making payments. Scammers often use fear tactics and fake legal documents to manipulate victims into compliance.

Safety Measures to Avoid Such Scams

  • Verify Official Claims: Government agencies do not demand payments over the phone or WhatsApp.
  • Do Not Click Suspicious Links: Official legal documents are never shared through random links.
  • Consult Family or Authorities: If faced with legal threats, seek advice before taking action.
  • Report Suspicious Calls: Contact the cybercrime helpline if you receive questionable calls.

The case is currently under investigation.
 

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coastaldigest.com news network
February 24,2025

Mangaluru: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has urged the Karnataka government to allocate Rs 3,000 crore in the 2025 state budget for the development of the tourism sector in Dakshina Kannada. This demand was made as part of the party’s ‘Janata Budget – 2025’ initiative.

Anwar Sadath S, president of SDPI’s Mangaluru Rural district unit, emphasized the district’s vast tourism potential, given its location between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. He suggested projects such as beach development, walking tracks, play zones, amusement parks, and other recreational activities to boost tourism in the region.

In addition to tourism development, SDPI has called for several key initiatives in the state budget:

•    Establishment of a government medical college and a super-specialty hospital in Dakshina Kannada.

•    Setting up a High Court bench and a government law college in the district.

•    Development of an IT Park to boost employment opportunities.

•    Minimum support price for arecanut and a dedicated research centre for arecanut diseases.

•    Expansion of healthcare facilities, including a branch of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Mangaluru.

•    Construction of residential accommodation for Muslim religious leaders serving in mosques and madrasas.

•    A special financial package for paddy farmers, offering Rs 2 lakh per acre as financial assistance.

Sadath criticized previous administrations for neglecting Dakshina Kannada, despite the district being one of the top tax contributors in Karnataka. He highlighted the dominance of private entities in education, healthcare, and business, stressing the need for greater government support in public amenities and welfare schemes.

SDPI urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ensure adequate budgetary allocations for new projects, job creation, education, healthcare, and social welfare programs. The party insisted that the upcoming budget, to be presented on March 7, should prioritize balanced regional development across all districts.

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