Siddaramaiah has last laugh as CM retains old budget

DHNS
July 6, 2018

Bengaluru, Jul 6: Coalition partner Congress, especially former chief minister Siddaramaiah, has had the last laugh as Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has been forced to retain the previous Congress government’s February 2018 budget almost in its entirety.

Siddaramaiah’s pet schemes - Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Bhagya, Krishi Bhagya, Mathru Poorna among others - will continue. In fact, Kumaraswamy said everything Siddaramaiah had announced in his February 2018 budget will be continued.

The 'arm twisting' has resulted in Kumaraswamy re-prioritising implementation of the Congress schemes.

Siddaramaiah had publicly said Kumaraswamy need not present a full-fledged budget as he had already done so. A supplementary budget would suffice if at all Kumaraswamy wanted to announce new programmes, Siddaramaiah had said, creating a furore that left Kumaraswamy fuming.

A leaked video footage that was aired showed Siddaramaiah frowning upon Kumaraswamy’s plan to go ahead with a full-fledged budget, causing further heartburn. 

Kumaraswamy could not put up a convincing defence when asked how his budget was a full-fledged one. “This is a full-fledged budget,” he asserted and said, “It will be implemented along with the one Siddaramaiah presented in February.” He pointed out that the two budgets were different in that his budget’s size was Rs 2.18 lakh crore whereas Siddaramaiah’s was Rs 2.09 lakh crore.

Kumaraswamy’s budget has left sectoral allocations made in the previous budget untouched. For instance, there is no mention of the outlay for Minorities Welfare in the budget. “That doesn’t mean there’s no allocation at all. Siddaramaiah has given enough allocation for development of minority communities. All that will continue,” Kumaraswamy said.

The chief minister pointed out that his budget mentioned construction of a ring road in Hassan under the Public Works Department (PWD). “This doesn’t mean there’s no allocation for PWD. Whatever programmes were announced in the February budget will continue. I did not print details of all departments once again as that would have taken me six hours to read,” he said.

Kumaraswamy’s budget is “an accidental budget,” according to political scientist Muzaffar Assadi. “It looks like an extension of Siddaramaiah’s budget purely because the Congress and the JD(S) have ideological overlaps, which prevented Kumaraswamy from presenting an entirely new budget,” he said.

A minister belonging to the Congress, requesting anonymity, said Kumaraswamy’s choices were limited as the Coalition Coordination and Monitoring Committee had decided that all of the Congress’ schemes would continue.

However, Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge said one must look at the positives in the budget. “You can call this budget as an extension because the two parties are in it together. But if you look at it closely, there’s high impetus on industries, social welfare and of course, agriculture.”

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News Network
February 11,2025

fathimashaza1.jpg

In a remarkable display of skill and determination, Fathima Shaza, a 7th-grade student of Barakah International School & College, has achieved a significant milestone by setting a Guinness World Record in the Karate Kata category. She performed non-stop for an impressive 30 minutes in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. As if that weren't enough, she also earned a Gold Medal in the Kumite Individual category, showcasing her versatility and mastery in Karate.

Fathima, the daughter of Mr. Ibrahim Kasim and Mrs. Sowsreen, has honed her Karate skills under the expert guidance of renowned coaches Mrs. Zakiya Yasmeen and Mr. Nadeem. Their mentorship has played a crucial role in her success.

On behalf of the entire Barakah International School & College community, Chairman Mohammed Ashraf Bajpe extends heartfelt congratulations to Fathima for her extraordinary achievements. Her triumph brings immense pride to the school, its teachers, and non-teaching staff.

This remarkable accomplishment not only highlights Fathima's dedication and hard work but also sets a shining example for students everywhere.

fathimashaza2.jpg

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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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News Network
February 11,2025

Mysuru: On Monday night, tensions escalated in front of Mysuru's Udayagiri Police Station as thousands gathered to protest a controversial social media post. The post, which critics say portrayed Muslims negatively, featured images resembling political figures Rahul Gandhi, Aravind Kejriwal, and Akhilesh Yadav, and was titled "three idiots." The post also showed a person performing namaz with Arabic script prominently displayed, further intensifying the allegations of communal insensitivity.

Protesters blocked Mahadevapura Main Road and, at times, resorted to stone pelting directed at the police station, police vehicles, and public property. In response, law enforcement used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. The ensuing clashes resulted in injuries to several people, including both protestors and police personnel.

By Tuesday morning, normalcy had largely returned. Senior officials—including ADGP R. Hitendra, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, and DCPs M. Muthuraj and S. Janhnavi—visited the police station to review the situation. Security was significantly increased around the area, and civic workers from the Mysuru City Corporation cleared stones and debris left behind by the demonstrators.

Police have initiated a suo moto case and arrested 32-year-old Suresh, a resident of Kalyangiri Nagar, in connection with the incident. The unrest not only disrupted pedestrian movement but also significantly hampered traffic on Mahadevapura Main Road and its intersections, with city buses bearing the brunt of the blockade.

Despite initial dispersal following police action, the mob reconvened within minutes. It was only around midnight, after assurances from senior police officials—including DCP Muthuraj—that strict action would be taken against those responsible, that the protesters finally dispersed.

Speaking to media on Tuesday morning, ADGP R. Hitendra confirmed that seven police personnel were injured during the stone pelting and announced that a special team had been formed to identify and apprehend the instigators. “The mob was misled by certain individuals who believed that the accused, who shared the derogatory post, would be let off. We will probe thoroughly to determine who is behind this incident,” he stated. 

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