Annual Mass to pay tribute to Wilfy Rebimbus held

Udupi, Mar 18: In response to concerns over the potential cancellation of the Mangaluru-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express due to low passenger occupancy, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary has proposed extending the service to Mumbai instead of discontinuing it.

MP Poojary met Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and urged him to consider the extension, highlighting the benefits it would bring to commuters and the economy. The minister promptly directed railway officials to ensure the train service is not discontinued and to explore the feasibility of extending it to Mumbai.

A detailed report on the economic significance of Mangaluru and Udupi was also presented, stressing the necessity of the train's extension. Additionally, a request was made to introduce a sleeper Vande Bharat train between Mangaluru and Mumbai in the future.

Expressing gratitude to the minister for his prompt attention and assurance of support, MP Poojary welcomed the positive response and reiterated his commitment to improving railway connectivity in the region.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Assembly on Friday passed Bills doubling the salaries of the chief minister, ministers, and legislators, adding an annual burden of ₹62 crore on the exchequer.

The CM's monthly salary will increase from ₹75,000 to ₹1.5 lakh, while ministers will see a 108% hike, from ₹60,000 to ₹1.25 lakh. MLAs and MLCs will get ₹80,000 per month, up from ₹40,000, and their pension will rise from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000.

The Karnataka Ministers Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill and the Karnataka Legislature Salaries, Pensions and Allowances (Amendment) Bill were passed without debate, as the Opposition BJP protested in the well of the House.

The Bills cited the rising cost of living as justification for the hike. The Assembly Speaker and Legislative Council chairperson will now receive ₹1.25 lakh per month, up from ₹75,000.

Mangaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized the Karnataka government's decision to reserve 4% of government contracts for Muslims, calling it an unconstitutional move that promotes division in society. Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta reaffirmed the party’s commitment to challenging this policy both legally and politically.

Speaking to the media, Capt. Chowta stated that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had introduced reservations specifically for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to uplift marginalized communities. He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of misusing the concept of AHINDA politics to cater to specific organizations rather than working for the welfare of all backward communities in Karnataka.

“The Congress government’s decision is an unconstitutional and religion-based move aimed at appeasement politics. It is a betrayal of backward communities and a clear attempt to divide society along religious lines,” said Capt. Chowta. He further asserted that the BJP would not remain silent and would oppose the decision at every level.

The BJP plans to file a writ petition in the High Court seeking to overturn the government's move, which it believes is a calculated effort to gain religious vote banks. Capt. Chowta also condemned the government’s allocation of Rs 1,000 crore under the "Minority Colonies Development Fund" in the state budget, arguing that such policies undermine the principles of equality enshrined in the Constitution.

He emphasized that the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled against religion-based reservations and reiterated that Dr. Ambedkar himself opposed such policies during the drafting of the Constitution. “Previous attempts to introduce religion-based reservations in other states have been struck down by courts, yet the Siddaramaiah government continues to push its vote-bank agenda. We will fight until this unconstitutional decision is revoked,” he added.