Karnataka News
Karnataka elections: No proposal to ban Bajrang Dal, says former CM Veerappa Moily on Congress manifesto
Former Karnataka chief minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on Thursday said the party had no proposal to ban the right-wing Hindutva group Bajrang Dal, days after the grand old party’s manifesto sparked a row and invited backlash from the ruling BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Former Karnataka chief minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on Thursday said the party had no proposal to ban the right-wing Hindutva group Bajrang Dal, days after the grand old party’s manifesto sparked a row and invited backlash from the ruling BJP, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a statement, Veerappa Moily said the Congress in its manifesto in poll-bound Karnataka, had mentioned both the PFI and the Bajrang Dal, and all other radical. However, Moily said, a state government cannot ban an outfit and the Congress has no proposal to ban the Bajrang Dal—the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or VHP.
On Tuesday, the Congress in its manifesto for the upcoming May 10 polls in Karnataka, had said that it was committed to taking “firm and decisive action” against individuals and organizations spreading “enmity or hatred, whether among majority or minority communities.”
The Congress manifesto had named Muslim outfit Popular Front of India (PFI), which is banned in some states for having alleged terrorist links, and the Bajrang Dal, a Sangh-backed right-wing Hindutva outfit that is often in the news for its alleged acts of cow vigilantism, violence and moral policing.
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Bajrang Dal’s inclusion in the Congress manifesto had invited backlash from the members of the ruling BJP, including PM Modi, who accused the Congress of insulting Lord Hanuman, a deity revered by the Bajrang Dal cadres, adding that the Congress also had a problem with Lord Ram.
The Congress hit back at the Prime Minister and accused him of “hurting religious sentiments” of devotees by drawing parallels between Lord Hanuman and the Bajrang Dal and demanded an apology from him.
Talking to reporters, Congress spokesman Pawan Khera termed it “shameful” that PM Modi had equated Lord Hanuman with the Bajrang Dal, thus insulting the deity’s millions of devotees.
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India News
Cauvery water dispute: Bengaluru bandh evokes partial response as public services function normally
Though cab services, autos and hotels, restaurants were seen operating, drivers and hotel operators asserted not many people were coming out to utilise the services.
The Bengaluru bandh summoned by farmers and Kannada organisations on Tuesday and supported by the BJP and JD(S) in protest against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu evoked partial response as most of the public services were functioning normally. However, very few people ventured out in the streets.
Though cab services, autos and hotels, restaurants were seen operating, drivers and hotel operators asserted not many people were coming out to utilise the services. In Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses and Metro rail services, the usual rush was not seen. In addition, Ola-Uber Drivers Association and Hotel Owners Association have said that their services will be normal today.
On the other hand, Bengaluru Urban district Deputy Commissioner Dayananda K A has declared a holiday for all schools and colleges in the city on Tuesday, in wake of the bandh. Several private companies and firms, including those in the IT sector have asked their employees to work from home. Some shopping malls in the city have decided to remain shut. Many shops and establishments were also seen not functioning as usual in the morning hours.
Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti, which is an umbrella outfit of farmers’ associations and other organisations headed by farmer leader Kuruburu Shanthakumar, has given the call for today’s dawn-to-dusk (6 am to 6 pm) Bengaluru shutdown. Shanthakumar and other leaders of the Karnataka Jala Samrakshana Samiti were arrested by the police at the Mysuru Bank circle, as they were trying to hold a protest march towards Town Hall.
In addition, multiple activists of Kannada organisations were also whisked away by the police at Town Hall, as they gathered there to demonstrate a protest. Farmers’ leaders and Kannada activists slammed the government for allegedly using police force to curtail the protests and bandh. Farmers and pro-Kannada organisations are further expected to stage a protest at the Freedom Park, which is a designated place for such demonstrations.
According to reports, city police have taken adequate security measures to respond to any violence that may happen during the protests. Nearly 100 platoons have been deployed. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda stated that prohibitory orders under Section 144 are in place across the city from midnight on Monday to midnight on Tuesday in the view of the bandh.
According to existing restrictions and court orders, there is no permission for any bandh or procession in the city, he added. On the other hand, a Karnataka bandh, a state-wide shutdown, was called on September 29 by Kannada Okkuta, an umbrella organisation for Kannada organisations, led by Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj. They are not supporting today’s bandh.
Karnataka News
Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal announces relaunch of bike-taxi service in Bengaluru
According to Bhavish Aggarwal, bike taxi prices are set at Rs 25 for a 5-kilometer ride and Rs 50 for a 10-kilometer travel.
Ola is reintroducing electric bike taxis in Bengaluru. Bhavish Aggarwal, the company’s CEO, introduced the service via a social media post, offering rides for Rs 25 for 5km and Rs 50 for 10km, with ambitions for statewide expansion.
Bhavish Aggarwal, the company’s co-founder and CEO, posted on the social media platform X, restarting Ola Bike in Blr today. This time, we’re going all electric with our own S1 scooters.
According to Bhavish Aggarwal, bike taxi prices are set at Rs 25 for a 5-kilometer ride and Rs 50 for a 10-kilometer travel.
Rs 25 for 5 kilometres, Rs 50 for 10 kilometres. Lowest cost, highest comfort, and best for the environment! We will expand across India over the next few months, Aggarwal added.
According to reports, cab and car organisations in Bengaluru have recently urged the Karnataka government to impose a ban on bike taxis within the city. They claim that these bike taxis are unsafe for women and that operating them with whiteboard registration plates is against the law. Furthermore, there have been reports of car drivers assaulting Rapido bike taxi drivers because of their presence.
The government claimed that the enforcement of a ban on bike taxis would involve following legal procedures, according to reports. Following the Federation of Karnataka State Private Transport Association’s declaration of a Bengaluru bandh, Karnataka’s Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, stated his determination to meet and resolve the concerns voiced by auto and taxi drivers in the state.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Ola has joined the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to provide food delivery services and is currently visible to a small number of consumers.
According to sources, the corporation has been testing the function for more than a month within its app for staff and the small number of consumers who have access to it.
Karnataka News
Karnataka: CM Siddaramaiah makes reading Preamble to Constitution mandatory in schools, colleges
Chief Minister Siddarmaiah led Congress government in Karnataka on Thursday made it mandatory for both government run and private schools and colleges to read the Preamble to the Constitution every day.
Earlier on Friday, the chief minister attended a reading of the Preamble near the Vidhana Soudha, the state Assembly. The reading session was conducted to celebrate International Democracy Day on September 15. Siddarmaiah was accompanied by deputy CM DK Shivakumar and fellow cabinet members namely Dr G Parameshwara, Ramalinga Reddy, Eshwar Khandre, KJ George and Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad.
Speaking about the matter, Social welfare minister, HC Mahadevappa asserted that the citizens need to discharge their basic duties as enshrined in the constitution. Thereforefore, the reading of the Preamble is arranged to make children aware of the ideals and the principles that went into making it while at the same time informing the students about the constitutional responsibilities.
He further added that the constitution was a gift to all citizens from BR Ambedkar and that it is a sacrosanct statute book stressing fairness and equality. He mentioned that there is an important purpose behind reading the Preamble. He explained that this practice will help the children understand the basic principles and ideals on which the country was founded.
According to reports, Siddarmaiah led government has made it mandatory for students and teachers at all educational institutions of the southern state to read the Preamble during the morning prayers and take an oath to adopt and incorporate the constitutional principles in their everyday life.
To celebrate the International Day of Democracy on Friday, nearly 2.27 people, including bank and corporate employees, have registered to read the Preamble of the constitution in Karnataka. According to the United Nations, International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to assess the state of democracy in the world.
