Karnataka News
EC notice to Karnataka Congress over corruption rate card ads against BJP
The Election Commission on Sunday issue a notice to the Karnataka Congress over the grand old party’s “corruption rate card” advertisements which targetted the BJP. The Congress has also been asked to file “empirical evidence” to prove its allegations by today evening.
The EC issued a notice to the Congress following a complaint filed by the BJP with the poll regulator on Saturday after the Congress reportedly targetted the saffron party by publishing “corruption rate card” in newspapers.
The EC in its notice, while citing provisions of the model code of conduct (MCC), Representation of the People Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), has said that prima facie, it appears that the Congress has “violated” provision of the model code by publishing the advertisement.
Dubbing the BJP regime in poll-bound Karnataka a “trouble engine”, the Congress released posters and advertisements of “corruption rates” in the state from 2019-2023.
Ahead of the May 10 assembly polls in Karnataka, Congress released a set of posters and advertisements listing “corruption rates” in the state, between 2019 and 2023, while terming the BJP government a “trouble engine”.
The EC notice further said: “It is a fair assumption that INC possesses the material/empirical/verifiable evidence based on which these specific/explicit ‘facts’ have been published, an action which can fairly be assessed to embed knowledge, motive and intent to do so by the author.”
As per the notice, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president has been asked to furnish empirical evidence of the allegations.. “the evidences for rates for kinds of appointments and transfers, kinds of jobs and kinds of commission mentioned in the advertisement given by you along with if any explanation, by 19.00 hrs on 7th May 2023, and also put that in public domain.”
The EC notice said if the Congress fails to furnish the said “evidence” by 7 pm today evening, it would have to show reasons “reasons as to “why action should not be initiated against you for violating the model code of conduct and relevant legal provisions under the Representation of the People Act and IPC.”
The EC noted that while criticism of the policy and governance of opponent parties is a right guaranteed under the Constitution as well as an essential function of various political actors under the Indian electoral process, however, while exercising this right, parties are expected to “uphold high standards of public discourse and adhere to various provisions of MCC and relevant laws.”
India News
Bengaluru: Police issue traffic advisory ahead of Eid celebrations, check routes, diversions here
The fresh traffic advisory comes after an unprecedented traffic snarl in the city on Tuesday.
Amid Eid celebrations, Bengaluru traffic police issued a fresh traffic advisory on Thursday. The fresh traffic advisory comes after an unprecedented traffic snarl in the city on Tuesday. The advisory listed diversions, restrictions, alternate routes and timings.
The Bengaluru police asserted that the processions are set to be taken on between 3pm and 9pm today and large gatherings are likely to take place. It is reported that the traffic congestion on Tuesday occurred as residents headed out for the long weekend with Eid Milad on Thursday, a state-wide bandh on Friday and Gandhi Jayanti on Monday.
The Bengaluru police noted that in view of Eid-Milad procession in the limits of Ulsoor Gate Traffic Police Station, on 28.09.2023 from 3.00 pm to 9.00 pm, a large number of people are expected to gather at YMCA ground, Nrupathunga road. They added that in order to ascertain free flow of traffic, the following traffic arrangements have been made.
According to the police, few roads that the residents should avoid during the Eid celebrations are Nrupathunga Road, Dr B R Ambedkar Road, Nayanadanahalli Junction, Kimko Junction, Bapuji Nagar, Market Circle. In addition, movement of vehicles has also been restricted in a few roads such as Nagawara junction to Pottery circle road, Nethaji circle towards Pottery circle, Haines road from Lazar road and M.M. road, H.M. road from KEB junction to Hall road.
Meanwhile, parking is restricted on both sides of the following roads: Nagawara Junction to Pottery Circle, Govindapura Junction to Govindapura L&O Police Station, HBR Layout Sidddappa Reddy Junction to Narendra Tent Junction, Nethaji junction to Haines junction, Haines junction to New Bamboo Bazar junction, Haines junction to Haj camp, Lazar road to Wheelers road Thoms Cafe junction.
On September 27, residents of Bengaluru witnessed a massive traffic jam, leaving hundreds of them stuck for hours. Notably, social media platforms were flooded with videos and photos of Bengaluru’s congested road as social media users complained about the tragic situation.
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.
