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New Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Aadhaar now must for dialysis scheme benefits in Karnataka
BENGALURU: The state government has issued a notification mandating Aadhaar authentication for availing benefits under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme (PMNDP), implemented through the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust. This is to ensure better service delivery, transparency, and to ensure entitlements are distributed efficiently. According to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), both Priority Household (PHH) and non-PHH ration card holders must either furnish proof of Aadhaar or undergo Aadhaar authentication to avail the benefits. However, the government clarified that no individual, adult or child will be denied treatment for lack of Aadhaar. In such cases, other identity documents will be accepted, and a register will be maintained to track these for audit and review purposes. Aadhaar enrolment facilities will be set up at block or taluk levels where centres are currently unavailable. In cases where biometric authentication fails, due to poor fingerprint quality or other issues, the department has recommended alternatives such as iris or face scans, OTP-based authentication, or physical Aadhaar letters validated through QR code scanners.
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Role of 2 senior IAS officers also under scanner over Bengaluru stampede deaths
The role of two senior Karnataka IAS officers involved in the organisation of a felicitation for the IPL winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) cricket team on June 4 is under probe for possible miscommunications that may have led to the gathering of large crowds and a resultant stampede which killed 11 RCB fans at the stadium. The two senior officers and the former political secretary of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah were influential in convincing the Congress government to organise an official felicitation for the team on the steps of the Vidhana Soudha, the government headquarters, at 4 pm on June 4, sources have revealed. Although the IAS officers were not involved with a follow-up event held the same day at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium at 5 pm – by the RCB and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to celebrate RCB's victory with fans – where the stampedes occurred, one of the officers reportedly issued public statements regarding a 'victory parade' despite the absence of police clearances. Senior IAS officer and Department of Personnel and Administration (DPAR) secretary Sathyavathi G, who facilitated the Vidhana Soudha felicitation for the RCB cricket team on June 4 with clearances from the state chief secretary and the Karnataka chief minister, also communicated to the media that there would be a victory march from Vidhana Soudha to the Chinnaswamy stadium despite the absence of an official police clearance, government sources said. Video recordings of a statement made by the DPAR secretary to the media at noon on June 4 reveal that she initially stated that there would be a victory parade but requested the public not to gather at the Vidhana Soudha as it is a sensitive security zone and that fans must go the cricket stadium for the celebration. 'The victory march of the RCB will commence from the Vidhana Soudha. This is an iconic and historic moment. This is a historic building. The KSCA representatives have sought our permission and as per the directions of the CM we have granted permission,' the DPAR secretary stated to the media on June 4 about the felicitation and celebration event. 'We are expecting the team at 4 pm. We are going to give them a small felicitation on behalf of the state. From 4 pm, the CM and DCM (Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar) will be present and they will welcome the players and conduct the programme we hope, and we are making all arrangements,' she said. 'My humble request is that the crowd should not come to Vidhana Soudha, the people of Bengaluru should not gather over here. This is only a starting point. They have a victory march and they will be going to the stadium and there are multiple events. The crowd must go to the stadium since there will be restrictions over here,' the DPAR secretary said. Sources said Sathyavathi's public statement was contrary to what had transpired at a meeting with Siddaramaiah that morning, where the Bengaluru police commissioner had objected to the victory parade saying it would be a security risk. The Bengaluru police did not, however, officially state on its social media handles on June 4 that there would not be a victory parade, but the messages indicated that only two events were going to be held – the Vidhana Soudha felicitation and the KSCA stadium celebration. Siddaramaiah who posted on social media about the Vidhana Soudha event at around 1.40 pm, also stated in the post that the public could participate in the event but did not mention a parade. Despite the lack of police clearances, an open bus was dispatched from the KSCA to the Vidhana Soudha on June 4 at around 4.30 pm to carry the RCB players from the Vidhana Soudha to the stadium in a victory parade. The police did not permit the open parade. Hospital medical records for the stampede deaths indicate that the first death was declared at 3.45 pm and the last at 5.15 pm, which indicates that the deaths occurred through the course of the felicitation and celebration events. Filing criminal complaints against the RCB, event manager DNA Networks, and the KSCA, the Bengaluru police have primarily accused the IPL team of sending out social media messages without police clearances from as early as 7 am on June 4 (about the open access victory parade for the RCB team) which resulted in large crowds gathering at the 35,000-capacity stadium and causing the stampede. Sources said that a key player behind the scenes in getting official clearances – from the bureaucracy and the police – for the events to honour the RCB team was K Govindaraju, the then political secretary of Siddaramaiah. Govindaraju has been a sports administrator for decades and in recent months was tipped to be a likely contender for the post of the KSCA president. Following the stampede, Siddaramaiah sacked Govindaraju on June 6 without attributing any official reason. The state government also suspended three IPS officers, including Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda, on June 5 for not keeping the chief minister abreast of the developments, including the deaths. The Karnataka Government has so far defended the actions of the IAS officers involved in the RCB felicitation despite a public backlash over the disciplinary action against IPS officials and questions raised by retired police officers over the selective action. Sources said the state government is mulling action against serving IAS officers as well and that some of them may be sent on leave. Siddaramaiah indicated on June 8 that the KSCA officials approached the DPAR for permission for an event to felicitate the RCB players at the Vidhana Soudha. 'The DPAR secretary was apprised of this and granted permission. Of course, I was informed and I said give permission for the event at the Vidhana Soudha steps,' he said. 'In regular course they have informed the DPAR secretary. I was informed by the chief secretary. She said, 'Let us do it'. She said the police had agreed and I said, 'Let us do it'. The KSCA secretary and treasurer came and invited me for the event. It was not a function organised by us but by them,' he said. 'The event at the KSCA was the responsibility of the police and KSCA. The suspension of police officers was because they did not make proper arrangements. What has Sathyavathi done wrong? Nothing has happened at the Vidhana Soudha event,' he added. The Karnataka government has ordered two separate probes into the stampede apart from a police investigation into the criminal complaint filed by the city police. A judicial commission probe and a magisterial inquiry is also underway. The Karnataka High Court, meanwhile, has taken up a suo motu petition regarding the stampede deaths. The flow of events leading to the tragedy as analysed from communications between the KSCA and the government, the social media timelines of RCB handles and the Bengaluru traffic police, as well as statements made in police FIRs suggest that the KSCA sought permission from DPAR on June 3 for an event for felicitation of the RCB cricket by the CM and deputy CM at the government headquarters, Vidhana Soudha, on June 4 in the event of RCB winning the IPL finals against Punjab Super Kings on June 3. The KSCA CEO Shubendu Ghosh wrote to DPAR, the custodian of the Vidhana Soudha, on June 3 on behalf of event management firm DNA Network for permission to hold a felicitation there. The DPAR responded on June 4 granting permission after laying down 16 conditions to protect the portals of the Vidhana Soudha where the event would be held on the evening of June 4 with the attendance of the chief minister and deputy chief minister. The two events, at the Vidhana Soudha and the KSCA, were cleared on the morning of June 4 following a meeting of state and KSCA officials with the chief minister. The RCB/KSCA sent out a media advisory around 10.30 am on June 4 saying there would be a felicitation by the Karnataka CM at the Vidhana Soudha at 4 PM, a Victory Parade around 5 pm and felicitation at the M Chinnaswamy cricket stadium at 6 PM. A traffic police communication to the media however stated that there would be 'NO victory parade'. The Bengaluru traffic police timeline on X shows that two traffic advisories were put out around 2.45 pm and 3.30 pm about the felicitation at the Chinnaswamy Stadium at 5 PM. The government, while suspending five police officers, stated that though the RCB CEO informed the commissioner on June 3 about the victory parade and celebrations on June 4, the police failed to give a written reply to the organisers 'rejecting the permission'.
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
DPAR permission to KSCA for Vidhana Soudha event reached police on June 5, document indicates
The letter from the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), in-charge of Vidhana Soudha, giving permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to hold a felicitation for the IPL winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team on the grand steps of the administrative nerve centre of the State, was received at the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Vidhana Soudha Security) only on June 5. The event was on June 4, the note by the inward section at the office shows. This has raised questions on the timeline of events, and how the letter could reach the police a day after the event. The Hindu is in possession of the complete trail of the documents. The papers show that the DPAR writes to DCP (Vidhana Soudha Security) seeking his opinion for an event to felicitate RCB on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha if the team wins. Flagging concerns This letter is dated and signed June 3. In response to this letter, M. N. Karibasavana Gowda, DCP (Vidhana Soudha Security), wrote back flagging concerns over lack of time to prepare for security for the event, but said the police would abide by the decision of the government. This letter has been dated and signed June 4. Following this, DPAR wrote to the CEO, KSCA, permitting them to hold the event on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha subject to 16 conditions. A copy of this letter, dated June 4, seems to have reached the police on June 5. For all letters and documents that reach a police station or an office, the inward section assigns it a serial number, enters it in a register and marks it with a seal and sign. The DPAR letter giving permission to the KSCA for the event, is marked with serial number 1656 and the official has signed the document marking the date June 5, 2025. However, DPAR Secretary G. Satyavathi said that the allegations were 'not true'. Despite multiple attempts, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh was not available for comment. Multiple probes Presently, multiple probes — magisterial inquiry, judicial inquiry by Justice John Michael Cunha, and CID — into the stampede fiasco are mostly focusing on the events at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Amidst the IAS and IPS officials being at loggerheads, there have been demands from within the fraternity that the probe be expanded to all the happenings with respect to RCB victory celebrations in the city on June 4, including the event at the Vidhana Soudha. Police officials have argued that the event at the stadium cannot be looked at in isolation, as the open-air event at the Vidhana Soudha and the confusion over the victory parade brought lakhs of fans to the streets, leading to overcrowding and stampede at the stadium. Video clips Two video clips which show the crowds gathered at the Vidhana Soudha being directed towards the stadium are also doing the rounds. A senior IAS officer, speaking to television channels during preparations of the event on the grand steps, is heard saying that the Vidhana Soudha was only the starting point of the victory parade and appealing to RCB fans to not gather in large numbers at the Vidhana Soudha but go to the stadium. By then Home Minister G. Parameshwara had announced that there would be no victory parade, sources claimed. In another video, the anchor of the felicitation event at the Vidhana Soudha, announcing the end of the event, is heard appealing to the crowd to move towards the stadium, 'if there was space'. 'Any probe into the stampede fiasco that day has to look at all the events of the day holistically and not in a piecemeal manner,' a senior police official said.
News18
11-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Was Consulted': Siddaramaiah Changes Stance On RCB Event Week After Bengaluru Stampede
Last Updated: Siddaramaiah said: "Govindraj called up the governor and handed me the phone...I told the governor that since I was attending the Vidhana Soudha event, he should too..." After distancing himself from the June 4 RCB felicitation event for days, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah has now changed his stance — he said he was consulted for the Vidhan Soudha function. The Karnataka government went ahead with a felicitation ceremony for IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Vidhana Soudha on June 4, despite a clear warning from the police about potential security risks. Later that evening, a massive crowd of fans gathered outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium for celebration of RCB's maiden trophy win in 18 years, resulting in a stampede that left 11 people dead. Siddaramaiah had earlier said his government the state administration had no role in organising the felicitation event at the stadium and that he was merely invited to the Vidhan Soudha function. 'On the 4th of this month, the KSCA and RCB representatives held a felicitation programme for the players. At around 11:29 am, I was invited. They requested to hold the programme, and I agreed. The Chief Secretary also called me about this, and I said yes." 'The governor also attended the felicitation. The media is played it out in such a way, saying that the governor came of his own volition. That's not correct." 'My political secretary Govindraj called up the governor and handed me the phone, telling that the governor too was coming. I told the governor that since I was attending, he should attend as well. He attended, and the felicitation ended in 20 minutes due to the rains. He left from there, and I headed back to my residence," said the CM. In a letter dated June 4, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) MN Karibasvanna had warned of security concerns and flagged these to the DPAR. In a letter addressed to DPAR head G Satyavathi, Vidhana Soudha security division officials flagged serious concerns about inadequate personnel to manage security arrangements for the high-profile event. First Published: June 11, 2025, 18:41 IST
Hans India
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
CM defends holding RCB felicitation at Vidhana Soudha despite police warning
Mysuru/Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday defended the decision to go ahead with the RCB victory celebration in front of Vidhana Soudha, saying no untoward incident happened there. The CM's reaction came to the DCP (Vidhana Soudha security) letter written before the event warning against holding felicitations at Vidhana Soudha 'hastily', surfaced now. The CM, however, clarified that the event at Vidhana Soudha was organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), and that he attended the programme as he was invited. On June 4, along with a felicitation to the RCB on IPL victory at Vidhana Soudha, a celebration was also organised at the Chinnaswamy cricket stadium, where a large number of people thronged, leading to stampede, in which eleven people died and 56 were injured. A letter by DCP (Vidhana Soudha security) on June 4 to Secretary to the government, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), warning against organising the event hastily, and also highlighting that they did not have enough personnel to organise security for such an event, where a large number of people would gather, at short notice, has surfaced. The letter was in response to DPAR seeking his opinion on holding the felicitation event on the grand stairs of the Vidhana Soudha to honour the RCB players. 'The RCB cricket team has a fan following across the country. Organising the event in a hurry on the grand stairs of Vidhana Soudha will lead to lakhs of cricket fans arriving at Vidhana Soudha. This will lead to problems in bandobast since there is a shortage of officers/personnel in Vidhana Soudha security division,' the DCP's letter said. As the RCB fan following is huge, police personnel from outside the city will be required for bandobast and it will require time, he further said, both law and order and the traffic police will have to coordinate for a mega event like this and there is not enough time.
