Latest news with #Siddaramaiah
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
US visit row: CM Siddaramaiah, Priyank Kharge to seek explanation from Centre
BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge have decided to write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, respectively, seeking an explanation as to why the Union Government denied permission to Priyank to travel to the US to attend the Bio International Convention in Boston and the Design Automation Conference in San Francisco. Priyank said that his absence from the platform will have an impact on the state's IT sector. 'If the minister is not seen in the forum, they might think Karnataka is not serious...,' Priyank said. 'We are pioneers in software exports. We are bringing investments to the country. We are contributing to the country's GDP growth, and we are making the PM's slogans into reality. The delegation, which is helping to make these possible, has been rejected with no valid reasons. I have no issues if there are any mistakes on our behalf, we are ready to correct them. But rejecting without valid reasons is not acceptable. Nation-building is not happening only in Delhi, Karnataka is building the nation. We are the most powerful economic engine. We want to know why they were denied with a suitable explanation. Otherwise, we will consider it as politics,'' Priyank said. Further, he said CM Siddaramaiah approved his travel to the US in the first week of May. 'On May 15, we approached MEA along with our minute-to-minute meetings. But on June 4, they rejected it without giving any reasons. If there was an issue with our proposal or format, if they had rejected it, we would have accepted it. But on June 6, we sent the same list of delegations without my name, they approved it by June 11, and on June 12, we sent KIONICS chairman Sharath Bacchegowda, as we wanted decision-makers, which they approved on June 14. It looks like they are indulging in politics. They hate the name Priyank and the Kharge surname,'' Priyank said, adding that his visit to France was on invitation. He said that when US President Trump says iPhone should not be made in India, the Centre keeps quiet. 'This means the government is adhering to what the US President is saying. It looks like India's foreign policy has been outsourced to America, and now it looks like even investment policy is outsourced to America,' he said.
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Cabinet to press Centre for relief for mango farmers
Bengaluru: The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to exert pressure on the central government to provide relief for the state's mango growers, who are facing severe distress due to a sharp decline in market prices during the current harvest season. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the cabinet discussed the plight of mango growers, especially concerns raised by Ministers from Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bengaluru rural and Mumbai-Karnataka region. 'There have been huge losses and the Chief Minister has been advised regarding providing relief. The CM has instructed Agriculture Minister Cheluvarayaswamy to discuss with the Union Minister once again,' he said. The state Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy has been instructed to visit Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in New Delhi if required and 'put pressure on the Centre to get as much higher relief possible'. Asked whether the state government has committed to providing any relief to mango growers, the Minister said, 'No, we are putting pressure on the central government and if our share has to be there in that, it will be considered.' Regarding CM Siddaramaiah's letter to his Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu to withdraw the ban on entry of 'Totapuri Mangoes' into his state, he said the issue was raised by Minister K H Muniyappa, but there was no detailed discussion on this. Siddaramaiah had also written to the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Shivaraj Singh Chouhan last week, seeking an urgent Price Deficiency Payment and Market Intervention Scheme for mango farmers in Karnataka.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka schools get notices for poor SSLC results, teachers cite systemic issues
Bengaluru: The department of school education and literacy has begun issuing show-cause notices to headmasters and headmistresses (HMs) of govt and aided schools across Karnataka, pulling them up for poor SSLC-1 results. The move comes as part of a wider drive to improve academic performance in state-run institutions. Schools where the pass percentage has fallen below the state average of 60% have been served notices, demanding explanations for the poor outcomes. It was seen from the results that they did not take adequate measures to improve the academic performance of the students and "this reflects negligence and dereliction of duty," the notice stated, directing the HMs to respond within seven days. The move follows a directive from chief minister Siddaramaiah, who recently emphasised the need for accountability among officials for underperformances of schools. The department has also gone a step further with aided schools. District deputy directors of public instruction (DDPIs) have been told to identify subject-wise teachers whose results fell below 60% and withhold their annual increments. If a subject continues to record poor results for three consecutive years, salary grants for those teachers will be stopped. Aided high schools that fail to achieve a minimum 50% pass rate in SSLC exams for five years in a row stand to lose govt funding altogether. "All field-level education officers must monitor compliance with these conditions and submit a follow-up report after SSLC results each year," a circular directed. While the crackdown has been welcomed in some quarters, many teachers argue that it unfairly targets them while ignoring systemic issues. "There's a huge shortage of teachers. By the time we get students in high school, they often lack even basic reading and writing skills. We're expected to build everything from scratch. Yet, we're the ones being blamed," a govt school teacher said. Education experts and teacher associations are calling for a more holistic approach. "Teachers should be freed from non-academic work. Basic infrastructure and resources must be prioritised. Above all, filling vacant teacher posts must be the first step if results are to improve," Manjunath HK, former president of the Karnataka State High School Teachers Association, said. Responding to the criticism, commissioner Trilok Chandra KV said the department is open to hearing the HMs' issues. "Let them send their explanations, and we will consider them accordingly," he said. ————- 3 weeks into academic year, students yet to get shoes and socks Times News Network Bengaluru: Nearly three weeks after the start of the new academic year, govt and aided schools across Karnataka are still awaiting funds to provide shoes and socks to their students. The academic year began on May 29, and while students received textbooks and uniforms on time, the promised footwear is yet to arrive. With no clarity on when the items will be distributed, students are either reusing old pairs — if they can still fit in — or are turning up at school in sandals, slippers or even barefooted. "We are expecting the govt order to be issued this week. The money will be transferred directly to the school development and monitoring committees (SDMCs). We had sent the proposal to the govt a long time ago," said Trilok Chandra KV, commissioner, department of school education and literacy. Last year, the govt had sanctioned around Rs 121 crore to distribute shoes and socks to over 42 lakh students in classes 1 to 10. Depending on the grade, the expenditure per child ranged between Rs 265 and Rs 325. However, the delays in releasing funds have once again highlighted the apathy towards public school children. "Due to heavy rainfall this year, many children are suffering without proper footwear. Some are forced to attend classes in torn shoes or barefooted," Ajay Kamath, state secretary, All India Democratic Students Organisation (Aidso), said. Teachers echoed similar concerns. "Students were asked to buy one pair of shoes and two pairs of socks. But with the meagre budget last year, SDMCs could only afford poor-quality footwear. Those are already worn out. Most students now come in slippers or sandals," a govt school teacher in Bengaluru, said.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Monsoon session likely in mid-July, crowd management bill to steal focus
Bengaluru: Although BJP, the principal opposition party, has been demanding a special session of the legislature to debate the recent stadium stampede tragedy, the govt is leaning towards holding a regular monsoon session in mid-July. Authorities have tentatively fixed July 14 as the start date for the session though the cabinet, will discuss the session's schedule at the next meeting. "A two-week session with 10 working days in mid-July fits well before the festival season," said a senior official from the parliamentary affairs department. "The cabinet may either set the dates or authorise the chief minister to decide and advise the governor accordingly." By convention, the gap between two sessions should not exceed six months. Since the budget session — the previous one — ended on March 21, the govt has until the third week of Sept to convene the next session. But CM Siddaramaiah is said to be in favour of an early session amid BJP's pressure over the stampede tragedy that claimed 11 lives during RCB's IPL victory celebrations. Siddaramaiah reportedly wants to end the public discourse by facilitating a debate on the incident in the assembly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Зачем на ночь сжигают лавровый лист? Undo Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, addressing the controversy, urged the opposition to use parliamentary procedures rather than protests. "It is an unfortunate incident," he said. "We took stern action, including suspending police officials and ordering a judicial probe. Let the opposition debate the issue in the assembly instead of creating a public spectacle for political gain." The session is expected to begin with the assembly ratifying revocation of suspension of 18 BJP legislators. These MLAs were suspended on the last day of the previous session on charges of indiscipline and unruly behaviour, even as the opposition demanded a judicial investigation over the alleged honey trap targeting cooperation minister KN Rajanna and other members. Speaker UT Khader decided to revoke the suspensions after Siddaramaiah intervened, but rules demand the decision must be ratified through a resolution. The session is likely to be stormy as BJP and JD(S) are preparing to corner the govt over the stampede tragedy. In response, the govt plans to introduce a bill on crowd management. "We want to bring in a policy for crowd management and it is the need of the hour. We will prepare a framework, and a bill may be introduced," said Shivakumar. Parliamentary affairs minister HK Patil said the govt has already prepared a draft bill, while home minister G Parameshwara, whose department is expected to pilot the bill, said standard operating procedures on managing crowds during big events are being considered for inclusion in the proposed legislation. Other legislations likely to come up include the Gig Workers Welfare Bill, currently in the form of an ordinance, and the Rohith Vemula Bill aimed at protecting Dalit students in higher educational institutions. The contentious proposed bill to increase work hours in the private sector is also expected to generate debate, along with the proposed caste census.
United News of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Karnataka cabinet clears tough crowd control law
Bengaluru, Jun 19 (UNI) In the wake of the tragic stampede at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on June 4, which claimed 11 lives and left 56 injured, the Karnataka government is set to introduce a stringent crowd control law. A draft bill was discussed in the state cabinet on Wednesday and is expected to be tabled in the forthcoming monsoon session of the Assembly. According to the draft bill, a copy of which is in circulation, the proposed legislation holds event organisers and executors legally accountable for lapses in crowd management, with penalties including imprisonment of up to three years and fines starting from ₹50,000. Offences under the proposed act will be non-cognizable and non-bailable. The bill, which is seen as a direct fallout of the Chinnaswamy stadium stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) victory celebration on June 4, lays down a detailed compliance framework for event planners. RCB and DNA Networks, the event coordinators, have come under intense scrutiny in connection with the incident. 'If the event planner does not apply for police permission before conducting the event, fails to control the crowd gathered, does not provide compensation or violates any provisions of the Act or its rules in any manner, they shall be punishable with imprisonment up to three years or with fine up to ₹5 lakh or both,' the draft bill states. Other offences include deliberate violation of regulations, incidents leading to death or bodily injury, and crowd disturbances resulting in injury or stampede. There are also provisions for penalising abetment and for organisers of commercially driven gatherings, such as sporting events or circuses. The stampede – which occurred as thousands of fans thronged a narrow entry point outside the stadium – triggered a wave of criticism against the Congress-led government. Both the BJP and JD(S) held Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar directly responsible, accusing them of inadequate planning and hasty execution. The crowd had gathered to celebrate RCB's maiden IPL title win in 18 years, turning the stadium precincts into an emotionally charged venue, which quickly descended into chaos. UNI BDN SSP
