Regional

Bengaluru, April 15 (IANS) The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status of Kannada actor-activist Chetan Kumar Ahimsa, who is known for his 'anti-Hindutva' stands, and directed him to submit his OCI card within 15 days.

Chetan on Saturday confirmed that he has received a letter from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) asking him to submit his OCI card within the next 15 days, adding that he would challenge the decision in the high court.

Condemning the move, the actor-turned-activist claimed that the notice has been issued to him because he can't be defeated for his society-oriented rational work.

"I obtained the OCI status in 2018. If it is cancelled, I can't contest elections or get a government job," he said.

"I was arrested for a tweet. Cases have been filed against me one after the other. Now, they have sent a notice cancelling my VISA and OCI status," he said.

Chetan's recent claim that the Tirupati temple had been built after demolishing a Buddhist set-up had stirred a controversy. In an interview, he further claimed that Hindu temples were never Vaidik institutions, as they were built after invading and destroying Buddhist religious places.

Chetan in his social media post had claimed that Hindutva is built on falsehood. He also termed the statement by Hindutva icon Veer Savarkar that Hindu nation took shape when Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravan as 'incorrect'.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, April 15 (IANS) In a setback to Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, the Kolar assembly seat has been allotted to a local leader by the Congress. Siddaramaiah had asked for a ticket from Kolar constituency also. Presently he is contesting from Varuna seat.

The party has allotted the ticket to Kothur Manjunath. According to sources in the party, the invisible hands within Congress have denied the safer option to Siddaramaiah by denying him ticket to contest from two constituencies.

Siddaramaiah was planning to retain Kolar and resign from Varuna constituency. He had planned to get his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah elected in the by-polls. However, with BJP fielding a formidable candidate in Varuna constituency in the form of senior leader V. Somanna and Congress denying him ticket from Kolar, sources explain that Siddaramaiah is pushed to tight spot.

Kothur Manjunath stated that the high command has announced his name without asking him. He maintained that Siddaramaiah should be made a candidate from Kolar. "But, if local leaders want me to contest I will," he said.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, April 15 (IANS) Karnataka Congress on Saturday announced the third list of 42 candidates for the state assembly elections. Former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi, who joined Congress from BJP, has been allotted the ticket from Athani constituency in Belagavi district.

In the party's third list, Laxman Savadi's name appeared on the top.

Interestingly, the party has not announced the ticket for Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency for which former chief minister and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar has locked horns with the saffron party.

Sources explain that the Congress leaders have already approached and assured Shettar of ticket and position if he joins Congress.

The party has named G.B. Malatesh as the candidate for Shikaripura constituency from where former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa's son B.Y. Vijayendra is contesting.

Siddaramaiah's loyalist Umashree has been denied a ticket from Terdal constituency from where Siddappa Ramappa Konnur has been fielded. Film producer Umapathy Srinivas Gowda has managed to obtain a ticket from Bommanahalli constituency in Bengaluru.

K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, who joined Congress from JD(S), has been allotted ticket for Arasikere constituency. The party has fielded Banavasi Rangaswamy from Hassan seat. Preetham Gowda is BJP's candidate here and since this is the only seat in the district, the saffron party is in no mood to lose it.

The locals say that it is going to be a straight fight between BJP and JD(S) in Hassan.

Congress had announced 124 candidates in the first list and 42 candidates in the second list. It is yet to announce names for the 16 seats.

--IANS
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Raigad, April 15 (IANS) In a pre-dawn tragedy, at least 12 youths, including five minors, were killed while 28 others injured when a private bus plunged into a gorge on Mumbai-Pune Highway on Saturday, officials said here.

President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Governor Ramesh Bais, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and others mourned the tragedy and expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

The Prime Minister has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the kin of each deceased victim, and Rs 50,000 for those injured, while Shinde has said that an ex-gratia of Rs 5,00,000 will be given to the families of the deceased and full treatment expenses of the injured shall be borne by the state government.

Khopoli Police Inspector Shirish K. Pawar said that the accident occurred around 4 a.m. on the Pune-Mumbai arm of the old highway and the bus reportedly fell into the ravine at least 50 meters below, near the treacherous Borghat section.

"From preliminary investigations, it appears that the driver may have lost control on one of the steep turns on the highway, but our priority is rescue work," said Pawar.

At that early hour, there was limited traffic on the highway but some people managed to rush to the accident spot, summoned the Raigad Police, Fire Brigade, some workers from a nearby construction project and a local trekkers' group for help.

A massive rescue operation was immediately launched with ropes and climbers went down to help the victims, numbering around 40-45 including the bus driver, locals said.

According to Pawar and the district authorities, around 12 youngsters have died in the accident and the number of fatalities could go up.

The injured were rushed to Khopoli Civil Hospital, Jakhotia Hospital, and MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai for treatment, and the condition of some is reported to be serious.

A police official said that a majority of the passengers were members of the Baji Prabhu Music Group, Goregaon, and comprised five minors and other youngsters in their teens or twenties, who were returning home after performing at a programme in Pune on Friday.

The deceased include Jui D. Sawant (18), Kritik Lohit (16), Rahul Gothan (17) (all from Goregaon); Abhay V. Sable (20) and Vaibhavi Sabale (15) of Malad; Harshada Pardeshi (19) of Mahim; Satish S. Dhumal (25), Swapnil S. Dhumal (15), Yash S. Yadav (20), Manish Rathod (25), Veer K. Mandavkar (6), and one person whose identity is yet to be ascertained.

Meanwhile, scores of grieving parents and relatives of deceased and injured victims rushed from different parts of Mumbai to the accident spot and the hospitals in Raigad and Navi Mumbai.

--IANS
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Belagavi, April 15 (IANS) Karnataka Opposition leader Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that he would welcome senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar if he joins the Congress.

Talking to reporters, Siddaramaiah said, "BJP has not treated senior leaders right."

The Congress leader questioned where is BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa who used to speak about the party and its policies.

Siddaramaiah claimed that the Congress would benefit from the joining of the former Deputy Chief Minister from BJP Laxman Savadi.

"We will give responsibility to Savadi for campaigning as per his wishes," he said.

On senior BJP leader V. Somanna being pitted against him, Siddaramaiah said, "Somanna is an outsider and he will not get a single vote. There is a Congress wave in the entire state, he added.

Siddaramaiah also stated that the third list of candidates of Congress is most likely to be released on Saturday.

Savadi will campaign for Congress party in Belagavi and other parts as well.

Meanwhile, Union Coal, Mine and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi has held a closed-door meeting with Shettar at his residence. After the meeting, Shettar is holding another meeting with his supporters and is likely to announce his decision.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, April 15 (IANS) In poll-bound Karnataka, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address a rally in Kolar on Sunday where he had made Modi surname remarks for which he was convicted of criminal defamation leading to his disqualification from Parliament.

He is scheduled to arrive in Bengaluru and travel to neighbouring Kolar to address the 'Jai Bharat' rally.

The rally was first scheduled on April 5, 9 and finally April 16.

The Gandhi scion is scheduled to inaugurate 'Indira Gandhi Bhavan' near the Congress headquarters in Bengaluru later. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is also expected to attend the programme.

Addressing a rally for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, seeking votes for Congress candidate K. H. Muniyappa, Rahul Gandhi had alleged, "Why all thieves have Modi surname."

Rahul Gandhi reiterated his Modi surname remark at a public rally in Corporation Grounds in KGF.

--IANS
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Bengaluru, April 15 (IANS) Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections, former Prime Minister and veteran JD(S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda released a 12-point manifesto in Bengaluru on Saturday, in which the party has laid emphasis on women empowerment and development of farmers.

In the manifesto, the party has promised to waive loans taken by Stree Shakti Groups, provide five LPG cylinders in a year for free, Rs 6,000 allowance for pregnant women for six months, hike of widow pension from Rs 900 to Rs 2,500 and pension for persons who completed 15 years of service.

The party has also proposed to provide a Rs 10,000 subsidy per acre to farmers; Rs 2,000 monthly allowance for farm labourers; Rs 2 lakh subsidy for women who marry youths who have taken up agriculture.

It has promised to exert pressure on the Central government to conduct exams in Kannada for various civil services and defence recruitments. The party also promised that, if voted to power, it would bring legislation to provide reservations for Kannadigas in the private sector.

The party proposed to distribute 6.8 lakh bicycles and EV mopeds to 60,000 girl students free of cost who are studying in government colleges. The manifesto assures government multi-speciality hospitals in every district.

The JD(S) is marching ahead with new vigour in the state as national parties Congress and BJP are busy "quelling dissidence". JD(S) has resolved family infighting over the matter of issuing the ticket to Bhavani Revanna, daughter-in-law of Deve Gowda.

The party has finally decided to give the ticket to party leader Swaroop Prakash. The party has declared the names of 142 candidates in two lists. The party has to announce candidates for 82 seats.

--IANS
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By M.K. Ashoka
Bengaluru, April 15 (IANS) The Karnataka BJP unit is upbeat about its chances in the May 10 assembly elections. The saffron party has gone one step ahead in replicating the Gujarat model in the state by allotting 52 tickets to new candidates in the first list and denying tickets to seven sitting MLAs in the second list.


Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has stated that the opponents are already shivering after seeing the list of candidates. Sources said that this was much needed in the interest of the party. However, it is posing a serious challenge to the BJP as the dropped MLAs are rebelling, especially the senior leaders who have vowed to prove themselves by joining hands with political rivals of the BJP.

Sources in the party said that the leaders have been told by the high command not to worry about the rebel candidates and they will take care of the situation. The campaign blitzkrieg of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has been planned in such a way that the state would be swamped by a saffron wave.

However, the controversy surrounding the Amul and Nandini brands has dented the image of the party ahead of the polls. First it was an allegation of Hindi imposition on curd packets. The central agency withdrew it after facing a backlash not only in Karnataka, but in other south Indian states also.

When things seemed to be settling down, the BJP delivered another issue on a silver platter to the opposition by beginning to sell Amul milk and curd packets directly in Karnataka.

The Opposition and Kannada activists came out on the streets to protest the move. Soon, the issue was linked to the survival of the farmers who depend on selling milk to the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). The BJP which initially ignored the agitation against Amul, later tried to control the damage by explaining how steps are being taken to strengthen the KMF and the Nandini brand.

The Opposition Congress and JD (S) used the controversy to reach out to the people of the state and successfully created suspicion about the BJP merging the Nandini brand with Amul.

The party is also dealing with the rebellion of its leaders, following the release of the first and second list of candidates. Controversial leader K.S. Eshwarappa was asked to retire from electoral politics. The party denied a ticket to former deputy CM Lakshman Savadi while former CM Jagadish Shettar's ticket is yet to be announced. According to sources the high command is not interested in him.

Senior BJP leaders former deputy CM R. Ashoka and Minister V. Somanna have been given challenging tasks. They will take on Karnataka Congress president D.K. Shivakumar and Opposition leader Siddaramaiah respectively.

The party has managed to rein in Eshwarappa. Lakshman Savadi has declared war on the BJP and will most likely join the Congress. Jagadish Shettar is waiting for his ticket in the third list and he is claiming that he will talk after getting some clarity. The high command had summoned him to Delhi and managed to contain him.

The party has taken a major decision to check the anti-incumbency factor in the coastal Karnataka districts. It is fielding six new faces in place of the sitting MLAs. Six-time MLA and minister S. Angara has resigned from the primary membership of the BJP following the development. Veteran BJP leader Halady Srinivasa Shetty had also announced his retirement.

The BJP is presently facing a rebellion in more than 20 constituencies. BJP sitting MLA from Udupi constituency Raghupathy Bhat who missed the ticket stated that he came to know about the denial of a ticket from the media. This was not the way to treat a senior leader like him, he added.

Former minister Goolihatti Shekar, sitting MLA from Belagavi North Anil Benake, former minister Sogadu Shivanna, MLC R. Shankar who were denied tickets have given clear hints of joining hands with the opposition parties. The party has also not announced a ticket for former minister and senior BJP leader S. Ramdas from Mysuru district.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai, who is touring the state, has stated that according to him the BJP would win 150 seats in Karnataka. Tejasvi Surya, Bengaluru South MP and BJP Yuva Morcha national president, has stated that the BJP is the only party to groom party workers into leaders. Stalwarts such as Yediyurappa and Halady Srinivasa Shetty have set standards to accommodate future candidates and it shows how different the BJP is when compared to other parties.

Tejasvi Surya has also stated that the BJP has given prominence to new faces. It is to be seen how the BJP's experiment will work for the party in the assembly elections.

--IANS
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Chennai, April 8 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu health department will conduct a mock drill to assess the prepared of the department in curbing the possibilities of a Covid-19 surge. The Test Positivity Rate (TPR) in many districts of Tamil Nadu have touched above 5 indicating that things are not rosy.

However state Health Minister, Ma Subramanian expressed confidence in bringing things under control and told people not to worry about the slight increase in Covid cases. The minister has called upon people to strictly abide by the Covid protocol put forward by the government including wearing masks, safe distancing and washing hands regularly.

The minister said that the variant of Omicron that is present in the country was not lethal and hence called upon the people not to worry much but to be cautious.

Tamil Nadu reported 303 fresh cases on Friday, and the total active cases reached 1530.

The health department is conducting mock drill in all the government hospitals of the state to understand the preparations the medical staff have including the infrastructure available if there is a surge in cases.

According to the health minister, Tamil Nadu have 24.061 Oxygen concentrators and medical oxygen storage capacity of 2067 metric tonnes.

While speaking to IANS, Ma Subramanian said, "We had a meeting with Union Health Minister Manush Mandaviya virtually and things are under control. However, people have to be cautious and abide by the Covid protocol prescribed by the health department."

The minster also said that the RT-PCR tests per day will be increased from the present 4000 to 11000.

--IANS
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Chennai, April 8 (IANS) Deposed Coordinator of AIADMK and former Chief minister of Tamil Nadu O. Panneerselvam (OPS) has commenced discussions with the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP.

Highly-placed sources in the Panneerselvam camp told IANS that the veteran leader, who is out of reckoning in the AIADMK, is trying to wield his power within his Thevar community and trying to enter into a bonhomie with the state BJP leadership.

OPS has already entered into a working relationship with former interim general secretary and close aide of late Jayalalithaa, V. K. Sasikala who is also from Thevar community. Sasikala's nephew TTV Dhinakaran who is the general secretary of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), has also been roped in into the group. Thevar community elders have been mediating for this and OPS is playing the card of his powerful caste factor.

BJP Tamil Nadu state president K. Annamalai is not in good terms with the AIADMK at a personal level and has been vehemently pushing for contesting the polls on its own. However, the central leadership of the BJP is keen that at present it needs the support of AIADMK for making major breakthroughs in the state in the ensuing Loks Sabha polls of 2024.

OPS, according to information, is trying to strike a deal with BJP state unit for his re-entry to AIADMK.

According to sources in the BJP, OPS has met Annamalai a couple of days ago at Chennai and is continuing with the discussions with other senior leaders of Tamil Nadu BJP including former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan and former national secretary of the BJP H. Raja.

Sources told IANS that he had also met the four MLAs of the BJP including the national president of the woman's wing of the BJP, Vanathi Sreenivasan and Legislative party leader of BJP Nainar Nagendran who is a former AIADMK leader.

Even though OPS is a non-entity in AIADMK at present, the state and central leadership of the BJP is keen that his clout within the Thevar community has to be capitalised as South Tamil Nadu is the fiefdom of Thevar community and BJP has also good strength in this belt.

Dr. G. Padmanabhan, Director, Socio Economic Development Foundation, a think tank based out of Madurai told IANS, "OPS cannot be ruled out and sidelined like that. You have to understand that when all the AIADMK and BJP leaders lost the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Tamil Nadu, it was OP Raveendranath, son of OPS who emerged victorious from the family turf, Theni and this victory was primarily due to the support of the powerful Thevar community."

--IANS
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