Tag: Karnataka assembly

Karnataka Assembly Passes Resolution Against NEET

The resolution urges the central government to allow admission in medical colleges based on the Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the state government.

New Delhi: The Karnataka legislative assembly on Thursday (July 25) has adopted a resolution demanding the abolition of the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET) and exemption for the state from the exam.

The resolution, passed amidst protests from Opposition parties, highlights the severe impact of NEET on medical education opportunities for poor children from rural areas, The Hindu reported.

Karnataka medical education minister Sharan Prakash Patil stated that NEET makes the school education system ineffective and takes away the rights of the state government to admit students in state-run medical colleges.

“The NEET examination system is severely affecting the medical education opportunities of poor children from rural area,” Prakash was quoted as saying by TH.

He added: “NEET not only makes the school education system ineffective, but also takes away the rights of the State Government to admit students in State Government managed medical colleges. Hence, it is requested that this system be abolished.”

The resolution urges the central government to allow admission in medical colleges based on the Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the state government and cancel the NEET system due to nationwide malpractices.

Also read: NEET-UG Results: Centres Under CBI Probe Fair Poorly While Those in Coaching Hubs Do Well

The assembly also demanded essential amendments in the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, to address concerns related to NEET.

“The House demands the Centre to exempt Karnataka from this exam, and allow admission in medical colleges to students on the basis of the Common Entrance Test conducted by the State Government and cancel the NEET system in view of the malpractices taking place nationwide, and make essential amendments in the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 (Central Act 30 of 2019),” the resolution mentioned.

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) members protested the resolution and the Leader of Opposition R. Ashok demanded a special session to discuss the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal and conduct of NEET, as per the report.

“When NEET came, we welcomed it thinking it’d be transparent and students will not have to take multiple exams,” Patil told media persons, as per a Deccan Herald report, adding, “But now, we have lost faith in NEET after the Union government demonstrated its inability to conduct the exam in a transparent manner, which put the future of 24 lakh students in panic.”

Further, he underlined that since the Centre has “lost the competence to conduct NEET” they should “give up gracefully”.

“The South Indian states have an unanimous opinion. The Tamil Nadu Assembly has already taken a stand. There’s information that Telangana too will do it,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal assembly has also passed a resolution on Wednesday (July 24) to scrap NEET and bring in its place a new entrance test for medical aspirants.

Savarkar Portrait Unveiled in Karnataka Assembly, Congress Leaders Protest

Congress leaders alleged that the BJP government is attempting to divert attention away from real issues by stoking controversy.

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka has put up a portrait of Vinayak Savarkar in the state assembly, leading to protests from opposition parties on the steps outside the building.

The protest was lead by former chief minister and Congress leader Siddaramaiah, NDTV reported. Today (December 19) is the first day of 10-day winter session of the state assembly.

“I am not against putting up of anyone’s portrait. The government wants to divert the attention of the people from real issues like law & order. It is not a protest, it is our demand to put portraits of all national leaders and social reformers (in the Karnataka assembly hall). The speaker has unilaterally taken a decision to put up Veer Savarkar’s portrait in the assembly,” Times of India quoted Siddaramaiah as saying.

Also read: ‘Savarkar and Hindu Mahasabha Stayed Firmly Outside the Freedom Movement’

“They want that our assembly proceedings should not take place. They want it disrupted. They have brought this photo because we are going to raise a lot of corruption issues against them. They don’t have any development agenda,” Karnataka Congress chief and MLA D.K. Shivakumar told ANI.

When asked about the protests, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai reportedly claimed that the decision was taken by the speaker. “What happens inside the assembly is decided by the speaker. I will talk to our leaders and the opposition as well,” Hindustan Times quoted him as saying.

While the BJP has been keen to portray Savarkar as a freedom fighter and even a “brave revolutionary“, historians have pointed out that Savarkar “not only refrained from participating in the freedom struggle after the British released him from prison on account of his relentless pleas for mercy, but also actively collaborated with the English rulers to whom he had declared his loyalty”.

Anti-Conversion Bill Passed in Karnataka Legislative Council Amid Opposition’s Objections

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council B.K. Hariprasad even tore up a copy of the Bill in protest as the pro-tem chairman Raghunath Rao Malkapure was in the process of putting the Bill to vote.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Legislative Council on Thursday passed the contentious anti-conversion Bill amid objections from the opposition Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)].

The ‘Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill’ was passed by the Legislative assembly in December last.

As the Bill was pending passage in the Legislative Council, where the ruling BJP was short of majority then, the government had subsequently promulgated an ordinance in May this year to give effect to the Bill.

Home minister Araga Jnanendra piloted the Bill for the consideration of the Upper House on Thursday.

Claiming that in recent times religious conversions have become widespread, he said there have been mass conversions with allurements and through force, disturbing peace and leading to mistrust among people following different religions.

The Bill does not take away anyone’s religious freedom and anyone can practice the religion of his or her choice, but not under pressure and allurements, Jnanendra said.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council B.K. Hariprasad even tore up a copy of the Bill in protest as the pro-tem chairman Raghunath Rao Malkapure was in the process of putting the Bill to vote.

Hariprasad (Congress) termed the bill as “unconstitutional” and said it will affect the right to religion.

Law and parliamentary affairs ,inister J.C. Madhuswamy maintained that the Bill was well within the scope of the constitution of India.

Earlier, during the passage of the Bill in the Legislative Assembly, Jnanendra had said that eight states have passed or were implementing such a law, and Karnataka would become the ninth one.

The bill provides prohibits unlawful conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means.

It proposes imprisonment from three to five years with a fine of Rs 25,000, while for violation of provisions with respect to minors, women, SC/ST, the offenders will face imprisonment from three to ten years and a fine of not less than Rs 50,000.

The bill also makes provisions for the accused to pay up to Rs 5 lakh as compensation to those who were made to convert, and with regards to cases of mass conversion there shall be a 3-10 year jail term and a fine of up to Rs one lakh.

It also states that any marriage which has happened for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion or vice-versa by the man of one religion with the woman of another, either by converting himself before or after marriage or by converting the woman before or after marriage, shall be declared as null and void by the family court.

Wherever the family court is not established, the court having jurisdiction can try such a case, on a petition presented by either party thereto against the other party of the marriage.

The offence under this Bill is non-bailable and cognisable.

The Bill mandates that persons who wish to convert to another faith shall give a declaration in a prescribed format at least 30 days in advance to the district magistrate or the additional district magistrate specially authorised by the district magistrate in this regard of his residing district or place of birth within the state.

Also the religious converter who performs the conversion shall give 30 days advance notice in a format, to the district magistrate or the additional district magistrate.

Minister Jnanendra further said, the person who wishes to convert will lose the religion of his or her origin and the facilities or benefits attached to it, including reservations; however, one is likely to receive the benefits entitled to, in the religion, he or she converts to.

Karnataka: Congress Raises 19 Lakh ‘Missing’ EVMs, Wants Election Commission Summoned

H.K. Patil said he was speaking on the most significant concerns of Indian democracy currently: non-transparency around electoral bonds and doubts being raised across the country about EVMs.

New Delhi: Even as the BJP-led Karnataka government mulls over whether or not to allow Halal meat, in what appears to be the latest row in the series of political attempts to corner Muslims in the state, the chief opposition Congress raised the issue of over alleged 19 lakh “missing” electronic voting machines (EVMs) from the coffers of the Election Commission of India (ECI) between 2016 and 2019. 

During a special debate on electoral reforms in the state assembly, former rural development minister and senior Congress legislator H.K. Patil cited RTI responses to press the speaker to seek clarification from the ECI over the matter. 

Speaking to The Wire, Patil said that he was speaking on the most significant concerns of Indian democracy currently: non-transparency around electoral bonds and doubts being raised across the country about EVMs. 

“I requested the speaker to summon the ECI. It is answerable to people. When I made an accusation in a forum like the state assembly, I did it with utmost seriousness,” said Patil. 

Following the debate, the speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri on Tuesday agreed to summon the ECI and seek an explanation. 

Patil cited RTI responses received by Mumbai-based activist Manoranjan Roy from Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) and the Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) – both public sector units that manufacture EVMs – and the ECI. Based on the responses, Roy assessed that there are more than 19 lakh EVMs that were supplied by the PSUs to the ECI but were not marked as “received” by the poll panel. Roy’s PIL on the matter, seeking an explanation from the ECI, is being heard in the Bombay high court since 2018.

“According to the ECI’s response on June 21, 2017 to Roy’s RTI application, the election authority received 10.5 lakh EVMs from BEL between 1989-90 and 2014-15. The ECI also stated that it received 10,14, 644 EVMs from ECIL between 1989-90 to 2016-17,” Patil told The Wire while explaining how the discrepancy appeared in the RTI.

“Roy also received BEL’s response on Jan 2, 2018 that said it had supplied 19,69,932 EVMs to ECI between 1989-90 and 2014-15. Similarly, ECIL’s RTI response dated Septemebr 16, 2017 stated it has supplied 19,44,593 EVMs to the ECI between 1989-90 and 2014-15,” he added.

“Which means the ECI did not receive 9,64,270 EVMs that the BEL said were delivered and 9,29,449 such machines that the ECIL said it had supplied to the ECI,” Patil said.

Also Read: Whereabouts of 19 Lakh EVMs Not Known, Reveals RTI-Based Court Case

He said Roy’s RTI query had also asked the two PSUs for a year-wise break up of machines that were supplied. “The figures that emerged from the year-wise break up are replete with gross disparities. The cumulative number of missing EVMs comes to around 19 lakh, which includes 62,183 EVMs that BEL claimed to have dispatched to the ECI in 2014 but not acknowledged as received by the poll regulator.”

“The RTI responses indicate a big fraud. One can’t be silent on this as it puts a question mark on the legitimacy of Indian democracy. Unfortunately, the ECI has only given unclear answers at the Bombay high court in the last 10 hearings. It has not deemed the issue important enough to clarify all the doubts,” Patil said.

Bombay high court. Photo: PTI

The issue of ‘missing EVMs’ was first highlighted by Frontline in 2019 in a detailed story about Roy’s RTI responses and his PIL at the Bombay high court. “The RTI documents highlighted glaring discrepancies in all three operations—procurement, storage and deployment—and also pointed to grave financial irregularities to the tune of Rs.116.55 crore,” the Frontline report said.

“The appalling mismatches spread to payments too. A cumulative assessment of payment statements obtained for transactions between the ECI and BEL for the 10-year period from 2006-07 to 2016-17 shows that the ECI’s ‘actual expenditure’ on EVMs is Rs 536,01,75,485, while BEL’s RTI reply dated September 20, 2017, claims it received a payment of Rs 652,56,44,000 from the ECI for the corresponding period. That is an excess payment of Rs.116.55 crore,” the report said.

Speaking with Frontline, Roy had said that his PIL is intended to only seek clarity on the mismatches so that the ever-growing clamour against rigging through EVMs and malfunctioning of those machines can be put to rest. “Where have the excess machines supplied by BEL and ECIL actually gone and what is the secret behind the excess money received by BEL? The fact of the matter is that neither the ECI nor the SECs have a robust system to procure, store, deploy EVMs and also destroy malfunctioning and unwanted EVMs,” he said.

The controversy over ‘missing’ EVMs only escalated after the ECI’s response to another RTI application by Roy. The ECI on July 21, 2017 said that it had not sold any EVMs as scrap, and added that EVMs procured in 1989-90 were destroyed by manufacturers themselves. Also, those that the ECI received between 2000-2005 were either outdated or irreparable. Roy believed that most of the missing EVMs appear to be still in the ECI’s possession even if it has not been acknowledged as “received”. 

Since the Karnataka assembly debate, senior Congress leaders have been raising their pitch to seek better clarity on the issue. 

In Karnataka, former speaker and senior Congress leader Priyank Kharge told The Print that as the IT minister, he had requested the EC to allow an ethical hackathon of EVMs by the subject experts but the request was turned down.

BJP leaders in the assembly like Arvind Bellad defended EVMs but Congress leaders retorted to say that only the EC should respond to the serious allegations and not the ruling party leaders.

‘All Muslims, Christians Will Associate With RSS Someday’: Karnataka Minister Eshwarappa

Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri used the term “our RSS” and that a day would come when opposition legislators would also say the same.

New Delhi: The Karnataka assembly speaker and a minister on Thursday claimed that one day, every Indian – including Christians and Muslims – would associate themselves with the RSS, evoking sharp reactions from Congress MLAs.

According to news agency PTI, Karnataka rural development minister and senior BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa claimed that all Muslims and Christians in the country “will associate themselves with the RSS, someday in the future”.

Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri used the term “our RSS” and that a day would come when opposition legislators would also say the same.

These statements came after the leader of the opposition and former chief minister Siddaramaiah made a reference to the organisation while speaking about his personal equations with some BJP leaders and ministers.

“Personal relations are important, then comes party differences – BJP, RSS, Congress and others,” the Congress leader said

To this, speaker Kageri asked Siddaramaiah, “Why are you feeling troubled about our RSS?”

As Siddaramaiah was clarifying that he was not speaking by attaching any feelings, Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan asked, “You (speaker) are saying ‘Our RSS’ while sitting on that chair?”

To this Kageri responded by saying, “What else, if not our RSS? Yes… It is our RSS. RSS is ours…. Zameer, I’m telling you one thing, if not today someday in the future, in our country, even you will have to say ‘Our RSS’, definitely.”

To this, some Congress legislators including Khan said, that day would never come and they would never say it.

Siddaramiah said, he too is opposed to RSS, as ‘Manuwad’ (a society governed by the Manusmriti and not the constitution) will be established in the country because of the Hindutva organisation.

Intervening, revenue minister R. Ashoka said, RSS has become “ubiquitous and omnipresent”.

“Our country’s president, vice president, prime minister, [several] chief ministers are all from RSS. Everyone has to accept it now… it is our good fortune,” he pointed out, amidst some Congress legislators calling it the country’s “misfortune”.

Minister Eshwarappa said, “All Muslims and Christians in the country, if not today, someday in the future, will become (associate with) the RSS. There is no doubt about it.”

This statement elicited a sharp reaction from some Congress legislators.

Taking objection to the speaker’s associating himself with the RSS, Congress MLA Priyank Kharge pointed out that he had spoken from the chair about constitutional values during a debate last year. “You had then claimed you are for the constitution, now you are saying that you are in favour of RSS,” he said. He claimed that in the past, members of the RSS had burnt the constitution at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi.

(With PTI inputs)

Bedlam in Karnataka Assemby as Minister, Congress Chief Get Into Heated Exchanges

The tense situation occurred when the Congress made a preliminary submission seeking to move an adjournment motion demanding a dismissal and sedition case against minister E.M. Eshwarappa.

Bengaluru: Pandemonium prevailed in the Karnataka assembly on Wednesday with the minister for rural development and panchayat raj K.S. Eshwarappa and state Congress president D.K. Shivakumar charging towards each other, stopping short of coming to blows.

The tense situation came up when the leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah was making a preliminary submission seeking to move an adjournment motion demanding a dismissal and sedition case against Eshwarappa for his recent statement claiming that bhagwa dhwaj (saffron flag) may become the national flag in the future.

The heated exchanges between the two began when speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri wanted to hear Eshwarappa’s side as charges were made against him in the adjournment motion.

Shivakumar, opposing it, said, “We cannot allow him (Eshwarappa to speak).”

To this, Eshwarappa is said to have made some comments from the place where he was seated, but it was not clearly heard amid the chaos.

Shivakumar, claiming that Eshwarappa said, “This (House) is not your (Shivakumar) father’s property,” tried to charge towards him in a fit of anger.

The state Congress chief, along with some of his party MLAs, then walked towards Eshwarappa who, too, walked from his seat towards them and came close to each other.

Realising that the situation may go out of control, the speaker adjourned the House for lunch while marshals, along with some MLAs from both sides, tried to pacify people indulging in heated exchanges and nearly coming to blows.

Earlier, both leaders were seen indulging in heated personal exchanges in the assembly by calling each other desha drohi and rashtra drohi.

Shivakumar said, “Why do you want to hear about a person who has been involved in ‘desha droha'” when the speaker tried to give Eshwarappa an opportunity to speak.

This elicited a sharp reaction from Eshwarappa, who in turn called the KPCC chief of “looting the resources of the State and hence was put behind bars”.

With legislators from both sides standing up in support of their leaders and involved in heated exchanges, chaotic scenes prevailed.

The speaker even asked the assembly staff to switch off the mikes.

Eshwarappa had recently claimed the saffron flag may become the national flag sometime in the future and the same may be hoisted on the Red Fort then.

He, however, had said the tricolour is the national flag now, and it should be respected by everyone.

Siddaramaiah, during his preliminary submission on an adjournment motion, said Eshwarappa being a senior minister has disrespected the national flag, and cannot continue as a minister in the government, and hence should be dismissed immediately.

“Eshwarappa has made a statement that a saffron flag will be hoisted on the Red Fort in the place of the national flag, which is the symbol of our dignity… He made this statement on February 9, it was reported on February 10, today is February 16, till now the government has not taken any action against him,” Siddaramaiah said.

“According to me, the chief minister has to dismiss Eshwarappa from the ministry. By making such a statement he has lost the competence to continue as a minister. The chief minister should have on his own dismissed Eshwarappa and cases should have been booked against him under section 2 of Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act and for sedition,” he said while pointing out that a sedition case was booked against protesting farmers for hoisting their flag at Red Fort.

Noting that Article 51(1) of the constitution – relating to fundamental duties – states that it shall be the duty of every citizen to abide by the constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the national flag and the national anthem, Siddaramaiah said they symbolise this country, its freedom and its people.

He further said, “There is a flag code of India, also there is also Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, the section 2 of this- states that whoever in any public place or any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, disfigures, destroys or brings into contempt, whether by words or acts-to the Indian National flag…shall be imprisonment for the term extending up to three years, or fine or both.”

Even according to the Indian Penal Code, disrespecting the national flag or the constitution or the national anthem comes under sedition, he added.

As Siddaramaiah demanded  Eshwarappa’s dismissal and filing of a sedition case against him, BJP MLA C.T. Ravi accused the Congress governments in the past of “firing bullets at those who held the national flag in their hands”. The former chief minister hit back stating that the RSS never hoisted the national flag for long after independence.

This resulted in heated exchanges between the opposition and treasury benches as both sides accused each other of not being respectful to the national flag.

Law and parliamentary affairs minister J.C. Madhuswamy, jumping to Eshwarappa’s defence, said as there is no material, what Siddaramaiah has raised does not come under the purview of adjournment motion which should be rejected.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said if Eshwarappa was not suspended and a sedition case was not booked against him, the Congress would stage a protest inside and outside the House.

“Tomorrow (Thursday) by 11 am, we will decide and inform what we will do next, most probably stage round-the-clock protests in the assembly. We will discuss and let you know,” he said in response to a question.

Karnataka: Siddaramaiah Demands High Court-Monitored Probe into Jarkiholi Sex Scandal

Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah claimed the woman said in the video message that she was “utilised” and thus a rape case should be registered against BJP MLA and former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi.

Bengaluru: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday demanded in the Karnataka Assembly that a rape case be registered against BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who recently quit as minister amid allegations that he sexually harassed a woman ‘job aspirant’.

The leader of the opposition, who also demanded a court-monitored probe, claimed the woman in a video message had said she was “utilised” and thus it would amount to rape. “I demand a rape case under section 376 of the IPC be registered against Ramesh Jarkiholi, otherwise we can’t do justice to the woman,” Siddaramaiah said.

Home minister Basavaraj Bommai said there were contradictions in the complaint filed by a social activist which hampered proceeding further in the case. However, he insisted that the government was doing its best to provide security to the woman, missing now, once she is located.

The minister’s response did not satisfy the Congress, whose members trooped into the well raising slogans against the government leading to adjournment of the house for the day.

Also read: Karnataka Sex Scandal: Case of Extortion, Conspiracy Registered on Jarkiholi’s Complaint

Jarkiholi, BJP MLA from Gokak, resigned as minister on March 3, 2021 after a social activist lodged a police complaint alleging sexual harassment to a ‘job aspirant’ and video clips purportedly showing their intimate moments surfaced. Rejecting the charges, the BJP leader has claimed innocence, saying the videos were fake and vowed to send the ‘conspirators’ behind bars.

Social activist Dinesh Kallahalli, who filed the police complaint against Jarkiholi, had withdrawn it later.

Raising the issue in the house, Siddaramaiah said, “When the victim says she was utilised, it means there was no consent for the act. An act without consent is rape.” He said the police officers who failed to register a case should also face action.

Siddaramaiah charged home minister Basavaraj Bommai with writing a note to police based on a statement by Jarkiholi to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on March 9, 2021 without any term of condition though the former minister lodged a police complaint only on March 13, 2021 that he was blackmailed using a fake CD.

Intervening, veteran Congress member K.R. Ramesh Kumar said the complaint of such serious nature lodged by a former MLA on behalf of Jarkiholi should not have been accepted by the police.

Contending that the complaint lodged by Jarkiholi was untenable, Siddaramaiah demanded protection for the woman and a Karnataka High Court-monitored investigation by an independent agency and not the SIT.

He also sought the resignation of six ministers who obtained temporary court injunction against publishing of any defamatory materials against them in the media, including news channels and the newspapers. “The ministers are under fear which is against their oath of discharging their duties without any fear or favour at the time of assuming office,” Siddaramaiah said.

Siddaramaiah charged that all those Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) MLAs who were responsible for the fall of the coalition government led by H.D. Kumaraswamy in 2019 and had camped in Mumbai felt threatened and sought injunction.

Replying to the charges, Bommai said the complainant did not come to lodge a police complaint, but it was submitted by a third party – Kallahalli – who did not have any information and whereabouts of the woman. Pointing out that Kallahalli had withdrawn the complaint, he said Jarkiholi in his complaint had alleged a big conspiracy.

Bommai added that he has asked the SIT to investigate all the aspects of the case: Kallahalli’s complaint of sexual exploitation, Jarkiholi’s police complaint and the missing report filed by the father of the woman in Belagavi.

Regarding the video message in social media by the woman seeking protection, Bommai said it has been addressed to him and he was doing everything to locate her. “We are not able to find her because she is on the run. Our five teams are trying to locate her and went to Delhi, Bhopal, Goa, Belagavi and Bengaluru, but she is not to be found,” he added.

The minister also pointed out that there were contradictions in her video message as the woman alleged that Jarkiholi had ‘utilised’ her and later posted her objectionable video in the social media. “Do you think the minister will make it public to defame himself and strip himself of ministerial portfolio?” Bommai counterquestioned Siddaramaiah.

He also said that the woman’s father in the missing complaint did not mention that he attempted suicide as the victim has claimed in her video.

Congress Appoints Shivakumar as Karnataka Unit Chief, Anil Chaudhary as Delhi Chief

The appointment of both Shivakumar and Chaudhary comes one day after Jyotiraditya Scindia resigned from the Congress party.

New Delhi:  The Congress on Wednesday appointed senior leader D.K. Shivakumar as its Karnataka unit chief.

Shivakumar, known to be the Congress’ chief troubleshooter in crisis situations, replaces Dinesh Gundu Rao as the KPCC chief.

Eashwar Khandre, Satish Jharkiholi and Saleem Ahammed have been named working presidents of the state unit by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, a party statement said.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah will continue to be the Chief of Legislative Party and the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly.

While Ajay Singh was appointed as the chief whip in the Karnataka Assembly, M Narayanaswamy will be the party’s chief whip in the Legislative Council.

Also Read: Congress Should Welcome the Scindia Treachery, Work for the Gandhis’ Exit

The Congress also, on Wednesday appointed former MLA Anil Chaudhary as its Delhi unit chief, while naming five vice-presidents for the DPCC.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi named Chaudhary president and Abhishek Dutt, Shivani Chopra, Jaikishan, Mudit Agarwal and Ali Hassan vice-presidents of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), a party statement said.

Subhash Chopra had resigned as the Delhi Congress chief in February, taking moral responsibility for the party’s debacle in the Assembly polls.

The Congress drew a blank for the second time in a row in the Delhi Assembly polls and reduced its vote share from 9.7% in 2015 to 4.27% this time.

Karnataka: 973 Cases Registered Against Persons Who Obtained False Caste Certificates

Minister Govind Karjol said only 12 of these cases have resulted in convictions.

New Delhi: The Karnataka government has booked 973 cases against persons who obtained false caste certificates – including 68 cases against candidates who obtained fake certificates to contest elections, deputy chief minister Govind Karjol told the assembly on Monday.

According to Deccan Herald, Karjol, who is also the state’s social welfare minister, said persons belonging to forward castes had obtained “false” caste certificates to avail benefits, including reservations in education and jobs. “Mogaveera caste people obtained (certificates) as Moger, Lingayat Jangama as Beda Jangama, Kuruba as Kadu Kuruba/Jenu Kuruba/Gond and Maaleru as Maleru and others also obtained SC/ST caste certificates,” he said.

However, of the 973 cases, only 12 led to convictions.

He said the government could only do so much against people who obtain false caste certificates. “Their mindset should change,” the minister said.

Caste certificates are issued by the revenue department to people belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Communities to avail benefits they are entitled to. “We have written to the revenue department seeking action against 27 tahsildars for issuing false caste certificates without proper verification,” Karjol said, according to Deccan Herald.

The minister said that if the house agrees, the law can be ammended to take action against tahsildars, who currently fall under the jurisdiction of the revenue department.

Yediyurappa Inducts 17 Ministers in First Cabinet Expansion

This is the first Cabinet expansion after he assumed office on July 26 and proved his government’s majority on the floor of the Assembly on July 29.

Bengaluru: More than three weeks after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister, B.S. Yediyurappa on Tuesday expanded his ministry by inducting 17 ministers into his Cabinet.

This is the first Cabinet expansion after he assumed office on July 26 and proved his government’s majority on the floor of the Assembly on July 29.

The new Ministers were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Vajubhai Vala at the Raj Bhavan here.

They include former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, two former deputy chief ministers – K S Eshwarappa and R Ashoka, independent MLA H Nagesh and Laxman Sangappa Savadi, who is not a member of the Assembly or Council, and MLC Kota Srinivas Poojari.

Also read: Karnataka: Yeddyurappa Takes Oath as Chief Minister For Fourth Time

Others sworn in were: Govind M Karajol, Ashwath Narayan C N, B Sreeramulu, S Suresh Kumar, V Somanna, C T Ravi, Basavaraj Bommai, J C Madhu Swamy, C C Patil, Prabhu Chauhan and Shashikala Jolle Annasaheb, who is the only woman Cabinet Minister.

Karnataka can have a maximum of 34 Ministers, including the chief minister.