Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda said on Monday that the Karnataka Congress government won’t last beyond the coming month of January. Speaking at a massive campaign rally for NDA alliance candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy in Channapatna, Gowda appealed: “I urge to people of Channapatna assembly constituency to ensure the victory of NDA candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy (his grandson) to break the arrogance of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.” He added that Union Minister of State V. Somanna has said that the state government will collapse in January 2025.

“This is not a prediction; it’s the truth,” maintained JD (S) National President Deve Gowda. Deve Gowda stated that there had been a conspiracy to target his entire family, using the Hassan case (sex video scandal involving his grandson Prajwal Revanna) as a pretext. Reiterating Union Minister of State V. Somanna’s statement about the government’s collapse by January, he added, “It’s interesting that, like me, Somanna also has a habit of consulting astrologers, but he has spoken the truth. This government will not last long.” “I once clashed with former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, but we are united now to uproot this corrupt Congress government,” he declared, holding Yediyurappa’s hand in solidarity.

Expressing anger over Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar’s statement about arresting PM Narendra Modi and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deve Gowda warned that D.K. Shivakumar’s own words would backfire on him. Referring to an accusation that Kumaraswamy threatened a prominent figure for Rs 50 crore to support his son’s candidacy, Deve Gowda argued, “For someone like Kumaraswamy, who once served as Chief Minister with the blessings of the people of Channapatna, such desperation is uncalled for. “Congress has never been trustworthy, and I warned Kumaraswamy against forming an alliance with them. But under pressure, he joined them to form a government. Just eleven days ago, no one spoke of Nikhil Kumaraswamy as our candidate. Yet for six months, D.K. Shivakumar was openly claiming the seat for himself. Now, another has taken his place in the race,” Deve Gowda said.

“I made Siddaramaiah the finance minister. I have nothing more to say about him. I don’t need to emphasise that Nikhil is my grandson. I didn’t even mention his name until he filed his nomination. Breaking the arrogance of Shivakumar is essential through Nikhil’s victory,” he stated. The decision of the virtuous voters will answer everything, he asserted. “I will return to the constituency on November 24. Ensure you cast your vote for number 1 on the ballot. On the morning of Nov 24, Yediyurappa and I will come together to thank the voters,” announced Deve Gowda. Speaking at the NDA mega gathering, candidate Nikhil stated, “This election is the litmus test in my life. People ask what role I will play. To me, caste is not important; the only thing I believe in is humanity. I appeal to you all—this is not just about a regional party; it’s about the honour of the NDA family. Once we are born, earning trust and gratitude is all that matters. Please give me one chance to serve you.”

“Much has changed since the seat fell vacant after Kumaranna’s (his father, Union Minister Kumaraswamy) resignation. This election is decisive for me. I did not lose heart after two defeats, as I had the support of the people. I may have lost because of Congress’s tactics, but the result was not my fault,” he said. “I am contesting in Channapatna because of the wishes of the workers. The people here do not give in to coupons or fall for any temptations. When I filed my nomination and started campaigning, I spoke emotionally. I am a person of emotions. In the past 16 days, I have received immense blessings. Please bless me and give me a chance,” he appealed.

–IANS

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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan said on Monday that the state government will lay down regulations to make charging points for electric vehicles (EV) mandatory in high-rise buildings, malls, metro stations, IT parks and apartment flats.

Speaking on the topic of ‘Future of Sustainable Mobility’ at the Harvard-India conference , the Deputy CM also stated that the government is seeking to replace 50 per cent of all its vehicles with EVs in the next two to three years, adding that the measure is a move to encourage e-mobility.

According to Deputy CM Narayan, the goal is to set up fast chargers along few important highways in the state such  as the Bengaluru-Chennai highway and the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway in order to establish world-class Karnataka Electric Mobility Research and Innovation Centre.

“Lack of infrastructure for charging EVs still remain a major concern and the State is working towards improving the situation”, he said.

The government has also assessed the situation and has received feedback from citizens regarding discount charging at pubic places, dedicated parking for e-cabs, and mandating EV charging facilities in building by-laws to improve the infrastructure in the state, he said.

Noting that EVs can deliver practicality, sustainability, safety and affordability, Narayan said that electricity demand from EVs could greatly improve the utilisation factor of underutilised power plants.

The Deputy CM said that Karnataka is looking forward to participate in partnerships and strategies with the United States of America in the e-mobility sector. Countries like Norway, the US and China could be examples for India in developing the e-mobility ecosystem in Karnataka, he said.

“The state has been able to garner a share of over 30 per cent market size and is planning its policy framework to garner 50 per cent market share of the digital engineering innovation economy segments like clean tech, EV, aerospace, med tech and construction among others offer significant opportunities for growth”, he said.

The Central government has been supporting electric mobility efforts through funding research, providing a conducive platform to design, develop and demonstrate EV projects.

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The ban on cow slaughter in Karnataka came into effect on Tuesday after governor Vajubhai Vala gave his assent to the ordinance of the BS Yediyurappa-led state government.

The much-awaited cow protection law bans slaughter of all types of cattle, except buffaloes which are older than 13 years and are certified as unfit for any utility. Convictions for violating the ban can result in rigorous imprisonment of three to seven years and a hefty fine.

Karnataka has officially slaughtered some 2.3 lakh heads of cattle in 2019 alone.

“Illegal slaughter is rampant because the old law doesn’t have teeth. There was a lot of illegal slaughter and transport of cattle to other states. We are trying to bring everything under a tight control,” said an official with Karnataka’s department of animal husbandry and veterinary services.

However, slaughterhouses will continue to function in the state even under the new law and the consumption of beef has not been prohibited.

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020 was passed in the Karnataka Assembly during the winter session but got stalled in the Legislative Council where the BJP does not have a majority. The state cabinet was then forced to promulgate an ordinance, which would thus bring the law into force after the governor’s assent.

While the BJP in Karnataka – in line with the wishes of its party workers and Hindu voterbase – is looking to curtail the theft and illegal transport of cattle with the new law, the BJP in the neighbouring state of Goa is worried about a potential ‘crisis’ caused by the stoppage of supplies from Karnataka. According to estimates, nearly 25 tonnes of beef is consumed in per day in Goa. The state has only one authorised abattoir, the Goa Meat Complex, which is allowed to slaughter cattle. India is also one of the world’s largest beef exporters.

Beef consumption is also known to take its toll on the environment, having more of a carbon footprint than even four-wheeler automobiles. Beef requires 28 times more land to produce than pork or chicken, 11 times more water and results in five times more climate-warming emissions. When compared to staples like potatoes, wheat, and rice, the impact of beef per calorie is even more extreme, requiring 160 times more land and producing 11 times more greenhouse gases.

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Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has said that his Government will bring in a law in the next Assembly Session to counter Love Jihad, the Economic Times reported.

The law in Karnataka will be in line with the Utter Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Government that has taken a serious measure to counter this deceitful practice entrapping, Hindu girls, by Muslim boys.

UP has already introduced an ordinance against Love Jihad under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 that has received Governor Anandiben Patel’s approval.

Madhya Pradesh which is another  BJP ruled under the CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan also proposed to bring in laws to curb “forces religious conversions”.

The cause to have a definitive law against love jihad came after the broad day-light murder of a 21-years-old college student Nikita Tomar by a Muslim youth and his friend in Haryana’s Ballabhgarh in October.

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