QBengaluru: Karnataka Bypoll Results Today; Cops Quiz Arjun Sarja
Latest news updates from Karnataka.
1. Karnataka Bypolls: All Eyes on Ballari As Race to 2019 Tightens
The results of the by-elections held for the three Lok Sabha and two Assembly seats in Karnataka is set to be announced on Tuesday, 6 November. Although considered a precursor to the 2019 general elections, the significance of these bypolls boils down to who will win North Karnataka’s Ballari district – the district that came under the scanner for illegal mining, which played a crucial role in 2013 Karnataka elections.
As the outcome of three seats are considered forgone, the parties have focused their efforts on the winning Ballari and Jamkhandi constituencies. But as both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have deployed their big guns in Ballari, the showdown is expected in the district rich in iron ore.
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2. #MeToo: Arjun Sarja Appears Before Police for Questioning
Hundreds of supporters of actor Arjun Sarja gathered at the Cubbon Park police station on Monday as he appeared for questioning by the police over allegations of sexual harassment by co-actor Sruthi Hariharan.
Sarja, accompanied by his nephews and a friend, made his way through the crowd of supporters around 11 am. According to the police, the actor cooperated with the investigation and denied allegations that he had harassed Hariharan on four occasions during the filming of Vismaya between November 2015 and July 2016.
Hariharan had posted about the incident online as part of the #MeToo movement, and on 27 October filed a police complaint.
Source: The Hindu
3. No Procession, all Celebrations Indoors: K’taka Govt Ahead of Tipu Jayanti
In an attempt to prevent any incidents of violence on the contentious occasion of Tipu Jayanti, the state government will not allow any procession – for or against the celebrations – to be taken out. The decision was taken on Monday after Karnataka Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara held a security review meeting with top police officials of the state police, headed by Director General-Inspector General of Police Neelamani Raju.
After the meeting, it was concluded that all celebrations on November 10 will be held indoors and organisers cannot stick or hang posters and banners anywhere outside the venue. The Home Minister also announced that the celebrations in Bengaluru will be held at Ravindra Kalaskhetra instead of the Banquet Hall in Vidhana Soudha, keeping in mind the security issues experienced last year.
Source: The News Minute
4. Farmer Loan Waiver: Pilot Study on Testing Loan Account Data Begins
Taking the ambitious farm loan waiver process a step ahead, testing of data on loan accounts received from banks commenced on Monday on a pilot basis in Sedam and Doddaballapur taluks.
A special software, developed by Land Survey and Settlement, is being used, and the farm loan waiver scheme would be implemented in a “transparent way”, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said. A helpline for farmers would be started to address their concerns soon, he added.
The government is under pressure to roll out the scheme, with farmers in Belagavi accusing it of delaying the process. “Eligible farmers need not be anxious. The data from banks will be verified and farmers will be asked to visit the banks to provide Aadhaar, ration card, and land-related documents,” the chief minister added.
Source: The Hindu
5. Bengaluru Hospitals Gear up to Treat Diwali Injuries
With burns and eye injuries often reported during Diwali week, many hospitals in the city have opened special wards and added extra beds to their existing wards to cater to patients as the festival approaches. Emergency rooms too are open round-the-clock.
Going by doctors, bursting of crackers account for around 40 percent of all eye injuries during Diwali. “Despite rising awareness, eye injuries have increased over the past few years. More and more children are being injured by crackers like bhoo chakra and flowerpots,” says Dr Sujatha Rathore, director of Minto Eye Hospital.
While most of the injuries are minor, four or five are serious every year, some even leading to a total loss of vision, according to Dr K. Bhujang Shetty, chairman and managing Director, Narayana Nethralaya. “ Unfortunately in many of these cases, the victims are either innocent passersby or children watching the crackers being burst,” he reveals.
Source: Deccan Herald
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