1. As Loyalists Rally Behind Siddaramaiah, Venugopal to Put House in Order
As loyalists of former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah continued to demonstrate their strength ahead of the first legislature session of the coalition government next week, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal will arrive in Bengaluru on Thursday to settle differences between Congress leaders and ensure that they stop rocking the boat.
On Wednesday, in the latest turn of events, a team of Congress MLAs led by Municipality and Local Bodies Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi called on Siddaramaiah at Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Yoga and Nature Care Hospital in Dharmasthala where he is undergoing treatment. Though it was described as a “cordial” meeting, according to sources, Jarkiholi and eight MLAs came in a special aircraft to Mangaluru to meet their leader and held discussions on the functioning of the HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Gauri Lankesh Murder Suspect Agrees for Narco Analysis Test: Lawyer
KT Naveen Kumar, an accused in the activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh murder case, has agreed to undergo a narco analysis test, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
"My client has agreed to undergo a narco analysis test to prove his innocence in the Gauri Lankesh murder case. We have applied for it in the city civil court," counsel A Vedamurthy said.
A city civil and Sessions Court on 26 June had sought to know from Kumar whether he was ready to undergo the narco analysis test after his counsel alleged that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder did not conduct any test earlier.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. ‘Private Maintenance’ For Church Street Was Not Discussed: Activists
The controversial decision to rope in private players for the maintenance of Church Street, which was later withdrawn after public outrage, had not been discussed at either the ward committee level or in the civic council. This breach of due process was discovered after activists submitted a Right to Information query.
Activists, who protested against ‘the operation and maintenance tender’ for Church Street, now argue that this is only the latest example of the frequent bypassing of the democratic process. Kshitij Urs, regional head, Action Aid, who led the Church Street protest recently, said the tender was not only for the maintenance of the road but also for its operation.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Good Rains so far in Karnataka, but Drought-like Conditions Still Persist
Despite torrential rains and reservoir levels filling up in Karnataka, the state may still not be able to escape drought-like conditions. Monsoon rains lashed the coastal districts on Tuesday, with 84.62mm rain recorded in Udupi and 74.68mm recorded in Dakshina Kannada.
This led to a spike in reservoir levels since the coastal areas fall under the catchment areas.
As per the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir recorded a water inflow level of 21,179 cusecs. Considering that a 4-year-high inflow of 28,096 cusecs was achieved only two weeks ago, the dams are full in the state.
There were also significant differences between reservoir levels this time last year.
(Source: The News Minute)
5. Teen Ends Life
Accusing her minor boyfriend of dumping her for another girl, a 19-year-old student committed suicide by consuming poison in Yeshwantpur, northwest Bengaluru, on Tuesday.
Police have picked up the boy and sent him to a juvenile home.
(Source: The Times of India)
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