1. After Gujarat, Traffic Fines Set to be Cut in Karnataka
Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday directed Transport Department officials to examine the Gujarat government’s order on a drastic cut in fines for traffic violations under the amended Motor Vehicles (MV) Act and take immediate action to reduce the penalties in Karnataka.
Addressing reporters, he said, “I have directed officials to get the order [of the Gujarat government] and examine it. I have asked them to take immediate action after examining the order.”
Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who holds the Transport portfolio, said that a decision will be taken in three or four days on reducing the penalty. “The government will take a decision in public interest,” he said.
(Source: The Hindu)
2. Vokkaliga Community Takes to Streets, Rallies Against Shivakumar’s Arrest
Around 30,000 people on Wednesday took part in coordinated protests in Bengaluru by Opposition parties and the powerful Vokkaliga community against the arrest of senior Congress leader and former Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar.
The Congress leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 3 September in connection with a money laundering case.
Wednesday’s protests marked one of the largest popular mobilisations since the early 1990s by the Vokkaliga community, which is trying to reassert its dominance in the caste-driven politics of the state.
(Source: Mint)
3. Bengaluru Artist’s ‘Moonwalk’ on Pothole-Ridden Road Recreated in Mexico
Just days after Bengaluru artist Baadal Nanjundaswamy’s rendition of a ‘moonwalk’ on the city’s Tunganagar Main Road went viral, a digital advertising agency in Mexico has recreated it on a road there.
Baadal had got an actor to suit up as an astronaut, and walk on Tunganagar Main Road as he would on the moon. Why? Because the potholes on the road were big enough to be likened to craters on the moon itself. The video of this ingenious idea soon went viral, with people from across India and many other countries saying that this could be done on their damaged roads as well. The Mexican agency Boveda Celeste, decided to do just that.
Baadal confirmed to TNM that Boveda Celeste had contacted him on Facebook and taken permission to recreate the video.
(Source: The News Minute)
4. Man Invites new Friend Home, Robbed
A 26-year-old man was allegedly beaten and robbed by a man he befriended on an app and had invited to his house in an upmarket apartment complex in Bommanahalli. The accused and his associates allegedly kept him prisoner while they used his debit card to withdraw over Rs 1 lakh from an ATM.
The victim stays in the flat with a friend. He had met the accused, Rahul, on the app. According to the police, he was alone at home when Rahul called seeking directions to his apartment. “He shared his location. Within minutes, Rahul came there, along with four men who barged into the apartment. They assaulted the complainant and forced him to reveal his ATM card PIN,” said the police.
(Source: The Hindu)
5. Centre Raises Objections, may Delay Flood Relief aid
The state is unlikely to get central aid for flood relief work soon. For, the Union government has raised some objections to the state government proposal with regard to providing compensation for damage to private buildings.
Pegging the damage and loss caused due to recent floods at Rs 38,451 crore, the state government sent a proposal to the Centre last week seeking Rs 3,818 crore immediate assistance as per NDRF norms. The proposal included compensation to private properties like schools, hospitals, among others.
“The Centre has clarified that as per NDRF guidelines, compensation cannot be given to private buildings other than residential properties. We need to modify the proposal and resubmit it,” said revenue minister R Ashoka on Wednesday.
(Source: The Times of India)
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