1. Government Cuts Petrol, Diesel Prices by Rs 2 per Litre
In a major relief to citizens from soaring fuel prices, the state government on Monday slashed sales tax on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre.
The reduction in prices will come into force from September 18 (Tuesday). Currently, the sales tax on petrol and diesel is 32% and 21% respectively. On Monday, the petrol price was cut by 3.35% and diesel by 3.27%. Speaking to media persons in Kalaburagi, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy attacked the Union government “for not doing anything to minimise the burden on common man.” However, the government will review the revision in tax rates if there is a reduction of prices of petrol and diesel in the future.
In the maiden budget of the coalition government presented in July, Kumaraswamy had increased sales tax on petrol (from 30 to 32% - Rs 1.14 per litre) and diesel (from 19 to 21% - Rs 1.12 per litre) to raise funds for farm loan waiver and other welfare schemes. In Bengaluru, petrol will now cost Rs 82.80 and diesel Rs 74.21 per litre.
Source: The New Indian Express
2. K’Taka MLAs Declare Average Income of Over Rs 1 Crore per Annum: Study
Sitting MLAs across the country have an average annual income of Rs 24.59 lakh, with Karnataka topping the charts with its legislative assembly members earning an average of over Rs 1 crore per annum, a study showed on Monday.
On the other hand, Chhattisgarh MLAs earn the lowest with their average annual income coming at Rs 5.4 lakh, as per the latest report of the Association for Democratic Reforms and the National Election Watch.
The report also showed a huge gender disparity among MLAs with the average income of men being more than double that of the women.
It also found that the MLAs who have declared themselves to be illiterate have an average annual self-income of Rs 9.31 lakh. Besides, nearly half of the MLAs have declared their profession as business or agriculture.
Source: The New Indian Express
3. Congress Likely to Offer Plum Post to Disgruntled Leader Satish Jarkiholi
Disgruntled Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi, who will meet Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, said he was not sure of the directives the party high command will issue owing to the growing internal crisis in Karnataka.
Despite the stance by Jarkiholi brothers, sources in Congress told Express that both Satish and Ramesh have decided to obey AICC’s decision only if it fulfils their demand for some plum portfolios in the state cabinet for MLAs who are supporting them. Apart from this, Satish is expected to demand a good post in the party or cabinet. “Although it is difficult to accommodate both the Jarkiholi brothers in the cabinet as they hail from the same district, the party may offer some other important position to Satish. The Congress leadership in New Delhi is desperate to end the crisis in the state quickly to prevent the BJP from capitalising on it,’’ sources added.
However, Jarkholi brothers seemed unrelenting on Monday as their talks with some top leaders of Congress, including Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on the day are believed to have failed.
Source: The New Indian Express
4. Rash driving destroys 26/11 martyr Major Unnikrishnan’s memorial
Tension prevailed at the Doddaballapur Road Junction in Yelahanka on Saturday after local residents found the granite stone plaque, put up in remembrance of late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was martyred during the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, destroyed and broken into pieces.
While some speculated that it might be the handiwork of miscreants, the police clarified that the damage was because of an accident. “A mini-truck from Mother Dairy went out of control and crashed into the structure on Saturday evening. The granite stone slab carrying Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s name broke into pieces. BBMP workers detained the driver and later traced the owner of the truck,” said a traffic police inspector from Yelahanka New Town.
Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who was a commando in the elite Special Action Group of the National Security Guards, was martyred during the 26/11 anti-terror operations. He was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peace time gallantry award, on January 26, 2009.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
5. Karnataka Farmers to Join Haridwar to Delhi Rally
Against a backdrop of the plight of farmers across the country worsening with each passing day, members of the Karnataka Rajya Raithya Sangha (KRRS), one of the leading peasant organzations in the state, has decided to show solidarity with ryots across the country by participating in a rally from Haridwar to Delhi in order to draw attention of the central government to the many woes plaguing the agricultural community.
KRRS president KT Gangadhar on Sunday said that members of many farmer organizations would go to Haridwar where the rally to Kisan Ghat in Delhi would start.
Source: The Times of India
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