Kalaburagi: Afzalpur Police on Saturday booked two people for allegedly posting provocative and fake content message on social media against Muslims here.

The accused have been identified as Mahesh Shetty and Ramesh of Afzalpur in Kalaburagi District.

According to the reports the accused circulated a picture of a Muslim man on messaging app WhatsApp adding that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and had escaped from a hospital in Mandya asserting that the general public be aware and cautioned about the person as he was a Muslim.

Both the accused have been booked for triggering enmity and hatred between two communities by circulating fake and baseless messages on social media platforms. A senior police official added the department was working towards nabbing the two accused.

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New Delhi (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, urging her to intervene and increase the Short Term Agricultural Loans (SAO) limit for the fiscal 2024-25.

In the meeting held at North block, the chief minister highlighted a sharp decline in the proposed loan allocation by NABARD, which has sanctioned only Rs 2,340 crore against the state's applied limit of Rs 9,162 crore, a 58 per cent reduction compared to the previous year's Rs 5,600 crore.

Presenting a detailed representation, Siddaramaiah emphasised that Karnataka aims to disburse short-term agricultural loans worth Rs 25,000 crore to 35 lakh farmers in 2024-25. In 2023-24, the state has already disbursed Rs 22,902 crore through the cooperative credit structure.

The state government said that the drastic reduction in the SAO loan limit could significantly impede agricultural cooperation and potentially disrupt food grain production. NABARD attributed the reduced allocation to a lower General Line of Credit from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

With Karnataka experiencing favourable monsoon conditions, farmers are eagerly awaiting enhanced loan disbursement to support their agricultural activities.

Siddaramaiah has requested Sitharaman to direct NABARD and RBI to reconsider and expand the short-term agricultural loan limit.

Karnataka Urban Development Minister Byrathi Suresh and Agriculture Minister Cheluvarayaswamy accompanied the CM.