CM, ministers boycott inauguration of Shivamogga bridge by Gadkari; claim they were not invited
Shivamogga/Bengaluru, Jul 14 (PTI): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday inaugurated India's second-longest cable-stayed Sigandur bridge in Shivamogga, an event boycotted by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues as a mark of protest, claiming they were not invited.
However, Gadkari, in a post on 'X' said, an official invitation was duly extended to Siddaramaiah on July 11, inviting him to preside over the programme. In light of any possible scheduling challenges, a subsequent letter was sent on July 12, requesting his virtual presence.
He has also posted both the letters addressed to the CM on 'X'.
"None of us is participating. I was not invited. I spoke to Nitin Gadkari over the phone and told him, he said he would postpone. Then I wrote a letter to him. Probably BJP leaders might have put pressure, without telling me anything, they are doing it. I'm not going. I have a pre-scheduled event at Indi. It was scheduled a month ago, I'm going there," Siddaramaiah said on Monday in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said, "As a mark of protest, none of us are going, neither I nor PWD Minister nor district in-charge Minister or Sagara MLA."
Asked wouldn't it lead to friction between centre and state, the CM said, "They (centre) should invite, right? Who has started the friction? They have started the friction. The protocol has to be followed. The event is being held in our state, we are in a federal system."
Refuting Siddaramaiah's claims, Gadkari in his post also said that the Central Government continues to uphold established protocols and has consistently appreciated the contributions and cooperation of the Government of Karnataka and the Chief Minister.
"It remains committed to cooperative federalism and close coordination with all states," he added.
The event was attended by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa, Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra, among others.
Taking to 'X', BJP MP Raghavendra said that on July 9 he had respectfully invited the Chief Minister to inaugurate the bridge. However, how reasonable is it that the CM is publicly saying that the invitation has reached him late?
"This bridge, built over the Sharavathi river, is the result of six decades of struggle and the sweat of thousands of people. Not only this, but it is also a reflection of the feelings of thousands of people. I request you not to hurt their feelings," he said.
He expressed that it is okay to politicise each other on various issues.
"But I think it is an insult to the people of the Sharavathi backwaters region to politicise development even after the invitation letter arrives in advance. I urge you to immediately retract your statement before the people of the state and try to tell the truth," he added.
According to officials, the bridge constructed across the Sharavathi backwaters between Ambaragodlu-Kalasavalli in Sagara taluk has been built at a cost of Rs 472 crore.
This bridge is expected to significantly reduce the distance from Sagara to the villages around Sigandur, a place which is known for the Chowdeshwari temple.
The Chief Minister's office on Sunday evening had shared a letter by Siddaramaiah to Gadkari dated July 11, urging him to postpone the event, stating that he was not informed in advance.
Citing his scheduled visit to Indi taluk in Vijayapura district, the CM, in a letter to Gadkari, said it would have been more appropriate for MoRTH to have consulted with the state government before scheduling such a programme, and requested him to instruct the officials in this regard.
In a major step towards boosting regional connectivity, the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony for multiple key infrastructure projects is being held today in Shivamogga, Karnataka.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 14, 2025
An official invitation was duly extended to the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri… pic.twitter.com/yDPbRdsygd
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Bangladesh court sentences Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in corruption cases
Dhaka (PTI): A Bangladesh court on Monday sentenced deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10 years in jail in two separate corruption cases related to alleged irregularities in allocations of land in a government housing project.
Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-4 Judge Rabiul Alam handed down the verdicts, sentencing Hasina to a total of 10 years’ imprisonment — five years in each case, state-run BSS news agency reported.
The court sentenced 78-year-old Hasina, her nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and her nieces, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, and others in the cases over alleged irregularities in the allocation of plots under the Rajuk New Town Project in Purbachol.
The judgment was pronounced at around 12.30 pm.
Tulip Siddiq was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment — two years in each case — while Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq were each sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment in both cases.
Rajuk member Mohammad Khurshid Alam, the only accused to surrender before the court, was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment in each case, totalling two years.
The court also fined all convicted persons Tk1 lakh each and ordered them to serve an additional six months in prison in default of payment.
Hasina has been living in India since she fled Bangladesh on August 5 last year in the face of the massive protests. She was earlier declared a fugitive by the court.
The cases were filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged abuse of power in the allocation of two 10-katha plots.
According to the prosecution, the accused manipulated the allocation process and violated existing rules and regulations of the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).
