CM's son embroiled in controversy after viral video; JD(S) & BJP target Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra Siddaramaiah found himself embroiled in a controversy on Thursday after a video, where he was seen issuing certain instructions on the phone, went viral on social media.
Hurling corruption charges against him, former chief minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy hit out at the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging that the conversation was related to the "transfer (of government servants) business".
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, his deputy D K Shivakumar and others from the ruling party said the phone conversations were regarding development of four to five schools using the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.
Siddaramaiah even said that he would retire from politics if even one instance is presented with proof that he had made money by transferring officials.
In the video, Yathindra, a former Congress MLA, is heard saying, "Hello Appa (Father), Vivekananda! To where? No I didn't give that. Give it (phone) to Mahadeva. I had given only five."
Then he speaks to Mahadeva, saying, "Mahadeva, why are you giving something...? Who has given that? Nothing but whatever 4-5 I have given, that alone should be done."
According to Kumaraswamy, Yathindra spoke to R Mahadeva, a sub-registrar at Ganganagar in Bengaluru, who has been appointed as the CM's Officer on Special Duty.
Demanding an investigation into the whole episode, the JD(S) state president sought to know which list Yathindra was speaking about and who was Vivekananda in the conversation.
Directing his questions at Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy asked, "Why did you call him (son Yathindra) and which list is that?"
Taking a dig at the CM, Kumaraswamy said, "What is his (CM's) role? Is it his job to call his son and ask him what to do?"
The BJP too came down heavily on the Chief Minister and his son Yathindra.
"This shadow CM (Yathindra) is more powerful than CM! The ex-MLA Yathindra gave an order to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that he should do only what 'I have given him' and not more than that," the BJP posted on social media platform X.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is only occupying a nominal position and all power and administration belongs to his son Yathindra, the BJP alleged, remarking that the post of chief minister is "vacant in the state".
Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah clarified that the conversation was related to the school buildings being constructed with CSR funds. He claimed that Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa had given the list.
Talking about the video, the chief minister said he would retire from politics if it was shown that he had made money through transfers in his political career.
Shivakumar, also the Karnataka Congress chief, too said the conversation was related to school development with CSR funds.
Yathindra being the member of the Karnataka Development Programme and chairman of the Ashraya Samiti was talking about utilisation of CSR funds to provide benches and other furniture in the schools he had chosen, he said.
Kumaraswamy demanded that the list of schools that the Deputy Director of Public Instructions has provided be made public.
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Mangaluru man creates India’s first beeswax chessboard, enters record book
Mangaluru: A unique chessboard made entirely from beeswax has earned Prajwal M, a beekeeper from Kinnigoli near Mangaluru, a place in the India Book of Records.
According to a report published by The Times of India on Wednesday, the handmade beeswax chessboard was showcased at a state-level agricultural exhibition held at the University of Agricultural Sciences (GKVK), Bengaluru, last month. The exhibit attracted widespread attention for its creativity and eco-friendly design.
"The beeswax chessboard measuring 20cm by 26cm works like any other chessboard. The only condition is that it should not be exposed to heat," as a full-time beekeeper and founder of Coastal Honey Bee Farm, I have been experimenting with various value-added products from beeswax and honey," TOI quoted Prajwal as saying.
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Prajwal, who runs the Coastal Honey Bee Farm reportedly said, he has been experimenting with value-added products made from honey and beeswax. An MBA graduate, Prajwal took up beekeeping during Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the idea for the chessboard came after he won a state-level award in October, following which he was invited to display an innovative product at the GKVK exhibition.
Initially, I thought of creating a statue, but I realised it would not be possible to complete it within four days. That is when the idea of making a chessboard struck me. Later, I was told that this is the first chessboard of its kind in India, he said.
As per the report, a native of Talipadi village in Dakshina Kannada district, Prajwal is the son of Sunita and Madhava Shettigar. Apart from the chessboard, he has developed over 25 value-added products, including skincare items, kajal, dry fruit honey and other honey-based products. He is also involved in training programmes for aspiring beekeepers and conducts awareness sessions for schoolchildren.
In recognition of his efforts, Prajwal was conferred the state-level Young Beekeeper Award earlier this year. He hopes to commercially introduce the chessboard soon.
