JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy and wife have Rs 217.21 crore assets; she is richer
Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his wife Anitha have total assets of about Rs 217.21 crore, according to the affidavit he submitted along nomination on Thursday as candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha seat.
The couple declared liabilities of about Rs 82.17 crore. Former MLA Anitha is richer than 65-year-old Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, with total assets worth Rs 154.39 crore. Kumaraswamy's total assets are worth about Rs 54.65 crore; he also has assets from HUF (Hindu Undivided Family) in his name worth about Rs 8.17 crore.
The former Chief Minister, a Bachelor of Science (BSc) graduate, has declared himself to be a social worker, politician and agriculturist.
Anitha has business and rental income, as she is an entrepreneur engaged in business of petrol and petroleum products in the name of Nikhil & Co and she is a director in Kasthuri Media Pvt Ltd.
Kumaraswamy has three pending criminal cases against him. He owns no car, but has a tractor worth Rs 12.55 lakh, while Anitha has a car worth Rs 11.15 lakh from Nikhil & Co. Kumaraswamy has gold worth Rs 47.06 lakh and diamond worth Rs 2.60 lakh, while Anitha has them worth Rs 2.41 crore and Rs 33.09 lakh, respectively.
The JD(S) state President has agricultural lands worth Rs 37.48 crore and and his residence at JP Nagar third phase here is worth Rs 6.46 crore. Kumaraswamy also has a share in commercial building from HUF which is worth about Rs 6.97 crore. Anitha has agricultural lands worth Rs 28.38 crore and has two commercial buildings worth Rs 35.69 crore, according to the affidavit.
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Vaishnaw flags off Jammu-Srinagar Vande Bharat, services from May 2
Srinagar (PTI): Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday flagged off the 20-coach Vande Bharat Express train between Jammu and Srinagar, the first direct train between the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh, were among the dignitaries present at the flagging off ceremony.
The direct train services between Srinagar and Jammu will reduce travel time between the twin capitals of Jammu and Kashmir, and boost tourism, besides providing an all-weather surface transport link.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first direct train service between Katra and Srinagar on June 6, 2025. This service is now being extended up to the Jammu Tawi Railway Station.
The work on the Rs 43,780-crore rail project, linking Kashmir to the rest of the country, began in the late 1990s, with the first train operating in the Kashmir Valley in October 2008.
While train services had reached Udhampur by 2005, the treacherous terrain through the mountainous Pir Panjal range made it tough to link the valley with the rest of the country until 2025.
"The modern 20-coach Vande Bharat train will commence its maiden journey from Jammu Tawi, traversing the route up to Srinagar while connecting the challenging geographical terrains of the Valley," an official said, adding that a train from Srinagar has also started moving towards Jammu simultaneously.
Before the commencement of the Jammu-Srinagar service, a trial run of the Vande Bharat was conducted on Tuesday from Jammu to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra railway stations, officials said.
The inaugural Vande Bharat train, equipped with state-of-the-art amenities and comprising 20 coaches, will cover a total distance of 267 kilometres.
The Jammu-Srinagar train service -- scheduled to start on May 2 -- will operate six days a week. There will be no train service on this route on Tuesdays.
"Constructed using indigenous technology, this Vande Bharat Express will offer passengers a world-class travel experience," Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said.
"It features amenities such as the 'Kavach' safety system for passenger security, a GPS-based information system, and comfortable rotating seats. This service will not only reduce travel time but also provide a massive boost to the local economy and tourism," he added.
The extension of the Vande Bharat to Jammu Tawi is the latest milestone in a decade-long effort to transform railway connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Udhampur-Katra section was commissioned in 2014. The Kashmir Valley saw its first electric train in February 2024, while a dedicated Jammu Railway Division was created in January 2025.
Stations at Jammu Tawi, Katra, Udhampur, and Budgam are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.
The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, built at a total cost of Rs 43,780 crore with 36 tunnels spanning 119 km and 943 bridges, is the connective tissue that makes all of this possible, an official said.
