Munirathna inviting me to BJP to become CM indicates it lack candidates for CM post: DKShi
Bengaluru: KPCC President D K Shivakumar has asked, “Minister Munirathna has invited me to join the BJP, saying, only then would I get to be a chief minister. Does this not indicate a lack of leaders to hold the post in the BJP?”
Addressing a press meet near his residence in Sadashivanagar in the city on Wednesday, Shivakumar reportedly said, “Munirathna asked me to join the BJP, saying I could not become a chief minister as long as I was in the Congress. I am truly delighted by Munirathna’s invite, but the minister’s words also prove that the BJP completely lacks worth becoming a chief minister.”
The Congress state president, referring to the withdrawn controversial order of the DDPI for all pre-university colleges in Bangalore Rural district to send their students to attend the program of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, “We have no objection to the Prime Minister visiting the state, but the order demanding colleges to send students to attend the event is certainly reprehensible.”
He asked, “Is the BJP in such a pathetic condition as to be unable to get people to attend a program its holds? We would only be glad to watch people come to your event, drawn by the success of your double-engine government in three years. If students are ordered to attend the event, do we understand this to be an educational event?”
When asked about the recent statement by Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi on the term ‘Hindu’ that is drawing severe criticism, Shivakumar said, “Jarkiholi has said that there are documents that prove his words to be true, but I am unaware of any such document. Senior Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, Surjewala and I have clarified that our religion and culture should not be treated with contempt – we do not withdraw this statement. We certainly oppose Jarkiholi’s statement.”
The KPCC president added, “We condemn the words of Satish Jarkiholi regardless of the political benefits it might give the BJP.”
Speaking of his visit to Badami, the leader said that it was his personal matter. “It is true that I went to Bagalkot district, but I do not wish to speak about the reasons as they were purely personal,” Shivakumar insisted.
When a reporter asked the president if the decision at Udaipur to focus on youth is indeed drawing more youngsters, Shivakumar is said to have suggested to the scribe to apply too, adding, “We will support you whole-heartedly.
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Bengaluru jail introduces biometric tracking system for prisoners
Bengaluru: In a bid to curb misconduct and illegal activities inside Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, prison authorities have introduced a new ‘Prisoners Tracking Movement System’ under which inmates will have to undergo biometric verification while entering every barrack.
According to jail officials, biometric systems have been installed across all major sections of the prison, including barracks, visitor rooms, hospital, canteen, kitchen, library, playground, handicraft units and bakery sections. Staff members have also been deployed at these locations.
Officials said inmates visiting the visitors’ room must now obtain a digital token after biometric verification. Details such as the prisoner’s name, identification number and entry time will be updated in the prison software system. This will help authorities maintain a complete digital record of inmates visiting and returning from meeting rooms.
Similar systems have also been introduced at entry points of the hospital, library and other barracks accessed for work-related purposes. Officials said the system will help identify prisoners involved in suspicious or illegal activities with other inmates and enable authorities to track how much time a prisoner spends at different locations inside the prison.
Authorities stated that AI-powered cameras were already being used inside the prison to monitor inmates as well as prison staff. Along with this, digital tracking of prisoner phone calls and a digital token system for visitor meetings have now been added to strengthen surveillance over inmate movement. Officials said the project has been implemented at a cost of around Rs 2.25 crore.
The prison department has also introduced a canteen usage tracking system to monitor prisoners’ spending patterns. Instead of direct cash payments, inmates can purchase bakery items and snacks using wallets or coupons issued within the prison system.
Officials said the digital system will record details including the buyer’s name, items purchased, quantity, date, time and remaining wallet balance. This will allow prison authorities to maintain complete expenditure records of inmates.
