Social and Educational Survey extended till October 31: Minister Shivraj Tangadagi
Bengaluru: The ongoing Social and Educational Survey in Karnataka has been extended till October 31, Minister for Kannada and Culture and Backward Classes Welfare Shivraj S. Tangadagi announced on Sunday.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his residence, “Krishna.” Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the minister said that teachers will not be deployed for the remaining nine days of the survey and that staff from other departments will be utilized instead.
In view of the Deepavali festival, the Chief Minister has directed that survey staff be given leave on October 20, 21, and 22. The survey will resume on October 23 and continue until the end of the month. District commissioners have been instructed to complete the process using personnel from various departments, Tangadagi added.
So far, the survey has been completed in 95% of districts across the state, excluding Greater Bengaluru. Coverage stands at 86% in Ramanagara, 88% in Dharwad, and 79.46% in Bidar. Bengaluru has achieved only around 45% completion, primarily because the exercise started late in the city.
The minister noted that in some districts, the survey is already 100% complete, and only a few remaining districts require additional time to wrap up by October 31.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also directed legislators to create awareness among the public in Bengaluru regarding the importance of the survey.
Reacting to Infosys Foundation chairperson Sudha Murthy’s reported refusal to participate, Minister Tangadagi said, “She holds a responsible position in society. Before making such statements, it would be better to obtain accurate information. This is a social and educational survey — not one limited to SC, ST, or backward communities. It aims to collect comprehensive social, economic, educational, and occupational data of all communities. People should not be misled.”
Responding to a question about the slower progress in Dharwad district, the minister alleged that political reasons could be behind the delay. “Union Minister and local MP Pralhad Joshi publicly said he would not take part and asked people not to participate. Such behavior is irresponsible. When one holds a position of responsibility, dignity must be maintained. If this logic is applied, should we then oppose the Census conducted by the central government in the future?” he remarked.
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Epstein files allege email claims about Bill Gates seeking antibiotics; foundation denies charges
Washington DC: fresh set of documents released as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files has triggered renewed attention after screenshots of alleged self-emails attributed to Epstein made claims involving Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
The screenshots, circulating online and reported by several outlets, purport to show Epstein writing to himself in July 2013, alleging that Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted disease during encounters with women described as “Russian girls” and had asked Epstein to arrange antibiotics to be given discreetly to his then wife, Melinda Gates. The documents also contain claims of personal disputes and alleged requests that Epstein delete certain emails.
The authenticity of the screenshots has not been independently verified. The allegations contained in them remain unsubstantiated and are disputed by context and prior public statements from Gates. There is no confirmation from official records that the claims are factual.
According to reports, the screenshots are part of a larger tranche of documents released by the United States Department of Justice, comprising hundreds of thousands of pages related to Epstein. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The alleged email text includes Epstein expressing anger over Gates distancing himself from their relationship and claiming involvement in matters he described as morally or ethically inappropriate. The documents also reference marital tensions between Bill and Melinda Gates, though no independent evidence is provided to support the claims.
Bill Gates has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein and has said he regretted the association, while repeatedly denying any involvement in illegal or unethical activities. His philanthropic foundation has issued a strong denial in response to the latest claims, calling the allegations absurd and completely false.
Bill and Melinda Gates were married from 1994 until their divorce in 2021. Melinda Gates has publicly stated that Gates’s extramarital relationships and his association with Epstein were among the factors that led to the end of their marriage, without detailing specific allegations.
As with earlier Epstein-related disclosures, legal experts and media analysts have urged caution, noting that the presence of a name in released documents does not establish wrongdoing and that many claims in the material remain unproven.
