AIBC hosts industry roundtable, welcome reception for Karnataka Ministerial Delegation in Australia
Sydney: The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) hosted a high-level industry roundtable and a welcome reception dinner for the Dr. Sharanprakash Patil-led ministerial delegation from Karnataka earlier today. The discussions centered on strengthening bilateral cooperation in healthcare education, allied healthcare, and skill development between Australia and Karnataka.
The roundtable, facilitated by Irfan Malik, AIBC National Associate Chair & President NSW, emphasized the synergy between Karnataka’s skilled workforce and Australia’s growing demand for talent in these sectors. Minister Dr. Sharanprakash Patil led the deliberations on potential partnerships between the governments of Karnataka, New South Wales (NSW), and Australia, with key government agencies playing a crucial role in fostering collaboration.
Warren Kirby MP, Co-Chair of NSW Parliamentary Friends of India, shared insights on government support and avenues to fast-track partnerships between Karnataka and NSW. The Consulate General of India, Sydney, represented by Nirav Kumar Sutaria, HOC & Deputy Consul General, and Sudhir Basavaraju from Investment NSW also took part in the discussions, highlighting Karnataka’s potential as a hub for healthcare and skill development initiatives.
Key Outcomes from the Roundtable Discussions:
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Commitment to Bilateral Skill Development: Australian and Karnataka-based representatives agreed to advance industry-driven skill development programs catering to mutual needs.
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Innovative Education Models: Discussions explored various models of education and program delivery, aiming to implement tailored training programs across both Karnataka and Australia's skill development ecosystems.
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Expanding Healthcare & Allied Sectors: The roundtable emphasized significant bilateral opportunities in healthcare education, allied healthcare, and skill development, paving the way for future collaborations.
The event saw participation from government officials, representatives from leading educational institutions and universities, vocational training institutes, and members of the Karnataka-based Indian diaspora. Representatives from the Consulate General of India, Investment NSW, and NSW Parliamentary Friends of India reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing Australia-Karnataka ties in these crucial sectors.
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Davanagere South bypoll: Cong Muslim leaders allege internal conspiracy to defeat party candidate
Bengaluru (PTI): A rift within the Karnataka Congress surfaced on Friday, a day after the bypolls to two Assembly constituencies in the state, as a group of Muslim leaders alleged a "conspiracy" by some of their own senior party leaders to defeat the official candidate in Davanagere South.
However, they asserted that despite efforts by some within to project that Congress "betrayed" Muslims, the party candidate Samarth Mallikarjun will win in Davanagere South, the constituency where the community has a significant presence.
Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Saleem Ahmed, MLAs Rizwan Arshad, Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, MLC Bilkis Bano, and other Congress leaders addressed a joint press conference regarding this at the party office here.
"It is a sad thing that some senior leaders of our own party have conspired to defeat the Congress, despite this minorities have voted for the Congress. KPCC President (D K Shivakumar), the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) and the AICC General Secretary (Randeep Singh Surjewala) are aware of this. People have voted for Congress, its ideology and its five guarantee schemes," Ahmed said.
Noting that Samath Mallikarjun was given a ticket after taking all minority leaders of the party into confidence and following their consent, he said, "But after that because of some misconceptions, conspiracies have been hatched. But still, I'm confident that Congress candidate Samarth will win".
According to party sources, these Muslim leaders have also complained to AICC and state party leadership regarding attempts for "internal sabotage" in Davanagere South.
Though the leaders did not indicate who they were accusing. Several party sources said their attack was directed at Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, among a few others.
Khan, who had openly demanded the Davanagere South ticket for a Muslim candidate, had initially stayed away from campaigning in the segment, citing his Kerala poll responsibilities. However, he addressed a press meet along with Samarth's father and Minister SS Mallikarjun at the request of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
MLA Arshad said that there was a massive social media campaign against the Congress party, by the BJP, SDPI and Independents, alleging "betrayal" of the minorities by the Congress. Some within the party, too, tried to project the same.
"We indeed demanded a ticket for the minority, and the party considered it. However, since we, as minority leaders, had to provide a unanimous candidate, we only put forward Abdul Jabbar's name because he is the MLC from the region, and he also pressured us. I think we first failed there, as ground-level party workers did not accept it and some other leaders believed he wasn't that popular," he said.
Arshad noted that the party finally named Samarth Mallikarjun as the candidate "after considering all factors and taking all Muslim leaders into confidence".
"However, some of us Muslim leaders who worked for the party's official candidate were projected as anti-Muslim on social media," he claimed.
Some leaders who accepted the party's decision to nominate Samarth as the party candidate during the meeting called to decide it later showed indirect signs of resistance, he said. "An attempt was made by others, including some within the Congress, to project that the Congress has betrayed the Muslims. This has caused us pain."
Bypolls for Davanagere South were held along with Bagalkot on Thursday. The election was necessitated following the death of sitting MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti respectively.
Muslim disgruntlement appears to be a concern for the Congress in Davanagere South. With 14 of the 25 candidates in the fray belonging to the community, there are apprehensions within the party about a split in votes, which could benefit the BJP.
Given its significant presence in the constituency, the Muslim community strongly demanded the Congress ticket for Davanagere South. Some party factions had opposed giving the ticket to the Shamanur family.
Although the Congress was successful in persuading rebel candidate Sadiq Pailwan to withdraw from the contest, he remained in the fray as the move came after the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.
