Academician Gururaj Karajagi, Ravishankar not to address new MLAs of Karnataka during workshop
Bengaluru: The names of academician Dr. Gururaj Karajagi and head of the Art of Living Foundation Ravishankar have been dropped from the list of invitees to address first-time legislators of Karnataka during the three-day workshop to be held, starting Monday.
Karnataka Assembly Speaker UT Khader had said recently that several well-known people are invited to address and motivate the new MLAs. He had also said that former CMs BS Yediyurappa and HD Kumaraswamy from the political field as well as achievers from various fields, including Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Dr Veerendra Heggade, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Joint Secretary (Karnataka) Mohammed Kunhi, academician Karajagi and Ravishankar were among the dignitaries who would speak at the workshop.
Several writers, social activists and Congress leaders too from across Karnataka had objected to the addition of the names of ‘controversial people’, especially Ravishankar and Karajagi, to the list of invitees. They had also demanded that their names be withdrawn from the list of invitees. Many had said, “Classes on the provisions of the Constitution of India should be held for the MLAs, instead of getting controversial people to speak to them.”
While Khader had said that people should have waited till the completion of the event to give their critical reviews, instead of making judgemental statements prior to the workshop, the official document on the workshop confirms that the names of Karajagi and Ravishankar have been dropped from the list of speakers.
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Rs 23.8 crore scam: Relief money for natural calamity victims siphoned off to govt employees in MP
Bhopal: A massive financial irregularity has come to light in Madhya Pradesh, where Rs 23.81 crore, earmarked as relief aid for families of natural calamities and accidents, was siphoned into the accounts of government employees, their relatives, and other ineligible individuals across 13 districts, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
The CAG audit, as cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, revealed that the funds—intended to assist families affected by disasters such as lightning strikes, hailstorms, drought, excessive rain, floods, and accidents like snakebites and drowning—were misappropriated. The fraudulent transactions were reported across thirteen districts, including Seoni, Sheopur, Sehore, Shivpuri, Dewas, Chhatarpur, Khandwa, Mandsaur, Raisen, Damoh, Satna, Agar-Malwa, and Vidisha.
The audit report, tabled in the Vidhan Sabha, disclosed that of the total misappropriated sum, Rs 21.14 crore was transferred to unauthorised (ineligible) individuals, while Rs 2.67 crore was distributed to government employees and their relatives.
The investigation further revealed that government personnel exploited loopholes in the global budget system and the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) to facilitate the scam, TNIE added.
Fake sanction orders and fake beneficiaries were created on paper to authorise e-payments, diverting funds into unauthorised accounts.
Following the shocking revelations, disciplinary action has been initiated. In Seoni district, which witnessed the highest amount of fraud, four government employees, including a tehsildar and a naib tehsildar, have been suspended, while an FIR has been registered against another employee. In Sheopur, a district-level committee has been set up to identify those involved in the fraud. In Shivpuri, where relief funds meant for drought victims were siphoned off, one government staff has been suspended, and three others have been booked.
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