CM Siddaramaiah blames Centre for urea shortage, says Karnataka steering ahead despite constraints
Bengaluru, Jul 30 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday accused the Centre of "reducing the state’s urea allocation", leading to a shortage at a time when sowing activity is in full swing following good rainfall.
He said the state has received favourable rains this season and that sowing activity has picked up significantly. However, he claimed the reduced supply of urea has led to a shortage, affecting farmers during this crucial period.
During a review meeting with district in-charge ministers, cabinet colleagues, and legislators on governance and development issues, the chief minister’s office shared these observations.
Against the requirement of 11.17 lakh metric tonnes (MT) between April and July, only 5.17 lakh MT has been supplied, resulting in a shortfall of 1.66 lakh MT, he said.
"The allocation was curtailed despite an increase in hybrid jowar sowing by two lakh hectares this year. Despite the Centre's non-cooperation, our farmers should not face any hardship," he claimed.
Calling the BJP’s protests over the issue "politically motivated" and "shameful", Siddaramaiah urged legislators to clarify the situation to their constituents.
He also blamed the previous BJP government for what he termed as "financial mismanagement", and alleged that works worth Rs 2.70 lakh crore were undertaken without budgetary allocation, including Rs 1.66 lakh crore under the then chief minister’s discretionary quota, leaving behind unpaid bills of over Rs 72,000 crore.
The CM claimed that Karnataka’s share of central taxes had been reduced by 23 per cent under the 15th Finance Commission, resulting in a loss of over Rs 68,000 crore in the last five years.
Despite such losses, the state continues to spend Rs 52,000 crore annually on guarantee schemes and Rs 1.12 lakh crore on social pensions, subsidies, and other beneficiary-oriented programmes, he added.
Implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations has increased the state's salary and pension bill to Rs 1.24 lakh crore this year, he said, adding that Rs 83,200 crore is being invested in capital expenditure—20.03 per cent of the state budget—one of the highest in the country. An additional Rs 45,600 crore is being spent on debt servicing, he added.
Referring to central data, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka now ranks first in the country in per capita income at constant prices, at Rs 2,04,605 for 2024-25.
Citing studies, he said the ‘Shakti’ scheme has contributed to a 23 per cent rise in women’s employment in Bengaluru and 21 per cent in Dharwad. "These are encouraging indicators," he said.
"Despite the Centre’s non-cooperation and the financial mess left by the previous government, we are steering the administration in a better direction," he claimed.
Siddaramaiah also emphasised the need for effective implementation of budgetary promises and directed ministers and legislators to actively participate in Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meetings.
"These meetings must be used to address people’s grievances, technical hurdles in project implementation, bureaucratic delays, and negligence," he added.
Highlighting Karnataka’s economic progress, he urged MLAs to inform voters that the state’s five guarantee schemes (Gruha Lakshmi, Shakti, Gruha Jyothi, Anna Bhagya and Yuva Nidhi) were key contributors to the improvement in per capita income.
"This is a matter of pride for the state," he added.
He thanked legislators for their cooperation and announced a special grant of Rs 50 crore for developmental works, calling for its optimal and transparent utilisation.
The meeting also reviewed district-wise development activities, agricultural progress, and the utilisation of released funds, with officials instructed to expedite project execution with clear deadlines.
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'Homebound' makes it to Oscar shortlist for best international feature
Mumbai (PTI): Neeraj Ghaywan's much acclaimed "Homebound" is among the 15 films shortlisted in the best international feature category at the Oscars, moving a step close to the final five nominations and maybe a win.
The movie, inspired by a true story that became the basis of a news article during the pandemic, has been creating a global buzz since its debut in the Un Certain Regard category at the Cannes Film Festival this May.
Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese is a fan and has come onboard as an executive producer ahead of the award season.
Produced by Karan Johar and Adar Poonawalla, and starring Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, "Homebound" is Ghaywan's second movie after "Masaan".
"Homebound" will compete for an Oscar nomination alongside Argentina's “Belén”, Brazil's “The Secret Agent”, French drama "It Was Just an Accident”, Germany's "Sound of Falling” and Iraq's "The President's Cake".
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The other movies in the shortlist include Japan's “Kokuho”, Jordan's “All That’s Left of You”, Norway's “Sentimental Value”, Palestine's “Palestine 36”, South Korean hit “No Other Choice”, Spain's “Sirat”, "Late Shift" from Switzerland, “Left-Handed Girl”from Taiwan and Tunisian drama “The Voice of Hind Rajab”, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced in a release on Tuesday.
The award for best foreign film, now re-categorised as best international feature, has so far eluded India.
Only three Indian films have received nominations in the category -- Mehmood Khan’s “Mother India”, Mira Nair’s “Salaam Bombay” and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s “Lagaan”. Deepa Mehta’s “Water”, starring John Abraham and Lisa Ray, also received a nomination but it was submitted from Canada.
Gujarati film "Chhello Show" in 2023 was the last film to get shortlisted.
Costume designer Bhanu Athaiya was the first Indian to get an Oscar, bagging the coveted prize in 1983 for the film "Gandhi". Other than her, A R Rahman, Resul Pukootty and M M Keeravani have also won individual Oscars.
Team "Homebound" celebrated the shortlist news with posts on social media.
"We made the shortlist... Way to go team Homebound'!" Johar shared in Instagram Stories.
In a post, the producer said it was difficult for him to articulate how "proud and elated" he was with the news.
"All of us @dharmamovies are privileged to have this proud and important film in our filmography... thank you @neeraj.ghaywan for making so many dreams of ours come true... from Cannes to being on the Oscar shortlist this has been such an overwhelming journey! Love to the entire cast and crew and teams of this special special film! Upwards and onwards...."
Ghaywan also shared the news on X.
"#Homebound has been shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards! We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary love and support we've received from around the world," he wrote on X with a special poster of the film.
Jethwa, who plays one of the two friends in the story opposite Ishaan Khatter, said the moment feels "surreal and incredibly humbling".
"To see 'Homebound' being shortlisted and progressing towards the Oscars is something I could have only dreamed of. I am deeply grateful for the love and support the film has received from audiences around the world," he said as he acknowledged Johar, Ghaywan and co-star Khatter and the rest of the team.
Khatter also shared the news on his Instagram stories and wrote, "Oscar ab dur nahi".
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"Homebound" is inspired by journalist Basharat Peer's The New York Times article “Taking Amrit Home”, also titled "A Friendship, a Pandemic and a Death Beside the Highway".
The film portrays the childhood friendship between a Muslim and Dalit who chase a police job that promises them the dignity they have long been denied due to their surnames.
The Academy on Tuesday also announced shortlists in 11 other categories, including the newly added casting Oscars, animated shorts, cinematography, documentary feature, documentary short, original score and song, sound and visual effects categories.
Nominations for the 98th Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Twenty-four categories will be awarded at the 98th Oscars. Each category has five nominees, except for best picture, which has 10.
The 98th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
