Bagalkote (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said he has directed the state Chief Secretary to examine Tamil Nadu's actions regarding a ban on RSS activities on government premises.

This comes after a letter from his cabinet colleague and Minister for Electronics, IT/BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge calling for a statewide ban on RSS activities in government institutions and public premises, claiming that such activities violate India's unity and the Constitution.

"Priyank Kharge has written a letter. He has said that RSS was using government premises, and to do what the government in Tamil Nadu has done (to stop it). I have asked the Chief Secretary to verify and see what has been done in Tamil Nadu," Siddaramaiah told reporters here in response to a question.

In a letter to the chief minister dated October 4, Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been conducting its 'shakhas' in government and government-aided schools, as well as on public grounds, where "slogans are shouted and negative ideas are instilled in the minds of children and youth."

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Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.

The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.

As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.

"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.

"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.

Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.