Congress fields K C Kondaiah for Karnataka Council Deputy Chairman post, to "expose" JD(S)
Bengaluru, Jan 28: The Congress in Karnataka on Thursday decided to field senior party leader K C Kondaiah as its candidate for the post of Deputy Chairman in the state's Legislative Council to "expose" the JD(S) which has decided to back the ruling BJP nominee.
The BJP has fielded M K Pranesh as its candidate and is confident of winning the Deputy Chairman election scheduled for Friday, with support from the JD(S).
According to top Congress sources, the party has decided to field Kondaiah despite slim chances of his winning, with an intention to "expose" the JD(S).
"We will field our candidate for the Deputy Chairman election, we are confident about getting conscience votes. JD(S) goes to town claiming they're secularists, whose true colour is what will get exposed in this election," Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Siddaramaiah said.
Siddaramaiah has been repeatedly targeting the regional party questioning its secular credentials citing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi terming it as 'B team' of the BJP, during 2018 assembly polls.
According to party sources at the CLP meeting held earlier today, KPCC President D K Shivakumar was not in favour of fielding a candidate for the Deputy Chairman's post.
However, Siddaramaiah is said to have insisted.
The post of the Deputy Chairman has fallen vacant following JD(S)' S L Dharme Gowda's death allegedly by suicide last month.
The BJP and JD(S) on Wednesday had decided to join hands for the post of Karnataka Legislative Council Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
As per the arrangement, the BJP will support the JD (S) for the Chairman post, while the regional party will return the favour by ceding the Deputy Chairman post.
Election for the post of Council Chairman is also expected to take place during the ongoing session, as there are indications that incumbent K Pratapachandra Shetty, who is from the Congress, may resign soon, as the ruling BJP has moved a no-confidence motion against him and the JD(S) will be supporting it.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
