Demand for separate north Karnataka state: Confusion on tomorrow’s bandh
Bandh may fail
Bengaluru, August 01: As there are far and against voices for the demand of separate north Karnataka state, Karnataka bandh called on August 2 may be a failure and will become a chaos. Led by Separate State Action Committee, several swamijis and organizations have called for Karnataka bandh on August 2 demanding separate north Karnataka state to ensure its development. Meanwhile, hundreds of Kannada organizations, farmers organizations, students, youth organizations have declared that they would not support the separate state cause. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy already held discussions with the activists and promised of north Karnataka development. In spite of it, the Action Committee said that preparations were completed for observing bandh in 13 districts in north Karnataka.
More than 25 organisations have extended their support to the bundh. They said that they would observe the bandh whether others support it or not. Action Committee president Somashekar Kotambari said that those who oppose the bundh would not require the development of north Karnataka. There is no doubt that the success of the bandh. People should not lend their ears for such rumours, he appealed.
In a sudden development, it is reported that the support extended in Bidar, Koppal, Belagavi, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Ballary, Gadag, Bidar, Raichur and Kalaburgi districts in north Karnataka was withdrawn. However, it was decided to stage protest instead of bandh in Haveri and Hubballi-Dharwad, it is said.
‘Don’t divide’
“No one should try to divide the state. We are all should live together like brothers. If there are problems, let us solve them together and move forward. United Karnataka should be there always. But I am not matured enough to advise those who demand for separate state”.
- Shivaraj Kumar, actor
No use from separate state
“Those who fight for a separate state do not know the history of the united Karnataka. They should fight for the development of north Karnataka. There would be no use from the separate state”.
- Priyanka Kharge, Social Welfare Minister
No interference
“Swamijis have taken the separate state issue which is not fair. They have been interfering in politics just to increase funds for their mutts. They have forgotten the religion and interfering in politics which is not a good development”.
- SK Bellubbi, former minister
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UPSC cheating case: Puja Khedkar seeks pre-arret bail, moves SC
New Delhi, Jan 14: Former IAS probationer Puja Khedkar, accused of cheating and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits in the civil services examination, has moved the Supreme Court for anticipatory bail.
A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma is scheduled to hear the plea on January 15.
Khedkar has challenged the December 23 2024 Delhi High Court order which refused to grant her anticipatory bail.
The high court said a strong prima facie case was made out against Khedkar and an investigation was required to unearth the "larger conspiracy" to manipulate the system and a pre-arrest bail would adversely impact it.
"Anticipatory bail plea is dismissed. Interim protection from arrest is vacated," the high court said.
Khedkar was granted an interim protection from arrest when the high court issued notice on her anticipatory bail plea on August 12, 2024, and it was extended from time to time.
The UPSC examination was the most prestigious test and the case was a classic instance of fraud committed on a constitutional body as well as the society, the high court said.
Khedkar is accused of misrepresenting information in her application for the UPSC civil services examination, 2022, to get reservation benefits.
She refuted all the allegations against her.
The anticipatory bail plea was opposed by the Delhi Police counsel and the complainant, the UPSC, in the high court.
While Khedkar's counsel argued she was willing to join and cooperate in the investigation and as all the material was documentary in nature, her custody was not required, Delhi Police said her custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the involvement of others.
The UPSC opposed the plea and said Khedkar committed a fraud against it and the public, and her custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth the "magnitude" of the fraud which couldn't have been done without the help of others.
The UPSC initiated a series of actions against Khedkar, including lodging of a criminal case, for availing attempts in the civil services exam by faking her identity whereas Delhi Police lodged an FIR for various offences.
