Eshwarappa quashes allegations of demanding commission from Hindu Yuva Vahini National Secretary
Says, my department never approved work he claims to have completed
Bengaluru: Karnataka RDPR Minister K. Eshwarappa has said that he has filed a defamation case against the civil contractor and Hindu Yuva Vahini National Secretary Santhosh Patil who alleged that the minister was demanding commission for the payment of completed road works.
Reacting to the allegation labeled against him by Patil, the Minister said he did not demand a commission for releasing the payment of completed work and that the allegations made against him are fabricated.
“The allegation against me about having asked the commission to release the payment for the remainder of the completed work is fabricated. I have filed a defamation case against the Belagavi-based contractor and ‘Hindu Vahini’ National Secretary Santhosh. K. Patil who has made this accusation against me”, he informed.
Earlier on Monday, Patil wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in the matter adding that he was under pressure from his creditors and if the issue is not resolved soon, he will have no options left but to commit suicide.
In his letter, Patil had alleged that Eshwarappa and his associates were demanding commission for releasing his payment of Rs. 4 crores for completed road work even after a year of completion of the work. He also alleged that the Minister was not releasing the work order for the same.
Eshwarappa however, has claimed that Patil had not sought any grant from his department and that the government had not approved any work that Patil claims to have completed.
“Santhosh K. Patil did not seek any grant from the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj and the government did not provide approval to undertake the said work. The department had not issued any direction regarding this construction work and neither were the administrative grants given. Construction work as said by Santhosh K. Patil has not been implemented at the Hindalaga village. No government agency has provided technical grants or taken charge of this construction work. The department head has provided clarification that therefore, the matter of releasing funds does not arise”, Eeshwarappa said.
“It has come to my attention that on March 9, Santhosh K. Patil had fabricated allegations against me on TV. In the background of this, on March 10, I have registered a defamation lawsuit against Santhosh K. Patil at the 6th Main Metropolitan Court. He will be issued a notice tomorrow”, Eeshwarappa said.
He further added that Patil is not a BJP activist and that there is no connection between him and the party.
Responding to the question of the media, the Minister said, “I don’t know who is behind the conspiracy of accusing me of demanding commission. After contacting the party’s Belagavi District President today morning and inquiring, I learned that Santhosh K. Patil and BJP have no connection. He is not our activist or worker”, he said.
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US pauses visa processing for individuals from 75 countries
New York/Washington (PTI): The Trump administration on Wednesday announced pausing immigrant visa processing for individuals from 75 countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Russia, as part of increasing crackdown on foreigners likely to rely on public benefits in the US.
“The State Department will pause immigrant visa processing from 75 countries whose migrants take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates. The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people,” the State Department said in a post on X.
“The Trump administration will PAUSE immigrant visa processing from 75 countries until the US can ensure that incoming immigrants will not become a public charge or extract wealth from American taxpayers. AMERICA FIRST,” the White House said in a post on X.
“The freeze will remain active until the US can ensure that new immigrants will not extract wealth from the American people. The pause impacts dozens of countries – including Somalia, Haiti, Iran, and Eritrea – whose immigrants often become public charges on the United States upon arrival. We are working to ensure the generosity of the American people will no longer be abused," the State Department said.
"The Trump Administration will always put America First," the State Department added.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said in a statement, "The State Department will use its long-standing authority to deem ineligible potential immigrants who would become a public charge on the United States and exploit the generosity of the American people."
A report in the Fox News said that the pause will begin from January 21.
The State Department memo, seen first by Fox News Digital, directs “consular officers to refuse visas under existing law while the department reassesses screening and vetting procedures”.
The list of countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
The Fox News report added that in November 2025, a State Department cable sent to missions around the globe instructed consular officers to “enforce sweeping new screening rules under the so-called "public charge" provision of immigration law.
The guidance had instructed US consular officers across the world to deem those individuals seeking to enter and live in the US ineligible if they have certain medical conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, saying these people could end up relying on public benefits.
The foreigners applying for visas to live in the US “might be rejected if they have certain medical conditions”. “You must consider an applicant’s health…Certain medical conditions – including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions – can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care,” the cable had said.
The cable also advised visa officers to consider conditions like obesity in making their decisions, noting that the condition can cause asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure.
The guidance directed "visa officers to deem applicants ineligible to enter the US for several new reasons, including age or the likelihood they might rely on public benefits.
The guidance says that such people could become a “public charge” — "a potential drain on US resources — because of their health issues or age”.
The report added that older or overweight applicants could be denied, along with those who had any past use of government cash assistance or institutionalisation.
