Former Congress Mayor Sampath Raj, accused in Bengaluru violence, granted bail
Bengaluru, Feb 12: Former Congress Mayor R Sampath Raj, who was in judicial custody for nearly three months in connection with the East Bengaluru violence on August 12 that left four people dead, was granted bail by the Karnataka High Court on Friday.
The single judge bench of Justice John Michael Cunha granted bail to Sampath Raj.
The Congress corporator from Devara Jeevanahalli municipal ward was arrested in Bengaluru on November 17 2020.
Around 3,000 to 4,000 people went on a rampage on August 11 last year, setting ablaze the houses of Pulakeshinagar Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy and his sister over an alleged inflammatory social media post by his nephew.
The mob also torched Devara Jeevanahalli and Kadugondanahalli police stations over suspicion that the nephew was present there.
Three people were killed in police firing while another person died due to abdominal injuries suffered in the violence.
In the charge sheet, Sampath Raj was charged with hatching a conspiracy for the violence to finish off the MLA politically in connivance with another Congress corporator and some others.
The Corporator and his aide were also arrested.
Police had accused Sampath Raj of remaining in touch with the masterminds throughout the widespread arson and violence.
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Poll finds majority of Americans view Trump’s second term as worse than expected
Washington, D.C.: Two months into Donald Trump’s second term, a new Yahoo News/YouGov survey reveals that a significant number of Americans believe his presidency has been worse than anticipated. The poll, conducted between March 20 and 24 among 1,677 U.S. adults, shows that 41% of respondents feel Trump’s performance has fallen below expectations, while 30% say it has been better. Another 22% say it has been "about the same" as they expected.
Trump’s approval ratings have also declined since his re-election in November. Immediately after the election, 51% of Americans approved of his first-term performance, with 43% disapproving. However, the latest poll indicates a reversal, with 50% now disapproving of his current performance and 44% approving. His personal favourability has also dropped, with 52% viewing him unfavourably and 44% favourably.
Public perception of Trump’s impact on American democracy has shifted noticeably. In November, 43% of respondents said Trump “likes to talk tough” but would not threaten democracy, compared to 39% who felt he posed a real threat. In the latest poll, 47% now believe Trump threatens democracy, while only 39% think otherwise.
Economic concerns appear to be a major factor behind Trump’s declining popularity. Nearly half of Americans identified the cost of living (23%) or the economy (23%) as the country’s most pressing issues. However, only 11% felt Trump prioritised these issues in his second term, with far more citing immigration (37%) and government spending (25%) as his focus.
The poll also highlights persistent economic anxiety among Americans. Only 26% rate the economy as excellent or good, and 47% believe it is worsening. A majority (51%) say inflation is rising, and 66% report that grocery prices continue to climb.
Trump’s approval rating for handling the economy stands at 39%, with 51% disapproving. His approval for managing the cost of living is lower, at 34%. The poll further indicates that Trump’s tariff policies have not improved public sentiment. While 46% agree tariffs may encourage domestic manufacturing, a larger share (49%) believes they will lead to a recession, and 68% feel tariffs will raise personal costs.
Overall, 51% of respondents believe Trump’s tariff policies are negatively affecting the economy, while only 20% view them positively.
The survey sample was weighted by gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and vote, party identification, and voter registration status. The margin of error is approximately 2.6%.
