Hubballi, Jul 30: Madhu Bangarappa, ex-JD(S) MLA and son of former Karnataka Chief Minister, the late S Bangarappa, on Friday officially joined the Congress party.

He, along with his supporters, joined the grand old party here in the presence of Congress General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, Leader of the opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah, state unit President D K Shivakumar and a host of other party leaders.

"I promise to the Congress leadership that I will try my best to live up to the expectations that they have in me as Bangarappa's son and work day and night to bring the party back to power," Madhu Bangarappa said after his induction.

Stating that it is only through the Congress that the poor and weaker sections can get justice, he said "I will take up whatever responsibility I'm given and work for the party.

Bangarappa's followers are today in various parties, I will try to get them back to Congress."

Madhu in March had announced his decision to join the Congress, quitting the JD(S), where he was the partys working president.

"Happy to welcome my political guru S Bangarappa's son Madhu Bangarappa into our Congress Party today.

Our aim is to strengthen the party with focused and like minded individuals and I am sure Madhu Bangarappa will work towards the same," Shivakumar said after inducting him into the party.

Welcoming Madhu, Siddaramaiah asked him to continue to his father- Bangarappa's legacy.

"I see Bangarappa's concern for the people, especially weaker and backward sections in Madhu too. I wish him the best," he said.

Surjewala in a tweet said, "A New Beginning, A New Start...

Yet the same old legacy continues...Our tall leader, late shri S Bangarappa...to our young and dynamic, Madhu Bangarappa ! Karnataka Congress is proud to have you! Welcome to the Family!!!"

Madhu was defeated by his brother Kumara Bangarappa of the BJP in Soraba constituency in the 2018 assembly polls.

He had also contested the 2018 Lok Sabha bypolls on a JD(S) ticket and lost to the BJP.

He was in the past associated with the Kannada film industry as actor and producer and has had his stints with the BJP and Samajwadi Party, when his father Bangarappa joined these parties.

Bangarappa, who had been in and out of the Congress, was the Chief Minister of Karnataka during 1990-92.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



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.

 ALSO READ: Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar Coast

"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.