Govt employees set to go on strike in Karnataka, CM Bommai attempts to assuage concerns
Hubballi/Bengaluru (PTI): With the government employees in Karnataka set to go on an indefinite strike from March 1, seeking fulfilment of various demands, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday reached out to them saying the administration was ready to seek 7th Pay commission's interim report immediately and implement it.
Most of the services, barring a few like transport, critical care at hospitals and crematoriums are likely to be hit due to the stir.
The employees have forwarded three major demands -- implementation of the 7th Pay Commission report, reverting to the Old Pension Scheme and implementation of at least 40 per cent of fitment facilities.
"Our senior officials are in touch with the government employees' association and their President, and are holding talks. I have already made it clear in the Assembly that we were the ones who formed the seventh pay commission and it will be implemented in 2023-24 itself, and funds for it have been allocated in the budget," Bommai told reporters at Hubballi.
He further said their demand is to seek an interim report and implement it, which he has agreed to.
"We are ready to immediately direct the seventh pay commission to submit the interim report and implement it," he added.
Karnataka State Government Employees' Association President C S Shadakshari had earlier said that all services including hospitals -- other than casualty and essential services, -- will be affected.
Also, all services of 'Mahanagara Palike' and 'Pura Sabha' including pourakarmika (civic workers) and various energy supply companies.
Revenue collection, schools and pre-university examinations, will also be hit, he said, adding that "there is already an 8-month delay, we cannot wait anymore, we don't know what will happen when the new government comes in, so the employees have decided to go on strike voluntarily".
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.
Actress Honey Rose files police complaint against Boby Chemmanur, alleges 'sexual' harassment
Kochi, Jan 7: Malayalam actress Honey Rose on Tuesday lodged a police complaint against prominent businessman Boby Chemmanur, accusing him of making "repeated sexually coloured" remarks against her.
Rose posted the allegation on one of her social media handles.
Chemmanur rejected Rose's allegations, claiming there was nothing objectionable in what he had said.
Ernakulam Central police said further procedures are underway in Rose's complaint, and they will soon register a case against the businessman under BNS Section 75 (sexual harassment).
"I have filed a complaint with the Ernakulam Central Police Station against your (Chemmanur) continuous derogatory remarks about me. I will take the same action against your supporters who share the same mentality. You can continue to rely on your wealth, but I have faith in the Indian legal system," she said in her Facebook post.
She also warned others with a "similar mindset" to his of strict legal action.
In the Facebook post, Rose further told the businessman to continue believing in his money power.
Rejecting the actress's charges, Chemmanur said there were no such issues between them as raised by her.
He claimed that he didn't use any derogatory terms, as alleged by her, and he always interacted with her in a friendly manner.
"She attended two of my inauguration events. We danced... I used to tell jokes. She seemed to have no issue with those things. And now she lodged a complaint against me after months," the businessman said.
He said he did not think that she had any personal grudge against him.
The jeweller further claimed that he behaves decently with women and said he discussed the matter with his lawyers, who said there was nothing objectionable in what he had said.
Rose revealed the identity of the businessman two days after she posted on Facebook on Sunday, accusing an individual of stalking her and making sexually inappropriate remarks, including through media platforms, which she claimed outraged her modesty.
Several people posted offensive comments below her post, prompting Rose to approach the police.
The Kochi Central Police have already registered a case against 30 people and arrested one of them over her complaint about sexual harassment through social media.
The arrested man was identified as Shaji, a 60-year-old man hailing from nearby Panangad.
The accused were booked under various sections of the BNS, including Section 75 and Section 67 of the IT Act. BNS Section 75 deals with sexual harassment, and IT Act Section 67 refers to the punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form.
"We have intensified our investigation. Many of those who posted such remarks have deleted them. Efforts are underway to retrieve such posts and identify the accused," a police officer said on Tuesday morning.
Rose is known for her roles in a handful of movies in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu.
