Karnataka Cabinet adopts resolution asking Centre to grant Rs 5,000 cr. for backward region
Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Sep 17: The Karnataka Cabinet that met here on Tuesday adopted a resolution requesting the Central government to release Rs 5,000 crore for the development of the backward Kalyana Karnataka region.
The Cabinet, at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, also decided to set up a separate secretariat for the region.
The Cabinet meeting coincided with the 'Kalyana Karnataka Utsava' celebrated every year to mark the liberation of the region from the Nizam’s rule, and also ten years of Article 371(J) of the Constitution under which the region got special status.
"Our government has walked the talk -- that Rs 5,000 crore will be given for Kalyana Karnataka region every year. We have set aside Rs 5,000 crore for 2024-25; the Central government has not given even a single rupee in the last ten years since the amendment to constitution by adding Article 371(J)," Siddaramaiah said.
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In a briefing on Cabinet decisions, he said a resolution has been adopted requesting the Centre to also give Rs 5,000 crore for development projects in the region.
Fulfilling a long standing demand, the Cabinet approved a separate secretariat for Kalyana Karnataka region, Siddaramaiah said.
Kalaburagi is considered as the capital of the 'Kalyana Karnataka' (earlier known as Hyderabad Karnataka).
The region comprises the districts of Bidar, Ballari, Vijayanagara, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur and Yadgir.
Siddaramaiah said the Cabinet gave its approval for a total 56 proposals -- Detailed Project Reports amounting Rs 12,692 crore -- out of which 46 related to Kalyana Karnataka region (Rs 11,770 crore).
The Cabinet gave its nod to upgrade Bidar and Raichur Municipal Councils into Corporations.
Also approval was given for a drinking water project covering all villages in Bidar and Kalaburagi districts costing Rs 7,200 crore. "This will be sent to the Centre, the Central government will be requested to bear half the cost (Rs 3,600 crore) and the other half will be borne by the state," the Chief Minister said.
The Cabinet also decided to fill 17,439 government posts that are vacant in the region in a phased manner.
He said all the budget proposals relating to Kalyana Karnataka region announced in the 2024-25 budget were accorded administrative sanction by the Cabinet.
In Kalyana Karnataka region, 45 new Primary Health Centres and 31 Community Health Centres will be started; nine hospitals will be upgraded as taluk hospitals and two will be upgraded as district hospitals, at a total cost of Rs 890 crore, Siddaramaiah said.
The Congress had swept the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year in this region.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said "From 'Anubhava Mantapa' to Anjanadri hill (considered by many to be lord Hanuman's birthplace)...all tourism spots and monuments-related proposals were brought before the Cabinet".
"The Cabinet has given its approval for the protection and development of all these spots and monuments," Shivakumar said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah said the state government is planning to develop Kalaburagi into a smart city with an estimated investment of Rs 1,685 crore, which will improve the quality of life for its residents and attract investment in backward districts.
Under the Mahatma Gandhi Nagar Vikas Yojana 2.0, Rs 200 crore each is being provided for basic infrastructure development in Kalaburagi and Ballari municipal corporations, he said.
A scheme called "Kalyana Patha" has been developed to improve road connectivity and rural development in the Kalyana Karnataka region, he said.
Under this, the state government will build 1,150 km of roads in rural Assembly constituencies at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore.
To develop tourism in the famous Anjanadri hill and surrounding areas of Koppal district, Rs 100 crore will be provided, the Chief Minister said.
"In Ballari, we will organise unorganised jeans industries and develop a Jeans Apparel Park and Common Facility Centre to upgrade them to world-class standards," Siddaramaiah said.
A committee led by Professor Govind Rao has been formed to study the economic and social changes in the region and suggest ways to reduce inequalities, he added.
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Creative freedom can't be curtained on apprehension of public disorder: HC on film 'Emergency'
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Thursday said creative freedom and the freedom of expression cannot be curtailed and the censor board cannot refuse to certify a film just because there is an apprehension of a law and order problem.
A division bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla expressed its displeasure with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for not taking a decision on the issuance of a certificate to Kangana Ranaut-starrer film "Emergency", and ordered for the decision to be taken by September 25.
It asked if the CBFC thinks the people of this country are so naive to believe everything that is shown in a movie.
On the petitioner's claim that the CBFC was delaying issuance of certificate to the movie due to political reasons, the HC noted the film's co-producer Ranaut was herself a sitting BJP parliamentarian and questioned if the ruling party was acting against its own MP.
Ranaut, who has directed and co-produced the film besides playing the lead role of former prime minister late Indira Gandhi, earlier this week accused the CBFC of stalling certification to delay the release.
The bench said, "You (CBFC) have to take a decision one way or the other. You must have the courage to say this film cannot be released. At least then we will appreciate your courage and boldness. We don't want the CBFC to sit on the fence."
The court was hearing a petition filed by Zee Entertainment Enterprises, seeking a direction to the CBFC to issue a certificate for the film "Emergency".
The biographical drama, earlier scheduled for release on September 6, is caught up in controversy after Sikh organisations including the Shiromani Akali Dal objected, accusing the film of misrepresenting the community and getting historical facts wrong.
The HC earlier this month refused to any urgent relief by directing the censor board to certify the movie immediately.
The court had said it cannot grant any urgent relief at this stage in wake of the directive issued by the Madhya Pradesh HC asking the censor board to consider objections to the movie before certifying it.
The bench had then directed the censor board to take its decision on issuance of the certificate to the film by September 18.
On Thursday, senior counsel Abhinav Chandrachud, appearing for the CBFC, told the court that the board's chairman has referred the movie to the revising committee for final decision.
Chandrachud said there was an element of apprehension of public disorder.
Senior counsel Venkatesh Dhond, appearing for Zee Entertainment, said this was done just to buy time and ensure the movie does not release before October, when elections are to be held in Haryana.
The bench noted the CBFC had not complied with its earlier order and had simply passed the buck from one department to another.
The HC said the entire exercise by the censor board had to be completed by September 18.
It was not for the CBFC to come to a conclusion that there may be a law and order problem and hence a movie cannot be certified, it said.
"This has to stop. Otherwise we are completely curtailing creative freedom and freedom of expression by doing all this," the HC said.
"Does the CBFC think the public in this country is so naive and stupid to believe everything they see in films? What about creative freedom?" it asked.
The court also wondered as to why people have become so sensitive towards what is being shown in movies.
"We don't see why people are so sensitive. My community is made fun of all the time in movies. We don't say anything. We just laugh and move on," Justice Colabawalla said in a lighter vein.
While Chandrachud sought two weeks time, the court said the decision has to be taken by September 25.
Dhond argued the movie was not being issued a certificate due to political reasons.
The bench, while questioning the political angle, asked if the petitioner was claiming the ruling party was itself against Ranaut, who is the co-producer of the film and also BJP Lok Sabha member.
"The co-producer herself is a BJP MP. She is also part of the ruling party. So you are saying her own party is against its member?" the court asked.
Dhond claimed the ruling party was willing to displease a sitting parliamentarian just to appease a particular section of society.
Zee Entertainment in its plea claimed the CBFC had already made the certificate for the movie but was not issuing it.
