Karnataka cabinet approves holding of global investors meet next year
Bengaluru, Jun 13: Karnataka cabinet on Thursday gave its approval for holding 'Invest Karnataka 2025', the Global Investors Meet, from February 12-14 here next year.
The cabinet headed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, which met for the first time after the Lok Sabha polls and completion of the Model Code of Conduct, also approved a proposal to procure the services of 'The Boston Consulting Group (India) Private Ltd. ' as the knowledge partner, for attracting investments in Karnataka, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said.
"The cabinet has given its approval to hold Invest Karnataka 2025, the Global Investors Meet (GIM) at Bengaluru's Palace Ground. To hold GIM at least 10-12 months time is required. So it has been decided to hold it from February 12 to 14, 2025," he said.
While briefing reporters about the cabinet decisions after the meeting, Patil said, "already Rs 75 crore was provided for this, and the cabinet today gave its approval to provide additional Rs 15 crore for this."
The cabinet also took stock of the implementation of tender proposals approved during the last 11 cabinet meetings from November 23, 2023 to March 14, 2024, and the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that tenders are called and works start for all the approved proposals in a month's time.
According to the data, Patil said, out of 147 tender proposals approved by the cabinet during the said period, tenders have been invited for 94 proposals, 19 are under consideration, for 18, work orders have been given; in seven cases, work has been completed, and in 53 cases, tenders are yet to be invited.
"The cabinet took note of it seriously, and the Chief Minister through the Chief Secretary has directed officials that all the necessary measures should be taken to ensure that tenders are called for all the tender proposals approved by the cabinet and the work begins in the next one month's time," he added.
The other cabinet decisions include: administrative approval for the construction of new court buildings in Uttara Kannada district at an estimated cost of Rs 12 crore, and purchase of, new 112 fully built Bharat Stage (BS) IV 'Vegadoota' buses for Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) and North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation - (NWKRTC), at an estimated cost of Rs 46.48 crore.
Topics like implementation of seventh pay commission and holding legislature session were informally discussed at the cabinet meeting, but no decisions were taken, the Minister said.
Patil said, discussions were also held regarding improving the governance, making the administration more stronger and people-friendly.
"On the whole regarding improving the governance, the Chief Minister gave several directions and guidance. Some of them were told to district Ministers, some of them were to bureaucrats through the Chief Secretary. He (CM) also suggested holding Janata Darshans and to respond to the needs of the people immediately....you will see the change and improvement in the whole administration." he added.
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NADA suspends Bajrang Punia for four years for violation of anti-doping code
New Delhi, Nov 26: The National Anti-Doping Agency on Tuesday suspended Bajrang Punia for four years for his refusal to provide his sample for dope test on March 10 during selection trials for the national team.
NADA had first suspended the Tokyo Games bronze medallist wrestler on April 23 for the offence following which, the World Governing body UWW had also suspended him.
Bajrang had appealed against the provisional suspension and NADA’s Anti-Disciplinary Doping panel (ADDP) had revoked it on May 31 till NADA issues the notice of charge.
NADA, then on June 23 served the notice to the wrestler.
Bajrang, who joined Congress along with fellow wrestler Vinesh Phogat and was given charge of All India Kisan Congress, had challenged the charge on July 11 in a written submission following which hearings were held on September 20 and October 4.
"The Panel holds that the Athlete is liable for sanctions under Article 10.3.1 and liable for ineligibility for a period of 4 years," the ADDP said in its order.
The suspension means that Bajrang will not be able to return to competitive wrestling and apply for a coaching job abroad, if he aspires to.
"In the present case, since the Athlete had been provisionally suspended, the Panel accordingly holds that the Athlete’s period of his ineligibility for the period of 4 years shall commence from the date on which the notification was sent, i.e., 23.04.2024.
"Needless to say that on account of the lifting of the provisional suspension for the period from 31.05.2024 to 21.06.2024 shall not be credited into the total period of ineligibility of four years."
Bajrang has maintained since the beginning that he was given extremely prejudicial and unfair treatment with respect to doping control because of his involvement in the protest against former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Bajrang also maintained that he never refused to give sample but only demanded to know NADA’s response to his email where he sought answer why expired kits were sent to take his samples in December 2023.
NADA also explained the reason for its action, saying that the Chaperone/DCO had duly approached him and informed that he was required to provide a urine sample for dope analysis purposes.
Bajrang in his written submission said that the conduct of NADA in two previous instances had created mistrust in the athlete's mind, especially with NADA failing to acknowledge or even respond to their callous approach towards the doping control process in both such instances, the failure to take responsibility for their action pertaining to their dispersal of duties meant that the athlete was morally bound to take a stance in resort as a senior athlete who holds a voice in the sporting community.
Bajrang also said "it was not an outright refusal per se. The athlete was always willing to provide his sample provided that he first received a response from NADA concerning the use of expired kits."
However NADA said, "the outright refusal by the athlete to provide urine sample for the dope test was intentional and deliberate" and that "Athlete has demonstrated utter disregard towards his duties and responsibilities as per Articles 20.1 & 20.2 of the Anti Doping Rules, 2021."
