Karnataka govt to distribute 1 lakh title deeds to mark its 2 yrs: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
Ramanagara (Karnataka), May 11 (PTI): To mark the second anniversary of its rule in Karnataka, the Congress government is planning to distribute one lakh title deeds to eligible beneficiaries, whose "undocumented habitations" have been declared as revenue villages, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Sunday.
Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said he will hold discussions about holding the event in Vijayanagara district on May 20, with India and Pakistan reaching an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea.
The Cabinet on Friday had decided to indefinitely postpone the government's event marking two years in the wake of the escalating India and Pakistan border situation.
"As of now, it has been decided to give title deeds to one lakh people from the Revenue Department headed by Minister Krishna Byre Gowda. Preparations are on for it. The programme will be held in Vijayanagara district. May 20 is the date decided," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "But considering this war-like situation (it was postponed). I will discuss it in a day or two. If there is no problem, we will do it on May 20."
To a question on the "ceasefire" being announced with Pakistan to stop all firing and military action, Shivakumar said the central government has to clarify on it.
"I don't want to make any comments or share my opinion and create confusion. We have to protect the country's respect and dignity," he added.
The Deputy CM said Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will soon give a date for his participation in the event to lay the foundation for hundred party offices in different parts of Karnataka, to mark the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi presiding over the AICC session in Belagavi.
"We plan to have hundred offices to mark the centenary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi presiding over the AICC session in Belagavi. Preparations are on for it. In some places, lands are being approved, while land is being purchased in some places," Shivakumar said.
He said he had earlier got land approved in Ramanagara, but someone got it stayed, and on not finding any other suitable land, he has decided to purchase a land on his own and gift it for Congress office. Work is on in this regard, and many have come forward to give donations for construction.
"He (Rahul Gandhi) will offer pooja for the office in Bengaluru and virtually a foundation will be laid for the office here (Ramanagara) and other places. Soon he will give a date for the programme," he added.
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Cong takes swipe at PM over India not being part of US-led 'Pax Silica' grouping
New Delh (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said it is perhaps not very surprising that India is not part of a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure silicon supply chain, given the "sharp downturn" in the Trump-Modi ties, and asserted that it would have been to "our advantage if we had been part of this group".
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the news of India not being part of the group comes after the PM had enthusiastically posted on social media about a telephone call with his "once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC".
In a lengthy post on X, Ramesh said, "According to some news reports, the US has excluded India from a nine-nation initiative it has launched to reduce Chinese control on high-tech supply chains. The agreement is called Pax Silica, clearly as a counter to Pax Sinica. The nations included (for the moment at least) are the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia."
"Given the sharp downturn in the Trump-Modi ties since May 10th, 2025, it is perhaps not very surprising that India has not been included. Undoubtedly, it would have been to our advantage if we had been part of this group."
"This news comes a day after the PM had enthusiastically posted on his telephone call with his once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC," the Congress leader asserted.
The new US-led strategic initiative, rooted in deep cooperation with trusted allies, has been launched to build a secure and innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
According to the US State Department, the initiative called 'Pax Silica' aims to reduce coercive dependencies, protect the materials and capabilities foundational to artificial intelligence (AI), and ensure aligned nations can develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.
The initiative includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. With the exception of India, all other QUAD countries -- Japan, Australia and the US -- are part of the new initiative.
New Delhi will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19-20, focusing on the principles of 'People, Planet, and Progress'. The summit, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, will be the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump on Thursday discussed ways to sustain momentum in the bilateral economic partnership in a phone conversation amid signs of the two sides inching closer to firming up a much-awaited trade deal.
The phone call between the two leaders came on a day Indian and American negotiators concluded two-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement that is expected to provide relief to India from the Trump administration's whopping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
In a social media post, Modi had described the conversation as "warm and engaging".
"We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi had said without making any reference to trade ties.
