Bengaluru, Aug 15: Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Thursday heaped praise on the state government's five guarantee schemes and said they are designed to empower women, support the poor and assist unemployed youth.
Cautioning against the serious challenge of environmental imbalance, he stressed on the shared responsibility to protect and enhance the environment.
"Karnataka is a progressive state, playing a crucial role in the overall development of our country. Through various development initiatives, our state has been at the forefront of implementing innovative and inclusive programs, ensuring access to basic services with the aim of achieving comprehensive and sustainable development," Gehlot said in his Independence Day message.
"The state government is successfully implementing the five guarantee schemes, which are designed to empower women, support poor and middle-class families, and assist unemployed youth," he was quoted as saying by Raj Bhavan in a statement.
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Amid pressure from within the ruling Congress to do a "rethink" on the ambitious five guarantees schemes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday asserted that they will continue.
Gehlot today hoisted the national flag at the Raj Bhavan on the occasion of 78th Independence Day celebrations, his office said.
Noting that since independence, both Karnataka and the nation have witnessed remarkable progress, with India now standing as the fifth largest economy in the world, the Governor said, "As we look towards the 100th anniversary of our independence, it is the collective aspiration of our people that India becomes fully educated, economically robust, and a leading force among developed nations.
To achieve this, we must all commit ourselves to serving our country with devotion and dedication."
Currently, the nation and the world faced the serious challenge of environmental imbalance, he pointed out. "It is our shared responsibility to protect and enhance our environment."
"Through initiatives like the 'A Tree in the Name of Mother' campaign, we must take meaningful steps towards environmental conservation by planting saplings," he added.
The Governor also extended his wishes to all Indian athletes who won medals and excelled in the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris.
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Madikeri (Karnataka) (PTI): Four people were arrested for allegedly assaulting, illegally confining and attempting to extort money from a 39-year-old businessman who was lured through a honeytrap set up on social media, police said on Monday.
The accused have been identified as Rachana, Malati, Darshan and Ravi.
Police said efforts are underway to nab the remaining suspects involved in the incident, which occurred on December 12 in Madikeri, the district headquarters of Kodagu.
According to the complaint, the victim, a resident of Maddur taluk in Mandya district, was befriended by a woman identified as Rachana through Facebook, who later sought financial assistance and received Rs 5,000 from him via PhonePe on November 28.
When he asked her to return the money, the woman allegedly asked him to travel to Mysuru or Kushalnagar, promising to meet him.
The police said the woman later called the victim to Madikeri on December 12 and took him to a house near the market area, where they spent some time and consumed alcohol in the evening.
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Later that night, citing an emergency, the woman left the house. After her departure, three men allegedly broke into the house and attacked the victim, assaulting him with a stick and the handle of a sword, causing injuries to his face, mouth, chest and leg, the FIR stated.
The complainant alleged that he was forcibly confined, stripped and a nude video of him was recorded. The accused also allegedly threatened him with a toy gun, demanding Rs 50 lakh and warning that the video would be uploaded on social media if the money was not paid.
Police said the victim was held captive and somehow managed to escape in the early hours of December 13. However, after he escaped, the accused allegedly attempted to kidnap him in an autorickshaw, an incident that was captured on CCTV cameras.
Based on his complaint at the Madikeri Town police station, a case was registered under Sections 310(2) (dacoity), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said.
“Four accused, including two women, have been arrested. Efforts are on to nab two more absconding accused. Further investigation is on,” he added.
