Minister Ashwath Narayan met Congress leader M B Patil seeking protection: D K Shivakumar
Bengaluru, May 10: Congress Karnataka unit president D K Shivakumar on Tuesday alleged that the state Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan met senior Congress MLA M B Patil seeking 'protection' against raising issues involving him in public platform.
However, both Patil and Ashwath Narayan rubbished the charge saying there was no truth in it.
"Ashwath Narayan met M B Patil seeking protection that the Congress party should not do anything against him. When they were asked, they said it was a private meeting, since he (Patil) runs educational institutions. Patil said he went there (to meet Narayan) for advice," Shivakumar said.
Alleging that there was rampant corruption in the state where there is a rate chart mentioned for a designated post in government service, Shivakumar dared the government to issue notice to the newspapers, which ran the story following the police sub-inspector recruitment scam.
Alleging that nothing moves without bribe in this government, the Congress leader, who is an MLA from Kanakapura constituency, said his party will release the list of scams that have taken place in the state.
To buttress his point, he alleged that the order was altered in Malleswaram constituency, which is represented by Narayan in the Karnataka Assembly, to favour a woman.
"Take for example, the Police Sub-Inspector scam. In Malleswaram constituency, the order was altered to help a woman candidate regarding in-service candidate. Only to help a woman, they (government) made double order without a notification," the Congress state chief charged.
Patil brushed aside the charge made by his party's state chief.
"I did not meet Ashwath Narayan in the recent past. There is no question of him coming to my house but it also not the case that he should not meet me. Ashwath Narayan's daughter and my son are classmates who studied in the same school," Patil, who is Congress Karnataka unit publicity committee chief told reporters.
Reacting to his own party state chief's allegation, Patil said Narayan is the Higher Education Minister and that he can meet him "regarding works related to engineering or for MBA related works."
Discarding the charge, Patil, a former minister, asked reporters to check with Narayan whether they met in the recent past.
Narayan too dismissed Shivakumar's statement as a lie.
"There is no truth in it. I did not meet Patil," Narayan said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he has no knowledge about any meeting between Patil and Narayan.
"I don't know. It's quite common to meet people, for which there is no need to give too much of importance. It is an internal matter between M B Patil, D K Shivakumar and the Congress party. Anyway, after returning to Bengaluru I will speak to Ashwath Narayan about it," Bommai told reporters in New Delhi.
For the past few days, Shivakumar had been targeting Ashwath Narayan. He had even accused that Narayan had allegedly influenced the criminal investigation department's probe into the PSI scam and helped an accused get away without any arrest.
Besides being the higher education minister, Narayan is also the district in charge minister of Ramanagara. During a public meeting last year, Narayan and Shivakumar's brother D K Suresh, who is the Bengaluru (Rural) MP, almost came to blows.
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Karnataka offers extensive incentives in its proposed IT policy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has proposed a new Information Technology Policy for 2025–2030, offering extensive financial and non-financial incentives aimed at accelerating investments, strengthening innovation and expanding the state's tech footprint beyond Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Cabinet gave its nod to the policy 2025–2030 with an outlay of Rs 445.50 crore on Thursday after the Finance Department accorded its approval.
The policy introduces 16 incentives across five enabler categories, nine of which are entirely new, with a distinctive push to support companies setting up or expanding in emerging cities.
Alongside financial support, the government is also offering labour-law relaxations, round-the-clock operational permissions and industry-ready human capital programmes to make Karnataka a globally competitive 'AI-native' destination.
According to the policy, units located outside Bengaluru will gain access to a wide suite of benefits, including research and development and IP creation incentives, internship reimbursements, talent relocation support and recruitment assistance.
The benefits also include EPF reimbursement, faculty development support, rental assistance, certification subsidies, electricity tariff rebates, property tax reimbursement, telecom infrastructure support, and assistance for events and conferences.
Bengaluru Urban will receive a focused set of six research and development and talent-oriented incentives, while Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in the state will be brought under the incentive net.
Incentive caps and eligibility thresholds have been raised, and the policy prioritises growth-focused investments for both new and expanding units.
Beyond incentives, the government focuses on infrastructure and innovation interventions.
A flagship proposal in the policy is the creation of Techniverse -- integrated, technology-enabled enclaves developed through a public-private partnership model inside future Global Innovation Districts.
These campuses will offer plug-and-play facilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning and cybersecurity labs, advanced testbeds, experience centres, and disaster-resistant command centres.
There will also be a Statewide Digital Hub Grid and a Global Test Bed Infrastructure Network, linking public and private research and development, and innovation facilities across Karnataka.
The government has proposed a Women Global Tech Missions Fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women technologists, an IT Talent Return Programme to absorb experienced professionals returning from abroad, and broad-based skill and faculty development reimbursements.
Shared corporate transport routes in Bengaluru and tier-two cities will be designed with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other transport entities to support worker mobility.
The government said the policy is the outcome of an extensive research and consultation process involving TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, HP, Google, Accenture and NASSCOM, along with sector experts and stakeholder groups.
It estimates an outlay of Rs 967.12 crore over five years, comprising Rs 754.62 crore for incentives and Rs 212.50 crore for interventions such as Techniverse campuses, digital grid development, global outreach missions and talent programmes.
