Over 300 cyclists participate in GAIL India's cyclothon
Bengaluru (Press Release): P Ravi Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Karnataka, the chief guest for the Cyclothon 2022 Bengaluru Chapter, along with Shri A K Tripathi, Executive Director (Southern Region), GAIL (India) Limited flagged off Saksham Cyclothon from Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru on 17th April 2022 (Sunday). The event witnessed participation of around 300 cyclists who pedalled their way round the Cubbon park for over 5 Km distance before finishing back at Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Before flagging off the cyclists, the chief guest administered the pledge in Kannada to all the participants for practising the measures for ensuring optimal utilization of the fossil fuels and take steps for its conservation for our future generations.
The Cyclothon was organised by GAIL (India) Limited as a part of an awakening campaign, “Saksham 2022”, an initiative of the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The objective of this cyclothon is to create awareness amongst the people about the fuel conservation, environment protection and promote the use of cycle for short distances, which will not only save fuel but also help in creating a cleaner, greener & healthier environment. The theme for the event for year-2022 is: “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav through Green and clean Energy”.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest of the event, P Ravi Kumar, IAS and A K Tripathi, Executive Director (Southern Region), GAIL emphasised that even small measures by individuals to substitute and reduce the usage of petroleum products like commuting through walking or cycling, using public transport, car-pooling, mindful usage of energy efficient equipment and machinery can contribute in a big way towards Oil & Gas conservation. P Ravi Kumar further added that such measures will also decongest our city roads and will provide supplementary benefits to individuals for maintaining healthy life due to exercise. He appealed to the people of the state to use the alternate green and economical fuel i.e. Natural Gas for the domestic households, vehicles, commercial and industrial establishments for the protection of the environment.
Further, GAIL (India) Limited, the pioneer company in Natural Gas across the country has been keen on ensuring a reduced carbon footprint by promoting the usage of a greener and cleaner fuel, the Natural Gas and with this motive has reached out to various corners of the state to provide access through its Piped Natural Gas connections for the kitchens and Compressed Natural Gas filling stations for the fuel for the vehicles, that not just eco-friendly but also light on the pocket. A K Tripathi explained about various projects of national importance that GAIL has undertaken for the promotion of ‘Green and Clean Energy’, including KKBMPL project to bring the natural gas grid to the southern states of Kerala, Karnataka & Tamil Nadu. To promote the Cyclothon awareness drive on fuel conservation, A K Tripathi also highlighted various other activities being carried out by GAIL (India) Ltd. in partnership with other Oil PSUs like CNG auto rally and various competitions in schools and colleges on the theme of “Oil and Natural Gas conservation” to spread the message of efficient use of the fuels.
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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses EC of ‘bias’, defends state guarantee schemes ahead of bypolls
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the EC of "double standards" and "bias" after it sought details on the state’s guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where bypolls are scheduled for Thursday.
In a post on 'X' on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said the Election Commission of India had asked the Karnataka government for information on fund releases under five ongoing guarantee schemes in the constituencies going to polls.
The polls were necessitated following the deaths of senior Congress MLAs Shamanur Shivashankarappa and H Y Meti, respectively.
The schemes are Gruha Jyothi, which provides 200 units of free electricity to every household; Gruha Lakshmi, offering Rs 2,000 to women heading families; and Anna Bhagya, supplying 10 kg of rice per month to each member of BPL families.
In addition, Yuva Nidhi grants Rs 3,000 to unemployed graduates and Rs 1,500 to unemployed diploma holders aged 18–25 for two years, while Shakti enables women to travel free of charge within Karnataka on government non-luxury buses.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the ECI had remained silent when similar cash transfer schemes were announced in Maharashtra and Bihar ahead of elections, calling the scrutiny of Karnataka’s schemes a "clear case of bias".
"In states like Maharashtra and Bihar, cash transfer schemes were announced or fast-tracked just before elections, directly benefiting voters. Yet the ECI remained silent. This is not neutrality—it is complicity," he said.
The CM accused the BJP and NDA governments of "a double standard", noting that when they act, the ECI "looks the other way", but when Karnataka fulfils its promises, it faces "intense scrutiny".
He added that targeting the state’s guarantee schemes is "not just political but anti-poor, anti-women, and anti-Karnataka."
Siddaramaiah clarified that these schemes were not launched in connection with the bypolls but are ongoing programmes implemented as part of the Congress government’s commitments from the 2023 Assembly elections.
Funds are transferred regularly to beneficiaries in a transparent and structured manner, he added.
"The guarantees are part of governance—a direct investment in human dignity, household stability, and economic participation, not inducement," he said.
He also accused the BJP of "hypocrisy", saying that while it criticises Karnataka’s schemes as "freebies", it rolls out similar programmes in states it governs.
"The Karnataka model has set a benchmark for the country. What is deeply concerning, however, is the ECI’s selective approach," Siddaramaiah added.
