Protest on Twitter against Manivannan transfer
#BringBackManivannan campaign for pro-worker officer
Bengaluru: The sudden transfer of chief secretary of the Labour Department P Manivannan, who had stood up for workers during the Corona lockdown, has given rise to objection by the working class.
While IAS officer Maheshwar Rao has been given the charge in the Department, the member of the Corona Warriors team have expressed shock on hearing of Manivannan's transfer. They have even declared that they were withdrawing from any kind of Corona-related work.
The ire is being expressed even on social media, with the #BringBackManivannan trending. The labour unions are demanding a withdrawal of the transfer, warning of staging a protest otherwise.
Manivannan had recently warned of taking action against factory owners who failed to pay the April salary to their workers. The government is being accused of transferring the officer due to pressure from industrialists.
Manivannan had also objected to the government decision to pass an ordinance on the amendment to the labour law to increase the working hours from eight to 12 without consulting leaders of labour unions.
The government has said that the transfer was due to complaints received against Manivannan on irregularities in supply of grocery kits, but the protesters have pointed out that the officer had refused legislators supply of ration kits, calling this a reason for transfer.
AITUC general secretary M D Harigovind said that the industrialists had objected to opening of an online portal for workers' complaints regarding pay and demanded Manivannan's transfer. “The government has agreed to the demand,” he concurred.
The Aam Aadmi Party and the CPM too have criticised Manivannan's transfer after he had worked effectively in the state government's struggle against spread of Corona.
In Karnataka an IAS officer has been removed from current role as Principal Secretary of the Labour Department as well as the Information and Public Relations Department.
— AutoRaja (@AutoRaja1212) May 12, 2020
Reason: He was sincere & hard working@CMofKarnataka @IASassociation#BringBackCaptain #BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/CRaFaWZBeO
In Karnataka an IAS officer has been removed. He is honest and hardworking person. Karnataka government should bring them back on duty. #BringBackCaptain #BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/lfHMBpFcDN
— Kartik Sharma (@kartiks2607) May 12, 2020
Our Journey as a Corona Warrior (Citizen Volunteer) started from this tweet. From day 1 we have worked under the guidance of Capt.
— Vijay Doddaveeraiah (@vDoddaveeraiah) May 11, 2020
& we have accomplished a lot by helping public during this Pandemic. #BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/al4629fKAR
Karnataka Govt decides to transfer IAS officer who was good with communication. @mani1972ias who was Principal Secretary, Labour Department.
— Gulbarga Temperature (@GulbargaTemper1) May 11, 2020
Earlier It was @mmiask Mohammad Mohsin IAS,
&
Now It's @mani1972ias Captain Manivannan !#BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/BjMONPR4K9
Just some pictures that speak volumes. Volunteers came together only because of one honest officer's clarion call. @mani1972ias @BSYBJP @PMOIndia @narendramodi #BringBackManivannan #BringBackCaptain #CaptainManivannan pic.twitter.com/uh5HqoQ9jW
— Vasudha Varma (@VarmaVasudha) May 12, 2020
#BringBackCaptain @BSYBJP @HMOIndia
— Pradeep Kumar (@pradeepzone) May 11, 2020
this is not the right time to do such circus
We the people of KA need him in DIPR#Bringbackmanivannan@nimmasuresh @Swamy39 @bunty6510
This tweet from @mani1972ias sir is the sole reason why manyof us volunteered and having personally seen his incredible leadership I urge his reinstatement immediately.@DIPR_COVID19 @BSYBJP #bringbackmanivannan #bringbackcaptain pic.twitter.com/IgRdRqXb1I
— suhas (@suhas_azadi) May 11, 2020
In Karnataka an IAS officer has been removed from current role as Principal Secretary of the Labour Department as well as the Information and Public Relations Department.
— Divya Singh Rajput (@DivyaSinhRajput) May 12, 2020
Reason: He was sincere & hard working@CMofKarnataka @IASassociation#BringBackCaptain #BringBackManivannan pic.twitter.com/4u3SjRE6jP
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Excise scam allegation: Bhajans, sloganeering mark Opposition's overnight protest in Assembly
Bengaluru (PTI): Bhajans, religious chants, and sloganeering dominated the overnight agitation carried out by Opposition BJP and JD(S) MLAs inside the Karnataka Assembly premises.
The BJP and JD(S) MLAs have been staging protests, demanding Excise Minister R B Timmapur's resignation, since Tuesday night.
The Opposition has alleged widespread corruption in the Excise Department, saying that bribe is being demanded for issuing liquor licences.
Opposition leader R Ashoka alleged that there was a scam to the tune of Rs 6,000 crore in the department.
He also alleged that the money was being used by the ruling Congress to fund the party in the poll-bound states.
The recent trigger was the arrest of Excise Deputy Commissioner of the Bengaluru Urban District Jagadeesh Naik and two other officials by the Lokayukta sleuths, while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh on January 16.
According to Lokayukta officials, they were accused of demanding Rs 80 lakh to issue CL-7 (Hotels & Boarding Houses) and micro brewery licence.
While replying to the Opposition’s charges, the minister said that he had taken steps to reduce corruption in his department. He also said that "corruption is not a new phenomenon in my department".
Timmapur has also declined the BJP's demand for his resignation, saying no ministers during the BJP government had ever stepped down.
The BJP leaders held a demonstration on the steps outside the Assembly hall, and they later slept inside the Assembly.
Playing tambourines, the MLAs raised slogans demanding Timmapur's resignation.
They also sang devotional chants like 'Sri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram'.
The opposition MLAs also held a meeting to draw their next course of action.
In the morning, some MLAs, including BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, who represents Shikaripura Assembly constituency, did exercises and went for a walk on the Vidhana Soudha premises.
The BJP MLAs have said they will continue their agitation inside the Assembly until Timmapur resigns.
