State govt will approach SC like Tamil Nadu if Governor rejects bills: Minister Priyank Kharge

Vartha Bharati | 02-04-2025 | 13:45:00 IST

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge (PTI)

Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said on Tuesday that the state government will be forced to fight against the Governor, like the Tamil Nadu government did, if the bills passed by the Karnataka government continued to be rejected by Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot.

The Governor has returned to the government the Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University Bill, which focuses on replacing the Governor as the head of universities, asking for clarifications from the government.

Addressing reporters in the city on Tuesday, Minister Kharge said the government had faced similar rejection from the Governor earlier too. It had also witnessed similar situations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where the Governor had returned bills passed in the legislature. Admitting that the government would provide the necessary clarifications to Gehlot, Kharge said that, if the Governor was still not convinced, the state government would have to approach the Supreme Court ‘like Tamil Nadu did’.

He accused the Governor of violating the legislature’s decisions and causing a feud between the Governor and the government. He also pointed out that a bill was discussed in the legislature and passed through a voting system.

Kharge, who is spokesperson for the Karnataka government, further alleged that the BJP and the RSS were using the Governor’s office as the branch office of the party and state headquarters of the Sangh. He also accused Governor Gehlot of ‘murdering’ democracy by following the orders of the Central government and overruling the decisions of the Karnataka Legislature.

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Karnataka issues nutrition advisory for govt events; recommends millets, healthier options

13-04-2026 ¦ 13-04-2026 IST

Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Monday issued a nutrition advisory recommending healthier food and beverage options at meetings, functions, and other official gatherings held in the state.

The advisory has been issued by the Department of Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Services to promote healthy dietary and nutritional habits among officials and staff, noting that food, refreshments and beverages served in government offices and official programmes are "often not aligned with nutrition standards."

The advisory recommends serving snacks such as millet-based, low-fat and low-sugar foods, fresh fruits, vegetable salads, sprouts, roasted nuts and seeds during in-house office meetings and breaks.

Beverages such as green tea, low-fat buttermilk, and locally filtered or boiled water served in glass bottles or steel flasks have also been suggested.

According to the advisory, for larger government events, conferences and exhibitions, departments have been advised to include at least one millet-based item during snacks and a minimum of two millet dishes in meals, along with local cuisine and at least one regional recipe.

It also recommends the use of brown rice instead of white rice, freshly prepared vegetable salads, and fresh fruits or low-sugar fruit juices.

If non-vegetarian food is served, it should consist of well-cooked lean or white meat, the advisory stated.

In eateries operating within government office campuses, the department has recommended millet-based foods, fresh vegetable salads, boiled pulses such as horse gram or chickpeas, and low-fat beverages.

It suggests serving food using reusable metal plates and glasses.

The advisory also recommends avoiding microwave-heated food, industrially processed food, fried snacks, high-fat or heavily spiced dishes, carbonated drinks, high-sugar fruit juices, and alcoholic beverages.

It further discourages serving milk-based tea or coffee and plastic-bottled water during official events.

“Overall, hygiene and cleanliness should be maintained while serving food and water. Local cottage industries, self-help groups, prison kitchens, nutri-gardens and others should be preferred for placing food and beverage orders,” the advisory added.