
Somanna calls for fresh caste survey, demands Siddaramaiah withdraw current report
Union Minister of State for Railways and Jal Shakti V Somanna has demanded that the state government conduct a fresh survey on castes in Karnataka. He demanded Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to withdraw the the existing caste census report. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Somanna said the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey report is not done transparently.
'There is a need for a fresh survey. The state government is playing with the sentiments of people through this report,' he said.
Somanna said that while the then chairperson of the Backward Classes Commission, H Kantharaju, did not sign the report, the present report is same as the Kantharaju Commission's report.
He demanded that Siddaramaiah conduct the survey scientifically. When asked about a second airport for Bengaluru, Somanna indirectly pointed out that even New Delhi has just one airport, with three terminals. 'If all the terminals are at one place, it will be easier for passengers,' he opined.
Meanwhile, the Yeshwanthpur and Cantonment railway stations are being redeveloped. Somanna said they want four railway terminals in four directions in Bengaluru, including one near Kempegowda International Airport. The Centre will implement it.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Delhi Assembly unveils 100-day ‘report card'
NEW DELHI: The Assembly on Friday celebrated the completion of 100 days of the Eighth Delhi Legislative Assembly with a ceremonial release of its Report Card – a document that highlights its key achievements, innovations, and its 'evolving, inclusive legislative ethos.' The event was held within the Assembly premises in the presence of Union minister Harsh Malhotra who lauded the Assembly's work, describing the Report Card as 'a reflection of remarkable accomplishments' and lauding its theme of 'Virasat' and 'Vikas'. He further praised Speaker Vijender Gupta's balanced leadership, highlighting a shift in the conduct of Assembly proceedings in the first 100 days. 'In this period, not once have we witnessed the kind of disruptions that had become commonplace in the previous decade,' he remarked. 'Gupta has upheld democratic traditions, provided equal space to the Opposition, and ensured the dignity of the House.' Gupta, in his address, reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to transparency, sustainable development, and cultural preservation. He highlighted key milestones achieved during the Assembly's first 100 days, including the implementation of the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) to facilitate a paperless legislature and the laying of the foundation stone for a 500 kW solar power plant.


Deccan Herald
an hour ago
- Deccan Herald
Stampede politics, surrender barb, and a billionaire break-up!
Hello Readers! The week that went by was a tumultuous one in political circles. A victory parade turned into tragedy with political mudslinging taking precedence thereafter, a 'surrender-' barb opened up a Pandora's box while a Bharat Mata picture in Kerala's Raj Bhavan ruffled a few feathers. The week also saw the break-up of two-most influential personalities in the world of business and trade. Here's a quick recap of the week's action in DH Political Theatre.. Stampede did not take much time for ecstasy to turn into agony as Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) triumph and the resultant celebrations turned haywire last week with 11 lives lost due to a stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. But what followed after the stampede was sheer innuendo and political mudslinging which would put everyone into shame. While BJP, which is the principal opposition party in Karnataka, flayed the ruling Congress for giving the nod to victory celebrations at such a short notice despite being warned against the same by the police, the ruling party allowed the situation to go from bad to worse by suspending top police BJP flayed the Congress for turning the event into a virtual 'photoshoot' with most of their barbs aimed at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar. Videos and photos showing family members of Congress leaders posing with RCB cricketers on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha added more fuel to the fire. Regional imbalance questions also popped up as to whether the government would have accorded a similar reception to a Ranji-Trophy-winning state team instead of arranging a grand welcome with pomp and splendor for a city-based franchise club , that too in front of the Vidhana Soudha. Though the government did do some knee-jerk action by ordering a CID probe and detaining four people, including RCB's marketing manager, the damage is beyond control. The suspension of top police officials including the city pole commissioner who netizens claim have been made a scapegoat, has drawn flak from many circles. As cricket fans became cannon fodder, questions like what was the need to organise an event at such a short notice despite police warning and measures about better crowd-control management will remain open to debate for far across the Vindhyas, a political slugfest broke out between the ruling BJP and opposition Congress after Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'surrendered' following a call from US President Donald Trump during the India-Pakistan military conflict."A call came from Trump and Narendra ji immediately surrendered - history is a witness, this is the character of BJP-RSS, they always bow down," Rahul posted on taking potshots at the PM, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also recalled the bravery of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971 when she held her fort despite the US sending its Seventh Fleet. The Raebareli MP also went on say that India, under Indira Gandhi's astute leadership, held on its conviction and did not yield to US pressure at that was quick to pounce upon the 'surrender barb' and flayed Rahul saying his comments were an insult to the armed forces. While alleging that Rahul's comments undermined the success of Operation Sindoor, it also said that it makes one suspect if he is a "paid agent" of China and Pakistan. The saffron party also went on to add that it was the Nehru-Gandhi family which surrendered Indian interests. Governor vs since Arif Mohammed Khan was shunted out of Kerala Raj Bhavan, the equation between the state government and the governor had been reasonably good. But it looks as though the face off between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government and the Governor is set to resume. In a latest twist, a political row erupted after Kerala's agriculture minister P Prasad boycotted a sapling plantation function at the governor's house on World Environment Day, apparently for using a photo of Bharat Mata carrying a saffron flag. The minister's contention was that gubernatorial offices should not be used as a platform to promote religious causes, in an apparent reference to the portrait, which is mostly used in RSS 'shakhas'.Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar refused to budge though and defending it by saying that the picture of Bharat Mata could not be removed as 'we can't not do away with the ideals for which we're living'. Though the function was moved out from the central hall of Raj Bhavan to the Durbar Hall inside the state secretariat, the damage had been done by that time as the LDF government stuck to its stand of boycotting the function unless the portrait was removed. The latest row happened close on the heels of another controversy over a programme of RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy on 'Operation Sindoor' being held at the Raj Bhavan, with both Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition parties chiding Arlekar for what they called attempts to 'saffronise' the Raj Bhavan. It looks as though there is no end in sight to the Governor vs Govt face off in the left-ruled Kerala. Out of context!.'Misinterpreted', 'taken out of context' --- these are certain euphemisms that politicians usually use when they are in trouble after making controversial comments. It looks as though Tamil film icon Kamal Haasan, who nurtures political ambitions, is the latest to follow the trend. The 'Ulaganayagan' is in the eye of a storm following his comments that Kannada was born out of Tamil during an event to promote his film Thug Life, which he made in the presence of Kannada star Shiva Rajkumar. He faced heavy backlash from all quarters, with even Karnataka High Court pulling up the 70-year-old and asking him to apologise. But Kamal remained defiant and said that though there was no dispute or debate over the rich legacy of Kannada language, he would not apologise as demanded by Kannada outfits. But to calm down the issue, Haasan came up with a 'classic' justification, saying that his comments on Tamil and Kannada while talking about his association with thespian Dr Rajkumar's family have been 'misunderstood' and 'taken out of context.''It pains me that my statement at the Thug Life audio launch spoken out of gent affection for the legendary Dr Rajkumar's family, especially Shiva Rajkumar been misunderstood and taken out of context. My words were intended only convey that we are all one and from the same family and not to diminish Kannada any way,' Kamal said, in a belated attempt to douse the fire. After all, actors too can turn into good politicians, right?Billionaire break-up!.Across the globe, the week ended on high drama with dirty linen being washed in public by US President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The public feud between the two most influential figures in the United States reached a crescendo, with Trump suggesting that he may terminate US government contracts and subsidies given to Musk's companies after the latter blasted Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' as fiscally reckless and a "disgusting abomination."When Trump met privately with White House officials, there was little to suggest that the US president was close to a public spat with Musk, the billionaire businessman who helped him win a second term in office. But things took a diabolic twist as Trump called Musk volatile and the latter retaliated through a barrage of posts on his own social media platform 'X'.As the public feud between the two billionaires escalates over the tax and spending bill, the Musk-Trump break-up also sent Tesla's stock price plunging while keyboard warriors went berserk with a wave of memes and viral one-liners across the world of concludes the (political) entertainment for this week folks! We will be back next week with more. Till then, stay tuned to Stage Left,DH Newsletters Team


India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Bastar is now known for digital transformation, not fear: Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday. During the meeting, he presented the changing face of Bastar, highlighting peace and development initiatives, and also briefed the Prime Minister about the recently held Su-Shasan Tihar (Good Governance Festival) in Chhattisgarh. During his visit to Delhi, the Chief Minister also called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence, where they discussed key issues, including state development and anti-Naxal operations. The Chief Minister stated that Bastar, once known for guns and landmines, is now witnessing the rise of mobile towers -- not just as tools of communication, but as symbols of progress and trust. He informed that in the past one and a half years, the state government has established 64 new forward security camps in the region. These camps have not only enhanced the sense of safety in nearby villages but have also brought mobile network connectivity to previously remote areas. A total of 671 mobile towers have been activated so far, with 365 of them providing 4G services. This marks the beginning of a digital revolution in tribal regions. 'Today, these mobile towers signify more than just connectivity,' the Chief Minister said. 'They represent a future where children and youth in Bastar are now part of the digital world. Where earlier they had to travel to cities to prepare for exams or access education, now the same opportunities are available in their own villages through online platforms. Young people in Bastar are shaping their own futures using smartphones,' he said. He also highlighted that villages around these security camps are now receiving basic amenities like electricity, drinking water, healthcare, and education. Under the Niyad Nellanar scheme, 18 community services and 25 government welfare schemes are being implemented simultaneously in 146 identified villages. The Chief Minister briefed the Prime Minister on the success of Su-Shasan Tihar, during which hundreds of grievance redressal camps were organised. From MPs to MLAs, public representatives directly visited villages to address people's concerns. At these camps, citizens received services such as ration cards, Aadhaar updates, pensions, health check-ups, school admissions, Ayushman cards, PM Awas, and Ujjwala gas connections -- all under one roof. CM Sai also presented a detailed account of Chhattisgarh's initiatives and innovations in the field of water conservation. He emphasised that the state is working in mission mode to tackle water scarcity, combining community participation with technological interventions at every level. The Chief Minister informed the Prime Minister that due to changing climate patterns, the number of rainy days in Chhattisgarh has reduced from around 100 to just 65 annually. In response, the state has launched a unique initiative titled 'Water Conservation Initiative - Chhattisgarh's Model for a Secure Future'. As part of this model, innovative water-saving methods are being adopted in villages. Where rainwater earlier flowed away, efforts are now being made to capture and store it. Technologies like GIS mapping and the Jaldoot mobile app are being used to identify critical areas in need of water infrastructure. Most significantly, women are playing a central role in this campaign. Women's groups are actively involved in cleaning and deepening ponds, reviving traditional water bodies, and promoting water stewardship in their communities. This collective effort is helping ensure clean and sufficient water in rural areas. Chief Minister Sai also informed the Prime Minister about the Nalanda Campus -- India's first 24x7 hybrid public library. Built at a cost of Rs 18 crore, the campus includes an e-library, youth tower, health zone, and solar-powered infrastructure. Over 11,000 students have benefited so far, with more than 300 successfully clearing UPSC and CGPSC exams. He also shared details about the Prayas model, which provides free coaching to underprivileged and tribal students for national-level exams such as IIT-JEE, NEET, and CLAT. So far, 1,508 students from this initiative have secured admission in prestigious institutions across India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi appreciated the Chief Minister's efforts and assured full support from the Central Government for Chhattisgarh's development journey. (ANI)