Karnataka okays new caste survey amid internal, external political heat
The Karnataka Cabinet has approved a fresh caste-based
social and educational survey
to be completed within 90 days, citing discrepancies in the 2015 survey. The earlier report, conducted during Siddaramaiah's previous term, was made public in April this year, triggering opposition from dominant Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, who claimed undercounting.
The controversy put the Congress government in a tight spot, especially after gaining Lingayat support in the 2023 Assembly polls. The report stalled in successive cabinet meetings until a decision was taken after consultations with top Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.
Though the move offers temporary relief to the state government, questions remain over the necessity of a new survey, especially after the Centre's announcement of a
national caste census
.
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Indian Express
34 minutes ago
- Indian Express
‘CM Omar has not delivered': AAP's lone J&K MLA withdraws support to NC govt
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s lone MLA in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Mehraj Malik, has withdrawn his support to the National Conference-led government in the Union Territory (UT), citing its 'failure' to serve the public over the last nine months it has been in office. Late on Saturday, the 37-year-old firebrand AAP legislator took to social media to announce his withdrawal of support. 'I, Mehraj Malik, MLA from Doda, hereby withdraw my support to the NC in the government coalition. This decision has been taken in the best interest of my people of J&K, whose trust and welfare will always be my top priority,' he said in a post on X. Malik, in another post on X, accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his government of allegedly failing to deliver, pointing out that 'genuine public service required commitment not justification'. '(AAP national convener and former Delhi CM Arvind) Kejriwal ji resigned after 49 days (in 2013) when he couldn't serve the people the way he wanted. Omar Abdullah ji has been in power for over nine months, yet hasn't delivered anything – not because he can't, but because he won't. Public service demands intent, not excuses,' Malik said. His withdrawal of support to the Omar-led government, however, does not pose any threat to it, given that the government already has the support of 52 MLAs – seven more than the majority mark – in the 90-member J&K Assembly. A challenge for the government now would be managing the outspoken AAP leader on the floor of the Assembly, from where he has frequently taken on both the J&K government and the BJP-led Centre. During the Budget Session earlier this year, Malik had been highly critical of the Opposition BJP and the ex-CM Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of alleged 'rampant corruption' and causing the downgrade of the erstwhile J&K state to a UT. However, he may now have to ensure a working relationship with the BJP and the PDP in case his seat in the House is shifted from the Treasury side to the Opposition benches. During the last Budget Session, he was allegedly beaten outside the Assembly over his purported remarks against former CM and late PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and for mocking a protest by the BJP members against the NC-led government. Trouble erupted when Malik was talking to some media persons, and some PDP leaders caught hold of him for his 'derogatory remarks', leading to an altercation. Just a day earlier, the AAP legislator was involved in another altercation with the same PDP leaders within the Assembly complex. The BJP legislators, who were protesting nearby, and were already angry with Malik for describing their protests as 'jamawara (crowd)', also joined in. Malik has faced issues outside the Assembly, too. In May, he was booked by the police after a doctor at the Doda Government Medical College Hospital accused him of alleged criminal intimidation and gender abuse. He was booked under sections 356 (criminal intimidation), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman), 351 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Malik had previously been critical of the functioning of hospitals in Doda, even raising the issue in the House. This was however not the first time Malik's name figured in an FIR. In his affidavit for the 2024 Assembly elections, Malik declared half a dozen FIRs registered against him for offences ranging from criminal intimidation and house trespass to promoting enmity between groups. In the Assembly elections, Malik, a postgraduate from Jammu University, became a first-time MLA when he scored the AAP's maiden victory in J&K by defeating the BJP's Gajay Singh Rana in the Doda constituency by 4,538 votes. The AAP had fought its debut election in J&K last year, winning one of the seven seats it contested with a vote share of 0.52%. Prior to the Assembly polls, Malik had won in the 2020 District Development Council elections from Doda's Kahara seat, contesting as an Independent. He then unsuccessfully contested the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency last year, again as an Independent. Locals who know Malik say that the rows he has been involved in over the years have played a key role in his rise in politics. Malik joined the AAP in 2013 – a year after he finished his postgraduation – and soon drew attention by flagging local problems such as lack of drinking water and electricity at medical facilities and poor education infrastructure. He was appointed the co-chairman of the AAP's state coordination committee in 2022. He also gained support in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, when he took to the streets with local issues. Last year, he had also spearheaded a protest against the eviction drive in Jammu's Bathindi.
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First Post
35 minutes ago
- First Post
Israel-Iran conflict: How close is Tehran to building a nuclear weapon?
Israel has said it launched Operation Rising Lion to deal a blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that the strikes are essential to 'roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival' and that Tehran could build a nuclear weapon within a few months. But how close is Iran to doing so? read more Iran currently does not have a nuclera weapon. Israel on Friday launched airstrikes on Iran. Tel Aviv started conducted 'Operation Rising Lion' in order to deal a blow to Iran's nuclear ambitions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that the operation was essential to 'roll back the Iranian threat to Israel's very survival'. 'If not stopped, Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in a very short time', Netanyahu claimed. 'It could be a year. It could be within a few months.' But how close is Iran to building a nuclear bomb? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Let's take a closer look: What do we know? Iran does not currently possess a nuclear weapon. It officially suspended its nuclear bomb program in 2003. The US and other western intelligence agencies have repeatedly said so – and have added that Iran does not seem on the pathway to making a nuclear bomb. US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard earlier this year told Congress that the US 'continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei has not authorised the nuclear weapons programme that he suspended in 2003'. However, how far away it is from being able to develop one is a different ballgame. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran committed to keeping its uranium enrichment levels at 3.67 per cent or under. This was way under the 90 per cent purity threshold required for uranium in order for Iran to actually produce a nuclear bomb. 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STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Critics point out that Israel has been saying that Iran is close to building a nuclear bomb for decades – which as of yet has still not come to pass. Kelsey Davenport, director for non-proliferation policy at the US-based Arms Control Association, told BBC that Netanyahu 'did not present any clear or compelling evidence that Iran was on the brink of weaponizing'. 'Iran has been at a near-zero breakout for months,' she added. 'Similarly, the assessment that Iran could develop a crude nuclear weapon within a few months is not new.' 'If Netanyahu was purely motivated by Iran's proliferation risk, Israel would likely have shared that intelligence with the United States and the initial attack would likely have targeted all of Iran's key nuclear facilities,' she added. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme leader of Iran, had ordered the nuclear programme suspended in 2003. AFP File They also say that Netanyahu is either trying to scupper any chances of a peace process between US and Iran or trying to save his own government – maybe even both. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Bibi's been speaking about [attacking Iran] for 40 years,' as a former senior aide Netanyahu told the Economist. Just nine countries have nuclear weapons – the US, Russia, France, China, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. Ironically, Israel is the only country in West Asia to actually have a nuclear weapon – even though it has never confirmed that it actually does. Experts put Israeli stockpile anywhere between 75 and 400 nuclear warheads. With input from agencies
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Ramesh Chennithala urges Kerala govt to curb rising costs
T'puram: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has urged the state govt urgently intervene in the market to address the issue of rising costs that are making life extremely difficult for people in Kerala. He accused the govt of trying to divert attention from the exploitation of the people by large corporates and multinational corporates (MNCs) by focusing on the Nilambur byelection. "The common man's life is becoming increasingly unbearable. The govt should stop ignoring the issue and take immediate action in the market. In Kerala, the price of coconut oil increased by Rs 70 per kg. Coconut is hard to find at a reasonable price. The price of rice rose by Rs 8 to Rs 15. The cost of all essential goods is skyrocketing. Every new batch of goods from MNCs sees a price increase. The govt is not paying attention to the market. They are creating social issues to divert public attention from the real problems," Chennithala said on Sunday. While inflation significantly decreased in India, it has doubled in Kerala, he said. "According to data from April 2025, the inflation rate in India is only 3.16%. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo However, during the same period, Kerala recorded the highest inflation rate among Indian states at 5.9%. This indicates the uncontrolled price hikes of essential goods in Kerala. The state's finance department has completely failed. Not only did the debt increase, but the finance department also failed to control the price rise," he said. The govt has always effectively intervened in the market to control price hikes in Kerala. This was achieved by supplying essential goods through Maveli stores and Supplyco outlets. However, the govt is now in a state of complete failure, unable to manage even that. The govt should focus on the fundamental issues, demanded Chennithala. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
