Latest news with #Narayanaswamy
Hans India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Mass protest planned on Aug 1 over internal reservation delay
Bengaluru: Intensifying their long-standing demand for internal reservation within the Scheduled Castes, Madiga community organisations have announced a massive state-wide protest on August 1. Former Union Minister A. Narayanaswamy declared that protestors will gather in front of Deputy Commissioners' offices across all districts to draw the state government's attention to the issue. Addressing a joint press meet at a private hotel in Bengaluru, Narayanaswamy reminded that August 1 will mark one year since Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud's ruling on internal reservation. 'If the Karnataka Cabinet fails to pass a resolution and present it in the Assembly by August 10, we will be forced to call for a Karnataka bandh,' he warned. He added that meetings with 4,000–5,000 people would be held to decide the next steps. He cautioned that the Madiga community would launch a non-cooperation movement if the government continued to delay the implementation. 'The Chief Minister himself once said that Congress lost because it failed to act on internal reservation. We will make sure history repeats itself if they betray us again,' he stated. Narayanaswamy pointed out that the Madiga community has been fighting for internal reservation for over three decades. He cited examples of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, where similar measures were successfully implemented. 'In Telangana, internal reservation was enforced in 1999, upheld by the High Court in 2004. But here, even after the Supreme Court's verdict, the Congress claims there is no need for it and denies the most marginalised their due share,' he alleged. He accused the Congress, which ruled Karnataka for decades, of repeatedly neglecting the Madiga community's rights. 'Even AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge advised the Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to go slow, yet Revanth went ahead and implemented it. Andhra's Chandrababu Naidu did it, Punjab did it, but Karnataka is dragging its feet,' he criticised. Recounting recent developments, Narayanaswamy said that when the Madigas protested in Belagavi five months ago, ministers promised implementation within three months and formed the Nagamohan Das Commission with a 40-day deadline. 'They asked for more time, but even after six months nothing has moved. The government didn't provide key political and employment data sought by the commission,' he said, accusing the state of deliberately stalling the process. Former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Govind Karjol also demanded that the state government implement internal reservation from August 16. 'This is a betrayal of Dalits. In 2023, the Congress promised this in its manifesto and during its first Cabinet meeting. But instead of delivering, they set up committees and keep extending deadlines,' Karjol alleged, adding that the Nagamohan Das Commission's requests for crucial information went unanswered. 'If the government fails to act by August 16, it will be 'implement or face mass agitation'. We will not let them bury this issue,' Karjol warned.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Owner or claimant must prove existence of policy, not insurer: Karnataka high court
Bengaluru: Karnataka high court has clarified that when an insurance policy is disputed, the burden of proof lies with the claimant or vehicle owner and not the insurance company. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The Dharwad bench of HC recently ruled that insurers can't be asked to lead negative evidence proving a policy was never issued. Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar made the observation while allowing an appeal filed by Bharati Axa General Insurance Company Ltd in a motor accident compensation case from Ballari. The case stems from an accident on Sept 2, 2011, when an autorickshaw owned by Narayanaswamy overturned, leading to the death of passenger Kanti alias Kanteppa, an electrician. Kanteppa's wife Mallamma and children sought compensation. On July 7, 2012, the motor accident claims tribunal in Ballari awarded the family Rs 5.3 lakh with 6% annual interest, holding the insurer liable based on a cover note. Both parties appealed — the claimants for higher compensation, and Bharati Axa challenging its liability. Justice Sanjeevkumar noted that the insurer produced only cancelled cover notes, which are proposals for insurance, not proof of policy. Since neither the claimants nor the owner proved the existence of an actual insurance policy or presented evidence of premium payment, the court ruled the insurer couldn't be held liable. "The insurance company isn't supposed to lead negative evidence. It's not a burden on the insurer to prove that it didn't issue a policy," the court said, pointing out that such a requirement would be illogical. Under Rule 142(2) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, cover notes are valid for 60 days as provisional contracts, but require premium payment to be converted into a full policy — a step not proven in this case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While allowing the insurer's appeal, the court also revised the compensation amount to Rs 15.5 lakh considering the deceased's occupation as an electrician earning Rs 6,000 per month, in line with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority's notional income chart. The revised sum will be paid by the vehicle owner, Narayanaswamy, along with 6% annual interest.
Hans India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
BJP launches helpline for protecting small traders' interests
Bengaluru: The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, on Saturday, announced the launch of a helpline to safeguard the interests of small traders in the state in the backdrop of row over GST Addressing a press conference at the State BJP Office, Jagannath Bhavan, in Bengaluru, the Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, has said that the BJP will launch a helpline (8884245123) from July 21 to safeguard the interests of small traders in the state. He added that street vendors and small traders had been served notices by the state government, creating confusion and fear among poor traders in the state. He criticised the Congress-led state government for failing to provide solutions or clarify what constitutes taxable income. Narayanaswamy said that as per Central government's data available with the state, traders whose annual turnover exceeded Rs 40 lakh must register and pay GST. 'Service providers with turnover above Rs 20 lakh are also liable to pay GST. However, the notices sent by the state are not valid in many cases,' he alleged. 'Traders are not tax evaders or criminals. They do not understand the tax rules, and the state government has failed to educate them,' he said. He urged the state government to protect the interests of the poor traders rather than intimidate them. He said that according to Central government rules, GST is applicable only if the annual turnover exceeds Rs 1.5 crore at one per cent rate. 'For street vendors to fall under GST, they must have a permanent shop and address. There is an exemption for turnover up to Rs 40 lakh and issuing notices to traders with turnover above Rs 20 lakh has created confusion,' Narayanaswamy added. He also said that apps like Paytm, PhonePe, and Google Pay used for UPI transactions were being tracked, and funds received by traders directly into bank accounts were being used to send notices. 'But it's not being verified whether the turnover exceeding limits is due to actual business or loans and other types of transactions,' he clarified. According to G.S. Prashanth, State Convener of BJP'sEconomic Cell, items like flowers, fruits, vegetables, milk, meat, paneer, bangles, and many other products are exempted from GST. 'Even if someone does Rs 10 crore turnover in these exempted items, GST registration is not mandatory. Yet, notices have been sent to such traders by the state GST department,' he alleged. He added that according to GST laws, third-party data cannot be used to issue tax notices without verification. 'Information from Paytm, PhonePe, or Google Pay must be verified first. Officials must ascertain whether the trader's goods fall under GST before issuing notices. Unfortunately, none of this due process has been followed,' Prashanth claimed. He also said: 'The state GST department has done nothing to spread awareness among street vendors about the taxes. Nearly 90 per cent of traders fall under the jurisdiction of the state GST, and only 10 per cent under Central GST. Yet, without any outreach or information sharing, the state has spread fear among small traders.' Therefore, the 14,000 notices issued to traders by the state government are illegal and unconstitutional, he asserted. Those present at the press conference were Rajya Sabha MP Lehar Singh, Chikkaballapur district president S.V. Ramachandragowda (Seakal), BJP Medical Cell state convenor Dr. K. Narayan, BJP Economic Cell state convenor G.S. Prashanth, and former BJP state spokesperson G.V. Krishna. When asked about the state government's notices to small traders demanding tax payments, State BJP Preident B.Y. Vijayendra said, 'We discussed this yesterday with party leaders. The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, which is struggling to mobilise funds for its guarantee schemes, is now intimidating street vendors by sending them tax notices.' 'While GST goes to the Centre, it is a fact that no other state in the country has seen such developments. But in Karnataka, the state government is unable to manage its finances for guarantees and development. So, under the Chief Minister's instructions, they are threatening traders andstreet vendors,' he added.
Hans India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Congress ‘digging pit' to oust Siddaramaiah: K'taka BJP
Karnataka BJP claimed on Monday that Congress is digging a pit for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the wake of the recent developments in the ruling party. Karnataka Legislative Council Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy said that just as the Congress high command dug a 'political pit' for President Mallikarjun Kharge, it is now doing the same for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Narayanaswamy said the Congress High Command is resorting to various political strategies to remove Siddaramaiah from the post of Chief Minister. He sarcastically said that the party had already dug a pit for Mallikarjun Kharge, taken him to Delhi, and sidelined him by making him a namesake president. 'Even though Kharge is the president of the AICC, whenever he speaks, he seems to refer to a different high command. Now, they've dug a pit for CM Siddaramaiah. It appears Siddaramaiah has understood the game plan of the AICC,' he added. Meanwhile, Narayanaswamy reiterated his earlier claim that the Congress government in Karnataka is anti-Dalit and is systematically ruining the Dalit community. He demanded that the government release a white paper on the justice it has delivered to officials during its tenure. He also accused the government of misusing funds earmarked for Dalit welfare - specifically SCP (Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan) and TSP (Tribal Sub-Plan) funds - for loan guarantees, thereby denying Dalits their rightful benefits. Responding to a question about CM's Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddy's remark, 'Do you want roads or guarantees?', Narayanaswamy said: 'Rayareddy is effectively speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister. He is a financial expert, an advisor to the CM, and represents both the Congress party and the government's voice. The underlying message here is: 'We've given guarantees, so no one else should question us.'' He accused the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of using Rayareddy to indirectly communicate what they could not say themselves. He demanded a response from the leaders who often project themselves on TV as champions of Dalit causes. He reminded that B.R. Ambedkar had once said the Congress was like a burning house for Dalits and had urged them to leave the party. 'This proves beyond doubt that the Congress party is anti-Dalit,' he concluded. Even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied being appointed by Congress as Chairperson of the party's National OBC Advisory Committee, the BJP has said this is a step towards ousting him from the post.
United News of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
It's a classic case of 'Siddaramaiah Hatao', claims BJP leader Narayanaswamy
Bengaluru, July 7 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is being quietly edged out of state politics through a deliberate strategy by the Congress high command, claimed Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council and senior BJP leader Chelavadi Narayanaswamy today. Calling it a 'classic case of Siddaramaiah Hatao", Narayanaswamy alleged that Siddaramaiah is being diplomatically sidelined under the pretext of national responsibilities. Speaking to reporters, Narayanaswamy pointed to Siddaramaiah's recent appointment as Chairman of the OBC Department in the All India Congress Committee (AICC), as a move designed to remove him from the state's political forefront without open confrontation. 'The moment he was made the OBC committee president, discussions began within Congress circles that he might be sent to national politics. Even Congress insiders are talking about it,' he told reporters in a press conference. Narayanaswamy argued that this is not the first time Congress has deployed such tactics. 'We saw how Mallikarjun Kharge was sidelined in a similar way when he wanted to become Chief Minister. He was sent to Delhi and given a symbolic position. When the Congress loses power, they don't look for a Dalit face—they look for who is loyal to the Gandhi family,' he stated. He warned that the move to shift Siddaramaiah out is cautious and calculated to avoid backlash. 'If Siddaramaiah is even slightly hurt, Congress will sink in Karnataka. So they are handling it softly. They say he will 'organise backward classes' nationally, but in reality, they are trying to remove him from state politics.' 'This is not empowerment, it's displacement. What real power lies in that position? He is not going to become Prime Minister or a central minister,' Narayanaswamy said, describing the national role as largely ornamental. He added that the only political benefit might go to Siddaramaiah's son. 'At most, his son may be made a minister. For Siddaramaiah himself, it's the end of the road. Some even say he'll be made a Rajya Sabha MP, but that's not power, it's political retirement,' he remarked. Narayanaswamy concluded by accusing the Congress of systematically removing strong regional leaders to centralise control. 'When they're in power, they are ignored. Once they lose power, loyalists are rewarded. That's the Congress model—and now Siddaramaiah is facing the same fate.' The BJP leader's statement has added fuel to speculation of internal power struggles within Congress and raised new questions about Siddaramaiah's future both in Karnataka and at the national level. UNI BDN RN
