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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Priyank Kharge, Sharan Prakash Patil accused of ignoring demands of Ediga community
National president of the Arya Ediga Kendra Samiti and Peethadhipathi of Brahmashree Narayana Guru Shakti Peetha at Kardal village in Kalaburagi district Pranavananda Swami has urged Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge to lead a delegation of Ediga community leaders to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging him to consider the long-pending demands of the community. Addressing presspersons in Kalaburagi on Monday, the swamiji recalled that Mr. Kharge and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil visited the community's protest venue and expressed their solidarity when he launched an indefinite hunger strike in Kalaburagi in 2022 demanding the then BJP government to fulfill their demands. But now both Mr. Kharge and Dr. Patil have turned a deaf ear to the community's long-pending demands, he said. Their demands included lifting a ban on toddy tapping, providing two acres of land for cultivation to each Ediga family, allocating ₹500 crore funds to the Brahmashree Narayana Guru Corporation for the welfare of Ediga and Billava communities, installation of a Sri Narayana Guru statue in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, establishment of study centres in the names of Sri Narayana Guru and Hendada Marayya in the Gulbarga University and also celebrating the birth anniversary of 12th century social reformer Hendada Marayya as a State function. Accusing the Siddaramaiah-led State government of discriminating against the community by inducting only one legislator belonging to the Ediga community into the Cabinet, the seer demanded that the State government induct one more legislator from the community into the Cabinet. If the State government continues to neglect the demands of the Ediga community, prominent leaders from the community will float a new political party in the State, he said. Advice to youths Accusing political parties of misusing youths as tools of violence in the name of caste and religion to disrupt peace in society, the swamiji appealed to the youths of Ediga community to stay away from such harmful influences. He urged the youths of Ediga community to follow the ideologies of Sri Narayana Guru and contribute to society's progress.
The Hindu
31-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
RDPR Department takes up online counselling-based transfers of staff for the first time
For the first time, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department in Karnataka has taken up online counselling-based transfers to ensure transparency and efficiency. 'As per our declaration in the 2024-25 State Budget, we took up online counselling-based transfers of Grade-1 and II secretaries and second division accountants of village panchayats in 31 districts for the first time and successfully completed the process,' said RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge in an official release on Thursday. In all, the department had received applications seeking transfers from 2,697 employees, of which 1,300 eligible applications were taken up for counselling. CEOs of the zilla panchayats concerned conducted the online counselling and issued digitally signed transfer orders on the spot, the Minister explained. The counselling-based transfer was taken up in three rounds on July 25, 28, and 29-30, he said. The Minister said the online counselling-based transfer would go a long way in ensuring efficiency as well as transparency in the department's administration.
The Hindu
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Police directed to crack down on illegal activities in Kalaburagi district
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and district in-charge Priyank Kharge has instructed senior police officials to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards illegal activities and enforce the law strictly. Chairing a meeting of senior police officials at the office of the Police Commissioner here on Tuesday, Mr. Kharge directed the police to intensify crackdown on online scams, betting, matka, gambling, ganja and narcotics-related offences. He referred to reports of unlawful activities inside Kalaburagi Central Prison and asked Commissioner of Police Sharanappa Dage and Superintendent of Police Srinivasalu Addoor to visit the facility and investigate the matter thoroughly. Highlighting the gap between law enforcement and public access, especially in rural areas, Mr. Kharge emphasised the need for courteous conduct by police personnel, particularly when dealing with citizens visiting police stations for the first time. He also urged officials to strictly follow the Supreme Court directives in handling cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (PoCSO) Act. Raising concern over police interference in civil matters, Mr. Kharge said, 'There are repeated complaints that police officers are acting like middlemen in civil disputes. The police must not overstep their mandate in such cases.' He also warned of legal action against those spreading misinformation about government programmes on social media. The Minister commended the police for solving high-profile cases, including a robbery at a jewellery store and an illegal recruitment racket, and stressed that the reputation of the district depended on the efficiency of its police force. Medical Education and Skill Development Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, who also addressed the meeting, urged the police to increase night patrolling in rural areas and strengthen intelligence gathering to maintain law and order. He flagged public complaints that some are extorting money from vehicle users on the roadside and directed the police to take appropriate action. Dr. Patil also expressed concern over harassment by microfinance agents, particularly in rural areas. 'There are disturbing reports of agents lending at exorbitant interest rates and harassing families of students. Strict action must be taken in such cases,' he said. Senior legislator M.Y. Patil called for improved parking facilities around the Ganagapura Dattatreya temple, while MLA Allamprabhu Patil urged the police to address traffic congestion near SB College and the central bus stand. During the meeting, Mr. Dage and Mr. Addoor briefed the Ministers about crime control measures and public safety initiatives. Officials from the department also presented a proposal for the installation of new traffic lights at important junctions in the city, including Rashtrapati Chowk, Vallabhbhai Chowk, Sedam Circle and Humnabad Ring Road Junction. Among those present were legislators Avinash Jadhav and Jagadev Guttedar, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Shantanu Sinha, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanika Sikarwar and senior police officers.
The Hindu
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Let BJP provide evidence on diversion of funds meant for SCs, STs, says Kharge
Refuting the allegation that funds allocated for the welfare of Dalits under Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) have been diverted by the Congress government, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has asked BJP leaders to provide records to prove their charge. 'Let the BJP leaders furnish detailed documents on the diversion of such funds, instead of making baseless accusation and misleading people,' Mr. Kharge told a press conference here on Monday. 'In fact, these funds were diverted for various department works during the then BJP government in the State. The former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who is now BJP MP, himself accepted it during Assembly session. But now the same BJP leaders are spreading false propaganda and attempting to criticize the Congress-led government in the State,' Mr. Kharge claimed. Mr. Kharge dared the BJP leaders to get more funds from the Central government for the welfare of Dalits and adivasis, if they are really concerned about them. He said that at least a State ruled by the BJP should receive additional funds from the Central government for the uplift of the marginalized communities. Reacting to the allegation made by the Opposition about discrimination in the allocation of development funds to constituencies represented by their MLAs, Mr. Kharge said, 'When the BJP was in power in the State, there was discrimination in releasing funds to constituencies represented by Congress MLAs.' 'They have not allocated equal grants and I have openly expressed this many times,' he claimed. Responding to a query on the shortage of urea in the State, Mr. Kharge said that Agriculture Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy met the Union Agriculture Minister urging him to supply urea to meet demand. This year, the State has not received the required quantity of fertilizer. In Kalaburagi district, farmers have achieved 100% of the sowing target and there is a demand for 500 tonnes of fertilizer. Of this demand, 200 tonnes have already been supplied from Bagalkot and the remaining (300 tonnes) will be supplied soon, he said. Mr. Kharge urged the BJP leaders to protest in Delhi and ensure that adequate fertilizer is supplied to the State. Reacting to BJP national general secretary (organization) B.L. Santhosh's objection over AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala holding meeting with Ministers in the State, Mr. Kharge asked 'Whether the BJP leaders expect Mr. Santhosh or RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale to conduct such meetings.' Expressing displeasure over the recent developments at the Central University of Karnataka, the Minister accused Central Universities of functioning like RSS Shakhas. 'Earlier, we were denied permission for organising a programme on the university campus. The university was established with the efforts of All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge to facilitate the educational development of the region but the campus is being used for RSS activities,' he claimed.
New Indian Express
16-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tur dal farmers left in lurch by Centre: Minister Priyank Kharge
BENGALURU: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge accused the Union Government of flooding the market with cheap, low-quality tur dal from other countries. Karnataka is India's top tur dal producing state. Over 40% of it comes from just one district, Kalaburagi, which is home to the GI-tagged Kalaburagi Tur. 'But once again, our farmers have been left in the lurch by the Modi government,' the minister alleged, taking to the social media platform, X. The minister stated that it is shocking that tur imports have been duty-free since May 2021, with the waiver extended till March 2026. In 2024-25 alone, over 13 lakh metric tonnes were imported and MoUs with countries like Mozambique have been signed to import another two lakh metric tonnes, he said. In 2024-25, India produced 35 lakh metric tonnes of tur, but the Union government procured less than 10% of it, the minister stated. Karnataka alone produced 10 lakh quintals, but farmers were forced to sell at Rs 6,000/quintal, well below the MSP of Rs 7,550, causing a loss to farmers. This year's MSP is Rs 8,000, but prices have crashed to Rs 6,250, nearly half of last year's rates, the minister stated. Stating that the agrarian economy reels under neglect and mismanagement, the minister slammed Union Ministers from Karnataka for not standing up for the rightful interests of the state they represent.
