Latest news with #Timmapur
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Minister Timmapur launches cash deposit initiative to attract students to govt schools
Bagalkot: Provision midday meals, scholarships, fee concessions, free textbooks, other study materials and uniforms are all aimed at ensuring that children are attracted to school and get educated. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Even with all this luring, there have been instances of enrollment of students to primary schools, especially govt Kannada Primary Schools in Karnataka being poor. Several Govt Kannada Primary Schools in many villages of Bagalkot district are facing acute shortage of students, to the extent that the department of primary and secondary education is forced to think of merging some schools with other nearby schools. In villages like Uttur, Hanagandi, Shirol and others, school enrollment has been very poor. The 108 year-old Govt Kannada Primary School in Uttur is the alma mater of excise minister RB Timmapur, who is also the minister in-charge of Bagalkot district. Concerned over the fate of the century-old school where the student strength has dipped to 175, Timmapur has come out with a new scheme to ensure that the children are attracted to the school. Using his clout as the excise minister, Timmapur has roped in United Breweries (UB) Company to provide funds under corporate social responsibility (CSR) to his 'Deposit' scheme to attract the students to join the school. The scheme will be implemented in all the govt Kannada primary schools. Under the 'Deposit' scheme, Rs 2,000 will be deposited in the name of the child that gets enrolled to class 1 in govt kannada primary school. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Head master of Uttur Kannada primary school, Ashok Bagoji said UB Company has come forward to construct 20 class rooms at a cost of Rs 2 crore under CSR. 'Deposit' scheme is expected to get good response, he said. Just a few years ago, more than 400 children used to study at the Govt model school in Shirol but the strength now has come down to 205. The school development monitoring committee has decided to deposit Rs 1,000 in the name of each child getting admitted to class 1. Motivated by the minister's initiative, several teachers in other primary schools have come forward to deposit money in the name of the children being admitted. In Hanagandi, head master RL Pattar is depositing Rs 1,000 in the name of the child from his own earnings while in Alahur school, another teacher BS Aravatti has chipped into deposit money. SDMC members have also come forward to deposit money in several other schools.
NDTV
29-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Politicking Over Pahalgam
Within a week of the Pahalgam terror attack, the Congress, which had initially extended support to the government, dropped the pretence of offering unstinted backing in the fight against terror. In a series of posts on X, the party accused the Modi government of misleading the public on an "intelligence failure". Suddenly, for the Congress, a terror attack on India no longer seemed like an opportunity to unite the country. Rather than holding Pakistan accountable for the terror strike, the Congress's official handle on X questioned why the government had claimed that the Baisaran grounds - referred to as 'Ground Zero' - were closed to the public until June 2025. The party alleged that the grounds had been opened without proper security deployment or clearance. Quoting Pahalgam officials, it stated that "pony riders and tour operators claimed it remained open throughout the year". The apparent purpose of these posts was to settle a petty score by contradicting the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) claim that the Baisaran Valley was opened to tourists on April 20 without prior intimation to security forces. Intelligence officers reportedly told an all-party meeting on April 24 that the Baisaran grounds were typically accessible to tourists and Amarnath pilgrims only from June onwards. Embarrassing Comments The Congress defended its critical stance on matters of national security. All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary KC Venugopal explained that, during the all-party meeting on the Pahalgam attack, the Congress had expressed unequivocal support for the government's actions. "We'll raise some questions that the government needs to answer, but we are with the government to finish this cross-border terrorism. It's very clear that Pakistan is behind it, and in our CWC [Congress Working Committee] resolution, we directly mentioned it. We want the government to take steps, and the entire Opposition is ready to support them," he said. This statement suggested that the senior Congress leader saw no contradiction in certain remarks by party leaders and ministers that could be exploited by Pakistan. For instance, Karnataka Excise Minister RB Timmapur dismissed anecdotal evidence from survivors who claimed that their male companions were shot after their religion was identified. Similarly, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah publicly declared that there was no need for war with Pakistan over the Pahalgam attacks - a statement that caused significant embarrassment. Timmapur's Remarks Timmapur's comments appeared at variance with the party's stated position. It is hard to imagine that an untutored Timmapur would independently question whether the "perpetrators of the attack in Pahalgam even asked the name and religion of the victims". He was evidently following the Congress playbook when he insisted, "It is unfair to target a particular religion over the attack." This stance came even as the wife of a victim from Shivamogga recounted on national television how she and her son helplessly watched her husband being shot dead after the terrorists asked for his name and religion. Siddaramaiah also drew attention from Pakistani media for his controversial remark that there was "no need for war" over the Pahalgam terror attack. The state BJP dubbed him "Pakistani Ratna" for his statement. Among the Opposition, the only leader who refrained from criticising the government was Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. He rejected viewing the Pahalgam terror attack through the lens of intelligence failure, arguing that no country has foolproof intelligence. He cited the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as an example. Denying Religious Motive It wasn't just one or two Karnataka Congress leaders questioning the government about the intelligence failure on April 22. Several Karnataka ministers insisted that the terrorists did not shoot based on religion. BJP leader Arvind Bellad found it troubling that Congress leaders seemed to justify the terrorists' actions by denying any religious motive. While AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed full support for the government's stance on Pakistan, it seemed contradictory that Congress ministers like Santosh Lad and Priyank Kharge were speaking against it. Veteran Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar added his perspective, suggesting that the Pahalgam attack was a grim reminder of unresolved issues from the Partition of India and the 1971 war with Pakistan. He questioned whether Muslims in India feel "accepted, cherished, and celebrated". Aiyar also reflected on Pakistan's evolution post-Partition, particularly after the 1971 war that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Four days after the Pahalgam terror strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong message from Madhubani, Bihar. In what could be described as a war cry, he declared that the Pahalgam attackers and conspirators would be punished "beyond their imagination". RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat echoed this sentiment, emphasising that while non-violence is a core value for India, "teaching a lesson to hooligans" is equally important. Despite this, the Congress, through a series of posts on X, questioned why PM Modi had not yet visited Kashmir. The party continued to mock the Prime Minister for avoiding Islamabad's name. In this context, the party's exhortation to its leaders to adhere to the CWC resolution seems somewhat ironic. The underlying intent, however, appears to be laying the groundwork for a special Parliament session to discuss the Pahalgam attack.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Karnataka minister calls Pahalgam widow's claim 'mental fog'
BAGALKOT: A day after dismissing as 'mental fog' a Pahalgam attack widow's eyewitness account of terrorists asking her husband's religion before shooting him dead, Karnataka excise minister RB Timmapur made a dramatic U-turn on Sunday. "It's claimed that terrorists checked the religion of their victims. If it is true, how could a Muslim person also die in the attack? It's just BJP's conspiracy of politicising deaths ," Timmapur told reporters on Saturday. When pointed out that Pallavi, wife of victim Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga, had said that her husband was asked his religion before he was shot dead, Timmapur had said, "She might not have been in the best frame of mind when she said that". He had claimed that there was "no proper information" on whether terrorists singled out Hindus during the attack.
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Doubt if terrorists asked victims their religion, says excise minister Timmapur
Bagalkot: Excise minister RB Timmapur said there is "no proper information" on whether terrorists singled out Hindus to kill them during the attack in Pahalgam. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Timmapur said that even if terrorists did ask tourists their religion before shooting them dead, one should not try and make political profit from it. "The whole nation is saddened by the attack caused after an intelligence failure by the BJP govt," he said. "The Kargil war and Pulwama attack were also results of such intelligence failures. But now it's claimed that terrorists checked the religion of their victims. If it is true, how could a Muslim person also die in the attack? It's just BJP's conspiracy of politicising deaths. If it continues, we don't know where we will end up." When pointed out that Pallavi, wife of victim Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga, had said that her husband was asked his religion before he was shot dead, Timmapur said "she might not have been in the best frame of mind" when she said that. "One should also note that many Muslims saved Hindus in the incident. Terrorists have no religion; they kill innocents, whether they are Muslims or Hindus," he said. However, on Sunday, Timmapur appeared to peddle back on his remarks, saying in a statement: "This is not merely an act of terrorism but a heinous act targeting people based on their religion. Such religious profiling goes against our secular constitutional values. In this tragic time, I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs. They are not alone—we all stand united with them." He further said, "However, at this time we must also ask some critical questions. It is evident that intelligence information, which could have provided a warning of this attack, was missed. The decision to open Baisaran Valley to tourists without adequate security has given terrorists an opportunity. The Union govt must take full responsibility for this and conduct a thorough investigation. Nonetheless, now is not the time for politics; our fight against terrorism must be united. We fully support the Union govt in taking cautious, immediate, and effective actions against those responsible for this act. We need a powerful response, not just symbolism. Such cruel acts should not ignite divisions in our nation's diversity and unity. We must stand together as Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and people of all religions to rid this country of violence and protect it with coexistence".
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Think practically': Karnataka minister doubts if Pahalgam attackers asked religion
Karnataka minister RB Timmapur on Sunday claimed that he did not think it was practical for a terrorist to ask for the victim's religion before shooting, adding that a survivor claiming so 'might have lost a bit of control'. Several survivors of the horrific Pahalgam terror attack said that the terrorists asked about religion before shooting 26 people dead and injuring several others on Tuesday. 'A man who is shooting, will he ask caste or religion? He will just shoot and go. Think practically. He will not stand there, ask, and then shoot,' the Karnataka excise minister told the media. The minister said the country is upset over the heinous attack on tourists. He went on to allege that a "conspiracy" was being plotted to paint the attack as a religious issue. "I feel they didn't ask about religion when they were carrying out the terror attack. In case they did, there shouldn't be this madness of using such a statement to politicise the issue based on religion," the minister added. Timmapur went on to point out that the wife of slain Karnataka businessman Manjunath's wife Pallavi had said that Muslims saved her son. 'She said that Muslims saved her son. See, as a result of the tragedy, her mind might have lost a bit of control. But overall, if you look at it, how many Muslims have saved Hindus? If you ask me, why were Muslims killed by terrorists then?" News18 quoted him as saying. The controversy that RB Timmapur courted is the second one out of the Karnataka government in as many days about the Pahalgam terror attack. On Saturday, chief minister Siddaramaiah had said that he was 'not in favour of a war' with Pakistan. While the CM later clarified his remarks, the BJP criticised him, with the leader of the opposition even calling him 'Pakistan Ratna'. Timmapur's remarks also drew strong criticism from the BJP, with party spokesperson CR Kesavan calling them 'barbaric and wicked'. "The wicked and barbaric remarks of Congress Karnataka Minister Thimmapur have insulted the integrity of the mourning families and humiliated the courageous sacrifices of our victims who were killed in the Pakistan-backed Islamic terror attack in Pahalgam. Even in this hour of national grief, the communal Congress party, which has completely forsaken and mortgaged its conscience and soul to bigoted vote bank politics of religious appeasement, is fiddling with the politics of polarisation and division," Kesavan was quoted by ANI as saying.
