TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee appears before CBI for questioning in Bengal school jobs scam

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday morning appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its Kolkata office as part of the agency’s probe into the West Bengal school jobs scam.

Banerjee has been inside the CBI office at Nizam Palace amidst heavy security deployment in the area since 11 am answering questions posed by officers designated to probe the case.

Before appearing before the CBI this morning, Abhishek Banerjee wrote a letter to the CBI informing them he is moving the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order which allows investigative agencies CBI and ED to question him.

“At the very onset, I state that I am rather shocked to find that the notice under reference was served upon me on 19.05.2023 in the afternoon, directing me to appear before your office at Kolkata at 11.00 am on 20.05.2023, providing me less than a day’s time to comply,” he wrote.

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Mentioning that he was in the midst of a two-month-long state-wide yatra to connect with the people of West Bengal, Abhishek said he, in the interest of extending full cooperation to the CBI investigation, decided to abide by the summons.

“Please note that I have preferred a Special Leave Petition before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, thereby challenging the order dated 18.05.2023 (passed by Calcutta High Court),” He wrote that this would be “mentioned for urgent hearing before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India” on Monday or “as and when the business of the Hon’ble Court shall permit.”

Earlier in the day, the Enforcement Directorate conducted a raid at the residence of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, considered to be close to TMC top brass, in connection with its probe into the school jobs scam, an official of the central agency said. The official said the raid was carried out at the Behala house of ‘Kalighat er Kaku’ (Kalighat’s uncle) as he is popularly known.

On March 15, Bhadra appeared before the CBI for his alleged involvement in illegal appointments made in different state-run and state-aided schools in West Bengal.

While the Central Bureau of Investigation is probing the criminal aspect of the scam, the ED is looking into the money trail involved in the alleged irregularities in school recruitment.

The TMC leader, who was on the campaign trail in Bankura in western Bengal, had rushed back to Kolkata Friday night to answer the summons sent by the central investigative agency.

Also Read: CBI files charge sheet against Tamil Nadu PhD scholar arrested for sexually exploiting children

“You are hereby directed to appear before me on Saturday, at 11 am…,” a letter sent by a deputy superintendent of the CBI to Banerjee’s Harish Mukherjee road address on Friday said.

Later on Friday, the TMC leader and nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee, had in an impromptu speech delivered from atop his vehicle had, also dared the central agency to arrest him if it has any proof of corruption or misconduct against him.

“I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me,” Abhishek said at a rally in Bankura.

On Thursday, Calcutta High Court dismissed a petition filed by Banerjee seeking recall of a previous court order, which said that investigative agencies such as CBI and ED could interrogate him in the teacher recruitment scam.

The TMC leader’s name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh, an accused in the scam. Ghosh alleged that central investigating agencies were pressuring him to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

An attempt on Friday to get a division bench and, after that, the chief justice of Calcutta High Court to hear his revision plea did not yield results.

The matter may now be taken up before a vacation bench of the High Court which will sit from Monday onwards.

Reacting to CBI’s questioning, the TMC leadership wondered why the central probe agency never questioned BJP leaders.

Also Read: Former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede skips CBI questioning in Aryan Khan bribery case

Meanwhile, the CBI’s questioning of the top TMC leader kicked off a war of words between Bengal’s ruling party and state’s main opposition BJP, with the TMC leadership wondering why the central probe agency never questioned BJP leaders.

“Abhishek Banerjee and TMC have always cooperated with the CBI and ED probe. But the saffron camp is using central agencies to harass us,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

He added that on the other hand, “A person caught on camera taking money is not summoned by CBI as he has joined the BJP,” in an apparent reference to a top BJP leader who defected from TMC.

Ghosh said, similarly, “CBI or ED never summons those politicians Sudipto Sen named in the Saradha scam.” Sen was the kingpin of the Saradha chit-fund scam which rocked the state some years back.

Reacting to his remarks, the BJP dubbed the allegations as baseless.

“The BJP has nothing to do with the CBI probe. If the TMC leaders have nothing to hide, why are they so bothered about being summoned and making such allegations? And regarding the letter naming a BJP leader by Sudipto Sen, everybody knows who made Sen write the letter. If they have anything to say they can always move court,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, implying that TMC had asked Sen to name certain people.

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Finance Secretary TV Somanathan on withdrawal of Rs 2000 notes from circulation

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Reserve Bank of Indis (RBI) took a decision on May 19, on the withdrawal of Rs 2,000 bank notes from circulation. However, as it will continue as legal tender, there is no need to hit the panic button. RBI said that the exchange and deposit of Rs 2000 notes will remain open from May 23, 2023, until September 30, 2023. To clear any doubts in the minds of the people, Finance Secretary TV Somanathan spoke to CNBC-TV18 and elaborated on the need for the decision.

Below is the verbatim transcript of TV Somanathan, Finance Secretary with CNBC-TV18:

Q: Let me start by talking to you about the decision to withdraw the Rs 2,000 denomination banknotes from circulation. It will continue as a legal tender. We know that the printing of the note stopped in 2018-2019. Its circulation, as a percentage of the currency in circulation, is also down from 35 percent at its peak to about 10 percent now. So why is the pressing need for this decision at this point?

A: It’s not a pressing need, but it’s a need because this is a high denomination note. It had its utility at a particular point of time, that point of time has passed. And we have tremendous progress in digital payments, the need for such a high denomination for transactional use is no longer there. So, it’s an appropriate time to shift into lower denomination notes and increasingly into digital payments. So, the number of these notes used currently in transactions is very limited.

Q: I understand that it’s down to about 10.8 percent as of March 31, 2023. But I just want to press on this issue of transactional use, you are saying that it has served its purpose, it’s outlived its utility. It was born and came into existence on account of the demonetisation exercise of 2016, but we have gone through this period of a fair degree of volatility because of demonetisation. The economy now is going through a phase of recovery and repair. Was this the right time to go through with this because even as far as perception is concerned, it does unsettled people.

A: I don’t think there is any comparison between this and demonetisation. It continues to be a legal tender; in fact, it will have no effect on the economy. I think it is wrong to compare it with demonetisation. This continues to be a legal tender, there are several months in which to hand it over and it’s not in an unused transaction.

Also Read | RBI withdraws Rs 2,000 note from circulation — FAQs answered

Q: I am not comparing it with demonetization…

A: I do not foresee any impact on the economy.

Q: One clarification because the release from the Reserve Bank of India as well as the frequently asked question (FAQ) are not quite clear on that. I am reading from the release of the Reserve Bank of India – point number eight, it says to complete the exercise in a timebound manner and to provide adequate time to the members of public all banks shall provide deposit and or exchange facility with a Rs 2,000 banknotes until September 30, 2023. If someone was not able to avail themselves of this exchange facility till September, for whatever reasons, maybe they are not in the country, etc., what happens post that?

A: I am sure the Reserve Bank will have a proper system to handle this. I am not in a position to comment.

Q: Let me address the other issue, and this is of course an issue that the finance ministry has dealt with, and this is the imposition of the 20 percent tax collection at source (TCS) on credit card transactions. You are aware of the fact that there has been an outpouring of feedback of criticism, of the fact that this was actually opposite to the ease of doing business as well as the ease of living for the honest taxpayer. So, the government has now decided to course correct and bring in changes to the 20 percent TCS imposition – that levy will now apply only if the transactions are more than Rs 7 lakh per financial year, but why was the decision brought in in the very first place?

A: There are two aspects here. It was never the intention to tax small transactions. We had, even in yesterday’s clarification or yesterday’s FAQ, stated that we would be issuing a clarification. So, the intention has always been that all liberalised remittance scheme (LRS) transactions need to be properly accounted for – that credit cards should not be outside the LRS limits, that LRS usage beyond a certain threshold needs to be accounted for properly and to suffer a collection at source because we have seen many instances of persons whose LRS transactions far exceed their disclosed income. And these are not a few cases, these are plentiful cases. So, at the same time, we have no intention of inconveniencing people with small payments on their trips abroad and so on. And that is why the clarification has been given that it doesn’t apply to payments up to Rs 7 lakh per annum. Now, as regards the larger payments, payments that are made are tax collection at source, there are two possible cases – a person is paying taxes in accordance with his actual income, in which case this can be adjusted against advanced tax payments every quarter, it can be adjusted against tax deduction at source (TDS), which an employer will deduct, it can be adjusted against self-assessment payments. So, it should not affect, I mean, barring a slight working capital effect in the short run – that too for a very few months. It doesn’t affect those who are paying their taxes, and it doesn’t affect people whose transactions are less than Rs 7 lakh per annum. For those who are not paying their taxes if they suffer a 20 percent TCS, I think that is legitimate.

Also Read | RBI withdraws Rs 2,000 notes from circulation — but you need not worry

Q: Yes, I do not think anyone is arguing about those who are evading taxes and the impact of the implications for them. But you talked about working capital constraint and you said that it is expected to be a constraint for a few months. And of course, we are now with the clarification that has come in talking about people who are transacting more than Rs 7 lakh per annum, but that is a concern that many have expressed that it will impact working capital needs and of course a burden as far as people and businesses are concerned?

A: Let me be clear, I use the term working capital erroneously, this is not working capital, this is not business, this is gifts, this is investments abroad. This is other forms of non-business transactions. These are personal remit-—-audio disconnects—- delay in getting your TCS back, but if we are talking about large transactions, then that is something that is the necessity, we have seen huge increases in remittances, the amount of remittances under LRS particularly large remittances are becoming significant at a macroeconomic level in the balance of payments. And so, those who are either outside LRS limits through the use of credit cards, which has been happening and therefore are not accounted for within the LRS limits and those who have been incurring foreign exchange transactions without paying commensurate taxes, it is a legitimate aim to cover them and therefore, this is a reasonable step.

Q: Okay, that is as far as the clarification that has come in on the 20 percent TCS imposition. There will not be a 20 percent TCS imposition on transactions below Rs 7 lakh per annum. There is another important development that has taken and that is of course, the Reserve Bank of India’s surplus – Rs 87,400 crore coming in from the Reserve Bank of India to the government is significantly higher than last year’s number.

A: Yes, it is significantly higher than last year’s number. However, it is not something that significantly changes the overall non-tax receipts position for the year. We are not expecting any significant change in the overall receipts of the government.

Q: Yes, but that does provide ample cushion to you. And I also wanted to understand that we saw cabinet decision on May 18, and that will result in correction as far as fertilizer prices are concerned. On balance what does the food and fertilizer subsidy picture now look like?

A: It doesn’t look any different from the budget estimate on February 1.

Q: No change on account of the decision is taken?

A: No. It was a routine seasonal decision that is taken every year for the kharif season, and it determines the particular levels of subsidy over a six-month period. The amounts that were mentioned are not incremental to the budget. They are within this year’s budget figures.

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Q: You said that you cannot clarify at this point in time what happens post September 30th and I would imagine that we will see more coming from the Reserve Bank of India in terms of FAQs, but your message to people who are watching, we have been saying through the course of this evening that Rs 2,000 note continues to be a legal tender so you can transact in the Rs 2,000 note as of tomorrow, this is not demonetisation, your message to viewers who are watching.

A: This is not going to affect the economy. This is a smooth transition; you have plenty of time to go and banks will credit your accounts with these amounts, and they will exchange monies at the counter if you wish. And you have till September 30th – there is plenty of time, this is not going to cause any disruption either in normal life or in the economy.

For more details, watch the accompanying video.

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Student leader to Cabinet Minister: Rise of Karnataka Congress chief’s son Priyank Kharge in state politics

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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In a grand ceremony held at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru today, Congress leader Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka for the second time. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President DK Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister and eight MLAs as Cabinet Ministers were also sworn in by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot.

Congress President Malliakarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge has secured a ministerial berth in the newly inducted Karnataka Cabinet.

In the recently concluded Karnataka Assembly elections, Priyank Kharge won for a third consecutive term from the Chittapur seat in Kalaburagi district. He defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Manikanta Rathod by 13,640 votes.

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The rise of Priyank Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, in Karnataka politics since his student activism days has been remarkable.

In 2016, at the age of 38, Priyank Kharge became the youngest minister to be sworn into the cabinet of the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He held the portfolio of Minister of Information and Technology, BT & Tourism at that time.

Born on November 22, 1978, in Bengaluru, Priyank is not only a seasoned politician but also a professional in the field of design, specialising in graphics and animation. Prior to his political career, he worked for various corporate houses in India and abroad.

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His journey in politics began in 1998 as an activist of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of Congress. Over the years, he held several positions within the party, including State NSUI General Secretary, Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Secretary, and Vice President of Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress.

In 2013, he won his first Karnataka Assembly election from the Chittapur constituency, his father’s home turf.

Priyank Kharge’s electoral success continued in 2018 when he secured victory once again from Chittapur. He served as the Social Welfare Minister under the Congress-JD(S) coalition government led by HD Kumaraswamy.

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Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s absconding associate Yudhvir Singh aka ‘Sadhu’ arrested by NIA

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an absconding associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi over his involvement in the terrorist-gangster drug smuggling network, an official said on Saturday.

The accused was identified as Yudhvir Singh alias Sandhu, a resident of Fatehabad, Haryana.

The NIA on Saturday said an associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has been arrested in a case pertaining to a conspiracy hatched by members of criminal syndicates, based within the country and abroad, to raise funds and recruit youths to carry out terrorist acts in Delhi and elsewhere.

The arrested accused, Yudhvir Singh alias ‘Sadhu’, a resident of Fatehabad area of Haryana, was wanted in the case, said a spokesperson of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“Investigations have revealed that Yudhvir used to smuggle weapons from across the border for dreaded gangsters and criminals in various parts of India. On the directions of Bishnoi and syndicate members, he also used to harbour associates of criminal gang members and accused persons tasked with committing various kinds of crimes, including murder and extortion,” the official said.

Earlier on March 24, the NIA had charge-sheeted 14 accused in the same case under various sections of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

“NIA investigations have so far revealed that the conspiracies were being hatched in jails of different states and were being executed by an organised network of operatives based abroad,” the spokesperson said.

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Further investigations into the case and other such cases are continuing as part of the NIA’s efforts to destroy the growing nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers, and to dismantle their funding and infrastructure.

On May 17, the NIA along with Punjab and Haryana police conducted searches at 324 locations across nine states and union territories under “Operation Dhvast”, leading to the arrest of three people and recovery of a cache of arms and ammunition besides huge amounts of cash.

The operation was the sixth in a series of such crackdowns launched by the NIA following the registration of three cases since August 2022 pertaining to conspiracies related to targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits and extortion.

Notable among these cases are the sensational killing of Maharashtra builder Sanjay Biyani and international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia in Punjab last year.

(With inputs from agencies)

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All you need to know about KJ George, Siddaramaiah’s close confidant and new Karnataka minister

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah took the oath of office as the Chief Minister of Karnataka today at a ceremony held at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief DK Shivakumar as the Deputy CM and eight MLAs including, veteran leaders like Dr G Parameshwara, KH Muniyappa and KJ George as Cabinet Ministers were sworn in by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot.

The newly-inducted Karnataka Cabinet is being seen as a balancing act by the Congress leadership ensuring representation of communities and regions.

Kelachandra Joseph George, popularly known as KJ George, is a five-time MLA and he is considered as a close aide of CM Siddaramaiah and his loyalty to the Gandhi family is well known in the party circles.

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In the recently-concluded Karnataka Assembly elections, George contested from the Sarvagnanagar constituency and comfortably defeated Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate by a margin of over 50,000 votes.

It can be said that KJ George is one of the tallest Congress leaders in Karnataka and he is now synonymous with the Sarvagnanagar assembly seat. George has been elected from the same seat since the constituency came into existence.

In the 2018 assembly polls, George defeated BJP’s MN Reddy by a margin of 53,304 votes. In the 2013 assembly elections, the veteran leader defeated BJP’s Padmanabha Reddy by 22,854 votes. Before that, George won assembly polls from the Bharatinagar constituency twice.

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KJ George is an out-and-out party loyalist as he has been with Congress since the time of Indira Gandhi. He began his political career with the Youth Congress and rose to the ranks of a minister in the past Congress governments in Karnataka.

George has cultivated an image of being an astute politician and he served as a minister from 1989 onwards.

He has served as a minister in the governments of Veerendra Patil and S Bangarappa. The five-time MLA is known for being a close confidant of Siddaramaiah and he was even made home minister in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet in 2013. KJ George is credited for facilitating many of the infrastructure projects including the airport metro link.

Although most of George’s life and political career are associated with Karnataka, he has strong connections to Kerala. His family was into agriculture and had moved from Kerala to Gonikoppa in Karnataka’s Kodagu district in the 1960s.

He has come a long way since his humble beginnings as a coffee farmer’s son in Kodagu. Today George owns huge swathes of land in Bengaluru city and runs a huge business empire, the Kelachandra Group.

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Karnataka CM oath taking: National opposition leaders attend ceremony as Siddaramaiah sworn in

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Congress’ Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second term, along with state Congress President DK Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister, and eight legislators as Ministers on Saturday, exactly a week after the party swept the Assembly polls in Karnataka.

AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yachury, CPI General Secretary D Raja, NCP veteran Sharad Pawar were among the prominent politicians who were in attendance at the ceremony.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister and his Cabinet at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here, where Siddaramaiah had taken oath in 2013, when he became Chief Minister for the first time.

The Legislators who were sworn in as Ministers are: G Parameshwara, K H Muniyappa, K J George, M B Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge (AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge’s son), Ramalinga Reddy, and B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan.

Also read: Siddaramaiah takes oath as 24th chief minister of Karnataka, D Shivakumar as deputy CM

Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attended the swearing in ceremony, while former AICC President Sonia Gandhi was absent. Chief Ministers of Congress ruled states Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) and Sukhvinder Singh Sukku (Himachal Pradesh) and several top party leaders were also in attendance.

Congress chief Kharge had invited leaders of several like-minded parties for the swearing-in ceremony. The event seemed to be a show of strength for opposition parties amid unity efforts to take on the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, NCP President Sharad Pawar, National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mahbooba Mufti, actor-politician Kamal Haasan, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI General Secretary D Raja among others attended the event.

Also read: Beyond Binaries: Sidda vs DK— here’s what the new dawn of power in Karnataka has in store for Congress

A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Thursday had formally elected Siddaramaiah as its leader and Chief Minister, following which he staked his claim with the Governor, who invited him to form the government.

The 75-year old Siddaramaiah will become the Chief Minister for the second term after his earlier five-year stint from 2013; while 61-year old Shivakumar, who had earlier worked as Minister under Siddaramaiah, will also continue as the party’s Karnataka state president till Parliamentary elections next year.

(With inputs from agencies)

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IPL 2023, DC vs CSK highlights: Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi Capitals by 77 runs to qualify for the playoffs

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Siddaramaiah takes oath as 24th chief minister of Karnataka, D Shivakumar as deputy CM

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the 24th chief minister for the second term on Saturday, along with state Congress President D K Shivakumar as deputy chief minister, and eight legislators as ministers.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Chief Minister and his Cabinet at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, where Siddaramaiah had taken oath in 2013 when he became chief minister for the first time.

The Legislators who were sworn in as Ministers are: G Parameshwara, K H Muniyappa, K J George, M B Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge (AICC President M Mallikarjun Kharge’s son), Ramalinga Reddy, and B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan.

Also Read: Meet five-time MLA and new Karnataka Minister MB Patil

Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attended the swearing-in ceremony, while former AICC President Sonia Gandhi was absent. Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh), and Sukhvinder Singh Sukku (Himachal Pradesh) and several top party leaders were also in attendance.

Congress chief Kharge had invited leaders of several like-minded parties for the swearing-in ceremony. The event seemed to be a show of strength for opposition parties amid unity efforts to take on the ruling BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, NCP President Sharad Pawar, National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah, PDP chief Mahbooba Mufti, actor-politician Kamal Haasan, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI General Secretary D Raja among others attended the event.

Also Read: Congress’ balancing act: Oppressed classes given lion’s share in Karnataka Cabinet

A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Thursday had formally elected Siddaramaiah as its leader and Chief Minister, following which he staked his claim with the Governor, who invited him to form the government.

The 75-year-old Siddaramaiah will become the Chief Minister for the second term after his earlier five-year stint in 2013; while 61-year-old Shivakumar, who had earlier worked as Minister under Siddaramaiah, will also continue as the party’s Karnataka state president till Parliamentary elections next year.

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Meet five-time MLA and new Karnataka Cabinet Minister MB Patil

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Congress leader Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister of Karnataka for a second time at a ceremony held in Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru today. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar also took oath as the deputy CM along with eight MLAs as Cabinet ministers. A prominent Lingayat leader, M B Patil was also sworn in as the Cabinet Minister.

In the recently concluded Karnataka Assembly election he won from the Babaleshwar Assembly constituency. According to reports, MB Patil’s name was finalised by the Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah as the party tried to strike a balance with representation from all communities and regions in the new Cabinet.

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Who is MB Patil?

Mallanagouda Basanagouda Patil has emerged as a prominent Lingayat leader for the Congress. While traditionally aligned with the BJP, the Lingayat community showed support for the Congress in key constituencies of Central Karnataka and north Karnataka regions during the 2023 elections. Patil secured his fifth consecutive win from the Babaleshwar constituency in Bijapur district.

Born on October 7, 1964, MB Patil is the son of the late BM Patil, a well-known educationist and statesman. With a Bachelor of Engineering degree from BLDEA’s Vachana Pitamaha P G Halakatti College of Engineering, MB Patil has exhibited strong leadership qualities since his student days.

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He made his entry into politics in 1991, following the demise of his father, and has since been actively involved in social and political affairs. MB Patil has served as a member of the legislative assembly for five terms and as a member of parliament once. He held several positions in the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).

One of MB Patil’s notable achievements is his contribution to the development of irrigation in Karnataka. As the Irrigation Minister in 2013, he played a pivotal role in the state’s irrigation sector, leading initiatives such as the tank-filling project in Bijapur and Bagalkot taluks. His efforts in the Water Resources Ministry resulted in the granting of permission to increase the height of the Almatti dam. Additionally, he also implemented the largest micro-irrigation project in the state.

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MB Patil’s commitment to education and rural development is evident through his involvement with the BLDEA Association and the establishment of BLDEA University. He is currently the President of BLDEA Autonomous University.

With his extensive political experience, dedication to public service, and focus on development, MB Patil continues to play a significant role in shaping the political landscape of Karnataka.

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Hard Rock Cafe expands by introducing local flavours

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

Listen to the Article (6 Minutes)

Hard Rock Cafe, New Delhi, has expanded by introducing local flavours along with the regular classic one in its menu. Chef Cyrus, director of culinary and chef at Hard Rock Cafe, New Delhi has curated a combination of local dishes inspired by the diverse culinary offerings, the brand said.

This British-American multinational chain has recently opened doors for patrons in Connaught Place, which is considered one of the busiest commercial hub in the country, it said.

The newly opened 6,254-square-foot HRC outlet is divided into three levels – the Rock Shop, and the marquee restaurant and bar area with a stage area for live concerts and performances. The total three-floor space can accommodate 122 guests at a time and has separate coffee, dining, and bar areas with seating arrangements, it added.

The cafe has musical vibes and allows one to discover the legendary lifestyle of old-school bands and icons with antique memorabilia on the walls collected from authentic sources.

“Displayed as wall art installations, the collectibles across the floors will transport people from the fancy to the fallacy world of legendary rock stars,” it said.

Originally, Hard Rock Cafe is an American multinational chain of theme bar-restaurants, memorabilia shops, casinos and museums founded in 1971. When started, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow