Appeasement was on a high with BJP national president Amit Shah on Sunday making a bid to project the saffron party as pro-Dalit, while launching a scathing attack on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for "failing to protect Scheduled Castes."

At a scheduled castes rally here, both Shah and BJP chief ministerial face B S Yeddyurappa sought to dismiss Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs Ahinda image. Ahinda is the Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits.

"In Karnataka, the last five years have seen 9,080 cases of atrocities against Dalits, including rapes on women and over 300 murders. Dalits have become unsafe in Karnataka, and it looks like Siddaramaiah himself is heading this atrocities department," Shah said during his 15-minute address.

Shah, who is on a two-day tour of Hyderabad-Karnataka, quoted "a foreign survey" according to which he said 80% Dalits in Karnataka were without shelter. "If you give Yeddyurappa a chance, every Dalit will get housing in the next five years," he said.

The rally also aimed to consolidating right and left wings among Dalits, with both B R Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram finding a place in posters and banners the party had put up.

"I want to ask (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi - has the Congress let go of a single opportunity to humiliate Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram? It is the BJP that came out with commemorative coins, and is developing monuments for Ambedkar at his birthplace, at Nagpur, at Delhi and even in London," Shah said.

Shahs tour of Hydebarad-Karnataka comes after Gandhi toured the region earlier this month. Both leaders seem to have followed a common template: Reaching out to Dalits and tribals, interaction with farmers and businesspersons and visits to places of religious worship.

Earlier in the day, Shah also reached out to the Koli community - fishermen or labourers, to which President Ram Nath Kovind belongs - by visiting the Yanagundi ashram in Sedam.

"I hosted lunch for Dalits in my house and spent a night living in a slum. Siddaramaiah is unable to tolerate the fact that Dalits are supporting the BJP," Yeddyurappa said.

As he has done in the past, Shah attacked Siddaramaiah for corruption. "If theres a competition for corruption, Karnataka will be number one. Dalits, tribals, farmers, women and youngsters voted for Congress. All you got was a CM who wears a Rs 40-lakh watch. This government is drowning in corruption," Shah said.

Appeasement was on a high with BJP national president Amit Shah on Sunday making a bid to project the saffron party as pro-Dalit, while launching a scathing attack on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government for "failing to protect Scheduled Castes."

At a scheduled castes rally here, both Shah and BJP chief ministerial face B S Yeddyurappa sought to dismiss Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Ahinda image. Ahinda is the Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits.

"In Karnataka, the last five years have seen 9,080 cases of atrocities against Dalits, including rapes on women and over 300 murders. Dalits have become unsafe in Karnataka, and it looks like Siddaramaiah himself is heading this atrocities department," Shah said during his 15-minute address.

Shah, who is on a two-day tour of Hyderabad-Karnataka, quoted "a foreign survey" according to which he said 80% Dalits in Karnataka were without shelter. "If you give Yeddyurappa a chance, every Dalit will get housing in the next five years," he said.

The rally also aimed to consolidating 'right' and 'left' wings among Dalits, with both B R Ambedkar and Babu Jagjivan Ram finding a place in posters and banners the party had put up.

"I want to ask (Congress president) Rahul Gandhi - has the Congress let go of a single opportunity to humiliate Ambedkar and Jagjivan Ram? It is the BJP that came out with commemorative coins, and is developing monuments for Ambedkar at his birthplace, at Nagpur, at Delhi and even in London," Shah said.

Shah's tour of Hydebarad-Karnataka comes after Gandhi toured the region earlier this month. Both leaders seem to have followed a common template: Reaching out to Dalits and tribals, interaction with farmers and businesspersons and visits to places of religious worship.

Earlier in the day, Shah also reached out to the Koli community - fishermen or labourers, to which President Ram Nath Kovind belongs - by visiting the Yanagundi ashram in Sedam.

"I hosted lunch for Dalits in my house and spent a night living in a slum. Siddaramaiah is unable to tolerate the fact that Dalits are supporting the BJP," Yeddyurappa said.

As he has done in the past, Shah attacked Siddaramaiah for corruption. "If there's a competition for corruption, Karnataka will be number one. Dalits, tribals, farmers, women and youngsters voted for Congress. All you got was a CM who wears a Rs 40-lakh watch. This government is drowning in corruption," Shah said.

In clear violation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) rules, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike gave just three days for bidders to take part in a tender to print ID cards for street vendors.

Tenders for Rs 50 lakh worth work was called on February 14, asking the interested bidders to submit samples the following day. And, on the third day, the process was closed.

What the rule says

Rule 17 of KTPP stipulates a minimum time between the date of publication of the notice inviting tenders (NIT) and the last date of submission of the notice.

The rule states that there should be a minimum of 30 days for tenders up to Rs 2 crore. The rule has an exception though. The reduction in the time stipulated has to be specifically authorised by an authority superior to the tender-inviting authority, and the reasons have to be recorded in writing.

However, in the said notice inviting tenders, there is no mention of the reasons for the reduction in the timing.

Interestingly, though the civic agency has shown undue urgency in opening and closing of the tender, it has generously granted 30 days for the successful tenderer to supply 33,000 cards.

"Delivery of 33,000 ID cards does not require 30 days. Strangely, the authority has published the NIT at 6.30 pm on February 14 and asked interested tenderers to submit the sample the next day. It states the last date to submit the tender is February 17. The agency is learnt to have opened technical bids on Monday (February 19)," a businessman, who could not participate in the tender due to the nearly impossible time limit fixed, told DH.

The High Court of Karnataka had directed the BBMP to distribute ID cards to street vendors before February 21. The court had said that if the BBMP fails to do so before February 21, the officer in charge will have to pay Rs 1,000 for each day of delay.

In clear violation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) rules, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike gave just three days for bidders to take part in a tender to print ID cards for street vendors.

Tenders for Rs 50 lakh worth work was called on February 14, asking the interested bidders to submit samples the following day. And, on the third day, the process was closed.

What the rule says

Rule 17 of KTPP stipulates a minimum time between the date of publication of the notice inviting tenders (NIT) and the last date of submission of the notice.

The rule states that there should be a minimum of 30 days for tenders up to Rs 2 crore. The rule has an exception though. The reduction in the time stipulated has to be specifically authorised by an authority superior to the tender-inviting authority, and the reasons have to be recorded in writing.

However, in the said notice inviting tenders, there is no mention of the reasons for the reduction in the timing.

Interestingly, though the civic agency has shown undue urgency in opening and closing of the tender, it has generously granted 30 days for the successful tenderer to supply 33,000 cards.

"Delivery of 33,000 ID cards does not require 30 days. Strangely, the authority has published the NIT at 6.30 pm on February 14 and asked interested tenderers to submit the sample the next day. It states the last date to submit the tender is February 17. The agency is learnt to have opened technical bids on Monday (February 19)," a businessman, who could not participate in the tender due to the nearly impossible time limit fixed, told DH.

The High Court of Karnataka had directed the BBMP to distribute ID cards to street vendors before February 21. The court had said that if the BBMP fails to do so before February 21, the officer in charge will have to pay Rs 1,000 for each day of delay.

BJP national president Amit Shah, who found himself cornered when farmers threw hard questions at him, offered to publicly apologise if it was proven that the BJP-led Centre had waived loans borrowed by industrialists.

This comes in the wake of Congress president Rahul Gandhi repeatedly mounting attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that the Centre had written off loans of "Indias richest" worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore while refusing to waive farmers loans.

"Let me guarantee you, the Modi government has not waived a single rupee of loan for any industrialist," Shah told farmers during an interaction here. He even dared Rahul to prove his claims. "If he has any records, let him make it public. I am ready to answer and even apologise to the farmers of Karnataka," Shah said.

The BJP chief interacted with sugarcane farmers as part of his two-day tour of Hyderabad-Karnataka that started Sunday.

Farmers played hardball, seeking clarity on implementation of the M S Swaminathan committee report, which recommended a minimum support price (MSP) of 50% profit above the cost of production. Shah had to repeatedly clarify that the Centre had announced that the MSP will be 1.5 times the production cost of kharif and rabi crops.

Shah assured farmers that there were no plans to levy income tax on them. He also promised them that loopholes in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance) will be addressed.

Farmers interrupted Shah several times during his remarks. He pleaded to them to remain calm and was visibly irritated. At one point, he frowned: "Kya samvaad aise hota hai? (Is this how an interaction turns out?)"

Payment within 90 days

If the BJP is voted to power in Karnataka, a law will be passed mandating sugar factories to pay farmers within 90 days, Shah announced. "This has been done in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. This will be done here as well and will be announced in our manifesto," Shah said.

After 2014, the BJP has been able to form governments in many states only because farmers voted for the party, Shah said. "Even in Karnataka, the BJP will form a pro-farmer government," he said.

Wooing sugarcane farmers, Shah said the BJP-led Centre had banned import of raw sugar, imposed 14% duty on raw sugar for industrial purpose and the rate of ethanol (a byproduct) was up from Rs 11 to Rs 48.

Before the interaction, Shah visited the house of Shivaraj Basalingappa Alreddy, a farmer in Mangalagi village, who committed suicide unable to repay Rs 8 lakh he borrowed for his daughters marriage.

Shah attacked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for not implementing the Pradhan Mantri Irrigation Yojana.

"We want to irrigate 16 lakh hectares, but Siddaramaiah is scared that if he allows this scheme to be implemented, Modis popularity will double," Shah said. Further, he challenged Siddaramaiah to deny that output of pulses had doubled under the Modi regime.

Later in the evening, the Congress released a video clip from the interaction, which showed a mike being snatched from a farmer who was asking Shah a question on job creation.

BJP national president Amit Shah, who found himself cornered when farmers threw hard questions at him, offered to publicly apologise if it was proven that the BJP-led Centre had waived loans borrowed by industrialists.

This comes in the wake of Congress president Rahul Gandhi repeatedly mounting attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that the Centre had written off loans of "India's richest" worth Rs 1.3 lakh crore while refusing to waive farmers' loans.

"Let me guarantee you, the Modi government has not waived a single rupee of loan for any industrialist," Shah told farmers during an interaction here. He even dared Rahul to prove his claims. "If he has any records, let him make it public. I am ready to answer and even apologise to the farmers of Karnataka," Shah said.

The BJP chief interacted with sugarcane farmers as part of his two-day tour of Hyderabad-Karnataka that started Sunday.

Farmers played hardball, seeking clarity on implementation of the M S Swaminathan committee report, which recommended a minimum support price (MSP) of 50% profit above the cost of production. Shah had to repeatedly clarify that the Centre had announced that the MSP will be 1.5 times the production cost of kharif and rabi crops.

Shah assured farmers that there were no plans to levy income tax on them. He also promised them that loopholes in the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance) will be addressed.

Farmers interrupted Shah several times during his remarks. He pleaded to them to remain calm and was visibly irritated. At one point, he frowned: "Kya samvaad aise hota hai? (Is this how an interaction turns out?)"

Payment within 90 days

If the BJP is voted to power in Karnataka, a law will be passed mandating sugar factories to pay farmers within 90 days, Shah announced. "This has been done in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. This will be done here as well and will be announced in our manifesto," Shah said.

After 2014, the BJP has been able to form governments in many states only because farmers voted for the party, Shah said. "Even in Karnataka, the BJP will form a pro-farmer government," he said.

Wooing sugarcane farmers, Shah said the BJP-led Centre had banned import of raw sugar, imposed 14% duty on raw sugar for industrial purpose and the rate of ethanol (a byproduct) was up from Rs 11 to Rs 48.

Before the interaction, Shah visited the house of Shivaraj Basalingappa Alreddy, a farmer in Mangalagi village, who committed suicide unable to repay Rs 8 lakh he borrowed for his daughter's marriage.

Shah attacked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for not implementing the Pradhan Mantri Irrigation Yojana.

"We want to irrigate 16 lakh hectares, but Siddaramaiah is scared that if he allows this scheme to be implemented, Modi's popularity will double," Shah said. Further, he challenged Siddaramaiah to deny that output of pulses had doubled under the Modi regime.

Later in the evening, the Congress released a video clip from the interaction, which showed a mike being snatched from a farmer who was asking Shah a question on job creation.

Minister K J George on Sunday said he did not regret being the Bengaluru in-charge minister as he considers the garbage crisis in the city as a challenge.

Garbage is such a subject which people do not want to even to discuss.

But with the help of officials and citizens garbage is being segregated at the source, processed and composted, he said at the inauguration programme of a hi-tech park at 1st Block Kalyanagara in HRBR Layout.

The park, developed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), is spread across two acres of land.

The objective of the park is to educate people about rainwater harvesting and spread awareness on the importance of water. Borewell water is used for the parks maintenance.

"At present, the park does not have the rainwater harvesting mechanism. But it has many models to educate people on its importance and its method of implementation. This is the first ever theme-based park created by the authority," a BDA official said.

The BDA has developed the park at a cost of Rs one crore on the existing civic amenity site.

The members of various residents welfare associations have also associated with the authority to develop the park.

It has children play area, open-air gym, sculptures, walking track, public toilets and security guards.

The BDA has also planted 20 species of ornamental and native saplings like Tabubia, Royal Palm, Ashoka, Rain Tree, Pongamia, Mahogany and Tacoma in the park.

Minister K J George on Sunday said he did not regret being the Bengaluru in-charge minister as he considers the garbage crisis in the city as a challenge.

Garbage is such a subject which people do not want to even to discuss.

But with the help of officials and citizens garbage is being segregated at the source, processed and composted, he said at the inauguration programme of a hi-tech park at 1st Block Kalyanagara in HRBR Layout.

The park, developed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), is spread across two acres of land.

The objective of the park is to educate people about rainwater harvesting and spread awareness on the importance of water. Borewell water is used for the park's maintenance.

"At present, the park does not have the rainwater harvesting mechanism. But it has many models to educate people on its importance and its method of implementation. This is the first ever theme-based park created by the authority," a BDA official said.

The BDA has developed the park at a cost of Rs one crore on the existing civic amenity site.

The members of various resident's welfare associations have also associated with the authority to develop the park.

It has children play area, open-air gym, sculptures, walking track, public toilets and security guards.

The BDA has also planted 20 species of ornamental and native saplings like Tabubia, Royal Palm, Ashoka, Rain Tree, Pongamia, Mahogany and Tacoma in the park.

Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Mayor Bhagyavathi has been expelled from the Congress for a period of six years on the charge of anti-party activities.

Leader of the Opposition in MCC K C Shoukath Pasha said that both disciplinary and legal action had been initiated against Bhagyavathi. "We will write to the Election Commission seeking her disqualification as corporator. Thus, she will automatically lose mayors post," he said.

The post of the mayor for the fourth term was reserved for Scheduled Caste woman. Hence, only Bhagyavathi and Kamala Uday were eligible for the post. A whip was issued to all the 20 corporators asking them to vote for the partys official candidate. However, within an hour of declaring Kamala as candidate, Bhagyavathi submitted her nomination with the support of the JD(S) and the BJP members, he said.

The government should support screenings of experimental movies if it has to thrive alongside commercial cinema, veteran Kannada filmmaker P Sheshadri has said.

Speaking at an interactive session at Biffes in Orion Mall, Sheshadri regretted the fact that he could not release his movie Beti 14 months after getting certification.

"Am I making these movies for festival circuits? How do I reach the public?" he asked, noting that filmmakers increasingly find a dead-end in their attempts to beam experimental movies in television channels as there are no buyers of satellite rights for a movie without a star cast.

"The government should support us in the exhibition aspect by reserving some screens to regularly show meaningful cinema," he added.

Sheshadri spoke of nurturing an audience that could appreciate tasteful cinema. "Dont refer to experimental cinema as award winning as it seems to put off people," he said. "Instead, distinguish cinemas as good and bad."

Mohsen Gharale, director of the Iranian film Blockage, said audiences in his country prefer commercial movies like in other countries though he would like to make both commercial and socially relevant ones.

"People in China like to watch Hollywood films, and even Bollywood flicks like Secret Superstar tend to be popular. When it comes to experimental films, they are restricted to the big cities," said Chinese director Qiao Liang.

Liangs movie Crested Ibis - dealing with the thorny subject of pollution - was screened at the festival on Saturday. He said the Chinese government offers subsidy to award-winning movies.

On Sunday, a minute of silence was observed before the first show in all the screens owing to the untimely demise of superstar Sridevi, who died of a massive cardiac arrest in Dubai late on Saturday night.

Movies in lesser-known languages are increasingly finding space in film festivals and are reaching a greater audience now, said Aruna Vasudev, the Mother of Asian Cinema and founder of Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema).

Speaking at a discussion about the potential of regional films at the 10th Bengaluru International Film Festival, she said: "When I started a magazine on Asian cinema in the 80s, people asked who watches Asian movies? But interest surged. Similarly, interest is surging in regional cinema. I hope this brings the country closer."

Aruna is also surprised to see youngsters flocking in larger numbers. "I thought young people will not be interested in film festivals with smartphones and new technology, but this is not the case," she said.

Sri Lankan film critic Ashley Ratnavibhushana recalled the dominance of Hindi and Tamil movies among the sub-continental films in his country in the 80s.

"I started a festival of regional language cinema and brought veterans like Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Girish Kasaravalli. Now, people back home are familiar with regional films," he said.

Uma da Cunha, film festival advisor and casting director for movies like Lagaan, spoke on the paucity of news about regional movies. "Its challenging even now to get news on regional language films from all corners, but at least now things are looking encouraging," she added.

Mangaluru-based Abhaya Simha, whose Tulu movie Paddayi was screened in the festival, said getting visibility was a greater challenge, especially as movies in his language find it harder to compete with Kannada and Hindi industries that have bigger audiences and markets.

"Of course, we need money to make movies," Simha said. "But we need more money to get these movies to the people."

Answering a question on what the government is doing to promote regional cinema, Uma said people working to better the space and market their regional language movies must help themselves.

She noted that a Mumbai-based company, which she is part of, is working as a sales agent to get distributors for independent films in India and abroad.

The last-minute change in the topic of the discussion from Indian Regional Cinema-Online Promotion and Distribution irked members of the audience.

Disappointed viewers said they eagerly awaited the discussions since it was a new topic. But the organisers mollified them, saying the topic would be taken up at an interaction on Wednesday.

Over 3500 people including 40 rare disease patients and their caregivers, took part in the Race for 7 in Bengaluru on Sunday.

The 7,000-metre run/walk to raise awareness about 7,000 documented rare diseases, witnessed around 1500 participants from Mumbai. It is estimated that 70 million patients in India suffer from rare diseases.

"Given the high prevalence of rare diseases, the term rare is misleading and we should perhaps find another name for it," said Dr Jagdish Mittur, head of Biotechnology Facilitation Cell at Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services.

Toushif, diagnosed with pachydermoperiostosis said that the challenges faced by those who live with rare diseases are many.

The event was organised by Organization for Rare Diseases India (ORDI). It was flagged off by Kannada actors Shwetha R Prasad and Natraj S Bhat at the St Josephs Indian High School. A Boston Marathon runner and Paralympic champions who suffer from one or another kind of rare disease participated in the event.

Over 3500 people including 40 rare disease patients and their caregivers, took part in the 'Race for 7' in Bengaluru on Sunday.

The 7,000-metre run/walk to raise awareness about 7,000 documented rare diseases, witnessed around 1500 participants from Mumbai. It is estimated that 70 million patients in India suffer from rare diseases.

"Given the high prevalence of rare diseases, the term 'rare' is misleading and we should perhaps find another name for it," said Dr Jagdish Mittur, head of Biotechnology Facilitation Cell at Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services.

Toushif, diagnosed with pachydermoperiostosis said that the challenges faced by those who live with rare diseases are many.

The event was organised by Organization for Rare Diseases India (ORDI). It was flagged off by Kannada actors Shwetha R Prasad and Natraj S Bhat at the St Joseph's Indian High School. A Boston Marathon runner and Paralympic champions who suffer from one or another kind of rare disease participated in the event.

The railways has organised Sreejan, an open competition to redesign 600 stations across the country. It includes the Cantonment station in the city.

Earlier, the railways used to ask architects to come up with three designs, one of which would be selected.

Now, the open competition is being organised to ensure that inputs from the rail passengers are also taken into consideration while designing stations, according to a release from the railways.

Sreejan will be organised by the Indian Railways Development Corporation (IRDC). Besides passengers, architects, urban planners and engineers can also participate.

The designs should be submitted before March 26.

Certificates will be awarded to the winners, and the best designs will be incorporated in redesigning the stations, it stated. The railways has also invited ideas for a logo and tagline.

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 75,000.

The railways has organised 'Sreejan', an open competition to redesign 600 stations across the country. It includes the Cantonment station in the city.

Earlier, the railways used to ask architects to come up with three designs, one of which would be selected.

Now, the open competition is being organised to ensure that inputs from the rail passengers are also taken into consideration while designing stations, according to a release from the railways.

Sreejan will be organised by the Indian Railways Development Corporation (IRDC). Besides passengers, architects, urban planners and engineers can also participate.

The designs should be submitted before March 26.

Certificates will be awarded to the winners, and the best designs will be incorporated in redesigning the stations, it stated. The railways has also invited ideas for a logo and tagline.

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 75,000.

This youth from Jind district in Haryana a regular during the rallies of AICC President Rahul Gandhi across the country wants to see him as prime minister of the country. He has also taken a vow not to wear footwear until his dream is realised.

Pandit Dinesh Sharma an ardent fan of Rahul Gandhi has been following him across the country with party flags. Sharma will follow Rahul barefoot to all the venues during the second leg of Janaashirwad Yatra.

What an idea Sirji

Low turnout at the public convention at Mulawad forced the programme organisers to announce the closure of food counters for a while to make people attend the programme and later have lunch. After multiple announcements, crowds started to make their way into the pandal.

AICC General Secretary B K Hariprasad translated speech of Gandhi into Kannada to ensure that the message reaches the larger audience.

Roadshow from Mulwad to Mudhol

AICC President Rahul Gandhi staged roadshow from Mulawad in Vijayapur to Mudhol and greeted party workers and supporters at different places and villages along the route on Sunday.

As the bus carrying Rahul entered Mudhol, party supporters in huge numbers stood on both the sides of the road to greet him. A party worker, who was accompanying a girl child, succeeded in getting an entry into the bus and travelled some distance in Mudhol.

Crowd chants Modi, Modi...
Section of crowds raised slogans Modi, Modi along the route. At one place police personnel chased away those raising such slogans.

The naming ceremony of the new member of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru was held at the Bengaluru palace on Sunday.

The son of Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and Trishika Kumari has been named Adyaveer Narasimharaja Wadiyar. Yaduveer took to the social media to share the news.

Trishika Kumari gave birth to the baby at a hospital in Bengaluru on December 6. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and other members of the erstwhile royal family attended the ceremony.

The naming ceremony of the new member of the erstwhile royal family of Mysuru was held at the Bengaluru palace on Sunday.

The son of Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and Trishika Kumari has been named Adyaveer Narasimharaja Wadiyar. Yaduveer took to the social media to share the news.

Trishika Kumari gave birth to the baby at a hospital in Bengaluru on December 6. Pramoda Devi Wadiyar and other members of the erstwhile royal family attended the ceremony.

Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Mayor Bhagyavathi has been expelled from the Congress for a period of six years on the charge of anti-party activities.

Leader of the Opposition in MCC K C Shoukath Pasha said that both disciplinary and legal action had been initiated against Bhagyavathi. "We will write to the Election Commission seeking her disqualification as corporator. Thus, she will automatically lose mayors post," he said.

The post of the mayor for the fourth term was reserved for Scheduled Caste woman. Hence, only Bhagyavathi and Kamala Uday were eligible for the post. A whip was issued to all the 20 corporators asking them to vote for the partys official candidate. However, within an hour of declaring Kamala as candidate, Bhagyavathi submitted her nomination with the support of the JD(S) and the BJP members, he said.

A 45-year-old man doused himself with petrol and then put a match in front of the Mico Layout traffic police station, South Bengaluru, in the early hours of Sunday, after police refused to release his scooter seized during a drunk-driving check. He succumbed to the injuries in the Victoria Hospital hours later.

The family of Manikanta (39) alias Mani, of CK Palya near Silk Board, suggested that police harassment had driven him to commit suicide.

Manikanta lost control of his TVS Jupiter near the Shoppers Stop junction around 2.15 am. Three policemen from the Mico Layout traffic police, led by assistant sub-inspector Murthy, were checking motorists for drunk-driving and saw Manikanta falling off the bike. They rushed to the spot and asked him to take a breathalyser test, but he refused. The policemen seized his scooter and asked him to produce the documents.

Manikanta came to the police station 20 minutes later and asked the police to return the scooter. He also kept screaming about how the police were corrupt. The policemen warned him and asked him to return in the morning to get the scooter. He left but came back after some time. Carrying a bottle of petrol, he poured it on himself and set himself ablaze.

Police later learnt that the victim had borrowed the scooter from a friend named Ravi. Ravi had initially refused to lend him the scooter, saying he had to distribute wedding invites but gave in on Manikantas requests. Police informed Ravi after finding his wedding card on the scooter.

Manikanth hailed from Tamil Nadu and worked as a truck driver at a supermarket on Bannerghatta Road.

A 45-year-old man doused himself with petrol and then put a match in front of the Mico Layout traffic police station, South Bengaluru, in the early hours of Sunday, after police refused to release his scooter seized during a drunk-driving check. He succumbed to the injuries in the Victoria Hospital hours later.

The family of Manikanta (39) alias Mani, of CK Palya near Silk Board, suggested that police harassment had driven him to commit suicide.

Manikanta lost control of his TVS Jupiter near the Shoppers Stop junction around 2.15 am. Three policemen from the Mico Layout traffic police, led by assistant sub-inspector Murthy, were checking motorists for drunk-driving and saw Manikanta falling off the bike. They rushed to the spot and asked him to take a breathalyser test, but he refused. The policemen seized his scooter and asked him to produce the documents.

Manikanta came to the police station 20 minutes later and asked the police to return the scooter. He also kept screaming about how the police were corrupt. The policemen warned him and asked him to return in the morning to get the scooter. He left but came back after some time. Carrying a bottle of petrol, he poured it on himself and set himself ablaze.

Police later learnt that the victim had borrowed the scooter from a friend named Ravi. Ravi had initially refused to lend him the scooter, saying he had to distribute wedding invites but gave in on Manikanta's requests. Police informed Ravi after finding his wedding card on the scooter.

Manikanth hailed from Tamil Nadu and worked as a truck driver at a supermarket on Bannerghatta Road.

On seeing his wife Samreen Salem in the visitors room of the Parappana Agrahara central prison on Saturday, Mohammed Nalapad broke down.

The son of MLA N A Haris was involved in a brutal attack of a man, Vidwath, at a pub on February 17, and is in judicial custody after he surrendered to the Cubbon Park police.

Parappana Agrahara jail superintendent Somashekhar told DH that the prison manual allows family members to meet the undertrials, though friends and others will have to wait for a week to meet them.

While Nalapads wife visited him on Saturday, no one else turned up to meet him or his associates. Samreen married Nalapad at a grand wedding in the Bengaluru Palace in 2015.

Prison sources said Samreen met Nalapad at 11.30 am and had brought his favourite biryani. An emotional Nalapad broke down seeing his wife at the visitors gallery and apologised to her for the situation.

He then had a private chat with her for nearly half an hour, after which Samreen left the prison around 12.10 pm. Nalapad shared the biryani with his associate Arun Babu inside the prison cell.

Nalapad has been lodged at the VIP barracks in the maximum security zone, while others were put in separate cells in the B block. He is allowed to take a walk in the small garden in front of his cell any time he wants. Prison sources revealed that he prays every afternoon.

Sources also added that guards have been posted outside Nalapads cell, and other undertrial prisoners are not allowed close. They cite provisions in the prison manual to allow such facilities to an undertrial.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday approved the Pradesh Election Committee for the upcoming Karnataka elections.

Following are the members of the Committee: G Parameshwara, Siddaramaiah, Mallikarjun Kharge, D K Shivakumar, S R Patil, Dinesh Gundurao, Oscar Fernandes, M Veerappa Moily, B K Hariprasad, K H Muniyappa, Margaret Alva, Allum Veerabhadrappa, R V Deshpande, K Rehman Khan, H K Patil, K J George, Ramalinga Reddy, Ramanath Rai, H C Mahadevappa, M B Patil, M Krishnappa, B L Shankar, C M Ibrahim, Motamma, Satish Jarkiholi, Rani Satish, C S Nadagouda, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Krishna Byre Gowda, S S Mallikarjun, Santosh S Lad, P T Parameshwar Naik, Shivaraj Tangadagi, Umashree, R Roshan Baig, Ambareesh, K B Krishna Murthy, Saleem Ahmed, Narasinga Rao Suryavanshi, Basavanagouda Badarli, Lakshmi Ravindra Hebbalkar, Manjunatha H S and Pyareijan.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary incharge of Karnataka K C Venugopal, AICC secretaries incharge of the state and all MPs from Karnataka are also in the Pradesh Election Committee, according to a press release issued by the AICC here on Sunday.

Having received treatment for six days at the Intensive Care Unit of Mallya Hospital, Vidwath, the victim of a brutal pub attack, was moved to the general ward on Sunday afternoon.

Doctors treating Vidwath have said he is recovering fast. "The swelling on his face and nose has reduced by 85%," said Dr Anand K, plastic surgeon at Mallya Hospital, confirming that Vidwath is able to eat and drink normally.

The doctor also said Vidwaths vital health parameters remain in the normal range. "He is allowed to walk with crutches as he had earlier suffered a fracture on the right ankle," he added.

The doctor said that Vidwath has considerably lesser pain than what he felt while getting admitted to the hospital six days ago. He also said Vidwath will be in observation for three to four days, though a decision on releasing him cannot be made right now.

On February 17, Vidwath was beaten to a pulp by Mohammed Nalapad and his friends following an argument between him and Nalapads friends.

Nalapads father and Shantinagar MLA N A Haris was expelled from the Congress for six years, while Nalapad himself has surrendered to the Cubbon Park police.

The attack had left Vidwath with a broken nose, ribs and cheek bones.

Malleswaram witnessed a 5K run on Sunday with thousands of young people participating to create awareness about voting and to welcome millennium voters.

The Run was organised by Malleswaram 5K Run foundation in association with Namma Vote Foundation.

Para-athlete, Arjuna, and Padma Shree awardee H N Girish, Malleshwaram MLA Dr Ashwath Narayan, Administrator & Coach, Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA), Satyanarayana along with several celebrities participated in this awareness run.

Malleswaram witnessed a 5K run on Sunday with thousands of young people participating to create awareness about voting and to welcome millennium voters.

The Run was organised by Malleswaram 5K Run foundation in association with Namma Vote Foundation.

Para-athlete, Arjuna, and Padma Shree awardee H N Girish, Malleshwaram MLA Dr Ashwath Narayan, Administrator & Coach, Karnataka Amateur Athletics Association (KAAA), Satyanarayana along with several celebrities participated in this awareness run.

A 28-year-old software engineer was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her apartment on Kempegowda Road near Ramamurthy Nagar on Saturday night.

The deceased has been identified as Rashmi. Her mother Bhagyamma has filed a dowry harassment case against her husband and mother-in-law with the Ramamurthy Nagar police.

The police have booked her husband and mother-in-law under the IPC Section 304B (dowry death) and they are in the police custody.

Rashmis Husband Sathish, a native of Kolar, is a software engineer with a private firm in Mahadevapura. He married Rashmi, also from Kolar, three years ago. The couple has a one-year-old son.Rashmi had quit her job 25 days ago and was staying at home.

Sathish in his police statement on Saturday said that he was at the office and at around 12 noon his mother had gone to visit a relative. Rashmi had dropped their son at her parents house, came back home and committed suicide. The incident came to light when he came home from the office around 2 pm, the police said and added that he had stated that he had no idea as to why she committed suicide.

The victims mother, in the police statement, said Rashmi used to tell her that, her husband and mother-in-law were harassing her for small issues. Earlier also she had attempted suicide twice. On Friday night also, she spoke to her under depression and sought action against the duo, her mother said.

Last message

Before ending her life, Rashmi had sent a message to her sister Jayashree saying that her husband continued to harass her and it was her last message.

In the message she also asked Jayashree to take care of her son.

A 28-year-old software engineer was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her apartment on Kempegowda Road near Ramamurthy Nagar on Saturday night.

The deceased has been identified as Rashmi. Her mother Bhagyamma has filed a dowry harassment case against her husband and mother-in-law with the Ramamurthy Nagar police.

The police have booked her husband and mother-in-law under the IPC Section 304B (dowry death) and they are in the police custody.

Rashmi's Husband Sathish, a native of Kolar, is a software engineer with a private firm in Mahadevapura. He married Rashmi, also from Kolar, three years ago. The couple has a one-year-old son.Rashmi had quit her job 25 days ago and was staying at home.

Sathish in his police statement on Saturday said that he was at the office and at around 12 noon his mother had gone to visit a relative. Rashmi had dropped their son at her parent's house, came back home and committed suicide. The incident came to light when he came home from the office around 2 pm, the police said and added that he had stated that he had no idea as to why she committed suicide.

The victim's mother, in the police statement, said Rashmi used to tell her that, her husband and mother-in-law were harassing her for small issues. Earlier also she had attempted suicide twice. On Friday night also, she spoke to her under depression and sought action against the duo, her mother said.

Last message

Before ending her life, Rashmi had sent a message to her sister Jayashree saying that her husband continued to harass her and it was her last message.

In the message she also asked Jayashree to take care of her son.

This youth from Jind district in Haryana a regular during the rallies of AICC President Rahul Gandhi across the country wants to see him as prime minister of the country. He has also taken a vow not to wear footwear until his dream is realised.

Pandit Dinesh Sharma an ardent fan of Rahul Gandhi has been following him across the country with party flags. Sharma will follow Rahul barefoot to all the venues during the second leg of Janaashirwad Yatra.

What an idea Sirji

Low turnout at the public convention at Mulawad forced the programme organisers to announce the closure of food counters for a while to make people attend the programme and later have lunch. After multiple announcements, crowds started to make their way into the pandal.

AICC General Secretary B K Hariprasad translated speech of Gandhi into Kannada to ensure that the message reaches the larger audience.

Roadshow from Mulwad to Mudhol

AICC President Rahul Gandhi staged roadshow from Mulawad in Vijayapur to Mudhol and greeted party workers and supporters at different places and villages along the route on Sunday.

As the bus carrying Rahul entered Mudhol, party supporters in huge numbers stood on both the sides of the road to greet him. A party worker, who was accompanying a girl child, succeeded in getting an entry into the bus and travelled some distance in Mudhol.

Crowd chants Modi, Modi...

Section of crowds raised slogans Modi, Modi along the route. At one place police personnel chased away those raising such slogans.

This youth from Jind district in Haryana a regular during the rallies of AICC President Rahul Gandhi across the country wants to see him as prime minister of the country. He has also taken a vow not to wear footwear until his dream is realised.

Pandit Dinesh Sharma an ardent fan of Rahul Gandhi has been following him across the country with party flags. Sharma will follow Rahul barefoot to all the venues during the second leg of Janaashirwad Yatra.

What an idea Sirji

Low turnout at the public convention at Mulawad forced the programme organisers to announce the closure of food counters for a while to make people attend the programme and later have lunch. After multiple announcements, crowds started to make their way into the pandal.

AICC General Secretary B K Hariprasad translated speech of Gandhi into Kannada to ensure that the message reaches the larger audience.

Roadshow from Mulwad to Mudhol

AICC President Rahul Gandhi staged roadshow from Mulawad in Vijayapur to Mudhol and greeted party workers and supporters at different places and villages along the route on Sunday.

As the bus carrying Rahul entered Mudhol, party supporters in huge numbers stood on both the sides of the road to greet him. A party worker, who was accompanying a girl child, succeeded in getting an entry into the bus and travelled some distance in Mudhol.

Crowd chants Modi, Modi...

Section of crowds raised slogans 'Modi, Modi' along the route. At one place police personnel chased away those raising such slogans.

A 65-year-old woman died on Saturday evening after she fell off a moving train as she tried alighting at the KR Puram railway station.

Eshwaramma, a resident of Vijayawada, was visiting the city to attend the birthday celebrations of a relative in Marathahalli. She was travelling with her husband and daughter.

According to the police, at 4.30 pm, the train was passing through the station at a slow pace since it did not have a scheduled stop. Eshwarammas husband and daughter managed to get down. However, the train picked up speed just as the woman tried alighting. Eshwaramma fell from the coach onto the tracks below.

The KR Puram police have registered a case of unnatural death.