Basavaraj Bommai

In his letter addressed to CM Bommai on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi said, "The Congress President and I briefly visited the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve where we happened to come across the painful sight of an injured baby elephant, with its mother. The little calf has a severely injured tail and trunk, and is fighting for its life."

"This is an operation conducted by our police as a preventive measure. Necessary action has been initiated with due process after informing the respective tehsildars," Chief Minister Bommai stated. The raids are not only confined to Karnataka, but have been conducted in other states as well

According to family sources, 61-year-old Umesh Katti complained of chest pain and collapsed in the bathroom at his Dollars Colony residence at 10.30 p.m. He was immediately shifted to the M.S. Ramaiah hospital. However, Umesh Katti succumbed to heart attack at the hospital.

Bengaluru currently resembles a disaster zone. Roads transformed into rivers, huge traffic snarls, students and office-goers stuck at home, power outages, and possible drinking water crisis -- all scenes straight out of a Hollywood disaster movie. Particularly affected are the IT hub regions of Electronics City, Marathahalli, Outer Ring Road, Mahadevapura, Whitefield and Bommanahalli. Heavy rains inundated these places forcing the authorities to bring out boats and rafts for rescue operations.

The state has witnessed three murders in the last nine days. Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said on Friday that the series of murders in coastal region have dented the image of the state. He said, "The ruling party is carrying out murder politics over the deaths of youths."

Bommai had taken over as Chief Minister in July 28, 2021, after B.S. Yeddyurappa had stepped down on July 26, 2021. The celebrations planned for Thursday included functions at the Vidhana Soudha, and the Janotsava at Doddaballapura. "I said I will address a press conference instead of celebrations," Bommai said on early Thursday morning at his residence.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, a relieved Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that Union Minister Amit Shah had told him that he would discuss the matter in Delhi. Amit Shah had categorically asked Bommai to leave the matter of cabinet expansion to the high command. Sources said that Amit Shah comforted Bommai on questions being raised on his (Bommai) leadership. Shah had asked Bommai to 'just focus on work', sources said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the state DG and IGP Praveen Sood made it clear on Friday that everyone should follow the law in this regard. Meanwhile, Sri Ram Sena founder Pramod Muthalik has stated that he has launched a "Azaan se Azadi" campaign in the state. He had demanded that the government should ensure implementation of the law on violation of rules while performing Azaan in mosques.

The controversy erupted after Zawahiri in a nine-minute video praised Muskan, a college student from Mandya district, for raising the slogan 'Allahu Akbar' to counter a mob chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' in the college premises at the height of the hijab crisis in Karnataka. In the video titled 'The Noble Woman of India', Zawahiri could be heard reciting a poem he composed to praise Muskan.