Karnataka

Photos and video of the incident, which took place during a religious event organised at a temple in the Garudacharpalya area of Bengaluru on Thursday, have gone viral on social media. Eshwaranandapuri Swami from the Hosadurg Kanaka Peetha, while addressing the gathering, said that there is water-logging due to heavy rains at many places in Bengaluru.

The case has been lodged in connection with Rs 6,000 cash per vote announcement made by BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi at a public rally. Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar has stated that the complaint has been submitted to file an FIR against BJP leaders and take up the investigation. "It is an attempt to influence the result of elections by defeating the objectives of democracy," he said.

The Centre banned only the Popular Front of India (PFI) but spared its political wing SDPI to ensure that the votes get divided, Siddaramaiah, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, said while addressing the 'Prajadhwani Yatra' of the Congress in Udupi. Siddaramaiah likened the PFI to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the SDPI to the BJP.

On January 4, while criticising MLAs who switched over to BJP from Congress and JD(S) leading to collapse of coalition government in the state, the Minister said, "Women who sell their bodies for livelihood are called prostitutes, but what will you call the legislators who sell themselves?".

"The parties in power only focused on vote-bank politics and never thought of improving the lives of the Banjaras residing in temporary shelters. I know how Banjara community members were made to struggle, face hardships and wait for a long time to get their rights," the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

On his arrival at Kalaburagi airport, he was accorded a warm welcome by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot and BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel. Prime Minister Modi later travelled to Kodekal village in Yadgir district along with them by special chopper.

Kalaburagi is the home turf for Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. He was defeated by the BJP in elections, the BJP wants to retain its influence in the region. Though, Lingayat vote bank is supporting BJP, a challenging situation has been created for BJP to garner votes of other communities, say BJP insiders.

PM Modi's visit to Karnataka holds significance as Assembly elections are due to be held there in May this year. The BJP is in power in Karnataka and keen to return to power there. He will distribute title deeds (hakku patra) to about 50,000 beneficiaries of newly declared revenue villages in Karnataka.

A police team from Maharashtra has also arrived in Belagavi and joined the Karnataka police team to conduct the investigation. The threat call was made to PRO thrice on Saturday by a man, who claimed himself to be Jayesh Pujari, an associate of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

The programme is being held on National Youth Day, which is celebrated on the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, to honour and cherish his ideals, teachings and contributions. The event is held every year to provide exposure to our talented youth at the national level, along with galvanising them towards nation building.