3,000 NRIs to attend Karnataka's first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Jan

August 29, 2016

New Delhi, Aug 29: Nearly 3,000 overseas Indians are expected to reach Bengaluru in January next year to take part in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) — the country's flagship event to connect with the diaspora worldwide.

Pravasi

The Ministry of External Affairs partnered with the Government of Karnataka to hold the 14th PBD convention in Bengaluru from January 7 to 9, 2017. This is the first time that the event is being held in Karnataka.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday launched the website of the 14th PBD. They also released the logo of the event, after formally announcing the date and venue of the event.

Swaraj said that nearly 3,000 overseas Indians were expected to take part in the event, which would be themed on Redefining Engagement with Indian Diaspora'. She said prospective delegates could immediately start registering themselves on the PBD portal.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address on January 8. President Pranab Mukherjee will deliver the valedictory address after conferring Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards on overseas Indians, who have contributed in their respective fields in their host countries as well as in India, Swaraj said.

“Karnataka, our partner state for the PBD, is one of the states which sends a large number of Indians abroad every year. The state is also a hub of information technology industry,” she said, explaining why the Centre partnered with Karnataka for the PBD.

Joining Swaraj in addressing a news conference at the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday, Siddaramaiah said that four lakh Kannadigas lived outside India. He also noted that 25 million people of Indian descent lived on foreign soil. “As dispersed as they are across the world, making name, fame and fortune for themselves, our diaspora is bound by the idea of Indianness,” the chief minister said.

“Karnataka has much in store to offer to every delegate in the PBD 2017. Besides meaningful conferences covering vast subjects and creating interest for the NRI investor community, we would also be showcasing art and culture of the state,” he said.

The PBD 2017 is going to be the first such convention after the government changed the format of the event, which was previously held on January 9 every year to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa in 1915. “It was felt that the large convention format was becoming an event without any substantive engagement with overseas Indians and was devoid of outcomes. The government therefore decided that the PBD convention would he held only once in two years,” Swaraj said.

The PBD 2016 was a low-key affair on January 9 when Swaraj interacted through videoconferencing with overseas Indians from the MEA headquarters in New Delhi.

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News Network
December 2,2025

DKSsiddu.jpg

Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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