BJP’s only agenda is to play the communal card to secure votes: CM

November 5, 2015

Bengaluru, Nov 5: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday took on the BJP over one of its leaders’ threat to “behead” him if he dared consume beef in Shivamogga.

“They want to behead me and play football with my head. Should such statements be accepted? What does the BJP have to say,” asked Siddaramaiah, replying to queries from reporters on the sidelines of an event in Bengaluru.

Late on Monday in Shivamogga, a local BJP?leader S?N?Channabasappa had threatened to behead Siddaramaiah if he dared to eat beef. A few BJP leaders have supported him while few others distanced themselves from the statement.

Siddaramaiah trained his guns on the BJP. “Their only agenda is to play the communal card to secure votes. They want to divide the society on communal lines. Dalit children are being burnt in BJP-ruled Haryana. We are not instigating them. Can such things be accepted,” Siddaramaiah demanded.

JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy demanded that the BJP and the Congress end the “charade” on beef consumption and focus on issues like farmers’ plight.

Attacking the BJP and its leaders for their take on beef, Kumaraswamy demanded that they impress upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi and stop beef exports worth Rs 26,000 crore annually.

Targeting Siddaramaiah, Kumaraswamy said it was not the “job” of the chief minister to discuss or debate on his food habits.

“More than 650 farmers have committed suicide in the State and the numbers continue to grow. Instead of debating eating beef and pork and the so-called growing intolerance, the chief minister should address the plight of farmers,” said the former chief minister.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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