BM Farooq issue: Mohiuddin Bava will not betray Congress, says KPCC chief

May 31, 2016

Bengaluru, May 31: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president G Parameshwara has extended moral support to Mangaluru North MLA BA Mohiudin Bava, who was warned by chief minister Siddaramaiah for failing to convince BM Farooq to refrain from contesting Rajya Sabha polls on JD(S) ticket.

Mr Bava is the Congress MLA from Mangaluru city north constituency, while his younger brother Farooq, a realtor, has jumped into the RS election fray as the JD(S) nominee.

Responding to CM's statement, Mr Parameshwara said that BM?Farooq was free to take independent decisions though he happened to be the brother of Mr Bava.

The KPCC chief, while finding no fault with Mr Bava, said that just because Farooq was Bava's brother, it didn't mean he was not free to take “independent decisions”.

Mr Parameshwara said he was certain that the Congress MLAs would not betray the party. “All our MLAs are with us, including Mr Bava. We are certain to win,” he added.

Siddu's warning

Earlier on Monday Mr Siddaramaiah warned Mr Bava at the Congress legislature party meeting held at the Vidhana Soudha on Monday that the latter will not get the party ticket to contest the next Assembly polls if his brother – JD(S) candidate Farooq – does not withdraw from the fray.

The Congress legislature party meeting was convened to introduce the party's candidates for the Rajya Sabha and the Legislative Council polls.

Angered by Farooq's move, Siddaramaiah took Bava to task at the party meeting. When the MLA tried to wash his hands of saying he had nothing to do with his brother's decision, the chief minister curtly retorted asking him why he had recently approached him seeking clearance of Farooq's wind-energy project if he had nothing to do with his brother's affairs.

“The party has been facing embarrassment because of you and your brother. You should ensure that he (Farooq) withdraws. Otherwise, the party will not give you the ticket to contest in the next polls (2018 assembly polls),” sources quoted Siddaramaiah as saying at the meeting.

The Congress would not find it difficult to get its first two candidates – Oscar Fernandes and Jairam Ramesh – getting elected. But the third candidate – K?C?Ramamurthy – would have to get non-Congress votes to win. Sources said the Congress leaders had told Mr Bava that his brother should back out in the interest of his political career. They even went to the extent of accusing him of joining hands with the JD(S) to embarrass the Congress in the Rajya Sabha polls.

Also Read: CM takes on MLA Bava over BM Farooq contesting RS polls on JD(S) ticket

Comments

Dear Saleem , brief here about Mangalore north and south, type of nonsense word use only CongRss always.

@shamshuddin

What is selfish here?? Don't comment nonsense sitting in dammam, come to mangalore north and see what are the progress done by our mla.

MR. BAWA READY TO GO BACK HOME

Good to know Katipalla and Krishnapura will have one MLA and a MP.

Selfish MLA. never thinks about his own party , even if he get ticket for 2018 , he cant win.

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Respiratory illnesses rise in Karnataka’s capital as air quality deteriorates

News Network

February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

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