All farmers suicides are not due to debts: D K Shivakumar

TNN
July 26, 2018

Bengaluru, Jul 26: Water resources and medical education minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday stirred a controversy when he claimed several farmer suicides in the state could be due to personal reasons.

“If a farmer commits suicide it is not necessarily because he was in debt,” Shivakumar said. “There can be various reasons for a farmer to commit suicide.” His comments come a day after BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa alleged that the state government has been apathetic towards the increasing number of farmer suicides in the state.

Shivakumar also cited an example to support his statement.

“Not all accidents happen because of the driver’s fault,” he said. “Some happen also because of the fault of the driver of the other vehicle.” He said the media should stop reporting farmer suicides as it only encourages more farmers to take extreme step.

His remarks sparked instant criticism from the BJP and farmer organisations, which said it exposed the ruling party’s “insensitivity” towards farmers’ plight. “How can a minister, who is the custodian of farmers’ issues make such an insensitive statement?” questioned a BJP member. “Officials or NGOs making such remarks is acceptable but not a minister.”

Mahadayi dispute

The state government is expecting a favourable verdict from the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal which it is expected to deliver its decision next month, Shivakumar said. “The government has given all the documents including photographs on the amount of water used by Goa to the tribunal to seek justice,” Shivakumar said.

The minister was speaking in the wake of a team of officials from Goa visiting Karnataka’s Kanakumbi village, located in the Malaprabha basin adjoining the state’s border, and alleging that Karnataka was already diverting and using Mahadayi water.

Rubbishing the charges, Shivakumar said Karnataka has not been utilising the water from Mahadayi and sought evidence from Goa.

Comments

Farooq
 - 
Thursday, 26 Jul 2018

D K Sivakumar wants to loot more money from farmers' loan waiving plan.

 

NB: Raid On Karnataka Minister DK Shivakumar Finds 300 Crores 'Undisclosed Income': Sources (reported in 2017)

Mohan
 - 
Thursday, 26 Jul 2018

Media reports never encourage farmers to do extreme steps. Media showing the plight. If media dont report such things then govt wont listen or wont take any action.. even govt wont know such incidents

Ramprasad
 - 
Thursday, 26 Jul 2018

Sivakumar, 95% of farmers are commiting suicide due to debts. They wont do for pleasure. Please dont utter rubbish statements

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 20,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 20: The Mangaluru City Police have issued a detailed traffic advisory ahead of the inaugural ceremony of Karavali Utsava, which will be held at the Karavali Utsava Ground on Saturday.

The festival will be inaugurated at 6:00 pm by Dakshina Kannada District Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. Cultural and public programmes will be held at the venue every evening and will continue until January 2.

According to City Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, parking of vehicles is strictly prohibited on both sides of the road from Lalbagh to Karavali Utsava Ground. Visitors are requested to park their vehicles only at designated parking areas.

To help the public, traffic signboards and parking guidance flex boards have been installed along the routes leading to the venue. The police have urged commuters and visitors to follow these instructions to ensure smooth traffic movement.

Designated Parking Locations

•    Urwa Market Ground – Cars
•    Gandhinagar Government School (near Press Club) – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Ladyhill Church parking area – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Canara School Ground, Mannagudda – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Thimmappa Hotel premises – Two-wheelers and cars
•    Scout and Guide Bhavana premises (behind Karavali Utsava Grounds) – Two-wheelers
•    Urwa Market Road – Two-wheelers
•    Hat Hill Road – Two-wheelers

The police have appealed to the public to cooperate by following traffic rules and parking guidelines to avoid inconvenience during the festival.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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