Siddaramaiah gets Rahul Gandhi’s approval for Ahinda Convention in Karnataka

News Network
February 17, 2021

Bengaluru, Feb 17: Opposition leader in the Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah has reportedly got Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s nod for his planned Ahinda (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) convention.

It was such a convention more than a decade ago that led to his expulsion from the JD(S) and cemented him as the leader of these communities leading to the Congress’ win in the 2013 Assembly polls.

“Issues like the growing demand for reservations from communities and other political developments in the state came up in the meeting. When Siddaramaiah proposed his plan to organise an Ahinda convention, Rahul Gandhi said that he will support any initiative that will strengthen the party in Karnataka,” persons briefed on the meeting said.

Siddaramaiah met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Tuesday touching off speculations over the purpose of the meeting. The former CM has kept away from the public campaigns of the Kuruba community seeking ST reservation. He has always projected himself as an upholder of the interests of the backward, minority and SC/ST communities, rather than just Kurubas, the community he belongs to.

“He (Siddaramaiah) apprised the national leader about the state’s political developments and also requested to speed up the reshuffling of KPCC office-bearers in view of the impending bypolls to two Assembly seats and the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat. He also discussed his plans to intensify the farmers’ protest and take it to the gram panchayat level,” the source said.

Siddaramaiah, however, said it was just a “courtesy visit”. Asked about Kurubas’ recent campaign demanding ST status, he said, while he was all for the cause, the timing was wrong. “What was the need for (BJP minister) KS Eshwarappa and other BJP ministers to participate in a rally seeking reservation when their own party is in power both in the state and the Centre,” he asked. 

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
November 30,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 30: A 22-year-old college student succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Mangaluru today, days after she was hit by a goods tempo while crossing a road in Padubidri.

The deceased has been identified as Preksha, a resident of Nadsalu Billitota in Padubidri. The fatal incident occurred as Preksha, who was returning home after completing her examination, attempted to cross the service road towards Mangaluru. She was struck by a goods tempo approaching from the Udupi side, causing her to fall and sustain a severe head injury.

Prompt action from local residents ensured she received immediate first aid before being rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru for specialised treatment. Despite medical efforts, she passed away while undergoing care.

Preksha was a student at Karavali College, Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that she belonged to a financially vulnerable family, having previously lost her father. She is survived by her mother and brother.

A case related to the accident has been registered at the Padubidri police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision. The incident highlights the growing concerns over road safety, particularly on busy service roads, and serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of traffic accidents.

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News Network
December 2,2025

Puttur: The long-cherished dream of a government medical college in Puttur has moved a decisive step closer to reality, with the Karnataka State Finance Department granting its official approval for the construction of a new 300-bed hospital.

Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai announced the crucial development to reporters on Monday, confirming that the official communication from the finance department was issued on November 27. This 300-bed facility is intended to be the cornerstone for the establishment of the government medical college, a project announced in the state budget.

Fast-Track Implementation

The MLA outlined an aggressive timeline for the project:

•    A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the hospital is expected to be ready within 45 days.

•    The tender process for the construction will be completed within two months.

Following the completion of the tender process, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the project.

"Setting up a medical college in Puttur is a historical decision by the Congress government in Karnataka," Rai stated. The project has an estimated budget allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the medical college.

Focus on Medical Education Department

The MLA highlighted a key strategic move: requesting the government to implement the hospital construction through the Medical Education Department instead of the Health and Family Welfare Department. This is intended to streamline the entire process of establishing the full medical college, ensuring the facilities—including labs, operation theatres, and other necessary infrastructure—adhere to the strict guidelines set by the Medical Council of India (MCI). The proposed site for the project is in Bannur.

Rai also took the opportunity to address political criticism, stating that the government has fulfilled its promise despite "apprehensions" and "mocking and criticising" from opposition parties who had failed to take similar initiatives when they were in power. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has kept his word," he added.

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