Congress can grow only if workers are committed to its ideology: Siddaramaiah

News Network

December 29, 2020

Bengaluru, Dec 29: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah, on the eve of the Congress Foundation Day, said that the party can grow only if its workers were committed towards the ideology of the party.

"Party can grow only if its workers have a commitment towards the Indian National Congress' ideological principles like social justice, universal brotherhood, etc. Each worker should introspect about Why she/he is a Congress worker? Then there will be more clarity," Siddaramaiah tweeted.

"It is with a commitment to ensure grassroots level governance, former PM Rajiv Gandhi brought the 73rd and 74th Constitutional amendment to implement Panchayati Raj. The amendment ensured reservation to women and backward classes but @BJP4India had opposed this," he added.

He further said that his party was firm in its commitment to Social justice and reservation, but many parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party had unequivocally opposed the system of reservation.

"Basic structure of the Constitution, which is also Congress' ideology, is under threat by divisive forces through their false and diabolical narratives. It is in the hands of the Congress' party workers to ensure that the right message reaches every Indian," he added.

He further said that the party was founded to provide a platform for all Indians to voice their opinion against the oppression of the British.

"It ensured fair space to all sections of the society to present their views. The party never came into existence just for power," he added.

He also hit out at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, saying that it was founded before Independence but they still limited themselves to writing apology letters to the British and they considered pleading as patriotism.

"The Congress never stepped back due to threats by the British and fought fearlessly to ensure Independence," he added.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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