Siddaramaiah promises to reduce VAT for hoteliers

Hubballi, Nov 21: Chief minister Siddaramaiah said that the hotel industry will move to the next level if all hoteliers maintain quality and hygiene.

Addressing the valedictory of 17th state-level convention of the Karnataka Pradesh Hotels and Refreshments Association here on Sunday, Siddaramaiah said that he had reduced the value added tax for hoteliers from 4% to 2% when he was finance minister in 2004.

"But it was raised again to 4% during the rule of another party in the state. I will try to reduce it again to 2% after discussion with officials," he said.

Admitting that the hotel industry is totally dependent on tourism, Siddaramaiah said that his government has introduced a new tourism policy which will help attract more tourists.

Subhudendra Teertha Swami of Mantralaya, district in-charge minister Vinay Kulkarni and fisheries minister Pramod Madwaraj also spoke on the occasion. MLAs C S Shivalli, Prasad Abbayya, MLC Shrinivas Mane, journalist Vishveshwar Bhat, hoteliers Madhukar Shetty, Sudhakar Shetty, Shamarao and M Rajendra were also present.

'Cases against farmers to be dropped after completing formalities'

Siddaramaiah said that the government will take a decision at a cabinet meeting to withdraw cases against farmers protesting the verdict in the Mahadayi case. He said that the police department is issuing notices to farmers as part of its duty. "However, farmers need not worry. We will withdraw cases after formalities are over," he said.

The CM said that there will be discussion on Mahadayi water disputes issue during the Belagavi session. "The government will answer all questions raised by the opposition if they cooperate," he said. Speaking about the request for funds to waive farmers' loans, he said that the state has written to the Centre, but is yet to get a reply.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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