Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka.
Credit: DH Photo
Belagavi: Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka on Thursday asked the government to apologize to the Panchamasali Lingayat community for the December 10 lathicharge. He also sought withdrawal of criminal cases and action against police officers responsible. Ashoka also sought a judicial probe into the police action that was ordered.
Learnt from SMK to dress better: DKS
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar told the Assembly on Thursday that it was S M Krishna who taught him style. “I used to wear loose clothes. One day, he got his friend R T Narayan to stitch up some good dresses for me. He even got a tailor to come from Mumbai. That’s when I started wearing nicer clothes,” Shivakumar said. Shivakumar also recalled how Krishna set up the Karnataka State Beverages Corporation Ltd to end ‘seconds’ liquor sale. “Krishna’s friends from the liquor business included Mallya, J P Narayanaswamy, Adikeshavulu and Thimme Gowda. Still, he took the decision,” he said. Shivakumar also remembered Krishna for decisions on Bengaluru airport, metro and a law allowing farmers to grow sandalwood.
Increase punishment for SC/ST atrocities: Panel
The Legislature Committee for the Welfare of SC/STs has recommended increasing the quantum of punishment for offences under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The committee noted that the quantum of punishment was much lower in Karnataka when compared to states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The committee also noted that as per its recommendations, the Civil Enforcement Directorate was being provided with separate police stations in every district.
11 Bills tabled in Assembly
The Congress government on Thursday introduced a bill that seeks to replace the governor with the chief minister of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) University. The chancellor will appoint the vice-chancellor from a panel of three persons suggested by the search committee. The other bills include one to regulate tourism ropeways in the state, another to increase the punishment for negligence towards open borewells, and one to protect the interests of depositors among others. As many as 11 bills were tabled.