Latest news with #Priyank
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Monsoon session of Karnataka legislature to begin Augt 11
The monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature will begin on August 11, with the state government likely to face a combative opposition. On Friday, the parliamentary affairs department issued orders in the name of Governor Thawaar Chand Gehlot convening the session. The BJP and JD(S) are expected to target the Congress government over the recent stampede incident during the RCB event and corruption allegations in the housing department. The ruling party, on its part, is likely to highlight its welfare schemes, particularly the Shakthi scheme offering free bus rides to women, as well as various developmental initiatives underway across the state. K'taka is positioning itself as global strategic R&D hub: Priyank Karnataka is not just India's innovation and investment capital, it is steadily positioning itself as a global strategic R&D hub, said state Minister for IT/BT Priyank Kharge on Friday. He was delivering the keynote address at the second edition of the CII Karnataka R&D Conclave 2025 held in Bengaluru. "With a deep talent pool, robust infrastructure, and progressive policy ecosystem, our state is primed to lead in high-impact research and future technologies globally. We are committed to inclusive innovation that uplifts every region and sector of Karnataka, while powering global progress," he said. According to him, to truly realise the vision, Karnataka must strengthen industry-academia partnerships, attract private investments into deep tech and emerging sectors, and create a fertile ground where ideas can scale into global solutions. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Eom
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress expels Kalaburagi block president after drugs arrest
Kalaburagi/Bengaluru: Governing Congress Monday expelled Lingaraj Kanni, president of its Kalaburagi South Block unit, following his arrest by Maharashtra police in a drug peddling case. Kanni, said to be close to rural development and panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge and Congress MLA Allamprabhu Patil, was apprehended by Thane police while allegedly attempting to sell narcotic substances. Police claimed they recovered 120 bottles of banned codeine-based syrup worth around Rs 27,000. A case was registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Bazarpeth police station, and an investigation is on. In a statement, Kalaburagi District Congress Committee, said, "Kanni has been expelled from the primary membership of Congress with immediate effect following allegations in the media that he is involved in drug peddling." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Meanwhile, BJP targeted Congress and claimed Kanni was closely associated with Priyank. Posting pictures of Priyank with Kanni, the party said on X: "The arrest of a minister's close aide and district-level Congress leader in drug activities is a testament to the moral decay of the Congress party." It questioned Priyank's anti-drug campaign in Kalaburagi, asking: "Aren't you ashamed to keep drug dealers in your circle?" Responding to BJP's remarks, Priyank said: "Congress has acted against Kanni and thrown him out of the party. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo BJP has nothing else to do, so they love to malign me in every possible way. There is no denying that the person [Kanni] holds an office-bearer post in Congress. Apparently, he was trying to peddle some cough syrup worth Rs 27,000 in Maharashtra." Priyank also questioned BJP's stance on its members facing serious allegations. "You [BJP] have people who abuse Dalits, who rape women and a POCSO accused in you party, and you don't want to talk about that... At least we are taking action. If they have guts let them penalise [MLA] Munirathna and party veteran BS Yediyurappa and then talk about me."
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Just a matter of time, says Priyank Kharge on lifting bike-taxi ban in Karnataka
Bengaluru: Amid continued debate over the recent bike-taxi ban in Bengaluru and other parts of the state, information technology minister Priyank Kharge Thursday struck an optimistic note, suggesting that the return of bike-taxi services is inevitable. Speaking at Enroute: Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) Challenge, organised by Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India along with WRI India here, Priyank said: "With bike taxis, it is just a matter of time ... we are working around it. Just because we don't have a policy doesn't mean we can stifle innovation." The minister's comments offer a ray of hope to commuters and mobility startups, hinting at the possibility of a regulatory framework that welcomes innovation instead of resisting it. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The bike-taxi ban was imposed by the transport dept with effect from June 16 following a high court directive and lack of policy framework on regulating the mode of transport, which had become popular among Bengalureans. While bike-taxi operators blamed the dept for buckling under pressure from the autorickshaw lobby, ordinary commuters questioned: "Why can't the govt come up with a new legislation that is in sync with technology-driven mobility solutions instead of sticking to archaic rules?" Mirroring commuters' sentiment, Priyank recalled the early days of online cab aggregators: "As soon as Ola and Uber became popular, we initially banned them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 500만원 코인투자금 있다면 '이것' 시작해라! 나우투자그룹 더 알아보기 Undo But they approached me and said, 'Sir, how can you ban innovation?' That's when we realised these services could actually complement our ecosystem." In fact, the minister's remarks came in response to former MP Rajeev Gowda's description of the bike-taxi ban as a regressive move. Gowda had stated: "We need to be tougher in how we deal with various lobbies and pressure groups. Nobody wants to hurt auto drivers. But on the other hand, as a city of two-wheelers, if bike taxis are working, the ban may not be a positive progressive move. It may actually be regressive."
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Priyank Kharge: Delegation will be taken to Centre urging to include Koli-Kabbaliga community in STs list
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister and Kalaburagi District in charge Priyank Kharge said that a delegation would soon be taken to the Centre urging it to include the Koli and Kabbaliga communities in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. Speaking at the inauguration of Nijasharana Ambigara Chowdaiya Raitha Bhavana in Honnakiranagi village, built at a cost of ₹50 lakh, and the foundation-laying of development works worth ₹2.4 crore, Mr. Priyank said he had already written to the Union government in this regard. 'Although our party is not in power at the Centre, we will discuss the matter with Backward Classes Welfare Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi and take a delegation to rectify the lapses pointed out by the Centre in this regard,' he said. Reiterating Congress party's commitment to ensuring economic and social justice as enshrined in the Preamble to the Constitution, Mr. Priyank said that his party, whenever came to power, made sincere efforts to uplift the most marginalised sections of society. Reaffirming his commitment to the development of the Choudadampur region, he said a statue of Ambigara Chowdaiya would be installed in a prominent location in Bengaluru. He also announced that a ₹4 crore district-level Ambigara Chowdaiya Bhavana had been completed and would be inaugurated soon in the presence of the Chief Minister and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. Terming Ambigara Chowdaiya as a true Sharana (reformer) who reflected social reality and human values through his Vachana compositions, the Minister urged the youth to understand the Sharana philosophy. 'BJP leaders are using poor youths for religious fanaticism while sending their own children abroad for education. Communities like Koli, Kabbaliga, Edigas, and Mogaveeras must remain cautious about such divisive agendas,' he added. 'BJP designs won't work' Earlier in the day, the Minister inaugurated the newly constructed Praja Soudha in Chittapur town, built at a cost of ₹18.41 crore. Speaking at the event after distributing benefits to 517 beneficiaries under various government schemes, he said that government offices must be people-friendly to ensure good governance. 'The old term 'Mini Vidhana Soudha' is being replaced with Praja Soudha to reflect the idea that administration should be closer to the people. The government belongs to the people, and their work should continue uninterrupted,' he said. Accusing the BJP of political opportunism and stoking communal divisions, Mr. Priyank said that the saffron party's experiments in Mangaluru and coastal Karnataka cannot be replicated in this region. 'This land represents harmony and inclusivity. BJP's attempts at communal politics will not work here. The BJP had politicised even the death of a youth in Bidar to create communal divide. But it didn't work,' he said,
The Hindu
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Priyank Kharge slams BJP MLC
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge launched a scathing attack on BJP MLC N. Ravikumar for his alleged derogatory remarks against Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, saying such comments reflected the misogynistic ideology espoused in the Manusmriti. 'Ravikumar is not BJP man originally. He is a product of the RSS shakha. The RSS has never believed in the Indian Constitution — it believes in the Manusmriti, a text that has historically denigrated women,' Mr. Priyank told reporters at a press conference held at the Deputy Commissioner's office in Kalaburagi on July 4. Referring to past incidents, Mr. Priyank recalled that Mr. Ravikumar had earlier made objectionable comments about the Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner. 'The court asked him to apologise in that case, but he hasn't done it so far. That only shows he stands by his remarks. Now he made derogatory remarks against Chief Secretary' in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Vidhana Soudha premises. His is dirty mind, dirty brain and dirty tongue. It is the result of training he got in RSS. This is what happens when people who should be receiving psychiatric care are sent to the Legislative Council,' he said. When asked about Mr. Ravikumar's statement that he would hang himself if proven guilty of making derogatory remarks against the Chief Secretary, Mr. Priyank responded bluntly: 'Give him a rope.' Mr. Priyank also took aim at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), challenging it to list just ten contributions it has made toward nation-building, economic equity, or social unity. 'The RSS is constructing its office with ₹300–400 crore. Where is that money coming from? If we get a majority in Parliament, we will deploy the Income Tax Department and Enforcement Directorate to investigate. If we get that power from the people, we will act against any organization which is against our Constitution, tries to break the unity of our nation, instigates conflicts between castes and sow the poisonous seed of communalism to instigate communal clashes. It is in the interest of the country,' he said. Responding to recent remarks by RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale calling for the removal of the words 'secularism' and 'socialism' from the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, Mr. Priyank pointed to four landmark Supreme Court judgments, including the S.R. Bommai case, that uphold these principles. 'Let alone Indian Constitution, which the BJP people have hardly read, even BJP constitution has 'secular' and 'socialist' words in its Article 2. Let the RSS leaders tell their BJP followers to remove them from their party constitution,' he said. On a broader historical note, the Minister accused the RSS of never participating in India's freedom movement. 'Did they raise slogans like 'Simon Go Back'? Did they participate in the Quit India Movement or the Dandi March? Which Round Table Conference had they participated in? While the Constituent Assembly was framing the Constitution, RSS activists staged 150 protests in Delhi's Ramlila Maidan demanding the Manusmriti be adopted instead. They even opposed Subhash Chandra Bose's call to join the Indian National Army and instead encouraged youth to join the British Army. And let's not forget Savarkar's multiple clemency pleas to the British and the pension he received from British government,' Mr. Priyank said.
