A CHARGED UP KARNATAKA POLL CAMPAIGN COMES TO AN END

Campaigning wrapped up last evening for the bitterly contested Karnataka Assembly elections, polling for which takes place tomorrow (May 10).

With stakes high and the contest close between ruling BJP and a resurgent Congress, words were exchanged, and both sides filed several complaints with the Election Commission during the course of the campaign.

The Congress mounted an aggressive campaign, banking on its substantial organisational presence in the state, strong leaders such as Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar, and the appeal of the Gandhis.

From the BJP side, the bulk of the burden was borne by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in the last one week starting April 29, held 19 mega public meetings and six roadshows. It was he who turned around the Congress’s manifesto promise of action against outfits spreading hatred, such as the Bajrang Dal, into an attack on Lord Hanuman and his devotees. The BJP then took it up as its main campaign theme for the last leg.

Again, a day before the canvassing ended, Modi sensed a “secession” threat in a Congress tweet talking about “sovereignty” of Karnataka. On the last day Monday, it was this that dominated the poll discourse.

On the last day, BS Yediyurappa sought to dispel the underlying fear in the BJP ranks that the Lingayats might vote against the party for sidelining him, the community’s old warhorse. He refuted such claims

The Congress largely managed to keep its campaign about local issues, its five “guarantees” to voters, and the BJP govt’s corruption.

The JD(S), whose only hope is to be a kingmaker in a House of 224, also ran a highly localised campaign, promising a five-fold programme called ‘Pancharatna’, focused on education, health, housing and jobs.

STEP UP RELIEF, REHAB IN MANIPUR: SC

Expressing serious concern over the loss of life and property during the recent violence in Manipur, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the state govt to step up efforts for relief, rehabilitation and evacuation of those affected.

A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud also directed them to protect all places of worship and provide basic amenities in relief camps. Noting that the court was concerned about the loss of life, the CJI said, “Proceedings before this court should not become grounds for destabilising the state.”

The Bench, which also included Justice PS Narasimha and Justice JB Pardiwala, ordered that all necessary precautions must be taken for rehabilitation of displaced persons and medical care should also be provided in relief camps. The Bench asked the Manipur Govt to file an updated status report on the situation in the state and posted the matter for further hearing on May 17.

The top court was hearing two separate petitions on the issue. The first petition, filed by the Manipur Tribal Forum-Delhi, sought an SIT probe into the violence and relief for the victims. The second one was by the Chairman of the Hill Areas Committee of the Manipur Legislative Assembly, D Gangmei, against the Manipur High Court’s order to the state govt to forward a recommendation to the Centre to include Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list.

It’s alleged that the HC order was the immediate trigger for the violence.

The Centre told the Supreme Court that the state was “returning to normalcy”, and no violence had been reported over the last two days.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said at a press conference that 60 people were killed, 231 injured and 1,700 houses, including religious places, burnt in the violence. “In the wake of the unfortunate incident that happened in Manipur, more than 20,000 people who were left stranded in relief camps have been moved to safety till today. Another 10,000 more stranded people will be transported to safety as soon as possible,” Singh said.

AT LEAST 40% CASES BY CENTRAL, STATE GOVTS FRIVOLOUS, SAYS SC

As courts struggle to clear the backlog of cases, the Supreme Court on Monday said at least 40 per cent of litigation pursued by the Central and state govts was frivolous. “At least 40 per cent of litigation by Centre and states is frivolous. Filing to deny 700 rupees per month to someone and spending Rs 7 lakh of taxpayers’ money,” a Bench led by Justice BR Gavai said after a lawyer sought to mention a service matter.

Justice Gavai said two young women lawyers appeared for the Union of India in two matters, and he told both of them that if these matters were to be argued by an Additional Solicitor General, “we would have dismissed it with costs of Rs 10 lakh…”

The Bench, which also included Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sanjay Karol, said the govt should try to weed out such unnecessary litigation.

Last month, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had said, “The motto of the Union Govt and its agencies should be ‘mediate, not litigate’.”

CHINESE ‘MILITIA’ VESSELS SAIL CLOSE TO ASEAN AND INDIAN WARSHIPS

Tension build up in South China Sea yesterday as Chinese maritime “militia” ships sailed in close proximity to a flotilla of warships of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India conducting a joint exercise.

“Militia” vessels are registered as mercantile ships, but are marshalled at sea at the behest of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China.

Defence sources confirmed that Chinese activity was being watched and said the five “militia” vessels could be there to keep an eye on the exercise.

Ships from the navies of India and ASEAN — the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam — are conducting the inaugural ASEAN-India Maritime Exercises (AIME). “The sea phase of the exercise is in international waters along the transit route to the Philippines (SCS),” the Ministry of Defence of Singapore had said at the start of the sea phase drill.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

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CANADA EXPELS CHINESE DIPLOMAT OVER ALLEGED INTIMIDATION PLAN

Ottawa announced Monday the expulsion of a Chinese diplomat accused of having sought to intimidate a Canadian lawmaker critical of Beijing, plunging the two nations into a new diplomatic row.

"We will not tolerate any form of foreign interference in our internal affairs," Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement declaring the diplomat "persona non grata."

"We remain firm in our resolve that defending our democracy is of the utmost importance," she said, adding that foreign diplomats in Canada "have been warned that if they engage in this type of behavior, they will be sent home."

The move aggravated already strained Sino-Canadian relations, with China "strongly condemning" the decision it said was based on "groundless" accusations and vowing repercussions. It accused Canada of "deliberately undermining relations" with its second largest trading partner.

The diplomat’s expulsion followed an outcry led by parliamentarian Michael Chong over allegations revealed by local media that China's intelligence agency had planned to target Chong and his relatives in Hong Kong with sanctions for voting in February 2021 for a motion condemning Beijing's conduct in the Xinjiang region as genocide.

BILAWAL’S INDIA TRIP DIVIDES PAKISTANI POLITICIANS, CITIZENS

Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s behaviour at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Goa has earned him both brickbats and bouquets at home. The first visit by a senior Pakistani official to India in 12 years was derided by many people as a diplomatic disaster. And it has led to war of words between Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party.

While PPP supporters could not see anything wrong with their chairman’s behaviour, PTI supporters could see no right. At a rally in Lahore, Khan criticised Bilawal, questioning the trip to India. “Pakistan was humiliated,” said the former prime minister. “How the Indian foreign minister’s behaviour was when Bilawal went to India is a basis for shame for all of us.”

After the summit, Jaishankar called Bilawal a “spokesperson for the terror industry”.

Former federal minister and PTI member Fawad Chaudhry had earlier tweeted saying that “Pakistan’s foreign policy is dead”.

Reacting to India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s remarks, PTI member Shireen Mazari called the visit “unbelievable absurdity of Bajwa plan’.

Many local newspapers and political observers, on the other hand, hailed Bilawal’s visit, describing his demeanour as “subtle”.

The Express Tribune called Bilawal “an ideal statesperson”, who has “accomplished all that Pakistan wanted to from his Goa visit”. The report said he “exhibited all an ideal statesman needs to be armed with to defend his beleaguered country’s interests around the world in tumultuous times like these.”

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EC NOTICE TO BJP OVER CHARGES AGAINST CONG; TELLS KHARGE TO RECTIFY A TWEET

The Election Commission on Monday asked the Karnataka BJP to provide "verifiable and traceable" facts by Tuesday evening regarding its newspaper advertisement describing the Congress as "the most corrupt party in the world". The EC said if no proof is provided, the BJP should come up with reasons on as to why action should not be initiated against it for violating the Model Code of Conduct.

In another development in the same day, the poll panel has asked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to clarify and rectify the party's social media post on Karnataka's sovereignty remark attributed to Sonia Gandhi after the BJP approached the EC with a complaint.

The BJP memorandum to the EC was based on a tweet by the Congress, where it said that in her speech at Hubballi on May 6, Sonia had said that “the Congress will not allow anyone to pose a threat to Karnataka’s reputation, sovereignty and integrity”.

A transcript of her full speech indicates Sonia did not use the word “sovereignty”.

The EC asked Kharge “to clarify and take rectification measures in respect of the social media post” put up by the Congress and attributed to Sonia.

BENGAL BECOMES FIRST STATE TO BAN THE KERALA STORY

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial film The Kerala Story to avoid ”any incident of hatred and violence”, a senior official said in Kolkata.

Earlier in the day, Banerjee described The Kerala Story as a distorted movie, aimed at defaming the southern state.

The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen, depicts how women from Kerala were converted to Islam and recruited by Islamic State terrorist group. The film was released on May 5.

The BJP slammed Banerjee for banning the movie, and said her decision raises serious questions on civil liberties and freedom of expression. BJP's I-T department head Amit Malviya said the decision is unfortunate as the movie gives a "real account of victims who have endured the horrors of demographic invasion and have been used as cannon fodder" for the terrorist organisation IS. “Who is Mamata Banerjee trying to please with this ban? Does she think Muslims of Bengal relate more to the IS than the Indian Constitution? Shame on her regressive politics.

ED CHIEF’S TENURE UP TILL NOVEMBER, CENTRE TELLS SC

Defending the third extension given to Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra, the Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court he would not continue in office beyond November.

“This officer is not some DGP of a state but an officer representing the country in a UN-like body and is in the midst of something. This court must not interfere with his tenure and from November onwards, he will not be there,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a three-judge Bench led by Justice BR Gavai.

“Mishra was given extension as FATF peer review is taking place and there are some guidelines which needed to be followed,” Mehta said. FATF is a global anti-money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog that sets international standards aimed to prevent illegal activities, including terror financing.

FARMERS JOIN WRESTLERS’ PROTEST IN DELHI; POLICE SAY NO UNTOWARD INCIDENT

Several farmers broke through police barricades on Monday to join the wrestlers’ protest against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh even as Delhi Police denied any untoward incident at the site. Purported videos showed farmers climbing the barricades and even dragging and pushing some of them away in a bid to enter the protest venue.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Pranav Tayal said some farmers were "in a hurry" to reach the dharna site. The barricades were removed to escort the farmers into the site and the meeting was being held peacefully, he added.

Farmer leaders said they stand united with the wrestlers and that they will work under the leadership of protesting wrestlers. Today they will have to fight to save the honour of the daughters of this nation as well as their agriculture at the same time, the leaders said.

SC REFUSES TO ENTERTAIN JAILED BIHAR YOUTUBER'S PLEA AGAINST INVOKING OF NSA IN FAKE VIDEOS CASE

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea by jailed Bihar YouTuber Manish Kashyap against whom the stringent National Security Act (NSA) has been invoked for allegedly circulating fake videos of migrant labourers being attacked in Tamil Nadu.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and JB Pardiwala, however, granted Kashyap the liberty to challenge the invocation of the NSA at an appropriate judicial forum.

It also rejected his plea for clubbing all 19 FIRs against him and their transfer to Bihar.

Kashyap is lodged in Madurai jail of Tamil Nadu.

AN INDIAN WOMAN AMONG 9 KILLED IN TEXAS MALL SHOOTING

A 27-year-old Indian woman, who was working in the US as a project engineer, was among nine people killed when a gunman opened fire at a crowded mall in Dallas in Texas, authorities said on Monday.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, of McKinney, was shopping with a friend when they were shot by gunman Mauricio Garcia at the Allen Premium Outlets in Dallas.

Aishwarya, daughter of a district judge in Ranga Reddy district court in Telangana, worked as a project engineer at Perfect General Contractors LLC.

AT RECORD 795 TONNES, RBI'S GOLD RESERVES SEE SHARP ON-YEAR SPIKE

The RBI’s gold reserves increased by 34.22 tonne year-on-year to reach a record 794.64 tonne (including gold deposits of 56.32 tonne) at the end of March. The share of gold in value of its reserves also rose to 7.81 per cent at the end of March from 7.06 per cent as of September 2022.

While 437.22 tonne of gold is held overseas in safe custody with the Bank of England and the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), 301.10 tonne of gold is held domestically. India’s overall foreign exchange reserves now stand at $588.78 billion.

At the end of December 2022, foreign exchange reserves cover of imports increased to 9.3 months from 8.9 months at the end of September, said the report.

SC SEEKS SOP TO DEAL WITH UNRULY FLYERS

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Union govt, DGCA and all airlines to respond to the need for urgent framing of a standard operating procedure (SOP) to deal with onboard unruly passengers requesting solicitor general Tushar Mehta’s assistance in the matter.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala sought response to a petition filed by a 72-year-old woman, who was allegedly urinated upon by an “inebriated” co-passenger on an Air India New York-Delhi flight on November 26 last. The woman had requested the SC to direct DGCA to frame a ‘zero tolerance’ SOP and rules to strictly deal with onboard unruly/disruptive behaviour and its implementation in letter and spirit by all airlines.

IPL MATCH 53: KKR STAY ALIVE WITH THRILLING WIN OVER PBKS

Rinku Singh added another bright chapter to his legend as a finisher with a last-ball boundary as Kolkata Knight Riders beat Punjab Kings by five wickets on Monday to keep their IPL play-off hopes alive.

It was a complete 'RRR' show by KKR as skipper Nitish Rana's half-century and Andre Russell adding muscle to the chase of 180 before Rinku finished off the game with a 10-ball-21 not out.

Earlier, Varun Chakravarthy once again brilliantly spearheaded their bowling department to grab 3/26 as KKR put up a tidy bowling show to restrict PBKS to a below-par 179 for seven after the visitors opted to bat on a slow wicket. In reply, KKR show batting show was led by Rana's stellar effort when he promoted himself to No 3 and laid the foundation with a 38-ball 51 (6x4, 1x6).

On a wicket where the odd ball was gripping and batters struggled to find their timing, Rana stitched a crucial fifty-plus stand with Venkatesh Iyer (11) before Andre Russell and Rinku Singh sealed the issue.

WINS TALLY: KKR 5/11 (placed 5th), PBKS 5/11 (placed 7th)

ISHAN KISHAN NAMED AS RAHUL'S REPLACEMENT IN WTC FINAL SQUAD

India's wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan has been named as replacement for the injured KL Rahul in India's WTC final squad.

India face Australia in the June 7 to 11 WTC final, at The Oval, in London.

Many were of the thought that veteran stumper Wriddhiman Saha, who is having a great IPL, would get a call-up for the one-off game but Kishan's selection showed that Shiv Sunder Das's committee has gone with continuity. Once Saha was categorically told last year that he won't be picked any more for national duty as they want someone younger as Rishabh Pant's deputy, there was no chance that the soon to be 39-year-old veteran would have been named as the replacement.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

When men are rightly occupied, their amusement grows out of their work, as the colour-petals out of a fruitful flower. - John Ruskin

OFF TRACK

An angel suddenly appears at a community meeting and tells the community leader that, in return for his unselfish and exemplary behaviour, he will be given his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the leader selects infinite wisdom.  

"Done!" says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning.  

Now, all heads turn toward the leader, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, "Say something wise."   

The leader looks at them and says, "I should have taken the money."