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It is reported that the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) can target Goa for its next terror operations, presently being in Karnataka.

SIMI had made Karnataka its base to conduct and assist in terror acts across India. But now, Intelligence Bureau sources said that the change in Karnataka government switching to first time Bharatiya Janata Party in power has made the banned outfit shift out of the state.

Mohammad Asif, a SIMI operative who was arrested recently in Karnataka, revealed during his narco analysis test that the outfit had decided to shift out of the state if the BJP came to power.

With other gathered information, the IB has come to the conclusion that Goa would be the next hub for SIMI.  An IB official said at least 60 per cent of SIMI’s operations have already been shifted to Goa.

IB told two reasons behind moving to Goa by SIMI. First, an attack on Goa would get SIMI worldwide attention thanks to the foreign tourist presence there. Second, security in Goa is not up to the mark lest it act as a deterrent for tourism which is one of the state’s primary sources of income.

A senior police officer in Goa told rediff.com that SIMI was in constant touch with certain Naxalite outfits and had sought their help in setting up base there.

A police officer in Karnataka said, “This move does not mean that their job will become easier. SIMI’s plans to carry out attacks in Karnataka are still on, and they need to keep a constant watch on its movements.”

In Goa SIMI plans to conduct training programs for its cadres, launch recruitment drives and, over a period of time, smuggle in arms and ammunition as was being done in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Tags: Goa, Karnataka, Naxal, Naxalite, SIMI, Terror, Terrorist

A day after a farmer was killed in police firing on Tuesday, in Haveri in north Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa reached Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on this issue.

More than a thousand farmers protested violently since two days against lack of fertilizers, and they even burnt buses. A fresh violence started on Wednesday when the body of the 35 year old dead farmer was being taken for the funeral who was killed during an open police firing during the protest.

The Chief Minister called an emergency meeting of top government officials. He has asked for a report in the next 10 days.

“Two lakh rupees for the farmer who died, Rs 50,000 for those with severe injuries,” said Yeddyurappa.

The Chief Minister, after an emergency meeting, has called it a political game by the Opposition.

“I appeal to the farmers not to resort to violence and maintain peace,” said BS Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka.

It was first time the BJP government came into power and the Chief Minister sworn-in a few days back on the name of farmers. Hence it’s a tough time for the government.

Tags: Farmer, Farmer Issue, Karnataka, Manmohan Singh, MM Singh, PM, Yeddyurappa

B S Yeddyurappa was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka on Friday. The new government will seek a trust vote in the Assembly June 6, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said after taking office.

He is the first time Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader to write a new chapter in Karnataka`s political history.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at 1.50 pm in the Vidhana Soudha, the seat of power, heralding the era of governance by the Saffron party in its maiden innings in south of Vindhyas.

The newly elected Assembly will meet June 4, 5 and 6, Yeddyurappa told reporters after the first meeting of his cabinet, sworn in earlier by Governor Rameshwar Thakur.

The first day of the three-day session will be devoted to the 224 members taking oath. The new Speaker will be elected the next day and the trust vote will be sought on the last day, as scheduled by the cabinet.

Yeddyurappa said, “My government is determined to implement in phased manner all the promises made in the election manifesto.”

The manifesto promises, among other things, free power to farmers and loans to farmers at an interest rate of three percent per annum. Yeddyurappa promised to give priority to education, health, nutrition and social justice.

“We will also implement former President APJ Abdul Kalam`s 2020 vision,” Yeddyurappa said.

BJP winning 110 seats out of 224 and falling short by three numbers for simple majority defeated the designs by Congress and JD(S) to block six independents from lending support by successfully netting them.

Tags: BJP, Chief Minister, Karnataka, Yeddyurappa

The BJP has finally registered its major victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections on Sunday. The first ever Bharatiya Janata Party government in the south bagged a simple majority by getting 111 seats out of 224-member State Assembly.

BJP chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa will take oath as chief minister on May 28. Delighted by his success Yeddyurappa said, “We are humbled by the people’s verdict. Development is our priority now.”

“It’s a victory for dalits, farmers and backwards. We will give equal impetus to development of rural as well as urban areas.” He said to the media in Banglore.

The election process ends by May 28 on the day the Election Commission was expected to notify the constitution of the 13th Legislative Assembly in Karnataka.

“The verdict is against the Congress, decisively against the JD(S) and substantially in the favor of the BJP,” BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Congress emerged as the second largest party in the state, winning 79 seats, while JD(S) managed to win only 27 seats. Independents and others came out winners in six constituencies.

It is Congress party’s 16th loss in the four years that it returned to power at the Centre. India has seen 24 assembly elections since 2004, including four states that went to the polls along with that year’s general election.

The Congress party has won eight of those elections and lost 16.

Tags: Assembly Elections, BJP, Congress, Elections, Karnataka, Karnataka Assembly Elections, Yeddyurappa

Congress party general secretary Rahul Gandhi will begin his five day trip to Karnataka on Tuesday for a first-hand assignment of the problems faced by people as a part of his nationwide tour ‘Discover India’. Earlier he has visited Orrisa also.

First, he will visit backward district of Chamarajanagar on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border to interact with Soliga tribals at BR Hills, about 220 km from here. After reaching Bangalore on Tuesday morning he will fly by helicopter to Chamarajanagar. He will travel by road for a series of meetings with youth and tribals at Yelandur, Santhermaralli, Ummathore, Kavalande and Begur in the district en route to Nagarahole for a night halt.

“Rahul wants to connect with the youth of the state. He is keen on studying and understanding various issues and problems confronting youth and students,” Karnataka Youth Congress president Krishna Byre Gowda told IANS here Monday.

Rahul’s shedule include a visit to Lambani Thanda village in Bijapur on March 28 to interact with women from self-help groups. From there, he is expected to reach Raipur before returning to Banglore on March 29. During his visit to Raipur, he will also visit a village for an assessment of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Program (NREGP) and inspect the health care facilities at the Rajiv Gandhi super-specialty hospital that was set up with funds from OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and Saudi Arabia a decade ago.

He will also review the party’s preparedness with state Congress leaders for the impending assembly election, which is likely to be held during May and before the six-month president’s rule ends May 20.

Rahul will address a youth rally in Bangalore and interact with young professionals on fifth day of his tour.

Tags: Congress, Election, India, Karnataka, Rahul Gandhi

Indian Cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is in trouble for not giving sufficient time for shooting an advertisement to a company as per agreement. Company is thinking to take the case in the tribunal for not giving enough time by Dhoni.

Managing Director of Karnataka Soaps and Detergent Ltd. (KSDL), B.H. Anil Kumar said while launching six products of the company, “We will soon reach a decision for the settlement of this matter with Dhoni in the court”.

In 2006 Company has made a two year agreement with Dhoni saying that he will have to give a ten day time period for the advertisement of the products of KSDL. Anil kumar said,” Although he had given 3 days in 2006 but was not back for remaining days after so many reminders”.

Anil said that company has asked him to increase the time period of agreement by 6 months against his absence but still he didn’t responded for the same and at last KDCL has to cancel the agreement.

Tags: Court, Dhoni, India, Karnataka