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BJP mocks CM Siddaramaiah on caste census advice to Centre

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Bengaluru, May 1: The Karnataka BJP, on Thursday, criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on his caste census remarks, saying that the exercise done by the Congress-led government was a model for how not to conduct the census.

Earlier, CM Siddaramaiah said that his government was fully prepared to extend any guidance to the Union government on the caste census.

R. Ashoka, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, stated, “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, your statement suggesting that Karnataka’s model should be adopted for the caste census is truly laughable. A report whose original copy has gone missing, which lacks even the signatures of the secretaries, where applications were filled by school children paid five to ten rupees per form, where houses with dogs were skipped during enumeration, and which even after ten years remains unaccepted – your caste census report stands as a textbook example of how not to conduct a caste census.”

“Your claim that the BJP has always opposed the caste census is an outright lie. In 2010, the then Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the late Sushma Swaraj, had formally conveyed to the UPA government that the BJP supported, including caste enumeration in the 2011 census. The BJP had also supported the unanimous resolution passed in Parliament on the matter,” Ashoka pointed out.

However, instead of conducting a proper caste census, the then Congress government carried out a flawed Social-Economic Caste Census – 2011 (SECC-2011). Like Karnataka’s caste census, this too suffered from poor planning and ineffective execution, leading to its complete failure. Despite spending crores of rupees, the findings were never officially released. This reveals the Congress party’s true commitment towards the caste census, Ashoka stated.

“The BJP has never misused the caste census as an electoral weapon. When in power, we demonstrated commitment by deciding to carry out the caste census. We did not indulge in petty politics by shedding crocodile tears while in opposition and ignoring the issue when in power. This reflects our genuine dedication to social justice. BJP’s only concern regarding the caste census has always been that it should not be misused for political attacks,” Ashoka underlined.

“The caste census that the Central government is now set to conduct will be carried out in a highly transparent, scientific, and purposeful manner – not manipulated for political gain as your Congress government did by twisting data to suit your needs,” Ashoka stated, addressing CM Siddaramaiah.

Karnataka’s caste census process serves only as an example of how not to conduct a caste census; there are no aspects worth emulating from it, he reiterated.

Welcoming the decision for caste census by the centre, CM Siddaramaiah stated on Wednesday, “Just as the BJP initially mocked our five guarantee schemes and later adopted them, the Modi government’s decision to implement a caste census proves that Congress’ policies are rooted in public welfare.

“The Karnataka government’s caste-based Social, Economic, and Educational Survey is a robust model. We are fully prepared to extend any guidance or support the Union government may need,” the CM said.

CM Siddaramaiah further stated, “Our government wholeheartedly welcomes the Union government’s decision to conduct a caste census along with the national population census. At this moment, I urge the Union government to also carry out a social, economic, and educational survey alongside the census. In Karnataka, we didn’t just conduct a caste census – we also gathered data on the social, economic, and educational status of communities. Based on this data, we have taken steps to revise and expand the current reservation policy. I hope the Union government will now follow through with this process as well.”

Maharashtra

Major Gadchiroli Police Operation Against Maoists, Hidden Explosives Recovered

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The Maoist ideology has now been eradicated from the Gadchiroli district, and its residents are finally free from the terror that once loomed over them. In the past, Maoists would use various weapons and explosive materials to threaten security forces and carry out subversive activities. Taking advantage of remote, forest-covered areas situated along state borders, they would prepare these materials and bury them underground in secret locations. Their objective was to use these stockpiles to launch attacks on security forces during specific periods—such as ‘Naxal weeks’—or throughout the electoral process. Taking decisive action against this threat, the Gadchiroli Police successfully recovered these hidden materials on November 4, 2026.

According to details, the Gadchiroli Police received intelligence that Maoists had concealed explosives in the forest area of ​​’Tavve,’ which falls under the jurisdiction of the Garapatti Police Station. Acting on this information, and under the guidance of Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Ramesh, a search operation was launched on November 4, 2026. The operation involved four units from the ‘Special Operation Squad’ (covering Gadchiroli and Pranhita) and two teams from the ‘Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad’ (BDDS). During a search operation conducted by the ‘Special Operation Squad’ (SOS) and the ‘Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad’ (BDDS) in a forested area, the following items were recovered from the site: 1) 11 pressure cookers (intended for use as improvised explosive devices), 2) 3 bundles (100 feet) of Cordtex wire, 3) 3 kilograms of gunpowder, 4) 4 detonators, 5) a 12-volt battery, 6) 250 grams of pyrotechnic powder (used in fireworks), 7) 4 steel containers, 8) 8 bundles of wire, 9) a solar panel, along with other materials linked to Maoist activities.

The operation was successfully executed under the guidance and instructions of Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Ramesh. It was carried out under the supervision of Additional SP (Operations) Kartik Madhera, Additional SP Shri Gokul Raj G., Additional SP Aheri (Pranhita) Harshvardhan B.J., and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Operations) Sunil Oike. Personnel from the ‘Special Operation Squad’ (Gadchiroli and Pranhita), the Intelligence Cell, and the ‘Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad’ (BDDS) participated in the operation. Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police M. Ramesh has commended the personnel who took part in the operation.

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Maharashtra

Female Drug Peddler Arrested in Kaju Pada, Kurla, Mumbai

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In Mumbai, a woman was taken into custody and arrested after police discovered a stash of Codeine Phosphate-based syrup bottles—intended for sale—stored in a room. The arrested individual has been identified as Haseena, a 38-year-old resident of Kurla, Mumbai. Authorities seized 460 bottles of the Codeine Phosphate-based narcotic syrup (100ml each), with an estimated value of ₹4,60,000. This successful operation was carried out by the Mumbai Police, under the guidance of Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Police Commissioner Anil Kumbhare, DCP (ANC) Poornima Chougule-Shringi, and the Bandra Unit.

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National News

CM Yogi says govt job drive will continue, appointment letters to be distributed even in third term

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Lucknow : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday signalled that the state’s recruitment drive for government jobs would continue even after the government meets its target of one lakh additional appointments.

He said the administration had already completed around 9.5 lakh government recruitments and was close to fulfilling its promise of another one lakh jobs. However, the recruitment process would not end there, and some appointment letters would be kept pending and distributed when the government returns to power for a third term.

Addressing a function at the Reserve Police Lines in Lucknow, where appointment letters were handed over to 4,543 newly selected police sub-inspectors, CM Yogi interacted directly with the recruits and highlighted the transparency of the selection process. He asked whether any candidate had required political recommendations, faced demands for money, been offered bribes, or witnessed any attempts to secure jobs through influence. He asserted that such practices were no longer possible in present-day Uttar Pradesh.

The Chief Minister said the state’s recruitment system had undergone a complete transformation since 2017, with jobs now being awarded on merit rather than through recommendation, discrimination or corruption.

Taking aim at previous governments, he alleged that large-scale irregularities had occurred in recruitments between 2003 and 2017, including cases where applications were submitted by one individual while appointment letters were issued to another. He noted that several such matters were still pending before the courts.

CM Yogi expressed concern over the future of those appointed through disputed recruitment processes, saying a court order cancelling such appointments could adversely affect many young people. At the same time, he remarked that he would welcome action to confiscate the properties of those responsible for compromising the futures of job seekers through dishonest means.

He further alleged that government recruitment before 2017 was dominated by what he described as the “Saifai syndicate”, which deprived candidates from many regions of the state of fair opportunities. According to him, the situation has since changed, and young people from all parts of Uttar Pradesh now have equal access to government jobs.

Recalling the early days of his administration, CM Yogi said that when his government took office in 2017, even salary payments to employees were a challenge, and the condition of the police department was poor. He said police barracks were in a dilapidated state, and personnel faced significant hardships.

According to the Chief Minister, his government has overhauled the system and given it a new identity, though further improvements will require continued dedication and hard work.

He reiterated that the campaign to provide government employment would continue without interruption. “More than one lakh appointment letters have already been distributed,” he said, adding that recruitment of 25,000 teachers would also be taken forward in the coming period.

Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Khanna congratulated the newly appointed sub-inspectors, saying they had earned an opportunity that many aspiring candidates dream of but are unable to secure.

He stressed that their selection was based on merit and hard work rather than recommendation or favouritism, and said the recruitment process sends a clear message that perseverance and dedication can help young people achieve their goals.

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