HUBBALLI  TUESDAY  NOVEMBER 29, 2022  `9.00  PAGES 12  CITY EDITION BANK CREDIT GROWTH PICKS UP AS ECONOMY REBOUNDS: RBI Bank credit growth rose to 17.2% in September 2022 quarter from 7% in the year-ago period, the latest RBI data showed DEPOSITS GROW 9.8% IN SEPTEMBER QUARTER SAVINGS DEPOSITS AT 34.7% OF TOTAL Aggregate deposits growth, which remained in the close range of 9.5-10.2% since June 2021, stood at 9.8% in September 2022. Since December 2020, bank branches in metropolitan centres have been recording higher annual growth than those in rural, semi-urban and urban areas. Private banks have been outpacing public sector banks in deposit mobilisation, the RBI said | P10 ■ As per the data, year-on-year growth in term deposits rose to 10.2% in September 2022 from 6.4% a year ago. Current and savings deposits growth moderated to 8.8% and 9.4% from 17.5% and 14.5%, respectively, a year ago. The share of savings deposit in total deposits stood at 34.7% in the latest quarter 74.8% ALL-INDIA CREDIT-DEPOSIT RATIO IN SEPT 2022, UP FROM 73.5% A QUARTER AGO CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Can’t sit on picks as you don’t like collegium: SC Raps law minister’s comments; opposes cherry-picking of names S H R U T I K A K K A R @ New Delhi GUN-POINT Videograb of policemen trying to stop an armed mob that attempted to attack Aaftab Poonawala, accused in the Mehrauli murder case, in New Delhi on Monday 40 Maha villages seek to merge with K’taka N A U S H A D B I J A P U R @ Belagavi AMID the ongoing tussle between leaders of Karnataka and Maharashtra over the simmering boundary dispute between the two neighbouring states, residents of 40 villages in Jath taluk in Sangli district on Maharashtra border, mostly inhabited by Kannadigas, have expressed their desire to see their areas merged with Karnataka. Slamming the Maharashtra government for neglecting their villages for decades and depriving them of basic amenities like roads and irrigation facilities, the villagers said they would prefer to be part of Karnataka if the Maharashtra government continues to neglect them. President of Umadi Niravari Horata Samiti in Jath taluk, Sunil Potdar said, “We have been demanding basic amenities in our villages in Jath taluk for the past decade, but in vain. Our demands have fallen on deaf ears. It’s time that our villages are merged with Karnataka.’’ He welcomed the recent 2 Maha ministers to visit Belagavi Maharashtra Higher Education Minister Chandrakant Patil and Excise Minister Shamburaj Desai will arrive in Belagavi to meet Marathi leaders on December 3. The meeting is expected to be organised by Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) and MES. statement of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who backed the demand of Kannadigas for merger of their region, including Solapur and Akkalkot, with Karnataka. A prominent local leader Shambu Mamadapur, also president of the Danamma Temple Trust of Guddapur in Jath taluk, said the villagers of Guddapur have been demanding the development of roads for several decades but the Maharashtra gover nment has not done anything about it. People in most of these 40 villages are upset that the government has neglected Kannada schools and said that it was the Karnataka government which sanctioned Rs 15 crore for the development of schools in the border areas, besides giving grants for the construction of Kannada Bhavan in recent years. The villagers said the roads leading to Danamma Temple, one of the famous religious places in the region, are pathetic even as more than 10,000 devotees visit the P4 shrine everyday . With Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai scheduled to visit New Delhi on Tuesday, speculations are rife over cabinet rejig, as he may call on BJP national president JP Nadda. This has fanned rumours that the two may discuss cabinet expansion to fill six vacant seats. P4 Excess rainfall hits sowing of rabi crops in state A S H W I N I M S R I PA D @ Bengaluru Target area 26.68 LAKH HECTARES Achieved area 19.85 LAKH HECTARES In percentage 74.06% Data courtesy: Agriculture Department If sowing was done in September, harvesting could be done from January to March... The rain in November or December would help vegetation grow further G S Srinivasa Reddy, senior consultant with KSDMA EXCESS rain during September and October this year has hampered sowing of rabi crops at many places in Karnataka. Rabi crops or rabi harvest, also known as winter crops, are agricultural crops that are sown in winter and harvested in spring in India. As on date, sowing in Karnataka has been done in 74 per cent of the total target area, which is likely to impact the yield. All the major reservoirs in the state are full. State Agriculture Department had set a target of 26.68 lakh hectares for sowing of rabi crops, of which 74 per cent has been covered. Experts point out that excess rainfall has caused oversaturation of soil moisture affecting sowing of the crops this season. Even if they sow, seedlings will not survive due to heavily saturated soil. As per data available with Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre, during this year’s monsoon (June to September), 20 districts of the total 31 districts of the state witnessed rainfall. G S Srinivasa Reddy, senior consultant with Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said, this year, the situation is peculiar. Because of heavy rain, there is more moisture in the soil which has not drained out at many places. During rabi season, jowar, wheat, bengal gram, and black gram, among others, are sown. “If sowing was done in September, harvesting could be done from January to March, depending on each crop. The rain in November or December would help vegetation grow further,” he said. them do it themselves, then we’ll do it ourselves. All I’m saying is it should not have come. It’s an interview and it’s difficult to deny what you say .” The bench said the Centre was crossing some rubicons by keeping names pending. It also criticised the cherry-picking of names from different lists, which affects seniority and hampers the quality of judicial appointment, which is in nobody’s interest. On April 20, 2021, a threejudge SC bench had laid down a broad timeline for appointments. It included IB submitting its report within 4-6 weeks from the date of recommendation of the HC collegium to the Centre; govt to forward file(s) to the SC within 8-12 weeks; and making appointment on SC collegium’s recommendation immediately . DON’T MAKE US TAKE A DECISION, SAYS BENCH “For the last two months, the whole thing has come to a standstill... Please resolve it....Don’t make us take a decision on this in the judicial side,” the bench told the Attorney General and Solicitor General and posted the matter for further hearing on December 8 CAMEROON’S MAD DANCE monetary benefits as violative of fundamental rights. THE Centre on Monday told the The Supreme Court asked Supreme Court that the right to the Centre to get information freedom of religion enshrined from all states on the steps takunder Article 25 of the Consti- en by them in this regards. tution does not include a funda- “This is a very serious issue. mental right to convert people There cannot be any forced conto a particular reliversion & that’s what gion, not in the least if Next hearing we are concerned of,” on Dec 5 it is done through a bench of Justices fraud, deception, coer- While deferring M R Shah and C T Racion or allurement. vikumar said. hearing on the The Centre’s subThe Centre said in matter to mission came in re- December 5, the its affidavit that Odissponse to a plea by court asked the ha, Madhya Pradesh, lawyer and BJP leader Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Centre to find Ashwini Upadhyay . out information Jharkhand, Uttara“The Union of India khand, Uttar Pradesh, on what the is cognizant of the states have done Karnataka and Haryagravity and the serina already have a legin the matter. ousness of the issue islation to curb this The bench said raised in the present instead of issuing practice. writ petition. It is subEarlier, the bench notice to each mitted that such enacthad said that everyone state, it was ments are necessary asking the Centre has the right to freefor protecting cherdom of religion but to collate info ished rights of vulnernot by forced converable sections of the society in- sion, which it termed “a very c l u d i n g w o m e n a n d dangerous thing”. It added that economically and socially back- such practices might affect the ward classes,” the Centre’s af- security of the nation. fidavit stated. Upadhyay’s plea was filed Upadhyay’s plea had sought against the backdrop of the suito declare religious conversions cide of 17-year-old Lavanya in by means of fraud, threat, or Tamil Nadu. S H R U T I K A K K A R @ New Delhi WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOAL Down 1-3 against the Two matches, 11 goals and one comeback. The World Cup went flying Serbs, the Africans goal-crazy on the tournament’s second Monday. A look at the two looked to be heading out. But matches and what’s in store on Tuesday they scored two goals in three minutes to keep alive their KUDUS TO IRAN-U.S., A KNOCK-OUT hopes of qualifying for GHANA BEFORE THE KNOCKOUT the knock-out stages. After that heartOn Tuesday, an already charged fixture breaking loss against Portugal, Mohammad Kudus did the star turn for Ghana, scoring a brace as they edged a fivegoal thriller against South Korea CM may talk cabinet rejig with Nadda PROBLEM OF PLENTY SOWING STATS EXPRESSING deep anguish over the Centre failure to abide by the timelines laid down last year on appointments to the higher judiciary, the Supreme Court on Monday urged the Attorney General and Solicitor General of India to advise the government and ensure the law of the land is followed. A bench of justices S K Kaul and A S Oka said, “Once the name is reiterated, that’s the end of the matter of the law as it stands. When recommendation is made, you cannot hold back the name without stating the reason. It is frustrating the whole system. No court can see violation of its order.” Noting that out of 68 pending collegium recommendations, 21 were on hold for over oneand-a-half years, the bench said the delay may be linked to the Centre’s unhappiness over the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) failing to pass muster in the SC. “It appears to be an unhappiness of the government on the fact that NJAC didn’t muster constitutional mandate. Sometimes they muster mandate and sometimes they don’t. That cannot be a reason not to comply with law of the land. See the consequences, some law of yours may be upheld by the SC, there may be society that’s unhappy by it, can that section of society say that they will not follow the law of the land,” Justice Kaul said. He added that the timelines had gone completely haywire. The court took umbrage to Union law minister Kiren Rijiju’s recent statement, “never say that the government is sitting on the files, then don’t send the files to the government, you appoint yourself, you run the show then.” Justice Kaul said, “Let us give them the power, we’ve no difficulty I ignore all press re. ports, when someone high enough says let Religious freedom doesn’t include fundamental right to convert, Centre tells SC Assuming he was offside, Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar went for the jugular, chipping the Serbia’s goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic for the team’s second goal on Monday | AP will have added spice as the winner will eliminate the loser. Iran, who have three points, hold the edge as a draw will take them through. GERMANY SURVIVE Despite Spain finding the net first, Germany came back to draw and hold on to their chances to qualify to the next stage TUESDAY’S Group A: Netherlands vs Qatar, Ecuador vs Senegal 8.30pm FIXTURES Group B: England vs Wales, Iran vs US 12.30pm MAHE suspends prof for calling student ‘Kasab’ E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Udupi THE Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) in Udupi suspended a professor after he allegedly called a student ‘Ajmal Kasab’, a Pakistani terrorist who was hanged in 2012 after being convicted in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case which took place in 2008. A video of the professor making the remark during a class last week has gone viral on social media. In the video, the first year engineering student whom the professor called ‘Kasab’ can be heard raising serious objection and telling him that it EXPRESS READ Second PU final exam time table announced Bengaluru: The Karnataka School Examination and Assessment Board (KSEAB) has announced the final timetable for the 2nd PUC CBSE board examinations, scheduled to be held from March 9 to March 29. P5 NIA court convicts 3 of banned terror outfit Bengaluru: Three members of the banned terror outfit Jamat-ulMujahidin Bangladesh (JMB) were convicted by the Special Court for the trial of NIA cases after they pleaded guilty. All the three hail from West Bengal. is not at all acceptable. “Will you talk to your son like this? Will you call him by the name of a terrorist? How can you call me like that in front of so many people in the class,” the student tells the professor. The professor is heard telling “sorry dude” to which the student replies, “Sorry doesn’t change how you think, how you portray yourself ”. In a social media post, the student says that though the racist comment was not acceptable, he would however let it go as he believed that the professor did not mean it. ‘’It can be ignored this time,’’ he reportedly posted. Acting swiftly Manipal Acad, emy of Higher Education (MAHE) placed the professor under suspension and ordered an inquiry into the matter. In a communique, MAHE said that I had a conversation with the lecturer and realised that he genuinely meant apology. I understand what was going on in his head and would like to believe he didn’t mean it... it can be ignored this time - The student it does not condone such kind of behaviour and this isolated incident will be dealt with in accordance with the laid down policy of the institute. Though there are no conclusive inputs throwing light on the background of this incident and why the professor made such a remark against a student, the incident reportedly happened in the classroom on the day of the anniversary of the November 26, 2008 terror attack in Mumbai. In the 49-second video that went viral, the student can be seen taking strong objection to P4 the remark. Rahul says both Gehlot, Pilot are assets A N U R A A G S I N G H @ Bhopal CONGRESS leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday took the middle ground in the raging controversy over Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot calling his former deputy Sachin Pilot a traitor, saying both are assets for the party . “I don’t want to go into who is saying what, all I can say is both leaders (Gehlot and Pilot) are assets for the party. I can guarantee that whatever is going on in Rajasthan isn’t going to affect the Bharat Jodo Yatra there,” Rahul said in Indore. Gehlot’s barb was in retaliation to Pilot attacking him for the ‘interesting’ praise he drew from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their recent meeting. To restore peace among the warring factions and insulate Rahul’s yatra in Rajasthan from the fallout of the rift, Congress president Mallikarjun K h a r g e ’s e m i s s a r y K C Venugopal will reach Jaipur on Tuesday The Bharat Jodo Yatra . is scheduled to enter Rajasthan next week. A day earlier, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had said the experience of Gehlot and the energy and youth of Pilot were equally important, adding he was surprised by the chief minister’s choice of words for Pilot. Woman abused, hit for not knowing Kannada P R A V E E N K U M A R @ Bengaluru A woman from Punjab was allegedly abused and beaten up by a group of women who accused her of not knowing how to speak Kannada. The incident happened near a government school at Doddabommasandra in Vidyaranyapura police station limits. The victim Neelamjit Kaur (46), who is a stylist, owns a salon and spa in the city. She is from Ludhiana in Punjab. Kaur was surrounded by a group of angry women when she applied sudden brakes of her scooty in a bid to save a 7-year-old child. She told the parents of the child to take care of the kid and not to leave him unattended on the road. This resulted in an argument and a group of women who started gathering began abusing her for not knowing Kannada. They even asked her to go away from Karnataka. Frustrated over this, she started making a video of the unruly mob following which she was beaten by some women with a EXPRESS ILLUSTRATION plastic pipe. The group also pulled her hair. The incident happened between 10 pm and 10.15 pm on Friday . “It appears that somebody who was not even involved in the initial argument passed a comment on Kaur that she does not know Kannada and that she is a n o u t s i d e r. Kaur was alone and did not find support from anyone. The allegation about her having been beaten by other women is being checked. We are examining the CCTV footage in the vicinity Nobody has . been arrested or taken into custody for questioning so far. The case is still under investigation. Those found guilty will be punished,” a police officer, who is part of the investigation, told The New Indian Express. The Vidyaranyapura police have registered cases under IPC 143 (unlawful assembly), IPC 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) IPC 324 (causing hurt by dangerous weapons).