Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Karnataka Today newsletter: Ready for war with our enemies but BJP is twisting my words, says Siddaramaiah

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has accused the BJP of twisting his statements on war to hide its failures. “I have spoken against war frenzy, and not war per se. When some reporters asked me in Mysuru whether there was the need for a war with Pakistan, I said no. I strongly believe, however, that when war is inevitable, we are ready for it. We would be ready for an all-out war, if the need arises. I am always for the security, unity and integrity of the country,” the CM said in Belagavi on April 28.

“I never said anything wrong. However, the BJP is trying to blame me only to hide its failures. The Union Government failed to protect the citizens, but to escape from that accusation, it is engaged in false propaganda against me. It is unfortunate that some TV channels are supporting the BJP in this game. It is wrong and condemnable. I said something, but they are showing something else. All this is only to blame me, and hide the BJP’s intelligence and security failures,” he said.

Senior Congress leaders inaugurated the ‘Save Constitution, Save Nation’ rally to protest against the NDA-led Union Government, in Belagavi on April 28, by paying respects to the tourists from Karnataka who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack. Later, the leaders mocked the price rise by garlanding domestic LPG cylinders. They said that the prices of all essential commodities had increased in an unprecedented manner due to the ‘wrong economic policies’ of the NDA government at the Centre.

At the event, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s speech was disrupted by some BJP women activists who shouted slogans against him. One of them told him to go to Pakistan. They shouted slogans in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and against the CM. They also displayed black flags till the Belagavi police took them away. A visibly disturbed CM stopped his speech and summoned the police to the stage.

Mandya district has set a new benchmark under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by achieving 102.55% of its annual target for 2024–25, providing significant livelihood opportunities to rural communities. A total of 3,44,904 families were issued job cards, of which 1,46,039 cards remained active, benefiting 2,58,697 individuals under the scheme.

Against the targeted 27 lakh man-days for the district, Mandya successfully generated 27,69,096 man-days of employment. Among the taluks, K.R. Pet stood out by achieving 144.55% of its target, creating 7,64,005 man-days against the expected 5,28,538. Maddur taluk followed, achieving 106.63% by generating 6,89,083 man-days against a target of 6,49,083.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shortlisted seven microgravity research experiments, which are expected to be conducted on board the International Space Station (ISS) during the upcoming Axiom-4 mission (Ax-4).