Karnataka
Karnataka Government Employees’ Strike Ends with 17% Pay Hike and Pension Scheme Committee
Bengaluru: Hours after the start of an indefinite strike called by the Karnataka State Government Employees Association (KSGEA), the state government succumbed to the pressure and announced a hike in basic pay of employees by 17 per cent as interim relief. Also, the state government has formed a committee to look into the demands of […]

Bengaluru: Hours after the start of an indefinite strike called by the Karnataka State Government Employees Association (KSGEA), the state government succumbed to the pressure and announced a hike in basic pay of employees by 17 per cent as interim relief. Also, the state government has formed a committee to look into the demands of reverting to the Old Pension Scheme.
The KSGEA had called for an indefinite strike to demand the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme and the 7th pay commission. The strike had led to the shutdown of government offices, schools, and colleges in many parts of the state. In some hospitals, doctors and nurses skipped their work as well.
Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai held a meeting with members of the Association on Tuesday night and spoke to finance department officials on Wednesday morning. He then announced a 17 per cent hike in basic pay as interim relief, which will come into effect from April 1, 2023. The Association called off the strike after this announcement.
Bommai also announced the formation of a committee headed by the additional chief secretary (finance) to study the Old Pension Scheme in other states, the financial implications, and other issues, and then submit a detailed report. The committee is expected to give its report within two months.
The interim relief announced by the chief minister will entail an additional Rs 12,000 crore expenditure for the government. An agreement was reached with the striking employees after discussions with additional chief secretary ISN Prasad and other IAS officers including PC Jaffer and Ekrup Kaur.
While the KSGEA has agreed with the government’s decision, there was discontent within the association for withdrawing the strike early without reverting to the Old Pension Scheme. The Karnataka Government Secretariat Employees Association President P Guruswamy said that he was not happy with the association’s decision to withdraw the strike. He wanted the government to enforce OPS, but they have not done it. He added that by the time the committee gives its report after two months, elections will be announced, and they do not know the future.
Reacting to Guruswamy, CS Shadakshari said that it is a matter of policy decision and cannot be done overnight. He understood that the employees need OPS and also the implementation of the 7th pay commission. He added that the government is studying the matter and cannot bypass the procedures and issue an order. He said that they will fight for it if it is not fulfilled.
In conclusion, the strike called by the Karnataka State Government Employees Association has been called off after the state government announced a 17 per cent hike in basic pay as interim relief and formed a committee to study the Old Pension Scheme. While the KSGEA has agreed with the government’s decision, some members are unhappy with the decision to withdraw the strike early without reverting to the Old Pension Scheme.
Karnataka
Karnataka Bandh Sparks Tension: A Human Story of Language, Protest, and Global Echoes
Today, March 22, 2025, Karnataka woke up to a wave of emotion and unrest as pro-Kannada groups called for a 12-hour statewide bandh. This wasn’t just another protest—it was a cry from the heart, sparked by an alleged assault on a bus conductor in Belagavi last month. The conductor’s crime? Not speaking Marathi. For many […]

Today, March 22, 2025, Karnataka woke up to a wave of emotion and unrest as pro-Kannada groups called for a 12-hour statewide bandh. This wasn’t just another protest—it was a cry from the heart, sparked by an alleged assault on a bus conductor in Belagavi last month. The conductor’s crime? Not speaking Marathi. For many Kannadigas, this incident struck a deep chord, igniting a fierce defense of their language and identity.
How Karnataka Bandh Effect the Bengaluru City
The streets of Bengaluru and beyond buzzed with tension as security tightened across the state. Protesters, led by voices like Vatal Nagaraj of Kannada Okkuta, rallied for justice, expecting widespread support. Yet, not everyone joined the cause—big names like Karnataka Rakshana Vedike stayed on the sidelines, leaving some to wonder how united this movement truly was. For the average person—whether a shopkeeper closing up early or a commuter bracing for delays—it was a day of disruption, frustration, and quiet reflection on what it means to belong.
Meanwhile, the world kept spinning with its own dramas. In the U.S., Elon Musk stepped into the Pentagon, greeted as a “patriot” by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Their meeting hinted at big plans, though the details stayed under wraps—classic Musk mystery. Across the globe, Donald Trump’s latest AI-generated vision of Gaza, complete with skyscrapers and a golden statue of himself, raised eyebrows and stirred debate. Was it a bold dream or a wild fantasy? Closer to home, PM Narendra Modi’s name floated in the air—not tied to the bandh, but as a steady presence in India’s ever-shifting political landscape.
And then there were the wars—Gaza and Israel, Ukraine and Russia—distant but heavy, their echoes felt even in Karnataka’s quiet corners. At Heathrow Airport, travelers shuffled through another day, blissfully unaware of the ripples connecting their journey to these global threads.
Back in Karnataka, the bandh wasn’t just about a single incident. It was about pride, about language as a lifeline, and about people standing up for what they call home. As the day unfolded, it left behind stories—of anger, resilience, and the messy, beautiful humanity that ties us all together.

Bengaluru– In a bustling session at the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, a significant decision unfolded on Friday that stirred both support and uproar. The assembly passed a bill granting a 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in state government projects, a move aimed at leveling the playing field for this community. This wasn’t just another day at the office—emotions ran high as eighteen BJP MLAs found themselves suspended for six months after passionately protesting the decision, accusing it of crossing ethical lines and disrespecting the Speaker, U T Khader.
The drama peaked on the final day of the budget session, with opposition BJP members voicing their frustration over what they saw as an unfair allocation. They didn’t hold back—storming the well of the House, tearing up copies of the bill, and tossing them toward the Speaker’s chair. It was a chaotic scene, one that underscored the deep divide over this policy. The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill 2025, as it’s officially called, doesn’t just stop at reservations—it also bumps up the contract size limit from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore, a change that’s set to reshape how public contracts are awarded across the state.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stood firm, explaining that this quota is about giving Muslim contractors a fair shot at opportunities they’ve long been sidelined from. Meanwhile, the BJP fired back, labeling it as “contract jihad” and vowing to take the fight to court. They argue it’s a step too far, infringing on the rights of other groups like OBCs, SCs, and STs who already benefit from existing quotas—24.1% for SC/ST contractors alone.
The bill’s passage wasn’t without its share of fireworks. Beyond the protests, it’s part of a broader push by the Congress-led government to address unemployment and boost participation in public works. For the people of Karnataka, this decision hits close to home—whether it’s seen as a stride toward equality or a spark for further tension, it’s a story that’s got everyone talking.
Karnataka
Karnataka Assembly Chaos 2025: BJP MLAs Protest Muslim Quota Bill Amid Honey Trap Scandal
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly turned into a battleground on Friday, March 21, 2025, when a routine finance bill vote spiraled into pandemonium. BJP lawmakers, convinced they were facing a controversial bill granting a 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts, erupted in protest. In a fiery scene, they ripped up what they thought were copies […]

Things got wild in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on March 21, 2025, when a simple finance bill turned into a full-blown mess. BJP lawmakers were dead sure it was actually a sneaky move to push through a 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts—a proposal they’ve been fuming about. So, in a fit of frustration, they grabbed what they thought were copies of this quota bill, ripped them to shreds, and flung them right at the Assembly Speaker. You can imagine the room buzzing with tension after that!
But the chaos didn’t end there. Just when you’d think it couldn’t get crazier, whispers of a honey trap scandal started swirling around, making the whole scene feel like something out of a political drama. BJP MLA Bharath Shetty jumped in to explain their side to India Today, saying, “We were sure the Chief Minister was ramming through that Muslim quota thing. The Congress MLAs didn’t take it lying down either—they started tearing up papers and tossing books at us. Total madness, but we didn’t hurt anyone.” It was like a shouting match with props!
Now, here’s the kicker: the Speaker’s Office later clarified it was just a finance bill all along—the Muslim reservation idea is still sitting on the table, not passed yet. Under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Congress folks say this kind of reservation would lift up minorities and level the playing field. The BJP, though? They’re calling it “appeasement nonsense” and promising a courtroom showdown over it. Oh, and that honey trap business? It’s only stirring the pot more, with the opposition yelling for answers while the government tries to keep a lid on things.
This Karnataka Assembly Chaos 2025 is a real snapshot of how divided things are down there right now. Between the bill mix-up and the scandal rumors, it’s hard to see any real work getting done. Bengaluru’s political scene is practically on fire, and both sides are digging in their heels. The rest of us? We’re just waiting to see how this rollercoaster plays out—stay tuned for the next twist!
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