April 18 Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on April 18, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Updated on: Apr 18, 2026 11:08 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on April 18
A Constitution Amendment Bill for women's reservation in legislatures from 2029 and Lok Sabha seat increase was defeated. The BJP accused the Congress and opposition of betraying women. Opposition leaders stated the 2023 quota law should be implemented immediately
United States President Donald Trump said that he may not extend the tentative ceasefire with Iran if negotiations fail to produce an agreement by Wednesday, CNN reported. Trump also said that Washington would obtain Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium one way or another
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed joy as the opposition successfully blocked the delimitation bill in Parliament. He credited the INDIA bloc MPs and women for this victory. Stalin highlighted the planned campaign and protests that built momentum
Is this the beginning of the end for the Golden State dynasty? The Golden State Warriors saw their season come crashing down after a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in, a defeat that felt heavier than just a scoreline. Jalen Green torched the Warriors for 36 points
Siddaramaiah Draws Flak Over Rs 47 Crore Air Travel Bill; BJP Calls Him ‘Costly Minister’
Siddaramaiah Draws Flak Over Rs 47 Crore Air Travel Bill; BJP Calls Him ‘Costly Minister’
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has come under intense scrutiny following revelations that his government has spent over Rs 47 crore on helicopter and special aircraft travel between 2023 and November 2025.
The expenditure, disclosed in the Legislative Council, has triggered a fierce attack from the Opposition, which says the numbers contradict Siddaramaiah's long–projected image as a “socialist leader".
Despite the mounting criticism, the government insisted that all travel is essential and strictly within protocol for the purpose of efficient governance. However, the rapidly escalating numbers have provided the Opposition with substantial fresh ammunition against the government.
The figures came to light in response to a starred question raised by BJP MLC N. Ravikumar. According to the government's official reply, the expenditure has escalated significantly across the fiscal years: Rs 12.23 crore in 2023–24, and Rs 21.11 crore in 2024–25, bringing the total to a clarified Rs 47.38 crore as of November 2025.
Opposition Claims Misuse
The BJP has accused Siddaramaiah of rampant misuse of public funds and abandoning the principles of financial prudence he previously championed.
Opposition leaders argue that the Chief Minister has increasingly relied on helicopters even when road travel options have significantly improved or travel times have been substantially reduced. They specifically allege that many air trips were undertaken for routine political events and meetings, terming the lavish spending a “betrayal of socialist values."
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya raised questions over Siddaramaiah's air travel, citing challenges in infrastructure in the state.
“In the last 30 months, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's travel by special aircraft and helicopters has cost taxpayers ₹47.38 crore. At a time when Karnataka is still grappling with challenges in infrastructure, rural development, healthcare, and education, such heavy spending on VIP air travel raises serious questions: Is this the best use of public money? Do frequent helicopter trips, including short-distance routes, reflect responsible governance? Shouldn't fiscal discipline start from the top? With so many urgent public needs waiting for attention in Karnataka, it's fair for citizens to ask whether the Congress government's priorities are truly aligned with the people's," Malviya wrote on X.
In the last 30 months, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's travel by special aircraft and helicopters has cost taxpayers ₹47.38 crore.At a time when Karnataka is still grappling with challenges in infrastructure, rural development, healthcare, and education, such heavy spending on… pic.twitter.com/9hPk5iPVRv
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 11, 2025
BJP MLA Basanagouda R Patil stepped up the attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, dubbing him a “Costly Minister" over the rising expenditure on helicopter and chartered aircraft travel.
Patil said that while Karnataka — especially North Karnataka — continues to face regional imbalance, lack of irrigation facilities, unemployment, and poor infrastructure, the Chief Minister is “busy sipping tea in choppers and private aircraft".
“Siddaramaiah has redefined the post of CM as Costly Minister, instead of Chief Minister. He has splurged Rs 47.38 crore travelling in chartered flights and helicopters, calling the travel ‘official'," Patil said.
“This is the same person who delivers lengthy speeches on socialism and austerity and is the only CM to present record budgets in Karnataka. The Chief Minister must explain what the urgency was to hire helicopters and private aircraft in the first place," he added.
Siddaramaih has redefined the post of CM as Costly Minister, instead of Chief Minister. He has splurged Rs.47.38 cr travelling in chartered flights & helicopters, saying the travel was ‘official.' This is the same person who gives lengthy speeches on socialism & austerity & the… pic.twitter.com/QoedcRohR2— Basanagouda R Patil (Yatnal) (@BasanagoudaBJP) December 11, 2025
Scrutiny On Frequent Mysuru Trips
Adding to the political heat are concerns raised by citizen groups and activists over the Chief Minister's repeated use of chartered flights to travel to Mysuru, a district he visits frequently. The introduction of the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway has reduced road travel time from over three hours to approximately 90 minutes.
Swipe Left For Next Video
Activists are questioning why the Chief Minister has reportedly stopped using road transport—a practice he followed during his previous tenure—in favour of expensive air travel. Official data shows nearly 40 trips to Mysuru in 2.5 years, with over Rs 5 crore spent solely on the Bengaluru–Mysuru air route.
“Why take a chartered flight when the common man reaches Mysuru in 90 minutes?" asked one activist, highlighting the optics of the expense. Additionally, documents reveal that from April 2025 to November 2025 alone, the Chief Minister's air travel expenditure touched Rs 14.03 crore, with helicopters reportedly used even for short inter-district visits previously undertaken by road.
Source: News18
Related Posts: U.K. ban on pro-Palestine group under scrutiny in court H1-B visas under scrutiny Zepto’s IPO set to put quick-commerce giants under market scrutiny WADA under scrutiny after Chinese swimmers doping clearance Supreme Court seeks Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s response on plea challenging 2023 election Siddaramaiah says he’ll continue as Karnataka CM if Congress high command decides Karnataka LoP R Ashoka slams CM Siddaramaiah’s full-term claim MLA Claims Shivakumar To Replace Siddaramaiah As Karnataka CM On Jan 6 Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to meet Kharge on Saturday as MLAs lobby for Cabinet berth
RCB vs DC Playing 11: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru aim to reclaim the top spot in the IPL 2026 points table as they face Delhi Capitals. RCB, with a strong opening and middle order, will look to capitalize on their historical dominance against a Delhi side seeking to regain
1 days ago
Oura isn’t a household name in India, and many would be hearing of the Finnish brand for the first time, with the launch of the Oura Ring 4. As the name suggests, Oura has been at the wearable space longer than most people realize—over a decade at this point
1 days ago
Mumbai, Apr 17 (PTI) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched ‘Movitrap’, an innovative mosquito-control device developed under its incubation initiative to combat vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, officials said on Saturday.Mumbai
1 days ago
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) CEO and MD K Krithivasan on Friday informed that the IT major has initiated a formal independent investigation into the sexual harassment incident at its Nashik facility, bringing in external experts and constituting a board-level oversight mechanism to ensure the
1 days ago
Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, has found herself at the centre of a storm after being charged with a doping violation. The charge, brought by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, relates to an out-of-competition test in December.Marketa Vondrousova
1 days ago
Why are RCB wearing green jersey against Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026 match at Chinnaswamy?Royal Challengers Bengaluru will don green jerseys against Delhi Capitals, emphasising their sustainability campaign. Updated on: Apr 18, 2026 1:58 PM IST Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee Share via Copy link
1 days ago
Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis on Saturday chaired a review meeting of the Home Department over the Nashik conversion case, saying that religious conversion cases would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday chaired a review
1 days ago
Think heart disease starts at 50? Heart surgeon reveals shocking truth: ‘Begins as early as age 3…’Heart disease risk is built in at an early age. It does not develop abruptly in middle age, suggesting the importance of early prevention and healthy habits. Published on: Apr 18
1 days ago
The Malayalam television industry is facing a deeply emotional moment as colleagues, friends, and viewers come to terms with the loss of actor Siddharth Venugopal. News of Siddharth’s demise was confirmed through actress Seema G Nair, who had been closely associated with his treatment journey
1 days ago
Pranavi lone Indian to make cut in Joburg Ladies OpenPranavi lone Indian to make cut in Joburg Ladies Open Published on: Apr 18, 2026 1:46 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Johannesburg, Pranavi Urs was the sole Indian to make the cut as she scraped through into the weekend rounds on the cutline at
1 days ago
‘Hold Parliament on Monday, bring old bill, let's see who is anti-women’: Priyanka leads Oppn charge as govt move fails‘Old bill’ refers to 2023 law that already provides for 33% quota for women in legislatures. It was in fact notified this week. Delimitation is the caveat
1 days ago
Why South Korean president’s visit to India mattersThis article is authored by Torunika Roy, research associate, Korea Chair, Council for Strategic and Defence Research (CSDR), New Delhi. Published on: Apr 18, 2026 2:01 PM IST By Torunika Roy Share via Copy link Starting today to April 21, 2026
1 days ago
Hansika Motwani says therapy helped her heal post-divorce from Sohael Khaturiya: ‘I was in a dark space’Hansika Motwani opened up about her divorce, emphasising family support during a challenging time and her decision to move forward without regrets. Apr 18, 2026
1 days ago
Why Pizza 4P’s Bengaluru outlet became ‘Pizza for Peace’ in Kannada: Japanese owner reveals real reasonOwner and CEO of Pizza 4P’s, Masuko Yosuke, shared a tweet on why he opened a store in Bengaluru and the meaning behind the name. Published on: Apr 18
1 days ago
Academicians and experts came together at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) in Kolkata to share concerns and discuss the possibilities in the area of the animal and fish breeders’ rights. The discussion titled “Animal and Fish Breeders’ Rights: An Imperative
1 days ago
Ukrainian drones targeted industrial cities along the Volga River and a Baltic Sea port near St. Petersburg. A fire was extinguished at the Vysotsk port, which handles fuel exports. Attacks also hit industrial targets in Syzran and Novokuibyshevsk, cities known for their oil refineries
1 days ago
New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) A day after a united opposition defeated a Constitution amendment bill to tweak the women’s quota law and increase the number of seats in legislatures through delimitation, Parliamentary Affairs Minsiter Kiren Rijiju on Saturday accused the Congress of being anti-women
1 days ago
A graduate from the National Institute of Technology has gone viral after claiming that only a tiny portion of what she studied in college is actually useful in her current job. The woman, identified as Manvi, shared her thoughts in a video posted on Instagram
1 days ago
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday (April 17, 2026) issued a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products at sea for about a month, seeking to control global energy prices that have shot higher during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.U
1 days ago
Gold and silver prices in India on April 18, 2026 remained largely steady with minor fluctuations across major cities, even as global markets reacted to geopolitical tensions in West Asia and mixed signals from the US dollar. Precious metals, which are traditionally considered safe-haven assets
1 days ago
While addressing the debate on linking the women’s reservation bill with delimitation, Rahul Gandhi joked about him and PM Modi not having wives. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday led the opposition’s debate in Lok Sabha amid a row over linking the Delimitation Bill to the Women’s Quota
1 days ago
Train Safety Tips: Even a minor lapse in judgment while traveling by train can prove costly; therefore, remaining vigilant is absolutely essential. By adopting a few simple precautions, you can make your journey both safe and stress-free. Indian Railway Safety Tips: Millions of people travel by
1 days ago
More than 300 humanoid robots participating in China's second robot half-marathon on Sunday will be facing tougher terrain designed to test their technical advancements, as Beijing seeks to develop the industry into a major pillar of its economy.Over 70 teams
1 days ago
Pak Army chief Munir concludes three-day Iran visitPak Army chief Munir concludes three-day Iran visit Published on: Apr 18, 2026 1:26 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Islamabad, Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has concluded his three-day visit to Iran as part of
1 days ago
Bollywood-inspired Brazilian telenovela recreated Kajra Re, used Beedi Jalaile; internet stunned: ‘How could this exist’The 2009 telenovela Caminho das Índias has resurfaced online, captivating audiences with its Bollywood-style drama and intercaste romance. Apr 18, 2026
1 days ago
Oil prices plunged more than 10% on Friday (April 17, 2026) after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” for the rest of the ceasefire with the United States, and stock markets surged. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that “passage for all commercial
1 days ago
Delhi techie who quit ₹40 LPA Google job opens up on life after corporate: ‘I now own 100% of my time’A Delhi techie quit his ₹40 LPA+ Google job and chose to explore life, prioritising freedom over a predictable career. Published on: Apr 18
1 days ago
