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BJP mislead youth, ruined life: Sorake and orther News...

Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake has said that the BJP has ruined the lives of youth by misleading them and isolating them in the name of religion, caste and faith.

Speaking after inaugurating the district women Congress convention on Saturday, the minister said that BJP should realise that voters are not commodities that can be segregated based on the beliefs and religion.

The Congress always upheld the principles of secularism and firmly believes in progress of the nation.

He said that development is something similar to the progress of labourers and farmers in rural areas, and development has nothing to do with caste and religion. He ridiculed that portraying Modi in the forefront is similar to the debate presented before the voters, whether or not to accept Mahatma assassin Nathuram Ghodse.

Stating that the Congress is supporting the women empowerment by proposing reservation for women, the minister lamented that owing to the resistance from the opposition parties, the Bill could not be passed. If it was not the case, the women by now would have enjoyed reservation in parliamentary and assembly elections. He said the women should be given equal rights and opportunities in political scenario.

He added that as many as 95 promises out of 168 promises made in poll manifesto has been fulfilled within a span of eight months in Karnataka. BPL ration cards have been distributed without any hindrance in the district.

Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hedge said that women are always in the upper hand when it comes to strengthening of the party owing to their dedication. He said women empowerment is the need of the hour.

He also called upon the party workers to disseminate the message over various development programmes implemented by the UPA and state governments.

MLA Pramodh Madhwaraj said as many as 61,000 families have received BPL cards in the district. The government has introduced ‘Manasvini Yojane’ to empower financially weak widows and unmarried women.

Besides, the government has also waived off Ashraya loans up to Rs 1,500 crore. He ridiculed that industrialists are funding Narendara Modi’s campaigning.

’NDA govt responsible for row over arecanut’

BJP is levelling false allegations against UPA govt, alleges Congress

District Congress Committee Publicity wing President A N Mahesh has accused that the NDA government was responsible for the move on ban on arecanut. A report submitted by an expert committee constituted by the NDA said that there are evidences to show that chewing arecanut is carcinogenic.  However, now the BJP is engaged in levelling allegations against the UPA government.

Addressing a press meet, he said that report submitted by the committee was responsible for ban on gutka.  The committee was constituted to look into the production, demand, price details.

“The report submitted by the committee during the NDA rule states that there are evidences to prove that it is carcinogenic and therefore there is always a risk of discontinuation of such intoxicants due to awareness of health consciousness among the consumers. The then Campco president S R Rangamurthy, Akhila Bharatha Areca Growers Association President Dr P K S Bhat were part of the committee of experts.

The committee report had stated, “now is the time to decide whether we should continue to increase the quality of a produce which can not be utilised other than chewing purpose or to divert this valuable land for production of crops which can contribute to the food and nutrition security of people or export earnings. Since the arecanut is reported to be carcinogenic, may be in future with growing awareness of health hazards, its usage may be restricted.

The committee discourages the new area expansion under arecanut,” the report stated. However, the BJP leaders are levelling false allegations that the UPA government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court seeking ban on arecanut.

The previous BJP government has also failed to implement pro- arecaut growers programmes. Majority of the recommendations of Gorak Singh committee has been fulfilled by the government, he said.  Union Minister for Health Gulab Nabi Azad has clarified that arecanut will not be banned in the country. Under Vidharbha package, the union government has waived off loans borrowed by the arecanut growers in Chikmagalur. 

Compensation of Rs 7.85 crore has been disbursed among 16,004 arecanut growers, who have incurred loss following fruit rot disease in the district.

He said that Kadur has been included in the list drought hit taluk. The government has released Rs 70 lakh for taking up relief work. The DC has submitted a proposal seeking release of Rs two crore to take up relief work.

’Politicians should not meddle with culture, art’

Lalitha Kala Academy former President Chi Su Krishna Shetty has said that politics should not interfere in the field of culture and art.

Speaking to mediapersons, he said that politicians should not meddle with culture and art. However, in the last nine months politics is being interfered in the field of culture. Art and culture field has seen a set back in the last nine months. The government has failed to give importance to fine arts.

“The Academy had introduced novelties and created a progressive vibration in the field of art last year. The government should support fine arts in Chikmagalur, Hassan and Malnad,” he said. 

The government’s decision to change the academies president soon after taking charge was not right.  “Academies president should be allowed to continue till their term ends. It has stalled the process of appointing president to Kodava Academy,” he said.

“M S Murthy has been appointed as the President of Lalitha Kala Academy. He also comes from RSS background. If the government goes a head with the stalling of appointment, we will protest against it. I had not identified with any political party. Art is my principle. I was appointed to the Academy for three years. But was changed after a year. The government should clarify as why I was removed.”

He said that colleges which teach fine arts should be given facilities. Welcoming the government’s decision to implement cultural policy, he said that cultural policy is need of the hour. Delhi and Goa governments have already framed a cultural policy.

’Ministers have no concern for DK’

Bandh call against river diversion project gets overwhelming response: Forum

Karavali Jeevanadi Netravati Rakshana Samithi leader Vijay Kumar Shetty has said that ministers representating Dakshina Kannada district do not have concern for the people of the district. They have failed to protect the interest of the people of the district, when it comes to Yettinahole project.

Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, he said that the bandh call given by the samithi on March 3, has received overwhelming response from the various organisations and educational institutions. As per the DPR,  the Yettinahole project envisages to pump about 22 tmc ft of water from Yettinahole, a tributary of River Netravathi. “A sum of Rs 12,900 crore would be spent on the project.

It is a sheer waste of public money. The DPR said that six to eight tmc feet water would be required for Chikkaballapura and Kolar. However, now the project has been changed to supply water to Bangalore, Tumkur and other districts. Even officials from Karnataka Neeravari Nigama has said that the project is impossible to implement,” Shetty added.

The firm which was engaged in preparing DPR has no experience in the field. “The ministers represeneting the district should ensure that foundation for the project is not laid and no injustice is met at the people of the district.”

Flaying Hasha Moily, son of Union Minister Veerappa Moily for supporting Yettinahole project, Shetty said that Moily has no technical knowledge on the project. 

Criticising Law Minister T B Jayachandra for stating that foundation for Yettinahole project will be laid at any cost, leader M G Hegde asked what was he doing as an elected representative when hundreds of lakes in Tumkur, Kolar, Chikkaballapura were encroached illegally for converting it into a commercial complexes.

“The bandh call is a warning for the elected representatives of the district to come to the rescue of the people. Harsha Moily who was brought up in foreign country has no emotional attachment to the river Netravathi.”

AICC Secretary P V Mohan said that the police should keep an eye on anti-social elements during bandh. If any untoward incidents take place during bandh, then the district administration and police will be soley responsible for it.

“Chikkaballapura is also observing bandh on Monday. So, for whom the water is being diverted from Yettinahole? If Yettinahole fails, then they will not hesitate to take water from Kumaradhara or other tributaries of Netravathi,” said Dinesh Holla.

Diocese supports

Mangalore diocese has appealed to the public to maintain peace during the DK bandh called by various organisations in protest against Netravathi river diversion.

According to a press release, Diocesan PRO Rev Fr William Menezas said that Netravathi is the lifeline of the district. The district already faces acute shortage of water during summer. If an attempt to divert river is made, then it will have a catastrophic effect on the district. Yettinahole or river diversion project is being implemented without taking people into confidence. “We will urge the government to take up rain water harvesting, rejuvenation of streams in Kolara and Chikkaballapura, to irrigate their land.

Support

The Janatha Dal (Secular) district unit has extended full support to the Dakshina Kannada bandh call given by various organisations on March 3, against the proposed Yettinahole or Netravati diversion project, said Dakshina Kannada JD(S) President M B Sadashiva.

Speaking to media persons on Saturday, Sadashiva strongly condemned the State government’s decision to go ahead with the project, inspite of stiff opposition from the people of the district.

“At least now the elected representatives should act and save river Netravathi. A scientific study should be conducted on the project.”

Sene supports bandh

Sri Rama Sene Dakshina Kannada District Vice President Kumar Malemar accused Union Minister for Petroleum M Veerappa Moily and former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda for taking up Yettinahole project.  “Both are cheating the people of the district. Sri Rama Sene will support the bandh,” he said in a press release.
KCCI supports

The KCCI, KSIA and DSIA have extended their support to the bandh. In a press release, they said that the government has taken an unilateral decision for laying foundation to the proposed Yettinahole project. “The state government should have consulted experts, and industrial organisations before taking a final call.”

Various organisations of the district including Kendra Maarukatte Vyaparasthara Sangha, Madilu Mahila Samaja, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Adarsh Friends Association Chilimbi, New Friends Kapigudda have criticised the government over river diversion plan and extended full support to the bandh.