Amit Shah to visit Adichunchanagiri Mutt to 'woo' Vokkaligas

DHNS
August 9, 2017

New Delhi, Aug 9: BJP national president Amit Shah's scheduled visit to Adichunchanagiri Mutt during his Karnataka tour this weekend is being seen as an attempt to woo Vokkaligas, a dominant community, ahead of the early next year's Legislative Assembly election in the state.

The mutt has influence over the politically dominant Vokkaligas. Over the last three years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited powerful religious-cum-spiritual heads of the Lingayat community --- Shivakumara Swami, the centenarian pontiff of Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru district and Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swami of Suttur Mutt in Mysuru district. Shah’s scheduled trip to Adichunchanagiri Mutt is being interpreted in the state political circles as the BJP’s balancing act among two major communities that swing election prospects.

With the Congress trying to project the BJP as anti-Vokkaliga after Income Tax raids on the properties of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, the saffron party chief’s scheduled visit to the mutt will dispel the “misconception”, a senior BJP leader said.

Shah’s proposed engagement with Adichunchanagiri Mutt has gained significance as the academic institutions run by the mutt were probed by the Income Tax Department when the UPA was in power in 2013. The BJP leaders, however, stated that Shah’s visit should not be seen with political prism. Instead, it is in appreciation of the fact that the mutt’s head Nirmalanandanatha Swami is taking keen interest in the prime minister’s pet Swachh Bharat programme in that region and also adopted a few villages to implement the cleanliness project on behalf of the spiritual body.

The party, which is hoping to retain its traditional Lingayat votes after declaring B S Yeddyurappa its chief ministerial candidate, is now working to reach out to Vokkaligas to consolidate on their 15% vote share, which in previous elections was scattered among different parties.

The BJP recently took on board former Congress Chief Minister S M Krishna, a powerful Vokkaliga leader. Also, it recently appointed M S Boje Gowda, another leader from the community from Chikkamagaluru district, as chairman of the Coffee Board. There is also talk of inducting a Vokkaliga MP from Karnataka into the Union Cabinet in the next reshuffle expected later this month.

Shah, who will be in Bengaluru for three days starting August 12, will also visit Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who runs the Art of Living Foundation in Bengaluru. Ravishankar, who was one of the staunch supporters of the prime minister, has a large following in Karnataka, especially among the new generation. During the next round of the state tour, Shah will also pay respects to other religious heads, said a BJP leader.

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News Network
December 16,2025

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Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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