J R Lobo attempts damage control after ‘communal’ remark

[email protected] (CD Network)
February 21, 2017

Mangaluru, Feb 21: Congress leader and Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo has attempted to convince the party leaders and Muslim groups in the coastal city that he had not intended to hurt any community in his recent Shivaji jayanti speech, which sparked a communal controversy.

jrlobo
Speaking on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Jayanti in the city on February 19, Mr Lobo had quoted a controversial couplet of Shivaji’s court Kavi Bhushan, who apparently had a negative opinion about his contemporary Mughal rulers and Muslims.

Kavi Bhushan’s controversial Braj Bhasha (a Western Hindi dialect) couplet reads: Kashiji ki Kalaa Jaati, Mathura Masjid hoti/ Shiavaji na hote tho sunnat hoti sabki (Had not there been Shivaji, Kashi would have lost its culture, Mathura would have been turned into a mosque and all would have been circumcised).

Several Muslim activists in Mangaluru had strongly criticized Mr Lobo and accused him of trying to instigate animosity between communities in a communally sensitive city, by quoting such provocative couplets.

Brushing aside the allegation, Mr Lobo, who is also the chairman of state legislative backward class and minority welfare committee, said that for him people of all communities including Hindus and Muslims are equal and that he respects both mosques and temples.

“It was not my personal view. I had just quoted a poet. If anyone is hurt or annoyed by my speech, then I don’t hesitate to apologize. However, I did not hurt anyone intentionally,” he clarified.

Comments

sam
 - 
Wednesday, 22 Feb 2017

This man is acting as particular community's MLA, n not for all mangaloreans from the beginning, but ppl of Mangalore came to know his real face n will take necessary action in forthcoming election. He is good for his own community's few ppl.

Bopanna
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2017

Nothing wrong in what Mr.Lobo said

Mohammed
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2017

Myself a Congress follower but to be frank, I know JRB since he was a commissioner at MCC, he not in any favourable to Muslims,

Shaad
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2017

Tippu Sultan did the right thing. He may have killed some British supporters who was against India. Unfortunate that some escaped and as a result some hatemongers still living.

Shaad
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2017

He doesnt know that There was no Sringeri if Tippu not respond.
Shivaji was good ruler and Muslims leaders was holding all the position in his cabinet even his personal body gaurd was an Muslim.
Shivaji itself invaded many temples for wealth even Mughals doesnt and these RSS and Vatican thugs picturising Shivvaji as communal.

Shaad
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2017

Lucky Tippu Sultan was in Mysore, otherwise whole Mangalore would have gone to Firangis and their grand children.

His ancestors supported British against Tippu and still holding all properties in heart of Mangalore by l****ng british boots.
Even cemetary located in heart of city with acres.

Shaad
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2017

He showed his real face and trying to impress Sanghis. Does Congress need this kind of people? Day Congress and Night RSS.

He knows that doesn't need Muslim vote and eye on Sanghis and Hindus along with his Vatican tribes will reach winning margin.

manjunath
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2017

whats there to create ,its already created .

Shahul
 - 
Tuesday, 21 Feb 2017

Mr. Lobo you should apologize to the muslim community by hurting their feelings. In your speech you quoted the controversial couplet to appease certain community for vote bank politics.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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News Network
December 7,2025

SHRIMP.jpg

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A rare bamboo shrimp has been rediscovered on mainland India more than 70 years after it was last reported, confirming for the first time the presence of Atyopsis spinipes in the country. The find was made by researchers from the Centre for Climate Change Studies at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, during surveys in Karnataka and Odisha.

The team — shrimp expert Dr S Prakash, PhD scholar K Kunjulakshmi, and Mangaluru-based researcher Maclean Antony Santos — combined field surveys, ecological assessments and DNA analysis to identify the elusive species. Their findings, published in Zootaxa, resolve decades of taxonomic confusion stemming from a 1951 report that misidentified the species as Atyopsis moluccensis without strong evidence.

The shrimp has now been confirmed at two locations: the Mulki–Pavanje estuary near Mangaluru and the Kuakhai River in Bhubaneswar. Historical specimens from the Andaman Islands, previously labelled as A. moluccensis, were also found to be misidentified and actually belong to A. spinipes.

The rediscovery began after an aquarium hobbyist in Odisha spotted a shrimp in 2022, prompting systematic surveys across Udupi, Karwar and Mangaluru. Four female specimens were collected in Mulki and one in Odisha, all genetically matching.

Researchers warn the species may exist in very small, vulnerable populations as freshwater habitats face increasing pressure from pollution, sand mining and infrastructure development. All verified specimens have been deposited with the Zoological Survey of India for future reference.

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