Mahendra Kumar joins JD-S, apologizes to Christians

Mangalore, February 21: Close on the heels of sharing power with BJP in Mysore Zilla Panchayat, opposition JDS today admitted into its fold a sangh parivar leader, reportedly involved in church attacks in Karnataka to "weaken communal forces and strengthen secular forces".

Former convenor of Bajrang Dal Mahendra Kumar today joined JDS led by former Prime Minister H D Devegowda along with his supporters from coastal and Malnad districts of Karnataka in the presence of state unit JDS president H D Kumaraswamy.

Mahendra Kumar who was divested as the convenor of Bajdrang Dal after he owned responsibility for the 2008 church attack in parts of Mangalore and Chikmagalur and even jailed for some time, lashed out at BJP which he accused as a "party that is creating wedge between castes and communities for its survival".

"I am today shedding the shackles of communalism to strive for communal harmony, for which the JDS is working," Mahendra Kumar said defending his cross over to JDS.

He tendered his apologies to Christians for his role in attacks on churches and described Muslims as patriots.

Mahendra Kumar, training his guns on the BJP government in the state, said corruption had reached unprecedented heights.

Kumaraswamy dubbed the Congress as a "directionless party". He said he had chosen to admit Mahendra Kumar into the party fold despite reservations expressed by Muslims and Christian leaders.

Kumaraswamy said he was "keen on promoting the welfare of downtrodden sections of the society".

JDS Spokesman Y S V Datta launched a blistering attack on today's BJP rally remarking "it is not for celebrating 1000 days in office, but to celebrate 1000 scams that have surfaced in the BJP government".

The BJP has put on display its ugly wealth power in the rally, he alleged.

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DK in-charge minister presents CM’s MSP plea to Prime Minister in Mangaluru

News Network

November 28,2025

Mangaluru, Nov 28: Karnataka Health Minister and Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday handed over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the severe distress faced by farmers due to crashing crop prices.

PM Modi arrived at the Mangaluru International Airport en route to Udupi, where Gundu Rao welcomed him and submitted the letter. The chief minister’s message stressed that farmers are suffering heavy losses because maize and green gram are being bought far below the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The state urged the Centre to immediately begin procurement at MSP.

According to the letter, Karnataka has a bumper harvest this year—over 54.74 lakh metric tons of maize and 1.98 lakh metric tons of green gram—yet farmers are unable to secure fair prices. Against the MSP of ₹2,400/MT for maize and ₹8,768/MT for green gram, market rates have plunged to ₹1,600–₹1,800 and ₹5,400 respectively.

The chief minister has requested the Centre to:

• Direct NAFED, FCI and NCCF to start MSP procurement immediately.
• Ensure ethanol units purchase maize directly from farmers or FPOs.
• Increase Karnataka’s ethanol allocation, citing high production capacity.
• Stop maize imports, which have depressed domestic prices.
• Relax quality norms for green gram, allowing up to 10% discoloration due to rains.

The letter stresses that MSP is crucial for farmer dignity and income stability and calls for swift central intervention to prevent a deepening crisis.

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