Sonia says Narendra Modi's real face 'masked'

April 9, 2014

Kolar, Apr 9: Training her guns on BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today charged that he was being projected with his "true face" hidden behind a mask and as a "magician" who could cure all ills of the country.

sonia
Without naming Modi, Gandhi also made a stinging attack on the Gujarat model of development being touted by him, saying some people had the habit of projecting "small things in a big" way as if no good work is happening in other states.

"These days you can see all over the country huge and costly advertisements are being showcased and an attempt is being made by them to hide the truth," the UPA Chairperson told an election rally here.

She said, "An attempt is being made to hide the true face of one person with a mask; he is being projected as a cure for all ills and as a magician for the country."

Tearing into the Gujarat model, she said, "Some people have this habit of projecting small things in a big way. These days similar picture is being shown about the development in Gujarat as though no good work is happening in other states."

Gandhi said it was a "different thing altogether" that the poor, downtrodden and minorities had made enough sacrifices for "this development...children are dying of malnutrition in poor man's house, tribals are facing problems in leading their daily lives."

Charging that farmers' lands were being forcefully acquired in Gujarat, she said, "If we talk about the condition of women in Gujarat, there are different types of harassment. This is their true picture."

"....they don't believe in unity in diversity, they divide hearts, they make brothers to fight against each other. Please tell me can you expect nation building from such people who don't believe in our fundamentals of secular principles."

"We cannot have expectations from such people about nation building.," Gandhi said, as she canvassed support for Union Minister K H Muniyappa who is contesting from Kolar (Reserved) constituency. "We

have two options in front of us. On one side we have BJP and its divisive communal agenda, on the other side there is Congress which has always stood for brotherhood and unity...," Gandhi said.

"This is the same BJP that talks of Dharma and morality, but you are witness to the fact of how women were treated during their rule, it was a kind of national embarrassment," she said hitting out at the previous BJP government in Karnataka.

She said, "It was the time in Karnataka when all kinds of developmental activities had come to halt, and with conspiracy and collusion your mineral resources were being looted."

Expressing happiness about developmental works undertaken by Siddaramaih-led Government, she said, "A season of progress has come back to Karnataka."

She also said that in the last ten years UPA government at the Centre has also undertaken several developmental works. "We have done works and have taken several decisions that will improve the quality of life of people from all sections of society."

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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 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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