U T Khader endorses BHP, says forming religious outfit is not illegal

January 17, 2015

Mangaluru, Jan 17: With regard to the formation of Bharatiya Hindu Parishad by a Puttur-based Congress leader in Dakshina Kannada district, senior Congress leader and Health Minister U T Khader said that it was not wrong or illegal to form an organization in the name of religion. However, it is necessary to keep the activities of such organizations in check so that they do not become anti-constitutional, he opined.

Clarifying his stand on the issue here, Mr Khader told reporters that this was his personal opinion and not a reaction to the senior leaders' statements.

"It does not make sense to question the formation of an organisation merely because of its religious connection. It is my opinion that everyone has the right to form an organisation on religious lines," said the minister.

On the controversy surrounding replacement of Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister of the state, he said that the post of the CM was secure and he had the full support of all party and opposition members. The job of the opposition is to make allegations, hence there was no need to consider the allegations seriously, he stated.

He said that it was inevitable to see a Dalit leader becoming the chief minister in Karnataka in the future if the state has to witness social justice. Only then, there will be social equality among all sections of people in the society. Such a prospect will be possible only when the Congress is in power, he replied.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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