Karnataka HC grants interim relief to Twitter India MD Manish Maheshwari

Udupi, Nov 26: Three teenage students met watery grave in Bhatrady rivulet near Mullugudde under the limits of Shivapura gram panchayat in Hebri taluk of Udupi district today.

The deceased have been identified as Sudarshan (16), Kiran (16) and Sonit (17). They were the students of government pre-university college, Hiriyadka.

The tragedy occurred when the trio had ventured into to rivulet to learn swimming. 

The bodies were recovered from the rivulet with the help of locals.

Hebri tahsildar Purandar, revenue inspector Hithesh, sub inspector Mahesh, leaders Suresh Shetty Shivapura and Ramesh Poojary visited the spot.

Shivamogga, Nov 23: KPCC Spokesperson Kimmane Ratnakar predicted that former chief minister B S Yediyurappa will quit BJP and build KJP again. The Bommai-led government in Karnataka may collapse.

Speaking to media persons, here on Monday, he said, the Central leaders of BJP are ignoring Yediyurapppa. So, the former chief minister will focus on strengthening KJP in the state by quitting BJP. 

Criticising Home Minister Aaraga Jnanendra, he said, BJP leader has become home minister for Thirthahalli assembly constituency and not for the state. Besides, Jnanendra is busy in registering cases against his political rivals in the constituency.

He also alleged that the home minister is contributing to the increase in criminal cases by supporting his supporters. Illegal sand mining and other activities are rampant in the constituency. BJP workers take pride in saying that the home minister is their leader. But in reality, people of the constituency are feeling embarrassed to say that the home minister is from Thirthahalli. 

Referring to legislative council polls, he said, Congress candidate R Prasanna Kumar will emerge victorious in the polls again. In the previous polls, JD(S)was in the second spot. Now, Madhu Bangarappa has embraced Congress from JD(S) and this is likely to prove beneficial for Congress.

He also demanded the Centre to provide compensation of Rs 25 lakh each to the kin of farmers who died during the agitation against farm laws.

Congress leaders N Ramesh, S P Dinesh, Veda Vijay Kumar, Kalagodu Ratnakar, Yamuna Range Gowda, District Social Media President Praveen Kumar and others were present in a press conference.

Kasaragod, Nov 22: The Kerala wing of BJP has demanded the state government to ban halal food and boards across the state.

Last week, former Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) state president SJR Kumar told the High court that halal-certified jaggery was being used to prepare prasadam (offerings).

The party’s demand came following allegations on social media claiming that the Muslim clergy would spit on the food to make it halal, according to a report.

“The BJP does not believe that halal is a religious practice and doesn’t think that even Islamic scholars would back it. By giving a religious façade for halal, extremist organisations are trying to implement a communal agenda in Kerala society,” said P Sudheer, BJP state general secretary, while addressing the media on Sunday. He claimed halal to be a “social evil”, like triple talaq.

“If this is being done on behalf of the religion, scholars should be ready to rectify it,” he added.

His statements were supported by K Surendran, the state president of the party, stating the ‘halal phenomenon’ in Kerala to be neither accidental nor innocent.

“Certain religious extremists are behind promoting halal culture. Those forces want to divide people of Kerala and foment tension in society. There is a clear agenda behind spreading halal culture,” Surendran said.

The issue was also backed by PC George, a former leader of regional Christian party Kerala Congress (M), claiming halal food to be a part of religious fundamentalism.

George, who had garnered hate from Muslim organisations for his anti-community comments, said, “Spitting on food is mandatory for Muslims. While kneading the dough, they would spit on it three times. The prasadam at Sabarimala should not be used as halal jaggery is used for making it.”

Meanwhile, Sandeep Varier, the BJP state spokesman, who had earlier voiced against the campaign, opting for communal harmony, in a Facebook post, happens to have deleted the same.

“All should understand that Hindus, Muslims and Christians cannot live in this state boycotting each other economically. Hindus work in Muslim’s institutions and vice versa. A simple social media post can destroy such an institution. But the closure of an organisation will push people of all sections into poverty,” his post read.