Will you turn your Mutt into Mosque or Church: BJP MP asks seer

coastaldigest.com news network
August 28, 2017

Belagavi, Aug 28: BJP leader and Member of Parliament Suresh Angadi has triggered a controversy by asking Sri Siddarama Swami of Nagnur Rudrakshi Mutt whether the latter would turn the mutt into a mosque or a church.

The seer is spearheading an agitation seeking recognition to Lingayat religion. “Nagnur Mutt senior seer Sri Shiva Basava Swami baptised me when I was a child. He is no more now. All my life, my parents told me that I was a Hindu. I believed that I have lived according to my belief. But his junior Sri Siddarama Swami is now heading a movement to carve out Lingayatism as a religion, by dividing Hindus. If the Nagnur Mutt seer claims that he is not a Hindu, will he turn Nagnur Rudrakshi Mutt into a mosque or a church?” the MP asked.

He termed some Lingayat leaders as “vested interests who were trying to divide society, and were doing a disservice to Basaveshwara who had united 790 castes and sub-castes back in the 12th Century”.

Mr. Angadi reiterated that the rally to seek religion status in Belagavi on Tuesday was a Congress rally and not a Lingayat rally. “That is why I stayed away from it,” he said. It was the BJP that introduced Basaveshwara to the world. “We supported the efforts to put up Basaveshwara’s bust in London,” he said.

But the Congress is misleading the community and its leaders. It is a serious issue and all religious and political leaders should sit and discuss it before taking a decision, he said.

The MP maintained that he was a Hindu and asked the Nagnur seer to clarify whether he was a Hindu.

“But then, we are all Indians first. The BJP believes in the unity of all Indians, but the Congress does not. It has been dividing people on religious lines. The party was behind the agitations by Patels in Gujarat, Jats in Rajasthan and Marathas in Maharashtra. All this was because the Congress is trying to destabilise the country. Similarly, it is playing a political game in Karnataka, by provoking Lingayats to rise against the Union government,” he alleged.

He also alleged that Lingayat leaders who organised the rally in the Lingaraj College Grounds had given false information about the purpose of the convention. They said that it was for a convention and got permission to hold the rally, he said and clarified that he was not invited to the rally.

Comments

wellwisher
 - 
Monday, 28 Aug 2017

Sir,

Why these religious matters you are raising in assembly session... Mutt, Mandir ;Swamy and all religious matters should  be far way from your political goons hand. We don't want to see any political goons involement or intervention in such religious issue. There are well educated;qualified religious dignitaires to discuss and solve the matter. Your Israely policy will not work out in KARNATAKA. If have any capacity knowledge to  develop our state like Sir Bharat Ratna Visweshrayya then come in front and do. Or wearing KHADI and a Panga nama on your forehead will not change  qualified Kannadigas mind set.

So be Hushaar .

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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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 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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