Cong toeing BJP line on rituals, ridicules Shettar

Bengaluru, Jun 8: Members of the ruling Congress and the principal Opposition party BJP sparred in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday over the controversial Parjanya “Homa” performed by Water Resources Minister M B Patil recently to invoke the blessings of rain God.

Patil hit back at leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar, who had accused the government of promoting blind beliefs by performing the homa. Patil produced a circular issued in July 2012 when Shettar was the chief minister, which directed all muzrai department temples to perform Prajanya Homa and japa.The minister showed another circular dated July 11, 2001 that directed all muzrai temples to perform Prajanya pooje. “The 2012 circular has exposed the hypocrisy of Shettar. Prajanya Homa was performed in 2012 spending about Rs 17 crore, despite opposition from certain quarters. This shows his (Shettar) statements are politically motivated. His views have hurt the sentiments of the people,” Patil charged, claiming that he had performed only a pooja and not the homa.

Shettar responded sarcastically that Patil seems to be toeing “our” (BJP) line in following Hindu culture and tradition. “We congratulate you for showing respect to Hindu tradition and performing the homa…But my question is, why should the government resort to pooja and homa while claiming that it doesn't believe in such practices? The government is promoting blind beliefs by performing homa,” he charged.

Congress members, including Patil, took exception to Shettar's remarks and dubbed the BJP members hypocrites. BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai asked Patil not to feel guilty for having performed the homa, while his party colleague Govind Karjol said people who worship deities cannot be considered Lingayats, quoting Basavanna (12th century social reformer). Health Minister Ramesh Kumar intervened and said that the government must be run according to the Constitution of India and not personal beliefs.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

Comments