In the Kolar district of Karnataka, the local administration in Mulbagal town has demolished the illegal 20-feet statue of Jesus Christ located in Gokunte village as per the order given by the High Court.
According to the reports, the taluk administration, on the orders of Mulbagal Tehshildar Shobhita R, demolished the Jesus statue on Tuesday because it was built on government land reserved for grazing animals.
On Monday, the officials flanked by hundreds of policemen arrived in Gokunte where the local church had encroached the land despite opposition by local residents.
Mulbagal Tehshildar R Shobhita said, “We demolished the statue based on the High Court order,” and the demolition was carried out after seven to eight hearings and the demolition order which was issued in March 2021, was carried out only after the local administration submitted a compliance report to the court.
But the local Christians have claimed that the statue demolition is illegal because the case was still pending in court and have said that this action has hurt the sentiments of the community and the Archbishop of that area has alledged that the local administration did not show any order to them.
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In the Shivamogaa district in Karnataka, a 26-year-old Hindu activist and member of Bajrang Dal named Harsha was hacked to death near Kamat petrol bunk on Sunday (February 20).
As per reports, the victim Harsha was a tailor by occupation and was a native of Seegehatti in the Shivamogaa district. He was a member of Bajrang Dal and was a vocal supporter of uniformity in dress code in the recent controversy over hijab. He was in his view and had participated against the wearing of hijab by wearing saffron shawls.
Eyewitnesses claim that around 40 men armed with knives came in bikes and attacked him.
After the attack took place, the Harsha was rushed to the Mc Gann district hospital, where he succumbed to his stab injuries. However, thousands of people paid their respect and gathered to accompany the body of Harsha while it is being taken to his residence.
Karnataka | Body of the 26-year-old Bajrang Dal activist Harsha, who was allegedly murdered yesterday in Shivamogga, being taken to his residence amid Police security after postmortem.
As of now the identity of the attackers remains unknown and as the situation in Shivamogga has become tense and a probe has been ordered and a preliminary investigation has revealed Harsha had received threats prior to his brutal killing.
A picture of a badly wounded Harsha is now gone viral on the internet and that has led to large-scale protests in Shivamogaa.
Several vehicles were set on fire in Seegehatti, and district administration imposed Section 144 in the area along with a contingent of police has been deployed to prevent any law and order situation.
All schools and colleges have been ordered to remain closed on Monday in light of this allegedly targeted killing of a Hindu.
According to OpIndia, it was the Muslim community in the area who killed Harsha and said that the killers came in a car and attacked Harsha with sharp weapons.
It is pertinent to note that a Fatwa had been issued against 23-year old Harsha in a Facebook group called ‘Mangalore Muslims’.
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The suicide case of the 17-yr-old Lavanya from Thanjavur which is now being handled by the CBI is seeing developments every other day.
While the case was transferred to the CBI by the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, the Tamil Nadu government had appealed to the Supreme Court, against the transfer. However, recently the Supreme Court upheld the Madras High Court’s order. The Supreme Court said that it will not interfere in the ongoing CBI probe in the case. The apex court also said that the CBI is to very much look into, or probe the forced conversion angle of the case as well.
Lavanya, who was studying in class 12 at Sacred Heart Higher Secondary School in Michaelpatti near Thanjavur, committed suicide by drinking pesticide after she was allegedly tortured to convert to Christianity by the school. Lavanya’s parents alleged that there was an attempt to forcefully convert their child and become a nun which the child had rejected and hence was subject to torture.
Meanwhile, the YouTube channel Chanakyaa has released another interview with Lavanya’s maternal grandmother Mangayarkarasi, who is the mother of Lavanya’s birth mother, Kanimozhi. Mangayarkarasi reveals more about Kanimozhi and her relationship with her family, till her death.
“Kanimozhi would send her children to school and she would also leave for work. I only educated her until 10th standard, but she went used to practice agriculture after her marriage to Muruganandham,” she said. The Police have also enquired with Mangayakarasi’s older sister, who is in Coimbatore.
Speaking about that enquiry, Mangayakarasi said, “Initially an officer called Saravanan came to enquire us. I told them that I do not know anything related to the case. Another lady officer took us to investigate us. As I was a little tight-lipped, they started enquiring my sister’s husband who was in Coimbatore. She then called me and asked me to tell them what I know.”
Only Lavanya’s testimony video, and her foster mother Saranya’s interview gives evidence to the conversion angle of the case, so far. Lavanya’s maternal grandmother Mangayakarasi and her 2nd maternal unce visited her when she was admitted to the Thanjavur hospital. Speaking about Lavanya’s statements when they visited her, she said, “Lavanya confessed to her uncle that she consumed poison only because they forced her to convert to Christianity.”
While the High Court transferred the case to the CBI on January 31, according to Mangayakarasi, the Police have continued to pay her house a visit, up until February 10, the day the interview was taken. She also told that the Police have come in ‘Mufti’ or non-uniform. She also said that almost everyday 4-5 policemen would come to their house and conduct the same enquiry, even after the case was transferred. An SI was mostly accompanied by 2-3 constables, who all came in varied times, and asked them the same questions, again and again.
Some questions have been raised from this interview. Firstly, who investigated Mangayakarasi’s sister and why? Secondly, was Lavanya’s uncle’s testimony enquired and taken into consideration, given that the child opened up about conversion to him? Thirdly, why did the Police officials continue to investigate the grandmother, even after the case was transferred to the CBI?
The Chanakyaa team also spoke to the doctor who treated Lavanya’s skin disease. While speaking about the treatment he gave, the doctor has revealed that he was unaware that Saranya was Lavanya’s foster mother, until the reporters revealed the information to him. He also said Saranya treated Lavanya like her own daughter, because he never doubted their relationship. Lavanya’s first younger brother also said that they shared a good relationship, and that Lavanya couldn’t speak to them only when she came home from hostel days before her death.
(With inputs from Chanakyaa)
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The central government has given the ‘green signal’ for the Godavari Link project. With the cooperation of the state governments, the work is likely to start soon. The Godavari is the largest river in the country, after the Ganges and the Indus. The river originates near Nashik in the state of Maharashtra and travels 1,450 km through Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and joins the Bay of Bengal.
Annually, through the Godavari River, around 1,100 TMC, water mixes with the sea without any use for it. Similarly, the Krishna River, which originates at Mahabaleshwar near Satara in Maharashtra, travels 1,300 Km via Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and joins the Bay of Bengal near Vijayawada. To this end, a pumping project called ‘Boleswaram’ is being implemented.
The Central Government has decided to implement the Godavari-Krishna-Pennayaru-Balaru-Cauvery link project. Implementation of this river connection project will reduce water scarcity not only in Tamil Nadu but also in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In addition, it will also help increase irrigation, and also fulfill the water needs of factories.
This is the long term dream project of Tamil Nadu. For the past 11 years, the anticipation for this project has been increasing every year. The Central Government, through the National Water Development Agency, has prepared a detailed project report to implement the river connection project. Accordingly, it has planned to implement the Godavari-Cauvery link in three designs.
1st Design:
A canal of 1,211 km is to be constructed from Eechampally in Jaisankar district of Telangana state to Kallanai in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. This includes 19 km of tunnels and waterways. Through this project, 26 lakh acres of land will be newly irrigated in the areas where the canal travels. To implement the project, 60 MW and 120 MW power plants will be set up at two locations. Across the Godavari River, a 87 meter long, 15.89 TMC, capacity gate is to be constructed at Eechampally. From here, it is planned to discharge 70,000 cubic feet of flood water per second. ₹ 73,611 crores will be required to implement this project.
2nd Design:
In Janampet, Mahabubnagar district, Telangana state, 1,252 km from the Godavari river, a canal is to be constructed and connected with the Cauvery at Thanjavur district fort. For this, a 22 km, tunnel waterway should also be constructed. A 120 MW power plant should be set up to carry water in the pumping system. It is also planned to install solar panels and generate electricity in the canal. The project will irrigate 19.6 lakh acres of new land in the canal-travelling states. ₹60,361 crore is required for this project.
3rd Design:
It plans to bring water from Janampet to Nagarjuna Sagar Dam through a pipeline. From there a canal is to be built and connected to the Thanjavur fort. For this, 1,211 km of canal will be constructed, including 50 km of tunnel waterway. ₹90,563 crore is required to implement the project in this format. Through this project, up to 11 lakh acres will be newly irrigated.
Of these three designs, the first design between Eechampally – Kallanai has been selected by the Central Government. The Government of Tamil Nadu has extended full cooperation to implement this project. The cooperation of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh is also required. The project is to be implemented gradually, with a loan from the World Bank or the Asian Development Bank. Through this project, 247 TMC, Godavari overflow will be diverted to Krishna – Pennayaru – Palaru – Cauvery river.
The Karnataka government has been at loggerheads since the beginning, demanding that they be provided with water under the scheme. The governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have not yet pledged their cooperation. The drinking water requirement of the city of Hyderabad will also be met. In Andhra Pradesh, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, Chittoor and Nellore districts will benefit.
In Tamil Nadu, not only delta districts but also Tiruvallur, Vellore, Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Perambalur and Trichy districts will benefit. Not only the drinking water demand of Chennai but also the water demand of the factories will be met. Therefore, the cooperation of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is expected to be received soon. With the co-operation of the states, work on the river connection is likely to begin soon.
Report prepared by 35 officers:
Through the National Water Development Agency, a detailed project report was prepared and completed in March 2021. The report, which has a total of 382 pages, has been prepared by 35 officers from the states of Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, divided into three groups and carried out various studies.
The team includes National Water Development Agency Director Bhopal Singh and Southern Region Chief Engineer Sangua. Various departments of the Central Government, including the Central Water Resources Authority, have provided their assistance in preparing the report.
The Execution of the Project:
Godavari water is to be brought from Eechampally in Telangana state to Musi dam and Nagarjuna Sagar dam through canal and mining waterway. In Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, a connecting canal is to be constructed to the Somasila Dam, which is being built across the Pennayar. A connecting canal is to be constructed across the Araniyar from the Somasila Dam and along the Poondi Lake in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.
Then, through Ballaru which flows through Kanchipuram and Vellore districts and crosses Ponnayaru, Manimukta river and Maruthaiyaru near Villupuram Thirukovilur, Thanjavur district is to be connected to the fort.
With regard to this, an official of the Cauvery Technical Division said, “The National Water Development Agency officials have been saying that the cooperation of the state governments is required to implement this project. Many states have put it on hold without approving a detailed project report. Therefore, the project is likely to be further delayed.
If the southwest monsoon starts in June, project work will not be able to commence. Therefore, the meeting of the concerned Chief Ministers or Water Resources Ministers and officials should be arranged by the Central Government as soon as possible. It is through this meeting that the consensus and support of the states can be established.”
On Friday, a former Superindent of Police of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), IPS Arvind Digvijay Negi, was arrested for allegedly leaking secret documents to an over ground worker (OGW) of the banned Islamic terror group, Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The IPS officer, who was promoted to the position of SP in 2011, was arrested by the NIA, in relation with a case registered by it in November last year. The case is in relation with the spread of a network of over ground workers of the banned LeT, for giving their support for planning and execution of terrorist activity in India. The NIA has already arrested 6 others, pertaining to the case.
During the investigation, the house of former officer was thoroughly searched. It was also found that official secret documents of the NIA were leaked by A D Negi to another accused person who is an OGW of LeT in the case.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has lashed out at the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that no one in government has the authority to control Raj Bhavan i.e. the governor and it is his duty to ensure that their business is conducted in accordance with the Constitution.
Khan was very critical of the Left government for dolling out pension benefits to the personal staff of ministers just after completing two years of service a few months ago was a “gross violation and abuse of authority’ and ‘misuse and abuse of money of people of Kerala,”.
The outspoken Kerala governor has now asked the LDF government to end this practice and make it part of the policy address as it is his constitutional duty to advise the government and he was going to pursue the pension matter and not going to leave it there.
“I am here not to run the administration. I am here to ensure that the business of the government is conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and constitutional morality,” he told reporters here.
As a former Union Minister, Khan said that he could appoint only 11 persons in his personal staff, however, in Kerala, every minister has more than 20 personal staff, which is an unnecessary financial burden to the state exchequer and in other states in India these staff, who are appointed on a co-terminus basis, eligible to receive pension.
He was categorical when and called this pension for staff as alleged party recruitment in the name of appointment of the personal staff who are political workers working for the party for two years and being financed by the state exchequer.
On the recent shifting of senior bureaucrat K R Jyothilal as principal secretary, General Administration Department (GAD) by the government yielding to the Governor’s pressure, Khan said, “Yes… I cannot accept the position when anybody from the Kerala government tries to control the Raj Bhavan indirectly by imposing their choice on me… by deputing staff of their choice in Raj Bhavan. This I can not accept,”.
Khan was also refused to sign the policy document of the CPI(M)-led LDF government, and expressed strong displeasure over a letter written by it against the appointment of a senior journalist-turned politician in a key post in the Raj Bhavan and the under-pressure LDF government had to yield to the Governor’s pressure and replaced Jyothilal.
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In a startling revelation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday (February 19) said that underworld don and narco Islamic terrorist Dawood Ibrahim was planning to launch terror attacks on India using explosives and lethal weapons.
According to the NIA, Dawood had formed a special unit that has been assigned the task of inciting violence in different parts of the country, and a few political leaders and famous businessmen are on the radar of the D-Company.
The capital Delhi and the financial hub Mumbai is the prime focus to create a situation that would lead to large-scale destruction of both these cities, the agency said.
This news comes just after the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids in South Mumbai in connection with a money laundering case against Dawood Ibrahim and his aides and nine places in Mumbai and one in Thane were raided by the ED including the residences of Dawood Ibrahim’s late sister Haseena Parkar and brother Iqbal Kaskar.
The agency has taken into custody Iqbal Kaskar who is now in Thane prison in an extortion case and was presented before the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Friday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had approved the NIA to keep constant surveillance on Ibrahim’s activities and keep a record of them during the investigation.
According to NIA, Dawood Ibrahim still enjoys a vibrant network of supporters spread across India to excicute the agenda of his Pakistani masters.
Now the NIA is looking into networks that are involved in money laundering through Hawala channels to provide financial help to those involved in a planned attack and create a rift between different religious groups and create a riot-like situation in various parts of India.
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As Tamil Nadu is seeing its local body polls after 10 years today, irregularities were reported across polling booths in the state. However, the most shocking news came from Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K. Annamalai, when he took to his Twitter to share that Union Minister Dr. L Murugan’s vote was already cast by someone else.
Union Minister L. Murugan has his vote in Anna Nagar East which was reportedly cast by someone else.
In his tweet in Tamil, Annamalai wrote, “Hon’ble Central Minister L Murugan’s vote has already been cast by someone else in a polling booth in Annanagar East today. Will the state election commissioner take action atleast now?”
The level to which official machinery is misused is too obvious today.@arivalayam party members distributing cash right outside polling centre in Coimbatore & across TN
Hon Min Shri @Murugan_MoS avl vote casted by some one else in his polling booth in Anna Nagar East, Chennai
He also shared that the it is very clear to what extent government machinery is being misused. He also said, “DMK is distributing cash by the parties all over Tamil Nadu especially at the doorsteps of the polling booths in Coimbatore.”
மாண்புமிகு திரு @Murugan_MoS அமைச்சரின் வாக்கு சென்னை அண்ணாநகர் கிழக்கில் உள்ள வாக்குச் சாவடியில் வேறு ஒரு நபரால் கள்ள வாக்காக போடப்பட்டுவிட்டது.
மாநில தேர்தல் ஆணையர் இப்போதாவது நடவடிக்கை எடுப்பாரா?
Later, the BJP leader again took to his Twitter to share a development in the case. He said that the election commission officials have now permitted Minister L Murugan to cast his vote.
“This is after arguments & protest from @BJP4TamilNadu .His serial no:1174 was voted by somebody & after our protest, Election Commision has called their mistake as a ‘Clerical Error’! Totally unacceptable!,” Annamalai added. He had also sought answers for questions like, “Who cast the vote in place of Minister Murugan?” and “Who permitted for them to cast the vote?”
தேர்தல் அதிகாரிகள் மத்திய இணை அமைச்சர் திரு முருகன் அவர்களை வாக்களிக்க அனுமதித்து உள்ளார்கள். இது @BJP4TamilNadu போராட்டத்திற்கு பிறகு!
அவருடைய வாக்காளர் பட்டியல் வரிசை எண் 1174, அவர் வருவதற்கு முன்பாகவே வாக்கு செலுத்தப்பட்டு இருந்தது.
The Bhartiya Janata Party in Tamil Nadu under the leadership of Annamalai has made significant inroads in the state. They have launched a strong battle against the lies peddled by Dravidian parties and the image created about Prime Minister Modi among the Tamil people.
Annamalai’s educational credentials with his former tenure as IPS officer has attracted different strata of people. His articulatory ability with the non-corrupt image has drawn numerous youngsters to the party.
His victory began with the reopening of temples which were shut by the state government citing covid regulatory norms. One large protest in Chennai made the HRCE minister to issue orders in opening the temples within few days.
The BJP has begun getting a grip of the Tamil Nadu mainstream news media primarily because of the party President’s no-nonsense approach in the press meets. His pointed rebuttals and the ability to throw counter questions posed with facts has jittered the journalists friendly to the ruling DMK.
Strengthening the social media team has helped the party to stall deceptions created by the biased media houses, journalists and paid influencers. The party went a step ahead in legally assisting Shibin, non-party member who was falsely framed for posting content against ruling state government in social media. They had also lent support to other voices of dissent like Maridhas.
Choosing the path of peaceful protest across the state and approaching the courts in ordering CBI investigation for the unnatural death of Lavanya has proved leadership the ability of Annamalai.
The party’s decision to contest independently in the urban local body elections has excited the entire state unit with many youngsters and deserved candidates in the fray. Party members have now been given an opportunity to take the Modi Government’s schemes door-to-door and also expose the fallacies of the DMK government.
Relentless campaign by party members across the state, arousing reception by people and opportunity for thousands of youngsters aspiring to become clean political leaders will be landmark in the history of Tamil Nadu.
A substantial improvement in vote share is predicted. This urban body election would signal the arrival of a new BJP and would be an important breakthrough for the party in Tamil Nadu.
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Elections to the urban local bodies are being held after a gap of 10 years with voters queueing from morning 7 AM to cast their votes.
While the DMK and its allies are mostly contesting together, the Opposition parties like AIADMK, BJP and PMK are fighting it alone. Other parties like the NTK and MNM too are contesting.
The DMK has been facing mild anti-incumbency within 8 months of coming to power. The way the Stalin-led DMK government had handled the floods in November-December last year, the poor quality pongal gifts and the non-fulfilment of promises like waiving of jewel loan, etc has caused dissatisfaction among the public.
In an attempt to quell the anti-incumbency, the DMK is leaving no stone unturned to grab a majority of wards seats in all the corporations.
In light of this, irregularities have been reported in multiple polling booths across the state.
The DMK candidate of Suleswaranpatti near Pollachi in Coimbatore district allegedly tried distributing ₹1000 cash along with hotbox and anklets to voters.
கோவை மாவட்டம், பொள்ளாச்சி, சூளேஸ்வரன்பட்டி பேரூராட்சி 2 வார்டு பாஜக வேட்பாளரை வீழ்த்த திமுகவினர் பணம் ஆயிரம் + ஆயிரம் ஹாட்பாக்சை தொடர்ந்து இன்று வெள்ளி கொலுசும் வினியோகம் .
In another locality in Coimbatore, DMK Minister Senthilbalaji’s men were reportedly distributing cash just a few metere away from the polling booth. According to Kavitha Rajan who is contesting as BJP candidate for Ward 63 of Coimbatore Corporation, DMK men were found distributing cash and hotbox to voters who can be seen standing in queue.
The BJP cadres had locked the doors from outside in order to report it to the officials. However, in a video shared by Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, police officers can be seen opening the doors without taking the DMK men into custody.
கோவை தெற்கு தொகுதியில் இராமநாதபுரம் பகுதி திருமண மண்டபத்தில் @arivalayam கட்சியினர் பரிசுப் பொருள் கொடுக்க கூட்டியிருந்ததை அறிந்து @BJP4TamilNadu கட்சியினர் பூட்டி வைத்ததை @tnpoliceoffl உடைத்து மக்களை வெளியே அனுப்புகின்றனர்.
