In Ajjarkad dist hospital, a rare display of Hindu-Musilm bond and a brazen assault by the doctor

New Delhi, Feb 4: "I own my statement," said BJP lawmaker Anant kumar Hedge on Tuesday amid the raging controversy over his remark on Mahatma Gandhi while adding that he has never said anything against the Father of the Nation.

"All related media reports are false. I never said what is being debated over. It is an unnecessary controversy. I own my statement made on February 1, 2020, in Bengaluru. I never made any reference to any political party or Mahatma Gandhi or anybody else, I was just trying to categorise freedom struggle. That's all," Hedge told news agency.

"I am surprised by the discussion around it. What can I say about something that is not there? There is hullabaloo going on without anything. My statement is available in public forum. If anyone wants to see, it is available online and on my website. Show me if I have said anything against Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and any other freedom fighters," he added.

The BJP leader continued: "That programme was about Savarkar. With due respect of all our freedom fighters, I was just discussing our freedom struggle, there is no confusion or any derogatory comment on freedom struggle or fighters. Unnecessary nuisance has been created."

Hedge stoked a controversy after he had attacked Mahatma Gandhi by calling the freedom struggle led by him a "drama" and also questioned as to how "such people" come to be called 'Mahatma' in India.

"None of these so-called leaders was beaten up by the cops even once. Their independence movement was a big drama. It was staged by these leaders with the approval of the British. It was not a genuine fight. It was an adjustment freedom struggle," he had said.

While several Congress leaders have condemned his remark on the father of the nation, BJP leaders too has distanced themselves from it.

Top leadership in BJP is unhappy with Anantkumar Hegde over his controversial remark on Mahatma Gandhi, party sources had said on Monday, adding that he has been asked to issue an unconditional apology.

Belagavi, Jun 6: Suspecting that cow meat was being transported to Goa, unidentified persons set goods vehicle on fire near Karle village in Belagavi taluk last night.

The Incident came to the fore on Saturday morning.

Usually, vehicles carrying vegetables, milk and other essentials being transported to Goa and other towns plying via Karle village near Belagavi.

Sources said that for the past few days vehicles carrying meat were stopped and were handed over to police by section of activists suspecting it to be cow meat.

Persons who set the vehicle on fire were yet to be identified. Jurisdictional Belagavi Rural police have rushed to the spot. More details were awaited.

Mangaluru, May 30: Accusing the chief minister B S Yediyurappa led Karnataka government of ignoring frontline warriors against covid-19, Mangaluru MLA U T Khader has demanded immediate release of pending salaries of doctors, lab technicians and nurses hired under the National Health Mission.

Addressing a press conference in the city today, the former minister said that Congress would launch an agitation if the government fails to release the amount immediately.

The non-payment of salaries clearly shows that the government has no concern for the COVID-19 warriors who are serving on a contract basis for two months, he said.

Mr Khader said there are 23,000 personnel hired under the National Health Mission in Karnataka including 600 in Dakshina Kannada district alone.  All of them are waiting for their salaries for the last two months.

“Asha workers were also partially paid for the month of April. If the government had concern towards COVID-19 warriors, they would have paid extra for the doctors, nurses, and other workers who are working tirelessly in the fight against COVID-19 at the grassroots level,” he added.