Battle for Mangaluru: Khader, Santosh, Ashraf field six common questions

Harsha Raj Gatty | coastaldigest.com
May 9, 2018

At the Mangaluru City Constituency, three-time Congress MLA U T Khader will be contesting once again for the Karnataka Assembly polls (May 12, 2018). This time, the Bharatiya Janatha Party has mobilized all its resources to this so called communally sensitive constituency to ensure the victory of its candidate Santosh Kumar Rai Boliyar, who was a Zilla Panchayat member. 

For two decades victory has eluded BJP in this constituency, whereas for the Congress it has been a safe-seat passing through the hands of late legislator U T Fareed to his protégé son U T Khader. Meanwhile, former Mangaluru Mayor K Ashraf, who recently quit the Congress party, is also set to give stiff contest on behalf of Janatha Dal (Secular) at the segment which has a sizable minority population. 

The three candidates speak to coastaldisgest.com on the issues in the constituency and their plans to bring development.

CD: What are the unsolved issues in the Mangaluru City Constituency? How would you address the same if you get elected?

Khader: My major plan is to resolve water shortage issue in the constituency. Though there is water, it is not sufficient. Providing uninterrupted water supply is my main goal. For this a bridge cum barrage will be built from Harekala to Adyar village at a cost of Rs. 174 crore. This will help increase water level by 6 tmc and same will be provided to people after installing pipelines. It has already been approved in the budget.

Secondly, there are many unskilled labourers in my constituency and I plan to introduce special scheme under Koushalya Bhagya so that they will be profitably employed.

My constituency has Mangalore University as well as many other colleges. I want to develop the road into an educational hub connectivity road.

Santosh: None of the issues have been solved in this constituency. Sea erosion and drinking water is still a problem for many households. The constituency lacks a government hospital, Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and a fire department. I am going to ensure that the constituency has basic centers and emergency service installations.

Ashraf: There are many problems. Sea erosion, water issues, waste management are the major woes of the residents. Also people here are upset about torture of innocents by the police. I shall look into solving each of these problems.

CD: Mangaluru City is a Muslim dominant constituency. Does it make any difference?

Khader: All are equal for me and people of all communities supported me. For several years, I have worked for the people. Ensured that State government schemes are implemented in my constituency, people have recognized my work and party ideology and I am sure they will support me.

Regarding other minority candidates contesting election, it will make the competition interesting and I like competition. I don’t bother about opposition; I only concentrate on my development work.

There is no anti-incumbency. This is the safest election both for me and the party. People have pledged their support. When I go to campaign, they tell me to go home and take rest and come back after winning the election.

Santosh: Though this is the first time I am contesting in the Karnataka Assembly Elections, I have contested local elections five times in areas with minorities and won with their support. I am known to be a leader without religious biases.

I am sure that people in this region will support me. I am not bothered if other candidates are strong or weak or belong to the minority religion. I am contesting on the basis of my capabilities, and am sure that people will vote recognizing the same.

Ashraf: I have support from Muslims and Hindus. This time the fight is between JD(S) and BJP. People are angry with Congress and are upset with Khader. All want him to lose and have pledged their support to me. Even Congress workers will vote for me.

CD: The constituency witnessed a few communal incidents. Cops are accused of arresting innocents. Will these factors have an impact on polls?
 
Khader: One such incident took place four years ago. And some trouble mongers stabbed innocent people apparently to disrupt peace in the region. But now people are living here with communal harmony. Four years ago a group clash erupted over a trivial issue. Police had arrested many people to control mob violence. I have reprised the State government about the issue. They have said that cases against innocents have been withdrawn.

As a matter of fact, the innocent people against whom the false cases were registered are now silent and are supporting me. It is others who are blaming me. They are trying to gain political mileage by highlighting this issue now.

Santosh: There is no denying that communal violence instances are common here. My main aim if elected is to ensure the peace and harmony the sitting MLA has failed to bring.

Why are many people in this constituency attacked with knives? What about the murder of Zubair, Raju Kotian and Illyas? Has the MLA succeeded in ensuring that the people behind these incidents were caught?

Only communal politics is played in this constituency with little importance to development. However, people here are educated and are able to see through things. Such tactics won’t work anymore.

Ashraf: People in this constituency are good. However, they are upset with the communal incidents that have been repeatedly reported from the region.  The duty of people’s representative is to solve the issue at the initial stage. However, the sitting MLA has failed to nip them in the bud and this has caused the issues to go on communal lines. People are seeking change and I assure that if I am elected, will not give chances for such incidents to happen here.

CD: What are your plans to transform the constituency?

Khader: Mangaluru is the best city known to impart quality education. Like I mentioned, I want to improve road infrastructure to connect the education hub over here. People need to live peacefully; hence I want to improve law and order. 

The seas in the region are rough and permanent measures are being taken to solve the sea erosion issue. After that, we can focus on developing tourism in the region.

Santosh: I have many plans but primarily I intend to permanently solve the sea erosion issue which is a huge problem to the people in the area. Regular drinking water supply, setting up a government polytechnic and a full-fledged fire department are my priories.

Ashraf: Solving sea erosion issue and setting up of women’s college are my major priorities. Development has not yet reached villages. I will concentrate that development takes place in villages at grass root level.

CD: A large number of people from your constituency are working abroad for meager salaries. What they can expect from you?

Khader: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led government has already taken initiatives to address the problems of NRIs from Karnataka. Will have to make a NRI policy and draw some plans so that they can stand up on their own legs if they come back home. Giving jobs has to be transparent process, so it will be decided on the basis of the policy.

Santosh: I shall try to create more jobs by setting up companies. I will talk to the state and central governments to set up IT, BT companies in the areas. If the NRIs return, I shall ensure they are not short of job opportunities.

Ashraf: Our leader H D Kumaraswamy is sure to become Chief Minister of Karnataka again. He has mentioned many benefits for NRIs in his plans and I will support him and get the schemes implemented in this region.

CD: Congress veteran B Janardhana Poojary had predicted that U T Khader will be the CM of Karnataka one day?

Khader: He did not mean to say that it will happen in this election. He said that till now Karnataka did not have a Chief Minister from the minority religion and if it ever happens, it will be me.

The reason he said that is because I started my political career early and have been given important portfolios such as health and food and civil supplies. I have also been appreciated for doing well in both.

I will continue to work for my people and if they continue to support me, then maybe who knows I may become chief minister probably 25 years later.

Santosh: Khader has been elected many times, but has he used the opportunity to bring development. Why is the sea erosion issue not solved? What major change he has done? There is an anti-incumbency wave and BJP is sure to win 100 per cent in this constituency.

Ashraf: I was about to contest in Mangaluru South but came to contest from Mangaluru constituency as Khader challenged me. People are supporting me and are upset with him as he has neglected them and their issues. People feel abandoned in this constituency and they shall elect me as they are looking for change.

Comments

MR
 - 
Thursday, 10 May 2018

PLease Vote for UT kadher the other are useless. 

Greedy Ashraf I hope your JDS gets 0 vote for wasting the Muslim vote.

Ashraf’s Neighbor
 - 
Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Hahah.. Ashraf talking about development and education. What a joke. Has he given education to his own daughter?

Hurt BJP activist
 - 
Wednesday, 9 May 2018

BJP should have fielded Rahim Uchil instead of Boliar. Uchil is a familiar face and has strong support from several Thangals and clerics in the region. He could have easily defeated Khader. By fielding an unfamiliar face like Boliyar BJP has ensured its defeat. It seems that Congress funded BJP to field week candidate against Khader.

Pukar
 - 
Wednesday, 9 May 2018

BJP candidates play Hindutva cards and ditch Hindus. Similarly Ashraf plays Muslim card. He is a perfect candidate for Janata Dal (Sngh Parivar) led by Kumaraswamy, the cheddi dost of Yeddy. He doesn’t know the spelling of NRI and talking about solving of their problems. Bull shit.

 

WellWisher
 - 
Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Ashraf is with a cheap politics. During his Mayor tenure never done any development or capable. His mayor appointmmet was only eith the ground of minority Muslim. But the party selection was with wrong candidate.

If  watch /listen is his speeches, easily make out his ability , qualification ; knowledge  he his not suitable to represent MLA post.  Only becuase of greedy he jumped to JDS door step.

Every one think about Mr.Ashraf compare his with other able candidates and cast your vote for the able non communal  party and candidate.

MR
 - 
Wednesday, 9 May 2018

Last election because of SDPI  muslim votes got divided and BJP won and Congress lost because of that Muslims suffered a lot. 

Please don't vote for Ashraf. He is trying to divide the muslim votes between Congress and JDS so BJP can win.

 

Please Vote for Congress!

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News Network
April 20,2020

Bengluru, Apr 20: Lockdown restrictions have been extended by a day by the Karnataka government, in an order issued by chief secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar on Sunday.

The order directed all heads of departments, district deputy commissioners and superintendent of policies to "continue to implement the measures presently in force" as per Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines dated April 14, "till the midnight of April 21, 2020."

The MHA guidelines had earlier allowed the state government to relax lockdown norms post-April 20.

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Ram Puniyani
January 26,2020

During last couple of decades we have been witnessing the coming up of various statues in different parts of the country. There is diverse political logic and different set of political tendencies for erecting these statues. When Mayawati was UP CM, she got multiple of her own statues made, in addition to many statues of major dalit icons, irrespective of the criticism against that act. As per her strategy it was a symbol of identity of dalit assertion. The biggest statue to come up was that of Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, a lifelong Congressman, whom RSS combine is trying to appropriate. This statue of Unity was ‘Made in China’. The clever trick was that the same forces were behind this statue, which was banned by Patel in the aftermath of Gandhi murder. Interestingly while currently BJP is blaming Congress for Partition of India, ironically it was Sardar Patel who was in the committee which gave final stamp of approval for the partition of India.

There is also a talk in UP, where the Ram temple campaign yielded rich electoral dividends for BJP, to have tallest statue of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. In a state where children are dying in hospitals due to lack of Oxygen cylinders, a huge budgetary allocation will be required for such project. While on statues one should also remember that in Maharashtra a tall statue of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is underway in Arabian Sea, near Mumbai. Only few voices of protest against it came up, e.g. that of renowned journalist, now, MP, Kumar Ketkar, whose house was vandalised for his opposing the move on the grounds that same massive amount can be utilized for welfare-development activities in the state.

On the back of this comes a comparatively low budget 114 feet tall statue of Jesus Christ in Karnataka, in Kappala hills Harobele village, where Christian pilgrims have been thronging from last several centuries. The land for this has been donated by Congress leader Shivaprasad and his brother, a Congress MP. It is planned to be carved out from a single rock. The plan of this statue is being opposed by those who have been behind most of the statue projects so far. Hindu Jagran Vedike, VHP, RSS are up in arms saying that they will not let this come up. There are various arguments cited for this opposition. It is being said that this was a place of worship of Lord Munnieshwara (a form of Lord Shiva).

More than this it is being argued that Shivakumar is trying to please his Italian boss in the party. Also that this will bring back the period of slavery of foreign rule, the colonial rule of British. As such this opposition is more in tune with the ideology of RSS combine, which has been for a statue here and a statue there. Their politics regards Christianity as a ‘foreign religion’! It is true that in Citizenship Amendment Act, they have not excluded Christianity while other religion, which they regard as ‘Foreign’ i.e. Islam. Here they are using a different logic, that the countries from where persecuted minorities are coming, are Muslim countries, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangla Desh.

In India the major targeting by RSS combine has been against Muslims, but Christians are also not spared. Starting in the decade of 1980, an intense propaganda has been going on that Christian Missionaries are converting. As RSS affiliate Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram became active in Adivasi areas, the likes of Swami Aseemanand, Swami Laxmanand and followers of Aasaram bapu spread out in Tribal areas. They started their programs to popularise Shabri and Hanuman, with congregations like Shabri Kumbh being regularly organized in these areas. The aim was to Hinduize the people in those areas.

The first major anti Christian violence came up in the ghastly form of burning alive of Pastor Graham Steward Stains along with his two minor sons Timothy and Philip. RSS affiliate Bajrang Dal's Dara Siingh aka Rajendra Pal was behind this and he is serving the life term for that. At the same time Wadhva Commission was appointed to investigate this crime which shook the country and President K.R. Narayan termed it as the one belonging to the inventory of the black deeds of human history.

The Wadhva commission report pointed out that there was no statistical significant change in the region where the pastor was working. Similarly the national figures tell us that the Christian population, if at all, has marginally declined in last five decades as per the census figures. They stand like this, percentage of Christians in population, 1971-2.60, 1981- 2.44, 1991-2.34, 2001-2.30 and 2011-2.30. There are arguments that some people are converting to Christianity but are not revealing their religion. This may be true in case of miniscule percentage of dalits, who may not reveal there conversion, as they stand to loose reservation provisions if they convert.

The anti Christian violence is scattered and is below the radar most of the places. There was massive valence in Kandhamal, Orissa, when on the pretext that Christians have murdered Swami Laxmananand, a massive violence was unleashed in 2008. On regular basis prayer meetings of Christians are attacked on the pretext that these are attempts at conversion. While there is a huge demand for the schools and colleges run by Christian groups, in Adivasis areas and remote areas the work of Swamis is on.

Now the trend is to dump Christian traditions. Since Ramnath Kovind became President, the usual practice of Carol Singers visiting Rashtrapati Bhavan has been stopped. In the army retreat so far ‘Abide with me’ by Scottish poet, Henri Francis Lyte, a Christian song, a favourite of Gandhi, has been dropped. The Christian minorities have perceived the threat in various forms. Currently they are as much part of the protests against CAA, NPR and NRIC as any other community.

While statues and identity issues cannot have primacy over the social development issues, it cannot be selective. To oppose Jesus Christ statue while spending fortunes for other statues is a part of the agenda of RSS combine, which is unfolding itself in various forms. opposition to Jesus Christ statue being yet another step in the direction.

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News Network
July 26,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 26: Today, one of the Co-founders of Infosys, SD Shibulal announced that over the last three days (22nd - 24th July) his family members have sold a portion of (representing approximately 0.20 per cent of the paid-up equity share capital) their holding in Infosys Ltd on the stock exchanges.

Proceeds from the partial stake monetization will be utilized for a combination of philanthropic and investment activities.

The sale was executed by Citigroup Global Markets India Private Limited as the Sole Broker.

The Founders, have served Infosys in various capacities, since its inception in 1981 until October 2014. Over the three decades, the Founders have nurtured the company transforming it into one of the professionally run companies in India with a global presence.

This press release is for information purposes only and is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any of the shares described herein. The shares have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "US Securities Act"), or in any state or other jurisdiction of the United States.

Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the US Securities Act. 

There has not been and there will not be any public offering of the shares in the United States.

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