When top judges say democracy is at stake, media focus on Sunny Leone

coastaldigest.com news network
January 13, 2018

Within a day after four senior judges of Supreme Court broke their silence on alleged corruption in judiciary and warned that democracy in India is at stake, the mainstream media across India in general and poll-bound state of Karnataka in particular, have been successful in diverting the people’s attention by focusing on porn star-turned-Bollywood super star Sunny Leone.

India Today on Saturday morning broke the news of a couple of leaders of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV), a hardline Kannada outfit, demanding a huge amount to facilitate smooth functioning of an event of the sensational star on upcoming Valentine’s Day in Bengaluru where her New Year Eve show was cancelled due to security reasons.

Readymade breaking news?

The sensational story was based on a sting operation wherein leaders of two factions of KRV were caught on camera demanding money to make sure that no Kannadigas disrupt Sunny’s show.

In a video, Anjanappa, vice-president of Narayan Gowda-led KRV faction, can be seen stating that they have the power to close down the entire state. He even said that if they want Sunny Night to be held, they wanted Rs 30 lakh in advance and Rs 10 lakh after the programme. He also promised to be personally present there to monitor things.

Another video shows R Ranjith, vice-president of KRV faction led by Praveen Shetty, demanding Rs 30 lakh to provide protection from untoward situations and to allow Sunny's programme in Bengaluru. He even promised to arrange for 300 KRV members who would give protection to the entire programme. He demanded Rs 15 to 20 lakh in advance and the rest to be given soon after the programme.

However, none of the above two videos are fresh. The TV channel had reportedly obtained the videos a few days ago. The videos helped the channel to create a sensational braking news within 24 hours after the senior judges held a historic press meet and went public with complaints against the Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

Though it was a special story by India Today, several other news channels including Times Now too gave wide coverage to the story and thus diverted the people’s attention from the grave allegations made by the senior judges.

On the other hand, Enforcement Directorate’s sudden raids against Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, served as another attention diverter for the media on Saturday.

Comments

Pulimunchi
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

So far people were going to judges seeking justice. Now judges have come to public for justice. This is quite expected when mass murders assume power.

Kannadiga
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

I agree that media is playing diversionary tactic. But one cannot ignore the extortion tactics of so called Kannada groups. Need to put an end to all such goondagiri in India.

Arif
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

Now it's a need of the hour for Congress  to plan and make a strong  strategy team and protest nation wide against safronisation of courts.. Where is youth congress,  where is Rahul where is Congress Bade Bade Leaders? 

Madhu
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

Rahul Kanwal is anchoring the Sunny Leone – KRV episode in Indian Today as if Donald Trump vacated his post to make Amit Shah the president of United States. All are #Presstitutues

Poor Indian
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

This is not the first time. Since Modi came to power Indian media doing the same. When CBI judge BH Loya, who was hearing a case against BJP president Amit Shah, was murdered, media was busy in debating about Padmavati! 

Anonymous
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

Now 100% suiting the name - PRESSTITUTES

Danish
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

The diversion attention itself shows democracy is at stake

Kumar
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

People fed up by hearing corruption. So loosing inerest is nothing new. Sunny is the new trend

Unknown
 - 
Saturday, 13 Jan 2018

No need of excessive influence of media. Sunny is a  weakness of many people

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News Network
August 7,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 7: Amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, the state's health department issued fresh guidelines for the disposal of bodies of COVID patients.

"Although an increased risk of COVID infection from a dead body to health workers or family members who follow standard precautions while handling the body is unlikely, the lack of scientific data requires the utmost care to avoid the inadvertent spread of COVID-19 during these times," the statement from the health department's press release read, emphasising on the dignity of the dead and the religious and cultural tradition.

The 23-page press release elaborated on guidelines regarding testing, handling of dead bodies and other specificities in relation to the management of COVID-19 bodies.

"Testing should not be insisted in every case of death, but only when they have a recorded history of influenza-like symptoms. The body should be handed over to the family members/ relatives in a dignified manner immediately after swab collection and hospitals should provide handouts with a list of dos and don'ts in English and Kannada laying down relevant information," the statement said.

It added, "At the mortuary, health care workers, mortuary staff and the family of the deceased body shall not come in direct contact with the dead body and must wear full personal protective equipment (PPE). If the family or relative are for any reason unable to cremate or bury the body, the local health authority shall arrange for the dignified last rites as per the religious traditions of the family."

Regarding autopsies (post mortem) on COVID-19 bodies, the state department said that they should be avoided, except in necessary circumstances.

The statement also gave detailed guidelines regarding the appropriate recording of COVID-19 deaths in line with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines.

Additionally, the health department made a statement about the admission procedure for COVID positive patients referred by other district administrations saying, "It is now mandatory for all the referrals from the BBMP admission and discharge of COVID positive patients to be done through the online COVID Hospital Bed Management System (CHBMS)."

The state's count of coronavirus cases was 1,51,449 in the past 24 hours.

So far, a total of 2,804 people have died due to COVID-19 in the state, while the average recovery rate in Karnataka is 49.3 per cent.

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News Network
June 22,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 22: Senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad and BJP’s MTB Nagaraj, one of the defectors who helped the saffron party come to power in Karnataka, were unanimously elected to the Legislative Council along with five others on Monday. 

All seven were declared as “duly elected” by Legislative Assembly Secretary MK Vishalakshi, the returning officer for the biennial election to the Legislative Council. 

Hariprasad and Naseer Ahmed of the Congress, Nagaraj, R Shankar, Prathap Simha Nayak and Sunil Vallyapur of the BJP and Govinda Raju of the JD(S) are now MLCs. 

While Ahmed was an incumbent who will get another term, the six others will replace Jayamma, MC Venugopal, NS Bore Raju, HM Revanna and TA Sharavana and DU Mallikarjuna whose term ends June 30. 

While an election was scheduled June 29, it was not necessary as only seven candidates were in the fray for the seven seats on Monday, which was the last date for withdrawal of nominations. The nominations of A Yadavanahalli PC Krishnegowda and Mandikkal Nagaraja were rejected. 

With their rejection as MLCs, Nagaraj and Shankar - who jumped ship to the BJP last year - will now look to become ministers in Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s Cabinet. Both Nagaraj and Shankar were ministers when they resigned and defected from the Congress-JD(S) coalition. While Nagaraj lost the December 2019 bypolls, Shankar did not contest. 

Nagaraj, Shankar and Vallyapure were Yediyurappa’s picks for the Council, whereas Nayak is said to have been backed by BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel. 

There were many aspirants in the Congress for the Council berths, but Hariprasad and Ahmed were picked, given their experience. Hariprasad is widely believed to counter Siddaramaiah, who leads the party in the Assembly. 

Raju of the JD(S) runs a poultry business in Kolar and the choice of a fresh face is seen as the party leadership steering clear of any trouble as there were many asking for the ticket. 

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News Network
March 4,2020

Mumbai, Mar 4: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray should not give "vague" replies on the 5 per cent Muslim quota issue and declare "with courage" that his government will not bring law granting reservation to the minority community.

Mr Fadnavis made the remark after Mr Thackeray, during a press conference earlier in the day, said he has not yet received the proposal regarding giving quota to Muslims and that the Shiv Sena-led government is yet to take any decision on it.

Mr Thackeray made the comments after Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik recently said in the legislative council that thestate government will provide 5 per cent quota to Muslims in education.

Mr Malik, an NCP leader, had also said the state government will ensure that a legislation to this effect is passed soon.

The NCP and the Congress, both proponents of Muslim quota, are constituents of the Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Asked about Mr Thackeray's remarks on the issue, Mr Fadnavis said instead of making comments at the press conference, the chief minister should make a statement in the legislature which is currently having its budget session.

The Leader of the Opposition in the assembly said that Mr Malik's opinion is the official position of the government as the minister had talked about giving quota in the council.

"So, instead of making vague comments in the press conference, the chief minister should say in the council that it is not his view (the one expressed by chief minister).

"The chief minister gave vague answers during the press conference, saying the proposal has not come to him. Your minister (Malik) only has said it," Mr Fadnavis told reporters outside the legislature building complex.

The BJP leader maintained there is no provision in the Constitution for religion-based reservation in government jobs or education.

"Say with courage that you will not give the quota, that the Constitution doesn't accept quota based on religion. Hence, we (the government) will not bring law granting quota," the former Chief Minister said.

Mr Fadnavis claimed that if given within the 50 per cent ceiling set by the Supreme Court, the Muslim quota will affect the existing reservation granted to OBCs.

"And if given outside it, it will affect Maratha quota," he added.

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