Sabarimala row: Hartal called in Kerala after senior Sangh Parivar leader's arrest

Mangaluru/Bengaluru, Jan 23: A day after two senior functionaries of the BJP — a deputy chief minister and a political secretary to the chief minister — made provocative speeches against a minority community, Nalin Kumar Kateel, state president of the saffron party, on Wednesday issued a gag order, banning functionaries from talking on issues without the party’s approval.

Deputy CM Govind Karjol and Honnalli legislator MP Renukacharya had passed comments castigating Muslims, in the process seriously denting the image of the party which is trying to avoid controversies in its efforts to allay fears on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The comments come on the heels of Ballari City legislator Somashekara Reddy warning Muslims at a pro-CAA rally of repercussions if they do not fall in line.

Kateel said a gag order has been “clearly” communicated to all concerned at a recent meeting that he and chief minister BS Yediyurappa had chaired. “Our message to party functionaries is in line with what Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told his council of ministers and party MPs — to focus on their work and constituencies rather than comment on issues. Let them leave this task to official spokespersons of the party,” Kateel said.

However, it appears the message hasn’t gone through to Renukacharya, Yediyurappa’s political secretary. A day after courting controversy by saying anti-nationals were using mosques to store weapons, Renukacharya said he stood by his comments and launched a fresh tirade against madrasas, saying they were manipulating youth and encouraging terrorism.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Renukacharya said: “In our [temple-run] institutions, nothing anti-national is taught. We only teach values that are mandated for life. But at madrasas, youth are manipulated by teaching terrorism. Why do we need such schools? The majority of those accused of terrorism are Muslims.”

He immediately followed up this comment by saying he did not imply all Muslims were terrorists. The Honnalli MLA justified his comments saying he did not receive a single Muslim vote in the 2018 assembly elections. “They [Muslims] come to us seeking our help. They want the BJP for development, but when it comes to elections, they vote for Congress and JD(S),” Renukacharya said. He said no “special packages” will be distributed to Muslims in his constituency.

Kasaragod, Jul 8: The meeting of Kasaragod district-level corona control core committee has resolved to make pass mandatory for vehicles to bring vegetables and fruits to Kasaragod from Dakshina Kannada and other parts of Karnataka.

Pass will be issued by RTO. Employees, including the driver of the vehicle, must visit the nearest primary health facility once in seven days and undergo a health check and submit a medical officer's certificate.

District Collector Dr D Sajith Babu, who presided over the meeting, said that only those vegetable and fruit vehicles that produce medical officer's certificate and RTO's passes will be allowed to cross the border.

Meeting, the RTO has decided to convene an emergency meeting of vegetable and fruit merchants.

Kalaburagi, May 4: Migrant workers stranded in different parts of Karnataka arrived in buses at Central Bus Stand in Kalaburagi on Monday morning and are being sent to their home towns.

The Kalaburagi City Corporation has made the requisite arrangements for labourers and their thermal screening is also being done.

"Food packets and water bottles are being provided to all. Buses carrying migrant workers started arriving from 5 am. We are expecting around 70 buses. This process will continue for the next 3 days," Rahul Pandve, Kalaburagi Commissioner City Corporation, told news agency.

"We have made arrangements for registration. And all arriving at the site are undergoing thermal screening," he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had on Sunday allowed labourers to travel to their hometowns in the state on KSRTC buses free of charge for three days starting on Sunday.