German student asked to leave India for protesting against CAA

Bengaluru, Feb 15: The new Karnataka Minister for Forest Anand Singh on Friday said that he is ready for 'change in the portfolio' as opposition parties are leveling charges against Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa for appointing him, despite having 15 cases registered under Forest Act against him.

"If Chief Minister wants to change my portfolio, I am ready," he added.

Speaking to newsmen here, he said that there are 15 cases pending against him. The Legislator from Vijayanagara in Mine rich Ballari district said anyone can go through the Chargesheets and find out whether there are any direct charges against him. Claiming that the cases against him were 'minor violations', he had earlier linked them to traffic violations by a vehicle owner.

New Delhi, Mar 12: A PIL was moved in the Delhi High Court on Thursday seeking directions to the Centre to take appropriate steps for stopping religious conversion of socially and economically downtrodden people, particularly of the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe community.

The plea claims that the government has done nothing to stop religious conversions.

The plea is listed before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar on Friday.

The petition, by BJP leader and lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, alleges that many individuals, NGOs and institutions are converting downtrodden persons by "intimidating, threatening, luring by monetary benefits and by other acts, including miracle healing, black magic and more".

"Many individuals/organizations have started conversions of SC/STs in rural areas and the situation is very alarming. The mass religious conversion of the socially economically downtrodden men, women and children, and, in particular of the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe community, is on the rise in the last 20 years," the petition claims.

It further claims as per the 2011 census, Hindus constitute 79 per cent of the population down from 86 per cent in 2001 and if no action is taken "Hindus will become minority in India".

Upadhyay suggested enacting of a law to prevent conversions by force or deceit and to award jail term for any violation.

"Additionally, the State may empower the National Human Rights Commission to deal with the affairs of religious groups and analyse religious discrimination among them," he suggests.

Apart from seeking steps to prevent religious conversions by force, threats or deceit, the petition also wants directions prohibiting religious gatherings "intended to mislead people by making false and untenable claims" to lure ignorant masses to join a particular faith or religious group.

Belagavi, Feb 24: Almost a month after a soldier was reported missing following a trip to Gokak's Godchinamalaki falls, his wife and her lover - who was her car driver - were arrested in Belagavi for his murder.

Police said the accused, Prashant Patil, and two friends tried to throw Deepak Pattanadara, 32, off a cliff after slitting his throat. Deepak's wife, Anjali, had registered a missing case with police on February 4, saying her husband had gone on a trip with friends on January 28 and hadn't returned.

In a twist, Deepak's elder brother lodged a complaint at the same police station, alleging that Anjali was behind the disappearance.

Anjali and Prashant, both 26, were arrested on Saturday while Prashant's two friends are absconding. Deepak's decomposed body has been recovered.

Deepak, who was posted in Delhi and was on the verge of retirement after 14 years in the army, had suspected his wife's alleged affair, police said. He'd bought a car for Anjali in 2019, and since he was home only twice a year, he hired Prashant as the driver. Anjali and Prashant grew close but when Deepak asked Anjali about the affair, she denied it outright.

When Deepak came home during vacation, the duo planned to eliminate him, police said.