Inspired by Jignesh Mevani, many activists in Karnataka set to entre poll fray

News Network
February 6, 2018

Bouyed by the triumphant win of Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani in recent Gujarat polls, many social activists in Karnataka have shown keen interest in testing their luck in the upcoming state legislative elections.

Ravi Krishna Reddy, an anti-corruption activist who is associated with Aam Aadmi Party; C S Dwarakanath, an advocate and former chairperson of Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes; V Nagaraj, a Dalit activist; Linge Gowda, an anti-liquor activist; and K S Puttannaiah, a farmers’ leader and incumbent MLA, are among those who are readying themselves for the polls.

Among them Mr Reddy and Mr Gowda have completed over two-and-a-half-months of door-to-door campaign in Jayanagar Assembly segment in Bengaluru and Maddur constituency in Mandya, respectively.

“We may be known to 50 lakh people across the State, but what matters is people who vote in a particular constituency, where we never concentrate and work,” said Mr. Reddy. He learned this lesson in the three earlier polls he had contested, and lost.

Even though the upcoming elections in Karnataka is likely to be a hotly contested election between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress, these independent voices believe that there is hunger for alternative politics among people and social activism must articulate that alternative, argue activists.

A senior leader from Swaraj India, a political party formed out of Swaraj Abhiyan led by Yogendra Yadav, said they have identified over five candidates — all activists working in Chitradurga, Koppal and other districts. The list will be finalised soon.

On the other hand, many activists are also urging caution as they are worried that they will only cause votes to split, benefiting the BJP. They also say that it will be difficult to recreate Mr Mevani’s win in the absence of ground work in specific constituencies.

Noor Sridhar, a former left-wing extremist who is now part of the mainstream, said while alternative politics must be strengthened, forces must also strategise in such a way that they don’t end up benefiting communal forces and splitting votes.

“Activists must contest only in places where they have a social base and are sure of a win,” he said. Brushing aside the possibility of contesting polls he said that his contribution would be only in strengthening social movements.

(With inputs from The Hindu)

Comments

Khasai Khane
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Congress wins, SIddaramiah becomes CM again, we're all happy.

 

BJP wins, congratulations you have set the stage for Karnataka to be the Next UP. This happens and we will all suffer, which is a good thing, Equal Opportunity. I mean people of Karnataka contributed to the loss that this PM (Pakoda Man) has caused to the country. You ignored that bloody background of Modi and made him PM, just becuase those killed were muslims. You sold your dignity of being Kannadigas, by following Sanghis. You deserve worse than this.

 

shaji
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

My humble request to all of you not to contest separately thereby splitting the votes and helping communal party to win.  We need to save our constitution from the hands of anti nationals and wicked political party.   They want to rule our land even on our dead body and hence are doing politics on dead bodies  We should unite and fight the most anti national and communal party.

Suresh Kalladka
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Activism just for publicity and political benefits. All are doing the same.

Indrajit P
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Activism these days is a fashion for the some and a profession for the rest. For semi intellectuals like Jignesh Mevani and Kanhaiya Kumar activism is a means to fool the innocent people who are frustrated of misrule of NDA. By, following their footsteps activists can become leaders like them but they cannot contribute anything to social change. 

Vinod
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Independent candidates wont win in karnataka, that also BJP

Danish
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Free Thinkers, intellectuals and activists should come front for our country. If not then Modi will make India upside down by his foolish acts

Sandesh
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Mevali will become autocrat in future. His attitude like that

Hari
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Mevali became inspiration for many. Good

Ramya
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

True.. If leaders are not good, not doing anything to society then forget the leaders and party. 

Kumar
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Now people should change themselves to vote for good cause. They have to forget specific favourite polical party

Ganesh
 - 
Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Great.. These move is giving more hope

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News Network
January 15,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 15: A 28-year-old man, who is a first-year MBBS dropout, was arrested by the police after he posed as a doctor and treated patients at a private hospital at Derlakatte on the outskirts of the city.

The arrested has been identified as Mohammed Habib Hussain, a native of Shivamogga, who was residing in Attavar, Mangaluru. He had discontinued studies after the first year due to personal reasons.

The incident took place on Sunday night  at Yenepoya Medical College, Derlakatte. Dr Sampathila Padmanabha, medical superintendent, Yenepoya Medical College, said the accused had come to the medical college at midnight on December 29.

After speaking to the security guard at the hospital entrance, he introduced himself as an assistant to the consulting urologist, and wanted to visit patients at the private ward situated at floor number 7.

After entering, he called the duty nurse to get case sheets. Later, he examined two women patients in the presence of the duty nurse, and also wrote a prescription on the patient case sheet. He also yelled at a nurse, saying that she isn’t doing her duty properly, and left the place.

However, the nurse who grew suspicious, informed the management, after the accused had left the place. The management, who crosschecked about the accused, found out that he is not a doctor, and that he is also not associated with the hospital.

The management sent an advisory to all employees to produce their identity cards, whenever they enter any wards, especially at night, and also to keep an eye on anyone suspicious. The same message was passed on to other hospitals in the vicinity.

The accused again showed up at the hospital on Sunday night. As security guards were told about strangers visiting the hospital in the guise of doctors, he was allowed to enter the hospital premises, so that he can be apprehended. He later went to the reception counter and queried about the consultant urologist. When he noticed that the staff had an idea about what was happening, he tried to flee from the spot. He was later caught by a security guard, and the police were informed. He was arrested by Ullal police station personnel.

Dr Padmanabha added that he used to roam around with his friend in a car. He was also involved in a similar incident at a private hospital in Kankanady, and the same has been informed to the police. He visited hospitals in a car, which has been seized by police.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 9: Some BJP workers created a ruckus on Wednesday at a college here while seeking support for the amended Citizenship Act by raising slogans like 'Go back to Pakistan' outside the campus on Wednesday, as girl students opposed a pro-CAA banner on the wall of their institution.

A video of the incident went viral on social media.

A group of BJP workers, supporters of local party leader M M Govindaraj, had put up a poster "India Supports CAA" on the wall of Jyothi Nivas College near Koramangala.

This was opposed by girl students, who said they would not allow any such poster to be put up on the college property.

The BJP workers then tried to shout down the students.

"You are not concerned about citizenship, you are concerned about yourself. You should be concerned about India first. You are not an Indian then," a BJP worker is heard screaming at the girls in the video.

They also questioned the students if they had valid reasons to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act and sought to know whether they wanted an argument or a debate.

The BJP workers purportedly told the girls that they were only the students of the college and not the owner.

"What's your problem madam with the CAA? Are you the owner of the college?" they asked.

Amid the heated argument, the BJP workers resorted to sloganeering like 'We want CAA' and "Go back to Pakistan', as seen in another video shot by the students.

BTM Layout Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy visited the college on Thursday after learning about the incident and spoke to its management.

Later, he told reporters that the campus should not be allowed for any political activities.

"Any signature campaign whether in favor or against it (CAA) should be done outside the campus," Reddy said.

He cautioned the pro-CAA protesters he will not let any violent incidents like the one at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi happen at the city college.

Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy, who is the Jayanagar MLA, tweeted, "A few videos & photos of outside #JyotiNivascollege are being circulated on social media."

"MLA Ramalinga Reddy & I have spoken to cops and the Prinicipal about this incident. Spoke to DCP South East Bengaluru and she said that Koramangala cops went there immediately & they are picketing even now," she added.

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News Network
January 25,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 25: Hotelier Samtappa reportedly committed suicide by consuming poison in Kadaba taluk in the district on police said on Saturday.

The deceased was running a hotel named Hotel Samtappa here.

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