No other choice; will launch a new political party: Kamal Haasan

News Network
September 15, 2017

New Delhi, Sept 15: Actor Kamal Haasan has ended the speculation over his political entry, saying he will form his own political party as none of the existing ones can provide a platform for his "reformatory" ideology.

The actor said he was thinking of launching a political party, out of compulsion and not choice.

"Yes, I am thinking on those lines, not out of choice but compulsion. Which existent political party can provide me with a platform or an ideology that will match my reformatory goals in politics?" the actor told the website.

In the interview, the actor also took issue with the media linking him to any political party whose leader he happens to be meeting. "The other day, I met the Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and I was supposed to have developed a penchant for communism...A political party is about an ideology. And I don't think my goals in politics can match the ideology of any political party," he told The Quint.

Commenting on the current political situation in Tamil Nadu, Kamal Haasan said the sacking of VK Sasikala as the general secretary of the ruling AIAMDK was a "solid step forward". "I was extremely vocal about getting rid of her. Now that it has happened I feel a little more encouraged in my belief that the politics of Tamil Nadu can change. And I want to bring about that change, no matter how slowly it may be," he said.

Following his meeting with Vijayan, speculation had been rife that he would join the CPI(M). The buzz was fuelled by his recent criticism of the AIADMK and DMK working president MK Stalin.

Kamal Haasan, who is currently hosting the Tamil edition of reality show Bigg Boss, had also recently said that "saffron" was not his colour, a veiled reference to the BJP and the RSS.

"My colour is definitely not saffron. That much I can say now," he had told reporters, in response to questions whether he would swing to the Left or Right.

A source from Kamal's fan club association said: "We still are in the planning phase and discussing ideas. He is keen to enter politics but is currently looking at starting a movement of sorts to gauge public support before taking the final plunge."

Another close friend of Kamal welcomes Kamal's statement but agrees that the finances for floating a party would be a challenge for the Superstar.

R. K. Radhakrishnan, Associate Editor, Frontline, said: "Kamal has been making noises on floating a party. If he does due diligence, he will realise that this is a mammoth task - starting a party and running it across Tamil Nadu. If it's raw emotion that's guiding him, he should seek the counsel of wise leaders such as Su. Thirunavukkarasar, who disbanded his rather successful party."

His entry into politics comes at a time when superstar Raajinikanth too said he is holding discussions but will take a decision when the time is right. His mentor and RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy said Rajini will float his own party and later form an alliance with the BJP.

So the two superstars have been making headlines as the State Govt remains mute spectators and the DMK says both are welcome to join the party. So only time will if both will make political debuts and float their own parties.

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News Network
June 2,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 2:  With easing of COVID-19 lockdown curbs, the Karnataka excise department has accorded permission for fresh brewing or production of beer and to sell it in microbreweries as takeaways.

"Permission is hereby accorded to microbreweries for fresh brewing/production and sale of beer as takeaway in glass, ceramic or stainless steel container (up to 2 litre) till 30-06-2020, or until further orders, whichever is earlier," the Excise Commissioner in a letter dated June 1 to Deputy Excise Commissioners of all districts said.

The opening and closing hours of the microbreweries shall be from 9 am to 9 pm, it said, adding that all other conditions as laid down will remain unaltered.

Earlier, in a letter dated May 12, the Excise Commissioner had "conditionally" granted permission for microbreweries to sell their beer stock as takeaway on experimental basis for the period from May 14 to June 30 or until exhaustion of existing beer stock, whichever is earlier.

It had called for measures like social distancing, cleanliness, usage of masks and sanitizers, among others, and had said, microbreweries situated in containment zones are not allowed to function.

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News Network
April 20,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 20: Dakshina Kannada police have warned of stringent legal action against people who share photos of the coronavirus victims in the district and other patients on social websites.

District superintendent of police B M Laxmi Prasad in a release, warned the people that strict legal action will be taken against those who flout rules.

Police have noted that a picture of one of the COVID-19 victims in the area is being shared on social media.

Providing any information about coronavirus-infected patients or victims publicly is a punishable offence, he said.

The police are putting together information about the people who shared the photo and other information about the COVID-19 in the district and have initiated legal action.

A 50-year old woman from Bantwal had died of Covid-19 at the Wenlock hospital here on Sunday.

She is the first coronavirus victim in the district.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 31,2020

Mangaluru, May 31:  Even as the worst locust attack on India in recent years raised concerns over its impact on crops, swarms of locusts have triggered panic in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada too. 

Farmers in the coastal district were taken aback when they found the swarms of locusts, which they feared as the arrival of desert locusts in the region.

According to reports, Renjalady village under the limits of Nuji Baltila Gramp Panchayats in Kadaba taluk and Shirlalu village in Belthangady taluk witnessed locust attacks in last couple of days. 

“Locust swarms were seen in many areas. We have also alerted agriculture department. Already insects have destroyed crops of many farmers,” said a farmer in Shirlalu village.  

Joint director of Dakshina Kannada district agriculture department MC Seetha confirmed that officials have received information from villagers about the locust scare and entemologists have already visited the place to collect more information.

Not Desert Locusts?

“We contacted entemologists and forwarded the pictures that farmers sent to us. Looking at the picture, entemologists have opined that it may be calotropis locust or colour grasshopper. Desert locusts usually arrive in lakhs,” said Ms Seetha. Desert locusts that are destroying crops in other parts of India may not come to Dakshina Kannada, she added.

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