Samastha activists booked for anti-Modi slogan during Shariah rally

Mangaluru, Feb 21: The local units of Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal today staged a protest in the city against Amulya Leona, who raised pro-Pakistan slogans yesterday in Bangaluru.

Amulya is the daughter of Wazi Noronha, a former leader of minority of wing of BJP in Koppa taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. He had worked in support of hardline BJP leader and Udupi-Chickmagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje, and D N Jeevaraj, who had represented Sringeri constituency last time.

The 19-year-old B.A. student was arrested on sedition charge after she raised pro-Pakistan slogans to embarrass the organisers of a peaceful protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Bengaluru.

Demanding stringent action against Amulya, a group of activist of VHP and Bajrang Dal staged protest at Kadri Mallikatte Circle in the city. Speaking on the occasion, M B Puranik and Sharan Pumpwell demanded NIA probe into the incident.

Also Read: Amulya Leona — a Naxal or Sangh Parivar stooge?

Bengaluru, Feb 19: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is facing major dissent within the party and the BJP MLAs held a meeting on Tuesday night at former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar's residence to discuss the functioning of Yediyurappa-led government, said BJP sources.

According to BJP sources, some of the unhappy BJP leaders and MLAs met last night at Shetter's place and expressed that they are not satisfied with Yediyurappa's leadership.

Last night's meeting shows that party leaders are looking to bring down Yediyurappa from the Chief Minister's post by sending a clear message to the high command that Yediyurappa is incapable of continuing as the CM, said BJP sources.

Other sources in BJP have also asserted that BJP leadership in Karnataka is looking for a "leader" who can lead the party in upcoming elections which is going to be held after three years. At this point of time, it's crucial for BJP to promote second-line leadership.

Meanwhile, a letter is being circulated in the BJP party forum and over social media against Chief Minister Yediyurappa's leadership.

It looks like the same team which is unhappy with Yediyurappa's leadership is trying to convey the same message to their high command. The letter which is being circulated says to be written by one of these leaders' groups against Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra.

On this, Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy told media, "Maybe the letter is written by the same MLAs because after the expansion of Karnataka cabinet so many leaders from BJP were kept out."

"There is a lot of discontent among BJP MLAs that the ones who have toiled for the party day and night have been neglected from the cabinet expansion. This will definitely result in destabilisation in the government," said Eshwar Khandre, KPCC Working President.

Now party high command needs to look into Karnataka leadership to manage the government in the state.

"Now BJP leadership in Karnataka and Delhi need to look into the matter and need to solve the issue after cabinet expansion," said a BJP leader.

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 17: Out of the total 418 samples of suspect coronavirus cases sent for testing to National Institute of Virology from Kerala, 405 have come out as negative, while the results for the rest, barring three, are awaited.

"Out of three persons in whom the disease was confirmed, two persons have been discharged. One person is stable and the repeat sample results are awaited," according to a release by the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Kerala government.

The release added that till Sunday a total of 2,276 people have been placed under surveillance, "out of which 2262 are under home isolation and 14 are admitted in designated isolation facilities."

The health condition of all symptomatic people under isolation is stable, according to the release.

The release added that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Centre) has informed the Kerala government that 115 people belonging to Kerala are currently in quarantine in two camps in Delhi.

These 115 people have been tested and found negative for coronavirus and they will be allowed to travel back to Kerala on Monday evening.

The people have been requested to remain in home isolation upon their return.