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Will unhappy Congress leaders of Uttara Kannada help hardliner Anant Kumar Hegde?

coastaldigest.com web desk
April 22, 2019

Karwar, Apr 22: The decision of several local Congress stalwarts in BJP bastion Uttara Kannada to refrain from campaigning for Janata Dal (Secular) candidate in the constituency has given rise to speculations among people.

In spite of the lack of developmental works in the constituency, political pundits believe that the continued Modi wave and local Congress leaders’ reluctance to back JDS candidate Anand Asnotikar may ultimately help the five-time BJP MP and union minister Anant Kumar Hegde.

Over the last three decades, the constituency had witnessed a straight fight between the Congress and the Janata Dal. Many Congress leaders believe that if JD(S) wins the seat, it may harm the future of Congress in the region.

Anant Kumar Hegde, who is known for his provocative remarks, won the seat for the first time in 1996 elections. He was re-elected in 1998, but lost to Margaret Alva in 1999. Hegde wrested the seat from the Congress in 2004. He retained the seat in 2009 and in 2014. Hegde edged out Prashant Deshpande of Congress in the last election.

This time around, the grand old party is not in the picture. As per the seat-sharing agreement, the Congress has ceded its once-bastion to its alliance partner the JD(S). Senior Congress leaders from the district R V Deshpande and Margaret Alva were not amused with the party leadership to concede the constituency to the JD(S).

“Margaret Alva and I wanted Uttara Kannada seat for Congress as the party has a solid base here. But the party leadership ceded the seat to the JD(S). Disappointed, but we have to obey the decision. Congress leaders and workers in the district are working for the victory of Anand,” said Revenue Minister R V Deshpande.

But the Congress leaders, including former MLA Satish Sail, did not show any interest in campaigning for Asnotikar.

Deshpande and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy attended road shows and election rallies in the last few days of public campaigning, seeking votes for coalition candidate Asnotikar.

Anand Asnotikar comes from a political family. He made a successful debut in the electoral politics in 2009 Assembly elections from Karwar on Congress ticket. He lost the next two Assembly elections - on BJP ticket (2013) and as a JD(S) candidate in 2018. He is banking on the poor report card of incumbent MP.

On the other hand 51-year-old Hegde has strong links with the RSS which helped him in securing a berth in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers couple of years ago.

Cases of rioting, unlawful assembly and promoting enmity among groups were lodged against him in 1993 for being a part of the mob during riots in the communally-sensitive coastal town of Bhatkal. In 1994, he dodged prohibitory orders in Hubballi and reached the disputed Idgah Maidan with two others to the hoist the national flag on August 15. In last few years he faced several cases for physically assaulting people on different occasions and delivering provocative speeches.

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News Network
February 28,2020

Kozhikode, Feb 28: Nearly 200 Umrah pilgrims from Kerala were deboarded from their flights to Saudi Arabia from Calicut international Airport here on Thursday after the gulf nation enforced a temporary ban on foreigners seeking to visit the holy cities of Makkah and Madina, following coronavirus scare.

Saudi Arabia halted travel to the holiest sites in Islam over fears about a viral epidemic just months ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage, a move that came as the Mideast has over 240 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus.

According to Airports Authority of India officials, as many as 84 of passengers from the Saudi Airlines and 104 from the Spice Jet Airlines were denied permission to board the flights and travel to Saudi Arabia.

However, other passengers bound to Jeddah were permitted to fly, they said.

A private tour operator here said two batches of 40 pilgrims each were denied permission to travel to Makkah to perform Umrah on February 27.

Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage that can be performed at any time of year.

"The pilgrims were denied entry by the two airlines, Spice Jet scheduled at 05.30 hrs and Saudi Airlines at 1130 hrs," Naiful Akbar, a travel agent said.

The Airport Authority of India sources said, "the passengers were asked to alight by the Spice Jet airline staff following an instruction received by them."

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 15,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 15: Amidst mounting coronavirus cases, the district administration has finalised 80 covid care centres (CCC) in Dakshina Kannada.

Sindhu B Rupesh, deputy commissioner of DK, said that as many as 80 premises that were functioning as quarantine centres have now been identified as CCCs in the district.

People in the district have been demanding that CCCs should be opened for asymptomatic cases in the district too. 

A majority of around 1,500 active cases in Dakshina Kannada are asymptomatic, and the CCCs will help those planning to go to private hospitals to reduce their treatment costs.

Additional deputy commissioner M J Roopa said that the 80 CCCs identified throughout the district will work as care centres for asymptomatic Covid-19 patients.

A medical team will attend to the centres, and supply of food and water will be taken care of by the government. In case of any health issues, the patient will be shifted to the Covid hospital, she said.

“All asymptotic Covid-19 patients, who are unable to opt for home isolation, are being kept in CCCs. A designated health team will monitor each CCC in the district. Meanwhile, the nearest public health centre (PHC) will have an ambulance on standby in case of an emergency,” she added.

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News Network
March 2,2020

Mangaluru/Mysuru, Mar 2:Unseasonal rain that lashed several parts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Mysuru districts on Monday brought big relief from scorching heat experienced since last one week.

According to official sources here, the Port city received rain for more than two hours since 0500 hrs. Mangaluru, Thokkottu, Ullal, Kavoor, Bondel, Bejai and other areas surrounding Mangaluru experienced rainfall.

Power supply was disrupted following rainfall. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted 'generally cloudy sky' for Mangaluru on Monday.

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