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.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Udupi: Adamaru Mutt donates Rs 55,55,555 to PM CARES Fund

News Network

April 18,2020

Udupi, Apr 18: The Adamaru Mutt and Mutt-owned educational institutions donated fifty five lakhs, fifty five thousand, five hundred and fifty five rupees to the PM-CARES Fund on Friday.

Sri Vishwakapriyattirtha Sripada, while donating the amount, delivered the message that in these difficult times in our country, the government has no sources of tax revenue but the cost of various departments especially public health expenses are increasing.

We leave three meals a week and distribute the money saved to those in need. We pray that India becomes the first COVID-19-free country in the world with all our efforts.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Govt to bear Rs 78 cr cost of 108-ft-tall Kempegowda statue outside Airport: DyCM

News Network

June 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 27: Announcing Karnataka’s ambitious plan to install a 108-ft-tall statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda outside the airport, deputy chief minister Ashwath Narayan said the government will bear the project cost — approximately Rs 78 crore.

Work on the project will formally commence with the chief minister laying foundation stone for installation of the statue and development of a 23-acre park where it will come up, on Saturday.

How soon we get a coronavirus vaccine depends on not only the pace of work in research labs, but also the preparedness of factories supplying glass vials, stoppers and syringes

A look at the factors that may determine the severity of infection

An artist’s impression of the 108-ft-tall statue, which is proposed to come up in a 23-acre park outside KIA. The chief minister will perform bhoomi puja on Saturday.

KPCC president DK Shivakumar on Thursday suggested the cost be borne by Kempegowda International Airport and not the government. He wrote to the CM welcoming the decision to erect a statue of the chieftain at KIA, but asked why should the govenment spend on it. “When huge concessions have been provided to KIA, why not use its services to construct the statue,” he asked. Narayan, who is chairman of Kempegowda Development Authority, said it is the government’s duty to bear the cost.

The government has released sketches of the statue and a blueprint of the park. Noted sculptor Ram Sutar, who designed the Gandhi statue located between Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha and the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, will be part of this project as well.

Narayan said the government was not competing with any other state on having a tallest/largest statue while emphasising that Kempegowda ensured the city had tanks, markets and drainage system when it was founded. He added the government won’t invite many guests to Saturday’s ceremony. “Most legislators will be given a virtual link to view the event,” he said.

Comments

When the economic situation is very bad they are wasting people's money on these things now! These statues can be built when the peoples' basic things are first fulfilled. The title of this topic should be "People to bear the burden of Rs.78 crore", there is nothing like governments money, it's all belong to people.

What is the neccessity of spending tax payers money in building Statue when there is great need of these amount in improving the quality of Health sector during COVID-19 Pandemic. Government must be smart enough to prioritise the need of the people.

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Hedge owns his remarks against Gandhi, then says he didn’t say anything against Gandhi

News Network

February 4,2020

New Delhi, Feb 4: "I own my statement," said BJP lawmaker Anant kumar Hedge on Tuesday amid the raging controversy over his remark on Mahatma Gandhi while adding that he has never said anything against the Father of the Nation.

"All related media reports are false. I never said what is being debated over. It is an unnecessary controversy. I own my statement made on February 1, 2020, in Bengaluru. I never made any reference to any political party or Mahatma Gandhi or anybody else, I was just trying to categorise freedom struggle. That's all," Hedge told news agency.

"I am surprised by the discussion around it. What can I say about something that is not there? There is hullabaloo going on without anything. My statement is available in public forum. If anyone wants to see, it is available online and on my website. Show me if I have said anything against Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and any other freedom fighters," he added.

The BJP leader continued: "That programme was about Savarkar. With due respect of all our freedom fighters, I was just discussing our freedom struggle, there is no confusion or any derogatory comment on freedom struggle or fighters. Unnecessary nuisance has been created."

Hedge stoked a controversy after he had attacked Mahatma Gandhi by calling the freedom struggle led by him a "drama" and also questioned as to how "such people" come to be called 'Mahatma' in India.

"None of these so-called leaders was beaten up by the cops even once. Their independence movement was a big drama. It was staged by these leaders with the approval of the British. It was not a genuine fight. It was an adjustment freedom struggle," he had said.

While several Congress leaders have condemned his remark on the father of the nation, BJP leaders too has distanced themselves from it.

Top leadership in BJP is unhappy with Anantkumar Hegde over his controversial remark on Mahatma Gandhi, party sources had said on Monday, adding that he has been asked to issue an unconditional apology.

Comments