DKS mentions religion of Siddaganga seer’s doctor, later says sorry

TNN
December 11, 2018

Bengaluru, Dec 11: Water resources and medical education minister DK Shivakumar has raked up a controversy, stating the religion of the doctor who is treating Siddaganga mutt pontiff Shivakumara Swami in Chennai.

“I’m very happy that Shivakumara Swami is fast recovering. It’s all because of the expertise and effort of Dr Mohammed Rela, a Muslim, who runs the world-class Dr Rela Institute and Medical Centre. Therefore, we all should keep one thing in mind that there is no point in playing politics in the name of caste or religion,” Shivakumar said, soon after he arrived at Sambra airport in Belagavi to attend the winter session of the legislature.

His statement, an apparent move to appease minorities, triggered angry reactions from the junior pontiff of the mutt and the BJP leaders who accused him of playing politics in the name of religion.

On Saturday, Shivakumar had called on the 111-year-old seer in the hospital. On Friday, the pontiff was airlifted to the Chennai hospital where he underwent an operation to treat his liver and bile duct infection.

Junior pontiff Siddalinga Swami said: “There is no caste in noble professions like doctors and teachers. The minister’s statement is in bad taste. Our society considers doctors as equivalent to God. For them, there is no caste or creed.”

BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa and former deputy CM R Ashoka hit out at Shivakumar for “playing politics in the name of the Walking God.”

“As a senior minister, he should not stoop to such a level. He is free to play politics in Vidhana Soudha or on the streets but not in hospitals and mutts,’’ they added.

‘No intention to hurt anyone’

If my statement has hurt the mutt or anyone, I tender an apology. I had no intention of playing politics, as is being alleged by the BJP. After visiting the hospital, I was impressed with the expertise and dedication of the doctor.

So I made that statement DK Shivakumar, medical education minister Pontiff recovering Shivakumara Swami is recovering after the surgery at the Chennai hospital. In a statement on Monday, the hospital’s CMD Dr Mohamed Rela said: “He is beginning to mobilise in the intensive care unit and his vitals are stable.”

Comments

KAMAL
 - 
Wednesday, 12 Dec 2018

DKS should not have commented on religion of the Doctor.  He should have just praised the good job being done by Doctor.   BJP is on watch of any error from its opponents.   Statement from DKS was in error and he apologised for it.  However, BJP is misusing it and trying to gain political benefit out of it.   They should know that people cant be foold always and latest election result is the example.   I hope people will reject BJP completely in MP election.

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News Network
July 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that when COVID-19 has made life and livelihoods difficult, it is unfortunate that charges have been levelled of irregularities in the procurement of COVID-19 equipment.

"The Congress which has levelled charges against the ruling BJP has not so far filed a complaint with any investigating agency. Instead, the Congress has limited itself to getting publicity. On the other hand, the ruling BJP instead of coming clean by ordering a probe into the main charges is indirectly admitting the scam," Kumaraswamy said on Sunday.

"By washing dirty linen in public, both the Congress and the BJP are playing a cruel joke on people instead of protecting their lives," he said.

Hitting out at the BJP, he asked, "Why is it that the BJP is not ordering an investigation into the Rs 2,000 crore Covid 19 corruption charges levelled against the government by the Congress? Why is the government keeping quiet on the corruption charges?"

He said, "Is this the leadership provided by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa? There could be political pressure on seeking resignation of his Ministers. But why has no action been initiated against any officers? Is there any effort to destroy the evidence by retaining officers in their existing postings?"

"Hunger for publicity is evident when we look at the press conference by five Ministers at a time," he said.

The government has countered the charges of the Congress but backtracked on ordering an investigation, he said.

"Would this not give rise to suspicion that the government is involved in the scam?" he asked.

He also asked why Congress leaders have not filed a complaint before any investigating agency despite "possessing documents to prove the charges".

"Are the Congress leaders trying to get publicity or are they concerned about the welfare of the people? The Congress Legislative Party leader is seeking an account (Lekka Kodi) while the BJP president is seeking answers (Uttara Kodi). Is it enough to give such questions and answers?"

Is there a concrete legal plan to deal with the irregularities? he asked.

"Looking at the way the Congress leaders have addressed media conferences and taken to social media campaigns, it appears that they are trying to get publicity," he said.

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News Network
June 5,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 5: An FIR has been filed against former journalist and human rights activist Aakar Anil Patel in Bengaluru here over his comments on social media under charges pertaining to provocation with intent to cause riots.

The FIR was registered under Section 117 (abetting commission of an offence by the public or by more than ten persons), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), and 505-1-B (intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section of the public) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the JC Nagar police station.

According to the FIR filed on June 2, Patel had tweeted that protests like the ones in the US over George Floyd's death are needed in India by the marginalised communities.

Patel, former chief of Amnesty International India, had on May 31 posted from his Twitter account, which is not verified.

On May 25, Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following which protests against police brutality and racism erupted in various cities in the United States. The protests were later replaced by incidents of violence across the country.

India also has witnessed several cases of mob lynchings and custodial deaths in recent years. In most cases victims belong to down trodden communities such as Muslims and Dalits.

Responding to the development, Amnesty International India has said that FIR against Patel is another example of how the right to dissent is being "increasingly" criminalised.

"The Bengaluru police must stop abusing its authority and put an end to the intimidation and harassment of Aakar Patel for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression. People of this country have the right to agree or disagree with those in power, and to express these opinions in peaceful protests - without fear or unlawful interference," Amnesty International India Executive Director Avinash Kumar said.

He said that peacefully protesting against the government is not a crime and added that not agreeing with the policies of those in power does not make you a traitor.

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News Network
March 15,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 15: The week-long ban imposed by the Karnataka Government from Saturday is yet to get a total response in the State to fight against the spread of killer disease Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The ban has witnessed a considerable reduction in the travelling public by Bus and train. Bus terminal and Railway stations wore desert look or only a very few public travelling. KSRTC, which was maintaining service for every 10 minutes once between the State Capital and to City of Palaces, was forced to cancel most of the service due to very little patronage. 

"We were left with no option but to cancel the fleet since there are no passengers," sources at the KSRTC Bus terminal told media persons.

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