Shun prayers, lamp lighting at functions, says Kerala Minister

August 29, 2016

Kasargod, Aug 29: A Kerala minister is in the eye of a storm over his remarks that lighting of lamps and singing of religious hymns at government programmes and functions at schools should be avoided.SUDHAKARAN

"Our Constitution has no religion or caste.So there is no need to light 'nilavilakku' (traditional lamps) during the inauguration of the government programmes or at functions of schools," said Public Works minister G Sudhakaran while inaugurating a seminar,'Namukku Jathiyilla' (We are not caste driven) at Muthukulam in Alappuzha district last evening.

The senior CPI(M) leader said that the state government does not subscribe to any particular caste or religion.

The minister also claimed that he had recently seen a girl student reciting a prayer in praise of a goddess at a school function.

"Though it was inappropriate,singing of religious prayers and lighting of traditional lamps had become a common practice during official functions in the state now-a-days," he added.

He also suggested that patriotic songs be sung during public functions, instead of religious hymns.
Reacting to his remarks, several people trolled the minister on the social media.

Health Minister K K Shylaja, another senior member in the Pinarayi Vijayan government, had also courted controversy recently by voicing displeasure against the recitation of Sanskrit hymns during a yoga demonstration, organised in connection with the International Yoga Day on June 21.

Comments

Siraj
 - 
Tuesday, 30 Aug 2016

What he said is 100% right. We are in a secular democratic country where the government will have any religion and which will allow its citizens to practice/preach or not to practice any particular religion

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coastaldigest.com news network
August 7,2020

Bengaluru, Aug 7: Dr Mohammed Yusuf, chairperson of the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf, passed away at a private hospital in the city today following a brief illness. He was 74.

Dr Yusuf was an industrialist and was known for his philanthropic activities. 

A veterinarian, Dr Yusuf had quit the government job and set up business in Bengaluru and Dubai decades ago and has earned considerable success.

He was re-elected as Board of Auqaf chief in January this year. He had held the post more than once in the past. 

He will be buried at the graveyard near Masjid-e-Muzammil which was built by himself at Govindapura, source said.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 5: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday admitted in the legislative assembly that corruption was deep-rooted in government offices and held transfer racket as the root cause of the graft menace.

“Unless we root it out from the system, we can never uphold the spirit of the Constitution and ensure equitable justice to people. If legislators lend support (to this cause), then we can weed out this menace,” Yediyurappa said during a special discussion on the Constitution.

Successive governments have been accused by opposition parties of running a transfer racket, but there’s very little done to institute a probe or order a crackdown following the allegations.

The chief minister’s candid admission came after senior Congress MLA HK Patil, quoting a report from Amnesty International, said 63% of people in Karnataka give bribe to get their work done in government offices. The CM said he agreed with the report in toto.

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News Network
April 18,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 18: The Karnataka government has fixed the cost of test for COVID-19 in private laboratories at Rs 2,250, an official said on Friday.

"Based on the discussions and negotiations, the cost per test has been fixed at Rs 2,250. This includes the screening test and a confirmatory test," said order by Health and Family Welfare Department's Additional Chief Secretary Jawaid Akhtar.

A total of 16 laboratories (11 government and 5 private) have been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for testing samples of possible COVID-19 cases in the state.

Realising that early detection of coronavirus cases and timely treatment was the need of the hour, meetings were held to rope in more private laboratories to conduct COVID-19 sample tests.

As per the protocol by the Centre, testing the samples of suspected COVID-19 cases can be taken up in private laboratories subject to conditions which include sharing the lab data pertaining to the diagnosis of COV1D-19 with the state government and with the ICMR on a timely basis.

As per the Union Health Ministry, 353 people have infected from coronavirus in the state of which 83 are cured and discharged and 13 succumbed to the virus.

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