War within the country needs to be fought, says Anand Patwardhan

coastaldigest.com web desk
March 11, 2019

Mangaluru, Mar 11: Acclaimed documentary film maker Anand Patwardhan has said that more than the war on borders, it is the war within the country that needs to be fought fiercely.

He was speaking during an interactive session with the audience after the screening of his recent film ‘Vivek/Reason’ held as part of Media Manthan orgnaised by the department of Journalism and Mass Communication, St Aloysius College (Autonomous).

Mr Patwardhan said: “There is an undeclared emergency within the country that puts an end to all those who question the establishment. Rationalists, academicians, and editors who raise questions are all systematically silenced.”

Answering a question referring to the emergency, Mr Patwardhan noted that one could at least embarrass the governments in the past. But, one could not do so now, as the government was unapologetic about all its wrong moves and inaction.

The eight part film screening was attended to by students, activists, academicians and representatives from civil society groups who raised many questions about the developments in the country.

To a question about the electronic media and its complete surrender to the establishment, Mr Patwardhan opined that the media, especially the electronic media, was in the hands of the corporates and they were more than happy to toe the official line. “What exasperates the dynamics further, is that many politician too own the media and they are able to carry on the agenda or set the agenda in the newsrooms.”

As regards the challenges he faced making the film for four years, he said quite humorously that, “Making the film was less difficult than reaching it to the masses.”

Film maker Simanthini Dhuru, was also present.

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News Network
March 11,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 11: DK Shivakumar has been appointed as the new president of the party's Karnataka unit, an official said on Wednesday.

"Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) has appointed D.K. Shivakumar as the president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC)," said party's general secretary K.C. Venugopal in a statement from New Delhi.

Party's state unit leaders Eshwar Khandre, Satish Jharkiholi and Saleem Ahammed are the working presidents in the southern state.

"Former chief minister Siddaramaiah will continue as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader and opposition leader in the state legislative assembly.

MLC M. Narayanswamy and MLA Ajay Singh will be the party's chief whips in the state legislative council and assembly.

Congress appoints Anil Chaudhary as DPCC chief

The Congress on Wednesday appointed former MLA Anil Chaudhary as its Delhi unit chief, while also naming five vice-presidents for the DPCC.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi named Chaudhary president and Abhishek Dutt, Shivani Chopra, Jaikishan, Mudit Agarwal and Ali Hassan vice-presidents of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC), a party statement said.

Subhash Chopra had resigned as the Delhi Congress chief in February, taking moral responsibility for the party's debacle in the Assembly polls.

The Congress drew a blank for the second time in a row in the Delhi Assembly polls and reduced its vote share from 9.7 per cent in 2015 to 4.27 per cent this time.

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News Network
January 17,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 17: A poultry truck transporting chickens overturned on Friday at Perne village near Uppinangady on Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway, killing 200 of them.

Police said that the truck was headed towards Mangaluru from Uppinangady when the truck driver lost control of the vehicle causing it to topple. As many as 200 chickens were killed in the mishap.

Another vehicle was later used to transport the remaining chickens.

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News Network
March 26,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 26: Karnataka government has warned strict penal action against landlords or house-owners under provisions of law for forcing doctors, paramedical staff and healthcare professionals to vacate their rented residences citing COVID-19 spread through them as the reason.

Stating that lot of complaints have been received in this regard, an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary Health and Family Welfare department Jawaid Akhtar said such behaviour amounted to obstructing public servant in discharging their duties./

Noting that the state government has issued Karnataka Epidemic Diseases (COVID-19) regulations 2020 for prevention and containment of the virus, it directed Deputy Commissioners of the district, Commissioner and Joint Commissioner of BBMP (civic body in Bengaluru), Commissioners of Municipal Corporations and District Deputy Commissioner of Police to take action against such incidents.

"Strict penal action should be taken against such landlords or house-owners under relevant provisions of law and submit an action taken report on a daily basis to the office of Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department," the order read.

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