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
May 15,2020

Kalaburagi, May 15: Former Karnataka Minister Dr Sharanprakash Patil and 22 others, including several local Congress leaders, have been booked for violating lockdown guidelines by conducting a meeting at a convention hall in Sulpeth town on May 13.

The FIR was registered on Thursday against 23 persons, including the former MLA and 21 local Congress leaders, under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Congress leader Patil and his followers had conducted a meeting at a convention hall in Sulpeth town on May 13, following which sectoral magistrate Muneer Ahmed lodged a complaint.

This comes as the country of under lockdown and the Centre and states have issued strict social distancing and other norms to be followed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

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coastaldigest.com news network
August 7,2020

Mangaluru, Aug 7: A youth died on the spot in a ghastly road mishap on Netravati Bridge near Thokkottu on the outskirts of the city today evening.

Police sources said that the face of the youth, who was riding a motorbike, has been damaged beyond recognition. He died on the spot. 

More details about the mishap are yet to be known. A case has been registered at Mangaluru Traffic police station.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 21,2020

Bengaluru, May 21: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa today slammed Law Minister JC Madhuswamy for yelling at a woman farmer in Kolar, an incident that attracted widespread criticism. 

The incident happened on Wednesday when Madhuswamy, who is also the minor irrigation minister, was inspecting the Koramangala-Challaghatta (KC) Valley project, under which Bengaluru’s sewage is treated and pumped into lakes in Kolar. 

During his visit, farmer Nalini Gowda questioned Madhuswamy on the encroachment of the 1,022-acre S Agrahara lake. At one point, Madhuswamy lost his cool and yelled, “Aye! Shut your mouth, rascal,” and asked the police to take her away. Before this, Madhuswamy told her, “Make a request. I’m a very bad man. You can only air your grievance. Don’t command us.” 

A video of this exchange was aired by news channels. 

“What (Madhuswamy) said is not right. I have warned him. None can forgive such an explicit manner of talking with a woman. That, too, behaving like that being a minister doesn’t bode well. I will talk to that woman also and I’ll ensure this doesn’t happen again,” Yediyurappa told reporters.

The incident has come as a shot in the arm to the Opposition Congress, which is already attacking the Yediyurappa administration on the COVID-19 crisis. Condemning Madhuswamy’s behaviour, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah demanded an apology and asked Yediyurappa to sack him from the Cabinet. 

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar said it was unbecoming of Madhuswamy to behave like that being a senior minister. “People will ask us questions and express their problems, naturally. What’s important is how we handle ourselves. Be it a woman or anyone, they come to us because we’re into public service. Calling them ‘rascal’ and things is not right. Maybe there was some irritation, but I agree with (Siddaramaiah) that he should be dropped from the Cabinet,” he said.

On his part, Madhuswamy said he felt intimidated. “If I have hurt the feelings of any woman, I will certainly apologise,” he said. “But citizens should realise, we go to their villages to ask about their problems. If they start abusing us publicly, how can we work? My secretary and I heard her for five minutes and then told her that we know our responsibility. We asked her to close the issue. She didn’t stop and I got tempted (sic),” the minister said.

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