National
IANS Interview: Will show the world what this 'rasoyi wali’ can do, says BJP’s Davanagere candidate Gayithri Siddeshwara
Bengaluru, May 3 (IANS) When the BJP announced its candidate for the prestigious Davanagere Lok Sabha seat, political greenhorn Gayithri Siddeshwara, wife of four-time MP GM Siddeshwara, the Opposition Congress quickly brushed her candidature aside.
Veteran leader Shamanur Shivashankaraapa remarked that Gayithri Siddeshwara was fit to be in the kitchen only. The sexist remark stirred a debate at the national level. Expressing solidarity with Gayithri Siddeshwara, international badminton star Saina Nehwal lashed out at the chauvinistic comment.
Gayithri Siddeshwara who is on the last leg of campaigning told IANS that she has taken the jibe in a sporting spirit and she will show the world what “this rasoyi wali” can do. She underlined that people called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a ‘chaiwala’ and he showed what a ‘chaiwala’ could do. “I take inspiration from him,” she says.
Her dreams include getting a GI tag for the famous ‘Davanagere butter dosa’ and establishing a cargo airport in Davanagere. Excerpts from the interview.
IANS: This is your first election. How has your political journey been so far?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: Politics is not new for me. For 30 years I have been working behind the scenes. Now, I have come to the forefront. Earlier, I was contributing to the country in my own manner, now the central and state leadership has given me a direct opportunity to contribute to the country. I feel I am ready to serve. Earlier, I used to seek votes for my father-in-law late G. Mallikarjunappa and my husband, sitting BJP MP GM Siddeshwara. My father-in-law visited all villages and had a connection with the voters. He used to take the names of 20 to 25 leaders of each of the 1,800 villages in the constituency. My husband followed in his father’s footsteps. Now it is my turn.
IANS: What is the best response to the “rasoyi wali” comment by Congress veteran Shamanur Shivashankarappa?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: In the initial stages there will be challenges. The baby will not start walking immediately after birth. The comment was made when I had just begun my campaigning and was seeking votes. Now, villagers are complimenting me on my speeches. I want to say one thing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was called a ‘chaiwala’ in the beginning. They challenged how a ‘chaiwala’ could become the PM and rule the country. He proved his might. For me as well, they branded me as a person only good at cooking. I can also be ‘rasoi wali’ who can achieve big things. In this matter Prime Minister Modi is an inspiration. There are women in their homes too. It seems they don’t cook. The bond of love and affection is created when a mother cooks and serves food to her children and the family. They don’t understand all that. They don’t have that culture. Our culture is Indian culture and the Congress leaders follow foreign culture. I serve food to my children and those who come down from abroad also prefer to be served food by me. I also served food along with the servants to our party workers who visit our residence and they acknowledge it. Now, it has come in handy as people say they are obliged to give their vote as they were served food by me.
IANS: At the age of 69 years, you are campaigning all through the day and till late at night. How do you manage?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: I have taken it as a challenge. Earlier, I used to get up at 6.30 a.m., feed the cows, monitor the work done by the maids and do Yoga. Now, I wake up by 4.30 a.m., do Yoga and start campaigning after breakfast. As I do Yoga, my spirit remains the same.
IANS: When the ticket was announced, your candidature faced stiff resistance from within the BJP. How are you managing the internal differences?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: There is nothing wrong in asking for a ticket. If you are fortunate, you will get a ticket. If people fail to get a ticket, they will contest as Independent candidates and this is a normal phenomenon. The survey conducted by the BJP revealed that only GM Siddeshwara could win as the Shamanur Shivashankarappa family was ready to contest the election for the Congress. They had calculated that if they took the MP seat, the whole of Davanagere would be in their control. Preparations in this regard were made the year round. The party chose to field me as the Congress was pitching in Prabha Mallikarjun from the Shamanur Shivashankarappa family. I never dreamt that I would get a ticket and I would contest the election.
IANS: What are your promises to voters?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: To restart stalled projects, create an industrial corridor in the constituency, develop tourist and historical places. IT parks would also be extended. Our Davanagere butter dosa is quite famous and I want to get a GI tag for it. I want to bring a cargo airport to Davanagere. If I get an opportunity, I will do all this.
IANS: Are you experiencing male chauvinism while dealing with different leaders?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: All leaders are cooperating. Our BJP MLAs might have lost the election, but they have a grip over the masses. My husband Siddeshwara is there. The former MLAs all see me as an elderly sister and I am taking them along.
IANS: How sure are you of your victory?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: I am 100 per cent confident of my victory. I have been touring villages and the voter response is overwhelming. I can see that there is great support for me.
IANS: You are facing a formidable opponent hailing from an influential family…
Gayithri Siddeshwara: The voters will decide. I will go by the voters’ verdict.
IANS: How do you see MCA student Neha Hiremath’s murder case?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: Everyone has opposed the Neha case. All women condemn it. The incident showed that there is no safety for women under this government. Within two days of this incident, in Channagiri town two young men were stabbed in a communal clash. In Gangavathi town, a youth was stabbed for raising ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans.
IANS: How do you view these developments?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: It means there is no safety under this government. All these incidents happened in a week. In Shivamogga they took out a procession holding sharp-edged weapons. We went there and women poured out their grief and stated that Hindus have no protection. The Neha case has been dropped already, and now the Congress is focussing on the Prajwal Revanna case. The development has been given a political colour. Exploitation of any woman is condemnable.
IANS: How was the experience of sharing a platform with Prime Minister Modi?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: I consider myself lucky that I was able to share the stage with Prime Minister Modi. It happened in Shivamogga, my native place. The second time I stood with the Prime Minister in Davanagere city. After his visit, I am sure of my victory.
IANS: How is your husband viewing your progress as a politician?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: He has not seen me going outside in this manner. He used to hear about my treatment of his supporters and he always respected me.
IANS: What is your appeal to voters?
Gayithri Siddeshwara: For the safety of our country and protection of our women, for women empowerment, development of farmers, exploited and the poor, for developed India, to strengthen our economy, our vote should be given to the BJP and Prime Minister Modi.
–IANS
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National
PM Modi to give certificates to 11 lakh Lakhpati Didis; roll out Rs 2,500 crore fund
New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) Union Minister for Rural Development and Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will give certificates to 11 lakh new ‘Lakhpati Didis’ at a special function to be held at Jalgaon in Maharashtra on August 25 (Sunday).
The programme will have nationwide participation through the virtual mode.
The Prime Minister will release a revolving Community Investment Fund of Rs 2,500 crore, which will benefit about 48 lakh members of 4.3 lakh women Self Help Groups (SHGs), Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
PM Modi will also release a bank loan of Rs 5,000 crore, which will benefit 25.8 lakh members of 2,35,400 Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also said that people from about 30,000 places across 34 states and union territories including state capitals and district headquarters will join this program through the virtual route.
He said that Lakhpati Didis are women who earn Rs 1 lakh or more per annum. These Lakhpati Didis have not only pulled their families out of poverty but are also becoming role models for the rest of society, the Union Minister said.
“The Rural Development Ministry has already created 1 crore Lakhpati Didis. Now our target is to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis in the next 3 years. It is heartening to note that one of these community resource persons has created 95 Lakhpati Didis,” Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
He further explained that the Ministry has adopted a structured process to enable the SHG families to earn an annual income of Rs 1 lakh or more.
This includes capacitating National Resource Persons and developing Master Trainers in each state.
These Master Trainers further train the Community Resource Persons on business planning, financing and convergence process.
The cadre of 3 lakh Community Resource Persons, who have been specially trained in business planning and the skilling of SHG members, are doing a great service in this regard, the minister added.
Some of these community resource persons will also be facilitated.
As of now, the Ministry of Rural Development has formed 15 lakh Lakhpati Didis during the first 100 days which has succeeded the 11 lakh target for the period, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.
–IANS
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National
Tripura flood death toll rises to 12, more NDRF teams deployed (Lead)
Agartala, Aug 22 (IANS) The flood situation in Tripura, which has been lashed by heavy rains for the last four days, remained grim on Thursday and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) retained its ‘Red alert’ for all eight districts, officials said.
They added that more National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed as the rains and floods continue to play havoc.
Till Thursday, 12 deaths, including that of a 12-year-old girl and a woman were reported from South Tripura, Gomati, and Khowai districts and two persons were also said to be missing.
A Disaster Management Department official said that two more fresh casualties due to the floods were reported from south Tripura and Gomati districts, while around 65,500 people are taking shelter in 450 relief camps in all eight districts.
He said that 17 lakh people were affected in the entire state, which witnessed the monsoon flood in such a catastrophic manner for the first time in several decades.
Chief Minister Manik Saha, who is supervising the disaster management work, spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the second day on Thursday and apprised him of the prevailing scenario.
Home Minister Shah said in a post on X, “Spoke with CM Tripura, Dr Manik Saha, and took stock of the flood situation in the state. The Centre is rushing teams of NDRF, apart from boats and helicopters, to the state to assist the local government in relief and rescue operations. Assured of all possible assistance from the Centre as and when required. The Modi government firmly stands with our sisters and brothers in Tripura during this hour of crisis.”
Later, the Chief Minister while expressing gratitude to the Home Minister said that HM Shah informed him that 11 NDRF teams would be sent to Tripura from different locations in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
He said arrangements would also be made for choppers to airlift stranded people in the flood-affected areas.
“More number of boats would also be sent along with the NDRF teams. The entire state government machinery has been working round the clock to tackle the unprecedented natural calamity. I thank public representatives, social workers and the people at large for cooperating with the state government in this hour of crisis,” CM Saha said.
The central government has provided two helicopters for airlifting stranded people in Gomati and South Tripura districts.
Following the directions of the state government, due to the heavy rain and flooding, all educational institutions remained closed.
An India Meteorological Department (IMD) official said that though a ‘heavy’ to ‘very heavy’ rainfall alert has been continued and a ‘Red alert’ has been sounded in all eight districts, the rain is likely to reduce slightly from Thursday evening.
“The low pressure area over north Bangladesh and neighbourhood persisted over the same region on Thursday. The associated cyclonic circulation now extends up to 9.4 km above mean sea level. It is likely to move nearly westwards across West Bengal during the next 48 hours. Additionally, a cyclonic circulation is likely to form over North Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood on August 24,” the official said.
The IMD recorded 233 mm rainfall in Agartala from 8.30 A.M. on August 21 to till 8.30 A.M. on Thursday.
According to Disaster Management Department officials over 1,055 houses were damaged either fully or partially and hundreds of trees were uprooted blocking many important highways.
Landslides occurred in 2,032 places across the state, out of which 1,789 locations were cleared by Thursday evening.
As per preliminary estimates, around 5,000 hectares of vegetable farms and 1.20 lakh hectares of other crop lands are still submerged.
Water Resource Department officials said that most of the prominent rivers in Tripura were either flowing above ‘critical’ or ‘danger’ levels while the state’s main river Gomati has crossed the ‘extreme danger’ level in many places of Gomati and Sepahijala districts, as rainfall has continued.
The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) has cancelled 10 local trains in Tripura.
An NFR spokesman said that due to heavy rain railway tracks were damaged in Gomati district, forcing the authorities to cancel these trains.
A Defence spokesman said that following the requisition from state administrations, four columns of Assam Rifles were deployed in different districts and they were working in close coordination with the civil administration to rescue civilians stranded due to floods.
First aid and essential items have been distributed by the Assam Rifles to hundreds of stranded people and those in relief camps.
–IANS
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National
Waqf Amendment Bill is unconstitutional, undemocratic & unfair: Maulana Madani
New Delhi, Aug 22 (IANS) The Muslim organisation on Thursday criticised the Union government over the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, calling it unconstitutional, undemocratic and unfair as it goes against the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution.
“Amendment bill being brought to Waqf is unconstitutional, undemocratic and unfair. The proposed amendments to the Waqf Act are also against the freedom of religion provided by the Constitution and also violates articles 14-15 and 25 of the Constitution,” said Jamiat-i-Ulama Hind, President, Maulana Arshad Madani while addressing a joint press conference of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Muslim Personal Law Board at the Constitution Club in New Delhi.
He added that the amendment bill is also the government’s interference in religious matters which Muslims will not accept.
“Under the guise of the amending bill, an attempt is being made to deprive the Muslims of this great country and of its heritage which our forefathers have left in the form of Waqf for the betterment of the poor, destitute and needy people of the country,” said Maulana Arshad Madani.
He said that amendments have been made in the bill without consulting the Muslim religious figures and taking the Muslims into confidence while Waqf is a purely religious and Shariah matter because once the Waqf is applied.
“The donor does not remain the owner of the property rather that property is transferred to the ownership of Allah,” he explained.
Maulana Madani said that while presenting the Amendment Bill in the parliament, it was claimed that it would bring transparency to the work and would benefit the weak and needy people of the Muslim society.
“This bill is proof of the malicious intent of the government and its dangerous plans. If this bill is passed not only the protection of Waqf properties across the country may be in danger but also a door of new conflicts will be opened and the status of those mosques, tombs, buildings, imam badas and lands which are Waqf properties or which are located on Waqf land will be made doubtful,” Maulana Madani said.
He added that instead of the Waqf Tribunal and Waqf Commissioners, all powers under this bill will be transferred to District Collectors.
“By increasing the number of members of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards, their status is also being changed and the door is being opened to appoint non-Muslims in it as well. This bill will also remove the requirement of being Muslim for officers and members,” he said.
Maulana Madani said that this is not a Hindu-Muslim issue but a constitutional problem and this bill is also against Muslim religious freedom.
He said that the Shrine Board, which was formed for the maintenance and protection of Hindu religious places, had a clear explanation that Jains, Sikhs or Buddhists would not be its members.
He questioned that if Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists cannot be members of the Shrine Board, how can the nomination and appointment of non-Muslims be justified in the Waqf Board?
“While Jainism and Buddhism are not considered separate from Hinduism, they are considered a separate sect. If they cannot participate in the shrine board even if they are Hindus on the basis of being a sect, then why is the nomination and appointment of non-Muslims in the Waqf boards made mandatory?” Maulana Madani asked.
He said that there are laws in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc. that those who manage the affairs of the Hindu religion’s property must be Hindus.
“Just as no other religious group can interfere in the religious affairs of Hindus, Sikhs and Christians in the same way, the management of Waqf properties should also be done only by Muslims. We do not accept any such proposal in the endowment system,” he added.
He said that it is clear that the intention of the government is not pure and through this bill, its purpose is not to bring transparency in the work and to benefit the Muslim community but to deprive Muslims of their Waqf properties and to weaken the claim of Muslims from the Waqf properties.
Maulana Madani said that an endless series of new conflicts can start in this way and taking advantage of the weak legal status of Muslims in the amendment bill may make it easier to occupy Waqf properties.
He added that we are not talking about one or two amendments but most of the amendments in the bill are unconstitutional and dangerous and destructive for the Waqf.
“This bill is also an attack on the constitutional powers given to Muslims. If the Constitution has given religious freedom and equal rights to every citizen then some special powers have also been given to the minorities living in the country. And the amendment bill negates all these powers completely,” he said.
Maulana Madani added that under the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024, it has been suggested that Section 40 of the current Act should be removed while the 2006 Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf and Justice Sachar Committee reported that a large number of Waqf properties are illegally occupied while the incumbent government is also referring to the same Sachar Committee report.
“Despite this, it has been suggested in the 2024 bill that the State Waqf Board shall not be empowered to identify properties which are illegally occupied and to try to recover them. This proposal of the government is very harmful to the existence of endowments,” he said.
He added that during the last ten years, the minorities of the country, especially the Muslims, were put on the margins, and to make them believe that now, as citizens, they have no rights and powers, many laws have been forcibly brought and implemented.
“This Waqf Amendment Bill is also one of them by passing it in any way there is a conspiracy to forcefully apply it on Muslims, which we cannot accept,” he said.
–IANS
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National
Calcutta HC questions Bengal govt's 'late realisation' to probe financial irregularities at RG Kar
Kolkata, Aug 22 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court on Thursday questioned the decision of the West Bengal government to set up a special investigation team to probe the alleged financial irregularities at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata when the controversial former principal Sandip Ghosh was in charge of the institution, even as the state health department was informed about the irregularities last year.
A single-judge bench of Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj made this observation while hearing a petition by the whistle-blower in the matter — former deputy medical superintendent of RG Kar — Akhtar Ali, who had sought the High Court’s intervention to seek protection in anticipation of security threat for being vocal against Sandip Ghosh.
On Wednesday, Ali also filed a public interest litigation seeking a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the alleged financial irregularities at RG Kar.
During the hearing, Justice Bhardwaj observed that “from the inclusion of senior police officers in the special investigation team, it is evident that the matter is serious, and wondered why the team was constituted a year after the matter was brought to the notice of the state government”.
The state government counsel argued that the petition has been deliberately filed at this moment amid the recent incident of the rape and murder of a woman doctor in the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital.
The state government counsel also questioned why the petitioner remained silent for one year after the complaint was not acted upon as claimed by him.
The Calcutta High Court also directed the state government counsel to present a detailed argument on the formation of SIT on Friday.
The West Bengal government earlier this week announced the formation of a special investigation team comprising four senior IPS officers and headed by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police to prove the allegation of financial irregularities at RG Kar since 2021, when Sandip Ghosh was the principal there.
Opposition parties have already claimed that the formation of SIT by the state government was nothing but an eyewash, and it had been created not with the intention of revealing the truth behind the financial irregularities, but rather with the motive of destroying evidence in the matter.
–IANS
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National
Odisha: RDC-level probe to be launched soon into spurious liquor deaths
Bhubaneswar, Aug 22 (IANS) Amid the furore over two deaths caused by the consumption of spurious liquor in Ganjam district, Odisha Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan announced on Thursday that a probe by the Revenue Divisional Commissioner into the hooch tragedy will be initiated soon.
At least 23 persons from Moundpur, Jenapur, and Karabalua in Chikiti block had consumed country liquor from an unlicensed shop on Monday evening. They later fell ill and were admitted to a nearby hospital, where two of them died during treatment on Wednesday, prompting Harichandan to direct the officials to take all necessary steps to stop the illegal trade of liquor in the state.
Speaking to mediapersons, Harichandan said, “An RDC-level probe will be launched in this matter within the next couple of days. Action will be taken based on its report which will be submitted within two months. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will soon take the decision in this regard.”
He also vowed that the network of illegal liquor trade in the state will be completely destroyed within a year.
“As many as 217 illegal liquor manufacturing units have been identified in the state which will be demolished soon. Instructions have already been issued in this regard. Around 117 persons have so far been arrested following raids in different districts,” Harichandan.
He also assured the people that no illegal liquor unit will remain in existence in the state.
The Minister said the Excise Superintendent in Berhampur, Pradip Panigrahi, has been transferred for negligence in duty on Wednesday, while the government has also suspended Excise Inspector Ramesh Chandara Mohanty and Sub-inspector Prasanna Kumar Jali for similar lapses.
The deceased have been identified as Jura Behera and Lokanath Behera from Jenapur village, who died at the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur.
The opposition BJD has also the issue in the state Assembly on Thursday, demanding resignation of the Excise Minister.
–IANS
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