Satish Acharya accuses Mumbai police of forcing him to remove Pawar cartoon

October 8, 2011

Mangalore, October 8: A Kundapur based cartoonist has claimed that he was forced to remove a cartoon satirising Nationalist Congress Party Chief Sharad Pawar from his blog by the Cyber Cell of Mumbai police.

Satish Acharya's controversial cartoon had first appeared in Mid Day tabloid on September 5, in the wake of asset declaration of Union ministers.

In his typical way, Mr Acharya had satirised the Maharashtra politician's declaration of wealth at just Rs 12 crore, by depicting him as a pole dancer, teasing the audience with a red dress that reveals Rs 12 crore written over his calf.

Pawar, who heads the Nationalist Congress Party, is believed to be far wealthier than his mandatory official declaration suggests. He is also a cricket administrator. Pawar and his family have been linked to major scandals, including those relating to Adarsh Housing Society, Lavasa, and 2G spectrum allocation.

The controversial cartoon

Although, no objections were raised when the cartoon was published in the daily tabloid, Mr Acharya, said that he received a call from a senior police inspector, after he posted the cartoon on his blog.

Acharya said that Inspector Mukund Pawar of Cyber Cell of Mumbai police called from his cell phone on September 21, initially wanted him to visit the crime branch office in Mumbai for “violating cyber law”.

"He said that a person by the name of Abdul Rehman Anjaria, chairman of the advisory council of Delhi's Jama Masjid had sought for removal of the cartoon from his blog”, Acharya said adding that same Anjaria had registered his comment on the blog by asking him to apologise and have the cartoon removed.

“The inspector talked about Section 69 of the IT Act. Since I wasn't aware of the details of the act, I consulted my journalist-friends. They suggested I remove the cartoon as the police could ask me to visit their office in Mumbai every now and then”, he said.

However, he said that he wanted to republish the same cartoon once he got more information about the IT Act. “Once the police had the cartoon taken off, they were satisfied. Meanwhile I shared this bitter experience with my friends on Facebook and Twitter. I was overwhelmed with the response I received there”, he said.

On the other hand, Inspector Pawar has denied that he or his officers called Acharya for removing the 'obscene' cartoon.

The development comes in the sideline of the arrest of Harish Yadav by Madhya Pradesh police for featuring a cartoon lampooning Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, which had recently appeared in a leading Indore based eveninger.

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Karnataka’s 2nd tallest flagpole unveiled at Mangaluru’s Kadri Park

News Network

September 19,2024

In a grand celebration of patriotism and local pride, Karnataka’s second tallest flagpole, and the tallest in Dakshina Kannada, was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, September 18, at the iconic Kadri Park in Mangaluru.

The event, a significant milestone in the city's Smart City journey, was graced by several prominent leaders. MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, a distinguished guest at the inauguration, spoke passionately about the symbolic importance of the flag. "This towering structure, made possible through the Smart City initiative, elevates the pride of every Indian. Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office, national sentiment has deepened. The national flag is not just a symbol, it embodies our self-respect and unity as a nation."

MLA Vedavyas Kamath shared his enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing its importance beyond mere construction. "The flagpole at Kadri Park, funded under the Smart City project, will not only serve as a beacon of patriotism but will also become a significant attraction, enhancing the city's tourism appeal."

Adding to the sense of occasion, Mayor Sudhir Shetty proudly highlighted the monument's grandeur. "Standing at an impressive 75 meters, second only to Belagavi's 110-meter flagpole, this new landmark is a testament to Mangaluru's growth and aspirations. The project, which cost Rs 75 lakh, will feature an advanced lighting system, ensuring it shines brightly, day and night, as a symbol of our national pride."

The ceremony saw the attendance of key dignitaries, including Deputy Mayor Sunita, Standing Committee President Bharath Kumar, Varun Chowta, Ganesh Kulal, MCC opposition leader Praveen Chandra Alva, MCC member Shakeela Kava, former Mayor Jayananda Anchan, Bhaskar K, and former MUDA president Ravishankar Mijar, each contributing to the significance of the occasion.

This towering flagpole, nestled amidst the serene beauty of Kadri Park, is set to become a new emblem of Mangaluru's spirit, uniting both locals and visitors in shared pride and patriotism.

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Karnataka to scrap separate entrance exams for private universities from 2025

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September 20,2024

Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, private universities in Karnataka offering professional courses will no longer conduct separate entrance exams. This decision follows a directive from the state’s Higher Education Department, prompting private universities to form an association and agree to this significant change.

In a recent meeting with Higher Education Minister Dr. M. C. Sudhakar, representatives from 17 private universities confirmed their decision to discontinue individual entrance tests. Of the 27 private universities in the state, 17 offer professional courses, and they have collectively agreed to accept scores from existing national or state-level entrance exams.

“Some universities will consider JEE scores, others will rely on KCET, and a few are inclined towards COMEDK,” Dr. Sudhakar stated, leaving the choice of examination to the universities themselves. However, the department has also suggested that the universities consider a unified entrance test for admissions.

Looking ahead, Dr. Sudhakar hinted that the government may introduce a common entrance test for general degree courses at private universities as well. "As government colleges and universities currently don’t require entrance exams for general degree courses, we haven’t made any decisions on this yet," he explained.

The meeting also addressed concerns over the high fees charged by private universities. To regulate this, the universities were instructed to establish fee fixation committees, headed by retired judges, as required by law. These committees will be responsible for determining tuition fees. Additionally, the government will continue to regulate fees for 40% of seats in professional courses that are filled through KCET.

In an effort to bring greater uniformity among private institutions, the government is considering enacting a common law for all private universities, which would replace the individual acts currently governing each university. This would place all private universities under a single regulatory framework.

This move is expected to streamline the admissions process and create a more standardized system for both professional and general degree programs across Karnataka's private universities.

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