Media must support moderate voices: Mahesh Bhatt at 'Vartha Bharati' decennial celebration

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar )
September 14, 2012

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Mangalore, September 14: It is the media's job to support moderate voices in the society and not act as slaves of power centres, said Mahesh Bhatt, popular filmmaker and activist.

 

He was speaking after inaugurating the readers' convention of 'Vartha Bharathi' Kannada daily newspaper organised to mark its decennial year celebration in Mangalore on Friday.

 

“The media is a watchdog. It should not turn into a lapdog of power holders. Unfortunately today media goes with the idea that what is in the interest of the nation does not sell but what interests the nation sells. The media must not take sides of extremist forces but support the moderate voices in the society which in fact are very few in number”, Mr. Bhatt said.

 

Stating that secularism is still alive in India, Mr. Bhatt said that irrespective of whether unrests take place in Assam, Mangalore or Bangalore, it is the duty of every citizen to condemn such acts. In Assam, although there is some infiltration, it is wrong to paint all in the same brush and generate hatred, he said.

 

Prof. U R Ananthamurthy, Jnanpeeth Awardee, expressed his appreciation for the daily and said that there was an immediate need to eliminate all kind of stereotypes in the society.

 

Lamenting that there is widespread manufacturing of consent not just in media circles but also in day to day conversations in people spreading hatred against certain communities, Prof. Ananthamurthy said that it is high time people stopped generalizing things. Certain media, especially television news channels are wrongly subjecting every other topic to discussion. “Certain fundamental issues such as democracy and communalism are beyond discussions. They are out and out crimes and there is no need to discuss them”, he said.

 

Coming down hard on Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister, Prof. Ananthamurthy said that people must not allow the BJP heavyweight to become the country's Prime Minister. “Even the likes of Tatas stand by his side. Don't they see the criminal in him?” he asked. The media must also not speak extensively about Mr. Modi, he said. “The media talks about him so often that it makes him a big man. He must not be given attention. He should be treated like an untouchable”, he said.

 

B M Basheer, News Editor, Vartha Bharati, delivered the keynote address. Abdussalam Putthige, Editor-in-Chief, Vartha Bharati, delivered the Presidential address. Yaseen Malpe, Director, Madhyama Communications Ltd. Mangalore, welcomed. Aga Sultan, Former Member, AICTE, VTU and Bangalore University, H M Afroz Assadi, Director, Madhyama Communications Ltd, Mangalore, Syed Abdul Kader Bashu, Managing Trustee, Green Valley National School and PU College, Shiruru, were the guests of honour.

 

The Special Issue chronicling the journey of the daily over the last 10 years, was released on the occasion by Prof. Ananthamurthy. Selected readers also shared their views and suggestions on the occasion.

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News Network
November 11,2024

udupistatue.jpg

Udupi, Nov 11: The Karkala town police in Udupi have arrested Krishna Naik, the sculptor responsible for installing a 33-foot Parashurama statue at Umikkal Hill in Bailur, Karkala taluk. 

Naik, the owner of Krish Art World and a resident of Bengaluru's Visvesvaraya Layout, was apprehended in Mahe, part of the Union Territory of Puducherry, for allegedly substituting a look-alike statue in place of a genuine bronze figure at the Parashurama Theme Park in Karkala.

Udupi Superintendent of Police Dr. Arun K confirmed the arrest, stating that Naik faces charges under Sections 420 (cheating) and 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code. 

This legal action followed a complaint lodged in June by Krishna Shetty, a resident of Nallur village, Karkala. Shetty claimed that Naik had received a payment of ₹1,25,50,000 from Udupi Nirmithi Kendra for the installation of a bronze Parashurama statue. However, Naik allegedly deceived the government by installing a replica instead.

The statue was unveiled on January 27, 2023, by then Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Current Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has since ordered a CID investigation to probe deeper into the alleged fraud surrounding the statue's installation at the theme park.

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News Network
November 17,2024

ullalpool.jpg

Mangaluru: A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday, November 17, at Vazco Resort (VAZCO), situated at Battappadi Cross Road in Someshwara on the outskirts of the city, when three young women drowned in the resort’s swimming pool. 

Disturbingly, an iPhone recording and CCTV footage captured their final moments, providing insights into the heartbreaking accident.

According to City Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, the tragedy occurred at approximately 10:05 AM. The victims were identified as:

Keerthana N (21) from Devaraj Mohalla, Hebbal Second Stage, Vijayanagar Post.
Nishitha M.D (21) from 4th Cross, Kuribarahalli, Mysuru.
Parvathi S (20) from Ramanuja Road, K.R. Mohalla, Mysuru.

Sequence of Events

The three women had checked into Room No. 2 of the resort on the morning of November 16 and stayed overnight. On Sunday morning, around 10 AM, they entered the swimming pool to play. Reports suggest that they placed their clothes poolside and set an iPhone to record the activity.

Initial findings indicate one woman slipped underwater and began to struggle. When the second attempted a rescue, she too drowned, followed by the third woman. Within minutes, the tragedy claimed all three lives. CCTV footage from the resort corroborates the sequence, showing the young women struggling before succumbing to the water.

Investigation Underway

The resort staff discovered the lifeless bodies and immediately raised the alarm. Ullal Police Inspector H N Balakrishna and his team are conducting an investigation. Preliminary reports suggest the women were non-swimmers, and the lack of safety measures contributed to the tragedy.

The resort is owned by Manohar, as per police records. While the formal case is yet to be registered, the incident has raised serious questions about safety protocols at resorts offering pool facilities.

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News Network
November 14,2024

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday backed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over his claim that the BJP had offered Rs 50 crore each to 50 Congress MLAs in an attempt to "topple" the state government.

Addressing reporters here, Shivakumar, also the Congress state president, said, “The BJP indeed lured 50 Congress MLAs with Rs 50 crore each.”

He defended Siddaramaiah’s statement and said the Congress MLAs were briefed about the BJP’s alleged 'Operation Lotus', a term used to describe the BJP's attempts to destabilise ruling governments through horse-trading.

“Some of our MLAs informed the Chief Minister about this matter, and he, in turn, shared it with the media,” Shivakumar said.

At an event in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah reiterated the claim that "none of the Congress MLAs had accepted the offer".

He also accused the BJP of filing false cases against him in a bid to "remove him and overthrow his government".

The BJP has yet to respond to the allegations.

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