Cong Padayatra loses spirit

[email protected] (DHNS, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)

January 31, 2013

Mangalore, Jan 31: The second leg of the Congress Padayatra 'Congress Nadige Samarasyada Edege,' from Ullal to Udupi, which commenced with much pomp and high spirit on Tuesday, seemed to have lost the same spirit on the second day.

On Wednesday, the party leaders accompanied by party workers continued the Padayatra from Kuloor in the morning to reach Mulki in the evening. The number of participants on Wednesday did not exceed 300.

However, the slogans and songs sung by the party workers, bands and hulivesha (tiger dance), crackers added excitement to the yatra that went on for about 25 kilo meters.

Addressing a public meeting at Surathkal, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwar said that the Congress intends Mangalore to develop on the lines of Bangalore.

It is for the same reason that the Central government has sanctioned Rs 1,100 crore for the third phase of MRPL, thus offering employment opportunities to thousands of people.

Rs 35,000 crore has been sanctioned for the development of crude oil units in Mangalore city, he said.

Opposition party leader Siddharamaiah took up the issue of naming the proposed Central University at Srirangapattna after Tipu Sulthan and said that he would urge Human Resource Development Minister Rehaman Khan to name it as Tipu Sulthan University.

“What do the BJP leaders know about Tipu. He was the most secular ruler of all the rulers who administered India,” he stated.

Giving out a strong signal to the BJP, that the Congress is all set to come to power in the coming election, he said the main purpose of organising Padayatra was to send the BJP back home. “We have already sent many of the BJP leaders to prison for their involvement in misappropriation cases and the sword is now hanging above you,” he warned RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat.

Congress leaders including Janardhan Poojary, C M Ibrahim, V R Sudarshan, Ramanath Rai and others participated in the Yatra.

Congress leader P V Mohan who was part of the Padayatra was silent throughout the second day of the Yatra. On enquiring about the reason for his silence, it was revealed that Mohan vows not to speak on every January 30 as it is the day of Gandhiji's death anniversary.

The silent ritual is his way of tribute to Gandhiji and he has been practising it since 30 years.

As this correspondent questioned him, he wrote on a piece of paper “I maintain silence on this day to introspect myself and also to pay tribute to the father of the nation.”

When asked about his inspiration to take up such a decision, he maintained that he had drawn inspiration from freedom fighter Jatthappa Rai who too used to remain silent on January 30.

Mohan began following this practice soon after he completed his graduation.

KPCC President G Parameshwar who learnt the same, honoured Mohan at Mulki public programme.

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SIT raids rape accused BJP MLA Munirathna’s residence, 15 other locations

News Network

September 28,2024

Bengaluru, Sep 28: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing charges against arrested Karnataka BJP MLA N. Munirathna Naidu, including allegations of rape, honey-trapping, and other offences, on Saturday conducted raids at his residence and 15 other locations across the city.

Sources confirmed that the raids were taking place at his Vyalikaval residence and other properties owned by the BJP MLA. The operation is being conducted by the SIT under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) led by ACP Kavitha.

The team is examining documents, electronic devices, and other materials related to the rape and honey-trapping case. The SIT is being supported by experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), with Superintendent of Police (SP) Sowmya Latha also participating in the search and inspection at Munirathna’s Vyalikaval residence.

According to sources, the raids were triggered by information provided by the victim, who alleged that Munirathna recorded footage of sexual assaults and used it to blackmail politicians and public servants, including IAS and IPS officers.

The victim reportedly revealed that she was used to entrap the woman who had lodged a rape case against a senior IFS officer. She was allegedly instructed to frame the rape victim in a drug peddling case.

The complainant told police that she was tasked with capturing compromising videos of the rape victim who had filed the case against the IFS officer. She claimed that, after several failed attempts to obtain the videos, the victim was drugged with sleeping pills, and obscene footage was recorded without her consent. Later, the IFS officer was bailed out from the charges.

Furthermore, the complainant has accused MLA Munirathna of raping her at his office within the state legislature, in his official vehicle, and at his godown. She has alleged that he recorded videos of these assaults.

Police sources also revealed that the victim in the MLA's case provided details of a plot involving sending HIV-infected women to Munirathna's targets in an attempt to ruin them politically and personally. She also disclosed the names of several politicians whom she had entrapped through honey-trapping.

The woman further claimed that Munirathna had threatened to have her son kidnapped and killed if she refused to comply with his demands. According to her, the MLA had a well-organised team dedicated to carrying out these honey-trapping operations, and she provided details about his close associates and relatives involved in the scheme.

Munirathna, who was in judicial custody following his arrest in the rape and honey-trap case, has now been taken into the custody of the SIT.

The MLA was transferred from Bengaluru Central Jail to the CID office on the night of September 24. The BJP legislator, however, has denied all the allegations, claiming they are false.

Karnataka Congress leader D.K. Suresh had alleged that Munirathna was trying to infect his adversaries with HIV and that the government should investigate the matter.

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