Rahul to launch Cong poll campaign from north Karnataka in March

News Network

February 23, 2019

Congress president Rahul Gandhi will kick-start the party’s Lok Sabha poll campaign from north Karnataka on March 9. He will address a public meeting in Haveri and then tour other States.

The BJP, too, had launched its party campaign from north Karnataka — in Hubballi on February 10. Twelve of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the State are from this region. Of these, in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress won four (Ballari, Kalaburagi, Raichur, and Chikkodi).

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Friday convened a meeting of the party’s office-bearers to ensure the success of Mr. Gandhi’s rally, chalk out a poll strategy, and discuss deployment of manpower for campaign work. It was decided to deploy three KPCC secretaries for each constituency to oversee the campaign, Mr. Rao said.

Meanwhile, the District Congress Committees (DCCs) have been told to hold district-level party rallies in each district in the coming days to galvanise party workers. The Raichur DCC will hold its meeting on Saturday.

On the lines of the ‘Vistarak’ booth-level campaign of the BJP, Mr. Rao told Congress office-bearers to focus on strengthening the booth-level committees to ensure co-ordination among party supporters. KPCC vice-president B.L. Shankar, MLC Prakash Rathod and presidents of all district Congress units attended the meeting.

Seat-sharing

The Congress and the Janata Dal (S) are likely to reach a pact on sharing seats for the Lok Sabha elections before the launch of the former’s poll campaign on March 9.

Since the Congress had won more seats in the region in the Assembly elections, the party is expected to get a majority of the seats in north Karnataka. The region is expected to witness a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP.

K.C. Venugopal, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, who arrived in the city on Thursday for talks on seat-sharing, had to leave early on Friday on account of another pressing assignment. KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao had met JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda on Thursday while on Friday, Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar met the former Prime Minister.

Comments

Add new comment

Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.

Warning! Cancer-causing chemicals found in bakery products, especially cakes in Karnataka

News Network

October 3,2024

Bengaluru: The Karnataka Food Safety and Quality Department has issued an urgent warning following the discovery of potentially cancer-causing chemicals in cakes sold by certain bakeries across the state.

Recent tests conducted by the department revealed that some cake samples, particularly those with vibrant colors, contain harmful synthetic coloring agents such as Allura Red, a substance known to pose health risks. The findings have raised concerns about the use of artificial colors in bakery products, especially given their potential link to cancer and other serious health conditions.

"We routinely test various food products, and this time, our officials noticed unusually dark-colored cakes on the market," said Srinivas K, Commissioner of Food Safety for Karnataka. "Upon testing, we found that a few cakes contained Allura Red, a synthetic dye associated with health risks."

The use of artificial colors, especially in popular cakes like red velvet and pineapple varieties, is widespread as it attracts customers, particularly children. However, many bakers prefer using natural, safer alternatives, while some opt for synthetic dyes to enhance the cake's visual appeal.

"Most bakeries use permissible, natural colors that are safe for consumption. Unfortunately, a few are resorting to synthetic dyes just to make their cakes more attractive," said a bakery owner from Electronic City, speaking anonymously.

Medical experts are warning that consuming synthetic colors can lead to numerous health issues, including asthma and allergic reactions.

"Some of these artificial dyes are carcinogenic, and prolonged exposure could have serious consequences, especially for children and young adults," cautioned Dr. Vandana G, a private medical practitioner.

While the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) confirms that only a limited number of samples tested positive for harmful colors, legal action is being taken against the violators.

"There is no need for widespread panic or halting production. We are closely monitoring the situation, and only a few bakeries were found to be non-compliant. Rest assured, appropriate legal measures are underway," assured an FSSAI official.

Comments