Stop communalising and politicising Deralakatte forced sex case, urge Nayak couple

[email protected] (CD Network)
January 10, 2014
Mangalore, Jan 10: Reacting strongly against the communalisation and politicisation of the recent Deralakatte forced sex case, rationalist Narendra Nayak and advocate Asha Nayak said that the Deralakatte incident was a crime and it should not be communalised by right-wing groups who were trying to gain electoral capital out of it.

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The husband and wife, who were the first two individuals who took up the issue of the kidnap and subsequent sexual exploitation of two medical students in Deralakatte, came out in the open and recounted their experience with mediapersons at a press conference at their residence in the city on Friday.

'No political pressure'

In the backdrop of allegations such as 'inefficiency of the police department' and 'political pressure' in the case flung at a mass rally organised by a right-wing women's outfit on Thursday, president of Federation of Indian Rationalists Association (FIRA) said that the so-called guardians of the society were trying to communalise the crime in order to make political electoral gains through it.

The crime was done by an organised anti-social gang and there should not be any political exploitation of the crime. Such attempts are being made by people who were nowhere in the picture when the events happened, which is extremely condemnable and should not be allowed, he said.

Mrs Asha Nayak, who was with one of the victims during and after their rescue, also clarified that there was no political pressure when the statements were being taken.

'Male victim also faced physical and mental trauma'

Reacting against the allegation that the male victim in the case was also involved with the accused (since he belongs to the same community), Mrs Asha Nayak, who was involved in the case and played a crucial role in rescuing the victims, refuted the allegation and stated that the male victim had also undergone physical and mental trauma by the kidnappers.

If he was in nexus with the gang who exploited them, it would have been revealed by the eight accused during police interrogation. So far, the boy has adhered to everything that the police have said, including making a statement before the judicial magistrate.

During his ordeal with the accused, he was physically injured to the extent that he had to be hospitalised subsequently, she said.

She said that when the boy was found by the police, his hand was fractured, his face bloated, and he was badly bruised. She also said that during the boy's rescue, the female victim had been very concerned about him till he was rescued.

Mr Nayak said that it was a malicious allegation against the boy, merely because he was from the same community as the accused.

'Cannot blame the police'

The couple also clarified that the police had swung into action when they were informed about the issue, and were successful in nabbing the culprits on the same day.

“They cannot blame the police on the alleged grounds that they did not take necessary action in the case. It is not necessary for people to drag the issue on the streets when the police are doing what should be done,” said Mr Nayak.

Having helped the two victims during their ordeal in their capacities as human beings, the duo said that they were deeply pained by the attempts to communalise the entire crime and create rifts between communities. This was a delicate and sensitive case, which is why we did not want to speak to the public earlier, said Mrs Nayak.

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News Network
November 13,2024

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Bengaluru: An estimated overall 10.14 per cent voter turnout was recorded during the first two hours, since the voting began for bypolls to three Assembly segments in Karnataka on Wednesday, election officials said.

The voting began at 7 am and will go on till 6 pm.

More than seven lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in about 770 polling stations in Shiggaon, Sandur and Channapatna, where a total of 45 candidates are in the fray.

While Channapatna recorded 10.34 per cent voter turnout till 9 am, it was 10.08 per cent in Shiggaon, and 9.99 per cent in Sandur, election officials said.

Voters, including women and elderly were seen queuing up in front of polling booths in these segments.

By-polls for Sandur, Shiggaon, and Channapatna are necessitated, as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives -- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy of JD(S) -- to Lok Sabha in May elections.

As many as 31 candidates are in the fray from Channapatna, while Sandur and Shiggaon have six and eight contenders, respectively.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the three segments for the smooth conduct of the polls.

The by-polls will witness a straight fight between the ruling Congress and BJP in Sandur and Shiggaon segments, while in Channapatna, JD(S) which is part of the NDA alliance is in contest against the grand old party.

Among the three segments, Channapatna is considered to be a "high profile", where the contest is between C P Yogeeshwara, a five time MLA from the segment and former Minister, who joined the Congress quitting BJP ahead of nomination, and actor-turned -politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is Kumaraswamy’s son and former PM H D Deve Gowda's grandson.

BJP's Bharath Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai, is fighting Congress Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who had faced defeat against the former Chief Minister in the 2023 Assembly polls, in Shiggaon.

Bharath Bommai and his father cast their vote at a polling booth in Shiggaon segment.

In Sandur, Bellary MP Tukaram's wife E Annapurna of Congress is contesting from the seat vacated by her husband, against, BJP ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu, who is considered close to party leader and former mining barron G Janardhan Reddy.

Annapurna, Tukaram and other family members cast their votes at a booth in the segment.

With Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Bharath Bommai contesting, the third generation of Gowda and Bommai families are in the fray in this by-poll. Both their fathers and grandfathers have served as Karnataka's Chief Ministers in the past.

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News Network
November 13,2024

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In the heart of Mangaluru, where rising air pollution is spurring public health worries, voices are calling for a greener, cleaner shift in the city’s public transport. Leading this call is APD Foundation, a Mangaluru-based environmental NGO, which has urged Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre to mandate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in public transport.

Abdullah A Rehman, CEO of APD Foundation, emphasized in a formal letter to the minister that Mangaluru’s public transportation system—efficient and organized with both government and private players—could transition smoothly to EVs in stages. He suggested that government-backed financial incentives, partnerships with EV manufacturers, and collaborations with environmental groups could streamline the switch.

Rehman stressed the potential of EVs to cut down emissions, enhance air quality, and reduce noise levels, noting the quieter operation of electric buses. He confirmed that a copy of his letter was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner as well.

However, Dilraj Alva from the Dakshina Kannada City Bus Association noted potential challenges, explaining that the shift might take up to two years due to infrastructure and budget hurdles. Most EV buses, he explained, are procured through aggregators, not directly by individual operators. The addition of charging stations and other essential infrastructure further complicates the transition.

Alva also raised the economic concern: while diesel buses are priced between ₹30-40 lakh, electric buses can cost up to ₹1 crore. Reflecting on recent meetings with companies, including one in Manipal, he questioned the assumption that EVs are an absolute solution to pollution. “EVs aren’t entirely eco-friendly, especially when considering battery disposal,” he cautioned.

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News Network
November 3,2024

Mangaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar emphasized the urgent need for local job creation and a dedicated tourism policy to address communal tensions and rejuvenate the Dakshina Kannada region. 

He spoke during "Ashoka Jan-Mana," a clothing distribution event organized by Rai Estates Educational and Charitable Trust, under the leadership of MLA Ashok Rai, at Kombettu’s taluk stadium in Puttur on Saturday.

“There are challenges to communal harmony across the coastal and interior regions of Dakshina Kannada. To counter these issues, we must provide opportunities for our youth," Shivakumar stated. "The government is considering a specialized tourism policy for the coastal areas to attract more visitors and retain local talent."

Shivakumar expressed concern about a rising trend among local youth to migrate to Saudi Arabia, Mumbai, and Bengaluru due to limited job opportunities in the area. "Communal disturbances have also discouraged students from other districts from enrolling in our institutions, and several banks that originated here have closed down," he said.

Highlighting the region's potential, Shivakumar remarked, “Dakshina Kannada is home to many temples and boasts a rich coastline. Yet, despite Mangaluru having a major port, we still lack five-star hotels. Developing tourism here will be essential for creating jobs and fostering harmony.”

He also hinted at development projects proposed by Ashok Rai for Puttur, which are currently under wraps due to by-election restrictions. Assuring commitment, Shivakumar said, “Although we secured only two seats in Dakshina Kannada, we are committed to developing all constituencies in the region.”

The Deputy Chief Minister concluded with a powerful message on leadership, likening Ashok Rai to a modern embodiment of ancient virtues. “For success, one should have Dharmaraya's righteousness, Karna's generosity, Arjuna's focus, Vidura's ethics, Bhima's strength, and Krishna's strategy. Ashok Rai has all these qualities," he said, praising Rai’s dedication to the people of Dakshina Kannada.

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