Insult to mother Cauvery in the name of statue
At a time when problems of farmers have reached their pinnacle in the recent times, we have a state government that wants to make a statue of Mother Cauvery. The government claims the intention behind this is to develop tourism. Most of the tourist spaces in the state are languishing without care or maintenance, and the government is planning to set up a new statue! Government needs to remember something. By merely constructing a tallest statue does not make the place a tourism spot. A place of tourist significance needs to have a social, cultural and historical identity. People don’t come to watch Gol Gumbaz, Gommateshwara or any other monument for the reason that they are the tallest or brilliant structures. There are historical and cultural footprints behind these places. People come close to experience them. Right now there are ample tourist places in Karnataka. Those historically and culturally significant places are on the verge of destruction owing to lack of maintenance and excesses of nature.
Karnataka tourism will improve manifold if they are rejuvenated and maintained well. But the state government is following the statue politics and has decided to get into manipulating the emotions of people of the state. The last Congress government had drawn up some pro-poor measures in the satte. People had ridiculed the government and said the tax payers were being cheated when the govt gave rice for Re 1 per kilo to those below poverty line. Similar thoughts had resonated during the opening of Indira canteen. On one hand when the centre was making anti-people economic policies, Siddaramaiah government had ensured the country’s focus is on the state with its pro-poor and pro-people programmes. Even today, the state is a role model to others in such cases. Karnataka’s solar policy that enables self-sufficiency is said to be the best among the Indian states.
Loan waiver had helped the farmers breathe easy. All these had played a major role in the comprehensive development of Karnataka. But, unfortunately, the coalition government seems to have fallen prey to the statue politics started by the BJP govt at the centre which wants to emotionally manipulate people by way of erecting statues in Gujarat, UP and Mumbai. The govt seems to have believed such works will bring it good name. On one hand, the government is receiving aid from other countries such as Britain etc for its developmental works. On the other, the country is using it to erect a Rs 3000 cr statue has turned it into an international mockery in the eyes of the world.
The CM should never forget this loss of image India suffered in the recent times. Experts say the erecting statues never yield better tourism prospects. Thousands of villages have suffered over this statue. Environmental harm is yet to be estimated. Locals have protested against this statue. Now the next such mega project of setting up Shivaji Park is also being met with resistance. What would the govermment’s defense be to the claim that this statue would harm the livelihood of fishermen? How would the country benefit from this? BJP is erecting these statues on the grave of people whom it murdered. Live ones are killed and the country is a safe place for statues to be erected. At times like this, people should be aware that the BJP leaders want to build the country on people’s dead bodies. They need to understand the Karnataka model was the best one to follow. Unfortunately, BJP’s statue politics is dominating the discourse.
If the government has Rs 1500 cr to spend on the state, it should be used to alleviate the pains of farmers in the state or in Cauvery basin. On one hand, Kodagu is still reeling under the effects of flood and lashing rains that left the region damaged and debilitated. Several taluks in north Karnataka are declared ‘drought-stricken’. Sugarcane farmers in Mandya are still awaiting payment for their crops. To respond to the farmers and ending their distress would be a better tribute to mother Cauvery than erecting a statue because she lives in the home and hearts of people who are dependent on her for their livelihoods.
The statue of Cauvery is a massive illusion because she is a river and how can she be given a form? How can the imagery of some random female form benefit the river in its glory? How would this help the farmers? Would this statue ensure their fields get water? If all the forest area around this place is turned into a resort to attract the tourists, thus destroying the green cover help the people or ecology? The government should not splurge the resources meant for the farmers, in the name of statue. It would be a treachery of sorts in the name of farmers of this state. Insulting them would be like insulting mother Cauvery.
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Bibhav Kumar attacked me with full force again and again: AAP MP Maliwal in FIR
New Delhi (PTI): AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal was "kicked and slapped seven to eight times" allegedly by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar at the former's official residence, and "did not relent" despite her asking him to stop, according to the FIR registered by the Delhi Police.
In the FIR regarding the alleged assault on her, Maliwal also claimed that Kumar hit her with "full force again and again" but no one came to her rescue. She also alleged that despite telling Kumar that she was menstruating and in pain, he did not budge.
The FIR quotes Maliwal as saying that this "is one of the most difficult times of my life" and "the pain, trauma and harassment has been mind-numbing".
"... I am also having difficulty in walking," she said in the FIR, a copy of which is with PTI.
Maliwal, who earlier served as the chief of Delhi Commission For Women, said her situation is "exacerbated by the fact that having worked all my life for women issues and having helped lakhs of women get justice", she "ended up being brutally beaten by a person whom I know for long".
"I am deeply disturbed by this incident and am distraught that someone could display such 'goonda' behaviour," read the FIR.
She has called for the strongest possible action in the matter.
The details of the alleged assault on Maliwal, which took place at Kejriwal's official residence on Monday, emerged on Friday as the Rajya Sabha MP appeared before a magistrate at the Tis Hazari court to record her statement in the case.
The Delhi Police on Thursday registered an FIR in the matter and named Kumar as an accused in the case, officials said.
A purported video of Delhi Chief Minister's residence showing Maliwal arguing with the security staff at the time of the alleged assault, went viral on social media on Friday.
According to the FIR, she had gone to meet Kejriwal at his official residence at 9 am on Monday. Recalling the events, she told police that she went inside the camp office and called Kumar but could not get through. She went towards the residential area and asked the staff to inform Kejriwal about her arrival.
"I was informed that he was present in the house and I was told to wait in the drawing room," she said.
She said while she was waiting for Kejriwal, Kumar barged into the room and started "screaming at me without any provocation and even started abusing me".
"Tu kaise hamari baat nahi manegi? Kaise nahi manegi? S**i teri aukat kya hai ki humko na kar de. Samajhti kya hai khud ko n**h aurat? Tujhe to hum sabak sikhayenge (How will you not follow what we are saying? How will you not follow? How dare you say no to us? What to do you think of yourself **** woman? We will teach you a lesson," read the FIR.
In the FIR, she said that "without any provocation" from her end, Kumar started "slapping" her with his "full force".
"He slapped me seven-eight times at least while I continued screaming. I felt absolutely shocked and was screaming for help over and over again. In order to protect (myself), pushed him away with my legs," she said.
"At that time, he pounced on me, brutally dragged me and deliberately pulled my shirt up. My shirt buttons opened and the shirt came up. I landed on the floor while hitting my head on the centre table. I was constantly screaming for help but no one came," she further said.
She alleged that Kumar "did not relent and attacked me by kicking me in my chest, stomach" and lower part of the body "with his legs".
"I was in extreme pain and kept telling him to stop. My shirt was coming up but he still continued to assault me. I repeatedly told him that I am having my periods and that he should please let go of me as I am in unbearable pain," she said in the FIR.
Following the incident, she said she "was in a terrible state of shock at this unprovoked attack". Recalling the time, she said she was "deeply traumatised" and called the emergency number 112 to inform about the incident.
Bibhav threatened me and said, "Kar le jo tujhe karna hai, tu hamara kuch nahi bigaad sakti, teri haddi pasli tudwa denge aur aise jagah gadenge kisi ko pata bhi nahi chalega. (You can do whatever you want, you cannot harm us. We will break your bones and bury you at a place where no one would even get to know)".
She said that Kumar left the room after learning that she had called the police helpline but returned with the security personnel working at the main gate of the CM's camp offices.
In the FIR, she said they asked her to leave "at the behest of Kumar". She said that she kept telling them that she was "brutally beaten up" and asked them to wait until the PCR van comes.
She said she got into an autorickshaw with the help of the PCR staff.
"I reached there (Civil Lines police station) and sat in the SHO room, where I was crying and informed the SHO about the incident," she said.
"I was in terrible pain and having severe cramps. I also started receiving a lot of calls from media on my mobile. Due to the trauma, pain and not wanting to politicise the incident, I left the police station without filing a written complaint," she said, adding her head was splitting in pain and her arms and legs were "aching terribly due to the assault".
Maliwal said the past days since the incident have been "extremely painful for her".
