Time to shut hate factories
The case of Gauri Lankesh’s assassination has reached the most crucial stage with the arrest of the main accused. SIT officers arrested and have taken a person called Parashuram Vaghmore into their custody for 14 days.
Many organisations were quick to disassociate themselves from this fellow in question. History is witness to the fact that soon after Mahatma Gandhi was murdered, RSS distanced itself from Nathuram Godse. But the fact that Nathuram was the byproduct of RSS ideology, was obvious as the daylight both then and now. The extremist activities of saffron brigade is not a secret anymore. A team of highly efficient officers led by Hemant Karkare had exposed this network many years ago. But the whole team was killed in a mysterious way few years ago in a major incident. The masterminds behind Malegaon blast, Sanjhota express and other incidents are most evidently saffron brigade. But the governments have not been able to ban them. As a result of that, these extremist organisations have openly come out on streets engaged in anti-national activities.
When one observes the case of Parashuram Vaghmore, it is evident that he has anti-humanity and anti-national thoughts in his head, going much beyond the Sangh preachings. He and his friends had tried starting a communal clash by hoisting Pakistan flag in Sindagi. He wanted to create disturbances on the very land he stood, and he had said he could stoop to any level to adhere to his ideology. If this organization was identified and banned right at the beginning, may be Gauri could have been saved today. The weaknesses of our legal system has allowed a person like Pramod Muthalik who spews venom in the name of Hindtuva to grow into a leader. He should have been banished from the state when his mates Jambagi and others allegedly threw explosives into the court premises. He had openly said “we would engage in creating suicide troupes as well” in a press conference. That should have been a wakeup call. But, the govt in Goa is of BJP. If Mutahlik is a Hindu leader, why would he be banned? Other Hindu outfits would have ensured this ban was lifted no sooner it was placed. But the BJP government has kept him at an arm’s distance. If BJP can take this tough stance. He is dangerous for the state for sure. With Karnataka being his home town, the state does not perceive any threat from him? Why does our legal system not understand this? Or, are they pretending to not see the point?
All the organisations in contact with Mutahlik are engaged in anti-national activities. His role is evident in many blast cases too. There are apprehensions about his role in Goa blasts as well and hence the govt in Goa has kept an eye on him. If he is ever allowed to speak publicly, Goa govt foresees a major threat from him to their main economic activity getting hit. But Karnataka is yet to show that grit to ban him from addressing rallies. The state for him is a spittoon. He is a freeman here. This soft stance has encouraged the radical organisations to run training camps for extremists. Normally the terrorists or Naxals, and extremists from Pakistan or Afghanistan own up the unrest they cause or the gruesome incidents they create. But these organisations do not have that courage too. They executed Malegaon and Mecca Masjid explosions to shift the blame to muslims to start an incident of unrest. They have placed pig heads at the prayer places of Muslims , hoping to start a new fight in their surroundings. Their lone agenda is not just to create hatred and spread fear, they want to deepen the fissures between human beings in this country. They would want to have their agenda fulfilled by creating anarchy in this nation. They are well aware of the legal loopholes they can use to prevent themselves from the hands of others.
At least now the governments should think of banning these organisations. The leaders of these organisations must be banished. Just by catching a handful of people to arrest in connection with Gauri and Dhabolkar deaths, this problem does not get solved. If these factories of hatred are not shut off, these organisations have the capacity to shut down the democracy of this country.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Criticism of PM Modi, repeated mentions of guarantees to be highlights of K’taka Budget: LoP Ashoka
Bengaluru (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Thursday took a dig at CM Siddaramaiah ahead of the state Budget presentation, claiming that the government is expected to borrow Rs 1.15 lakh crore and is likely to impose fresh taxes on the people.
He said the Budget would have nothing new, adding that its highlights would be criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and repeated mentions of the five guarantee schemes ('Shakti', 'Gruha Lakshmi', 'Gruha Jyoti, 'Yuva Nidhi' and 'Anna Bhagya').
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also holds the Finance portfolio, is scheduled to present the 2026–27 Budget on March 6. This will be his record 17th budget.
“Siddaramaiah-led Congress government’s budget will be presented tomorrow. While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reduced the tax burden in the Union Budget, Siddaramaiah is known for imposing taxes on people. He imposes about four taxes a month and has already introduced 36 taxes, and is now looking for ways to impose more,” Ashoka said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the Congress had promised people before coming to power that the guarantee schemes would be implemented without imposing any burden on them.
“By the end of the chief minister’s term, the state’s total debt will probably exceed Rs 6 lakh crore. The government has already breached financial discipline. Siddaramaiah and his government are somehow managing the situation,” Ashoka claimed, adding that his borrowings as CM equal those of 12 or 13 former chief ministers combined.
Stating that the Budget should create higher revenue sources, ensure that no burden is placed on people, and take the state away from debt, the opposition leader said this could be ensured only by a “clever and intelligent finance minister.”
“Anyone can run a government by pushing the state into debt,” he said, accusing Siddaramaiah of “increasing the state’s debt and failing to meet the expectations of the people.”
Highlighting that Siddaramaiah blames the previous BJP government for everything, Ashoka said Basavaraj Bommai, the chief minister during the previous BJP government, had presented a “surplus budget,” without excessive borrowings.
“Despite having the opportunity to borrow more while staying within the parameters of financial discipline, he (Bommai) did not do so, as it would burden the people,” he said, accusing Siddaramaiah of borrowing crores of rupees every year.
“I feel that this time too, he will take a loan of Rs 1.15 lakh crore,” he claimed.
The BJP leader said he had written to the CM requesting an allocation of Rs 15,000 crore annually for the development of backward taluks, as recommended by the High Power Committee on Redressal of Regional Imbalance (HPCRRI), chaired by economist Prof M Govinda Rao.
Claiming that the government appears “inactive” due to internal rifts, Ashoka pointed to an ongoing power struggle between factions led by Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the CM’s post.
“Amid all this, we cannot expect anything new from this Budget. The CM will repeatedly speak about the guarantee schemes and target the central government and PM Modi. Criticising Modi and repeated mentions of the five guarantee schemes will be the highlight of this Budget. Other than that, there will be nothing new,” he added.
He also dismissed the CM's claim that the government had achieved 90 per cent of the promises made in the previous Budget. “The fact is that not even 9 per cent has been achieved. I have evidence for it,” he said.
Ashoka further alleged that the government had also failed in tax collection, achieving only 48 per cent of the target, and had released less than 40 per cent of the allocated funds to some departments.
