Hindus, women real victims of right-wing's politics: Sasikanth Senthil
'Manava Ratna' Award to Senthil, 'Seva Ratna' to K S Nisar Ahmed, 'Souharda Ratna' to Fr. Martis
Udupi, November 10: Thiruvallur MP and former IAS officer Sasikant Senthil has voiced concerns that Hindus and women are among the most affected by the rise of right-wing politics in India. He made these remarks while receiving the 'Manava Ratna' award at a ceremony organized by the Udupi District Muslim Okkuta on Sunday, held at the Basel Mission Memorial Auditorium.
In his address, Senthil argued that although Muslims are often seen as targets of right-wing politics, Hindus and women face serious consequences as well. "Eighty percent of Hindus have enjoyed respect and rights after the constitution came into effect," he stated. He added that the objectives of right-wing forces include undermining the Constitution and dividing the country through fear-based politics. According to Senthil, a minority of 20% seeks to control and diminish equality in society, contrasting with 80% of Hindus who have traditionally benefitted from constitutional rights and access to education.
Senthil warned that right-wing politics operates not on hate alone but primarily through fear, manipulating insecurities to sway voters. "This fear-driven approach fuels societal conflicts, which eventually become dangerous for everyone," he said, adding that it is the responsibility of all, especially the majority community, to oppose such divisive politics by upholding constitutional values. He emphasized that the silence of the majority is a significant factor in the growth of right-wing politics, which must be confronted to protect India’s unity.
Dr. Purushottama Bilidmale, President of the Kannada Development Authority, spoke at the event, acknowledging the longstanding contributions of Muslims in fostering communal harmony in India. He noted that a lack of awareness about India’s inclusive culture has led to the spread of misconceptions. "Our history has a strong foundation in unity," he stated, urging society to collectively work towards preserving harmony.
Abdulla Kunhi, Chancellor of Yenepoya University, inaugurated the event, emphasizing the significance of inter-community relationships in building a strong, harmonious society. He stressed that caste, religion, and language should not hinder friendship among communities, which is essential for sustaining national unity.
Yasin Malpe, President of the Udupi District Muslim Okkuta, expressed concern about the systematic spread of hatred in society, particularly against Muslims. He argued that media platforms are being used to sow religious discord among youth and school children. "An entire community is being targeted for the wrongs of individuals, which hinders the potential success of such friendly gatherings," he said, advocating for initiatives that foster community connections and mutual understanding.
The conference recognized distinguished activists and leaders for their contributions. Sasikant Senthil was awarded the 'Manava Ratna' award, K S Nisar Ahmed, a prominent NRI businessman and well known philanthropist from Karkala, received the 'Seva Ratna' award, and Udupi priest Fr. William Martis was presented with the 'Souharda Ratna' award.
Other notable individuals honored at the event included Dr. Gananath Ekkar for his contributions to literature, former Udupi JPM President Sarasu D. Bangera, Udupi District Women's Union's former President Sarla Kanchan, Dalit leader Annappanakre, and social workers Nithyananda Ukkadu and Hasinar Kodi Kundapura.
The award recipients—Senthil, Ahmed, and Fr. Martis—each donated their award funds to local activists. Senthil’s amount was directed to social activist Nithyananda Ukkadu, Ahmed’s to Annappa Nakre, and Fr. Martis’s to social worker Hasinar Kodi.
During his speech, Senthil urged the community to defend the Constitution as a means to counter right-wing agendas. "The fight isn’t between Hindus and Muslims; it’s about those who believe in the Constitution and those who don’t," he remarked. He underscored that the survival of citizens’ rights depends on the protection of constitutional principles, which he believes will empower a majority of Indians.
The event also featured a Quran recitation by Hafiz Yunus, a friendship song by Shankar Das and his band, and a prayer song by teachers from Hude Salihat School. The Union District General Secretary Idrees Hoode delivered a vote of thanks, while Dr. Jamaluddin Hindi welcomed attendees and narrated the program.
Bilidmale closed the event by stating that forces disrupting harmony are true "traitors," urging citizens to protect the cultural heritage of unity. "Friendship is not imported but is an intrinsic part of our land," he said, calling for a collective effort to rebuild and secure the future of the country and its children.
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No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
