Mulki: No entry to Muslim vendors to Bappanadu Temple ‘Jatra’ again
Mangaluru: The Bappanadu Shri Durgaparameshwari Temple of Mulki, which remained a major symbol of religious harmony in the region for more than eight centuries, is facing communal problems during the festivities this year too.
Muslim vendors have been denied entry to the temple premises this year too, during the annual fair (Jatra) at the Temple.
The festival commenced with a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Bappanadu Temple on Wednesday, April 5.
On Tuesday, April 4, Muslim vendors arrived at the Temple to set up shop for the upcoming fair. They have, however, complained that they were denied permission to do so.
It is learned that a meeting was earlier held at the Temple regarding the jatra. Some members of the Bappanadu Temple administrative board, who are also members of the Sangh Parivar, put forth a request during the meeting to not permit non-Hindu vendors at the Temple.
They are learned to have made the request saying that, as per the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Act 2002, people of other religions may not run a business on the premises of a temple. In adherence to the rules given, Muslim vendors have been denied permission to set up shop on the temple premises during the entire period of festivities.
Other citizens, however, have expressed unhappiness over such changes in the temple convention.
Muslims had been selling flowers and toys during the Temple festivities for several decades, but the last two years, they are being denied permission to set up shop on the occasion.
Hereditary head of the Temple Dugadagganna Sawant, who spoke to Varthabharati, said that no vendor is permitted this year to set up stall on the temple premises. All the stores will be set up on land owned by private parties, he added.
“The Temple is under the administration of the Muzrai Department, because of which, the concerned authorities at the assistant commissioner’s officers were also informed of the matter. We have been instructed not to let non-Hindus conduct any sort of business on the Temple land. Since the Temple is under the Muzrai Department, we are helpless in the matter,” he clarified.
The Bappanadu Temple in Mulki is known for its 800-year-old legend of the goddess Shri Durgaparameshwari appearing in the dream of a Muslim businessman Bappa Beary asking him to build the Temple.
As Beary followed the orders of the goddess and got the Temple built in Bappanadu, the Temple convention continued for centuries to hand the Prasad (prayer offerings) to the members of Bappa Beary’s family before hoisting the temple flag to inaugurate the festivities.
It has, therefore, pained the people of the region that the age-old convention symbolizing the religious harmony of the Udupi-Dakshina Kannada region was ‘sacrificed’ at the ‘altar of communalism’.
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Canada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump's tariff threat
Toronto (AP/PTI): Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the United States should President-elect Donald Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official has said.
Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the countries don't stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across southern and northern borders. He said he would impose a 25 per cent tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders.
But Trump posted Wednesday evening on Truth Social that he had a "wonderful conversation" with new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and she "agreed to stop Migration through Mexico".
"Mexico will stop people from going to our Southern Border, effective immediately. THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARD STOPPING THE ILLEGAL INVASION OF THE USA. Thank you!!!" Trump posted.
It was unclear what impact the conversation will have on Trump's plan to impose tariffs.
In Canada, a government official said on Wednesday that Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly.
When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the US in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum.
Many of the US products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports USD 3 million worth of yogurt from the US annually and most comes from one plant in Wisconsin, home state of then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10 per cent duty.
Another product on the list was whiskey, which comes from Tennessee and Kentucky, the latter of which is the home state of then-Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell.
Trump made the threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border.
The US Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024.
Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are ready to make new investments in border security and work with the Trump administration to lower the numbers from Canada. The Canadians are also worried about a influx north of migrants if Trump follows through with his plan for mass deportations.
Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border pale in comparison to the Mexican border. US customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border.
Canadian officials argue their country is not the problem and that tariffs will have severe implications for both countries.
Canada is the top export destination for 36 US states. Nearly USD 3.6 billion Canadian (USD 2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60 per cent of US crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 per cent of US electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the US and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a emergency virtual meeting on Wednesday with the leaders of Canada's provinces. He stressed they need to present a united front.
"I don't want to minimize for a moment the gravity of the challenge we now face," Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said. "Now is really a moment for us not to squabble amongst ourselves."
The provincial premiers want Trudeau to negotiate a bilateral trade deal with the United States that excludes Mexico.
Sheinbaum, Mexico's president, said earlier Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs "if the situation comes to that."
She later said she talked to Trump and had "an excellent conversation".
