Special express train service between Mangaluru-Bengaluru-Hubballi for Diwali
Mangaluru: In response to MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta's request to arrange special train services between Mangaluru-Bengaluru-Hubbali for the Diwali festival, the Railway Ministry has approved a new train service.
The Hubbali-Mangaluru special train (07311/07312) will depart from Hubbali station on 2nd November at 4 PM, arriving at Yeshwanthpur at 11:25 PM and reaching Mangaluru the next day at 11:45 AM.
The Mangaluru-Hubbali train (No. 07312) will depart from Mangaluru at 1 PM on 3rd November, arriving at Yeshwanthpur at 10 PM and reaching Hubbali the next morning at 7 AM.
A large number of people from the coastal region live in Bengaluru, and it is common for them to travel frequently between Mangaluru and Bengaluru during festivals like Dasara and Diwali. Due to the high number of passengers during the festive season, it becomes difficult to get bus tickets, making it problematic for people to travel to their hometowns. Hence, the MP requested a special train service between both stations during Diwali.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna, and railway department officials responded positively to this request, and Capt. Brijesh Chowta expressed his gratitude to them.
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Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao condemns removal of sacred thread during CET
Bengaluru (PTI): The controversy over the alleged removal of sacred threads and other religious symbols during the KCET examination intensified on Saturday, with Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao condemning the act as "inhuman" and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanding strict action, calling it a violation of religious rights.
Reacting to the incident at Krupanidhi College in Madivala, the Minister said the government had taken note of the matter and assured transparent action, even as police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.
“The inhuman act of asking students to remove their ear studs, bangles, hijab or sacred thread, and even cutting long sleeves with scissors thereby affecting their morale is unacceptable and condemnable,” Rao said in a post 'X'.
He asserted that examination centres must test students’ knowledge and not undermine their dignity, adding that the government would take stringent steps to prevent recurrence.
The Minister also urged affected students not to lose confidence, saying the government stood firmly with them.
Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Karnataka South, strongly condemned the incident, alleging that it had hurt the religious rights and self-respect of the Hindu community.
“The incident of students removing and cutting off their Janivaras during the CET examination has violated the religious rights, culture and self-respect of the Hindu community,” the organisation said in a press note.
Calling the sacred thread a symbol of religious heritage and dignity, it said, “Society will not tolerate any act that insults it,” and demanded a thorough probe and stringent action against those responsible.
It also pointed out that similar incidents had been reported in the state last year, terming the recurrence “unfortunate and condemnable.”
The organisation further alleged that such incidents were damaging the well-being of society and claimed that some schools and colleges are promoting hatred against the Hindu society.
The row erupted after students alleged that invigilators at the examination centre asked them to remove religious symbols, including the sacred thread, during the Common Entrance Test (CET).
Following the incident, an invigilator was suspended and police 'secured' three staff members for questioning.
The CET is conducted for admission to professional courses across the state.
