Union FM Nirmala Sitharaman conferred ‘Bharata Lakshmi’ title by Sri Krishna Mutt in Udupi
Udupi (Karnataka), Aug 9 (PTI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman received the ‘Bharata Lakshmi’ title from Paryaya Puthige Mutt seer Sugunendra Tirtha Swami at Sri Krishna Mutt here on Saturday.
Sitharaman visited the temple city to inaugurate the special ‘Yali,’ a traditional-style structure that surrounds the mutt.
Sugunendra Tirtha read out the citation, praising Sitharaman for her "integrity and dedication" as Finance Minister.
Visibly moved, Sitharaman recalled her first visit to Udupi in 2005, when she received a Krishna idol, which she continues to worship.
She praised the 'ashta mutts' for their “culture of service” and lauded the 'annabrahma' tradition of feeding thousands of devotees daily as a symbol of "devotion and commitment."
Highlighting the Koti Gita Lekhana Yajna—an initiative by Puthige Swamiji to collect one crore handwritten copies of the Bhagavad Gita—Sitharaman called it a "remarkable effort" to spread Lord Krishna’s message worldwide.
“Serving human beings is serving God,” she said, adding, “May Lord Krishna bless our country, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and all our people.”
The honour was conferred in the presence of Vishwapriya Thirtha Swamiji of Admar Mutt.
Karnataka High Court judge Dinesh Kumar was also honoured at the event.
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Withdraw 'disrespectful' remark against Rahul Gandhi and apologise: Pilot asks Rijiju
Mumbai (PTI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday hit out at Union minister Kiren Rijiju for passing a "disrespectful and inappropriate" remark against Rahul Gandhi, and asked him to apologise for it.
He was answering a query regarding Rijiju's reported statement in which he described Gandhi as the "most dangerous person" for India's security, and a purported video of a man claiming to be from Karni Sena issuing death threats to the Congress leader.
Addressing a press conference here, Pilot said, "When ordinary journalists criticise the government, they face FIRs and jail. But when threats are issued against the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), there is silence. This shows the government's intention. LoP is a constitutional position. To describe him as a security threat is inappropriate and disrespectful. Even as such open threats are being made, the government is not taking any action."
"The statement 9against Gandhi) should be withdrawn and an apology should be issued," the Congress general secretary said, adding that it is the job of the LoP to seek accountability from the government and ask questions.
To a query on the plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on January 28, Pilot said, "I do not want to speculate. There should be a transparent, time-bound inquiry. If there are doubts, a high-level investigation should clarify facts."
When asked about the demand for leadership change in the opposition INDIA bloc, he said, "Leadership decisions are internal matters. The alliance worked remarkably well in the last Lok Sabha election. The gap in numbers between the INDIA bloc and the NDA was not very wide. We are working together strongly and will continue to do so."
The Congress has been helming the INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to counter the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, voices from disgruntled Congress members and those associated with the UPA dispensation suggested that the leadership of the opposition alliance should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.
On Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Indian economy, Pilot said, "India is a major IT power. We have talent and capability. Many countries see India as a natural partner. But we must use our strengths wisely and not compromise our sovereignty under pressure."
"India should have the freedom to decide where to buy oil from. That is a sovereign decision," Pilot said.
On the issue of illegal migration, he said anybody staying illegally in India should be removed regardless of religion or caste.
"But this issue should not be politicised. If the border has been under control for 11 years, how did illegal immigrants enter? The government should provide data on how many people have been deported," he said.
"This government's intent and policies are anti-farmer and there is no accountability. The opposition will continue to demand answers from the government and stand with farmers and the people of India," he said.
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