Expelled BJP leader Yatnal urges CM Siddaramaiah to ban namaz on roads, govt premises
Bengaluru(PTI): Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Friday urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ban namaz on roads, footpaths, and government premises without prior permission
His demand comes a day after the Karnataka Cabinet decided to frame rules, reportedly aimed at checking RSS activities, including marching on roads and holding events in public places and government premises.
In a letter to Siddaramaiah, Yatnal, who has been expelled from the BJP, said that the recent government decision restricts private organisations and non-governmental entities from using government properties, educational institutions, and public spaces for private or institutional purposes.
He added that the same principle of neutrality and fairness should be uniformly enforced across all sections of society.
"We have seen people offering namaz on public roads and government premises without obtaining due permission from the competent authorities," the letter read.
"Such activities cause obstruction to vehicular and pedestrian movement, inconvenience the public, and endanger pedestrians, thereby violating the citizens' fundamental rights to free movement and safety guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India," it further said.
He argued that there should not be any special provision to offer namaz in government offices or other government-aided institutions.
“Permitting such practices while restricting other organisational activities on public property amounts to selective enforcement and undermines the credibility of governance,” Yatnal said.
He requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to issue appropriate directions to all deputy commissioners and police commissioners across the state to ensure that namaz is not conducted on roads, footpaths, or government premises without prior official sanction.
Yatnal also suggested framing a clear standard operating procedure (SOP) or circular under the Karnataka Police Act and relevant traffic regulations to penalise any unauthorised use of public spaces for religious purposes.
“Uniform enforcement of these measures will reinforce the State's commitment to secularism, equality before law, and public order. Therefore, in order to promote order and discipline, avoid traffic disruption, and ensure religious inclusivity, I urge you to immediately ban offering namaz in public places,” the letter added.
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UP: Over 60 people fall sick after eating prasad at religious ceremony
Kannauj (UP) (PTI): Sixty-two people fell sick allegedly after earing 'prasad' during a religious ceremony being held here at a private residence, officials said on Saturday.
The 'prasad' consisting of 'panchamrit' and 'panjiri' was distributed on Friday night during a 'Satyanarayan Katha' organised at the residence of Munna Lal Kashyap in Simuapur village, Kannauj.
After eating the 'prasad', several people's health began to deteriorate during the night. Initially, they were taken to private practitioners but eventually all of them were shifted to the district hospital, they said.
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Dr Akanksha at the district hospital said that 62 patients had arrived by 10.30 pm. Among them, 14 patients whose condition was critical were referred to the Medical College in Tirwa (in Kannauj district).
The remaining patients are currently undergoing treatment involving IV drips and medications. The condition of most patients is reported to be stable, officials said.
Upon receiving information about the incident, District Magistrate Ashutosh Mohan Agnihotri, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Swadesh Gupta, and Additional Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar arrived at the district hospital.
The officials inquired about the patients' health and issued directives for their proper medical care.
