BJP accuses Rahul of denigrating India from foreign soil
New Delhi, Aug 23 : The BJP on Thursday came down heavily on Rahul Gandhi for denigrating the country on foreign soil, accusing him of justifying Islamic State (IS) and making comparisons with India.
Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra sought an explanation from Rahul Gandhi on his remarks during an event in Hamburg in Germany on Wednesday, and charged him with presenting the country in a bad light while touching upon issues that had "wider and dangerous ramifications".
"You tried to justify terrorism. You tried to justify IS (Islamic State). There can be nothing more ignominious and perturbing than this. It is very sad. You call yourself a leader of the country. You are a parliamentarian and you mock India from a foreign soil.
"You are giving an excuse for ISIS. This is a mockery of our minorities. You have tried to denigrate the minorities of the great country. You have questioned them. Your submission that if jobs are not available for minorities of the country, they will sell thier soul to an alternative idea of IS, which is deplorable and for which you have to explain before the country. We cannot forgive you," Patra said.
The BJP leader was reacting to Congress chief's criticism of the government by citing the example of IS to say that exclusion of a large number of people from the development process could lead to the creation of terrorist groups in the world.
Gandhi had said that the US while invading Iraq, had stopped a tribe, Tikriti network, from getting government and army jobs and later the tribe linked up with other groups. He referred to incidents of lynching and attacks on Dalits, saying people in India were angry and the ruling alliance was weakening "support structures" meant for the weaker sections.
Rebutting Gandhi's charge, Patra said instead the Modi government has strengthened the structures meant for the weaker sections.
"You have false estimate of India and its potential. You are saying that India's role will remin only to balance between US and the China. Is this what is your estimate for India. Is this what you estimate the potential of 125 crore Indians?," he asked.
Responding to Rahul Gandhi's charge that the level of violence has increased in India and for his call for a change in the attitude of Indian men at the way they treated women, Patra hit out at Gandhi saying, "On women's safety issue you blamed the Indian culture. You could have blamed some mindset but how can you blame the Indian culture for it.
"You have tried to denigrate the Indian culture. This country accepted Sonia Gandhi, who headed the Congress party for 19 long years and remain proxy prime minister for 10 years. Both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi should come out and speak. How can they point out India's great culture."
Patra said Gandhi's attacks were due to his frustration of his party being thrown out of power.
"When we have a success story of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, your frustration is coming out with sense of entitlement of Gandhi family is quite understandable.
"This is a democratic country. You can always speak about the policies of the government anywhere in this world but for God's sake when you denigrate the country, you denigrate not the policies in a wrong way. But when you speak against the culture of this great country and when you give justification to terrorism, it is a serious issue. You should come out and clarify," he said.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
