Goa Congress demands ban on Sanatan Sanstha
Panaji, Sep 3: The Congress on Thursday demanded a ban on the Goa-based Sanatan Sanstha, some of whose members have been arrested for allegedly killing and plotting violence against rationalists and writers.
Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar said: "We have demanded this earlier and we are demanding it again. An organisation which kills and plots to kill people in order to eliminate their ideology, has no right to continue.
"Many people attached to these organisation have been arrested and we believe that the Goa government should decide on this soon," Chodankar said.
"We are going to ask the Governor for a ban on the organisation. Goa is a secular state and is a popular world destination. If such an organisation is promoted in Goa, our secular fabric will break and it will be a loss not just to state but to the nation," he added.
Police in Maharashtra and Karnataka have nabbed members of the Sanstha in connection with the murders of rationalists Govind Pansare, M.M. Kalburgi, Gauri Lankesh and others.
The Sanstha denies the charges levelled by the police.
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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.
