People's stomach can't be filled by showing God's picture, says Cong prez Mallikarjun Kharge
Hyderabad, Jan 25: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday made a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and others, saying that a poor man's stomach cannot be filled by showing him a picture of God.
Kharge, who addressed a meeting of booth-level agents of the ruling Congress in Telangana here, took a dig at Modi alleging that he did not allow veteran BJP leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and also his ministers to take part in the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
In an apparent reference to the January 22 consecration of Ram Mandir, Kharge said, "Stomach is not filled by showing a photo of God to people."
The Congress president trained guns on Modi over the latter's visits to temples ahead of the consecration and taking a holy dip in the sea.
"During Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's reign, he (Nehru) was a statesman. He was a visionary. He (Nehru) was not like him (Modi), going to the sea and taking a dip. Nehru never used to do such things. He built big factories, big dams, and brought electricity," he said.
Nehru had said in 1958 that the purpose of the 'teerth yatra' (pilgrimage) started after Independence is to enable people to keep their head high and move towards prosperity. "What is Modi ji's 'teerth yatra? Never look at the poor," Kharge said.
"Publicity. Same thing in the papers every day. But, he (Modi) did not allow his ministers to come. Did not allow big leaders to come. Advani, who fought for Ram Janmabhoomi, was not allowed to come. Joshi was not allowed to come. He (Modi) said all of you stay far from here (Ayodhya), I will go alone into the sanctum sanctorum," the Congress president claimed.
On "Modi's guarantee", he said advertisements are carried in newspapers. The prime minister had promised two crore jobs and to bring back black money and give Rs 15 lakh, but did not implement them, the AICC president charged.
He further alleged that inflation in the country is going up every day and people have no jobs even as Modi comes out with excuses such as Pakistan, China and invokes God, when in a crisis.
Kharge also claimed attempts were made to encourage defections and break up parties during the Modi regime. Also, central agencies like ED and Income Tax were used against political rivals.
The Congress president said 28 parties had come together against the BJP and that the saffron party would be defeated in the polls.
Referring to the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, he said all should support Rahul Gandhi whose endeavour is for the youth, poor, farmers, women and others.
Observing that the hard work of the Congress leaders and activists in Telangana made the party win in the recent assembly polls, Kharge exhorted them to achieve similar results in the Lok Sabha elections too.
Telangana Chief Minister and state Congress president A Revanth Reddy, his cabinet colleagues and leaders participated.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
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.
ALSO READ: Chinese GPS tracker found on seagull near Karwar Coast
"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.
