2,336 houses damaged in DK, Udupi, relief works on war footing in Kodagu: Deshpande
Three villages in Kodagu witnessed maximum damage, 825 people rescued, two bodies found
Mangaluru, August 19: Total 2,336 houses were completely damaged in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. But the exact loss of property was not yet ascertained in Kodagu district due to rain-related incidents. Rescue operations were still going on in a war-footing level in the district, said Revenue Minister RV Deshpande.
After visiting the flood affected, landsliding areas and gruel centres and rehabilitation centres here on Sunday, the Minister said that in Dakshina Kannada district, total 1,326 houses were damaged in the rain, of which 299 houses were completely damaged and remaining houses were partially damaged. In Udupi district, 1,010 houses were damaged. In Kodagu district, thousands of houses were damaged. But actual figure was not yet ascertained, he said.
Rescue operation on war footing
Landsliding were occurred in three places like Jodupala, Monnangeri and Madenadu villages in Kodagu district. So far, 828 people were rescued and 825 people were in the rehabilitation centres. All concerned authorities and officers were strictly directed to look after the victims without any problem at the rehabilitation centres till the situation would come under control, he said.
In Dakshina Kannada district, total seven rehabilitation centres were opened for the victims. The government would get the report from the experts on the sudden landslides and other damages in Kodagu district. So far, the government has not received the expert opinion for the landsliding. But he was of the opinion that both man-made and natural aspects were the main reasons for this tragedy, he said.
The state government has already released Rs 100 crore for taking up immediate relief measures in the Kodagu district. Apart from this, the government has also released Rs 50 crore each to Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts for the purpose. For those who died in the natural disaster in Kodagu, the government has given Rs 5 lakh each compensation and two more people were missing, he said.
Dakshina Kannada district minister UT Khader, former minister B Ramanath Rai, former MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty, MLA Harish Kumar and others were present.
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Catholic Bishops' body slams Bhagwat's remarks
New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his reported remark that Pranab Mukherjee, when he was President, had said tribals would turn "anti-national" if there is no "ghar wapsi"Catholic Bishops.'
In a statement issued here, CBCI, a body of Catholic Bishops, referred to reports which said Bhagwat, at an event on Monday, claimed that Mukherjee, while he was President had appreciated ghar wapsi and told him that had it not been for the Sangh's work on reconversion, a section of Adivasis would have turned "anti-national".The CBCI called the report "shocking".
"Fabricated personal conversation being attributed to a former president of India and its posthumous publication with the vested interest of an organization with questionable credibility raises a grave issue of national importance," the CBCI claimed.
"Is it not the violent ghar wapsi program of VHP and other similar organizations, curtailing the exercise of freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals, the real anti-national activity?" it asked.
'Ghar wapsi' is a term used by the RSS and affiliated organisations to refer to reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, based on the belief that they were originally Hindus before converting to other religions.
The CBCI also questioned why Bhagwat did not speak about it while Mukherjee was alive.
"We, the 2.3 percent of Indian citizens who are Christians feel extremely hurt by such manipulated and motivated propaganda unleashed," it said.
In a post on X following the statement issued by CBCI, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said, "Speak up. This is a start!"
"Bishops body have issued a statement condemning remarks made by Dr Mohan Bhagwat and RSS for defaming the Christian community," he said.
O'Brien added that they should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi more questions, including why Christmas Day has been turned into "Good Governance Day".
The TMC leader, in a blogpost earlier this month, had said "hard questions" must be asked to the government with regards to the Christian community, including why the FCRA has been 'weaponised', and why has Manipur been 'ignored'.
