Attack on Alwyn D'Souza, who spoke out against illegal sand mining
Speaker U.T. Khader calls for strict action
Mangaluru: Alwyn Jerome D'Souza, President of the Ullal Block Congress Minority Cell and Mangaluru Region Catholic Sabha, was attacked on Saturday after raising his voice against illegal sand mining activities along several parts of the Nethravathi River, including Pavoor Uliya.
D'Souza, who sustained injuries, has been admitted to a private hospital in the city. MLC Ivan D'Souza and others visited the hospital to inquire about his health. A case has been registered at the Mangaluru Rural Police Station regarding the incident.
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Recounting the incident, D'Souza said, “I was at the Harekal-Adyar bridge area at 3 PM when a group of 10-20 people suddenly attacked me. They accused me of causing them trouble by opposing their activities. They pushed me down and kicked me. At that moment, a journalist accompanying me ran towards me for help, after which the attackers fleex. I can identify them if I see them again."
Condemning the attack, Speaker U.T. Khader directed the police to arrest those involved in the illegal sand mining activities and take stringent action against them.
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Cong's countrywide protest on Wednesday against VB-G RAM-G bill replacing MGNREGA
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress will hold protests across the country on Wednesday against the Centre's rural employment bill VB-G RAM G that seeks to replace MGNREGA, claiming it was a "BJP-RSS conspiracy" to dismantle a rights-based welfare scheme and attack Mahatma Gandhi's legacy, workers' rights and federal responsibility.
The opposition party's general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal, in a letter to all state Congress presidents, urged them to organise protests at all district headquarters.
These protests must be held with portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, symbolising resistance to the erasure of his name and values, and highlight how the proposed law will impact the crores of beneficiaries of MGNREGA, he said in the letter.
"The combined attack on Gandhiji's legacy, workers' rights and federal responsibility exposes a larger BJP-RSS conspiracy to dismantle rights-based welfare and replace it with charity controlled from the Centre," Venugopal said.
The opposition has strongly objected to the introduction of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, when it was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday.
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The Congress and other opposition MPs also staged a protest in Parliament House complex over the Centre's move.
In the letter to the Congress state unit chief, Venugopal said that on December 28, the party's Foundation Day, programmes should be organised at all blocks and villages, with Mahatma Gandhi's portraits, reaffirming the party's commitment to the dignity of labour, social justice and the right to work.
"This is both a political and moral struggle. The Congress must lead from the front to defend MGNREGA, Gandhiji's legacy and the constitutional promise of justice for the poorest," Venugopal said in a post on X.
In his letter, he said the BJP government has taken an alarming and deliberate step by introducing a bill to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
"This is not a routine legislative exercise. It is a calculated political move to weaken a historical, rights-based people's law and to erase Mahatma Gandhi's name and values from India's most recognisable welfare legislation.
"This combined attack on Gandhiji's legacy, rights and federal responsibility exposes a larger BJP-RSS conspiracy to dismantle rights-based welfare and replace it with charity controlled from the Centre," he noted.
