BJP candidate’s wife seeks votes in the name of Hindutva
Video goes viral
Mangaluru: The video of the Mangalore South constituency’s BJP candidate Vedavyas Kamat's wife seeking votes in the name of Hindutva, which has gone viral on social networking sites, has created controversy.
In the video, several women have come to seek votes for BJP. Among them, a woman says “Mangaluru South constituency’s BJP candidate Vedavyas Kamat’s wife has come to you to seek votes, she will address you.”
In the video clip, one can find Kamat’s wife saying “I am the wife of Vedavyas Kamat, who is a candidate from Mangalore South constituency. You all should vote for him so that he could win with a huge majority. This time, BJP’s government must come here and in Delhi as well. You all know very well that to save Hindutva, we need BJP Government. Thank you.” Then those who accompanied her raised "Bharat Mata ki Jai" slogan.
In another video, a woman is seeking votes by saying “In the present situation, we cannot say whether our girls will return to home once after they go out. You know what all we are witnessing. What was the condition of Akshata? Whether our boys will return home after going out, it cannot be said. Sharat Madiwal, Deepak Rao… What is the guarantee whether our children will return home after going out... That is why; once again Congress government should not come (to power). If BJP comes to power, it will be good for Hindutva’s betterment and it will be possible to save our culture. What happened after the Congress came to power… orders were issued to governmentalize the mutts and temples that we worship. Would BJP have done this… Had such things happened during Yeddyurappa’s government… No right... Then why this is happening now? The money that comes to our temple, they are spending it on other religions and other parties. This time BJP government must come if we want to save our temples’ money with us. Yeddyurappa’s government must come. This is only possible if Vedavyas Kamat wins from Mangaluru South constituency. BJP’s government must come for the protection of our girls, men and to save our temples.”
This video was filmed at a house. It is visible in the video that the BJP candidate Vedavyas’ wife is present on the spot while a woman was speaking . However, Vartha Bharati does not have the specific information regarding when and where these videos were shot.
Seeking votes in the name of religion and caste is the violation of the Election Model Code of Conduct. The seven-judge Constitution bench, headed by the Supreme Court Chief Justice, has ruled that seeking votes in the name of religion, caste or community amounted to corrupt practice and election of a candidate who indulged in it can be set aside.
We will file a complaint against seeking votes in the name of Hindutva: Vinay Raj
It has come to our notice that the wife of the BJP candidate from Mangalore South has been seeking votes in the name of Hindutva. We have decided to file a complaint with the Election Commission today, said district Congress spokesperson and lawyer Vinayraj.
He further said "We too have seen the videos that are seeking votes by violating the code of conduct. We will complain about this. Our city will not progress in the name of any caste, religion. Rather it will be developed on the basis of progressive works. If they ask for votes from Mangaluru's developmental perspective, people will feel that they are concerned about the city. Instead, if votes are sought on Hindutva card, it will be a matter of dividing people of the city."
"Seeking votes this way shows that they are not concerned about the improvement and development of Mangalore. What people need is drinking water, development of roads, electrification etc. Instead of that; seeking votes in the name of God, Hinduism, religion, and cattle do not favour development. Rather it divides the society, "Vinayraj responded.
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Trekking without nature guide won't be allowed; Karnataka forest minister releases SOP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said that trekking will no longer be permitted on any approved trekking routes under the forest department, without a certified nature guide equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies.
Speaking after releasing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated for the safety of trekkers, he said that there will be one local nature guide for every 10 trekkers. A maximum of 150 trekkers will be allowed per batch on any trekking route.
According to him, online registration for trekking is mandatory. Even if a single individual registers for a particular day, a guide will still be provided, and trekking without a guide will not be allowed.
He said the SOP was introduced following recent incidents, including a woman from Kerala who went missing for three days in the forests during a trek at Tadiandamol hill in Kodagu, and a minor girl who went missing and was later found dead near Manikyadhara in Chikkamagaluru, which is outside forest jurisdiction.
In a statement, the Khandre's office said that nature guides will be mandatorily equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies on all trekking routes. "Additionally, a mobile app containing trekking route maps will be installed on trekkers' phones. This will help locate trekkers if they lose their way", it said.
As per the SOP, before the trek begins, trekkers will be briefed about the distance, duration, and local conditions.
"Instructions on how to respond if wildlife is encountered will also be provided. Loud devices, sharp metal objects, weapons, and campfires are strictly prohibited on trekking routes," it said.
The SOP further stated that separate toilets for men and women and drinking water facilities will be provided at base camps.
Directional arrow markings will guide trekkers along the route, and rest points will be created along the way, it said.
Citing the SOP, the statement said that nature guides must ensure that no trekker moves ahead of them or is left behind. Headcounts must be conducted at base camps and rest points.
"Guides must communicate with the base camp via walkie-talkie every 30 minutes. If there is no communication within an hour of the trek starting, base camp staff will contact the guide to confirm safety," it said.
The SOP states that minors must carry a consent letter from their parents or guardians, and senior citizens must provide a fitness certificate confirming their physical capability to undertake trekking. To be able to respond to unexpected health issues, trekkers and guides must carry a first aid kit.
However, flash photography, single-use plastics, and carry bags are prohibited and trekkers must bring back their waste and dispose of it only at base camps, as per SOP.
It further said that all trekking routes under the forest department will be integrated into the official website (https://aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in/) to enable advance booking of tickets.
