Congress' promise to ban Bajrang Dal taken to appease Muslims: Minister Sunil Kumar
Mangaluru (PTI): Decrying the promise in the Congress election manifesto that Bajrang Dal will be banned if they are voted to power, Karnataka Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar said the move is to appease the Muslims.
In a series of tweets, the minister said Bajrang Dal is not an anti-social organisation and it strives for protection of the Hindu community and gomata (mother cow).
Kumar, who was the state convenor of Bajrang Dal, said the organisation is a team of activists who are ready to undergo any sacrifice for the Hindu cause.
He wondered whether the Congress wants to ban Bajrang Dal just because the BJP banned the PFI last year.
Social Welfare Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said the Congress does not know the difference between a patriotic organisation and an anti-social outfit.
ALSO READ: PM Modi lands in Mangaluru International Airport, will campaign for BJP in Mulki
BJP MLAs and leaders in Dakshina Kannada district also deplored the pledge made by the Congress in its manifesto. Mangaluru North MLA Bharath Y Shetty said the assurance clearly proves that the Congress is totally 'anti-Hindu'.
Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath said the Congress, as always, is resorting to appeasement politics, while BJP Dakshina Kannada district president Sudarshan Moodbidri said the promise has exposed the "mindset" of the Congress.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal workers on Tuesday evening carried out a protest in front of the district Congress office against the party's pledge to ban the organisation.
Raising slogans against the Congress move, they also burned a copy of the Congress manifesto.
The Congress on Tuesday promised a ban on Bajrang Dal in its Karnataka election manifesto, a move denounced by the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who alleged that the opposition party which had "locked up" Lord Ram now wanted to target Lord Hanuman's devotees.
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.
Tree planting now mandatory for arms licence in UP's Mathura, says DM
Mathura (UP), Apr 9 (PTI): In a novel step towards environmental conservation, the administration in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura district has made planting trees a mandatory requirement for obtaining, renewing or transferring arms licences.
According to an official release issued by the District Information Department, applicants will now be required to plant 10 trees either on private land or on public land anywhere within the district. The application must be submitted along with geo-tagged proof of the plantation, the release said.
District Magistrate Chandraprakash Singh, who introduced the measure, said the new condition will be applicable in addition to all previously-existing conditions for acquiring arms licences.
"This move is aimed at encouraging citizens to contribute meaningfully towards environmental protection while fulfilling their personal needs," he said.
"The responsibility for maintaining and protecting these trees will also lie with the applicants themselves," Singh added, emphasising that public participation is key to ensuring the survival of the planted saplings.
District Information Officer Prashant Suchari shared the details of the initiative on Wednesday and called it an important step in raising awareness about environmental preservation.
"This initiative not only aligns with administrative responsibilities but also reinforces the collective duty of citizens toward sustaining the environment," he said.
