Controversy in Bhatkal over name of Municipal building in Urdu, DC to meet officials on Thursday
BJP MLA issued ultimatum to TMC officials to remove Urdu in two days or face heat
Bhatkal: Things have taken an ugly turn in Bhatkal since Monday, June 27, when the renovated Town Municipal Council (TMC) building’s name was painted in Urdu along with Kannada and English by officials.
Objecting to the addition of Urdu in the building name, members of a few lcoal organisations immediately staged protests in front of the TMC building calling for immediate removal of Urdu name. They added there was no need to add any other language other than Kannada and English.
The demands triggered controversy and other local Muslim organisations came in the picture calling on the administration to not bow down to threats issued by some groups.
On Tuesday, situation turned tense around the TMC building and surrounding when memorandums were served to the administration by pro-Sangh Parivar and other organisations leading to a face-off between leaders of local organisations and police personnel when the administration agreed to remove the Urdu name.
When the TMC Chief Officer Suresh, agreed to remove the Urdu name he added that looking at the situation the Deputy Commissioner had ordered the removal of Urdu from the list.
Irked by the decision, hundreds of youths under the banner of Muslim organisations including Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem and Bhatkal Muslim Youth Federation (BMYF) reached at the spot and protested against the immediate removal of the name leading to a face-off between them and police personnel.
Bhatkal Dy.SP Beliappa then pacified the crowd as the TMC General Body decided to call and emergency meeting on Friday, July 1 to pass a resolution in this regard.
TMC President Parvez Kashimji said there were provisions for usage of third language along with English and Kannada. He also recalled that Kalaburagi Municipal Council had also similarly put up its name on the building in Urdu along with English and Kannada.
“We will pass a resolution in our council and we will send it for DC’s approval. Let him decide as he is the deciding authority, we will explore our legal options if needed,” Parvez was quoted as saying.
According to the BMYF and Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, administration was wrong in bowing down to the pressure from fringe groups and added that although they agree for the removal of Urdu name, they added it should be done while following due procedure and not under any pressure.
Locals also objected adding the old TMC building had the name written in Urdu but it was not added on the new building. “What is the problem if they have added the name of the building in Urdu after latest renovation?” one of the protesters asked.
A majority of people in Bhatkal TMC’s jurisdiction who pay taxes are those who speak Urdu. So, if there’s a name on the building written in Urdu, how does it hurt anybody?” another asked.
Meanwhile, local MLA Sunil Naik of BJP also issued a statement and was quoted by local media as saying he would lead a procession to the TMC building and protest if the name in Urdu was not removed within two days. Naik’s statement has further triggered the situation in the town.
Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan is now expected to visit Bhatkal on Thursday and hold meetings with representatives of both the parties in a bid to resolve the matter.
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Ind vs Aus 1st test day 2: IND 172/0 at stumps, lead by 218 runs in Perth
Perth, Nov 23: Yashasvi Jaiswal combined game awareness with perfect shot selection while KL Rahul remained technically unflappable in an unbroken opening stand of 172 as India looked set to bat Australia out of the match with an overall lead of 218 runs on the second day of the opening Test here.
After skipper Jasprit Bumrah's game-changing 11th five-wicket haul decimated Australia for 104, young Jaiswal (90 batting, 193 balls) and seasoned Rahul (62 batting, 154 balls) decided to grind it out with some old fashioned Test match batting by waiting for the loose deliveries and respecting good fast bowling.
The Indians showed their compact defense by scoring 88 runs in 31 overs during the post-tea session as Jaiswal inched towards a coveted ton on his maiden outing on Australian soil.
With enough time at their disposal and signs of cracks appearing on the surface, this is going to be India's Test match to lose.
The way Rahul wore down the Australian attack was a sight to behold. There was no chatter from the slip cordon and at one point, the stitches of the Kookaburra came out.
The live grass died by the second afternoon and the seam movement also went out of equation making batting easier.
But no one can take away any credit from the two who were hardly troubled except for a mix-up that could have led to Rahul's run-out.
Jaiswal also showed that he had learnt his lessons from the first innings and curbed his urge to drive on the up initially, which was the best part about his batting. Each of his seven fours and two sixes were well-executed shots.
Once he had defended enough deliveries, the Australian pacers didn't have any option but to try either short or full length which he utilised well.
The whip over mid-wicket to hit Starc for one-bounce four and then induce a grin from the pacer by telling him "you are slow", spoke volumes about how fearless the current generation of Indian cricketers is.
In the final session, he flicked him for good measure for a maximum.
Rahul's back-drive off Pat Cummins can easily be called the shot of the match but it was heartening to see Jaiswal put in a big stride forward while driving Mitchell Starc through covers apart from getting under the bounce and playing the ramp shot.
In case of Rahul, he kept a very loose bottom-hand and that helped with the deliveries, even the ones that took the thickish edge only to fall way in front of the slip cordon.
There was a spell of play in the post-tea session when Indians were kept quiet by Nathan Lyon but neither Jaiswal nor Rahul ran out of patience. Jaiswal's half-century came off 123 balls, his slowest in 15 Tests and spoke volumes about his adaptability.
For Rahul, it was about forgetting the unfortunate dismissal on Friday and concentrate, which he did splendidly.
Any target above 300 would be very difficult to chase on this track and Washington Sundar can come into play if those cracks open up, not to forget the three quicks who can use the variable bounce to good effect.
In the morning, India captain Bumrah deservedly got his 11th five-wicket haul while debutant Harshit Rana bowled a fiery opening spell to dismiss the hosts for 104 at the stroke of lunch despite a stiff last-wicket resistance from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Starc (26 off 113 balls) shielded Hazlewood (7 not out off 31 balls) admirably during their 25-run last-wicket stand that lasted 18 overs.
The day began with Bumrah (5/30 in 18 overs) getting one to rear up from back of the length and Carey's edge carried at a good height to Rishabh Pant behind stumps.
The skipper's celebration was understated as he purposefully strode back to his bowling mark even before Nathan Lyon had arrived. At the other end, the burly Harshit Rana (3/48 in 15.2 overs) carried on from where he had left off on the opening day.
The rookie speedster used more short balls, and one such well-directed delivery accounted for Lyon, who was pouched at gully by KL Rahul.
