District administration to propose renaming Dakshina Kannada as Mangaluru: Report
Mangaluru: With the recent renaming of Ramanagara as Bengaluru South and growing calls to rename Tumakuru as Bengaluru North, a similar push is now underway in coastal Karnataka.
The Dakshina Kannada district administration is preparing to submit a proposal to the Karnataka government to rename the district as Mangaluru, The New Indian Express quoted Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan as saying.
The decision to put forth a proposal was initiated during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting, after Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja urged the administration to pass a resolution in favour of the name change. MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta and other stakeholders backed the suggestion, with officials reportedly stating that the proposal would be forwarded to the government shortly.
Supporters of the move argue that “Dakshina Kannada” lacks recognition beyond the state, while “Mangaluru” enjoys wider visibility as a centre for education, healthcare, banking, and industry, both nationally and internationally.
Meanwhile, Dayanand Kathalsar, of the Mangaluru District Tulu Movement Committee and former chairman of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, also demanded the renaming. "Though we are freed from the rule of the Portuguese and the British, names like 'South Canara' or the Dakshina Kannada given during their period are still used, which need to be changed," TNIE quoted him as saying.
KPCC general secretary Rakshit Shivaram also voiced support for the renaming. Drawing parallels to the "Brand Bengaluru" initiative launched during S.M. Krishna’s tenure as chief minister, he said a similar push is needed for "Brand Mangaluru." He stated that they will soon meet the chief minister, deputy chief minister, home minister, and district in-charge minister to submit a memorandum.
“The present name is 'Dakshina Kannada' but we are not in the southern part of the state, instead we are in the Western part of the state. The highways, airport, port and the railway stations here are named after Mangaluru, hence, the district should also get the same name," he added.
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UP min tells flood victims ‘Ganga is touching your feet’; Woman replies, ‘Stay and take blessings’
Lucknow: Amid ongoing flood-like conditions and severe waterlogging in parts of Uttar Pradesh, particularly along the Ganga River, state Cabinet Minister Sanjay Nishad has drawn criticism for controversial remarks made during a visit to Kanpur Dehat.
In a video that surfaced on social media, Nishad is purportedly heard telling flood-affected villagers that they are “Ganga’s children” and thus, the “Ganga river reaches your doorstep to clean your feet and this would take you directly to heaven,” as reported by The Indian Express on Wednesday.
Nishad, assigned to oversee relief work in the district, made the comments as residents tried to voice concerns over the flooding and lack of adequate relief.
Also, a woman travelling along with the government team is purportedly heard trying to clarify the minister’s remarks to an elderly woman, who in turn asks her to stay there with them and “take the blessings of Ganga yourself.”
The minister’s remarks triggered widespread criticism online, with many calling them insensitive amid the ongoing crisis. Defending his statement, Nishad stated that he was only trying to offer emotional support. “Flooding is a natural calamity, and the government is doing everything it can to help people. We are giving food packets, cooked food as well, but one needs to highlight positive thoughts to them also, and that is what I did. We cannot stop water, and this is not a one-day or one-year problem,” TIE quoted Nishad as saying.
He added that instilling hope is essential, or else “the opposition will spread negativity.”
Incessant rainfall in Uttar Pradesh has led to floods in thirteen districts of the state. The Ganga River is reportedly flowing above the danger mark in Varanasi, Mirzapur, Ghazipur, and Ballia. Similarly, the Yamuna has crossed the red mark in Auraiya, Kalpi, Hamirpur, Prayagraj, and Banda.
