Fight was between truth and lies, says UT Khader
Mangaluru, May 16: Congress leader and former minister U T Khader, who was elected from the Mangaluru constituency for the fifth time, on Tuesday said the election this time was fought between truth and lies.
People have voted against the misinformation campaign of the BJP and the Congress will form a government which will be without bias and hatred towards any section of society, Khader said, addressing reporters at the Congress Bhavan here.
He said the Congress will work hard for the development of Karnataka and restore peace and harmony and fulfil all the guarantees promised to the people.
The voters have shown the door to BJP and voted against the politics of hatred and anti-people schemes, he said and thanked the voters of Mangaluru for re-electing him for a fifth term.
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To a question, he said the party will review the setback suffered by the party in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts and try to instill confidence among the people.
Khader said the Congress will distribute benefits to all sections of the population without discrimination towards any community unlike the BJP government. The schemes announced in the party's coastal manifesto will also be implemented, he said.
Khader and Ashok Kumar Rai (Puttur) are the only Congress candidates who won from Dakshina Kannada district which has eight seats, while the party drew a blank in Udupi district, where the BJP won in all the five constituencies.
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Chandrashekhar Swamiji apologises for remark on denying voting rights to Muslims
"If my statement has upset our Muslim brothers, I deeply regret it."
Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."
In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.
The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."
The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."
