Puttur: Activists file complaint against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for delivering hate speech
Puttur: Social activists have filed a complaint with Puttur Town Police against right-wing activist Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for delivering a hate speech during the Vivekananda Jayanti celebrations at the Vivekananda College here and against a YouTube channel that shared the speech.
Members of the Puttur Taluk Committee of the Karnataka Manava Bandhutva Vedike have accused Bhat, who is President of the Vivekananda Vidyavardhaka Sangha, of demeaning Muslims and Christians by citing historic events during the event on January 12. “Bhat also accused Christians of indulging in religious conversion and cited fake instances related to the issue to blame the community,” the complainants have said.
They have asked the police to take stringent measures against Bhat as well as ‘VIKASANA TV’, a YouTube channel that uploaded the speech.
“He (Bhat) gave the example of the historic figure Onake Obavva to incite hatred and violent mindset among the audience towards a community. The audience, which includes youngsters and students, and people who watched the video on the YouTube channel would easily develop hatred towards Christians and Muslims,” the Vedike members have alleged.
The complainants pointed out that Bhat had violated a court order not to deliver hate speeches.
Vedike Puttur Committee Chief Coordinator Ramachandra K, leader MB Vishwanath Rai, Maurice Mascarenhas, H Muhammad Ali, Canute Mascarenhas, Dr. Rajaram KB, Bolodi Chandrahasa Rai, Shashikiran Rai, Abdul Rehman Unique, Ullas Kotian and Prakash Gowda Tenkila were among those present on the occasion.
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
