Ramanath Rai backs Priyank Kharge’s call to ban RSS events on government premises
Mangaluru: Senior Congress leader and former Karnataka minister B. Ramanath Rai has extended his support to Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge’s letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) programmes on government properties and public spaces.
Speaking at a press conference at the Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee (DKDCC) office in Mallikatte, Mangaluru, on Thursday, Rai, who also serves as the Vice-President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), said that the entire party stands firmly with Kharge on the issue.
“The RSS continues to poison the minds of children and spread disharmony in society. Even in Dakshina Kannada, the social environment has deteriorated because of their activities,” Rai said.
He reiterated that the Congress Party would never support any organisation that uses religion as its foundation, stressing that the party’s focus remains on strengthening its ideological principles of inclusivity and secularism.
“I have always opposed the RSS because I follow the Congress ideology, and many others in our party continue to stand by these values,” he stated.
Rai highlighted the contributions of Congress leaders to the development of Dakshina Kannada, from freedom fighter Srinivas Mallya to the present generation of leaders. He accused the BJP of prioritising electoral politics over development, adding, “While our leaders worked for the progress of this region, the BJP only focuses on winning elections.”
Criticising the Central Government, he also questioned India’s diplomatic outreach to ministers from the Taliban government, calling it contradictory to the BJP’s public rhetoric on nationalism and security.
Responding to Legislative Council Chief Whip Ravikumar’s allegation that Congress members fund the RSS, Rai said the MLC “lacked knowledge and understanding” of the issue.
The press conference was attended by several Congress leaders, including former Mayor Shashidhar Hegde, MG Hegde, Baby Kunder, BL Padmanabha Kotian, S. Appi, Chittaranjan Shetty Bondala, Dinesh Muloor, Sadashiva Shetty, TK Sudheer, Girish Shetty, Padmaprasad Jain, Manjula Nayak, Ramananda Poojary, Sajith Shetty Vamanjoor, Yogish Kumar, Sunil Bajilakeri, and Shabbir Siddakatte, among others.
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Two arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting woman at knifepoint in Kochi
Kochi (PTI): Two persons have been arrested after a three-member gang allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at knifepoint near Ernakulam Junction Railway station, officials said on Friday.
The arrested accused were identified as Danish (26), a native of Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district, and Rahul (39), a native of Paravoor in Kollam district.
Police officials said they were searching for the prime accused, Sanjay, a native of Aroor in Alappuzha district.
According to police, the incident occurred on the night of May 5 when the victim was chatting with her friend near a closed hotel near Ernakulam Junction Railway station.
Officials said the accused approached them, attacked the victim’s friend and then allegedly threatened the woman with a knife before sexually assaulting her.
Police said the accused also allegedly disrobed the victim during the attack.
However, the woman managed to escape from the spot and approached a nearby shop for help.
Police were informed immediately and shifted the victim to the police station.
Officials said the accused were heavily drunk at the time of the incident and went into hiding soon after the attack.
Police registered a case on May 6 under charges including rape, disrobing a woman, criminal intimidation and robbery.
The two accused were later arrested in the city, while efforts are continuing to trace Sanjay, police said.
The accused were produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
