Sullia youth on a Cycling Mission for 'Clean Politics'
Udupi: Fed up of caste and religion based politics as well as rampant corruption, Akhil K Gowda (25), a young engineering graduate from Sullia who runs an NGO named "Yuva" in Mysuru is on a solo cycling mission across the state with the objective of creating a political awareness in the society. His cycle jatha with the slogan "Vote for Clean Politics" will cover 3,000 kms.
Son of Krishnappa Gowda of Jalsoor in Sullia taluk, Akhil who commenced his jatha from Mysuru on January 12 arrived in Udupi district on January 16, Tuesday. He cycles 80 kms every day right from 8 am to 6 pm and intends to complete his mission within 35 to 40 days.
His jatha commenced form Mysuru on January 12 and he has covered Hunasuru, Madikeri, Puttur, and Mangaluru before arriving in Udupi thus cycling nearly 300 kms. He will proceed towards Kundapur, Karwar, Hubballi, Bijapur, Hyderabad Karnataka Region, Kolar and Bengaluru and conclude his jatha in Mysuru.
His Cycle is filled with several posters stating "Do not create divide on the basis of religion, caste and language, Join Fight against Corruption, If you agree give a missed cal to 7877778850."
Akhil is an Electrical and Electronics Engineering Graduate from Visveshwaraiah Institute of Technology of Mysuru. His Yuva NGO has around 200 members and it has engaged itself in several social service activities including installation of solar lamps to 300 houses of poor in 2016 and 250 houses in 2017.
He says his jatha also aims at offering tribute to slain journalist Gauri Lankesh and DySP Ganapathi who had committed suicide.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
BCB official calling Tamim 'an Indian agent' invites wrath of Bangladesh players
Dhaka (PTI): A senior Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official calling former captain Tamim Iqbal "an Indian agent" has not gone down well with the players in the country.
Tamim, one of the finest openers to have come out of Bangladesh, had advised the BCB to not be driven by emotion while deciding the way forward on the national team's participation in the T20 World Cup in India.
Nazmul, chairman of BCB finance committee, called the left-hander opener "an Indian agent" in a Facebook post.
"This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent," he wrote.
The post received immediate backlash from former and current cricketers, including Taskin Ahmed, Momimul Haque and Taijul Islam.
Even the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) expressed shock at Nazmul's comments.
"A comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal has come to the attention of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh. We are stunned, shocked, and outraged by it.
"Such a remark by a board official about the most successful opener in Bangladesh's history, who represented the country for 16 years, is utterly condemnable.
"Not only because it concerns a player like Tamim, but such comments about any cricketer of the country are unacceptable and insulting to the entire cricketing community," the players' body said in a statement.
The 36-year-old Tamim played 70 Tests, 243 ODIs and 78 T20 Internationals for his country in a fairly accomplished career.
"We strongly protest against this comment. When a responsible board director makes such remarks on a public platform, it also raises serious questions about the code of conduct of board officials," it said.
"We have already submitted a protest letter to the BCB president, demanding a public apology from the concerned board director and that he be brought under accountability. We hope the BCB president will take appropriate action as soon as possible," CWAB added.
Bangladesh wrote to the International Cricket Council to move their T20 World Cup games out of India after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 edition without giving a specific reason.
"Cricket is the life of Bangladesh. A recent comment surrounding a former national captain who has made a major contribution to the game has caused many to reflect," said pacer Taskin.
"I believe that such remarks directed at a former cricketer of the country are not helpful in the interest of Bangladesh cricket. I hope the concerned authorities will consider the matter seriously and adopt a more responsible stance in the future," he said.
Mominul added: "The comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal is completely unacceptable and insulting to the country's cricketing community. Such behaviour towards a cricketer is in direct conflict with the board's responsibility and ethics," said Mominul.
"A senior cricketer was not given even the minimum respect; instead, he was deliberately humiliated in public. Such remarks show a lack of even basic decorum regarding where and how to speak while holding such a high responsibility.
"I strongly condemn this comment and firmly demand a public apology from the concerned director and that he be brought under accountability. I call upon the BCB to take swift and strict action," said Mominul.
