Unseen untouchability is more dangerous: Dinesh Amin Mattu
Ambedkar youth festival inaugurated at Udupi
Udupi, December 23: "The intensity of untouchability has reduced little bit not because of the conversion the mindset of people, but because of the force of law entitled by the Constitution. The untouchability which is visible in the society has its structure and colours. But the casteism existed in the society is still alive. Interestingly, this invisible untouchability is more dangerous. Nowadays, the society has been practicing the new kind of untouchability by creating inferiority complex among the beneficiaries of reservation", said senior journalist and scholar Dinesh Amin Mattu.
Inaugurating the Ambedkar youth festival, organised by the Udupi Ambedkar Yuva Sene at Bannanje Narayanaguru Kalyan Mandir here on Sunday, he said that the reservation was facing a threat due to privatisation. The country has just 2 per cent government employees employed under reservation. Now, efforts were on to snatch such reservation employment opportunities through privatisation. So efforts should be made to ensure reservation in private sector along with reservation in government sector, he said.
"There's non-vaidic tradition beyond castes and religions in the coastal region which a cradle of pluralism. Unfortunately, fanatics have been creeping into that non-vaidic tradition. There is a continuous onslaught of vaidic tradition on the deities with whom we speak, we quarrel and we touch. Such invisible cultural politics is more dangerous", he said.
"We are getting protection due to the Constitution. We will be safe till the Constitution is safe in this country. Even if Hundred Modi's came, they can't change the Constitution. Another revolution would happen if the Constitution is touched. But efforts are on to weaken the Constitution by bringing in amendment to it", he said.
Ambedkar was unable to write the Constitution as he wanted. He had said that the Constitution has to be burnt if the devils entered into the Soudha of democracy instead of god. The Constitution would not have any meaning if those who oppose the Constitution entered into the temple of democracy. If demands, only we have the right to burn the Constitution and not the anti-dalits or anti-Ambedkar", he said.
Those who oppose Ambedkar were trying to finish him through negligence, appeasement and adoration. Ambedkar had brought in the reservation to remove the casteism and not to strengthen it. The reservation could eliminate the economic imbalance and not social discrimination, he said.
Barukolu paper editor BR Rangaswamy garlanded the portrait of Ambedkar and inaugurated the blood bank. Ambedkar Yuva Sene president Harish Salian Malpe presided over it.
Malpe SC Fishermen Association president Radha Thottam, leaders Shashikala Palan Thottam, Dinesh Moodubettu, Anil Ambalapadi, Sampath Gujjarabettu, Ramesh Maben Ammunje, Manjunath Kappettu were present. Dalit scholar Jayanthis Malpe spoke on the occasion. Before it, Ambedkar rally was taken out from Kappettu and passed through Brahmagiri, Ajjarakadu, Double Road, KM Road, Service City Bus Stand and converged at Bannanje.
Pejawara Swamiji is mentally imbalance
Pejawara Swamiji is suffering from mental imbalance due to his age. He speaks whatever he wants every now and then. There is no need to take his statements of constructing Ram Mandir and changing the Constitution so seriously. So she should be pardoned because of his age. When Udupi Chalo was conducted, his shishya (disciple) spoke about purifying Udupi. What should we tell about the Swamiji who has such a disciple, Dinesh Amin Mattu said.
Dalits could not achieve anything if they were made priests in temples. Instead of this, the temples which practice untouchability should be boycotted. No one should go to Udupi Mutt which denies mass meals, he said.
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.
Air India flights to North America, Europe to use alternative routes
New Delhi (PTI): Air India will operate its flights to North America and Europe using alternative routes over available airspaces in the Middle East and cancel six flights to various European cities on March 2.
The airline, which cancelled 50 international flights on Sunday, said it would extend suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar till 23:59 hours (IST) on March 2.
In a post on X on Sunday, the carrier said six flights, including Amritsar-Birmingham (AI117) and Birmingham-Delhi (AI114), would be cancelled on Monday.
Besides, AI151 and A152 flights between Delhi and Zurich, as well as AI157 and AI158 flights between Delhi and Copenhagen, would be cancelled on Monday.
“All other flights to North America and Europe will operate as per schedule using alternative routings over available airspaces in the Middle East, which is expected to add to the flying times.
"Additionally, flights to New York (JFK) and Newark (Liberty International) will operate with technical stops at Rome (Fiumicino Airport)," Air India said.
With stops in Rome, the flying time for Air India flights to North America would increase and also result in increased operating expenses.
Since the Iran and Iraq airspaces remain closed, officials said the airline would take the Egypt route to reach Europe, which would mean 30-40 minutes of additional flying time.
The flights would take the route through Oman, the southern part of Saudi Arabia and Egypt for European and North American destinations, the officials added.
The airline also said that it continues to closely monitor the situation and has carefully assessed the evolving circumstances across multiple parameters, including safety, security, airspace availability, and operational feasibility, before deciding on these operations for March 2.
In the wake of the escalating Middle East crisis, flight operations have been significantly disrupted, with the civil aviation ministry saying Indian carriers cancelled 350 international flights on Sunday.
