All districts to get Gandhi Bhavans in a year, CM Bommai says at Gandhi Jayanti event
Halls built in 23 districts of Karnataka; seven districts yet to get Gandhi Bhavans
Bengaluru: The Karnataka state government will complete the work of constructing Gandhi Bhavans in all districts of the state within a year’s time, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said.
“Already, we have constructed the Gandhi Bhavans in 23 districts. The government will get the halls constructed in the remaining seven districts by a year,” Bommai said on Sunday, inaugurating the Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti programme at the Mahadeva Desai Hall of the Gandhi Bhavan in the city.
The programme was held by the Information and Public Relations Department with the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi.
Renowned psychologist Dr C R Chandrashekhar was honoured with the state government’s Mahatma Gandhi Seva Prashasti for the year 2022 on the occasion.
Bommai, addressing the gathering, said, “The selection of Dr Chandrashekhar is an honour for the award too. The government will utilize his services for the welfare of the citizens.”
Speaking on other works of the government, the chief minister said, “Special programmes will be undertaken to promote khadi and rural industries and provide them with a better market for the goods produced. While rural development is extremely important, Karnataka is advanced in this field. Digitization is being implemented in villages too. Technological revolution is helping reach government facilities to the villages.”
Dr Chandrashekhar, who received the award, declared that he would hand the cash prize of Rs 5 lakh to National Institute for Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans).
“My two houses, sites and an amount of Rs 1.09 crore received after my retirement will be given to Nimhans. Mental health is a highly neglected field and needs to receive greater attention,” said Dr Chandrashekhar, adding that Karnataka is a model to other states for work in the field.
Achievers in many fields were felicitated with the Karnataka Gandhi Smaraka Prashasti as a part of the Gandhi Jayanti programme.
Five books published by the Bengaluru Gandhi Bhavan and the book ‘Skills for Students’ by Dr Chandrashekhar were released by Chief Minister Bommai during the event. A book exhibition and sale was also held on the occasion.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
