BJP will stand firmly with Janardhan Reddy, Sriramulu, says Basavaraj Bommai
Ballari: Former Chief Minister and MP Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that no one can suppress the strength of former minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and B. Sriramulu, and asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will always stand with them.
Speaking at a large public meeting held in Ballari to protest the recent clash over putting up posters, Bommai said the BJP would go village to village to fight and uproot the “corrupt” Indian National Congress government.
Referring to the Ballari incident, Bommai said there were two main reasons behind it. One, he claimed, was the fear among Congress leaders after Janardhan Reddy returned to Ballari as per court orders. The second, he said, was the coming together of Janardhan Reddy and Sriramulu, which he claimed had shaken the Congress leadership in the district. He described Sriramulu’s speed and Janardhan Reddy’s strength as being like a storm and fire, and said their power cannot be contained by anyone.
Bommai also spoke about reservation demands of the Valmiki community. He said the community had been fighting for nearly 30 years for an increase in reservation from three per cent to seven per cent. When Sriramulu and seers from the Valmiki community protested for the demand, he alleged that no Congress leaders came forward to support them. Bommai said that when he was Chief Minister, the reservation for the community was increased from three per cent to seven per cent, which has helped thousands of students get opportunities in medical and engineering education, as well as jobs. He credited this decision to the leadership of B.S. Yediyurappa.
On the death of Rajasekhar in the recent violence, Bommai said the BJP would continue its struggle until justice is delivered. He added that the party would not rest until the Congress government is removed from power, and reiterated that the BJP stands behind Janardhan Reddy and Sriramulu for the development of Ballari.
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CBCI seeks repeal of ‘forcible conversion’ laws, cites rights violations
Bengaluru (PTI): The CBCI on Tuesday strongly demanded that the Centre repeal legislations it said were "inconsistent with religious freedom and the right to privacy", alleging that many innocent individuals were being incarcerated on "unfounded allegations of forcible conversions".
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India cited Article 25 of the Constitution, stating that it guarantees that "all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practise and propagate religion."
The CBCI concluded its 37th general body meeting on February 10. During the week-long conclave, which began on February 4, it also elected Cardinal Poola Anthony, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hyderabad, as its new president.
"As many innocent individuals are incarcerated on unfounded allegations of forcible religious conversions, we strongly demand the repeal of legislation that is inconsistent with religious freedom and the right to privacy," the CBCI said in a statement.
Recalling Mahatma Gandhi’s contribution to nation-building, the CBCI said his entire life was devoted to shaping "an India in which the people shall feel that it is their country, in whose making they have an effective voice, an India in which there shall be no high class and low class of people."
The CBCI alleged that the denial of rights to Dalit Christians has continued for decades as an indirect form of discrimination, despite repeated appeals for equality and justice.
"We express our concern over the denial of rights to minorities, as such acts weaken the democratic fabric of our society," it said.
"While maintaining our commitment to eliminate any form of discrimination within ecclesial communities based on caste or language, we urge the government to ensure that no citizen is denied fundamental rights to equality and freedom," it said.
"At a time when freedom and human rights are increasingly disregarded, we reaffirm our faith in the Constitution of India, which envisions the country as a sovereign socialist secular democratic republic, and secures to all its citizens justice, liberty, equality and fraternity," the statement added.
Pointing out that constitutional rights are often "unjustly restricted, particularly concerning the poor, the marginalised, Dalits and tribal people," the CBCI said it was important to advocate for the protection of fundamental rights for all individuals, regardless of caste, creed or language.
Encouraging youth to participate actively in public life and democratic processes, the CBCI said, "It has become the need of the hour that our youngsters, as exemplary Christians and responsible citizens of India, actively engage in politics as a vocation to service."
"In a context of polarisation and mistrust, we uphold the Church’s calling to foster dialogue, reconciliation and fraternity. The Christian faith has always inspired us to seek the path of forgiveness whenever we have been deprived of human dignity and rights," it added.
