BJP Yuva Morcha activists protest during Shivamogga district in-charge minister's meeting
Protesters opposed revision in Karnataka textbooks, deletion of Savarkar, Hedgewar chapters
Shivamogga: On Wednesday, a sudden protest erupted at the Zilla Panchayat hall, where District In-charge Minister Madhu Bangarappa was conducting a meeting on handling natural disasters in the district. The protest was organized by BJP Yuva Morcha activists, who were voicing their opposition to the revision of textbooks by the state government.
As Minister Madhu Bangarappa chaired the meeting, members of the BJP youth forum entered the Zilla Panchayat hall, displaying black banners and raising slogans in protest. The activists objected to the recent removal of lessons on Veer Savarkar and RSS founder Hedgewar from school textbooks during the revision process conducted by the government. The protests also specifically targeted Madhu Bangarappa, who holds the position of Minister for Primary and Secondary Education in Karnataka.
The situation at the Zilla Panchayat hall was brought under control by Shivamogga District Superintendent of Police Mithun Kumar and other policemen, who detained the protesters to restore order.
The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of the Intelligence Department in obtaining prior information regarding potential disturbances during the Minister's meeting. Many have regarded the protest with black banners and slogans against the District In-Charge Minister as an indicator of the Intelligence Department's failure to anticipate such a ruckus during the official event.
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Assam records nearly 18 pc voter turnout in first two hours of assembly polls
Guwahati (PTI): A voter turnout of 17.87 per cent was recorded in the first two hours of the assembly elections in Assam, where the BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term in power, while the Congress is striving to reclaim a state it lost a decade ago.
Polling began at 7 am for the 126-member assembly, and 17.87 per cent of the state's 2.5 crore voters exercised their franchise till 9 am, officials said.
A total of 722 candidates are in the fray for the elections, which is largely witnessing a direct contest between the BJP-led ruling coalition and the opposition bloc helmed by the Congress.
The river island of Majuli recorded the highest turnout in the first two hours at 20.03 per cent, while Tamulpur in the Bodoland Territorial Region witnessed the lowest at 15.32 per cent.
Voters began queuing outside polling booths since early morning, despite rain in many parts of the state.
Prominent candidates who have cast their votes so far include Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia in Nazira, Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi in Khowang, and BJP's Pradyut Bordoloi.
Votes are being cast at 31,490 polling stations across the 35 districts of the state, with polling concluding at 5 pm.
Among the heavyweight candidates whose fates would be decided in this election are Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal and Raijor Dal leader Akhil Gogoi.
The Congress has fielded the highest number of candidates at 99, followed by the BJP with 90. The AIUDF has 30 candidates, while NDA constituents Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bodoland People's Front (BPF) are contesting 26 and 11 seats, respectively.
In the opposition bloc, Raijor Dal is contesting 13 seats, Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) 10, CPI(M) 3 and APHLC 2. Other parties in the fray include AAP (18), UPPL (18), TMC (22), JMM (16), besides 258 Independents.
Algapur-Katlicherra and Karimganj South have the highest number of candidates at 15 each, while nine constituencies -- Rangia, Jagiroad (SC), Hojai, Naduar, Jonai (ST), Doomdooma, Mahmora, Teok and Lakhipur -- have only two candidates each.
