CM Bommai justifies move to raze portion of dargah for BRTS project, opposition leaders cry foul
Belagavi (K'taka), Dec 21: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday defended the demolition of a portion of a dargah between Hubballi-Dharwad for a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) corridor and said his own property worth crores of rupees has been acquired for the project.
Earlier today, authorities cleared a portion of Hazrat Sayed Mahmood Shah Qadri Dargah and a few shops adjoining it at Bhairidevarakoppa near Hubballi under heavy police protection.
"I come from that place...several homes, showrooms, shops and properties, including mine have been acquired for the BRTS corridor project. Nineteen guntas of my prime property have been acquired. The property is worth about Rs 5-6 crore, but I got compensation of Rs 5 lakh," Bommai said.
Replying to the issue raised during Zero Hour, he said such issues with religious connection are there across the country and there are laws for such structures to be removed or to be shifted, if need be, for completion of public projects.
"We don't want to hurt anyone's religious feelings... We have done it for a road project after the court vacated the stay...discussions have been held with the dargah committee six times. Those there locally wanted to shift and we have given the opportunity for that. I know them, I will meet them on Friday personally and do all that is required by them after shifting," he added.
Noting that the dargah is visited by people from all religions, especially Hindus, Congress MLA Abbayya Prasad from Hubli-Dharwad East constituency raised the issue in the House.
He said barricading was done around the structure last night and without allowing anyone, it is being demolished today in the name of BRTS project.
Noting that there are several religious institutions and maths along the BRTS project's stretch, he said work should have been completed without hurting religious sentiments, but today an attempt is being made to disturb peace by the ruling dispensation, as elections are nearing.
"As CM also belongs to Hubballi-Dharwad and is aware of sentiments, he should resolve the issue without hurting anyone's religious sentiments," he added.
Questioning the need for demolition, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah recalled that the issue of demolition had come up when he was the Chief Minister too, and that he had suggested that the nearby land can be acquired for the project, and not to touch religious places.
Pointing out that the road work has already been completed, he said just because the stay has been vacated by the court it does not mean that the structure has to be demolished immediately. "You could have spoken to them (dargah committee or priests)."
There are also several Hindu temples and maths there, while the dargah is being removed, the former Chief Minister said.
"As religious and emotional feelings are attached with the dargah, such demolition will lead to tension and disturbance of peace. I had informed the CM and district authorities about it...stop the demolition work and talk to those associated with dargah," he further said.
Rejecting that it was an old dargah, BJP MLA Arvind Bellad said 13 temples, one church and this dargah were marked during the previous Congress government's term for the BRTS project, and while temples and church were removed, the dargah was untouched despite its committee members willing for relocating.
Accusing the Congress of pushing the dargah committee members to go to court unnecessarily, he said the stretch of the BRTS corridor where the dargah is located had become extremely unsafe with space crunch, and that was the reason that the court has vacated the stay on it.
"What had happened to 13 temples has happened to the dargah too today. There is nothing to get emotional about it. Congress is doing vote-bank politics on the issue," he added.
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NDA leaders including Amit Shah, Chandrababu Naidu meet at BJP chief's residence
New Delhi, Dec 25: Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including Home Minister Amit Shah and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, met here at BJP president J P Nadda's residence on Wednesday on the birth centenary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Sources said NDA leaders discussed the Congress' recent political attack on the ruling alliance and emphasised to speak in a united voice to counter "fake narrative".
The Congress has attacked Shah alleging insult of B R Ambedkar, with the home minister accusing the opposition party of using a short clip of his speech to distort his remarks.
Shah and Nadda said the ruling alliance's focus should remain on good governance and people's welfare, which have brought it support from the masses, they added.
Besides Shah and Naidu, JD(U) leader and Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Apna Dal (S) president and Union minister Anupriya Patel, as well as JD (S) leader and Union minister H D Kumaraswamy, were present at the meeting. With the NDA putting in a broad mechanism to boost coordination, it was noted that its members will continue to consult over key issues, with ministers and other senior leaders meeting the MPs regularly.
Bihar’s Hindustani Awam Morcha (S) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, also a minister in the Modi government, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) president Upendra Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Thushar Vellappally, president of Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, were also present at the meeting.
Though there was no official word on the agenda of the meeting, sources said good governance and political issues were discussed.
Good governance was a key theme of the Vajpayee government.
It was decided to hold a meeting of the alliance on the birth anniversary of the BJP stalwart, who is credited with successfully running the first coalition government for its full term.
"Attended the NDA leaders' meeting in New Delhi today. Under the visionary leadership of PM Narendra Modi, India is achieving unprecedented milestones and has positioned itself as a global superpower," Nadda said in a post on X after the meeting.
"The NDA government remains steadfast in its pursuit of the vision of 'Viksit Bharat@2047', ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for all," he added.
Uttar Pradesh's NISHAD Party chief Sanjay Nishad said it was an “informal" meeting of the NDA leaders on the occasion of the birth centenary of Vajpayee.
“Our future strategy is to move forward together. We have to show unity in all the upcoming elections...everyone congratulated (the BJP leaders) in the meeting for the victory in Haryana and Maharashtra assembly polls,” he told reporters when asked about the meeting.
Nishad said the meeting also discussed coalition strategy to ensure that “all the work” done by Prime Minister Modi reaches the ground and “promises made to people during elections” are fulfilled.
The issue of giving reservation to the fishing community was also raised at the meeting, he said.
“I gave 30-37 page evidence on the issue of giving reservation to the fishing community since it was a poll promise. They will call (us) after a week and discuss it,” Nishad said.
Asked if issue of Shah's remarks on Ambedkar came up at the meeting, the NISHAD Party chief said, "...We have come for people's welfare. How to get success in that, energy needs to be spent on that."
"There is no need to respond to their narrative and negative thoughts," he added in an apparent reference to the Congress and other opposition parties who are up in arms against Shah over his remarks.
The NDA meeting comes amid the alliance's focus on simultaneous elections, with all constituents lending support to the proposal.
A Joint Committee of Parliament, constituted to scrutinise two bills for simultaneous polls, is expected to meet on January 8.
Attended the NDA leaders' meeting in New Delhi today. Under the visionary leadership of Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji, India is achieving unprecedented milestones and has positioned itself as a global superpower. The NDA government remains steadfast in its pursuit of the… pic.twitter.com/G4IxjRRMlx
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) December 25, 2024
