Contribute to the success of democracy: KS Eshwarappa
Shivamogga : Press Day-2018
Shivamogga, July 1: Local MLA and former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa asked the media persons to guide all including elected representatives without being influenced by the virus called politics for the success of the democracy.
Speaking as a chief guest at a Press Day 2018 programme organised by the Karnataka Media Academy, Information department and Sahyadri College Journalism Department at Zilla Panchayat hall here on Sunday, Eshwarappa said that media was like a guru as it was guiding the people of all sectors. By reading the newspapers and watching news, one could enhance his knowledge and this would help him improve his sector. “When entered politics as the MLA for the first time, the newspapers helped me a lot. I learned many things from newspapers. Till now, they are guiding me to identify my mistakes and correct them. Working as an MLA is easy. But it was not an easy task to work as the Irrigation Minister in the Coalition Government. But under the guidance of the officials and the newspapers and other media, I had come to know various issues and enhanced my knowledge. There were many problems in the department. But media helped me understand them and find solutions to them. As a result, I have got the Best Minister award from a TV channel. But I would not speak about yellow journalism”, he said.
During emergency, the newspapers had protested in their own way. They left blank pages as a mark of protest. So, the journalists should guide the elected representatives and people without being influenced by the politics. Probably this would help for the success of the democracy, he opined.
MLC Ayanur Manjunath said that only media has the courage to control the politicians and direct them on right path by highlighting their mistakes. It’s like an effective mirror. Nowadays, every person has a day to remember or to introspect the value of the person. In the same way, politicians should also require a day to introspect themselves and their works, he opined.
Nowadays, the media had become a business which is more dangerous. Competition is not a healthy development. Media houses and the journalists should introspect themselves. There was a competition between the politicians and journalists on who will become corrupt very easily. “While wielding a whip on others, our hands should be pure first. It is very difficult to write objectively irrespective of any situation. Media and politicians should understand that as we observe all others, others will also observe us very carefully. The journalists should become the mobile encyclopedia. But nowadays, such journalists are very less due to lack of study. One should grow to say something very authoritatively”, he said.
Academy president M Siddaraju delivered keynote address. MLC R Prasanna Kumar, ZP president Jyothi S Kumar, vice president Veda Vijay Kumar, Mayor Nagaraj Kankari, Karnataka Union of Working Journalists Association N Raju, noted columnist D Umapathi, Sahyadri College principal Dr Dhananjay and others were present.
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India needs steady hand at the wheel but has 'compromised PM': Rahul
New Delhi (PTI): A day after a US submarine torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast, the Congress on Thursday questioned the government's silence with Rahul Gandhi saying that while the country needed a steady hand at the wheel, it has a "compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy".
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Modi government's "reckless abdication" of India's strategic and national interests is there for all to see.
"An Iranian ship, a guest of India was returning, unarmed from the International Fleet Review 2026, hosted by us, and was torpedoed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). No statement of concern or condolence. PM Modi remains mute," Kharge said on X.
"Why lecture us on the doctrines of MAHASAGAR and India being a 'Net Security Provider' in the IOR, when you can’t react on what is happening in your own backyard? As many as 38 Indian Flag commercial ships along with 1100 sailors are stuck in Gulf of Hormuz," he said.
"Indian sailors, including Captain Ashish Kumar have reportedly died. Why is there no maritime rescue or relief operation in place? You say only 25 days of crude and oil stocks left. With rising oil prices, what is our energy contingency plan, especially in the wake of GOI virtually accepting the demand to stop import of Russian oil? What about the trade of other key commodities with the gulf countries?" the Congress chief said.
As per MEA statement on March 3, "some Indian nationals have lost their lives or are missing", he said.
"There are one crore Indians in the gulf region countries. Medical students are releasing desperate video messages seeking help. How is the GOI securing their well-being? Is there any evacuation plan in place from the affected areas?" Kharge said.
"Clearly, Modi Ji's SURRENDER is both political and moral! It demeans India’s core national interests and destroys our foreign policy carefully and painstakingly built and followed by successive governments over the years!" Kharge said.
Gandhi said the world has entered a volatile phase and "stormy seas lie ahead"
"India's oil supplies are under threat, with more than 40% of our imports transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is even worse for LPG and LNG," he said on X.
"The conflict has reached our backyard, with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the Prime Minister has said nothing," Gandhi said.
At a moment like this, India needs a steady hand at the wheel, he said.
"Instead, India has a compromised PM who has surrendered our strategic autonomy," Gandhi alleged.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also said maybe it should not be surprising since the Modi government has still not broken its silence over the targeted assassinations in Iran.
In a significant escalation of the West Asia crisis, a US submarine on Wednesday torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in international waters off Sri Lanka's coast when it was returning after participating in the Milan naval exercise, a multilateral wargame hosted by India.
In a post on X, Ramesh said the Indian Navy's flagship multilateral exercise, MILAN, was first held in 1995 and the 13th edition was held in Visakhapatnam from February 19 to February 25, 2026 with 18 warships from other countries, including the USA and Iran participating.
The exercise was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Ramesh pointed out.
"This makes yesterday's sinking of the Iranian warship that took part in the Milan exercise by a US Navy submarine in the Indian Ocean some 40 nautical miles south of Galle in Sri Lanka all the more extraordinary. The Iranian warship was on its way back home," he said.
This US action has enormous implications for India as well and it is shocking that there has been no official response to it till now, Ramesh said.
"Maybe it should not be surprising since the Modi government has still not broken its silence over the targeted assassinations in Iran. Never before has the Indian government looked so timid and fearful," the Congress leader said.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, confirming the strike, said at a Pentagon media briefing that it was the first sinking of an enemy warship by a torpedo since World War II.
The Associated Press, quoting the Sri Lankan Navy, reported that 87 bodies were recovered and that 32 people were rescued following the sinking of the warship IRIS Dena.
The incident marks a major escalation of the conflict between the US and Iran outside of the Persian Gulf and throws up questions relating to maritime security in the Indian Ocean that is largely considered as the backyard of the Indian Navy.
The US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Following the military offensive, Iran has carried out a wave of attacks mainly targeting Israel and American military bases in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
In the last few days, the conflict has widened significantly with attacks and counter-attacks by both sides.
India has called for resolving the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy.
