India can't be prosperous if people don't understand its Constitution: K'taka Minister Mahadevappa
Bengaluru: Karnataka Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa has said a prosperous India cannot be built if people do not understand the Constitution properly. The minister spoke to PTI regarding the mega Constitution and National Unity Convention, which the Karnataka government is organising at the end of a month-long statewide constitution awareness campaign covering almost all the villages.
The convention will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Palace Grounds here. The Constitution awareness campaign was launched by the Karnataka government on January 26 to make citizens aware of their rights, responsibilities and duties to commemorate 75 years of the adoption of the Indian Constitution. There is no meaning to the freedom if economic and social independence is not provided to the people, the minister said. Since the objectives of the constitution have not been achieved even after 75 years of independence, economic and social inequality is visible everywhere, he pointed out. “If we do not understand the Constitution, how will we be able to build a prosperous India? The Constitution is not limited to SC/ST reservation alone. It is only an opportunity given to the downtrodden communities to elevate themselves.”
Mahadevappa noted that the objective behind organising the month long event was to educate people about the initiatives taken in the country to strengthen democracy. Expressing concern over rising communalism in the country, he said, "Sensitive matters and faith related topics are getting prominence in politics. People’s problems are sidelined and God and religions are taking the centrestage.” Mahadevappa stressed that the initiative was apolitical, secular, and casteless. It is being organised ‘to save constitution by spreading awareness about it. “If we save our constitution, then it will also save us,” he added. According to him, faith related matters are very personal, but today religion is being given prominence as the political parties work against the spirit of the Constitution. “If the political parties behave like this then who will protect the constitution?” Mahadevappa wondered.
After the Republic Day on January 26 this year, committees were formed comprising the deputy commissioners and the district in charge ministers, who were assigned duties. “We used tabloids, distributed pamphlets in over 6,000 Gram Panchayats, Town Panchayats and City Panchayats, conducted seminars, drama, dance, cultural events, debates and discussion at the school and college level all over the state to spread awareness about the constitution,” the minister explained. The campaign has covered about 5,400 Gram Panchayats and people from all walks of life participated in it.
According to officials in social welfare department, 1.35 lakh plastic bottles were used to make an art installation named “Namma Constitution” by the Tumakuru district administration. A large number of students came together to collect 1,35,000 empty water bottles and 305 members including Tumakuru deputy commissioner and Panchayat chief executive officer worked for over 15 days to put together the “Namma Constitution” installation in Kannada.
As part of the campaign, Chamarajanagara Milk Union Limited (ChaMUL) in association with Chamarajanagar district administration printed the awareness messages on all the milk packets supplied by the Milk Union. The messages read “Our Constitution, Our Pride. Let us celebrate the Constitution” in Kannada. It seeks to remind an estimated 5 lakh consumers about the importance of the Constitution every day. About 50 tableaux explaining citizen rights and duties and upholding the importance of the Constitution and national unity went around in each district of Karnataka. During the campaign, some women drew Rangoli in celebration, while hundreds of students read out excerpts from the Preamble to drive home the salient points of the Constitution.
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Blanket ban on online real money gaming will kill jobs, revenue, innovation: Minister Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka IT and Biotechnology Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday criticised the Centre's decision to impose a blanket ban on online real money gaming (RMG), calling it "another masterstroke by Modi Sarkar in bad policy making."
Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, said the decision would hit state revenues, jobs and investments.
"India earns Rs 20,000 crore annually from GST and income tax via online RMG. The ban means states lose this revenue stream," he said in a post on 'X'.
The minister noted that over 2,000 gaming startups and more than two lakh jobs in IT, AI and design would be at risk.
"A ban kills India's gaming talent pool and pushes entrepreneurs abroad," Kharge said, adding that Rs 23,000 crore of foreign direct investment in the last five years could dry up and about Rs 7,000 crore spent annually on ads, data centres, sponsorships and cyber security would vanish overnight.
Warning of unintended consequences, the minister said, "Bans don't stop addiction or suicides. Instead, they push users to unregulated offshore platforms worth Rs 8.2 lakh crore annually where government has no control at all.
"Security risks: Unregulated sites ensure money laundering, terror financing, data theft. Even FATF and Rashtriya Raksha University warn against such risks."
Noting that the Supreme Court is still deciding whether the Centre or states have the power to regulate, Kharge questioned "Why the rush to ban now?"
He said prohibition is not the solution and called for regulating skill-based platforms, enforcing IT Rules, 2021, and whitelisting legitimate operators.
"A well-balanced regulation will ensure jobs, revenue, safer users, national security and global innovation," he said, cautioning that "a blanket ban will not only lead to revenue loss, but will give rise to illegal markets that might threaten national security and, of course, there will be a huge innovation setback. Regulation is the way forward."
The proposed promotion and regulation of online gaming bill, cleared by the Union Cabinet on Tuesday, prohibits online money gaming or its ads, and prescribes imprisonment or fine, or both, for those offering or advertising them, as it seeks to differentiate such games from eSports or online social games, according to a source.
At the same time, the bill calls for promotion of eSports and online social games, the source said, adding that it acknowledges that formal recognition of eSports will enable India to tune into global competitive gaming landscape, spur innovation, create opportunities for Indian startup ecosystem and make the country a global magnate for game development.
The bill proposes that any person offering online money gaming service in violation of the stipulated provisions will face imprisonment of up to three years or a fine that may extend to Rs 1 crore, or both.
The provisions also stipulate imprisonment of up to two years and or a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh, or both, for those indulging in advertisements in contravention of rules. Also, those engaging in any transaction or authorisation of funds will be liable for up to three years imprisonment, or a fine up to Rs 1 crore or both, according to the source.
