Land allotted to RSS and its affiliates by previous BJP govt will be reviewed: Min Dinesh Gundu Rao
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government will review the largesse of the previous BJP government in allotting 'hundreds of acres of land' to RSS and its affiliated organisations, Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Friday.
He also said a few tenders issued by the BJP government have been cancelled while others will be looked into.
The functioning of the health and family welfare department, its officers and doctors and the measures taken to ensure sound public health will be discussed in a meeting next week, Rao added.
"Hundreds of acres of government land in the state have been transferred in the name of RSS and Sangh Parivar affiliated organisations," the minister said in a press conference.
According to him, the purpose behind such allotment was to help these organisations grow and with that its ideologies should also grow.
"This (allotment of land) should not happen. One should inform everything to the people. Nothing should be kept secret. People should know. Taking everything in one way is not proper. So we have to take steps," the minister added.
When asked whether the government has taken any steps yet, Rao said he cannot say anything about the steps taken at this juncture but he pointed out that the Congress government has to do it.
"It should happen at the government level where the revenue department and the chief minister have to see what has happened and how it has happened. They have to decide after seeing whether it has been done lawfully and for what price it has been allotted because these are all legal matters," he explained.
To a question about the BJP claiming that there is a witch hunt against its cadres, Rao alleged that the objective of that party was to meddle with history, create rift among people, and spread hatred, which they were doing at every level, be it in textbooks, or appointing such people in various organisations and allotting government land to RSS and its affiliated organisations.
The minister also said that he has convened a meeting where many decisions will be taken.
He added that the Congress government cancelled a few tenders such as the 108-Ambulance tender and the dialysis contract.
"There are other issues as well, such as the functioning of our department, officers and doctors and taking care of public health. Preventive measures will also be looked into," Rao said.
He also explained that some policy matters related to his department will be discussed with the experts to improve the existing system to provide quality treatment to people.
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DMK to challenge Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Supreme Court
Chennai: Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced its decision to challenge the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Supreme Court. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday morning with a 288-232 vote despite strong opposition from several parties.
Chief Minister M K Stalin, addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly while wearing a black ribbon in protest, condemned the passage of the Bill, calling it an attack on the Constitution and an attempt to disturb communal harmony. He reiterated that Tamil Nadu would fight against the BJP-led Union government on the issue of Waqf properties.
“A majority of political parties opposed the Bill, yet it was pushed through with support from some alliance partners. This move is condemnable. The DMK will challenge it in the Supreme Court,” Stalin said.
On March 27, the Tamil Nadu Assembly had passed a resolution against the Bill. Stalin had then accused the BJP government of introducing policies aimed at excluding certain communities, citing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as an example.
“The Waqf (Amendment) Bill is another attempt by the Union Government to interfere in the religious administration of Muslims. It grants greater control to the government over Waqf properties, undermining their autonomy and violating fundamental rights,” he said.
Stalin further accused the BJP of pushing a divisive agenda, asserting that the Bill would create legal hurdles for Waqf institutions and strip them of their autonomy.
