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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Maha Kumbh begins in Prayagraj, nearly 60 lakh devotees take holy dip
Mahakumbh (UP) (PTI): The fog was thick, the cold intense and the waters freezing as the Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest gathering, began on Monday with tens of lakhs of people taking a dip in the Sangam in their quest for ‘moksha’ and the belief it will cleanse their sins.
Spirituality and faith, culture and religion, tradition and modern-day technology… it all fused into one in the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati in Prayagraj. More than 40 crore people are expected over 45 days in the mela, being held after 12 years. Besides, seers claim the celestial permutations and combinations for the event are taking place after 144 years, making the occasion even more auspicious for the faithful.
And as the famed mela formally began on the occasion of ‘Paush Purnima’ to the sound of conch shells and bhajans, the excitement was palpable in the sprawling Sangam area as devotees -- mostly in groups -- walked towards the waters chanting 'Jai Ganga Maiyya'.
"Till 9.30 am, around 60 lakh pilgrims had taken a dip," the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement.
"A very special day for crores of people who cherish Bharatiya values and culture! Maha Kumbh 2025 commences in Prayagraj, bringing together countless people in a sacred confluence of faith, devotion and culture. The Maha Kumbh embodies India’s timeless spiritual heritage and celebrates faith and harmony," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X.
Ash smeared sadhus from their abode in the Himalayas, the religious from across the country and abroad and those just curious to take in the sights and sounds of the biggest religious spectacle of all… the 45-day Maha Kumbh beckoned them all.
Thirteen Akharas of seers from different sects are participating in the Maha Kumbh.
"I practise yoga in Brazil, I have come here for 'moksha'. This one is very special, once in 144 years. I am very lucky to be here. India is like spiritual heights of the world. I have four days to get 'moksha' (laughs). Sanatan Dharma is my mission of life and it changed my life, it changed the way I see the world, my family… Jai Shri Ram,” a devotee from Brazil said.
"It is very special for me to be with you all Indians here. I am feeling grateful for this opportunity to dive into the sacred river here at the sacred point. I am fulfilled with bliss at this moment, " added Julie from Spain.
Chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Jai Ganga Maiyya' chants could be heard as the pilgrims moved towards the bathing area in groups.
A group of women from Uttar Pradesh's Siddharth Nagar was busy singing folk songs. And there was a team of YouTubers from South Korea capturing various shots of the Maha Kumbh as was a team from Japan.
Contingents from states across India were seen too at various ghats of Prayagraj.
Appreciating the arrangements made for the devotees, Kailash Narayan Shukla from Hamirpur in Himachal said, “Good arrangements were made for the pilgrims and we had no problems in taking the holy dip".
"Where there is a confluence of cultures, there is also a confluence of faith and harmony. Maha Kumbh-2025 is giving the message of 'unity in diversity', Prayagraj is providing an encounter with Sanatan along with the welfare of humanity," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on X.
It is a massive logistical exercise for the government.
"Spanning 10,000 acres, the event will set an exemplary standard for cleanliness, security, and modernity. To enhance the convenience of devotees, a digital tourist map will facilitate monitoring the cleanliness of toilets, while an AI-powered security system integrated with smartphones will ensure safety," the chief minister said earlier.
Mahakumbh Nagar is the world’s world's largest temporary city, accommodating 50 lakh to 1 crore devotees at any given time, Adityanath said.
According to Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, more than 55 police stations have been set up along with 45,000 police personnel being deployed for the fair. Projects have also been sanctioned to monitor social media continuously to guard against any mischief, he said.
As many as 30 pontoon bridges, both in the Sangam area and Phaphamau, have also been readied to facilitate the movement of people from one end of the confluence to the other.
Huge gates have also been installed at some of the entry points to welcome the devotees into the holy city.
In the digital era, Maha Kumbh is also trending on social media, with devotees sharing their experiences by posting videos and pictures, with many offering their families virtual ‘darshan’ of Ganga via video call.
