Loss of More than Rs 15,000-crore due to rain in Malnad, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada
Bengaluru: The Devastating rain that wreaked havoc in Malnad, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada regions has caused the loss of more than Rs. 15,000 crore.
The revenue and public works departments had estimated the loss to be around Rs 7,500 crore. However, the comprehensive reports are yet to be given by the respective deputy commissioners. Since the basic infrastructure has affected badly, the loss may cross Rs. 15,000 crore.
The landslides and cut in Mangaluru-Bengaluru road connectivity have complicated the commercial activities. Export and tourism activity has almost derailed. It is difficult to find the accurate information about the loss as most roads are still waterlogged, officials said.
More than 1,500 homes have been damaged in seven districts. Hundreds of houses are completely collapsed. More than 850 homes in Kodagu district are destroyed, and the number could be further increased when the rescue and relief operation is completed.
In Dakshina Kannada 252, 144 in Udupi, 26 in Uttar Kannada, 46 in Shimoga, 40 in Chikmagalur and 33 houses in Hassan have collapsed due to rain. Commercial crops like Coffee and betel nuts have been massively damaged.
Many electric pillars and transformers have been damaged. Roads, water has filled railway tracks and bridges. The exact amount of loss could be estimated only after calculating all losses, the sources said.
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Catholic Bishops' body slams Bhagwat's remarks
New Delhi: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for his reported remark that Pranab Mukherjee, when he was President, had said tribals would turn "anti-national" if there is no "ghar wapsi"Catholic Bishops.'
In a statement issued here, CBCI, a body of Catholic Bishops, referred to reports which said Bhagwat, at an event on Monday, claimed that Mukherjee, while he was President had appreciated ghar wapsi and told him that had it not been for the Sangh's work on reconversion, a section of Adivasis would have turned "anti-national".The CBCI called the report "shocking".
"Fabricated personal conversation being attributed to a former president of India and its posthumous publication with the vested interest of an organization with questionable credibility raises a grave issue of national importance," the CBCI claimed.
"Is it not the violent ghar wapsi program of VHP and other similar organizations, curtailing the exercise of freedom of conscience of economically deprived tribals, the real anti-national activity?" it asked.
'Ghar wapsi' is a term used by the RSS and affiliated organisations to refer to reconversion of Muslims and Christians to Hinduism, based on the belief that they were originally Hindus before converting to other religions.
The CBCI also questioned why Bhagwat did not speak about it while Mukherjee was alive.
"We, the 2.3 percent of Indian citizens who are Christians feel extremely hurt by such manipulated and motivated propaganda unleashed," it said.
In a post on X following the statement issued by CBCI, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien said, "Speak up. This is a start!"
"Bishops body have issued a statement condemning remarks made by Dr Mohan Bhagwat and RSS for defaming the Christian community," he said.
O'Brien added that they should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi more questions, including why Christmas Day has been turned into "Good Governance Day".
The TMC leader, in a blogpost earlier this month, had said "hard questions" must be asked to the government with regards to the Christian community, including why the FCRA has been 'weaponised', and why has Manipur been 'ignored'.
