MP Shobha makes false claim that 2 lakh toilets were constructed in her constituency in 5 years
Government statistics tell a different story
Chikmagalur: Government records have rubbished MP Shobha Karandlaje's claim that under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, 2 lakh toilets were built in her constituency in the span of five years.
Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, MP Shobha Karandlaje had recently tweeted, "2 lakh toilets have been built in the constituency under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in the last five years".
What is the reality?
Shobha tweeted: "#SwacchBharat is not just about cleanliness, but it is also a matter of pride for our women" Along with this, she posted a campaigning video saying, "70Years of Independence, it took this one man to respond! In Udupi-Chikmagalur only more than 2L toilets have been built. #ThankYou PM @narendramodi ji for this wonderful initiative!".
But, government statistics tell a different story.
Udupi
Udupi district was declared as the "Open Defecation Free District" in 2017. The official records of Udupi Zilla Panchayat have revealed that only 28,636 toilets were constructed in the district between 2013 and 2017. In Udupi, Kundapura, and Karkala taluks, there were 7685, 16262 and 4689 toilets required, respectively (according to the 2012 survey). In 2013-14, 3378, 5611 and 1680 toilets were constructed, respectively. The construction of 2777, 7393 and 1991 toilets was completed in 2014-15. Similarly, 1368, 2953 and 775 toilets were built in 2015-16, whereas 162, 305 and 243 toilets were constructed in 2016-17.
In all, the number of toilets built during this period was 28,636. (Brahmavara, Kapu, Byndoor and Hebri Taluks were announced on January 1, 2018).
Chikmagalur:
According to the records available at the Chikkamagaluru ZP office, only 69,418 toilets were constructed in Chikkamagaluru district from 2012 to 2018. What we need to note here is 'from 2012'. For this, Rs 7,192.71 lakh has been spent under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
According to Baseline Survey, after 2018, 6,615 families in Chikkamagaluru district were left out of the toilet facility. Of these, only 493 toilets were constructed between 2018 and March 2019, for which the fund of Rs 7.41 lakh has been used. 6,122 toilets are yet to be built in the district.
Nirmal Bharat-Swachh Bharat
ZP officials informed that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan was not implemented in 2012. Nirmala Bharat campaign was then in existence. Only, the name was changed to 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' for the same project. A total of 69,418 toilets were constructed in the district from 2012 to 2018 in the same fund.
This is not for the first time!
This is not the first time that MP Shobha Karandlaje is manipulating the information. Shobha Karandlaje had written a letter to the Union Home Minister demanding an NIA probe into the murders of Hindu / Sangh Parivar activists in the state. However, one man in Shobha's list of dead people was alive and employed while suicide and accident were the reason behind the death of some other people who were mentioned in the list.
Vartha Bharati has first exposed the reality behind the letter written by Shobha. Later she expressed regret for the same.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
