Mysuru: The Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru, G. Lakshmikant Reddy, has ordered the disqualification of four BJP members from the Nanjangud City Municipal Council for switching sides and supporting the Congress.

Although the BJP and JD(S) alliance held the majority in the Council, Congress candidate Sreekanthaswamy won the president's post. It was later revealed that four BJP members had violated the party whip and stayed away from voting, which led to Congress gaining an advantage.

The members who were disqualified are Girish Kumar of Ward 1, Gayathri Murugesh of Ward 12, Meenakshi Nagaraj of Ward 22, and Vijayalakshmi Kumar of Ward 27. Their absence during the crucial vote was seen as an act of defection that directly helped the Congress candidate win.

Following this, BJP’s Nanjangud city president Siddaraju and party member Deva had submitted a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner on October 29, 2024.

After conducting an inquiry, the Deputy Commissioner’s court ruled that the four members had violated the anti-defection law and ordered their disqualification from the Council.

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Nagpur (PTI): The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Monday slammed Karnataka Congress minister Priyank Kharge for linking the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to money laundering and asserted such statements were part of a strategy to insult patriotic organisations and defame patriots.

Kharge, while speaking at an event in Bengaluru on Sunday, cited the RSS' "network of more than 2,500 organisations, they are from America, England" to allege "these people are into money laundering".

Addressing a press conference here, VHP national organisational secretary Milind Parande said such statements will reduce the acceptance in society of those making them.

"They are trying to increase their credibility and trying to indulge in appeasement (with such remarks), both of which will not succeed. There are many forces and persons in India who have a problem with the awakening of Hindutva. They are coming up with such nonsense. Using such words and insulting patriotic organisations shows their intellectual bankruptcy," he said.

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"It will reduce their acceptance in society. What he (Kharge) said is absolutely false and even they know it. But they do it as a strategy to defame patriots. The people of Karnataka must think whether such people should be brought back to power. Hence, the VHP always asserts those who believe in the interests of Hindus must be in power at the Centre and in the states," Parande added.

Asked about the BNP winning polls in Bangladesh and whether it will improve the conditions of the Hindus there, Parande said it is expected that the community is protected irrespective of who is in power. So far, people there have been incapable of protecting Hindus, he said in reference to attacks on the community since the Sheikh Hasina government fell following an uprising in August 2024.

Asserting that most of the violence has been sponsored by political parties, Parande said, "The Hindu community is in a very dangerous situation in Bangladesh."

He also refused to comment on the face-off between the Uttar Pradesh government and Swami Avimukteshwaranand during Magh Mela festivities in Prayagraj. A controversy erupted on Mauni Amavasya morning at the Sangam Nose when police, citing heavy crowd pressure, allegedly stopped the seer from proceeding to the Sangam in a palanquin along with a large number of supporters.

The VHP as a practice does not give a statement on disputes between saints as it would not be appropriate, Parande said.

Without taking the name of Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, the VHP leader said it was surprising anyone from the state can make such a remark about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Congress leader has courted controversy by equating 18th Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan with the founder of the Maratha Empire.

On some persons sprinkling cow urine to purify a temple in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following the visit of Muslim Shiv Sena MLA Abdul Sattar in Sillod on Mahashivratri on Sunday, Parande said places of worship must be visited by those who have faith.

Without genuine sentiment, it becomes a mere political stunt, he said.

"Religion should never be exploited for political gain, as that insults faith," Parande said while not commenting on the 'purification' episode linked to the incident.