Natural disaster hits Somwarpet hard
Somawarpete, August 19: Literally, the life of the people in Pushpagiri valley in the taluk was thrown out of gear for the rain fury. As landslides were being occurred in acres of areas, the sliding hillocks have pushed the people on to the streets.
The normal life in Kumaralli, Kottanalli, Bachalli, Mallalli, Beedalli, Benkalli, Heggadamane and other villages in Shantalli hobli was seriously affected. More than 50 acres of area was sunk in Kumaralli and Bachalli villages due to which, Rudrappa, Madappa, Gopal, Machaiah, Subbaiah, Chinnappa, Girish, Erappa, and Devaiah, Ganesh, Shantamma, Changappa and others in Kodalli were fearing of losing their houses. These families were shifted to a gruel centre opened at Kumaralli government school.
The road leading to Kodalli was completely damaged due to landslide. More than 50 acre plantation and paddy field belonging to Madaiah, Suresh, Harish, Devakki, Machamma and others was sunk. People of this region were literally in distressed situation. If the rain is not receded within next couple of days, the entire village might be washed away in the flood water, said gram panchayat president Changappa.
Revenue inspector Nagendra, village accountant Umesh and others made temporary arrangements at the gruel centre. Businessman Harapalli Ravindra provided bed sheets, Sweaters, shawls and other things for the people.
Former MLA SG Medappa, taluk panchayat former president KM Lokesh, Okkaliga Yuva Brigade president Girish Mallappa visited the gruel centre and helped them.
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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'.
