Our opposition to religion that has no equality: Former CM Siddaramaiah
Bengaluru, Oct 07: I have no objection to any religion. However, there is a disagreement about the religions that do not have equality and do not give respect to human beings; said Siddaramaiah, former chief minister.
Speaking at a function organized by Okalipuram Residents' Welfare Association at Maheshwari Bhavan on Sunday, he said, "Our government has implemented similar plans for all religions. I have no jealousy against any religion.
The BJP ran a false campaign accusing me as an anti-Hindu for celebrating Tipu Sultan's birthday. However, the state celebrated the birthdays of 13 people including Vishwakarma, Krishna, Hadapada Appanna, Kittur Rani Chennamma, and Devara Dasimayya. Was that anti-religion? He asked.
“In a democracy, humanity should be more important to everyone, and not the religion. In the Nadageethe, Kuvempu has written ‘Sarva janāṅgada śāntiya tōṭa.’ In the same way, our government has implemented a number of programmes that apply to everyone, he said.
Speaking at the occasion, KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the Siddaramaiah government had introduced many programmes for Dalits, backward, minorities, students and youths. No other government was as successful as the Siddaramaiah’s government.
The election result is not essential for us. We have lost the election not because people did not like us; instead, it was because of the propaganda against us. People still believe him, he said.
Congress leader G. Sampath, Anand Guruji, Veeranna Mattikatti, R Gundu Rao, Tabu Dinesh Rao, Mahadev Nayak, Raj Karthik, and others were present.
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BJP accuses Karnataka govt of 'failing' to prevent noise pollution caused by 'azaan'
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): Members of the Opposition BJP on Tuesday slammed the Karnataka government for not taking measures to prevent the alleged noise pollution caused by 'azaan', the Islamic call to prayer.
BJP MLC D S Arun raised the issue in the Legislative Council during the question hour, accusing the ruling Congress of "appeasement" by failing to take action against mosques that are violating the Supreme Court's directives.
Karnataka Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment Eshwar Khandre, responding to the question, said, as per the directives of the Supreme Court in sensitive zones, the noise level should not exceed 50 decibels during the day and 40 decibels at night, and in residential areas, 55 decibels during the day and 45 decibels at night.
In commercial areas, the noise should not exceed 65 decibels during the day, 55 at night, and in industrial areas, 75 during the day and at night 70 decibels, he said.
Pointing out that the Karnataka government had issued an order in 2022, assigning responsibility to a committee headed by a DySPs or ACPs for the effective implementation of the rules, the minister said when a complaint is received about noise pollution, the Pollution Control Board will inspect it and provide information about the decibel level to the police to take further action, including filing of criminal cases.
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"Not only during azaan, but also during bhajans held in temples and marriage events, among others, the violations happen. There is a need to spread awareness. The Supreme Court has ordered against bursting firecrackers, but it is being violated. Efforts will be made to implement the rules effectively," he said.
Several BJP MLAs, including Arun, Bharathi Shetty, among others, were not satisfied with the minister's reply. They took strong exception to it.
Arun noted that in the last three years, only 52 cases have been taken, and said there are clear violations by almost all mosques, but no action has been taken. "The decibels have in fact increased under this government. The government is giving protection to them."
Reacting to this, Khandre, calling it a "sensitive matter", said, "It is not right to politicise the issue. The law of this land is equal for everyone."
Hitting back, Arun asked, "Why is the matter sensitive? What is preventing you (the government) from implementing the Supreme Court directives?"
