Ready to enter politics : Prakash Rai
Bengaluru : " I do not have any political aspirations. But, if pressurised I am ready to plunge into politics. It has its own responsibilities and I would not like to shrug them off," said noted multi-lingual actor Prakash Rai.
He was speaking after receiving the Man of the year Award conferred on him by the Press Club here on December 31, Sunday. "Karnataka's capital Bengaluru is also known as Bendakaluru. No scope must be given for peace disruptors to have their way here. No scope must also be given to those who do not belong here to come here and rule us. We must question them and crush the forces that disrupt peace by passing information about them" said Prakash.
"I was disturbed after journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder. It brought much changes in me. Later I began to speak not just as an actor but as a citizen of this nation. Several have criticised me, some even personally,. I do not differentiate between anyone. I have raised several questions through the hash tag Just Asking. I am not in favour of any party," Prakash Rai clarified.
"I have got wealth, success and everything in life. I have raised my conscience through my interactions with my Gurus- Lankesh, Tejaswi and others. This is why I am questioning the present state of affairs," said Rai.
"Today India is haunted by casteist politics. There is dictatorship in a democratic land. Everyone must raise voice against it. Even journalists are living in an atmosphere of fear. Efforts are underway to silence the voices of journalists who raise voice against injustice, oppression and dictatorship. Therefore, as an artiste I am responding to the society. Everyone must fight against injustice," Prakash Rai said.
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Siddaramaiah defends BPL ration card cancellation, says only ineligible beneficiaries affected
New Delhi, Nov 21: In a strong defence of the Karnataka government's move to cancel ration cards, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday clarified that only government employees and income tax payers are being weeded out from the Below Poverty Line (BPL) list, not eligible poor beneficiaries.
Talking to reporters, Siddaramaiah asserted that the cancellation is in line with the National Food Security Act, which explicitly bars government employees and income tax payers from receiving BPL ration cards.
He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of raising a politically motivated issue despite originally opposing the food security legislation.
"The rights of eligible ration card holders will be fully protected," the chief minister emphasised, dismissing opposition claims that the move was linked to fund constraints for implementing poll promises.
ALSO READ: Karnataka to reissue BPL cards for eligible families: Deputy CM DK Shivakumar
The controversy stems from the Karnataka government's recent survey identifying 22.63 lakh BPL card-holders as ineligible. This move has triggered a political slugfest between the ruling Congress and the BJP.
Union Food Minister Pralhad Joshi claimed the central government had directed the state to clean the beneficiary lists. He alleged that the card cancellation was a strategy to avoid implementing the state's Gruha Lakshmi Yojana scheme.
Siddaramaiah hit back, reminding that the food security law was introduced during the Manmohan Singh government in 2013 to protect poor citizens' interests. He criticised the BJP for previously reducing food grain allocation from seven kg to five kg per beneficiary during B S Yediyurappa's tenure.
The chief minister categorically stated that there would be no compromise on the five poll guarantees and that sufficient funds were available for their implementation.
Siddaramaiah was in the national capital for the launch of Karnataka Cooperative Milk Producers' Federation Ltd's Nandini brands in Delhi. He also met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the issue of farm loan.
