Rename govt institutions, public spaces in Bengaluru having colonial names: MP P C Mohan
Bengaluru, Jan 26: Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha member P C Mohan on Wednesday requested Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to rename government institutions and public spaces in his constituency having colonial inheritance, after freedom fighters from the state.
The BJP MP has written a letter to Bommai in this regard.
"Names of Govt. institutions and public spaces in the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency lead to colonial inheritance. To honour the countless heroes of the Indian freedom struggle, I request CM Shri @BSBommai to rename them after Karnataka freedom fighters," Mohan said in a tweet sharing the letter.
In the letter, he has mentioned the names of three government hospitals Bowring and Lady Curzon, Victoria and Minto -- along with prominent roads like Avenue, Lavelle and Cunningham.
Accusing the British of looting India's wealth, Mohan said, government buildings and streets bearing the names of British officials in independent India is a sign of "slavery".
Renaming such institutions and streets after many kings, queens and bravehearts from Karnataka who waged a war against the foreign "oppressive" rule, will not only honour them, but also instill patriotism among the younger generation, he added.
Names of Govt. institutions and public spaces in the #Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency lead to colonial inheritance.
— P C Mohan (@PCMohanMP) January 26, 2022
To honour the countless heroes of the Indian freedom struggle, I request CM Shri @BSBommai to rename them after Karnataka freedom fighters.#RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/DyTZKWznac
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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'.
