Siddaramaiah declines participation in event linked to RSS amid controversy
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has issued a statement clarifying that he will not participate in the Bharatiya Sanskriti Utsava, organized by the Bharat Vikas Sangam, following criticism over his name being listed on the event’s invitation card.
In his statement, Siddaramaiah said, “I have noticed my name printed on the inauguration invitation of the Bharatiya Sanskriti Utsava organized by Bharat Vikas Sangam. I have not received any official invitation for this event. After reviewing the background details of the organization, I have decided not to participate.”
The Bharatiya Sanskriti Utsava is scheduled to take place in Sedam, Kalaburagi, from January 29 to February 6, 2025. The event, organized by Bharat Vikas Sangam, a group reportedly linked to RSS ideologue K.N. Govindacharya, has faced criticism for allegedly promoting Hindutva ideology under the guise of Indian cultural preservation.
The controversy began when the colorful invitation card for the event listed Siddaramaiah as the chief guest for the inauguration, alongside other Congress ministers and MPs. Critics, including writer and activist Shivsundar, called the event a platform for promoting an exclusive Hindu Brahmanical culture, equating it with Indian culture.
The invitation’s content further fueled the controversy, stating, “Hinduism is the lifeblood of our country... Our ancestors built temples and ashrams that united society. This event aims to counter cracks in this foundation by promoting a spiritual outlook.”
Shivsundar termed the Congress leaders' inclusion as a "constitutional betrayal" and urged the government to withdraw its association with the event. In addition to Siddaramaiah, the invitation had listed other prominent Congress leaders, including:
- Minister Priyank Kharge as chief guest for the inaugural session on January 29.
- Minister M.C. Sudhakar for an education-themed program on January 30.
- Agriculture Minister Cheluvarayaswamy for a session on February 1.
- Minister Sharanabasappa Darshanapur and MP Tukaram for sessions later in the week.
Responding to the uproar, Priyank Kharge denied receiving any official invitation, stating, “Our names have simply been added without our consent.” However, critics questioned how such listings were made without prior approval.
The event has also drawn participation from BJP leaders, Maharashtra government representatives, Telangana Congress members, and central government officials, including ISRO’s chairman.
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DGGI, Hyderabad unearths Rs 13,000 cr syndicate involved in operating 'illegal' online gaming sites
Hyderabad (PTI): The DGGI, Hyderabad zonal unit, on Thursday said it has identified an alleged organised syndicate worth Rs 13,000 crore involved in operating "illegal" online gaming websites in the country with the assistance of associated fintech companies and arrested one of the masterminds.
It further said it has launched a massive crackdown on online gaming syndicates, including action against associated fintech companies, freezing bank accounts to the tune of Rs 100 crore and has begun arresting the masterminds.
As part of the online gaming investigation, GST Intelligence, Hyderabad arrested Pankaj Kumar, founder and director of Adsum Advisory Service Pvt Ltd, the city-based firm, which provides services for fraud detection and customer verification/digital KYC verification, a release from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Hyderabad zonal unit said.
"Evidence gathered during the investigation pointed to the identification of an organised syndicate worth Rs 13,000 crore involved in operating illegal online gaming websites with assistance of associated fintech companies, including payment aggregator, payment gateway and third-party technology service providers, wherein Pankaj Kumar is one of the masterminds responsible for fraudulent KYC verification of merchants and shell entities on behalf of RBI regulated entities like Payment Gateways and Banking as Payment Aggregator (BAPA)," it said.
Being director of a company responsible for KYC verification process, Kumar "failed" to develop risk profiling of customers based on ownership and control structure and helped in onboarding of shell entities for UPI integration required for flow of money from online gaming, it alleged.
The DGGI, Hyderabad unit, further alleged Kumar, is one of the beneficiaries who received "illegitimate" proceeds of crime generated by the online gaming syndicate.
Further investigation is under progress, the release added.
