August 24: Condemning the killings of rationalist and research scholar Dr MM Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh, Gauri Lankesh Balaga and Gauri Memorial Trust would take out a Raj Bhavan Chalo protest on September 5.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, freedom fighter HS Doreswamy said that rationalists were being targeted across the country and killed them to create fear among people. A big public campaign was organized against such killings. Condemning the killing of Dr MM Kalburgi, ‘Kalburgi Day’ would be observed at Dharwad on August 30. In the same way, Raj Bhavan Chalo would be held on September 5 condemning the murder of Gauri Lankesh and a convention would be conducted at Jnana Jyothi auditorium, he said.
Former minister BT Lalitha Nayak said that Gauri Lankesh, Dr MM Kalburgi, Pansare, Dabholkar and others have not done anything to divide the country. They have believed in pluralism and tried strengthen it further. With their murder, vested interests have gained upper hand against the democracy. It is shocking that the fundamentals have the list of another 60 persons and if they got permission, they are ready to kill 25 among them, she added.
After Modi became the prime minister, communalism, casteism, intolerance, atrocity in the name of cow, exploitation of depressed class, assaults and others criminal activities were on the rise. But till date, the centre has not acted tough against such acts, she alleged.
Trust secretary KL Ashok said that the day when Kalburgi was killed would be observed as Anti-Atrocity Day and hundreds of writers and thinkers including Yogesh Master, KS Bhagavan, Jignesh Mewani and others who have been facing the threat would take part in it. Because of the investigation into the Gauri murder, the truths behind all such killings were coming out now. The Sanatan Sanstha, the main accused in the killings, should be declared as a terrorist group and investigation should be conducted against the funding and supporting the organization. All its activities should be banned, he demanded.
Senior journalist Dinesh Amin Mattu, Trust president Prof VS Sridhar and others were present.
Major demands
* Sanatan Sanstha should be declared as terrorist organization.
* All activities of Sanatan Sanstha should be banned.
Let PM answer
Prime Minister Narendra Modi should answer who is the next target after journalist Gauri Lankesh.
- BT Lalitha Nayak, former minister
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Bengaluru: The results of the by-elections in three constituencies do not represent a mandate for the state government, said MP Basavaraja Bommai, adding that ruling party MLAs are dissatisfied with the lack of development in the state.
Speaking to the media at the BJP office on Tuesday, he stated that by-elections typically favor the ruling government. "When we were in power, we won 13 out of 17 by-elections. The Congress should not assume that this is a verdict in their favor," he remarked.
Bommai emphasized that these results are confined to the constituencies where the by-elections were held. He also accused the state government of poorly implementing its guarantee schemes without adequate financial preparation, claiming that the schemes are being halted due to financial strain.
He alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's government has borrowed over ₹1 lakh crore, leading to difficulties in financial management. Bommai pointed out that the state government is yet to release over ₹2,000 crore to local bodies, including village panchayats, as recommended by the 15th Finance Commission.
"Anganwadi workers and contract workers are not receiving their salaries, and contractors are refusing to take up work due to non-release of funds, even after tenders have been floated," he added.
Responding to questions about internal dissent within the BJP, Bommai denied any significant issues, stating, "There is no dissent in the BJP. Everyone is committed to the party. There may be differing opinions on some matters, but I am confident that everything will be resolved within a month." He also noted that a motivated BJP team is actively working for the party.