Will Karnataka CM, cabinet ministers attend RSS event in Sedam, Kalaburagi?
Bengaluru: Discussions have arisen around the participation of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his cabinet ministers in the Bharatiya Samskruthi Utsava -7, organised by the Bharat Vikas Sangam, a foundation established by K.N. Govindacharya, an RSS ideologue. The event is scheduled to take place in Sedam, Kalaburagi, from 29 January to 6 February 2025.
The event invitation states:
"Hinduism is the lifeblood of our country. 'Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah' is the principle: those who protect dharma are protected by dharma. Our ancestors built temples and ashrams that united and stabilised society. However, this foundation is now showing cracks. This event aims to counter such issues by promoting a spiritual outlook to alleviate modern-day pressures and build a positive mindset."
Critics, including thinker Shivsundar, have labelled the event as an extreme Hindutva gathering. He claimed it promotes the RSS's ideology of equating "Indian culture" solely with "Hindu Brahmanical culture."
Reports allege that the Congress-led Karnataka government is officially endorsing the event. According to the 52-page colourful invitation, several Congress leaders, including ministers and MPs, are listed as participants:
- CM Siddaramaiah is set to inaugurate the event on 29 January 2025.
- Minister Priyank Kharge will participate as a chief guest on the same day.
- Minister M.C. Sudhakar will preside over the education-themed programme on 30 January.
- Agriculture Minister Cheluvarayaswamy will preside over the agriculture-themed evening on 1 February.
- Small scale Industries Minister Sharanabasappa Darshanapur will attend as a chief guest on 3 February.
- Congress MP Tukaram and KKRDB Chairman Ajay Singh will participate in the closing ceremony on 4 February.
The event will also see participation from BJP ministers, Maharashtra government representatives, Telangana Congress officials, and several central government heads, including ISRO's chairman.
Shivsundar urged the Congress government to distance itself from the event, which he termed a "constitutional betrayal" aimed at pushing RSS's Hindutva agenda. He demanded that the CM clarify his stance and withdraw official support.
The organisers of the event, Bharat Vikas Sangam, are reportedly led by Basavaraj Patil Sedam, a former BJP state president and RSS propagandist. The organisation is considered an RSS affiliate operating under its ideological framework.
Minister Priyank Kharge responded to the controversy, stating, "We have not received an official invitation or information; our names have simply been added." However, critics question how such names could be included without consent. They demand that listed ministers issue clarifications or ask for their names to be removed.
Meanwhile, the government is yet to officially address the matter, leaving room for speculation.
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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.
