I worship the Constitution and the people, says Minister Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: Stating that he considered himself a devotee of the Indian Constitution and the citizens and, therefore, had no habit of visiting temples, Karnataka IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge said that he paid such visits only if invited and to learn the customs observed in temples
Addressing a press meet at the Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday, Kharge said that he had no faith in visiting temples. "I go to a temple only if asked to accompany a person, as it would give me an opportunity to learn new things. I cannot help it that I have no sense of devotion except to the Constitution and to the people," stressed the minister.
When asked to comment on the BJP taking three crores of people to Ayodhya, Kharge said he found nothing wrong in it. "They (BJP) are free to even take the devotees to the Ram Temple itself. It is after all, only a pilgrimage and there is nothing wrong in going on such a trip," opined the minister, adding that he felt a trip to Ayodhya would also give the people a chance to see the BJP in its true colours.
Speaking about the argument surrounding the issue of an idol being consecrated in a temple whose construction was incomplete, Kharge said, "This is an issue raised by the seers and not the Congress. The objection is put forth by the seers who, in fact, had to conduct the consecration. Their question should be answered by the concerned parties."
The minister also asked, "How many BJP legislators have read the Ramayana? How many people have learned the 'Hanuman Chalisa'? I have visited several pilgrim centres, like Rishikesh and Varanasi. Yet, I believe in and follow the ideals of Basavanna, Dr. Ambedkar and our Constitution."
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Bhopal gas tragedy: Effects of leak seen in next generation of survivors, says ex-forensic doctor
Bhopal (PTI): The effects of poisonous gases that leaked from the Union Carbide factory in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal 40 years ago were seen in the next generations of those who survived the tragedy, a former government forensic doctor has said.
At least 3,787 people were killed, and more than five lakh were affected after a toxic gas leaked from the pesticide factory in the city on the intervening night of December 2 and 3, 1984.
Speaking at an event held by organisations of gas tragedy survivors on Saturday, Dr D K Satpathy, former head of the forensics department of Bhopal's Gandhi Medical College, said he performed 875 post-mortems on the first day of the disaster and witnessed 18,000 autopsies the next five years.
Sathpathy claimed Union Carbide had denied questions about the effects of poisonous gases on unborn children of women survivors and said effects would not cross the placental barrier in the womb in any condition.
He said blood samples of pregnant women who died in the tragedy were examined, and it was found that 50 per cent of poisonous substances found in the mother were also found in the child in her womb.
Children born to surviving mothers had the poisonous substances in their system, and this affected the health of the next generation, Sathpathy claimed and questioned why research on this was stopped.
Such effects will continue for generations, he said.
Satpathy said it was said that MIC gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant, and when it came in contact with water, thousands of gases were formed, and some of these caused cancer, blood pressure and liver damage.
Rachna Dhingra of Bhopal Group for Information and Action said Satpathy, who carried out most autopsies, and other first responders in the 1984 disaster, including the senior doctors in the emergency ward and persons involved in mass burials, narrated their experiences during the event.
Rashida Bee, president of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, a poster exhibition covering every aspect of the disaster will be held till December 4 to mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.
An anniversary rally will be organised, with focus on global corporate crimes such as industrial pollution and climate change, she said.
