NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Politburo Member and women activist Subhashini Ali on Monday condemned Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar’s remarks on ‘Modern Indian Women’ and said that they reflect his “conservative and poor” thinking.

Subhashini Ali accused the Minister of showing his ‘Manuwadi’ thinking and said that no other person should decide on behalf of women what they should do or how they should lead their life

Launching an attack on Sudhakar, Ali said, “Karnataka Health Minister is showing his ‘Manuwadi’ thinking which means how women should be, it should be decided by other people. As per this thinking, anything about herself, about her body, about life should not be decided by herself. Such a woman is considered an ideal woman, which we call ‘Manuwadi’ thinking.”

“This is very conservative and poor thinking and in today’s era, speaking in this manner means taking the society backwards. Whether a woman marries or not, she has babies or not, how many does she have, this is her personal matter,” he added.

On Sunday, Karnataka Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education, K Sudhakar said that there has been a paradigm shift in modern women’s thinking as they do not want to get married and give birth to babies.

Speaking at the programme organised by NIMHANS here on World Mental Health Day which was also attended by Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Sudhakar had said, “I am sorry to say this, lots of modern women in India want to stay single. Even if they get married, they don’t want to give birth. They want surrogacy. So there is a paradigm shift in our thinking, which is not good.”

MANGALURU: Bajrang Dal leader Chaitra Kundapur has been booked for allegedly making a provocative speech against other communities during a public gathering at Surathkal on October 4.

Abdul Khader, a businessman and several others, had filed complaints demanding action against Chaitra for making a ‘derogatory and abusive’ speech. In the complaint, they alleged that she also said the ‘Bajrang Dal could easily convert Muslim women and make them wear Kumkum’.

Bantwal Congress leader Bondala Chittaranjan Shetty in a complaint to Surathkal police had said that the Bajrang Dal had organised a public programme at Surathkal, where Chaitra made a ‘provocative speech using vulgar, unparliamentary words’.

“In her speech, she used derogatory words against a particular community and it might lead to communal clashes. Already, people of two communities are resorting to verbal spat and Chaitra has also misused Tulunadu heroes Koti-Chennayya and hurt the sentiments of Tuluvas. She has compared the holy weapon ‘Suriya’ used by the Koti-Chennayyas to ‘Talvar’ used by goons which has hurt the religious sentiments of Tuluvas,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, she has been booked under sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 505(2) (Statements conducive to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.

NEW DELHI: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai exuded confidence on Friday that he will complete his term and lead the BJP in the 2023 state Assembly polls with the backing of the central leadership and strong party principles.

While leaders from the Lingayat community have played a key role in building the BJP in Karnataka, a lot of people from other castes like Vokkaliga, SCs, STs and OBCs have also joined the saffron party and are contributing a lot, Bommai said.

Addressing the “India Today Conclave” here, he said he is “most secured” since his childhood when asked if he has any fear of his government being toppled overnight like it happened in the state in the past.

The BJP leader said his father S R Bommai’s tenure as the Karnataka chief minister lasted for only nine months as the Janata Party, which he belonged to, did not have a strong leadership at the Centre.

“Now, with my leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi, (Union Home Minister) Amit Shah and (BJP chief) J P Nadda, we have not only got a strong central leadership but also strong party principles. I am sure that with all these factors behind me, I will not only complete this term, I will lead Karnataka upfront and bring the BJP back to power,” he said.

Stating that the BJP functions in a democratic way, Bommai said, “Our principle is a strong Centre and strong states, and that makes a strong nation. All the timely changes are the need of the hour. It is not a question of any dictatorship.”

On a question on the BJP-ruled states turning to Delhi for decision making, he said, “For administration, there is no question of looking at Delhi. But there are certain issues, where you have to consult. Consultation does not mean you look upon Delhi or look down Delhi. Consultation is an ongoing process.”

On the trend of frequent shifting of MLAs from one party to another and yet winning elections in the state, Bommai said “changing sides” and parties has been there since the days of veteran Congress leaders S Nijalingappa and Veerendra Patil.

Even leaders like Ramakrishna Hedge and S R Bommai had to quit and join the BJP, he said, adding, “The course of politics and leadership has guided all these changes.”

Bommai further said spending a huge amount of money in elections and the role of lobbies were always there in Karnataka.

“I should admit that there were and there are lobbies in Karnataka politics. Earlier, there was an excise lobby, then came the granite lobby and the education lobby. In between, we had a mining lobby. All these lobbies always try to dominate the state’s politics with money power. That has disturbed the right kind of polity in Karnataka. Not only in Karnataka, but in several states,” he said.

However, the people of Karnataka “have always overthrown them and brought the government back with people’s mandate. That is the silver lining in Karnataka’s politics. All the credit should go to the people of Karnataka”, he added.

On frequent changes of chief ministers of BJP-ruled states, including B S Yediyurappa, Bommai said, “Change is permanent. Yediyurappa is such a strong leader. I think only he could have decided his future course of action.”

Yediyurappa single-handedly built the BJP in Karnataka, he said, adding, that the veteran leader has fought and won many battles for the saffron party in the southern state.

“He is never tired. However, he chose to pave the way for the next generation. When he was at the helm of affairs and strongly placed, he voluntarily made way for the next generation. That is the culture he brought in and that is the culture of the BJP,” Bommai said.

BENGALURU: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday announced its candidates for Singdi and Hangal bypolls. The party will field Ramesh Bhusanur and Shivaraj Sajjanar from both seats respectively 

Bhusanur had represented Sindgi constituency in 2013 defeating JD(S) candidate MC Managuli. However, he lost the polls in 2018 to Managuli. 

Shivaraj Sajjanar who was the former Haveri MLA is a loyalist of former CM BS Yediyurappa. Sajjanar contested in 2013 from Yediyurappa’s Karnataka Janata Party. His selection as the front-runner has left BJP’s Shivakumar Udasi disappointed since the latter was lobbying for his wife Revati Udasi. Hangal was represented by his late father CM Udasi. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has been close to Udasi while he represented Shiggavi constituency. Both Shiggavi and Hangal are in Haveri district. 

Earlier this week, Congress announced the candidature of Ashok Managolu for Sindgi and Srinivas V Mane for Hangal assembly bypolls.

JD(S) has fielded Naziya Shakeel Ahmed in Singdi and Niyaz Shaikh in Hangal. Naziya is filing her nomination on Thursday in the presence of former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy in Sindgi.

The bypoll in Singdi was necessitated due to the death of JD(S) MC Managoli who died earlier this year. The Hangal seat, meanwhile, fell vacant after the death of BJP’s CM Udasi who won against Mane in 2018. 

The bypolls are scheduled to take place on October 30.

BENGALURU: The Congress on Tuesday announced its candidates — Ashok Managuli for Sindagi and Srinivas Mane for the Hanagal bypolls — soon after party acting president Sonia Gandhi met Karnataka CLP leader Siddaramaiah in Delhi. State party president D K Shivakumar had presented his choices when he was in Delhi a few days ago.

Congress sources said while Ashok Managuli, son of former JDS MLA M C Managuli, was a serious claimant for the ticket from Sindagi, there were two aspirants for the Hanagal seat — MLC Srinivas Mane, who contested from the seat in 2018 and lost to C M Udasi, and Manohar Tahsildar who has served as MLA for four terms. While Srinivas Mane staked claim on the ground that he lost in 2018 by about 6,000 votes, Manohar Talsildar had claimed the ticket as he had represented the constituency for four terms. However, both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar backed the candidature of Srinivas Mane whose term as MLC expires on January 5.

Asked if the party was considering a larger role for him at the national level, Siddaramaiah emphatically denied it. “Except for Karnataka politics, no national politics was discussed,” he said and asserted that his interest lies in state politics. He added that he had been offered the post of AICC General Secretary by former party chief Rahul Gandhi which he had declined and recalled that he resigned as member of the Congress Working Committee and clarified that he has no interest in national politics.

Siddaramaiah also said there was no discussion with the party president on any reshuffle in the party’s state unit. “It was not discussed with Sonia Gandhi. I have given a list to Randeep Singh Surjewala. He has said that he will discuss the issue of revamping the state party unit with me,” he added. Party sources confirmed that the Congress is going for a major revamp and the names are likely to be finalised before Ayudha Puja. When asked about it, Siddaramaiah said, “We won’t discuss it in public.” 

Sack MoS: Siddu
Siddaramaiah said that the killing of four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh reminded him of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the incident. He demanded that Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra be dismissed and his son arrested.

BENGALURU: The next legislative session will be held in Belagavi’s Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in December, Assembly Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri said on Monday, October 4, 2021. Speaking to the media, Kageri said there is a demand from several quarters to hold the next session in Belagavi.

“Even the State Government is keen on conducting the session in Suvarna Soudha. I have directed the authorities concerned to make necessary preparations for the same,” Kageri said. 

According to Kageri, four sessions should be held each year. The Speaker said he has proposed to set aside one day for the Opposition parties to raise and discuss issues. “On this day, no government-related works or Bill will be taken up,” he added.

Constructed at a cost of Rs 400 crore, the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi was inaugurated in 2012. 
The State Government spends Rs 5 crore each year for its upkeep. In the last decade, only seven sessions have been held in Belagavi so far. 

AKSHATHA T

A Father had a son and a daughter by name Basayya and Acchu . The twins looked alike , except for the large , red birthmark on the daughters cheek . It happened one day that the mother had left her mirror sitting on a chair . Brother looked in the mirror “Ah , how beautiful I am”, he said , my skin is so smooth and perfect . Sister looked in the mirror and screamed , Ah , how ugly I am, my skin is rough and red , she hated the big red birthmark on her cheek, brother went on and on about how beautiful he looked . Sister felt ugly and angry . She ran up to the mirror and smashed it . Brother said , sister broke mother’s mirror , she’s so mean ! Sister hid outside in the chicken coop. Father helped brother see why sister was so mad . 
Brother felt bad, and said to his father,” can we buy a mirror to a sister that will help her to see her true beauty,.” That’s a good idea !” Said father. They went to the market where many people were selling their wares. An old peddler women was at the market with a monkey. The monkey danced and sanged in front of an mirror. The mirror sang back . ” That’s the mirror for sister!”pointed brother . Father paid the old pleddler women . They placed the mirror in the back of their cart. The monkey jumped into the cartand hid in a sack. Brother ran into the house . ” Look sister , a new mirror ” I don’t wanta new mirror ,” she cried. ” Take it back ! ” But this one is enchanted ” sister looked in the mirror and couldn’t see anything , not even her own reflection . ” The mirror doesn’t work ! It’s broken ” said sister . Just then , the monkey jumped out of the sack . ” Ee , Ee , ! Can’t catch me ! He screemed as he ran from table to chair . Brother and sister chased the monkey all around the room. The naughty monkey hid behind the couch and wouldn’t come out ! Sister gave the monkey a banana ! He jumped out of his hiding place , plopped on the couch and stuck , the banana in his ear. 
Basayya and Acchu laughed ” silly monkey ” we better get him back to the old peddler , said brother . Wait a minute ! Look !” Said sister . They stared at the monkey who was laughing at himself in the mirror . Acchu looked into the mirror but she could only see her own reflection . Acchu saw herself giving her doll to a friend who didn’t have one . She saw herself mending a bird’s broken wing . She saw herself giving the Baker back his money wing . She saw herself giving the Baker back his money when he gave her too much change . Then, something magical happened Acchu saw her face. The very first thing she once thought was ugly now looked beautiful . Acchu is glowing ! Father , mother and brother basayya embraced sister Acchu . The beautiful things you do are good and true , and the beauty that you are shines though ” then said oo oi ! So true agreed monkey ” Get that monkey said brother basayya .They all chased monkey right back to the old peddler women who was very happy to see him . So it is that brother basayya learned of his true beauty by helping his sister Acchu discover hers . Sister learned that true beauty isn’t how you loon , it is who you are ! As for the monkey , some say he is still in the village dancing with the enchanted mirror.