How secular is Vande Mataram?

http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1601/16010940.htm CONTROVERSY How secular is Vande Mataram? The Bharatiya Janata Party's attempt to make 'Vande Mataram', originally a song expressing Hindu nationalism, into an obligatory national song is unconstitutional. A.G. NOORANI UTTAR PRADESH Minister for Basic Education Ravindra Shukla declared on November 17 that "the order to make the singing of 'Vande Mataram' compulsory stands, and will be enforced". That the "order" would not cover schools run by the minority communities does not detract from its unconstitutional nature. It clearly violates Article 28 (1) and (3) of the Constitution. "(1) No religious instruction shall be provided in any educational institution wholly maintained out of state funds" and "(3) No person attending any educational institution recognised by the State or receiving aid out of State funds shall be required to take part in any religious instruction that may be imparted in such institution or to attend any religious worship that may be conducted in such institution or in any premises attached thereto unless such person or, if such person is a minor, his guardian has given his consent thereto." (emphasis added throughout). The language could not have been broader. It hits at the actual practice, regardless of a formal order and at attendance even if there is no participation in the worship. What applies to Vande Mataram applies also to Saraswati Vandana, a hymn to the Goddess Saraswati. The Supreme Court's ruling that the singing of the National Anthem cannot be made obligatory applies both to Vande Mataram and Saraswati Vandana with yet greater force. The U.P. Minister, who belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party, revealed on November 17 that "the order" did exist and "will be enforced". But a few days later, on November 21, Union Home Minister L.K.Advani said that the "factual position" needed to be ascertained though he was against the singing of that song being made "mandatory". (Shukla has since been dropped from the Ministry.) More royalist than the BJP king, the Samata Party said on November 23: "Vande Mataram has no religious connotation". This is utterly false. Else, in 1937 the Congress Working Committee would not have said: "The Committee recognise the validity of the objection raised by Muslim friends to certain parts of the song." It declared that "only the first two stanzas should be sung". A poem which needs surgical operation cannot command universal acceptance. The song 'Vande Mataram' occurs in Bankimchandra Chatterjee's novel Anand Math published in 1882. In his Autobiography of an Unknown Indian, Nirad C. Chaudhuri has aptly described the atmosphere of the times in which the song was written.1 "The historical romances of Bankim Chatterjee and Ramesh Chandra Dutt glorified Hindu rebellion against Muslim rule and showed the Muslims in a correspondingly poor light. Chatterjee was positively and fiercely anti-Muslim. We were eager readers of these romances and we readily absorbed their spirit." R.C. Majumdar, the historian, has written an objective account of it.2 "During the long and arduous struggle for freedom from 1905 to 1947 'Bande Mataram' was the rallying cry of the patriotic sons of India, and thousands of them succumbed to the lathi blow of the British police or mounted the scaffold with 'Bande Mataram' on their lips. The central plot moves round a band of sanyasis, called santanas or children, who left their hearth and home and dedicated their lives to the cause of their motherland. They worshipped their motherland as the Goddess Kali;... This aspect of the Ananda Math and the imagery of Goddess Kali leave no doubt that Bankimchandra's nationalism was Hindu rather than Indian. This is made crystal clear from his other writings which contain passionate outbursts against the subjugation of India by the Muslims. From that day set the sun of our glory - that is the refrain of his essays and novels which not unoften contain adverse, and sometimes even irreverent, remarks against the Muslims" (emphasis added). As Majumdar pithily puts it, "Bankimchandra converted patriotism into religion and religion into patriotism." The novel was not anti-British, either. In the last chapter, we find a supernatural figure persuading the leader of the sanyasis, Satyananda, to stop fighting. The dialogue that follows is interesting:3 "He: Your task is accomplished. The Muslim power is destroyed. There is nothing else for you to do. No good can come of needless slaughter. "S: The Muslim power has indeed been destroyed, but the dominion of the Hindu has not yet been established. The British still hold Calcutta. "He: Hindu dominion will not be established now. If you remain at your work, men will be killed to no purpose. Therefore come. "S: (greatly pained) My lord, if Hindu dominion is not going to be established, who will rule? Will the Muslim kings return? "He: No. The English will rule." Satyananda protests, but is persuaded to lay down the sword. "He: Your vow is fulfilled. You have brought fortune to your Mother. You have set up a British government. Give up your fighting. Let the people take to their ploughs. Let the earth be rich with harvest and the people rich with wealth. "S: (weeping hot tears) I will make my Mother rich with harvest in the blood of her foes. "He: Who is the foe? There are no foes now. The English are friends as well as rulers. And no one can defeat them in battle. (emphasis added). "S: If that is so, I will kill myself before the image of my Mother. "He: In ignorance? Come and know. There is a temple of the Mother in the Himalayas. I will show you her image there. "So saying, He took Satyananda by the hand." Anti-Muslim references are spread all over the work. Jivananda with sword in hand, at the gate of the temple, exhorts the children of Kali: "We have often thought to break up this bird's nest of Muslim rule, to pull down the city of the renegades and throw it into the river - to turn this pig-sty to ashes and make Mother earth free from evil again. Friends, that day has come." The use of the song 'Vande Mataram' in the novel is not adventitious, and it is not only communal-minded Muslims who resent it because of its context and content. M.R.A. Baig's analysis of the novel and the song deserve attention. "Written as a story set in the period of the dissolution of the Moghul Empire, the hero of the novel, Bhavananda, is planning an armed rising against the Muslims of Bengal. While busy recruiting, he meets Mahendra and sings the song 'Bande Mataram' or 'Hail Mother'. The latter asks him the meaning of the words and Bhavananda, making a spirited answer, concludes with: 'Our religion is gone, our caste is gone, our honour is gone. Can the Hindus preserve their Hinduism unless these drunken Nereys (a term of contempt for Muslims) are driven away?'... Mahendra, however, not convinced, expresses reluctance to join the rebellion. He is, therefore, taken to the temple of Ananda Math and shown a huge image of four-armed Vishnu, with two decapitated and bloody heads in front, "Do you know who she is?" asks the priest in charge, pointing to an image on the lap of Vishnu, "She is the Mother. We are her children Say 'Bande Mataram'" He is taken to the image of Kali and then to that of Durga. On each occasion he is asked to recite 'Bande Mataram'. In another scene in the novel some people shouted 'kill, kill the Nereys'. Others shouted 'Bande Mataram' 'Will the day come when we shall break mosques and build temples on their sites? 4 The song has five stanzas. Of these only the first two are the "approved ones". Jawaharlal Nehru was 'opposed to the last two stanzas'. The approved stanzas read: "I bow to thee, Mother, richly watered, richly fruited, cool with the winds of the south, dark with the crops of the harvests, the Mother! Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight, her hands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom, sweet of laughter, sweet of speech, the Mother, giver of boons giver of bliss! The third stanza refers to 'Thy dreadful name', evidently, a reference to the Goddess Kali. The fourth is in the same vein. 'Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen, with her hands that strike and her swords of sheen'. It is essentially a religious homage to the country conceived as a deity, 'a form of worship' as Majumdar aptly called it. The motherland is "conceived as the Goddess Kali, the source of all power and glory." This, in the song itself. The context makes it worse. "The land of Bengal, and by extension all of India, became identified with the female aspect of Hindu deity, and the result was a concept of divine Motherland".5 How secular is such a song? The objection was not confined to mere bowing and it was voiced early in the day. In his presidential address at the Second Session of the All-India Muslim League held in Amritsar on December 30, 1908, Syed Ali Imam said: "I cannot say what you think, but when I find the most advanced province of India put forward the sectarian cry of 'Bande Mataram' as the national cry, and the sectarian Rakhibandhan as a national observance, my heart is filled with despair and disappointment; and the suspicion that under the cloak of nationalism Hindu nationalism is preached in India becomes a conviction. Has the experiment tried by Akbar and Aurangzeb failed again? Has 50 years of the peaceful spread of English education given the country only a revival of denominationalism? Gentlemen, do not misunderstand me. I believe that the establishment of conferences, associations and corporate bodies in different communities on denominational lines is necessary to give expression to denominational views, so that the builders of a truly national life in the country may have before them the crystallised need and aspirations of all sects... "Regard for the feelings and sentiments, needs and requirements of all is the key-note to true Indian nationalism. It is more imperative where the susceptibilities of the two great communities, Hindus and Musalmans, are involved. Unreconciled, one will be as great a drag on the wheel of national progress as the other. I ask the architects of Indian nationalism, both in Calcutta and Poona, do they expect the Musalmans of India to accept 'Bande Mataram' and the Sivaji celebration? The Mohammedans may be weak in anything you please, but they are not weak in cherishing their traditions of their glorious past. I pray the Congress leaders to put before the country such a programme of political advancement as does not demand the sacrifice of the feelings of the Hindu or the Mohammedan, the Parsee or the Christian." The Congress Working Committee, which met in Calcutta on October 26, 1937, under the presidentship of Nehru, adopted a long statement on the subject.6 It asked that the song should "be considered apart from the book." Recalling its use in the preceding 30 years, the resolution said: "The song and the words thus became symbols of national resistance to British Imperialism in Bengal especially, and generally in other parts of India. The words 'Bande Mataram' became a slogan of power which inspired our people and a greeting which ever remind us of our struggle for national freedom. "Gradually the use of the first two stanzas of the song spread to other provinces and a certain national significance began to attach to them. The rest of the song was very seldom used, and is even now known by few persons. These two stanzas described in tender language the beauty of (the) motherland and the abundance of her gifts. There was absolutely nothing in them to which objection could be from the religious or any other point of view... The other stanzas of the song are little known and hardly ever sung. They contain certain allusions and a religious ideology which may not be in keeping with the ideology of other religious groups in India. "The Committee recognise the validity of the objection raised by Muslim friends to certain parts of the song. While the Committee have taken note of such objection insofar as it has intrinsic value, the Committee wish to point out that the modern evolution of the use of the song as part of National life is of infinitely greater importance than its setting in a historical novel before the national movement had taken shape. Taking all things into consideration, therefore, the Committee recommend that, wherever Bande Mataram is sung at national gatherings, only the first two stanzas should be sung, with perfect freedom to the organisers to sing any other song of an unobjectionable character, in addition to, or in the place of, the Bande Mataram song." 'National' songs do not need political surgery; the songs which do, do not win national acceptance. Against this was the fact of history that, however ill-advised, the song had come to be associated with the struggle for freedom. Gandhi advised Muslims to appreciate its historic association but counselled against any imposition. "No doubt, every act... must be purely voluntary on the part of either partner," he said at Alipore on August 23, 1947. THE Government of India acquired this emotion-charged legacy. Its stand was defined in a statement by Prime Minister Nehru to the Constituent Assembly (Legislative) on August 25, 1948:7 Nehru said: "The question of having a national anthem tune, to be played by orchestras and bands became an urgent one for us immediately after 15th August 1947. It was as important as that of having a national flag. The 'Jana Gana Mana' tune, slightly varied, had been adopted as a national anthem by the Indian National Army in South-East Asia, and had subsequently attained a degree of popularity in India also... I wrote to all the provincial Governors and asked their views about our adopting 'Jana Gana Mana' or any other song as the national anthem. I asked them to consult their Premiers before replying... Every one of these Governors, except one (the Governor of the Central Provinces), signified their approval of 'Jana Gana Mana'. Thereupon the Cabinet considered the matter and came to the decision that provisionally 'Jana Gana Mana' should be used as the tune for the national anthem, till such time as the Constituent Assembly came to a final decision. Instructions were issued accordingly to the provincial governments... ''It is unfortunate that some kind of argument has arisen as between 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana Gana Mana'. 'Vande Mataram' is obviously and indisputably the premier national song of India, with a great historical tradition, and intimately connected with our struggle for freedom. That position it is bound to retain and no other song can displace it. It represents the position and poignancy of that struggle, but perhaps not so much the culmination of it. In regard to the national anthem tune, it was felt that the tune was more important than the words... It seemed therefore that while 'Vande Mataram' should continue to be the national song par excellence in India, the national anthem tune should be that of 'Jana Gana Mana', the wording of 'Jana Gana Mana' to be suitably altered to fit in with the existing circumstances. "The question has to be considered by the Constituent Assembly, and it is open to that Assembly to decide as it chooses. It may decide on a completely new song or tune, if such is available." A MORE definitive statement was made by the President of the Constituent Assembly, Rajendra Prasad, on January 24, 1950. He said: "There is one matter which has been pending for discussion, namely, the question of the national anthem. At one time it was thought that the matter might be brought up before the House, and a decision taken by the House by way of a resolution. But it has been felt that, instead of taking a formal decision by means of a resolution, it is better if I make a statement with regard to the national anthem. Accordingly, I make this statement... The composition consisting of the words and music known as 'Jana Gana Mana' is the national anthem of India, subject to such alterations in the words as the Government may authorise as occasion arises; and the song 'Vande Mataram', which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it. (Applause) I hope that will satisfy the Members."8 Mutual understanding will lead to the Gandhian formula - respect for the song but no imposition. But even more than that, if the problem were understood in depth, what would emerge is a far better appreciation of the reasons why the Muslims and the Congress drifted away from each other. Those reasons have many a lesson for us today as we build a secular India. Attempts at imposition reflect a conscious decision to break with the national secular ideal. REFERENCES 1. Jaico; page 235. 2. British Paramountcy and Indian Renaissance, Part II: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 1965; page 478. 3. Sources of Indian Tradition compiled by William Theodore de Bary and others; Columbia University Press; 1958; page 715. 4. Vide his essay "The Partition of Bengal and its Aftermath; The Indian Journal of Political Science; Volume XXX, April-June 1969, Number 2, pages 120-122. 5. D.F.Smith: India as a Secular State; Princeton University Press; 1963; page 90 6. Indian Annual Register, 1937, Volume II, p. 327. 7. Official Report on "Constituent Assembly Debates"; Third session, Part I, Volume VI, August 9-31, 1948. 8. Constituent Assembly Debates, Volume XII; January 24, 1950.

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A BRIEF LIST OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION IN KARNATAKA

 

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A BRIEF LIST OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION & COMMUNAL INCIDENTS   IN KARNATAKA SINCE BJP GOVERMENT CAME TO POWER ( FROM JUNE 2008  TO SEPTEMBER 2009 ) The articles have been collected from various known  newspaper and web sources, if you want more details  just check the archives or google it. June 10, 2008: Firing on farmers in Haveri June 14, 2008: Padmapriya Karnataka legislator K. Raghupathi Bhat's wife killed July 12, 2008: a group of men belonging to a hindu organisation place pig carcass at mosques in JC Nagar, area of the Bangalore city triggering communal violence. August 10, 2008: Karnataka Rakshana Vedike takes law into there hands attacks a group of 35 people allegedly holding a 'rave party' at Manchanabele Dam. August 14, 2008: State-owned Mahabaleshwara Temple in Gokarna transferred to Ramachandrapur Math, known for its save-the-cow campaigns. August 29, 2008: The Public Instruction Department issues notices to all Christian institutions in the state to shut down to protest the violence against Christians in Orissa. Notice precursor to statewide attacks on churches. 24 August, 2008: A bus was intercepted at a prominent junction in Mangalore; a Hindu girl and her Muslim fiancée were dragged off the bus and assaulted. 8 August, 2008: Bajrang Dal activists stopped a bus in the city, and assaulted Syed, Zulfikar and Ameen, because these young boys helped a few girls with their bags, September 14, 2008: With Mangalore as the epicentre, Sangh parivar activists attack Christian prayer halls and churches across the state. More churches attacked three days later  October 26.2008: Illegal Detention of Muslim Youths MANGALORE/CHIKMAGALUR: After ten days of illegal detention the police have released three persons they picked up for questioning from Kudregundi in Koppa taluk of Chikmagalur district. The three were taken in on October 9 for questioning in connection with the ongoing investigation into suspected terrorist activities in the region. They were released late in the evening on October 20 after a civil rights group threatened to file a habeas corpus petition in the Karnataka High Court. Until their release, nobody had a clue about their whereabouts. Mohammed Yane Kunhimon (50) a scrap dealer and part-time civil works contractor, Abu Bakr (55) and his son Badruddin (25), both construction labourers, had been contracted to build a house by terror suspect Ahmed Bava, who is now in judicial custody. The house was raided a few days after the October 3 arrest of Ahmed Bava. The police claim to have recovered items such as a wooden bow, an automobile tool kit, a carpenter's tool kit and an electrical tool kit from the house. Several attempts were made to speak to them in the days following their release, but to no avail. Finally, on Friday, Mr. Kunhimon and Mr. Badruddin spoke to Hindu The on the phone. They said that the police had treated them well. However, Byatha N. Jagadeesh, an advocate working with the Bangalore-based Alternative Law Forum said, "For a period of ten days human liberty was suspended in favour of arbitrariness. The action of the police is not permitted by any law." He said the victims could claim compensation for the illegal treatment meted out to them. However, generally "victims are only too happy to be left alone. The return to normalcy and not a fight for justice is their main objective." He pointed out that the habeas corpus provision is rarely invoked by families of victims, either out of fear or because the police have a tendency to give constant assurances that they will release the prisoners soon. A few hours before they were released on October 20, Hindu The met the family of the three men in Kudregundi. With their breadwinners in jail, the families were in a pathetic state. It was already evening and Mr. Badruddin's three children had eaten only a meagre breakfast. "I had kanhi (rice gruel)," said his daughter. When she was asked what she had for lunch she looked toward her mother whose eyes welled up with tears. Not allowed to work Mr. Kunhimon's nephew Moideen (25), who was the sole bread earner for his family in the absence of his uncle, was capable of working but was not allowed to. A plumber by profession, Mr. Moideen was barred from using his tools by the police. Pointing to a rusted pile of screwdrivers, cutting-pliers and hinges, he said, "The police have asked me not to touch them. Maybe they think that I might use them to make a bomb." October 16, 2008: The largest-selling Kannada newspaper claims on its front page that conversions have gone up alarmingly after Sonia Gandhi-Congress came to power. Debates the issue on its Op-Ed page for over a month. October 30, 2008: Bajrang Dal activists attack two undertrials in Mangalore district sub jail; sixth such attack after its chief Mahendra Kumar's arrest on September 20. December 12, 2008: Aggressive posturing at Baba Budangiri by parivar leaders and Hindu pontiffs, an attempt to create communal tension. December 27, 2008: Hoysala Sene takes law into their own hands, attacks Fuga bar in Bangalore and alleges illegal activities. December 28, 2008: Bajrang Dal activists attack a bus ferrying students on a study tour to Mysore, saying girls and boys from different religions can't travel together. December 28, 2008:Ours is Brahmins Govt:BJP's Ramchandre Gowda a cabinet minister given a statement in a  program. January 3,2009: Cases against Bajarang Dal to be dropped   11 cases against those involved in Dattapeeta issue to be withdrawn BANGALORE: The State Government on Friday decided to withdraw criminal cases filed against the activists of Bajrang Dal and other Hindutva organisations for their alleged involvement in the Dattapeetha/Bababudangiri issue in Chickmaglur district. Briefing reporters about the decisions taken by the state Cabinet, Rural Development and Panchayatraj Minister Shobha Karandlaje said that 11 cases filed against them would be withdrawn. January 6, 2009: B.V. Seetharam, editor of Mangalore-based newspaper Karavali Ale, who followed a strong anti-parivar editorial line, handcuffed and arrested in alleged extortion case. Prior to his arrest, parivar elements vandalise paper's office.   January 7, 2009: Laddoos distributed in some schools across the state on Vaikunta Ekadashi. Congress demands biriyani should be distributed on Ramzan. January 19, 2009: An arrested dacoit reportedly confesses links with radical Hindu groups and admits to carrying out the Hubli district court bombing before the May assembly elections January 25, 2009: Sri Rama Sene activists attack pub in Mangalore,  Molest and beat up young helpless girls.TV Cameras were installed in pub before the attacks January 25, 2009:  in the Balmatta area of Mangalore, Sri Rama Sene activists attacked a house where women from non-Hindu communities were invited for a party. January 29, 2009: a large group of students, led by Mr. Gobbalathadka, barged in demanding that Muslim girls stop wearing the burkha even on their way to and from the college. The demand created a furore dividing committee members, according to college principal, Balasubramaniam. Soon, hundreds of activists entered the venue and physically attacked Muslim committee members and Hindus who opposed their demands. Following the incident, Mr. Gobbalathadka and his followers were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. January 30.2009: Rashtriya Hindu Sena chief Pramod Muthalik, now facing the heat for his support to the January 24 Mangalore pub attack, openly advocates militancy. On January 17, 2008, while addressing a rally in Udupi, Muthalik said: "It's time for blasts. Malegaon is just a trailer. Every house should have a person like Pragya Singh. Every housewife will carry bombs now.'' Feb 6, 2009: Shruti a 2nd year Pre-University student of St Aloysius College, Mangalore (and daughter of C.K. Kunhambu, CPI(M) MLA from Kerala), along with a Muslim friend Shabeeb, were dragged out of a private bus at Pumpwell and forced into an auto rickshaw by Hindutva goons, who warned Shruti not to talk to non-Hindus as they are 'inhuman'. Feb,8,2009:Since May 2008, there have been "14 recorded incidents of violence" against Hindu girls for been seen with Muslim or Christian boys. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa brazenly said there has been no "major law and order problem" and Home Minister VS Acharya criticised the public outrage as "hype" and "fuss when no deaths have occurred." In August 2007, when Mr Yediyurappa was Deputy Chief Minister in the JD(S)-led government, he dropped as many as 51 cases against sangh parivar activists, including Mutalik.   Feb 9,2009: The anti-terrorism campaign was initiated by the BJP government to spread awareness among students about the menace. According to the Congress, the ruling party, in the guise of the campaign, is actually trying to poison the minds of students against minority communities and saffronise the campuses     February 11,2009: 16-year-old Ashwini, daughter of Mr Jayamoolya Elinge of Mulky (near Mangalore) committed suicide following public humiliation by the Hindutva forces for walking on a street with a Muslim boy.   Feb 19,2009: Cabinet grants 6 acres of land to Janaseva trust of RSS(out skirts of Bangalore)   Feb 19,2009:  Attack on Farmers in Bellary by police.   Feb 26,2009:  30 member group attack two muslim students aged 15 and 17 in puttur.   Feb 26,2009:  a group of five persons harassed a girl and a boy while they were talking at a juice centre here yesterday.   Feb 26,2009:  Women in Bangalore were attacked  in Indranagar, Brigade Road, Koramangala and the Mount Carmel college area, women have been assaulted for being dressed in western attire. The first incident occurred on February 6 at the posh Brigade Road, where a group of girls were allegedly attacked by a gang of men, for wearing western clothes and smoking on the street. The men allegedly abused the women and then beat them up. An e-mail highlighting the incident adds that when the women asked a nearby policeman for help, he advised them to wait for the arrival of the police van. These girls later lodged a complaint at the local police station. A similar attack was reported at Indranagar on February 17, when a girl traveling back home from her German class was attacked by a group of men. The men followed her on a bike and blocked her way. They abused her in Kannada, and when she retaliated by slapping one of them, he punched her in the face. The third incident was reported at Koramangala, where a 28-year-old woman was allegedly assaulted by a group of men, who thought she was part of the 'pink chaddi' campaign. In another incident near the Mount Carmel College, a young filmmaker was attacked by a group of men, who told her that she deserved the assault for daring to wear jeans and a sleeveless kurta.     Feb 27 , 2009: Take that - 130 Crores for temples and mutts "There are no rains and food production has fallen due to the sins committed by various people in the past. I believe in God. I have allocated money so that Gods will be pleased and shower mercy on us.'' - B S Yeddyurappa March 1, 2009:  Karnataka Govt Grants worth Rs 60 crores for religious outfits Rs 60-cr largesse for faith BANGALORE: With an eye on the coming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has doled out grants worth over Rs 50 crore for the development of various religious institutions and places of importance for different sects of people, besides announcing a grant of Rs 10 crore for places spreading religious harmony. Unmindful of the criticism by the Opposition for his soft corner for religious institutions, BSY has given them the goodies. "Sincere efforts will be made to bind different religions and castes with love and affection by formulating constructive programmes," the CM announced in his budget speech. Institutions and places chosen for the grants for spreading religious harmony are: Khaja Aminuddin Dargah (Bijapur), Shirahatti Fakiraswamy Mutt (Gadag Dist), Kodekal Basavanna and Tinthani Mauneswara of Surpur (Gulbarga), Savalgi Shivalingeswara Mutt of Gokak (Belgaum), Murugamalla Kshetra of Chintamani (Kolar) and other places of Hindu-Muslim and Hindu-Christian amity. Yeddyurappa has earmarked Rs 10 crore for Kaginele, the birth place of saint Kanakadasa, while announcing a Rs 50-crore plan to develop Renuka Yellamma temple at Saudat t i in Belgaum. An amount of Rs 5 crore has been kept aside for the coming year for the Kaginele projects. Other religious places and institutions chosen for grants include: Yediyuru Siddalingeshwara Mutt (Rs 5 crore), Malemahadeshwara Betta, Biligirirangana Betta and Himavad Gopalaswamy Betta (Rs 5 crore), Melukote (Rs 2 crore), Chandragutti and Shivanapada (Rs 2 crore each), Jidaga Mutt in Gulbarga ( Rs 1 crore), Sharanabasaveshwara Gurupeetha of Bovi community in Bagalkot, Immadi Siddarameshwara Mutt and Hampi Hemakoot Gayatri Mutt (Rs 1 crore each), Kumaraswamy Mutt at Hangal and Shivayogi Mandir in Bagalkot (Rs 1 crore each), Babbuswamy Mutt in Udupi (Rs 1 crore) and Rajanahalli Valmiki Gurupeetha in Davanagere (Rs 2 crore).    March 3, 2009:  ABVP imposes ban on wearing burkhas in rural college in Karnataka.  Once the ban was formalised by the college authorities, a groups of boys took it upon themselves to impose it. "Every day, the boys sit at the tea stall near the college gate. If we take even one step into the college gate with the burkha on, they start scolding us," said a 16-year-old class 10 student. Mar 3, 2009  PANJA VILLAGE/SULLIA TALUK,: Muslim girls of the Government Composite Pre-University College here have been banned from wearing the burkha by local Hindutva outfits and the Bharatiya Janata Party-affiliated Akhil Bharathiya Vidyarthi Parishad. According to Lakshmisha Gobbalathadka, the self-proclaimed architect of the ban, the idea was first proposed to the college authorities at his behest by a few students affiliated to the ABVP in early January this year. First step "Four of my boys spoke to the college principal and demanded that Muslim girls should be banned from wearing burkhas in classrooms," said Gobbalathadka, who is also the district convener of a fringe outfit called Hindu Jagarana Vedike. Avoiding trouble "We agreed immediately. We did not want any trouble," said a college official. But soon the demands began to grow. Emboldened by the support the boys of his group received from a section of students, they went on to extend the burkha ban across the entire 28-acre campus. Formalised Once the ban was formalised by the college authorities, groups of boys took it upon themselves to impose it. "Every day, the boys sit at the tea stall near the college gate. If we take even one step into the college gate with the burkha on, they start scolding us," said a 16-year-old class 10 student. Violence on campus Meanwhile, another controversy broke out on the campus after the ABVP alleged that a Muslim boy had made a proposal of marriage to a Hindu girl. Beaten up "Our boys beat up the Muslim boy on February 28," claimed Mr. Gobbalathadka. At the college's development committee meeting on January 29, a large group of students, led by Mr. Gobbalathadka, barged in demanding that Muslim girls should stop wearing the burkha even on their way to and from the college. The demand created a furore dividing committee members, according to college principal, Balasubramaniam. Soon, hundr eds of activists entered the venue and physically attacked Muslim committee members and Hindus who opposed their demands. Following the incident, Mr. Gobbalathadka and his followers were arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Growing support "Many others have been inspired by the success we have had here. Soon, this campaign will spread to all government colleges in the region," Mr. Gobbalathadka told The Hindu. He added that the garment would soon be banned from public spaces in the entire village of Panja. 'How can they?' Said Panja gram panchayat president Rafique, who sustained injuries during the January 29 violence, said: "Some may feel that the burkha is a symbol of oppression of women. Even if that is true, a resistance to the garment should come from within the community. How can we tolerate somebody using force to ban the burkha?" Reacting to the issue, Deputy Director of Public Instruction C. Chame Gowda told The Hindu, "The college authorities might have agreed to the ban under pressure. But there is no law that prevents the burkha. Everybody has the right to practice their religious beliefs as long as it does not inconvenience others." Concerned Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj expressed concern over the developments and said he was still inquiring into the issue. "The rule of law and the Constitution will prevail," he said.   March 9, 2009:  Surathkal police assaulted woman, Zohra (35) and her daughter Busra (19) alleged that  when they tried to prevent the police from arresting Mohammed, Zohra's husband at their house in Krishnapura on Sunday.   March 11, 2009: Tension in Sira; eight shops burnt down   RSS activist held; police platoons deployed   Sira tense for fourth time in 45 days RSS blames Congress for unrest   TUMKUR: There was tension in Sira town in Tumkur district on Tuesday following the burning down of eight shops near the bus stand. The police arrested an activist of the Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh in this connection. This is the fourth time during the last 45 days that Sira town has seen tension due to communal clashes. A Shobha Yatra taken out by the Sangh Parivar was attacked in the Kote Extension on January 23. A Hindu Jagriti Samavesh on February 20 witnessed protests and on February 24, stones were thrown at a mosque and two shops injuring two women. The police said that two automobile shops, a painting outlet and three banana trading houses were among the shops burnt down. The police gave the name of the person arrested as Shivu (26), resident of Channan Kunte, near Sira town. He was produced before a court which remanded him in judicial custody. Deputy Commissioner C. Somasekhara and Superintendent of Police Harsha P.S. are camping in the town. T.B. Jayachandra, Congress MLA from Sira, visited the spot. He appealed to the people to maintain peace. Three platoons of the State Reserve Police have been deployed. S.N. Jayapal, RSS leader, said the police had assaulted Mr. Shivu after they arrested him. He said: "The shops are in the Muslim dominated area and no Hindu activist can be expected to move around in the night there, leave alone commit any crime". Mr. Jayapal demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident and said: "We have brought it to the notice of the Home Minister V.S. Acharya. We are ready even if the State could entrust it (the inquiry) to the CBI." "We will file a complaint before the State Human Rights Commission against the police for arresting our youth activist without valid proof," he said. He alleged that the Congress was behind the continued unrest in Sira town. He said: "In the last peace committee meeting, it was agreed upon that the Hindus will celebrate the Holi on Tuesday and the Muslims will celebrate the Id on Thursday. However, the police failed to enforce it." March 14 ,2009: Charlie Chaplin gets a beating. Karnataka does it again. BJP activists in Baindur, near Udupi. They have blocked installation of Chaplin's statue saying it would hurt Hindu sentiment. The statue was being put up by Karnataka film director Hemant Hegde for the shoot of his movie `Housefull' and was meant for a song sequence. Hegde said he had obtained all the clearances and had discussed the shoot with the officials. "I had apprised the gram panchayat and the Udupi deputy commissioner. The BJP activists questioned me as to why I was not installing Vivekananda's statue," he said. He said he planned to shift the shoot elsewhere.   March 17, 2009:  Unidentified miscreants damaged furniture, lights and fans of a Jumma Masjid at Madikal near Uppunda in Kundapur taluk on Sunday night. Madikal is nearly 60 km from Udupi.   March 17, 2009:   Three time MP Mr. Ananth Kumar Hegde said  that he would prevent a minority community from taking out processions in Uttara Kannada district. He is reported to have said that he had 63 criminal cases against him and he was not afraid of one more being slapped on him. Mr. Hegde is also reported to having that he did not need a single minority vote to win the elections. March 18,  2009:  Communal twist to moral policing in Puttur MANGALORE Prohibitory orders were clamped in Puttur from Tuesday evening, after an act of moral policing triggered violent clashes between two communities.Police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob which went on a stoning spree, targeting the police station, shops, establishments, vehicles and a KSRT C bus. An eerie calm descended on Puttur, as shops and other establishments downed shutters fearing further escalation of violence.Police sources told The New Indian Express that students from Franklin Institute of Air Hostess Training in Mangalore as part of an academic exercise had visited PU colleges in Puttur and Sullia. Once such batch of students, including Rishal, Vishwas, Rohan, Kavya and Zeena completed the assignment and boarded a bus to Mangalore.At about 4.30 pm, over 50 Bajrang Dal activists stopped SM Travels bus at Bolvar and dragged the three boys out.They were beaten up and handed over to the Puttur police by the activists.Agitated members of the KFD mistaking the boys to be Muslims gathered in front of Puttur Town police station and began arguing with the Sangh Parivar activists.The heated arguments soon erupted into clashes as members from both communities rained blows on each other from the KSRT C bus stand to Mayur Theatre. A KSRTC bus and a car were pelted with stones. Police who resorted to caning, summoned additional forces from Mangalore to quell the violence.Puttur bandh today: Close on the heels of the clashes, the Sangh Parivar in Puttur called for a Puttur bandh on Wednesday. Party sources told The New Indian Express that the BJP has extended support to the bandh. March 19,  2009: Attempt to set fire to madrassa Udupi, September 28: Some unidentified persons allegedly attempted to set fire to the Noorul Islam Madrassa at Parampalli-Padukere, coming under the Kota police station limits in Udupi district.  The Kota police said on Wednesday that the president of the madrassa, Bhasha Sahib, had lodged a complaint at the police station stating that he was sleeping in a room next to the madrassa on Tuesday night, while the teacher, Maulvi Umarul Farook Charmady, was sleeping inside the madrassa with two students.  When Charmady opened the door of the madrassa at around 4 am, he found that the door had been blackened by fire. A bottle half-filled with petrol was found nearby. A case has been registered. Security has been provided to the madrassa, the police said.  Asked when the miscreants might have attempted to set fire to the madrassa, the Kota police said that the incident could have taken place between 8.30 pm on Tuesday and 4 am on Wednesday.  The Additional Superintendent of Police of Udupi district, Kashinath Talkeri, also confirmed the incident and said that investigations were going on. Speaking over the telephone, Charmady said that a window of the madrassa had also been blackened from the fire. Charmady said, "Our madrassa has only one entrance. The miscreants wanted to finish us off," he said.  "We have been saved by the grace of Allah. If the door had caught fire, there would have been no means of escape for us. We are frightened by the incident," he added. May 2,  2009: Students dig out info under RTI Act CM's temple visits cost Rs 11 lakh Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has paid eight official visits to temples during the first few months of his tenure at a cost of Rs 11 lakh to the public exchequer. This revelation figured among the four major findings student journalists of Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media have gathered by making use of the Right to Information Act.   Briefing the media on Thursday, the students alleged that government departments were reluctant to give complete information though they were legally bound to do so under the Act.  Charging the CM's office with being 'most uncooperative' with the requests, students said that they were shunted between different officials for 72 times by 18 officers to gather the requisite information. BMTC fires only ten percent of its drivers who had caused fatal accidents and the rest get back to work, a fact that has come to light through RTI.  The students had to file three applications before the authorities responded.  "BMTC has quietly recycled their most deadly drivers responsible for nearly 370 fatal collisions since 2000. In the case of 28 drivers, they caused a second and even a third accident before they were fired," the students said.  Government school teachers go on leave for years without being removed from the rolls, another RTI application to the Department of Public Instruction revealed.  Lokayukta received praise from the students for being most co-operative. However, the flip side was that less than one percent of the corruption cases booked by Lokayukta culminated with convictions May 5 , 2009: Irregularities in renovation of residences of ministers karnataka May 23, 2009:Two Muslim youths attacked Mangalore police initially dismissed them as 'minor incidents'   MANGALORE: Two Muslim youths were attacked with lethal weapons by extremists allegedly belonging to some fringe Hindutva outfits on Thursday evening. Preliminary investigations by the police have ruled out any coordination between the two attacks which are believed to be communally motivated. The first incident occurred at about 9.30 p.m. at Adyar Padavu on the outskirts of Mangalore. The victim, Umar Farook (22), who is recuperating in a private hospital, told The Hindu he was accosted by four persons near his house. After surrounding him, one of the four assailants struck him with a "sword". The weapon caused lacerations on his back. The Mangalore Rural Police Sub Inspector Prakash dismissed it as a "minor incident". He said the prime accused Annu alias Pradeep picked up a quarrel with his relative and Mr. Farook tried to stop the quarrel. "Pradeep actually wanted to strike his relative with the weapon but Farook came in the way and got injured," he said and added: "It (the attack on Farook) was unintentional." However, Mr. Farook alleged that the attack was planned and communally motivated. "The prime accused is a member of the Sri Rama Sene," he alleged. Superintendent of Police A.S. Rao said: "We will go with the version of the victim." Gang attacks The second incident occurred at about 11.30 p.m. in the Marnamikatta area of the city. The victim, Mohammed Ashraf (27), has suffered serious injuries and is being treated at a private hospital. He told The Hindu that a 10-member gang of alleged Bajrang Dal activists surrounded him when he opened the gates of his house. Each of the assailants was armed with a knife, a metal weapon used by gangsters to punch their victims and a few beer bottles, he said. "I passed out with the first blow to the back of my head with a bottle," he said. According to Mr. Ashraf, the assailants had been heckling him for the last two months. "They would ask me why I dress so stylishly or demand to know where I got the money to buy my car, motorcycle, wristwatch and mobile phone," he said. This is the second time the same gang is attacking a member of this family. A similar case was registered with the Pandeshwar police a year ago. Mr. Ashraf's younger brother Mohammed Irfan (now 19) was beaten up by the gang that usually congregates at a general store near the house of the victim. "No arrests were made in that case," said Mr. Ashraf. Mr. Ashraf and his family were about to shift their residence to a safe locality. "We have had enough of this daily harassment and were about to leave anyway. Our family has stayed in this locality for 55 years. But it is just not safe any more. We feel like refugees," an emotional Mr. Ashraf said. A case has been registered with the Pandeshwar (Mangalore North) police station. June, 2009 : Withdrawal of several cases pending before various courts against the associates of Reddy ministers including the destruction of 200 year old historical Sunkalamma Devi temple near Oblapuram July 4, 2009 : Mysore communal riots start after pig carcass were found in Mosques that were placed by Ram Sena activists. July 16,  2009: Rama Sene activists assault guest at wedding reception in Mangalore MANGALORE: Sri Rama Sene activists allegedly assaulted a Muslim youth for attending a Hindu wedding reception in a restaurant here on Wednesday. Those who rushed to the rescue of the 30-year-old guest were also roughed up. Claiming responsibility for the attack, Madhu Urwastore, convener of the district unit of the Sri Rama Sene, told The Hindu that he (the Muslim guest) had no business attending a Hindu reception. "He was also misbehaving and getting close to women… so our boys beat him up and those who came to his rescue," Mr. Urwastore said. The staff of the restaurant said that other than the newly married couple, there were 15 guests, including children. "It was a normal family affair and they seemed to be enjoying the party," a staffer said. The waiter who was serving the guests said, "Suddenly, two men wearing saffron scarves entered the restaurant and asked the bearded man [Muslim guest] to vacate the place." The waiter said that this warning was met with resistance from the other guests, and with help from restaurant's staff, they made the two intruders leave. Meanwhile, about 70 Sri Rama Sene activists were staging a demonstration in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office near the restaurant. They were protesting against Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah's recent comments against Sene chief Pramod Muthalik. The restaurant manager said that the two activists returned with those who were demonstrating in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office complex. "We requested the activists to settle the matter outside," he added. Once outside, the activists began to assault the Muslim youth, said one of the staffers of the restaurant. Presspersons, who were there, said that the attack bore some resemblance to the infamous pub attack. No action taken A police officer attached to the Pandeshwar station said, "It all happened too quickly for us to react. But we managed to shift the guests to a safe place." However, no action had been taken against the assailants, he added. Superintendent of Police A.S. Rao said the police did not receive any complaint from the victims. "In the absence of the complaint, we cannot file a case of assault," he said. July 30, 2009 : Hanakona lathi charge August 4, 2009 : Withdrawal of criminal cases in election against Reddy brothers Aug 19, 2009 :  Burqa Ban in Mangalore College by ABVP Activists Government college in Uppinangady buckles on burqa issue after students protest Notice will be served on the principal of Sri Venkatramana Swamy (SVS) College in Bantwal, which restricted a Muslim girl from entering into the classroom wearing headscarf, said Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj. After receiving complaint from Aysha Ashmin, first year BCom student of the college, Ponnuraj said that report will be sought from the college and a letter will be sent to the government. "I will ask the government to issue directions to the college in connection with the incident. Measures will be taken to ensure personal freedom within the campus and also for  building confidence among students," he added. SP Dr A Subramanyeshwar Rao, who was present at the DC Office, promised that all measures will be taken to ensure peace in the region. Aysha Ashmin, who was accompanied by her father B Mohammed, explained her woes to the deputy commissioner and SP. Principal's version SVS College Principal Dr Seetharam Mayya told reporters here that there is an 'organisation' which put pressure on students to demand ban on headscarf and burqa inside the campus. However, he refused to mention the name of the organisation which put pressure on them. "If we allow a Muslim girl to wear headscarf inside classes, tomorrow they will demand a place to perform 'namaz' on the campus. Hence, we are going to introduce a dress code inside the college," he said at a press meet. When asked about the legality of banning headscarf and burqa in the college, Mayya said, "We will have to verify it." To a question, he said that the institute will also restrict 'Ayyappa vrithadharis' from wearing black dhotis and shawls once the dress code was introduced. In another development, a government college in Uppinangady in the district has allowed Muslim students to wear burqa (hijab) on the campus when they staged protest opposing the restriction. About 50 Muslim students in the Government First Grade College in Uppinangady were protesting against the college's decision on restricting girls from wearing burqa in the college for the past two days. But the issue has been solved amicably by the college authorities and girls were allowed to wear burqa in the college on Wednesday. 'Minor incident' Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Aravind Limbavali refused to comment on the incident saying, "It is a minor incident. In London if Indians are found wearing scarf they will be asked to remove it.  A section of the media is blowing the issue out of proportion," he said. Aug 24, 2009: SHRC issues notice to State govt on burqa ban 'All educational institutions are bound by the Constitution of India. No institution can curtail the right of the students,' said State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) chairman Justice S R Nayak. Aysha Ashmin. file PhotoAddressing media persons here on Monday, Nayak said the Commission has taken note of the incidents of ban on head scarf and burqa in two colleges in the district and sent a notice to the government seeking action taken report. Referring to the incidents of head scarf ban in SVS College, Bantwal and burqa ban in Government College, Uppinangady, Nayak said the religious practices should be regarded as 'matters of religion'. "The religious freedom guaranteed under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution embraces not only merely matters of doctrine and belief pertaining to the religion, but also practice of it," Nayak said adding that an individual school management cannot impose restrictions violating the Articles 25 and 26. "After closely examining and monitoring the situation in undivided Dakshina Kannada district, it is the considered opinion of the Commission that social harmony in the region is fragile in nature and can be disturbed at any time by a lightest incite or provocation. Therefore, it is the utmost duty of the State to see that peace prevails and harmony is maintained in the region by undertaking all possible means and measures," Nayak said. He said that notices were sent to the Additional Secretary and Principal Secretary to the Home Ministry, Principal Secretary to the Collegiate Education Department, Western Range IGP and Dakshina Kannada district DC seeking reply before October 29. Further he said notice also has been sent to the State Chief Secretary, Western Range IGP and Dakshina Kannada district DC taking suo motu cognisance of the report appeared in the media with regard to the moral policing in the region. "Unless the state authorities, particularly the law enforcing authorities, nip these in the bud, there is likelihood of these forces engulfing the entire coastal belt and the state resulting in upsurge of violence," he noted. Aug 24, 2009:  'Govt not willing to empower SHRC' "Government is not willing to empower the SHRC because of an anticipation that it may turn against it. Those who are in power know that it will be troublesome for them if the SHRC functions properly in the state," Justice S R Nayak noted. Nayak said that the post of an IGP in the Investigation Wing of SHRC remains vacant since July 10. No appointment was made after IGP Bipin Gopalakrishna was transferred from the post, Nayak said adding that the government did not pay heed to the letters sent by the SHRC in this regard. Nayak said that neither Chief Minister nor Home Minister speak even when the number of custodial deaths and most heinous and barbarous atrocities are increasing in police stations across the state. He said that he had recommended the government to hand over the custodial death case of RT Nagar Police Station and torture case of Amrithahalli Police Station to CBI. Aug 25, 2009: Moral police rears its head again BANGALORE: Two incidents against women, one violent and one verbally abusive, signal yet another worrying trend of moral policing or "outsider" bashing. The victims of both the incidents — that took place over the last week —are theatre and film actors from Mumbai, and this has clearly dented their impression of a city they thought was safe. Rachel, an actor who works with The Company Theatre in Mumbai, got off a bus from Chennai at the Silk Board Junction on August 16, when she noticed two men pull over on a bike. Before she knew it, one of them began to hit her from the back, yelling abuses. Indifferent public "I turned around, and the man was still in attack mode," she says. "He was abusing me in Kannada," adds a shaken Ms. Rachel. Though there were people all around, nobody came forward to help her or even enquire what provoked the outburst. Though she didn't fully understand what her attacker was saying, Ms. Rachel got the drift: he called her an outsider and said something about her clothes. "I was wearing jeans and a kurta," she says. Taken aback by this violent action, she called out to two of her friends, who had accompanied her on the bus but had walked ahead after disembarking. "I did not engage with the men, because they seemed too aggressive to handle," she says. "There was no police person at the junction for me to talk to," she says, adding that she did not file an FIR. "He was not drunk or intoxicated; in fact he seemed fully in his senses," adds Ms. Rachel. "I have been to Bangalore many times before and after the last spate of attacks I thought things had changed." False accusation A few days later, something along the same lines took place with actor Kalki Koechlin, who starred in Dev D. She also works with The Company Theatre and was here for the performance of The Skeleton Woman. "I was dropping a friend off in Whitefield and we stopped at a traffic signal when a man got out of the car yelling that I had bumped his car," says Ms. Koechlin. "I was pretty sure that I had not; and there was no scratch either." Soon after, five other men came out of the car and insisted that she pay them Rs. 2,000 for the 'accident'. "It seemed staged, and they had become really aggressive and were shouting in Kannada." She does not speak the language but she identified the words used in English such as "outsider" and "mad driver". "Luckily there was a traffic policeman who came and helped. He saw that there was no scratch on the car," says Ms. Koechlin. "He spoke to the men, but we did not stay back to hear," she said. Atul Kumar who runs The Company Theatre in Mumbai, who is also in Bangalore on work, was stunned by the two incidents. "We were beginning to build a relationship with the city and bringing more plays from Mumbai," he says. "These incidents have really shocked us."   Sep 1, 2009:  Court orders release of 25 detainees BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Monday ordered the release of 25 who were arrested by the Mysore police in connection with the clashes at Kyathamaranahalli, in Mysore last month. A Division Bench comprising Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice Jawed Rahim passed the order on habeas corpus petitions by the relatives of those arrested. Taking severe exception to the manner in which the authorities had flouted provisions of law and kept the prisoners in illegal detention, the Bench said though there was a body warrant against the prisoners, their remand had not been extended. Moreover, they had not been produced before the jurisdictional magistrate for extending their remand. The Bench ordered to send the court order of release to the Jail Superintendent of Belgaum jail.   Sep 2, 2009 :  Hubli court blast accused succumbs   The main accused in Hubli court blast case, Nagaraj Jambagi (24), died at Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) here on Wednesday. He was admitted to the KIMS for treatment one-and-half-month ago after his associates had attacked him with lethal weapons in Bagalkot jail. Jambagi, who received serious injuries in his head and on his face, was kept in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), initially. He was later shifted to the prisoners' ward a week ago. He was facing charges of masterminding Hubli court blast and placing bomb under Venkatapur bridge, near Dharwad. Besides, he was also accused of killing an oil trader in Bijapur and  kidnapping the son of a leading politician in Bagalkot. His associates Basavaraj Roogi, Ramesh Pawar and Basavaraj Diggi had attacked him in Bagalkot jail on July 18 after quarrelling with him over a petty reason.  Jambagi, who was in unconscious state, was brought to KIMS for treatment. He remained unconscious till his death. Resident of Heggur plot in Bilagi taluk of Bagalkot district, Jambagi along with his associates had involved in several grave offenses like bomb blast, homicide, extortion and other extremist activities. The police had achieved a breakthrough in the Hubli court blast case after arresting Jambagi and his associates. They were kept in Bagalkot jail. Sep 9, 2009 : Circular slammed for 'saffron' agenda Government, aided schools told to purchase 300 books 59,000 primary schools in State will have to buy the books Bangalore: A circular, sent by the Government to all government and aided schools, asking them to buy 300 books published by the Rashtrotthana Sahitya Parishat, has created apprehensions among certain sections of the academic community. They feel the Bharatiya Janata Party Government is attempting to push a "saffronisation" agenda in primary education. The circular, dated August 14, gives a list of 300 monographs under the title "Bharata Bharati", which include both historical and mythical figures, are to be bought by the schools. The circular also states that money for the purchase — amounting to Rs. 17 crore — has to be drawn from the MLA's Local Area Development fund. There are about 59,000 primary schools in Karnataka which will have to be provided these books. 'Communal agenda' Students' Federation of India (SFI) has described this as an attempt by the BJP Government to "use educational institutions as centres for communal agenda". B. Rajashekara Murthy, State Secretary of SFI, said: "The Government should have formed a committee of educational experts and come out with a list of books that inculcate a scientific and progressive spirit among children." Books of Kannada Sahitya Prishat, Kannada Pustaka Pradhikara and other publishers could have been picked rather than those published by "one publication which is part of the Sangh Parivar," he said. The organisation is holding a series of protests demanding withdrawal of the order. All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) has said that while it is important to educate children on historical personalities, the Karnataka Government's choice of publisher "gives rise to suspicions". AIDSO has called upon teachers, educationists and parents to protest the move. Sep 10, 2009: Vandals attack church near Bangalore Miscreants vandalise church in Hebbagodi Staff Reporter Statues of Jesus, Mary pulled down; window panes broken   Caretaker's room locked from outside Attempt was made to set a car on fire BANGALORE: Unidentified miscreants vandalised the St. Francis De Sales Church in Hebbagodi, off Hosur Road, early on Thursday morning, desecrating two statues placed in a grotto and damaging window panes. "Some people came around 2.30 a.m. and first brought down the statues of Mother Mary and Jesus. Later they broke the glass panes of about 40 windows," said parish priest Father Aloysius. The church is situated on a big campus that also houses a school and a college. The vandalism first came to the notice of Arul, a caretaker, who was sleeping in a room adjoining the entrance to the campus. "Someone locked my room from outside and I heard the sounds of the statues being brought down and glass shattering," he said. Screams for help Arul said he shouted for help, calling out to people working in a new building coming up on the premises. They let him out and he rushed to the priest's residence to alert him. "We went around the damaged part of the church. An attempt was also made to set a car on fire," Father Aloysius said. Senior police officials visited the spot. Superintendent of Police (Bangalore Rural) B.A. Mahesh said: "A stick or rod has been used to break the glass panes. The miscreants did not enter the church." The Hebbagodi police have registered a case. This Catholic church, named after the Saint Francis, was established over four decades ago. "We belong to the Missionaries of St. Francis, which has been in existence for nearly 150 years. We are catering to the education, health and other needs of people in rural areas," Father Aloysius said.   Sep 12, 2009: Buses, shops attacked during Belgaum bandh Belgaum: The bandh called on Friday by the Sri Rama Sene and other pro-Hindu organizations in Belgaum, turned violent — four shops were burnt, two persons injured in stone-throwing, and at least 15 NWKRTC buses damaged. The bandh, called to protest the violence in Maharashtra during the Ganesh festival, met with a good response in the city. Schools, colleges, business establishments and theatres were shut, while buses and autos stayed off the roads.     Early in the morning, miscreants set four shops on fire on Fort Road — a cushion shop belonging to Ashfaq Badgaonkar, an electric shop of Irshad Peerwale, Narayan Pujari's tea canteen and Zarin Ahmad Shaikh's puncture shop.     Trouble began with stones being thrown on buses and autos on Thursday night. There was panic among the people, and 15 buses were damaged. "Three buses were badly damaged," said N Sangappa, divisional controller, NWKRTC. "The corporation has lost Rs 12 lakh of business in the bandh."     A student, Supreet Shankarappa Maninagar, 21, on his way to VTU to attend counselling in an auto, was seriously injured by a stone thrown by two miscreants on a two-wheeler. He had come from Munchkandi village in Bagalkot district, and has been admitted to KLE Prabhakar Kore Hospital. Truck driver Ninganagouda Shankargouda Goudar, 24, of Savadatti taluk, was also injured in the stone pelting, and admitted to hospital.   Sep 20 , 2009: 74 died in rain-related incidents since June in  Karnataka:Karunakar Reddy Sep 29:  BJP training its leaders on communal violence' 'BJP training its leaders on communal violence' Bangalore, Sep 28, dhns: By inviting Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to conduct a workshop for the State ministers at Suttur, the BJP is training them in stirring communal violence, KPCC President R V Deshpande alleged on Tuesday. "If the BJP really wants to give some orientation to the ministers, it could have invited intellectuals and experts. Instead, it wants Modi to conduct the workshop on disturbing peace in society...," he told reporters and added that the Suttur kshetra was a holy place, which RSS was misusing to further its agenda. He also criticised the CM for urging farmers to let the Government install meters to  their IP sets. "BJP has failed to supply power to farmers, though  it had promised to provide free power before 2008 elections," he said.