Latest news with #Chowta
The Hindu
a day ago
- General
- The Hindu
Congress can't grow in Dakshina Kannada by ‘harassing' Hindutva activists, says Chowta
Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament, Captain Brijesh Chowta, here on Wednesday, said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should understand that the Congress can not be strengthened in the district by 'threatening and harassing' Hindutva activists. Addressing BJP workers at the party's district office after returning from his diplomatic mission to five countries, Capt. Chowta said that the State government led by Mr. Siddaramaiah is using police to oppress Hindutva activists and leaders in the district. The BJP State secretary said that the party will fight against the 'anti-Hindu policies' of the Congress government. 'If Mr. Siddaramaiah believes that the Congress can be built in Dakshina Kannada by threatening and harassing Hindutva activists and creating a fear psychosis among them, it is an illusion. Hindutva activists have faced similar threats from the Congress in the past as well. We fought against such threats boldly,' Capt. Chowta said. The MP questioned police visiting the houses of Sangha Parivar activists during the night and taking their photographs. 'This action will not deter our activists,' Capt. Chowta avered. He stated that people will protest if the government continues to harass the activists. Wherever necessary, the party will pursue legal action against harassment. The Chief Minister should first set right the law and order situation in the State under the Congress regime, Capt. Chowta said. Diplomatic mission Capt. Chowta was part of an all-party delegation constituted by the Union government to convey India's strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism to the world. He returned to Mangaluru on Wednesday after visiting Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, and Russia as part of a delegation headed by Kanimozhi, MP from the DMK. Speaking at the party's office, Capt. Chowta said that, as the possibility of the world believing lies spread by Pakistan was greater, the diplomatic mission of India was tasked with conveying the truth to other countries worldwide. Though Pakistan tried to divide Hindus and Muslims in India through the Pahalgam attack, it did not succeed. The BJP also felicitated him at the office for completing his diplomatic mission. MLAs D. Vedavyasa Kamath, Y. Bharat Shetty, Rajesh U. Naik, Harish Poonja, Umanath Kotian and MLCs K. Prathapsimha Nayak and Kishore Kumar Puttur, former MLCs Capt. Ganesh Karnik and K. Monappa Bhandary, and former Minister B. Nagaraja Shetty were present.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
BJP warns of agitation against Congress government for ‘targeting Hindu leaders' in Dakshina Kannada
Taking serious objection to the registration of an FIR against RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for alleged hate speech and the issuing of an externment notice to Hindutva activist and BJP leader Arun Kumar Puttila, the BJP, on Monday, warned of launching an agitation against the Congress government for targeting Hindu leaders in Dakshina Kannada. In a statement here, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta said the Siddaramaiah government was misusing the government machinery to threaten, divide, and harass Hindu leaders. Having utterly failed to ensure law and order in the State, the government was desperately attempting to smother Hindutva voices to cover up its failure in administration. Capt. Chowta said the anti-Hindu mindset of the government was visible in every step it was taking to target the leaders. The Kadaba police visiting several Hindu leaders and taking their photographs was not only illegal, but also a coercive measure to silence the voices, he charged. Stating that the measures were part of the Siddaramaiah government's minority appeasement steps, the MP alleged that the government appeared to be bent upon destroying the social fabric in the district. Stating that he had already spoken to the State police chief and asked him to stop such measures forthwith, Capt. Chowta said legislators and leaders would meet the Mangaluru Police Commissioner and the Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police on Tuesday with a similar demand. Former State BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel decried the FIR against Mr. Bhat, who spoke at the condolence meeting of Suhas Shetty and the externment notice against Mr. Puttila. In a statement, Mr. Kateel said the role of Kerala-based extremists was proved in the Praveen Nettaru murder case, and that the Suhas Shetty murder also happened in a similar manner. Instead of eliminating extremist forces, the government was indulging in harassing Hindu leaders for vote-bank politics, he alleged. 'Don't introduce police raj' Former Minister and Karkala MLA V. Sunil Kumar charged the government with 'attempts to introduce a police raj' in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Mr. Kumar urged the government to take confidence-building measures instead of resorting to threatening tactics. While the government itself was indulging in hate mongering, the 'merciless' action was targeted only against Hindu organisations, he charged. Mr. Kumar questioned as to who was responsible for fomenting violence and enmity in Dakshina Kannada. Why the police were not touching those brandishing lethal weapons and talking of murders, he wondered. He further asked whether the police action was confined only against those protesting police atrocities or sending dissenting messages across social media. Mangaluru City South MLA, D. Vedavyasa Kamath, and Udupi MLA, Yashpal Suvarna, too criticised the government move.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Chowta Accuses Congress Govt of Misusing Police to Target Hindu Leaders in Coastal Karnataka
Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta has alleged that the Congress-led government in Karnataka is deliberately targeting Hindu leaders and youth in the coastal region, misusing police powers to intimidate and silence organisations aligned with the Hindu community. Responding to a series of FIRs, including one against senior RSS functionary Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, Chowta accused the state government of running a "systematic campaign" to vilify Hindu leaders. "This government is trying to mask its failure in maintaining law and order by resorting to appeasement politics," he said in a sharply worded press release issued on Sunday. Chowta claimed that at least 15 Hindu leaders had been booked in recent days and that BJP leader Arun Puthila was being externed to Kalaburagi as part of this effort. "Young members of the Hindu community are being slapped with false charges and driven out under the externment provisions. This is not acceptable in a democracy," he stated. According to Chowta, several incidents in Dakshina Kannada, including late-night police visits to Hindu households in areas such as Kadaba, point to what he described as 'selective and extrajudicial' enforcement. He warned that such actions could disrupt the social harmony of a district known for its educational advancement and strong nationalistic values. Chowta also asserted that the government's perceived bias could force the BJP and Hindu organisations to launch a statewide agitation. 'If this authoritarian and anti-Hindu approach continues, we will have no choice but to take this fight across the state,' he said. The MP added that he had already spoken to the state's Director General of Police and urged him to intervene. BJP legislators and district officebearers from Dakshina Kannada are set to meet senior police officials in Mangaluru on Tuesday to lodge a formal protest. 'Our region stands as a bastion of nationalism and self-reliance. The Congress government, cloaked in secular rhetoric, cannot digest this reality. It wants to dismantle the region's communal peace to cater to its vote-bank politics,' Chowta alleged, concluding with a stern warning that the party will not remain passive.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Centre's ESIC Officials Visit Mangaluru ESI Hospital Following MP Brijesh Chowta's Persistent Push
Mangaluru: A high-level team from the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) headquarters in New Delhi visited the ESI Hospital in Shivabagh, Mangaluru on Thursday, following persistent efforts by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta. The visit aimed to assess the state of infrastructure and address the chronic shortage of staff and medical personnel that has plagued the hospital for months. The central team included Deputy Medical Commissioner Mona Verma and South Zone Insurance Commissioner (under ICT) T. Renuka Prasad. The team conducted a detailed inspection of the hospital's wards, laboratories, operating theatres, and staff quarters, and held discussions with the hospital's Medical Superintendent Dr Shailaja and other staff. The visit comes in the wake of several representations made by Capt. Chowta to both the ESIC Director General in Delhi and Karnataka's Labour Minister. The MP had earlier paid a surprise visit to the hospital and expressed concern over the difficulties faced by the district's working-class patients due to the lack of adequate medical staff and facilities. Following this, he had urged the state to establish a "Karnataka ESI Society" to streamline administration, enable quicker procurement of medical equipment, and facilitate the recruitment of qualified doctors and paramedics. Despite writing to the Labour Minister over three months ago, Chowta said no action had been taken by the state government. Speaking to reporters after the ESIC team's visit, Capt. Chowta said he was pleased with the prompt response from the Centre. "The visit by the ESIC officials is a result of continuous follow-up. I am confident this will lead to substantial improvement in the quality of treatment and infrastructure at the hospital," he stated. However, he emphasised the urgent need for the Karnataka government to step up. "To ensure smooth operation of ESI services across the state and to fully utilise Central funds, the state must immediately constitute an ESI Society. If not, the government should seriously consider transferring the hospital's management to ESIC to avoid further delays that affect healthcare delivery to the poor and working-class population," Chowta said. During their visit, the Delhi team also reportedly indicated their willingness to take over the hospital's administration, if the state agrees, and upgrade services within the existing regulatory framework. The ESIC hospital in Mangaluru serves a large section of industrial workers and low-income earners in Dakshina Kannada district, and has long been considered a critical healthcare facility for insured persons under the ESI scheme.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
MP opposes State govt. decision to close down PM Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras
Condemning the decision of State government to close down Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Kendras operating from State-run hospitals, Dakshina Kannada MP Capt. Brijesh Chowta said on Thursday, May 22, that with this the Congress government is playing with the life of poor people. Capt. Chowta said in a statement that Janaushadhi Kendras have emerged as a successful model by ensuring affordable and quality medicine to lakhs of people, especially to poor people, at low cost. 'The State government has decided to close down over 200 Janaushadhi Kendras operating on the premises of primary and community health centres and taluk and district hospitals across the State by citing a lame excuse,' he said. The kendras played a pivotal role in generating self-employment and providing jobs to others. They contributed for strengthening the economy of the country. The State government's decision will hit the future of many families, he said and alleged: 'It (the government's decision) is a clear example of Congress government's anti-people stand.' Capt. Chowta, who is also the State secretary of the BJP, said that generic medicines are available at low cost ranging between 70 % to 90 % at the kendras. 'Whether the State government has bowed to the lobby of corporate pharmaceutical companies or private medical shops or if the government is unable to tolerate the Union government and Prime Minister as the kendras have become popular among people,' he asked. 'Whether the government is playing cheap politics even in the matters like people's health?,' Capt. Chowta questioned. The MP said that he opposed the government's decision and was urging the State to withdraw its order. It may be mentioned here that a Government Order (GO) issued on May 14 directed the Health Commissionerate to reject the 31 pending applications seeking approval to open Jan Aushadhi Kendras. With regard to the existing kendras on hospital premises, the department has been directed to terminate the agreement depending on the timelines mentioned in the memorandum of understanding. According to the government, its decision is to ensure patients get free medicine in State-run hospitals following complaints that patients are being given prescriptions to buy medicine from outside although they are supposed to be provided free by government hospitals. Hospitals have been directed to purchase generic medicines from the Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Units of India (BPPI) and dispense them to patients for free.
