He also wanted the police to effectively control youths provoked by hate speeches and work for communal harmony in the district.
Published Jun 11, 2023 | 4:41 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 11, 2023 | 4:42 PM
Dinesh Gundu Rao.
Incidents of communal violence will hamper development works as investors will be discouraged from financing projects in violence-hit regions, Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said on Sunday, 11 June.
Addressing reporters in Mangaluru, Rao, who has been appointed as Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, asked the district administration, zilla panchayat, and other local bodies to accord priority to development initiatives.
He said the government programmes should reach the actual beneficiaries in a time-bound manner without discrimination of caste and religion.
The minister called upon the police to take stringent action against those who indulge in activities disturbing the law and order in the district.
He also wanted the police to effectively control youths provoked by hate speeches and work for communal harmony in the district.
In July-August last year, the Dakshina Kannada district was a hub of incidents of communal violence and disturbances.
The incidents started with the murder of a BJYM worker Praveen Nettaru by members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI).
Two days after the murder of Praveen Nettaru, a group of miscreants affiliated with Hindutva outfits hacked 23-year-old Mohammed Fazil to death in Mangaluru on 28 July.
Following the incidents, there were reports of incidents of communal violence in the district.
The Mangaluru City Cyber Crime Police subsequently registered 17 cases under the provisions of the Information Technology Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC) against those who posted communally sensitive posts on social media sites.
Cases against social media posts promoting communal violence were registered under Section 66 (C) of the IT Act and Sections 153 (A) and 505 (2) of the IPC.
Rao said he was glad to be appointed as the district in-charge minister and would work for the people of Dakshina Kannada, understanding their sentiments. He asked the district authorities to take necessary precautions, ahead of the monsoon season.
To a question, he said the government will review the allocation of hundreds of acres of land to RSS and its affiliated organisations during the previous rule.
District Congress committee president Harish Kumar MLC, Ashok Kumar Rai MLA, party leaders Shakunthala Shetty, JR Lobo and Ivan D’Souza were among those present.
(With PTI inputs)
