Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Aug 17: MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, who has congratulated the district police for nabbing the accused in connection with the murder of Sharath Madiwala, has demanded for the arrest of remaining people who were hand in glove with the crime. Addressing a press conference at the BJP office here on Wednesday August 16, he insisted that innocent people should not be arrested in the case, and probe should reveal involvement of communal forces in the murder. He wanted all details of the murder conspiracy to be made public.

Noting that the initiative to divert temple funds for social causes had been in vogue since ancient times, he recollected that during the period of Dr V S Acharya, who was the state muzrai minister in the past, law to enable utilization of temple funds for social purposes through religious councils had been brought into force. Noting that grants are flowing to various schools and educational institutions from Kollur temple, he condemned the Congress government for stopping aid to schools at Punacha and Kalladka because of political considerations.

Nalin said that the government, which claims that it is supporting Kannada schools, has taken steps against Sri Rama PU College at Kalladka and Sri Devi high school at Punacha, both of which stand out as model Kannada schools in coastal Karnataka and where free education is being given. He hailed Dr Prabhakar Bhat for providing education to children out of his orientation towards service. Insisting that the money coming from Kollur temple does not belong to either the chief minister or minister in-charge of the department, he demanded that grants should continue to be made available from Kollur temple to the above two schools.

Nalin also challenged Ramanath Rai to take cue from Dr Bhat and provide free education like him in Best English Medium School being managed by his family at B C Road.

Former MLAs, A Rukmaya Poojary and Padmanabha Kottary, and various BJP leaders were present.