The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : MLAs demand probe against ISKCON

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 14, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

MLAs demand probe against ISKCON

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Janata Dal (U) members and G.V. Srirama Reddy (CPI-M) demanded in the Legislative Assembly action against those running the ISKCON Temple, Bangalore for illegally collecting foreign funds for implementing the State Government's Akshara Dasoha midday meal programme by projecting children as beggars and destitute and amassing immoveable properties in the city and elsewhere. But Speaker Krishna rejected the adjournment motion under which the members raised the issue and assured them it would be taken up for discussion later. The members said that ISKCON had been collecting Rs. 1,200 per child while it collected Rs. 6 per head from the Government.

The use of the word Kaavi (saffron) by Mr. Reddy was objected to by Health and Family Welfare Minister R. Ashok and Basavaraj (BJP), who urged that the member should not insult the saints, who wore saffron attire. The Speaker advised Mr.Reddy to avoid reference to flags, religion and colour of attires worn by different sects.

Mr. Reddy clarified that he had only referred to the saffron clothes worn by the ISKCON functionaries, who were indulging in illegal activities.

National Anthem

Earlier, Law and Home Minister M.P. Prakash told the Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha leader Vatal Nagaraj and the Janata Dal (U) leader J.C. Madhuswamy that the reasoning of the Infosys Technologies Chief Mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy on not singing the National Anthem could not be accepted. It was an offence, he said and added that a case had been taken up against him.

The Minister said that persons, however high they might be, should speak within limits.

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