Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 9: Actor-turned-activist Ahimsa Chethan has announced plans to launch a new political party in Karnataka, bringing together people-centric activists, organisers and social movement leaders with the stated aim of building an ‘equal society’ and a stronger nation.
Speaking to the media during his visit to Mangaluru on Saturday, Chethan said political intervention was necessary to oppose the current political developments and what he described as government negligence, and to provide people-centric governance.
“Governments that are deaf and blind wake up the moment they realise their chair is shaking. Karnataka needs a solution and an alternative. We need a party based on equality and the Constitution,” he said.
He said the proposed regional party would work to strengthen Karnataka and function on the principles of an equal society, equality, justice and adherence to the Constitution. The party’s name would reflect these principles, he said, adding that its registration process is under way.
Preparations are being made for a large convention in Hubballi in January, where the political party will be formally launched, he said. Meetings are currently being held across the State, including in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, as part of the preparations.
‘Bidadi township should not come up’
Chethan strongly opposed the proposed Bidadi township, insisting that farmers should not be deprived of their land.
“My demand is that Bidadi should not become a township and farmers should not lose their land. Taking away farmers’ land in the name of development, constructing buildings and benefiting the land mafia is not right. The project itself is wrong,” he said.
He alleged that Bengaluru was being “destroyed in the name of development”, while regions such as Dakshina Kannada, the coastal belt, North Karnataka, Central Karnataka, Kalyana Karnataka and the old Mysuru region were being neglected.
He also alleged that the objective of political parties based in Delhi was to expand their hold over power for political gains and personal benefit.
Women’s reservation welcomed
Asked about the Centre’s proposed FCRA Bill, which regulates organisations receiving foreign donations and financial assistance in India, Chetan said he would first study the issue before commenting.
“I need to study it. I will respond after that. I will not say that everything done by the Central and State governments is wrong, nor will I say that everything they do is right,” he said.
‘NEET system itself is flawed’
Chethan said constitutional forms of protest were essential for society, but warned against reducing such movements to campaigns targeting an individual minister.
“A protest should not be aimed at a minister or simply at removing them. If one minister steps down, another will come. But the system will remain the same,” he said.
He said the NEET question paper leak was not the only issue, arguing that the NEET system itself was flawed.
“To correct this, we should not look only at the interests of North India. We should look at the country as a federation and create a system, similar to the CET, that gives students from our own State priority within Karnataka,” he said.