Latest news with #Rajneesh
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Shows the mentality of BJP leaders': Karnataka MLC N Ravikumar in the dock over vulgar comments against Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh
Karnataka BJP MLC N Ravikumar is at the centre of another row over his alleged derogatory comments against state Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, drawing sharp reactions from the Congress party. While N Ravikumar made the remarks against Rajneesh during a protest in front of Vidhana Soudha Monday, a police complaint was filed on Wednesday. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary S Manohar filed the complaint at the Vidhana Soudha Police Station, demanding legal action against him for using unparliamentary language when referring to Rajneesh. The Congress party also said it will petition the Legislative Council Chairman, Basavaraj Horatti. On Monday, BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, MLA Cement Manju, Ravikumar, and former MP S Muniswamy, staged a protest at Vidhana Soudha against the eviction of Dalit families living in Kadugodi, Bengaluru. Following the protest, they were unhappy that Rajneesh was not available to receive their petition, which demanded that the eviction be stopped immediately. In a video clip of a conversation after the protest, Narayanaswamy is seen complaining to a police officer about her absence. Muniswamy asks the official, 'Is she CS for Karnataka or only for the CM?' to which Narayanswamy intervenes to say that there was no point in blaming her. Ravikumar then makes a comment against the senior Indian Administrative Service officer. The issue gained traction after the video clip was widely shared on social media platforms. Karnataka Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar condemned Ravikumar's remarks. 'This shows the mentality of BJP leaders. This is neither now nor surprising,' she said. Hebbalkar said Rajneesh is a senior IAS officer, and a role model for thousands of women. 'It does not matter who the woman is. She may be an officer, Laxmi Hebbalkar, or a commoner… Who gave him the right to make such comments?' she asked. In May this year, Ravikumar was booked by the police after he said Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum 'may have come from Pakistan'. The Karnataka IAS Officers' Association condemned his remarks, and demanded an unconditional apology from the BJP legislator. Ravikumar made the remarks during a protest rally organised by the BJP at Kalaburagi on May 24. Ravikumar said the deputy commissioner's office in Kalaburagi had lost its independence, and that the DC was 'listening' to what Congress says. 'I don't know whether she comes from Pakistan or is an IAS officer here. Listening to your applause, I think she might have come from Pakistan,' he said.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
UP woman points revolver at petrol pump worker after argument, booked
Hardoi , A woman allegedly pointed a licensed revolver at a petrol pump employee during an argument here, prompting the police to initiate legal proceedings in the case, officials said on Monday. According to the police, the incident took place at a petrol pump on Sandi Road in Bilgram town on Sunday night. An argument broke out when an employee at the petrol pump, Rajneesh Kumar, asked a family, who had arrived for CNG refuelling, to step out of their car as a safety measure. During the altercation that followed, a male member of the family, assisted by two women from the group, allegedly pushed and assaulted Rajneesh. The younger of the women then allegedly went back to the car, pulled out a licensed revolver and aimed it at the petrol pump employee's chest, police said. Rajneesh alleged that the woman threatened him by saying, "I'll shoot you so many times that your family won't be able to recognise you." The entire episode was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the pump, they said. Following the incident, the petrol pump employee filed a complaint with Bilgram police. In his complaint, Rajneesh stated that he had asked the occupants of the car to step out purely for safety reasons. He identified the woman who brandished the weapon and used abusive language as Surish Khan alias Ariba, daughter of Ehsaan Khan. He also accused Ehsaan Khan and his wife Husnabano of physically assaulting him. Bilgram Circle Officer Ravi Prakash Singh said that an FIR has been registered. "Police have seized the licensed revolver and 25 live cartridges," he said. "The case has been registered based on the written complaint received from the victim. The accused individuals have been questioned, and a detailed investigation is underway," said CO Singh.
Indian Express
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Osho gave Mahesh Bhatt a menacing message after he ‘threw his mala in the commode'; threatened to ‘burn' his memory, called him a ‘mouse'
While actor Vinod Khanna's association with the spiritual guru Rajneesh remains well known, it was director Mahesh Bhatt who introduced them to each other. Bhatt became a follower of Rajneesh after experiencing professional setbacks early in his career, but soon snapped out of his fascination with the spiritual leader. Khanna, however, remained devoted. He even quit the film business at the peak of his success and moved to the United States, where Rajneesh set up his infamous commune. He returned to India after some years, and rebranded himself as Osho. Bhatt has spoken previously about the dislike that developed between him and the guru, and Rajneesh himself was dismayed by Bhatt, and how he chose to sever ties. In an appearance on Arbaaz Khan's chat show, Bhatt spoke about his brief entanglement with Rajneesh. 'I was a normal guy. I made films such as Vishwasghaat and Manzilien Aur Bhi Hain that flopped. So, I was into the spiritual supermarket; I went to Osho Rajneesh, who was a charismatic guru from Pune. I went to him and devoted myself to him… ochre robes and meditation five times a day,' Bhatt said, adding, 'I took Vinod Khanna to Osho Rajneesh. While I broke the (connection), he continued. I broke the mala and threw it down the commode. I thought that I still feel envious but I am saying holy words… I feel like a hypocrite. I can't lie to the world and myself.' Bhatt knew that Rajneesh had taken his 'betrayal' personally, because Khanna said as much to him. He was made a messenger. Bhatt recalled, 'Vinod called me from Filmistan and said Bhagwan is very angry. You broke the mala and threw it in the commode. I said 'yes, I have done that. This is worthless; I am a damn fool.' He said Bhagwan has said ask Mahesh to come back and hand over the mala in person, otherwise he said', and Vinod lowered his voice, 'he will destroy you'.' Also read – Javed Akhtar accused Sadhguru of 'playing dangerous game' with devotees: 'He's using his brain, doesn't want you to use yours' And it seemed like Osho was truly affected by Bhatt's decision to give up on him. According to his book, The 99 Names of Nothingness, Osho addressed his fallout with Bhatt while speaking to Khanna. 'Just tell one thing to him: that if he has not been courageous enough to keep to the commitment of sannyas, he should be at least courteous enough to return it. And I knew that this was going to happen. I knew, because there were only two alternatives: either his girlfriend was going to become a sannyasin or he was going to become a non-sannyasin… and he was defeated by her. He will repent one day. He will feel and he will come… but he betrayed. He has broken something very sacred. And one day when he realises the whole phenomenon he will be surprised…' Although Osho didn't mention the woman that Bhatt had become involved with, he seemed to be blaming her for getting in the way. He also seemed to be aware of Bhatt's comments about having destroyed 'the mala' after backing away from Osho. 'I call it a tragedy, because once that power is destroyed she will no more be interested in the man. This is the dilemma: she is interested in power, then the power feels frightening. If the man remains so powerful then she will remain dependent; she will never be the whole – and soon she starts playing feminine tricks. And because he loves her, the man goes on yielding… Once he starts yielding, the lion disappears and the mouse is born, and no woman is interested in a mouse, no woman at all. Once she has reduced the man to a mouse, she is finished, and as I can see, that is what has happened.' Also read – Javed Akhtar would pay Rs 10 to attend Osho's sermons in Pune, calls him a 'learned' man and a 'great speaker' Osho said that he predicted the woman would lose interest in Bhatt after having conquered him. 'She could have remained with him if he had remained unyielding, if he had remained a real man. If he had remained an unconquered peak she would have remained interested, but now she will search for other peaks, somebody else. He is already a spare part, an extra,' he said. He concluded his comments by conveying a message to Bhatt via Khanna. 'So tell him: if he is not courageous enough to keep the commitment, he should be courteous enough to return it. And once his mala is back, I am going to burn it and destroy it. Only that will bring him to his senses. So just tell this much to him.' In an interview with the Indian Express earlier this year, Bhatt spoke about Khanna's return to Mumbai after the commune in the United States was disbanded. 'When I turned away, he stayed—and then disappeared to Oregon. I even flew to America once, to try and bring him back. But he was too far gone. When the Rajneesh dream collapsed, he returned—broken. I met him again in a small flat opposite Jaslok Hospital.'
India Today
11-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Karnataka seeks withdrawal of Andhra's ban on Totapuri mango import from state
Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh has urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary K Vijayanand to withdraw the recent ban on Totapuri mangoes entering Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh from a letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary K Vijayanand, she expressed "serious concern" over the order by the Chittoor District Collector banning the entry of Totapuri mangoes from other ban, issued on June 7, has affected mango farmers in Karnataka, especially those near the Andhra border who grow Totapuri mangoes in large quantities. Their livelihood is dependent on mango processing units in Chittoor to sell their Rajneesh called the restriction 'abrupt and unilateral' and said it has caused distress among farmers."To enforce this order, multidisciplinary teams comprising officials from the Revenue, Police, Forest, and Marketing Departments have reportedly been deployed at all border check-posts adjoining Tamil Nadu and Karnataka," Rajneesh said in the warned that this sudden disruption in trade could lead to major post-harvest losses and financial crisis for farmers. The letter also said this action goes against cooperative federalism."There is already apprehension that affected stakeholders in Karnataka may obstruct vegetable inflows from Andhra Pradesh, escalating into unnecessary interstate tensions, something we must all strive to avoid," it said."A coordinated and consultative approach would be more appropriate for addressing any concerns related to agricultural trade and phytosanitary risks, if any, while safeguarding the interests of farmers on both sides," she mangoes are mainly grown in South India. They have a unique beak-shaped tip, an oblong shape, and turn golden yellow when ripe. These mangoes are versatile and used in many dishes and drinks, both raw and by Sneha A Suneeth IN THIS STORY#Andhra Pradesh#Karnataka
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Karnataka Chief Secretary writes to her Andhra Pradesh counterpart requesting to allow Totapuri mangoes from State
Chief Secretary of Karnataka Shalini Rajneesh has written to her counterpart in Andhra Pradesh requesting him to revoke the ban on entry of Totapuri mango from other States into that State. With Kolar, the major mango growing district in Karnataka, sharing the border with Andhra Pradesh, mango farmers there are heavily reliant on the processing units in Chittoor. The Andhra Pradesh government decided to impose this ban to support the Totapuri growers of the State as the production has been more than the capacity of the processing units. It has also declared a support price of ₹4 for a kg of totapuri mango. Talking to The Hindu, Ms. Rajneesh said, 'I wrote the letter following the protest of farmers in Kolar and the report of the Deputy Commissioner.' In her letter to K. Vijayanand, Chief Secretary, Andhra Pradesh, she said, 'This abrupt and unilateral restriction has caused significant distress to mango farmers in Karnataka, particularly those in the border districts who cultivate large volumes of Totapuri mangoes and rely heavily on the Chittoor-based processing units for marketing their produce. Disruption of this long-established inter-State trade linkage poses immediate threats to their livelihoods and may result in substantial post-harvest losses.' She added, 'Beyond the economic hardship to farmers, such a move undermines the spirit of cooperative federalism and risks triggering retaliatory sentiments. There is already apprehension that affected stakeholders in Karnataka may obstruct vegetable inflows from Andhra Pradesh, escalating into unnecessary inter-State tensions, something we must all strive to avoid.' However, mango farmers from Kolar district said that with the highly reduced quality and quantity of the mango yield this year, taking it to the processing centres does not make much difference. 'We are selling Totapuri at ₹4 a kg (₹4,000 a tonne) while we incur a cost of ₹10-₹12 a kg to grow it. Even if we are allowed to take it to Andhra Pradesh, we will not get any better price,' said Neelaturu Chinnappa Reddy, president of the Kolar District Mango Growers' Association. Farmers of Kolar, especially Srinivasapur taluk, have been demanding a mango processing unit there for many years. 'It has been our longstanding demand, as the lack of a unit here has made us overly reliant on those in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Government after government has failed to set it up,' Mr. Reddy said. Farmers in Srinivasapur observed a taluk-level bandh on Wednesday, demanding a support price for mangoes. Due to weather vagaries and diseases, the mango yield has dropped to less than 30% this year, according to farmers.
