The proposal by the Karnataka government to survey churches and Bible societies to weed out unauthorised churches and curb forced religious conversion is apparently being quietly buried with the government going slow following strong criticism. On October 13, the legislature committee on the welfare of backward classes and minorities had asked deputy commissioners of districts to undertake the survey. The panel, supposed to meet couldn't proceed for want of quorum. At least nine of the 20 members have to be present but only five turned up. Officials said the survey has been put on the back burner. The panel's tenure will expire on November 9, following which Speaker Visheshwar Hegde Kageri is expected to constitute a new committee by mid-November. Officials said the survey cannot be conducted since it goes against the constitutional provision of freedom of religion.
Stalin's move to change of Tamil Nadu Day date flayed
The opposition AIADMK slammed Chief Minister M K Stalin's announcement on changing the Tamil Nadu Day from November 1 to July 18, saying it smacked of ''political vendetta'' and dubbed it as an ''unsuitable move''. Reversing the previous AIADMK government's decision, Stalin had said the state's Formation Day will henceforth be celebrated on July 18, in lines with the rechristening of its name to the present one on that day and not on November 1. AIADMK Coordinator O Panneerselvam said a child's birthday falls on the day it is born and not when it is given a name, referring to the ruling DMK's decision to alter the state's formation day in lines with it getting the present name, i.e. Tamil Nadu.
