Asking Bajrang Dal activists to uphold secular values, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan here on Thursday presented four of them ₹1 lakh each in cash as reward in recognition of their service to people during landslips and floods in Kodagu more than a month ago. The Minister said he was giving the money in his personal capacity.
He presented the cash reward to Manohar Kalame, Bipin Kallagundi, Vijay Nindinji, and Dinesh Kallagundi at the function organised to lay the foundation stone for the ‘Maapaka Bhavan’ of the Department of Legal Metrology. Mr. Khan said the four were among the group of volunteers who were actively involved in rescuing people trapped in areas affected by heavy rain, floods, and landslips. “I personally visited those areas and saw the selfless service of these volunteers who hail from middle-class families,” he said. Mr. Bipin, he said, suffered an injury in his leg during the process and had to spend a lot of money for treatment.
Impressed with their work, the Minister said he was sponsoring ‘Umrah’ (visit to Makkah) for a group of 12 Muslim volunteers. “These four Bajrang Dal activists wanted to take their family around for some pilgrimage centres. Hence I am giving this cash,” he said. Turning to the four volunteers, he said, “You pray for yourself and also for the betterment of the State. Stay committed to secular values. Let us all live in harmony.”
The Minister asked Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath and Mayor Bhaskar K. to join him in felicitating the four activists.
Later, Mr. Khan told The Hindu, “These people have worked tirelessly in Kodagu. Such people become close to me. I have no problem in rewarding such volunteers in cash.”