Karnataka Health and Minority Affairs Minister U T Khader announced plans for a national-level artisans' exhibition and cultural programme to be held from September 26 to 29. Addressing the media after the Minority Department meeting, Khader stated the event would offer self-help groups from Karnataka and across India an opportunity to display and sell their products while sharing skills with younger generations.
The programme will also feature panel discussions, cultural activities and a food court, and will be open to all communities. Khader emphasised that “Minority does not mean only Muslims; Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains will all be there, along with people from other communities. They will all join together and exchange the culture and traditions of society for the betterment of the state.”
Khader highlighted the government's commitment to prioritising education, scholarships and capacity building for students and teachers. He said the department aims to develop an education system valued by all sections of society, with focus on academics, sports and skill enhancement.
Commenting on recent disruptions in the Karnataka Assembly, Khader acknowledged the right to protest as “the beauty of Indian democracy” and assured that the Health Department would support legitimate protests. However, he criticised the opposition for using the Assembly as a platform for political stalling, alleging that BJP and Janata Dal leaders sought to impede proceedings.
He said, “If the opposition had concerns over the allocation of a portfolio to B Nagendra, it could have given notice to the Speaker and raised the issue for discussion in the House.” The remarks follow protests by BJP workers demanding the resignation of Minister B Nagendra over an alleged multi-crore Karnataka Dalit Valmiki Corporation scam. Khader said these protests caused loss of time, money and energy and cast a “black mark” on Karnataka’s parliamentary system.
On the recent natural disaster in Nepal, Khader stated that the Karnataka government is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed officials to ensure the safe return of residents from Karnataka who are in Nepal. The death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal has risen to 359, with 910 people missing or out of contact. Authorities continue search, rescue and relief efforts amid warnings of further floods from a new lake formed upstream of the Lhende River.
The floods were triggered on Wednesday morning by a glacier or ice-rock collapse approximately 20 kilometres northeast of the Rasuwagadhi border point on the Nepal-China border, causing a massive debris-filled flood along the Lhende Khola river.