Mangaluru (TNN): Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik has taken exception to the state health department releasing an anti-TB poster with the picture of Hindu God Narasimha. Muthalik has sought an unconditional apology from minister for health and family welfare U T Khader and officials for the 'lapse.'
The poster released under Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) programme contains information on tuberculosis and medicines available under DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short).
All such information are superimposed on a colourful picture of Lord Narasimha. In the poster, Narasimha %has a dozen hands with names of generic drugs (ethambutol, rifampicin, streptomycin, isoniazid, pyrazinamid etc) available under the DOTS programme. The poster was published by Bengaluru City District Health and Family Welfare Committee by district tuberculosis control officer Dr Nadeem Ahmed and DHO Dr NM Prabhuchandra.
"The poster is against the sentiments of the religion. Health minister U T Khader should order the poster to be withdrawn and apologize to the people of the state," Muthalik said and warned that the Sene will hold a statewide agitation if Khader does not respond. Muthalik also urged the government to given prominence to Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains and Parsis in the Karnataka State Minorities Commission.
"A commission for minorities has been set up for the welfare of all the minority people. However, it is being headed only Muslim community leaders for several years. Even the handbills and letterheads of the commission are printed giving prominence to Urdu. This is violation of constitutional rights," he alleged.
