Tipu Jayanthi: Hundreds of BJP workers arrested in Kodagu for violating Prohibitory orders

Agencies

November 10, 2018

Bengaluru, Nov 10: Hundreds of BJP workers, along with three BJP legislators were detained in Kodagu district when they protested against Karnataka government sponsored Tipu Jayanti Celebrations which was held amid tight police security on Saturday.

Protests by BJP workers and members of other right-wing organisations marked the Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Kodagu, which had witnessed violent incidents in 2015 leading to killing of two persons.

Police mounted tight security across the state with several districts coming under prohibitory orders under Sec 144 of CrPC.

In the state capital the government organised the celebrations at Banquet Hall in Vidhana Soudha despite protests by the BJP and other right wing organisations. Police screened every person entering the State Secretariat with official invitation and there were some curbs on even media persons.

However chief minister H D Kumaraswamy was conspirious in his absence at Vidhana Soudha as he was away from town on a three day rest as per the advise of doctors. He is staying with his family in a place near Mysuru. The grand function was held under the leadership of deputy chief minister G Parameshwara.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, the Chairman of the coordination committee of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government was honoured by minister Jamir Ahmed Khan and other Muslim leaders who presented him with a silver sword for his unstinted support for celebration of Tipu Jayanti.

The celebrations was organised by the government in most of the districts with heavy bandobust provided by the police. No untoward incidents were reported from any of these districts.

However, BJP opposes the celebration saying that the 19th century warrior king was a ‘bigot’ and had involved in murdering large number of Hindus in Karnataka and Kerala and also tried to force them for religious conversion.

In Kodagu, Virajpet former Legislative Assembly speaker and BJP MLA K G Bopaiah was arrested when he tried to take out a protest march of BJP workers despite the ban orders. Similarly MLC Sunil Subramanya along with large number of BJP workers was detained in Madikeri when they tried to stage a black flag demonstration and raised slogans against the government. Another Assembly member Apachu Ranjan representing Madikeri was also detained in the hilly town.

Mr Subramanya and Mr Ranjan were locked in a heated argument even as the party workers shouted slogans against the celebration wearing black robs and waving flags. The agitators aired slogans against the Congress-JD(S) coalition government.

The protest began when the police prevented people from entering the celebration venue for those who do not have invitation cards. BJP workers along with Mr Bopaiah were also arrested in Virajpet where they staged protest wearing block strips .

However, no protests by BJP workers in Mysuru as well as Srirangapatna, in Mandya district, official sources said.

The Mysuru city police have clamped prohibitory orders for two days from yesterday as precautionary measure and to maintain law and order.

In Srirangapatna, a large police presence is in place to ensure law and order.

Comments

All goons should be arrested.

Lol.. NDA govt used all agencies and institutions such as IT, CBI, RBI, etc against opposition. Now they are blaming KN govt for protecting law and order

Govt misusing police to suppress innocent BJP people

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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