The Karnataka Legislative cabinet on Monday decided to withdraw criminal cases against members of Hindutva groups, farmers and pro-Kannada activists. The decision was reportedly taken based on recommendations of a cabinet sub-committee.
Those among the list are some farmers and students, including members of the right-wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) who had barged into home minister Araga Jnanendra’s official residence in Bengaluru demanding a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates, according to the report.
Karnataka govt to withdraw cases against 33 Hindutva, Kannada activists
Some of the cases that were withdrawn are as follows.
2009: The case registered against Jagdeesh Karanth for making a #HateSpeech at a Hindu Jana Jagariti convention in Shira.
1/n— Mohammed Irshad (@Shaad_Bajpe) September 21, 2022
Here is a list of cases withdrawn against the Hindutva activists, who made hate speeches on several occasions.
Two cases registered against Jagadish Karanth for making a hate speech at a Hindu Jana Jagariti convention in Shira and another insulting the police during a protest against ‘Love Jihad’ in Doddaballapur in 2009 and 2011 respectively have been withdrawn.
A 2013 hate speech case against Hindu Jagran Vedike leaders DV Leeladhara, Subrahmanya Upadhyay, K.P. Jagadeesh and Jagadish Karanth in Sullia police station, Dakshina Kannada district.
Cases have been withdrawn against MP Ananth Kumar Hegde, Suresh Angadi when he was union minister, Sri Ram Sena President Ramakanta Konduskara, Vishva Hindu Parishad General Secretary Swaroop Kalakundri, MLA Sanjay Patil booked for purportedly making inflammatory speeches during Tipu Jayanti protest in 2015.
In Madikeri 2015, the BJP party and pro-Hindu organizations called a Kodagu bandh against Tipu Jayanti during which the accused had illegally carried iron rods and hurled stones at the police thereby obstructing the duty has also been taken back. During the violence, the glass of a district government hospital was damaged by stone pelting.
The cabinet has also decided to withdraw a case of assault on a policeman on duty in a case registered against the two communities at Halageri police station in Haveri in 2015 and a 2016 case against Municipal Councilor Umashankar for organizing an illegal gathering of 25 to 30 people on November 10 in Srirangapatna, while chanting illegal slogans.
A case registered at Ilawala police station in Mysore district against BJP Yuva Morcha workers who held a ‘Mangalore Chalo’ bike rally in 2017 is among the list of cases to be withdrawn.
Another case registered in Mudhol police station against Jagadish Karanth and a local member of HJV who made a provocative speech during the ‘Mudhola Chalo’ against the deportation of Sivananda Mallappa Badigera and eight others of the Hindutva group is likely to be taken back.
The state government has withdrawn these cases despite the Director General of Police, Prosecution and Government Litigation Department and Law Department reportedly opining that such a case should not be withdrawn, as it will undermine the morale of the society.
(With inputs)
