Bengaluru: Karnataka Revenue Minister R Ashoka on Monday claimed that Siddaramaiah-led Congress government withdrew cases that were filed against 1,600 PFI workers while in power, and even released a poster titled “PFI Bhagya” with the former Chief Minister’s picture on it.

The Minister released also some documents to support his claims that the previous Congress government had withdrawn cases against the PFI workers.

“PFI Bhagya” on the poster is a pun on various welfare schemes launched by Siddaramaiah government during his tenure, as most of them had the word bhagya (welfare) in their name.

“When the BJP was in power in July 2009, 175 cases were filed against 1,600 PFI and KFD (Karnataka Forum for Dignity) workers for rioting in Shivamogga and Mysuru,” Ashoka said.

Noting that in December 2012 Congress MLA Tanveer Sait wrote to the government seeking withdrawal of cases claiming that the accused were innocent, he said in 2015, the Siddaramaiah government ordered withdrawal of the 175 cases despite the opinions of the Director General of Police and Law Secretary against it.

Ashoka stated that the PFI workers were trained in Kodagu, Mysuru, and Mangaluru on how to slit somebody’s throat while riding a bike and how to cause riots like they did at K G Halli and D J Halli in Bengaluru.

There were even reports that retired police officers from Kerala trained them on how to kill without attracting legal action, he said.

He even demanded an apology from Congress leaders, including Siddaramiah, for having committed the mistake by withdrawing cases against the PFI.

BENGALURU: Ahead of the Congress party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra’s entry into poll-bound Karnataka, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided several properties belonging to KPCC chief D K Shivakumar and asked his family members to provide property papers and other documents.ADVERTISEMENThttps://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.534.0_en.html#goog_1059686184https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.534.0_en.html#goog_1059686185https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.534.0_en.html#goog_1059686186https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.534.0_en.html#goog_1059686187https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/core/bridge3.534.0_en.html#goog_1059686188Ads by 

The agency carried out the search and seizure operations at the Congress leader’s properties in Doddalahalli, Kanakapura and Santekodihalli. Confirming the raids, Shivakumar said, “CBI teams have visited my houses in Doddalahalli, Kanakapura and Santekodihalli. I had already given details of my property papers. Disproportionate assets cases have been filed against others too, including those in the BJP. But the CBI is being used only against me, whereas cases against others are being handled by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).’’ 

Raid done to disrupt Yatra, says Siddu

KPCC president DK Shivakumar added, “I had sought time from CBI and explained that I am busy with elections and other party programmes. I had written a letter to officers here as well as in Delhi. I do not know why they are doing it at this time. They seem to be in a great hurry. It is mentally tormenting for me. I am from a village. I cannot magically create property papers. Whatever I possess, I have earned over the years, details of which I have already given to the Election Commission, ED and I-T department”. Reacting to the raids, senior Congress leader and former CM Siddaramaiah said, “This is done to disrupt the Bharat Jodo Yatra. It is politically motivated.’’

Janata Dal (S) leader and former CM H D Kumaraswamy said, “There is so much corruption in the state government and still there is no action being taken. All measures are directed against only those who are in the Opposition.’’

Congress chief whip in the Rajya Sabha and party general secretary, in-charge of Karnataka, Dr Syed Nasir Hussain told TNIE, “Modi government has brought in ED, IT, CBI, and election departments of the BJP to target Shivakumar. This is a knee-jerk reaction to the overwhelming public support the Congress is receiving for its Bharat Jodo Yatra.

It may be recalled that Congress leaders had protested when Shivakumar was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) about a fortnight ago.

BENGALURU/KALABURAGI: BJP National General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Arun Singh on Wednesday claimed that the Congress is imploding, even as former AICC president Rahul Gandhi is taking out the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’.ADVERTISEMENTAds by 

“Everyone knows what happened to Congress in Punjab, Goa and now in Rajasthan. Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are fighting in Rajasthan. The party will face a similar situation in Karnataka because of the tussle between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar,” the BJP leader said in Bengaluru.

Singh slammed Congress for its ‘PayCM’ campaign and asked its leaders to apologise to the people of Karnataka. Dismissing Congress’ demand for a judicial probe into the ‘40 per cent commission’ allegation made by the contractors’ association, he said Congress is making baseless allegations against the government as they do not have any other issue to discuss.

“Congress is a leaderless party without any vision and that is why it is wiped out of the country. In Karnataka too, it will be erased after the 2023 Assembly polls and BJP will return to power,” he said.

BJP slams Congress’ scams

“The ‘PayCM’ campaign and pasting posters of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is an insult to the common man of the state and Congress leaders should apologise,” he added.Later in Kalaburgi, he said Congress has no moral right to speak about corruption as a number of scams, including irregularities in foodgrain distribution and teacher recruitments, have taken place when Siddaramaiah was the chief minister.

On dissenting voices within BJP, he said there might be differences of opinion but no dissent in the party. BJP will improve its position in the Kalyana-Karnataka region in the Assembly elections, he asserted.

BENGALURU:  The ruling BJP unanimously welcomed the decision to ban the Popular Front of India across the country, while opposition parties were more circumspect, saying, “All those whipping up communal hate should be banned.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said there is no place for disruptive activities in the country when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are at the helm. “Most of the important leaders of PFI were trained across the border and were operating from there. PFI was involved in many disruptive activities for many years and their actions across states have been proved. All the states and leaders from Congress, CPI and CPI(M) had requested the Centre to ban the anti-national organisation. No one should be in touch with banned or associated organisations,’’ he warned.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said, “If the government takes action against any organisation that acts against the law and disturbs peace in society, we will not oppose it. Similar action should also be taken against RSS and other organisations. The government should ban any organisation that disturbs peace and harmony and indulges in politics of hate.’’

JDS senior leader HD Kumaraswamy said, “I urge the government to place all documents against PFI before the people on how it is encouraging riots. Strict action should be taken if any organisation indulges in anti-social activities. Facts related to NIA raids should be placed before the people. It cannot be said that complete peace will prevail as soon as PFI is banned. The government should take everyone into confidence and promote harmony.’’

Congress and Dalit leader Dr HC Mahadevappa said, “Banning PFI is a welcome move. Any organisation, like the RSS, SDPI, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Parishad, that creates communal hatred should be banned.’’  Home Minister Araga Jnanendra and BJP state president Nalin Kateel took to social media to welcome the ban.

BJP National General Secretary CT Ravi said, “Now it is the turn of society to ban them. I welcome the ban on PFI and its affiliates for supporting ISIS-type terrorists, civil war and sedition within the country. We should be careful and not form subversive and divisive organisations within society. No political party should indulge in politics around the ban for appeasement and immediate political gains. Then the task of freeing society from the hands of these evil forces will be hampered.”

He told the parties, “Politically, you have benefited as far as the future of the country is concerned. Patriotic Muslims should think and create awareness against anti-nationalism and bigotry to protect the security of the country and dignity of society. After the ban, there is a possibility of evil elements belonging to PFI operating underground, inciting society and participating in anti-national activities. If any such incidents come to their notice, I appeal to them to immediately inform the police and join hands with law enforcement agencies to avoid any further problems.”

Power and Kannada Culture Minister V Sunil Kumar said that those who funded and supported PFI will be investigated in the coming days. “The ban on PFI is welcome. I congratulate Modi and Shah for taking a tough decision,” he added.

SHIVAMOGGA: The police custody of the two arrested terror suspects, with alleged links with banned terrorist organisation ISIS, has been extended by five days till September 30.  The custody of the two accused, Maaz and Syed Yasin, was to end on Monday (September 26), and was extended by the 3rd JMFC court here on Monday.  Shivamogga Rural police took the two to McGann Hospital for medical check up before producing them before the court.

Shivamogga SP Lakshmiprasad said the extension of the custody will help the police in its probe. “We will also be questioning those known to the accused and have been serving notices to them”, he said. When asked about the prime accused Shariq, Lakshmiprasad said, “We have no concrete information about him, but are looking for clues,” he said. The SP clarified that no operations have been conducted nor any arrests made in Koppal.

BENGALURU: Former Karnataka chief minister SM Krishna was admitted to Manipal hospital on the old airport road in Bengaluru on Saturday night. 

He is suffering from acute respiratory tract infection. His condition is stable. He is on minimal respiratory support and in a cheerful frame of mind. His health status is being monitored by Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar, doctors who are treating him said.

The team treating him also includes Dr Satyanarayana Mysore, head of the department, Pulmonology and Dr Sunil Karanth head of the department, intensive care at Manipal hospital.

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai carried out a scathing attack on the Congress, which is running the ‘PayCM’ and ‘40% commission’ campaign against the BJP government, saying the party had no moral right to talk about corruption. 

Speaking to media persons after the 10-day joint session of the State Legislature here on Friday, Bommai said the Congress had scams in each step. “The BJP had released a book on its (Congress’) corruption. Being corrupt, they are running a campaign against corruption. Let them do anything, ultimately truth will always triumph. It thinks that saying a lie repeatedly will become truth but people know the truth,” he said.
Terming the contractors’ association a Congress-sponsored association, Bommai said it had written the letter a year ago but had not provided even a piece of evidence.  

Further, Bommai charged that Congress, instead of producing any proof, had indulged in making “hit and run” allegations. “ Siddaramaiah must say who has given 40% commission. We were ready to listen and hence sat in the House for the whole day. Seeing their behaviour today gave a feeling that there was no unanimity among them,” he added. He said the PSI recruitment scam raised by the Opposition has boomeranged on them. ‘Kai pe’ campaign by BJP The BJP is coming up with “Kai pe” campaign to counter ‘PayCM ‘ campaign.

BENGALURU: Taking the ‘PayCM’ campaign to the next level, senior Congress leaders, including AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah, KPCC president DK Shivakumar and other leaders pasted the “PayCM-40% commission” posters on Race Course Road on Friday. Congress leaders were protesting against the arrest of party’s social media team members involved in the campaign on Thursday. 

Surjewala said it is not a Congress, but a people’s campaign. “It is for accountability and transparency in Karnataka, and the service of the people. This government serves only a few who are mired in corruption. We will throw out the BJP government and place the Congress government, which will be accountable, honest and transparent.”

Siddaramaiah said, “Contractors are ready to submit all the evidence if a judicial investigation is initiated.”

Actor files plaint against Congress
Akhil Iyer, an actor, on Friday approached the Cyber Crime police to file a case against Congress for using his photo without his consent on its campaign posters.

One of his media friends told Iyer that his photo has been used in the Congress poster that has gone viral. He had taken the photo 12 years ago and used it as a profile photo in his social media account, said Iyer (34), who lives in Bengaluru.

BENGALURU: The Legislative Council on Thursday witnessed acrimonious scenes over the action of the Bengaluru City Police against Congress workers, who are allegedly involved in the “Paycm” poster campaign targeting Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and the BJP Government in the state.Congress MLCs protested against the arrest of their party workers for pasting the posters and demanded their immediate release.

They also questioned the police for taking action only against Congress workers, when the BJP members too had put up social media posts with former CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC president DK Shivakumar’s photographs.

Law Minister JC Madhuswamy hit out at the Opposition MLCs for trying to protect those involved in such a campaign against the CM. “How can we tolerate such acts? We have to act against them and the government will take action if there is a complaint about Congress leaders’ posters too,” the minister said, adding, “As it is, people do not respect politicians and we have been projected as villains.” He requested the Congress not to protect those involved in the campaign against the CM.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said they are ready for any debate on corruption, and the Congress members should allow the Question Hour to continue.However, as the government justified the police action, Opposition members rushed to the well of the house holding placards and raised slogans. The ruling BJP members too resorted to raising slogans against the Congress, while holding placards.

For several minutes, the House was not in order, even as the Pro-tem Chairman tried to conduct the proceedings. The Bills that were earlier passed in the Assembly, were done so in the council amid the din. Angered by the Pro-tem Chairman’s decision to pass the Bills in this way, some opposition members including Congress Chief Whip Prakash Rathod stood on their chairs, while a few others rushed towards the Pro-tem Chairman’s chair. Members from the ruling and Opposition parties continued sloganeering, even after the council was adjourned.

After the House was reconvened, Opposition leader BK Hariprasad said the government should take criticism in the right spirit, instead of resorting to police action. “Two members of our party’s social media team have been arrested. The police went to their houses at midnight and terrorised their families. But the police did not even question former minister KS Eshwarappa in the contractor’s suicide case. Former minister BT Lalitha Nayak has received death threats nine times and the police could not trace the accused,” he charged.

Madhuswamy said the arrests were made as a case was registered, to which Hariprasad quipped that the police were refusing to even take their complaint. As Madhuswamy requested Opposition members to cooperate since just a day was left for the session to end, the latter obliged.

NEW DELHI: After an extensive hearing of 10 days, the Supreme Court bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia on Thursday reserved a verdict in pleas challenging Karnataka HC’s ruling of upholding the ban of hijab in educational institutions. Justice Gupta is to retire on October 16 and thus it is likely that the bench may announce the verdict by October 14. 

Referring to a part of the circular said that that certain religious observances were causing problems in the campus and interfering with unity, senior advocate Dushyant Dave in his rejoinder submissions told the bench that the circular dated February 5, 2022, had no reference to the Popular Front of India.

He said that he “regrets” that allegation made by the state that the controversy was provoked by a social media movement started by the PFI was without any pleading and wasn’t mentioned in the HC. Relying on the guidelines issued by the Department of Education in 2021-22, Dave said that the guidelines said that uniform was not compulsory. He also added that wearing of hijab in Islam for some people who were believers was essential and for those who were not believers was not essential. 

Supporting Dave’s contention on the aspect of the involvement of PFI in fuming the controversy, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi contended that the Government Order which restrained students to wear customary Islamic headscarves was illegal and sought to target a particular community. 

“I can understand if the circular says no religious symbol is allowed. The circular speaks only of the head scarf. Even though it purports to be neutral it targets a particular community. Circular’s purport has to be read as a whole. It is strange that the State, which should be concerned about educating girls, is concerned more about discipline and is enforcing this which can lead to denying education to girls,” Ahmadi argued. 

Stressing on the intent behind the development of “essential religious practice test”, senior advocate Salman Khurshid for the students argued that the test was developed to balance the rights, to remove things which have grown on religion, so that religion does not suffer.