BJP MLA inaugurates Tipu Jayanti, says people are important than party

Ballari, Jan 13: Police on Monday arrested more than 30 Congress activists, including Congress MLA B Z Zameer Ahmad, who were on the way to Ballari to stage a dharna in front of MLA G Somashekhar Reddy's residence after he delivered hate speech during a pro-CAA demonstration a week ago.

Ballari Superintendent of Police SP C K Baba said that Congress MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed has not been granted permission to stage a dharna in front of the Bellary MLA’s residence.

Zameer Ahmed had asked the police to arrest Mr Reddy after he delivered a provocative speech or he will stage a dharna in front of the later's house.

SP said, “Investigations into the complaints pertaining to the provocative speech by Bellary City MLA G Somashekar Reddy is underway. In-charge Dy SP Maheshwara Gouda has taken statements of the complainants and others related to the case. A charge sheet on the same will be submitted to the court soon."

Reddy has been booked for making a provocative speech during a pro-CAA protest here in Ballari last week in which he said that Hindus outnumbered Muslims.

Following the incident police provided high police security to the MLA house and sensitive area in the city.

New Delhi, April 5: Former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to offer a "credible scientific and rational" explanation for his candle-lighting call and said he is giving "meaningless tasks" to an already exhausted population.

The JD(S) leader questioned if the Prime Minister asked the nation to observe a candle-light vigil on the eve of foundation day of BJP.

"Has the PM slyly asked the nation to observe a candle light vigil on the eve of foundation day of BJP? April 6 being its foundation day, what else can explain the choice of date & time for this event? I challenge the PM to offer a credible scientific and rational explanation," Kumaraswamy tweeted.

"The government is yet to provide PPEs for doctors and make test kits affordable for the common man. Without telling the nation what concrete steps are being taken to combat COVID-19 menace, the prime minister is giving meaningless tasks to an already exhausted population," he tweeted.

"It is shameful to convert the national crisis into an event of self aggrandizement & it is beyond shameful to push the hidden agenda of his party in the face of global calamity. May sense prevail upon the PM," the JDS leader said in another tweet.

Amid a nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, Prime Minister Modi on Friday appealed to countrymen to light diyas and candles on April 5 at 9 pm to fight the darkness spread by the pandemic. He asked the people to turn off all the lights in their homes and stand at doors or balconies and light candles or diyas, torches or mobile flashlights for 9 minutes on April 5.

Last month, PM Modi had asked the people to come out in their balconies and clap and beat utensils to show appreciation for doctors, nurses and others helping fight coronavirus on 'Janata Curfew'.