Move to withdraw cases against INNOCENT minorities is ‘anti-democratic’: Shobha

The Karnataka BJP on Saturday described the government's attempts to withdraw cases filed against innocent minorities in communal incidents as "anti-democratic" and against "secular norms" and sought that the proposal be dropped immediately.

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, BJP state general secretary Shobha Karandlaje termed the proposal as "unacceptable" and "dangerous". "Never before in the political history of the state has any government set such a dangerous precedent, which is grossly communal and has the potential to disturb law, order, peace and tranquillity," she said.

Shobha accused the government of practising politics of minority appeasement. She said every government in the past had withdrawn cases filed against Kannada activists and farmers and it was the prerogative of the state cabinet. "But, it was not on the basis of majority or minority. In the present case, the circular by the Director General and Inspector General of Police (DG&IGP) clearly states that the cases filed against minorities need to be withdrawn. This is deplorable," Shobha said.

She said the circular by the DG&IGP made it clear that the government was misusing police machinery to further its political and electoral ends.

"The attempt to project only minorities as innocent is unfortunate. This goes against the oath taken by the chief minister that he will do justice and provide equality to all sections of society without bias or discrimination," she said.

The Siddaramaiah government, however, rejected the BJP charge and said the circular was applicable to innocents belonging to various minority communities and also involves those arrested during agitations over inter-state water disputes.

The circular by Assistant Inspector General of Police Shivaprakash Devaraju and addressed to police commissioners of Mangaluru, Belagavi and superintendents of police of various districts asked them to withdraw cases against the innocent minorities booked on charges of rioting and other offences.

Rubbishing the BJP’s claim of "Muslim appeasement" by Congress party ahead of coming assembly polls in the state, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy clarified that the communique, dated January 25, referred to all minorities including Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs.