The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) became very vocal when the K’taka government substituted the words innocent minorities with all innocent in a revised circular.
Origin of the Circular
The genesis of the circular is when K’taka’s Chief Minister Siddaramaih withdrew the communal cases against minorities in the state. The subject matter has become a topic of politicking in the region. On Friday 26, Additional Inspector of General Police, Shivprakash Devraj wrote a copy of a circular to 22 Superintendents of police including police commissions. The letter stated that there was no response to the previous letters written that opined on the withdrawal of minority cases booked across police stations in the state from 2013 to 2017. The circular came as a reminder for the opinion sought from the different police officials and was to be accompanied by supporting documents.
The circular also reiterated that the view of the said police officials was sought on December 22, last year, reminder letters in January 2nd and 19th 2018. When the BJP got wind of the letter, or circular as the Chief Minister defended, they became vocal accusing the government of making a wrong move geared towards gaining votes come April 2018. BJP Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje reacted strongly adding that the blatant move was to appease the Muslim community.
Politicians Opinions on the Matter
In addition to BJP’s Shobha’s discontent, Jagdish Shettar who is the leader of opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly accused Congress of practicing dirty politics as the move is a form of appeasement politics geared towards garnering votes in April. The voices of discontent reiterated that how it is possible for the Karnataka government to release accused perpetrators before the court has determined whether they are innocent or guilty.
Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy defended Karnataka government decision to acquit the accused. He reiterated against BJP’s claim that the move was to appease Muslims. He stated that the letter stated minorities and not Muslims. He defined the meaning of minorities to include Christians, Muslims, Jains and Buddhists among others.
Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaih accused the BJP party of trying to polarize voters as a strategy to scatter Congress voters in the upcoming Assembly Elections in April. He asserted that the cases were against non-hard criminals such as farmers and activists. He added that the government is not seeking to pardon hard lined criminals who have committed or attempted to commit serious crimes.
