Don't politicise the issue, says home minister

Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday said the Opposition parties should not politicise the issue of some students shouting anti-India slogans recently in Bengaluru. Speaking to reporters, he took exception to BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa writing to Union Home Rajnath Singh on the issue.

“The police in Karnataka are capable of investigating the case. Using the issue for political gains is not proper. The government has already initiated action against those who shouted anti-India slogans,” he added. The minister denied charges by the BJP that the police caned members of Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for staging a protest in front of Raj Bhavan, condemning those who shouted anti-India slogans. “Every citizen has a right to protest. But one has to take permission from the authorities concerned. Otherwise, it leads to a law and order problem. The ABVP members had not obtained permission. Hence, the police only stopped them from staging the protest,” he said.

On reports that some students of Sri Siddartha Institute of Technology in Tumakuru shouted anti-India slogans, he said the police are looking into it. Statements given witnesses and students on the issue are contradictory, Parameshwara, who runs the Institute, added.