Home Minister slams Simha for repeatedly violating law

Reddy defends police against BJP MP

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Monday said Mysore-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha would face action for 'derogatory' remarks on historical figures, while coming down heavily on the BJP leader for "repeatedly violating law."

Simha was criticised for his remarks on Onake Obavva and Kittur Rani Chennamma on social media. "The police has already registered a complaint. It will be investigated and action will be taken," Reddy told reporters.

Reddy also defended the police action against Simha, who was arrested during the Hanuma Jayanti procession in Hunsur in Mysuru district on Sunday. "The procession was to have followed a roadmap that the police had approved. The BJP deviated from the roadmap. As a result, Simha was arrested. Law is the same for everybody, including me and him," he said. "As a member of parliament, Simha should know what the law is. It is wrong that he is repeatedly violating the law."

He taunted the BJP to hold a workshop to teach its leaders the importance of respecting the law. "Leaders like Simha, B S Yeddyurappa and Ananthkumar Hegde need to be in this workshop," he said.

Reddy refuted claims that the government was going soft on Simha. "That's not true. There is no hesitation on our part to take action if anyone violates law."

Gauri murder probe

Reddy refused to take questions on the investigation into journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder. "It's a serious issue, but I will not take any questions on this," he said. In the past, Reddy had claimed that the special investigation team (SIT) probing the murder had "vital clues" and that the case would be cracked soon. Gauri was shot dead by bike-borne assailants outside her Rajarajeshwarinagar home in Bengaluru on September 5.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will investigate last week's attack on a journalist in Tumakuru. Reddy directed the CID to take it up following a petition submitted to him by a delegation of journalists. BTV new channel's Vageesh was attacked allegedly by BJP workers while he was reporting.