CM defends Kempaiah on Hanuma rally unrest allegations

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday defended his close aide and advisor to Home Minister, Kempaiah, who has been accused of provoking unrest during the Hanuma rally, where BJP MP Pratap Simha was arrested.

Following his release, Simha had accused Mysuru Superintendent of Police Ravi Channannavar for being more "loyal" to Kempaiah than the police department. Simha had also reacted saying Channannavar had imposed "unnecessary" restrictions for the rally led by him.

Reacting to Simha's comments, Siddaramaiah said, "Kempaiah may have spoken to Mysuru SP Ravi Channannavar about law and order situation - there is nothing wrong in it."

Simha has attacked the SP and blamed the Mysuru district police for filing unnecessary charges against Hindu devotees. He said, "Don't blame the Deputy Commissioner for your failures and that of the Police department. The DC has imposed restrictions, based on the reports of the Police department. It's time you introspect whether you are loyal to the police duty or to Home Minister's advisor Kempaiah."

Siddaramaiah also said that Simha lacked political maturity. "The police had indicated the route to be taken during Hanuma Jayanti. Despite this, Simha created the ruckus."

The CM added that he was unaware of NSUI's complaint to party general secretary K S Venugopal against Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi.

On Tuesday, NSUI state president Manjunatha H S submitted a petition to Venugopal against Rayareddi, accusing him of supporting those involved in the 'marks card scam' affecting students and universities across the state.