JOIN USThe state government's attempts to withdraw the cases registered against people of the minority communities in connection with communal riots in the state, has kicked up a political storm with the opposition BJP branding the Siddaramaiah government 'anti-Hindu'.
The office of the director general and inspector general of police (DG&IGP) on Thursday (January 25) wrote to the police chiefs of various districts including Mangaluru and Belagavi seeking their opinion on withdrawing such cases.
On January 2, the office of the DG&IGP had sought the local police officials to clarify their stand on withdrawing such cases booked against "innocent" minority community members in various police stations between 2013 and 2017.
The letter was sent to senior police officials of Tumakuru, Kolar, Ramanagaram, Chikkaballapur, Mysuru, Hassan, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Bidar and Yadgiri.
Another letter was written on January 19. However, as there was no response to that letter, the top cop's office sent a reminder. The district police was asked to furnish necessary documents pertaining to these cases.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, said that the government was mulling over withdrawing cases against pro-Kannada activists, farmers and others, and not just those registered against minorities. He said that the government will take a final call only after taking the Home department's opinion.
Condemning the government's stance, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje said that the move was "dangerous to democracy".
"Why can't Siddaramaiah withdraw cases registered against innocent Hindus also? By withdrawing cases registered against jihadists, you are allowing communal violence and further killings of Hindus," she said. BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao alleged that Siddaramaiah was behind the killings of BJP workers.
"He has now directed the police to withdraw communal-related cases registered against minorities. His intention is to create trouble during the elections. Siddaramaiah is with those supporting terrorists and encouraging illegal entry of Bangladeshis into Bengaluru," he added.