Former CM Siddaramaiah raises question over Mangaluru Police firing and lathi charge on December 19
Mangaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramaiah on Monday raised questions over the December 19, Mangaluru Police firing incident and added that despite orders of Chief Minister Yediyurappa to not to lathi charge on the protesters, they police killed two people in firing. Siddaramaiah raised questions if there were ‘invisible hands’ superseding the Chief Minister himself.
In a series of tweet on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah blamed the police department and asked if they can lathi charge and fire on protesters at a time when the CM himself has come out against such actions only a day before.
The former CM also slammed the police department for not not submitting any evidence to the court to show that the protesters possessed weapons. He also added that the police had arrested 21 people in the case and has now failed to convince the court that those people had participated in the protest.
In another tweet the Congress leader added that the police department had issued permission on December 18 for protests but imposed section 144 on the same evening. The lack of adequate publicity led to more than 150 people gathered on December 19 for the protest.
One day before Mangaluru Golibar took place, @BSYBJP had told that he has ordered not to lathicharge. But Golibar place the next day killing 2 innocent lives. This means that there are invisible hands superceding Chief Minister. Can they lathicharge & fire without orders?
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 19, 2020
Police dept had given permission on December 18 to conduct peaceful protest on Dec 19. They imposed Sec 144 the same evening. Due to lack of adequate publicity, more than 150 people gathered on Dec 19 to organise peaceful protest.#AssembySession
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 19, 2020
Instead of conveying the information about Sec 144 to the protestors & convincing them to go back in a civil manner, police lathicharged the crowd & opened the fire killing 2 innocent people.#AssemblySession
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) February 19, 2020
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Gehlot changes profile pic to 'Save Aravalli', asks Centre to reconsider definition
Jaipur (PTI): Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday urged the Centre to reconsider its definition of the Aravallis, warning that any damage to the mountain range posed a serious threat to the ecological future of north India.
Gehlot, a former Rajasthan chief minister, changed his social media profile picture in support of the nationwide 'SaveAravalli' campaign amid growing debate over mining and environmental safeguards in the Aravalli Range.
It was his symbolic protest against the new interpretation under which hills lower than 100 metres are no longer being recognised as part of the Aravalli system, he said.
ALSO READ:In open letter, RJD MP appeals to parliamentarians to oppose VB-G RAM G Bill
"The Aravalli cannot be judged by tape measures or height alone. It must be assessed by its ecological importance," Gehlot said, adding that the revised definition raised "a big question" over the future of north India.
Appealing to the Centre and the Supreme Court, Gehlot said the issue must be reconsidered in the interest of future generations and environmental security. He also urged citizens to participate in the campaign by changing their display pictures online to draw attention to the issue.
He said the Aravalli range functioned as a natural green wall against the expansion of the Thar desert and extreme heatwaves, protecting Delhi, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Opening up smaller hills and so-called gap areas for mining would allow desertification to advance rapidly, he warned.
Gehlot also flagged concerns over air pollution, saying the hills and forests of the Aravallis acted as the "lungs" of the National Capital Region by checking dust storms and absorbing pollutants.
"When pollution levels are so alarming even with the Aravalli standing, one can imagine how disastrous the situation will be without it," he said.
Highlighting the water crisis, the former chief minister said the rocky terrain of the Aravallis played a crucial role in groundwater recharge by channelising rainwater underground.
"If the hills are destroyed, drinking water shortages will intensify, wildlife will disappear and the entire ecology will be pushed into danger," he said.
Gehlot argued that, from a scientific perspective, the Aravallis was a continuous chain and that even smaller hillocks were as vital as higher peaks.
