Udupi: Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti Ambedkar Vad District General Convener Manjunath Gilliyaru has criticized former minister Pramod Madhwaraj and former MLA Raghupathi Bhat for exposing their 'regressive mentality' by justifying the heinous act of tying a Dalit woman to a tree and assaulting her in Malpe.

He was speaking after presiding over an emergency meeting of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti Ambedkar Vad District Committee in Udupi on Sunday regarding the Malpe incident.

These politicians, who appear to be in a competition to gain political mileage, have made provocative statements to incite the Mogaveera community against Dalits. Furthermore, they are also issuing threats to the marginalized community, he alleged.

State Organizing Coordinator Sundar Master stated that the Dalit community working in the port will not remain silent if they are harassed. The issue of the Lambani community being driven out of the port and threatened has already come to the committee's attention. He urged the district administration and police department to take immediate and appropriate action.

"Instead of shouting and naming the office bearers of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti during the protest in Malpe, let them come forward for a discussion. We are ready to respond appropriately. As a progressive organization, it is our primary duty to fight against atrocities committed against the oppressed in any part of the country," he asserted.

Mysuru Divisional Organizing Coordinator Shyamaraj Birti emphasized that Malpe port is government property and not the private possession of any individual.

"Everyone has the right to work and earn a livelihood there. This is not Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, where slum-like conditions prevail. Such hooliganism should be completely eradicated in Udupi, a district known for its intelligence and harmony," he said.

The meeting was attended by District Organizing Coordinators Shyamsunder Thekkatte, Rajendra Master Belle, Manjunath Naguru, Suresh Hakladi, Bhaskar Master, Sridhara Kunjibettu, Annappa Nakre, as well as Taluk Coordinators Raju Bettinamane, Manjunath Balkudru, Raghava Belle, Harishchandra Birti, Shivaram Kapu, Kusuma Hangarakatte, Sivananda Birti, Ramesh Maravante, Krishna, Suresh Barkur, Shivraj Bynduru, and Ratnakara Kunjibettu.

The Dalit Sangharsh Samiti has commended the police department for filing a suo moto case against former minister Pramod Madhwaraj over his provocative speech during the Malpe protest.

Superintendent of Police Dr. Arun Kumar has made the right decision at the right time in the Malpe incident. The Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti stands in support of him on the Ambedkar principle and will continue to back the Superintendent of Police in this just struggle, said Shyamaraj Birti.

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Gokarna (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday said that the government will examine Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna's petition on alleged attempts to "honeytrap" him, judiciously within the framework of law and take necessary action.

Rajanna on Tuesday had submitted a petition to Parameshwara seeking a probe and necessary action on an alleged attempt to "honeytrap" him.

"He (Rajanna) has given me a petition, we (govt) will examine it within the framework of law and take further action," Parameshwara said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "What he (Rajanna) has given me is a petition. Complaint cannot be given to me as I'm not a police station. We will examine the petition judiciously within the framework of law and take action."

The Home Minister on Tuesday had said that the government will decide on the further course of action and the nature of the probe in connection with the case, after consulting with the legal team and after discussing with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Last Thursday, Rajanna had informed the Assembly that honeytrap attempts were made on him and that at least 48 politicians across parties had fallen victim to such acts.

The issue created a stir in the Assembly, prompting the Home Minister to announce a high-level probe while the opposition demanded a judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court judge.