Action will be taken against Dharwad protesters who clashed with cops: Police Commissioner
Dharwad: Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar on Wednesday said action will be initiated against protesters who allegedly clashed with police personnel during a demonstration by job aspirants in Dharwad.
Addressing reporters a day after the large-scale protest, Kumar said activists of the Akhila Karnataka State Students’ Association deviated from the route permitted by the authorities, blocked Jubilee Circle and engaged in a scuffle with the police.
According to him, the entire protest was documented through five drones, more than 20 private videographers and CCTV cameras installed at various locations across the city.
“We will examine all available footage to ascertain whether there were violations of law and take appropriate action,” Kumar was quoted as saying by Deccan Herald.
He said barricades had been placed at multiple points to ensure that the protesters followed the designated route. However, some participants allegedly pushed aside the barricades and obstructed police personnel from carrying out their duties. A few police personnel sustained minor injuries during the scuffle, he added.
Kumar also said there was video evidence showing objects being thrown during the protest. According to him, water bottles were hurled at the scene. He noted that no cases had been registered so far and added that some of the participants had allegedly been involved in earlier protests where violations were reported.
The commissioner further said that permission had been granted for a rally by the Bharatiya Janata Party from Srinagar Circle to Michigan Compound. However, no approval had been given to the Akhila Karnataka State Students’ Association. “They joined the protest along with the BJP,” he said.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
