Bengaluru, September 5: “RSS and BJP have been playing with the basic objectives of our culture, history of the country and the intention of the Constitution. You might be the great sportsmen. You should not forget that the people of the county have been watching your games seriously like umpires”, said JNU Students Union former president Kanhaiya Kumar.

Speaking at the valedictory of the ‘Dissent India’ at the Freedom of Expression convention here on Wednesday, he said that the copies of the Constitution were being burnt near Jantar Mantar in Delhi and shouting slogans against Dr BR Ambedkar. For the last four and half years, the Constitution has been facing threat inside the country. “One year was passed after the murder of Gauri Lankesh. A few days ago, my friend Umar Khalid was attacked. We believed in science. How much they try to suppress us, we will bounce back in the same pace”, he added.

“Even if you attack on us, put us in jails, brand us as urban naxals and traitors and anti-Hindus, we will not go back from our objective. If we speak on unemployment, farmers, labourers, dalits, tribals and minorities, those who claim that they have brought Hindu administration, would say that Hindus are in trouble. You are telling the half truth to the people. Hindus are in trouble because, Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister of the country”, he said.  

In the name of naxalism, the common people were being kept away from their real problems. Though they have clarified that they would not support any act which is anti-Constitutional, the government has put the writers behind bars branding them as urban naxals. The central government has no answers to their questions. Ever since Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister, 12,000 farmers have committed suicide. But the insurance companies have made Rs 10,000 crore profit in the name of crop insurance schemes, he said.

Saffron colour is a symbol of courage. The colour of the clothes of Basavanna, Sambhaji Maharaj, Sahu Maharaj, Buddha, Swami Agnivesh was saffron. But you people wear saffron colour clothes and kill innocent Muslims. It was not a courageous work. It was coward work, he said.

Gujarat MLA and dalit leader Jignesh Mevani said that there was undeclared emergency in the country. Narendra Modi-led BJP government has been putting the writers and activists behind bars branding them as urban naxals. So he would fight for defeating the BJP. When the Assembly election was held in the state, there were not even a single code violation cases against the leaders of Congress, JDS and BJP. But the government had booked three cases against him and thus tried to curb the fight, he said.

“Five years have gone after killing Dabholkar in Maharashtra. Soon after the SIT traced the foot-prints of Sanatan Sanstha members in the Gauri Lankesh murder, the Maharashtra police arrested the Sanatan Sanstha members in a hurry. If the Karnataka police arrested them and brought to Karnataka, Modi and Amit Shah could not do anything here”.

-Kanhaiya Kumar, JNU students leader

 

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Bengaluru: Kumara Chandrashekharanath Swamiji, head of the Vishva Okkaliga Mahasansthana Mutt, has expressed regret over his controversial statement suggesting that "Muslims should be denied voting rights."

In a press release, Swamiji clarified, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."

He further added, "Okkaligas are inherently tolerant of all religions. We have always treated people of every faith equally. Our Mutt maintains cordial relations with Muslims, and they frequently visit us. Similarly, we attend their weddings and other joyous occasions. Hence, there is no intolerance towards this community." Swamiji appealed to the public to disregard the controversy surrounding his remark.

The controversial statement was made during a farmers' rally, ‘Raita Gharjana,’ organised by the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, Karnataka Pradesh, at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Tuesday. Addressing the gathering, Swamiji had said, "A law should be enacted to deny voting rights to the Muslim community, and the Wakf Board should be abolished."

The remark drew widespread criticism from political leaders and the public alike. Following the backlash, Swamiji issued his apology, stating, "Muslims are also citizens of this country. Like everyone else, they too have voting rights. If my statement yesterday has caused discomfort to our Muslim brothers, I sincerely apologise for it."