Bengaluru: IISC faces backlash for hosting India-Israel business summit
A protest was held against the Indian Institute of Science (IISC) on Monday, September 23, condemning the institution for hosting the India-Israel Business Summit amid ongoing violence by Israel in Palestine and Lebanon. The protest was organised by the Bengaluru Palestine Solidarity (BPS).
The protesters, who included activists and academicians, expressed their objections to the involvement of IISC, along with other institutions such as IIM Bangalore, IIIT Bangalore, NIAS, and the Government of Karnataka, in supporting the summit during a time of heightened conflict.
The summit, organised by Think India, the Indian Chamber of International Business, and the Mysore Lancers Heritage Foundation, is set to discuss bilateral trade and investments between India and Israel, with specific focus areas including defence and cybersecurity, startups and venture capital, and sustainable technology.
The protesters opposed IISC’s decision to host the event, particularly given Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, which have resulted in the deaths and injuries of thousands. They said that by hosting the summit, IISC and other participating institutions were ignoring global calls for a boycott and arms embargo against Israel, and undermining international principles of justice and human rights.
BPS also condemned the Bengaluru police who allegedly threatened to disrupt the event. The police allowed the protest to continue, only after seizing the Palestine flag from them.
“When Aishwarya from Bangalore for Justice and Peace, started to address the media, the police interrupted the event. They insisted that the Palestinian flag be removed, and attempted to shut down the press conference. The flag was snatched from one of the protesters' hands. Only after it, the press conference was allowed to be continued,” the one of the protesters told TNM.
Condemning IISC’s association with Israel, amid accusations of its human rights violations, Clifton D’ Rozario, General Secretary of All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ), said, “We are witnessing a genocide in Palestine, with women and children being killed, and yet our institutions are partnering with Israel for business. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has directed states not to engage with Israel on these grounds, and it's deeply troubling that IISC continues to facilitate such events.”
"Today, Palestine has become a testing ground for Israel's weapons. Do we not have a moral spine? Palestinian people have the right to exist. This is not business as usual; it's about the future of our young minds, and we are deeply pained by this and stand firmly against this,” said Madhu Bhushan, a feminist activist.
Earlier, a group of over 1,600 students and faculty members from universities across India and abroad had also urged the IISC in Bengaluru to cancel the India-Israel Business Summit. The letter, addressed to IISC Director Govindan Rangarajan, expressed strong opposition to the event, arguing that hosting it would equate to "direct support for Israel's genocide in Palestine and its aggressive actions against its neighbors."
The letter spoke of the devastating impact of Israel's ongoing genocidal war in Gaza. “As you know, Israel is currently engaged in a brutal war. In this campaign, Israel has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children. A report in the Lancet suggested that the true casualties might be four times higher, which would amount to about 10% of Gaza's total population. Israel has destroyed every University in Gaza. It has also destroyed healthcare facilities, leading to the resurgence of diseases such as polio. The World Food Agency estimates that 96% of Gazans are facing food insecurity. Alongside, Israel has also launched brutal raids on the West Bank and just this last week, Israel engaged in terrorist attacks in Lebanon by remotely detonating electronic devices, many of which were in civilian areas,” the letter said.
The students and faculty members further referred to a July ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which determined that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is in violation of international law and must end as soon as possible. The letter expressed particular concern over the summit's planned focus on defense and cybersecurity, which, according to the signatories, would provide a platform to "legitimize genocide and colonialism."
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.
CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
