Vishwavani editor Vishweshwar Bhat apologizes before NCW for ‘demeaning' remarks on President Murmu
New Delhi: Vishweshwar Bhat, editor-in-chief of the Kannada daily ‘Vishwavani’, has tendered an unconditional apology before the National Commission for Women (NCW) for the allegedly demeaning remarks he had made against President Droupadi Murmu.
Rekha Sharma, chairperson of the Commission, has said that Bhat, who appeared before the Commission, submitted the apology in writing, reported Deccan Herald.
She added, “Vishweshwar Bhat has said that he had no malafide intention of demeaning the President. We will send the detailed proceedings with an apology letter to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.”
The Commission had taken cognizance of a tweet published in ‘Vishwavani’ along with paper clippings of an opinion piece. The Commission, stating that the post was demeaned the President of India, had sent a notice to Bhat. While the editor of the daily was told to appear in person for a hearing on October 26, he had reportedly requested for time till November 2.
@NCWIndia has taken cognizance of the demeaning post against the Hon'ble President. The Commission has sent a notice to the journalist to appear in person for a hearing on 26.10.2022 at 12.30pm. @sharmarekha https://t.co/bH7fTltsNe
— NCW (@NCWIndia) October 21, 2022
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BJP MLAs storm Speaker’s chamber over conduct in Karnataka Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka), Dec 12: Tensions flared in the Karnataka Assembly on Thursday as BJP MLAs barged into Speaker U T Khader’s chamber, expressing strong objections to his handling of the proceedings. The confrontation came amidst heated debates over the recent police lathi charge on Panchamasali Lingayat protesters, with the ruling Congress and opposition BJP trading accusations.
The issue arose when Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar, himself a leader of the Panchamasali Lingayat community, criticized the decision of previous BJP government to scrap the 4 per cent Muslim reservation and reallocate it equally between the Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities.
He alleged that the BJP government, under Basavaraj Bommai, had backtracked on its decision by assuring the Supreme Court it would not implement the reservation changes.
“For the sake of elections, they announced reservations, but later told the Supreme Court they wouldn’t go ahead with it,” Kashappanavar said.
BJP members objected, insisting that the discussion focus solely on the police action during Tuesday’s protests near Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, where the Panchamasali Lingayat community demanded inclusion in the 2A category of the OBC reservation matrix (15%), as opposed to the current 3B category (5%).
The protests turned violent earlier this week, with stone pelting from demonstrators and subsequent lathi charges by police.
During the Assembly debate, Kashappanavar accused the BJP of misleading the community and the Panchamasali seer, alleging that the protest was “sponsored and instigated” by the party.
He also claimed RSS members were involved in the stone pelting, sparking a heated exchange between BJP and Congress MLAs.
The saffron party members demanded that references to the RSS be expunged from the record.
The situation escalated when Speaker Khader allowed Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda to speak after Home Minister G. Parameshwara had already addressed the lathi charge issue. BJP MLAs argued that their voices should have been heard first.
Gowda criticized the saffron party, blaming its past policies for the "injustice" faced by the Panchamasali Lingayat community, citing the BJP's affidavit to the Supreme Court on reservation issues.
Angered by Gowda’s statement, BJP MLA Sunil Kumar raised a point of order, questioning why the Minister was permitted to speak.
The Speaker dismissed the objection, prompting BJP members to raise slogans and tear papers in protest.
Amid the chaos, Khader adjourned the House for lunch.
Following the adjournment, furious BJP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, state BJP chief B Y Vijayendra, and MLAs C N Ashwath Narayan and Sunil Kumar, marched into the Speaker’s chamber and reportedly questioned Khader’s conduct and warned of a boycott.
“We have told the Speaker his conduct is unacceptable. If this continues, we will not attend the session,” Ashoka said.
The Assembly resumed after lunch following negotiations in the Speaker’s chamber.
