Case against Shobha Karandlaje by Kerala Police for misleading people with tweet
Malappuram (Kerala)/Bengaluru, Jan 24: Karnataka BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje has been booked by the Kerala police on charges of promoting enmity between different groups for her allegation that Hindus of a panchayat in Malappuram District were denied water as they supported the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Police said the case has been registered against the MP and a few others on a complaint from a lawyer while the Kuttippuram Panchayat denied her charge made in a recent tweet.
The MP, who is also the Karnataka BJP general secretary, reacted sharply to the development saying instead of taking action over "discrimination" against Dalit families of Cherukunnu in Kuttipuram, the CPI(M) government has filed the case against her for "speaking the truth".
BJP national IT cell head Amit Malviya and several other party leaders have tweeted in support of Karandlaje with the former alleging that Muslims "who are in majority there" were denying water to the Dalits.
Police said the case has been filed under the Indian Penal Code section 153 (A) for promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion read with section 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).
Making the discrimination charge, the BJP MP had on January 22 tweeted that Kerala was becoming another Kashmir.
"Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir! Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram denied water supply as they supported #CAA2019. #SevaBharati has been supplying water ever since. Will Lutyens telecast this intolerance of PEACEFULS frm God's Own Country!?" she said.
Over the days, the tweet has been widely shared with nearly 6,000 retweets and over 8,000 likes.
Meanwhile, lawyer K R Subhash Chandran approached the police seeking action against the MP and others over her tweet following which the case was registered on Thursday.
In her reaction, Karandlaje on Friday alleged people supporting the CAA were being boycotted and denied of basic amenities.
"Hail Kerala Govt! Instead of acting against the discrimination happened to the dalit families of Cherukunnu, they lodged a case against me! High time for entire society to unite against these pressurising tactics of non-performing, biased left govt," the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP tweeted.
"#CAA2019 has been accepted by both the houses of parliament. People who are supporting #CAA are being boycotted from business, denied of basic amenities & jobs.CPM govt is blind to all these acts happening across Kerala, but files a case against me for speaking the truth!" she said.
The ruling Left Democratic Front convenor A Vijayaraghavan said Malappuram was a place known for its communal harmony and there was no conflict between communities.
Denying the BJP leader's allegation, Kuttipuram Panchayat Vice-President Siddiq said there was drinking water shortage in various parts.
"We have met the Malappuram district collector today and it has been decided to supply drinking water in tanker lorries to the Cherukunnu colony," he told PTI.
Kuttipuram police said since the motor was not functioning, the panchayat borewell was not being used for the past few months.
Seva Bharati, an NGO working among the economically weaker sections and associated with the Sangh Parivar, had supplied water to the affected families using motor from a neighbour for two days.
However, since the Kerala State Electricity Board raised objections as the motor was meant only for pumping water for agricultural purposes, this was stopped, police said.
Besides Malviya, Karnataka BJP leader C T Ravi and national spokesperson Sambit Patra are among those who have tweeted in support of Karnadlaje.
"Shame on Pinarayi Vijayan! Instead of registering a case against BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje his government should focus on providing justice to Dalits of Cherukunnu, who are being denied drinking water for participating in a pro CAA rally, by the Muslims, who are in majority there," Malviya tweeted.
"Hmm...look at the Commies way of "safeguarding Constitution", "fighting for freedom of Expression" "Saving Democracy"...book the messenger..don't do anything about the atrocities on the Hindus at Mallapuram!" Patra said.
Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir!
— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) January 22, 2020
Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram was denied water supply as they supported #CAA2019.#SevaBharati has been supplying water ever since.
Will Lutyens telecast this intolerance of PEACEFULS frm God's Own Country!? pic.twitter.com/y0HKI4bitD
#CAA2019 has been accepted by both the houses of parliament.
— Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) January 24, 2020
People who are supporting #CAA are being boycotted from business, denied of basic amenities & jobs.
CPM govt is blind to all these acts happening across Kerala, but files a case against me for speaking the truth!
2/2
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Vijayendra slams Cong govt over alleged medicine shortage, irregularities in health dept
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday hit out at the Congress government over alleged medicine shortages, large-scale irregularities and disruption of services in the health department.
The situation had deteriorated to such an extent that doctors were forced to protest on the streets, he claimed.
Addressing a press conference here, he said the Siddaramaiah-led government lacked the will to resolve pressing public issues and accused it of indulging in "blame politics" instead of governance.
"Due to the irresponsibility of this Congress government, the health department itself is in the ICU. There is a severe shortage of medicines in government hospitals. The 108 ambulance services are facing severe problems. Doctors have been pushed to the streets to protest. The Congress government celebrates 1,000 days in power with achievement conventions, but it has failed to solve real problems," he said.
He criticised the state government for allegedly shutting down Jan Aushadhi centres located on government hospital premises, claiming that needy patients are suffering as they are not getting medicines.
"For the past two months, government doctors themselves have been advising poor patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies because medicines are unavailable in hospitals," he alleged.
Vijayendra further alleged that the state government has reportedly not cleared Rs 143 crore in dues to institutions providing CT scan and MRI services.
"As a result, needy patients in rural and urban areas are unable to access these services. Pregnant women are facing hardships. Doctors are forced to protest on the streets...This government claims to be one that delivers on its promises. But does it have even the slightest concern for how poor people are struggling in the healthcare sector," he alleged.
The BJP state president claimed that the Congress government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and its deputy D K Shivakumar is not pro-poor; instead, it is a government that supports middlemen.
"Who is responsible for the medicine shortage in government hospitals and medical colleges? The state government and the concerned ministers are responsible. According to information available to me, under pressure from influential individuals, irregularities are taking place in medicine procurement. Instead of purchasing medicines through authorised central and state agencies, the government has moved to fragmented district- and taluk-level tenders," he claimed.
He further alleged that due to commission demands of 15-20 per cent, many companies and public enterprises are not participating in tenders, worsening the system.
Vijayendra claimed that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation's procurement system has been sidelined, leading to an artificial shortage of medicines.
He also alleged that a private individual from Mangaluru is controlling the state's medicine procurement system, supplying medicines to most government hospitals.
"This has led to market prices being inflated. Medicines costing Rs 100 are reportedly being purchased for Rs 300. I will provide more documents and evidence in the coming days," he claimed.
He also alleged that staff associated with the 108 ambulance services have not been paid salaries for the past eight to nine months.
"The government must take responsibility and reform the system instead of protecting middlemen," he added.
