CPI(M) alleges unconstitutional cow slaughter law awareness drive inside mosques in Dakshina Kannada
Mangaluru: CPI(M) Dakshina Kannada district secretary Muneer Katipalla has lodged a complaint with the Western Range IGP, alleging that police personnel in Dakshina Kannada district have committed an unconstitutional and discriminatory act by visiting mosques under the pretext of conducting awareness programmes on the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act.
The complaint states that police officers from Dharmasthala visited the Kokkada Mosque and, in the name of awareness, warned worshippers of legal consequences. Similar visits reportedly took place in mosques across Sullia taluk, including Sullia Central Juma Masjid, Mogarpane Juma Masjid, Dugaladka Masjid, Sunnamoole, Kumbhakkodu, and Arantodu, where police allegedly stopped people during prayers and explained the provisions of the cattle slaughter law, warning that violators’ houses would be seized.
According to the complaint, this act sends a message that only Muslims violate the Karnataka cow slaughter law and, therefore, amounts to criminalising an entire community. “Just as the British once branded tribal and nomadic groups as ‘criminal tribes,’ are the Dakshina Kannada police now declaring the Muslim community as a ‘criminal community’?” the complaint asks.
The complaint further highlights that in several past cattle theft and illegal transport cases, including those registered in Karkala, Moodbidri, Belthangady, Uppinangady, Puttur, and Byndoor between 2020 and 2021, many accused individuals were non-Muslims. Yet, no similar awareness drives or property-seizure warnings were carried out in temples or other community centers. The selective targeting of mosques, the complaint argues, indicates bias and an attempt to stigmatize one community.
It questions the connection between Dharmasthala Police Station Crime No. 72/2025 and Kokkada Mosque, asserting that the police’s actions were not about awareness but about intimidation and communal targeting.
The complaint points out that Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution guarantee freedom of religion and the autonomy of religious institutions in managing their affairs. Therefore, any interference by state authorities, including the police, within a place of worship, especially on a sensitive issue like cow slaughter, violates the constitutional principle of state neutrality in matters of faith.
It further cites the Karnataka Police Act, 1963, which mandates that police duties must be carried out within the legal framework and under competent authority, not arbitrarily. Conducting an unofficial awareness campaign about a specific law inside a religious place, and implying that it applies only to a particular community, amounts to misuse of power and violation of law, the complaint argues.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
