Former Karnataka Minister Pramod Madhwaraj booked for provocative speech in Malpe
Malpe, March 22: A suo motu case has been registered at the Malpe Police Station against former Karnataka minister Pramod Madhwaraj for allegedly making provocative and inflammatory statements during a protest meeting in Malpe. The gathering was organized by the Malpe Fishermen's Association in response to the recent incident where a woman was tied to a tree and assaulted at Malpe port.
During his address to the public, Madhwaraj reportedly defended the actions of those involved in the assault, questioning the delay in police response and justifying the attack. "What will we do if thieves come to our house? What will we do if the police arrive 5-6 hours late? We have to tie up the thieves, what else can we do? Did they hit her with a mace, sword, or weapon? They only slapped her on both cheeks. That too to a person accused of being a thief. Did that woman have any objection?" he allegedly stated.
The complaint against Madhwaraj accuses him of making an inflammatory speech that could incite violence and justify unlawful actions. The police have invoked Sections 57, 191(1), and 192 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the case.
The remarks come in the wake of widespread outrage over the Malpe port incident, where a woman was tied to a tree and assaulted by a group of people on suspicion of theft. The incident was caught on video and went viral on social media, prompting strong condemnation from various quarters, including Karnataka Fisheries and Ports Minister Mankal Vaidya, who termed the act as inhumane and unacceptable.
Malpe Police are investigating the matter further.
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Won’t allow House to function if suspension of 18 MLAs not revoked: Karnataka BJP
Bengaluru, Mar 24 (PTI): The BJP in Karnataka on Monday warned the ruling Congress that it would not allow the legislative session to proceed if the suspension of its 18 MLAs was not revoked.
The party alleged Congress intends to run the House without BJP legislators.
On the last day of the Karnataka Assembly session on March 21, 18 BJP MLAs were suspended for their unruly behaviour while protesting against the four per cent reservation granted to Muslims in government contracts under the 2B category of the Other Backward Castes (OBC).
The ruling Congress passed a bill on the quota.
During the protest, BJP MLAs climbed onto the podium where Speaker U T Khader was seated, tore copies of the bill, and threw the pieces at him.
Taking serious note of their actions, the Assembly passed a resolution moved by State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, suspending the 18 BJP MLAs for six months.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said that his party's MLAs were fighting to uphold the Constitution.
"I warn the Congress that our struggle will only intensify if the suspension is not revoked. Let’s see how you (Congress) run the legislative session in the future," the BJP leader said.
He accused the Congress, which frequently invokes the name of B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, of "disregarding" his views that religion-based reservations should not be granted.
"We fought in the Assembly to protect constitutional values. Did we fight for the BJP or individual MLAs? No. Our struggle was to uphold the Constitution," Ashoka stated.
He further alleged that Congress suspended the 18 MLAs simply because they "fought to protect constitutional values."
"I am proud of our 18 suspended MLAs. Their suspension is unlawful. Do you want to run the Assembly by keeping our MLAs out? I have spoken to the Speaker on this issue, and he has assured me that he will discuss it with me," Ashoka added.
