Mangaluru: Attack on media personnel in Dharmasthala condemned by Dalit Sangharsha Samiti
Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district unit of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) has strongly condemned the assault on media personnel, including YouTubers and private TV reporters, during the ongoing SIT-led excavation and investigation in Dharmasthala village following an anonymous complaint.
Addressing a press conference at the city’s Press Club on Saturday, district leader S.P. Anand said that Abhishek, a cameraman from a private channel who belongs to the Dalit community, was among those attacked. He demanded strict legal action against those involved and called for a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to be registered.
“This is not merely an attack on individuals; it is an attempt to undermine the democratic process of bringing the truth to light. Violence against those who question and present facts to the public undermines transparency and accountability. The SIT must be allowed to complete its investigation so that the truth can emerge,” Anand stated.
He added that halting the SIT probe midway would only increase suspicion about the accused. Referring to a video in which one of the attackers used the word “Dhani” (Boss) while threatening the YouTubers, Anand urged police to investigate who was behind such acts of intimidation and rowdy behaviour.
DSS leaders Anil Kumar, Taluk Convener Satish Moodbidri, and members Naveen Moodbidri, Sujith Moodbidri, and Suresh Moodbidri were also present at the press conference.
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Congress using hijab issue to pacify minority anger, alleges Karnataka LoP R Ashoka
Bengaluru: Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashoka has accused the Congress government of using the hijab issue to placate what he described as discontent among minority voters after the Davanagere by-election.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Ashoka alleged that the state government, instead of addressing issues such as price rise, corruption, farmers’ distress and law and order, was attempting to retain its minority vote base by reviving the hijab issue.
Referring to the 2022 dress code introduced by the BJP government, which prohibited hijab in schools and colleges, Ashoka said the Karnataka High Court had upheld the policy and emphasised the importance of discipline in educational institutions.
He questioned the Congress government’s move to revisit the issue and asked whether setting aside the court-backed policy to benefit one community could be described as secularism.
Ashoka further alleged that while the government was willing to permit hijab, it continued to prohibit saffron shawls.
He accused the government of dividing students on religious lines rather than treating schools and colleges as spaces of equality.
Drawing a comparison with Mamata Banerjee’s government in West Bengal, Ashoka claimed that excessive appeasement politics had harmed the state and warned that the Congress in Karnataka could face a similar political response.
He said voters in Karnataka would teach the Congress a lesson for what he termed “vote-bank politics” and for compromising constitutional and judicial principles.
