Savarkar a murderer, says Siddaramaiah
Mangaluru, Oct 18: Calling Veer Savarkar a murderer, former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah slammed the BJP on Friday for its plan to bestow Bharat Ratna to him posthumously.
He said Savarkar was one of the accused in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, but the charges could not be proved due to lack of evidence and he was freed.
"The murderer of Mahatma Gandhi is getting Bharat Ratna! Those who conspired to eliminate Gandhiji are getting Bharat Ratna!
Should BJP be allowed to gain a foothold in Mangaluru, known as a land of intellectuals?" Siddaramaiah asked party workers at a meeting here.
The Maharashtra BJP unit had said in its election manifesto that the party would ask the Centre to confer the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, popularly known as Veer Savarkar.
Claiming that the accused in 90 out of 100 cases are acquitted, Siddaramaiah alleged that Savarkar was part of the conspiracy to assassinate Gandhi.
"Now they have moved ahead to bestow Bharat Ratna to him! What will happen to the nation? That's why somebody said you give it (Bharat Ratna) to(Nathuram) Godse too.
Godse was the one who assassinated Gandhiji," he said.
Alleging that RSS and Hindu Mahasabha never took part in the freedom struggle, the former chief minister said they all had ganged up with the British.
The Congress leader charged that the Sangh Parivar, including BJP, diverted peoples attention from real issues in the last Lok Sabha elections.
He conceded that the Congress could not convince people of their achievements to counter the 'communal campaign' of the BJP government at the Centre.
Siddaramaiah alleged that the country was facing an economic crisis due to demonetisation and irrational implementation of GST.
He predicted that the BJP government in Karnataka would not survive beyond the assembly by-elections in December.
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SC bans NCERT book over chapter on judiciary corruption, orders copies' seizure, digital takedown
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday imposed a blanket ban on class 8 NCERT book carrying a chapter on corruption in the judiciary, and ordered a seizure of all physical copies, along with takedown of its digital forms.
The apex court ordered that the Centre and state authorities comply with its directions immediately, and warned of "serious action" if directions are defied in any form.
The top court issued show cause notices to NCERT director, school education secretary to explain why action should be not taken against those responsible.
ALSO READ: Chapter on 'judicial corruption': NCERT apologises, Class 8 textbook to be rewritten
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant said there seemed to be a calculated move to undermine institution and demean dignity of judiciary.
The bench said such misconduct, having everlasting impact on judiciary, would fall within definition of criminal contempt.
"We would like to have a deeper probe," the bench said.
The court said that if allowed to go unchecked, this will erode people's faith in judiciary. "No one will be allowed to go scot-free."
The CJI said, "It is my duty as the head of the institution to find out who is responsible; heads must roll."
CJI Surya Kant said there appears to be a deep-rooted, well planned conspiracy to defame the judiciary.
Taking exception to the NCERT's Wednesday communication, the SC said there was not a single word of apology in it, and instead, they have tried to justified it.
At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology on behalf of Ministry of education.
The bench posted the mater for further hearing on march 11.
