'Bharat Jodo Yatra' posters found torn a day before its Karnataka entry
Chamarajanagar, Sept 29: Some posters put up to welcome leaders to the Congress' 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' were found to be torn at Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district on Thursday, a day before it is set to enter Karnataka.
Reacting sharply, the Congress said, "The 40% Commission Bommai Govt is already getting the jitters".
The BJP's Bharat Todo Team of paid goons has been pressed into service to destruct, destroy and tear up posters, the Congress incharge of Karnataka Affairs, Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged.
"They'll never be able to stop the war cry against Price Rise, Unemployment, Disparity & Divisiveness", he tweeted.
Congress state president D K Shivakumar alleged that a few posters were torn and burnt by the BJP.
"Preparations are afoot to receive the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' but the BJP people have torn and burnt some banners. We will not be cowed down. We have faced enough of such things. They (BJP) should know this," Shivakumar told reporters in Chamarajanagar.
He demanded that the police initiate action against those who tore the banners.
"Let them (police) refuse to take action, then we will speak rest of the things," Shivakumar said.
The Congress lodged a police complaint in this connection in the police station concerned, sources close to the Congress state president said.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said: "All know who is doing 'Bharat Jodo' and who's doing 'Thodo".
Addressing reporters in the district headquarters town of Haveri, Bommai said let Shivakumar comment on the incident, permission must be obtained for putting up posters.
The BJP need not tear the posters of any political party. Since people knew "everything," there was no need for him to say much about it, the Chief Minister said.
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Police making efforts to locate, recover weapons disposed of by Maoists: Karnataka Home Minister
Bengaluru, Jan 10: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said that six surrendered Maoists have not handed over their weapons, and the police are working to locate and recover them from the forest where they are believed to have been disposed of.
Noting that one Maoist, expelled from the surrendered group, is still at large and efforts are underway to trace him, he said there is no one else involved in Naxal activities in the state. He added that any individuals coming from other states will be closely monitored.
A group of six Maoists surrendered to the government in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his home office, ‘Krishna,’ on Wednesday evening.
The group includes four individuals from Karnataka: Mundagaru Latha from Sringeri, Vanajakshi Balehole from Kalasa, Sundari Kutluru from Dakshina Kannada, and Mareppa Aroli from Raichur. The other two are Vasantha K from Vellore in Tamil Nadu and N Jeesha from Wayanad in Kerala.
"We need to search for the weapons. It is not yet known where they were disposed of in the forest, but efforts are underway in that direction," Parameshwara told reporters in response to a question.
Addressing the BJP's allegation that the government prioritised rehabilitation for Maoists over recovering their weapons, he said, "They keep making such claims. The government will do its job. We may need to gather information from the Maoists about where the weapons were hidden and seek their assistance. There are procedures, and they will be followed."
The BJP has also been in government, and they are aware of this. It was the same police department during their tenure, he added.
The six surrendered Maoists will be rehabilitated under categories 'A' and 'B' of the Naxal Surrender Policy, Karnataka 2024, and will each receive Rs 3 lakh.
In response to a question about reports that another Maoist, Ravindra, is still at large, the Home Minister said, "According to the information we have, this group had expelled him, but the reasons are not yet known. Efforts are underway to trace him, and he is believed to be in the Chikkamagaluru region."
Regarding the surrendered Maoists, the Home Minister stated that they were the last active Maoists in the state.
He added, "If anyone comes from other states, it will be closely monitored. There is a possibility of individuals coming from Odisha or Kerala, and we will remain vigilant. The government is making efforts to discourage Naxalism. According to our information, no one else is currently involved in such activities in the state."
The surrender followed the killing of Maoist leader Vikram Gowda in an encounter with the Anti-Naxal Force at Peetabailu village in Hebri, Udupi district, on November 18, 2024.
When asked about Vikram Gowda's family seeking compensation in light of the package being provided to surrendered Maoists, Parameshwara said, "It will be verified. Both cases are different."
