BJP holds protests over party cadre's death; Siddaramaiah accuses them of doing politics
Bengaluru/Kodagu (PTI): BJP on Saturday staged a protest in Kodagu district's Kushalnagar, demanding the naming of two Congress MLAs in the FIR, in connection with the alleged suicide of a saffron party worker, even as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accused them of doing politics over death.
Protests were also held in a few other places by the BJP. The party has also demanded a CBI probe into the case.
Several BJP leaders, including its state president B Y Vijayendra, MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, former MP Pratap Simha, former Speaker K G Bopaiah, among others, were detained and taken away by police in a bus, as they reportedly tried to lay siege to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) office at Kushalnagar.
There were scenes of chaos as leaders were being detained, as the large number of BJP workers gathered there, shouted slogans against the police and the government.
Vinay Somaiah (40), a BJP functionary from Kodagu allegedly died by suicide in Bengaluru on Friday, after accusing Congress leaders of harassment. A purporported death note was allegedly posted by him on a WhatsApp group.
Based on a complaint lodged by the victim's elder brother Jeevan K S on the basis of the purported death note, a case was registered against Congress worker Thennira Maheena and others.
The FIR, however, did not mention the names of Virajpet MLA A S Ponnanna and Madikeri MLA Mantar Gowda and one Harish Poovaiah, despite their names being mentioned in the handwritten complaint submitted to police.
Somaiah's body, meanwhile, will be taken to Somwarpet's Gonimaruru village for the last rites, police sources said.
Accusing the BJP of doing politics over death, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not wanting to comment as FIR has been registered in the case and an investigation is underway said, whoever is found guilty from the investigation, action will be taken against them.
On the BJP demanding for mentioning of Ponnanna and Mantar Gowda's names in the FIR, the CM said, "We can't respond to BJP's demands. The BJP people are frustrated and they are saying such things. They are doing politics over death. The BJP often does this."
"I can only say that an FIR has already been registered and an investigation is going on. At this stage I don't want to interfere in the case. I don't want to make any statement," he added.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said law is equal for everyone and the police will take necessary action in accordance with law.
"The incident had happened in February and he has committed suicide now. The police department is investigating. Somaiah has posted a detailed note on WhatsApp, and police will analyse everything and take action," he said.
Asked whether the case will be handed over to CID, the home minister said, "if necessary it may be done, but at present we don't see the need."
In the purported death note, Somaiah has stated that nearly two months ago, he was arrested by the Madikeri police on Maheena's complaint in connection with certain comments that were posted against Ponnanna, who is also Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's legal advisor, in a WhatsApp group.
Somaiah was said to be the admin of the WhatsApp group. He was subsequently released on bail.
In the death note, the BJP worker alleged that the FIR filed against him was "politically motivated" and that he and his family had to face "humiliation" which upset him.
Seeking justice, he urged that action should be taken against those named in the death note.
Earlier speaking to reporters, Vijayendra said the police not mentioning the names of two ruling party MLAs shows the kind of pressure that is being put on them. He alleged that police stations are functioning like Congress offices.
"It is under MLAs pressure and oppression that our karyakarta has committed suicide. Police leaving their names from FIR cannot be accepted. Admins of WhatsApp groups are being booked under multiple cases and they are targeted if failure of ruling party legislators are highlighted," he said.
Vijayendra further said it is the duty of the police, and they should get permission from the magistrate court and add the names of two MLAs in the FIR.
Urging the chief minister and the home minister to not take the case lightly, he said, "I have told the SP, if anything untoward happens in case they don't name MLAs in the FIR, BJP won't be responsible. There is no question of sitting quiet against the atrocities on BJP workers."
"Let it take any amount of time. Until the officials get permission from the Magistrate court and mention MLAs' names in the FIR, we will wait. If they don't do it, the police will be responsible for the things that may happen. The police should not allow the law and order situation to deteriorate under political pressure," he said.
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TMC MP Saugata Roy says Moitra cried after spat, demands chief whip Kalyan Banerjee's sacking
New Delhi/Kolkata, Apr 8 (PTI): Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra was seen crying after a spat with colleague Kalyan Banerjee before a TMC delegation met the Election Commission last week, party MP Sougata Roy said on Tuesday and demanded Banerjee be removed as the party's chief whip in the House over behavioural issues.
His remarks came as purported videos and WhatsApp chats emerged of the bitter exchanges between TMC MPs, including Kirti Azad, who had advised Banerjee to exercise restrain.
Talking to reporters in Kolkata, Roy accused Banerjee of being "uncivilised" on multiple occasions and mentioned that during a JPC meeting on the Waqf Bill, the Srerampore MP broke a bottle and threw it at the chairman of the panel.
With BJP leader Amit Malviya sharing videos purportedly showing Banerjee shouting at his colleagues while entering the Election Commission's office as party leaders tried to calm him down, Roy confirmed that an altercation took place but added that he was not present there.
According to a source in the TMC, the spat occurred on April 4 when a delegation of TMC leaders met the full bench of the Election Commission over the duplicate voter ID numbers and also staged a march to Parliament after that.
The source said that Banerjee was given the charge of getting the signatures of TMC MPs on a memorandum that the party was to submit to the EC. Moitra had alleged that she was not included in the signatories and slammed Banerjee over it outside the EC office, the source said.
A war of words broke out between the two MPs and Banerjee has claimed that Moitra had asked security personnel at the EC office to arrest him.
Reacting to the issue, Roy said, "I was not there when this altercation between Kalyan Banerjee and Mahua Moitra took place. I was at Vijay Chowk and the spat took place in front of the Election Commission office. I saw Mahua crying and complaining to several MPs, of other parties also, about Kalyan's behaviour."
"Whatever happened is unfortunate," he said, adding that the party's "internal matters" were being "leaked'. He, however, clarified that Moitra did not tell him anything directly.
"She told another MP. She said that he (Banerjee) behaved in an uncivilised manner," Roy said, adding the chief whip of the party in the Lower House of Parliament is known for his intemperate and uncivilised behaviour.
"I feel it is beneath my dignity to reply to whatever Kalyan Banerjee may have said. His uncivilised behaviour had been in our focus several times. He called (Union Minister) Jyotiraditya Scindia 'lady killer' and later apologised to him.
"During the JPC meeting on Waqf, he broke a bottle and threw it at the chairman of the panel. Kalyan is known for his intemperate and uncivilised behaviour. So far, I did not speak about it because it's beneath my dignity. I heard from you that he has said things against me and that's why I have replied," Roy told reporters.
He said Kalyan Banerjee should be removed from the post of the chief whip of the party in Lok Sabha. "But I leave it to (Trinamool supremo) Mamata Banerjee's judgment."
"That Kalyan is not fit to be on the post is apparent to me. I have not said it so far, but because of his behaviour and his incorrect English. But now, I think the time has arrived to see into it," Roy said.
"I do not expect Kalyan to uphold my dignity. I think I can do that... I have been in Parliament for five years, in Assembly for another five and these are pretty long tenures for people to judge. I don't want Kalyan Banerjee's certificate. Let him learn his English first," he said.
The screenshots of WhatsApp messages, purportedly from a group chat of TMC MPs, that was shared on X by Malviya, showed that Banerjee had a tiff with Kirti Azad, the party MP from Durgapur, with the Srerampore MP referring to an unknown "versatile international lady?"
In the purported group chats, Banerjee had posted a message, saying that he had reached Kolkata. Then he added, "Send your BSF and Delhi Police to arrest me. Your home ministry connection is a very strong international great lady."
Another message, purportedly by Banerjee, read, "Today I congratulate the gentleman who opened the beautiful activities of a versatile international lady. That day not a single boyfriend of hers stood behind her. This foolish man whom she wanted to arrest by BSF, stood behind her. Today of course 30 years famous player stood behind her to get me arrested."
In response, Kirti Azad could be seen purportedly asking Banerjee to not act like a "juvenile delinquent." A still unrelenting Banerjee threw a few more sallies at Azad, one of which was terming him a "captain of... internal politics."
"Your popularity is so much that you lost election in cricket. Let me see your power to get me arrested for your friend. Do not worry I will go to Durgapur and open your musk (sic)," he purportedly wrote in the group chat.
Another party source said Banerjee was upset with Azad earlier when he had prepared a proposal demanding that a sweetmeat outlet selling 'sandesh', a traditional Bengali sweet, be opened in the Parliament House.
The source said Banerjee had opined that if a stall has to be opened in the Parliament House, it should be a franchise of the West Bengal government.
Minor correction : date is 4th Apr 2025 and not 2024. https://t.co/Clus9LkNb0
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 8, 2025
