Citizens’ group writes letter to Siddaramaiah, questions govt for suppressing pro-Palestine protests
Bengaluru: In a strongly-worded letter addressed to the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, members of ‘Bengaluru for Justice and Peace’ expressed their disappointment regarding the government's response to protest's in Bengaluru condemning the ongoing crisis in Palestine.
The group accused the authorities of suppressing peaceful demonstrations and even filing FIRs against protestors. Despite the escalation of violence by the Israeli government, which has led to a grave humanitarian crisis in Palestine, the state government has denied permissions for protests, citing concerns over law and order.
The letter, sent by the concerned citizens' group, highlighted the alarming situation in Palestine, where civilians, including children, have been targeted and killed in the conflict. Hospitals, schools, and religious institutions have been bombed, resulting in widespread destruction. According to data from various sources, 5,791 Palestinians, including 2,360 children, have lost their lives due to the violence. The group emphasized that it is the collective responsibility of citizens to stand against such atrocities and demand justice for Palestine.
“You are aware that the bombing of civilians and systematic violations of human rights continue to be accelerated by the Israeli government, and there is a grave humanitarian crisis in Palestine. Concerned citizens across the world are marching in solidarity against the violence, demanding a ceasefire and justice for Palestinian people,” the letter added.
Despite the citizens' peaceful attempts to raise their voices, the Karnataka state government has consistently denied permissions for protests. The recent denial of permission for a protest scheduled at Freedom Park on October 28, 2023, citing it as an international issue with threats to law and order, has drawn significant criticism. The citizens' group argued that the freedom to protest extends to international issues as well and that their peaceful demonstration in Freedom Park posed no threat to law and order.
“Now, when a genocide taking place in Palestine, it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to stand up against this and demand justice for Palestine. Instead, the state Government is claiming down on protests and not rejecting permission. Last week, the police denied permission to left parties wanting to hold a protest on this issue. You would recall that we also met with you on October 20, 2023 at your residence and apprised you of these denials of permission. Despite that, the police continue to restrict our constitutional right to assemble,” the letter further added.
“The latest such rejection has taken place by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Division) who has rejected permission for a protest to be held in Freedom Park on 28th October, 2023 on the ground that this is an international issue and there is a threat to law and order.This freedom is not restricted only to national issues, but to every issue, and international issues are no exception. Additionally, there is no reason to believe that our peaceful protest in Freedom Park will threaten law and order,” it added.
Furthermore, the group condemned the state government for registering FIRs against protestors supporting the Palestinian cause. Peaceful demonstrators have been detained and faced criminal charges, undermining their fundamental right to assemble and express their opinions. The citizens' group also criticized the authorities for their indifference to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, calling it an abuse of power.
“Such actions of the Karnataka State government is not only an assault on the fundamental rights of citizens to protest, but also display a cruel indifference to the genocide being carried out by the Israeli government, and is an immoral abuse of power by these offices,” the letter stated.
The letter highlighted India's historical support for the Palestinian people, emphasizing the consistent stand taken by leaders from Mahatma Gandhi to Narendra Modi in favor of Palestinian rights. Even the Congress Working Committee and the Ministry of External Affairs have expressed support for the establishment of a sovereign and independent Palestinian state.
In conclusion, the citizens' group urged the Karnataka state government to respect the fundamental rights of protestors and reconsider their stance on granting permissions for peaceful demonstrations. They called for a fair and unbiased investigation into the actions of the police and demanded justice for those who have faced undue legal consequences for expressing solidarity with Palestine.
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Kerala polls: Vijayan, Revanth Reddy trade barbs as campaigning ends
Kannur (Kerala)/Hyderabad (PTI): A war of words between Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Telangana counterpart Revanth Reddy turned acrimonious on Tuesday, the final day of campaigning for the April 9 Assembly polls.
The two leaders sparred on the virtual world as well, exchanging letters on their respective social media handles.
The escalation came after Vijayan, responding to Reddy's earlier remarks, used Malayalam expressions considered nearly derogatory, signalling strong disapproval of the Telangana CM's comments.
Reddy, campaigning for the UDF in Kollam district, hit back swiftly, likening Vijayan to PM Narendra Modi.
He said he would take any personal remarks from the senior leader as a "blessing" considering his age, but objected to what he described as insults directed at the people of Kerala. "But you cannot abuse our Kerala people," he said, hours before campaigning drew to a close.
The controversy began after Reddy had said "nee po mone Vijaya" by invoking a famous dialogue from superstar Mohanlal's blockbuster movie "Narasimham" while referring to Vijayan on April 1 during a UDF campaign roadshow in Nemom constituency.
Earlier in the day, while reacting to Reddy's earlier remarks, Vijayan said a CM must maintain basic standards of conduct and questioned whether such dignity was being followed.
In his response to a query, Vijayan used Malayalam words that were seen as nearly derogatory for Reddy, signalling his strong disapproval of the remarks made against him.
Sharply reacting to the CM's objectionable remarks, Congress leader V D Satheesan said Vijayan appeared to have "completely lost composure" and warned that any further deterioration in his conduct would have brought "greater embarrassment" to the state.
After the critical remarks during the press meet, Vijayan wrote on his 'X' handle that political differences are natural, but expressing strong disagreement through personally insulting remarks is an attitude that he rejects. Reddy's statements lacked factual backing.
In a detailed letter attached with the 'X' post addressing the Telangana CM, Vijayan said the experience of the people of Kerala was "vastly different" from what Reddy had portrayed.
He clarified that he did not intend to engage in a debate over the performance of the Telangana government, stating that it was for the people of Telangana and political parties there to assess their government.
Referring to Reddy's comments, Vijayan said the LDF government has been consistently publishing progress reports over the past 10 years on the implementation of its election promises, underlining its commitment to continuous accountability.
He also rejected the allegation of "selective appropriation" of Kerala's achievements, including its top ranking in the NITI Aayog SDG Index, and said such criticism was misplaced.
Dismissing claims of industrial stagnation, Vijayan said Kerala has made significant strides in the startup ecosystem and ease of doing business, adding that these achievements have been widely acknowledged.
He also alleged that key infrastructure projects in Kerala, including the Kochi Metro and Vizhinjam Port, faced delays under previous Congress-led governments at the Centre, while long-pending promises such as a railway coach factory remained unfulfilled.
Vijayan further accused the BJP-led Union government of discrimination against Kerala and said the state has been actively resisting what he described as "anti-federal and undemocratic" policies through legal and political means, including approaching the Supreme Court.
He also rejected Reddy's criticism that the LDF was not vocal enough against the BJP, asserting that Kerala has been at the forefront of defending constitutional values.
Concluding his letter, Vijayan reiterated the state government's commitment to building a "Nava Keralam" and moving forward as a model for others.
On April 1, while addressing party workers in Nemom, Reddy used the popular Malayalam film dialogue "Nee po mone Vijaya". He adapted it to target Vijayan, saying "Nee po mone Vijaya".
Reddy went further, claiming that Vijayan's "time is over" and that his "expiry date has passed".
Responding to these allegations, Vijayan had said that the Telangana CM was "misinformed" and accused him of "ridiculing" Kerala and its people while trying to hide the weaknesses of his own state.
In a later response, Reddy defended his remarks and said that many of the statistics cited by Vijayan were taken from the NITI Aayog SDG Index 2023 24, arguing that the data was already outdated.
Reddy in his letter questioned the veteran Marxist leader's claim that Kerala would become the first state to completely eradicate extreme poverty by late 2025 had been achieved. Further, he chooses to conduct himself respectfully and gracefully in his criticism of the Kerala government's performance, whereas Vijayan opted to use language of poor taste.
Reddy, in his letter on X, said that while he respects NITI Aayog's corruption rankings, he wants to know why the infamous gold smuggling case, linked to individuals connected to the CMO, remains unresolved, and why 4.5 kg of gold allegedly misappropriated from the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple has not been accounted for.
