Complaint filed with AICC against Siddaramaiah’s Swabhimani Janandolana Samavesha
Bengaluru: A complaint has surfaced against the ‘Siddaramaiah Swabhimani Janandolana Samavesha,’ scheduled to be held in Hassan on December 5 by various progressive organisations. An anonymous individual has written to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, raising concerns about the event.
The letter alleges that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has consistently distanced himself from Congress platforms and symbols, instead organising programmes under the banners of different organisations since joining the party.
It further highlights that during Siddaramaiah’s birthday celebrations in the past, he avoided involving the party directly. While all the leaders present at the event were from Congress, hosting the event under the party’s symbol could have strengthened its position. However, senior leaders failed to address this.
The letter expresses disappointment over some ministers and MLAs of the state government, elected under the Congress symbol, participating in the Swabhimani Janandolana event in Hassan. It questions why the Congress party and government, which gave them power, are being sidelined. The complaint urges the party leadership to instruct Siddaramaiah and others to organise events under the Congress symbol for the benefit of the party.
The letter also claims that all arrangements for the programme are being made by Congress leaders at party offices, yet the Congress symbol is being deliberately excluded. Party workers are questioning this decision and expect senior leaders to intervene.
It concludes by requesting Siddaramaiah to explain why he distances the Congress party from his events, despite being given power by the party. The complaint calls for immediate action to ensure the party’s interests are safeguarded and loyal workers feel encouraged.
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Karnataka Governor gives assent to legislation against ‘honour killing’ in inter-caste marriages
Bengaluru: The government has brought into force the Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the name of honour and tradition (Eva Nammava Eva Nammava) Act, 2026, intended to restrict ‘honour killings’ in inter-caste marriages.
According to The Indian Express, the legislation received assent from Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on April 9 and was officially notified in the state gazette on April 10. The law had been passed unanimously by the state legislature last month.
The Bill was proposed by the Congress government in the wake of caste-linked ‘honour killings’ in the state, including the December 21, 2025, murder near Hubli of a 20-year-old Lingayat woman by her father for marrying a man from another caste.
The phrase ‘Eva Nammava Eva Nammava’ in the title is in reference to the message of universal humanity that the Lingayat saint Basavanna espoused. Basavanna, who rebelled against the caste system to lay the foundation of the Lingayat faith system, an amalgamation of all castes, used the words meaning ‘he is a part of me’ to say all people are one.
Under the new law, crimes committed in the name of ‘honour’, including murder, assault, threats, and social boycott, are specifically addressed with stringent punishments. ‘Honour killing’ offences carry a minimum imprisonment of five years, while serious assaults attract at least three years in jail.
The new law defines the social boycott of inter-caste couples as forcible eviction to remote corners of villages, refusal to provide services, refusal to provide work, refusal to conduct business, denial of loans and admissions to schools, and makes it punishable.
In the case of ‘honour killings’ per se, the new law prescribes a minimum imprisonment of five years, and in the case of assaults, a prison term that is not less than three years for serious injury and two years for minor injuries.
The offences under the proposed law are cognisable and non-bailable, which means police can carry out arrests without court permissions after taking up a case.
The legislation follows several reported inter-caste relationship-related killings in Karnataka in 2025, including cases in Raichur and another involving 18-year-old Kavita.
The law to protect the freedom of choice in marriages is among several social bills that the Congress government has brought out in line with its policies for the backward and downtrodden communities in the state.
