Criminal always a criminal until acquitted by court: CM Siddaramaiah on arrest of kar sevaks of '92
Vijayapura (PTI): With the recent arrest of two BJP activists who had taken part in the Ayodhya agitation back in 1992 snowballing into a controversy, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said a criminal is always a criminal unless acquitted by a court of law.
Hitting out at Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi for his jibe at the government, Siddaramaiah said Joshi does not know the law and is talking politically and not legally.
"A criminal is always a criminal unless acquitted by the court. Does crime vanish with time? Does Pralhad Joshi know the law? Crime does not fade away with time. It remains as it is," Siddaramaiah told reporters.
He was reacting to a question on the recent arrest of two 'kar sevaks' who were allegedly involved in the commotion that ensued post Babri mosque demolition in 1992 in Hubballi.
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The BJP criticised the Congress government "for pursuing the politics of vendetta" against kar sevaks after 31 years of the incident. It warned the government that it will stage a vehement agitation if the kar sevaks are not released.
"Is Pralhad Joshi a legal expert or legal luminary? Is he a court? Can Pralhad Joshi's statement be accepted as a quote from the Vedas? He is talking politically and not legally. Government abides by the law," the chief minister said.
He explained that the state Home Minister G Parameshwara had ordered police officials to pursue and dispose of old cases. So the police rounded up people involved in old cases. Police have only obeyed the home minister's direction, he added.
To a question on Joshi's allegation that the government has stooped low by arresting the accused in a 31-year-old case, Siddaramaiah attributed Joshi's remarks to his "low-level mentality, because he is supporting criminals".
When asked why the police did not act when the non-bailable warrant was issued, he sought to know what was wrong in arresting them now.
"It's true that there was a delay in taking action but is there any rule that the arrests should not have happened?" the chief minister asked.
"What should be done to those who do wrong? Should they be freed just like that? We have directed (the police) to dispose of old cases. Accordingly, the police have taken action. We do not pursue the politics of vendetta or arrest innocent people," Siddaramaiah said.
He clarified that the police action was based on the direction by the court.
On the BJP's demand that the state government announce a holiday on January 22, when the Lord Rama idol will be installed in the newly built Ayodhya temple, Siddaramaiah said let the Centre do it since it is organising the event.
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President Biden hails Manmohan Singh's pivotal role in strengthening US-India ties
San Francisco (PTI): Mourning the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, US President Joe Biden has called him “a true statesman” and credited his strategic vision and political courage for the unprecedented level of bilateral cooperation.
Singh, who was India’s prime minister for 10 years from 2004 to 2014 died in New Delhi on Thursday night. He was 92.
"The unprecedented level of cooperation between the United States and India today would not have been possible without the Prime Minister’s strategic vision and political courage,” Biden said in a statement as he and the First Lady, Jill Biden, joined the people of India in grieving the loss of the former prime minister.
“From forging the US-India Civil Nuclear Agreement to helping launch the first Quad between Indo-Pacific partners, he charted path-breaking progress that will continue to strengthen our nations—and the world—for generations to come. He was a true statesman. A dedicated public servant. And above all, he was a kind and humble person,” Biden said.
The outgoing US President said he had the chance to meet Prime Minister Singh as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2008 and as Vice President during his Official State Visit to the United States in 2009.
“He also graciously hosted me in New Delhi in 2013. As we discussed then, the US-India relationship is among the most consequential in the world. And together, as partners and friends, our nations can unlock a future of dignity and unlimited potential for all of our people,” Biden said.
“During this difficult time, we recommit to this vision to which Prime Minister Singh dedicated his life. And Jill and I send our deepest condolences to former First Lady Gursharan Kaur, their three children, and all the people of India,” Biden said.
