Defamation case: Karnataka HC stays trial proceedings against DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru(PTI): The Karnataka High Court on Friday granted interim relief to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar by staying the trial court proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against him by the State BJP unit over "corruption rate card" ads.
The court also extended similar relief to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), which is a co-accused in the matter.
Justice S R Krishna Kumar, who presided over the matter, issued notice to the respondent and made it returnable on July 29, effectively pausing the ongoing proceedings until further directions.
The defamation case arose after a series of controversial advertisements titled "Corruption Rate Card" were issued by the Congress party in the run-up to the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.
The BJP has alleged that these advertisements falsely accused it of institutionalising corruption while in power, claiming that appointments and transfers in government departments came with fixed "rates" and "commissions."
According to the BJP, the advertisements--published in local newspapers and promoted online--damaged the party's public image. The BJP has termed the Congress's claims as entirely fabricated and "born out of fanciful imagination."
Of particular contention is the Congress party's reference to the then BJP-led state government as a "trouble engine Sarkar", a wordplay on the BJP or NDA's self-description as a "double engine Sarkar." The BJP has argued that this was a deliberate attempt to ridicule and tarnish the party's image ahead of crucial polls.
The complaint specifically names D K Shivakumar, in his capacity as KPCC President, and Siddaramaiah, then the Leader of Opposition, as the individuals responsible for commissioning and approving the advertisements.
It also claims that Rahul Gandhi amplified the alleged defamatory content by posting it on his 'X' (formerly Twitter) account.
Earlier this year, in January, the High Court had granted a similar interim stay on the trial proceedings against Rahul Gandhi in connection with the same case.
Senior Advocate K Shashi Kiran Shetty and Advocate Surya Mukundaraj appeared on behalf of Shivakumar. The KPCC was represented by Advocates S A Ahamed and Sanjay B Yadav.
The matter is expected to come up next on July 29, when the High Court will further examine the validity of the defamation proceedings initiated by the BJP.
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Odisha: BJD, Congress demand rollback of fuel price hike
Bhubaneswar (PTI): The opposition BJD and Congress on Friday demanded an immediate rollback of the fuel price hike, accusing the ruling BJP of adopting a "double standard" on the issue of GST on petrol and diesel.
The women's wing of the Congress staged a demonstration near a fuel station in Bhubaneswar, protesting the increase of Rs 3 per litre in petrol and diesel prices.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said the BJP had demanded that petrol and diesel be brought under the GST regime when it was in the opposition in the state, but was now taking a contradictory stand after coming to power.
"This is the time for the BJP to honour its earlier commitments and bring petrol and diesel under GST after withdrawing VAT. The party said one thing while in opposition, but after assuming power, it is misleading the people with a different stance," he alleged.
In a statement, the BJD claimed that fuel prices were not reduced even when international crude oil prices had fallen below USD 60 per barrel, allowing oil companies to earn massive profits at the expense of consumers.
"Now, when crude oil prices are rising, the BJP government has increased fuel prices by Rs 3 per litre to protect the profits of oil companies. This exposes the true character of the BJP," it alleged.
Ipsita Sahu, president of the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal, said the Centre should explain "under what pressure" it was being compelled to avoid cheaper fuel imports from Russia.
Meanwhile, Mahila Congress activists marched from the party's state headquarters to a fuel station in the Unit-2 area of Bhubaneswar, demanding rollback of the hike in petrol, diesel, commercial LPG and CNG prices.
As part of the protest, women activists brought two-wheelers without petrol to symbolically highlight the burden of rising fuel costs.
District Mahila Congress president Shriya Mohanty claimed the fuel price hike exposed the real nature of the BJP government.
"During the Manmohan Singh government in 2014, diesel was sold at Rs 55 per litre and petrol at Rs 70 per litre," she claimed.
