K'taka Cong files complaint against BJP's newspaper advertisement
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Congress on Friday filed a complaint with the Home Department and DGP M A Saleem against BJP for allegedly misusing Mahatma Gandhi's photograph in an advertisement to target the party-led government in the state.
The advertisement shows caricatures of Mahatma Gandhi showing a stick towards Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi.
It has a caption where Gandhi is accusing them of looting for 60 years in his name and now indulging in misinformation against the VB-G RAM G Act brought in by the Modi government, which he says fulfils his dream of gram swaraj.
The advertisement published on Friday in several leading Kannada and English newspapers is in response to the ad issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department both on January 29 and February 3, which features caricatures of Gandhi in conversation with a fictional person named 'Sangappa', depicted wearing a white shirt and khaki trousers resembling an RSS uniform, to highlight the alleged shortcomings of the Centre's new act compared to the earlier legislation.
"It has come to my notice that an advertisement given in several of today's i.e., 06-02-2026 news papers is being publicly circulated wherein the image of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation and an internationally revered symbol of non-violence, has been wrongfully and irresponsibly used in connection with violent acts / violent messaging / incitement to violence," Congress MLC, Ramesh Babu stated in the complaint.
He claimed that such misuse is deeply offensive, distorts the legacy of Gandhi, hurts public sentiments, and has the potential to disturb public order and harmony.
"This advertisement is published by Bharatiya Janata Party, Karnataka Unit, Bangalore. The above act constitutes cognizable offences under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023," Babu said citing the various sections.
Further, the content is circulated through electronic and digital platforms also, he said.
"The act also violates the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 by unauthorized use of Mahatma Gandhi's image. Mahatma Gandhi represents the constitutional values of peace, non-violence, and unity. Any attempt to associate his image with violence is dangerous, unlawful, and against the spirit of the Constitution of India, and may provoke unrest among the public," he alleged.
Babu requested the police chief to direct the officers concerned to register an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation in this regard.
He urged him to initiate strict legal action against all responsible persons and take preventive steps to stop further circulation or misuse of national icons.
Meanwhile, taking to social media platform 'X', IT Minister Priyank Kharge hit out at the BJP claiming that then Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse whereas today Gandhism is being assassinated by "followers of Godse".
He said Mahatma Gandhi was the one who strongly conveyed the message of non-violence to the world.
"Gandhi never raised the walking stick in his hand to attack anyone. Gandhi never showed the path of falsehood. However, failing to understand the greatness of the Mahatma, @RSSorg and @BJP4Karnataka have once again insulted Mahatma Gandhi by issuing an advertisement portraying him as a proponent of violence," he said in his post.
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We desperately searched for him all night: Delhi biker's family as they blame police for his death
New Delhi (PTI): The family of 25-year-old Kamal Dhyani, who died after falling into a 15-feet-deep pit in west Delhi's Janakpuri, on Friday said they desperately searched for him the entire night, going from one police station to another, and alleged that authorities failed to help them despite repeated pleas.
The police said around 7 am, they received a PCR call regarding a body lying inside a pit at a DJB construction site in Janakpuri. Subsequently, the family of the deceased was informed about the incident.
Kamal's family and friends alleged that police failed to act despite repeated pleas even as the victim's phone kept ringing through the night, but the police refuted the claims.
A senior police officer said that Naresh and Karan, the young man's brothers, came to the Janakpuri police station around 2.45 am and reported that Kamal had been missing for hours.
"We attempted to trace his location and found that his last known location was near the district park. Despite conducting a search, he could not be located," a senior police officer said.
The police said they attempted to narrow down the location of the mobile phone tower and conducted search operations during the night, but were unable to trace him.
Police personnel were also sent along with the family to conduct searches, the officer said.
The victim's family has alleged negligence on the part of the DJB but also suspects foul play in the biker's death.
The police, however, have ruled out any foul play and called it an 'unfortunate incident', and said they are investigating all angles.
Kamal's friend Mayank said, "Raat bhar dhundha hai, police help kar deti to shyad raat ko mil jata, der nahi hoti to kya pata zindagi bach jati. (we searched him the entire night, had police helped us, he could have been saved)."
His friend recalled that Kamal was on his way home and told him he would reach in 15 minutes.
"We waited for 30 minutes. After that, we called him around 10 times, but he did not pick up any of the calls. We became worried, especially as many people have been getting kidnapped," he said, adding that Kamal's last call was at 11.30 pm.
Recalling a night of desperate search for his brother, Karan said family and friends fanned out across west and northwest Delhi, visited at least seven to eight police stations, including Janakpuri, Sagarpur, Vikaspuri and Rohini.
Before walking into the Janakpuri police station, Karan along with some friends went to Vikaspuri police station where they were informed that the police had no information of any bike accident.
The officials at Janakpuri police station said they took the missing person's mobile number and tracked his location near Possangipur Park.
A police team along with family members carried out a search in the park and nearby areas but despite hours of efforts neither Kamal nor his vehicle were located, the police said.
Kamal's details, photograph, and vehicle information were also circulated, they said.
"We roamed on streets the entire night," he said, adding that he requested them to trace his phone, which was still ringing but no one helped him.
Karan said Kamal's phone remained active through the night, adding to the family's anxiety.
He also alleged that police provided them a location, but that did not match.
"They (police) told us searching at night was not possible and that a complaint could only be registered in the morning," Karan alleged.
The news of Kamal's death came early Friday morning when Karan decided to call his brother's phone once again. This time the call was answered, but by the police, who informed him about the tragic incident.
"They told us they had found his body. We rushed to the spot, police found Kamal's body and his motorcycle lying inside the pit on a road which he used to commute daily," Karan said.
"When we reached the spot, we were not allowed to see him," Kamal's friend Mayank alleged.
Kamal was was one of three brothers.
"Kamal and Karan are twins. We have not informed his mother so far, she is crying and want to see Kamal as we told her that he is in hospital under treatment," Mayank said.
The Delhi Police on Friday registered an FIR against a contractor and officials of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) over the motorcyclist's death.
"We have registered an FIR under Section 105 (culpable homicide) of the BNS at Janakpuri Police Station against the contractor and concerned officials of Delhi Jal Board," the senior police officer said.
The officer said that investigation is being carried out on priority and strict legal action will taken against the guilty as per law.
The Delhi government has ordered a probe into the matter.
