Man with gun goes close to CM Siddaramaiah, garlands minister during election campaign
Bengaluru, Apr 9: A gun-wielding man on Monday went close to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while he was on an open vehicle here, and garlanded Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy standing next to him.
The incident happened at Bhairasandra in the city when Siddaramaiah was campaigning for Reddy's daughter and Congress' Lok Sabha candidate Sowmya Reddy.
The man, whom police identified as Riyaz, suddenly climbed on the vehicle with a gun fastened to his waist.
Raising slogans in support of Congress, Riyaz garlanded Reddy, his daughter Sowmya and others.
As he was getting down from the vehicle, Siddaramaiah and others on the vehicle noticed the gun.
Police said Riyaz has been carrying a gun since a murderous assault on him a few years ago, and he has been exempted from surrendering his gun.
ALSO READ: Congress government in Karnataka stands robust and stable: CM Siddaramaiah
In a post on the microblogging site 'X', the BJP targeted the chief minister, saying this proves that "those who garland" Siddaramaiah are hooligans, rowdies, street thugs.
"Gun-wielding rowdies, who used to be seen in the birthday posters, are now posing in front of the society with guns and garlands the CM and deputy chief minister in the rallies. Although the election code of conduct is in force, they are carrying guns and demonstrating like this to intimidate the voters in the area," the party said.
ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ @siddaramaiah ಅವರಿಗೆ ಹಾರ ಹಾಕುವವರು ಸನ್ಮಾನ ಮಾಡುವವರು ಗೂಂಡಾಗಳು, ರೌಡಿಗಳು, ಬೀದಿ ಪುಂಡರು ಎನ್ನುವುದು ಸಾಬೀತಾಗಿದೆ.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) April 8, 2024
ಇಷ್ಟುದಿನ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬದ ಫ್ಲೆಕ್ಸ್ಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಣಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಗನ್ ಹಿಡಿದ ರೌಡಿಗಳು, ಇದೀಗ ಸಿಎಂ, ಡಿಸಿಎಂ ಅವರ ರ್ಯಾಲಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜಾರೋಷವಾಗಿ ಗನ್ ಹಿಡಿದು ಹಾರ ಹಾಕಿ ಸಮಾಜದ ಮುಂದೆ ಪೋಸ್… pic.twitter.com/r9paiEgw15
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Bommai turns down honorary doctorate, calls for rethink on awards to politicians
Bengaluru (PTI): BJP MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has declined to accept an honorary doctorate from Haveri University, saying it is not appropriate to confer such honours on politicians or those engaged in self-motivated social service.
He said the love and trust of the people are the greatest honours in public life.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Registrar and Syndicate members of Haveri University for deciding to confer an honorary doctorate on me,” Bommai, MP from Haveri, said in a statement issued on Sunday night.
“However, I have informed the Vice-Chancellor that I will not accept the honour. As I am engaged in public service, I do not seek any awards. I believe the love and trust of the people are the greatest honours. Therefore, I humbly reiterate that I will not accept the honorary doctorate,” he said.
Bommai said honorary doctorates should be awarded to individuals who have rendered distinguished and significant service in a particular field over a long period.
“It is my personal view that it is not appropriate to confer honorary doctorates on politicians or those engaged in social service out of self-motivation. I request that this matter be reconsidered,” he added.
Recently, Karnataka Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar proposed the constitution of an expert panel to regulate the awarding of honorary doctorates.
In a letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is also the Chancellor of public universities in the state, the minister highlighted the lack of standards in conferring such honours.
