MPs suspension: Murder of democracy, says CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said the suspension of 146 opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha is murder of democracy and a display of 'dictatorial tendencies.'
As the Congress staged a massive demonstration in Bengaluru protesting the suspension for seeking a reply from the Centre on the Parliament security breach, the Chief Minister charged crucial laws were passed keeping the opposition members away.
"Where is democracy? In democracy, the government should listen to the opposition parties. It cannot say that it will not listen to them at all. People have given mandate to the elected representatives, be it in Lok Sabha or Assembly. No one, either the Speaker or anyone else, has power to snatch it," Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
He said there was never a history of suspending so many members in one go as had happened "for the first time" recently.
"It is a murder of democracy. According to them (the ruling BJP), there is no democracy in the country. They are not respecting the sentiments of the people. These are dictatorial tendencies. They are amending laws and passing bills by keeping everyone away. What does it show? It clearly shows that this government is dictatorial," Siddaramaiah said.
When asked how it will impact the Lok Sabha polls, the Chief Minister said the people will decide.
"People have accepted democracy and the Constitution and will not tolerate anyone going against them," he added.
Meanwhile in Bengaluru, the Congress led by Deputy Chief Minister and the party's state president D K Shivakumar staged a demonstration.
The party activists raised slogans calling the BJP anti-constitution and dictatorial.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said the opposition had only said that the unity, integrity and peace in the country is getting disturbed and democracy is being massacred.
"The Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) should answer why the Parliament security breach happened and who was behind it, etc. All that we are asking for is a statement. This BJP government does not have the courtesy to issue a statement. It suspended 146 MPs from Parliament and then passed all the bills. This is a major insult to democracy," Shivakumar said.
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Unnao rape case: SC defers hearing on CBI's plea against suspension of Sengar's life term
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Monday deferred to the first week of May the hearing on a petition filed by the CBI challenging the suspension of life imprisonment of former BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Sura Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that the matter will be taken up after a nine-judge bench completes hearing on the Sabarimala review proceedings.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Sengar, raised the issue of non-hearing of the pleas in another case related to the alleged custodial death of the victim's father in the Delhi High Court and said that a 10-year jail term was handed down to Sengar in that case.
"Ten years is likely to be completed soon and yet no substantial hearing has taken place in the high court. I should get bail in this matter," he said.
It was alleged by him that even the victim's lawyer is taking adjournments in the high court.
Lawyer Mehmood Pracha, counsel for the victim, said that only one adjournment has been sought in the high court.
The CJI noted the consent of both sides that no adjournment will be sought in the Delhi High Court in another case involving Sengar as one of the accused.
"The lawyers will extend full cooperation (in the HC)," the CJI said.
On December 29, last year, the top court stayed the Delhi High Court order suspending the life sentence of expelled BJP leader Sengar in the 2017 Unnao rape case and said he shall not be released from custody.
The bench, hearing the CBI's plea challenging the high court order, said that substantial questions of law have arisen in the matter that require consideration.
The apex court had also issued notice to Sengar seeking his response on the CBI's plea.
The bench said it was conscious of the fact that ordinarily, when a convict or an undertrial was released on bail pursuant to an order passed by a trial court or the high court, such an order should not be stayed by it without hearing such a person.
It noted that Sengar was also convicted and sentenced in a separate case and was still in custody in that matter.
"In the peculiar circumstances of the case, we stay the operation of the impugned order dated December 23, 2025, passed by the high court. Consequently, the respondent (Sengar) shall not be released from custody pursuant to the said order," the bench had said.
The top court said various substantial questions of law have arisen for its consideration in the matter.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, urged the bench to stay the high court order, saying it was a "horrific rape" of a minor child.
The Delhi High Court had, in its December 23, 2025, order, said that Sengar has been convicted under Section 5 (C) (aggravated penetrative sexual assault by a public servant) of the POCSO Act but an elected representative does not fit the definition of a "public servant" under Section 21 of the IPC.
The high court had suspended the jail term of Sengar, who was serving life imprisonment in the Unnao rape case, till the pendency of his appeal, saying he had already served seven years and five months in prison.
The high court order has sparked criticism from a section and there have been protests by the victim, her family and activists.
Sengar had challenged a December 2019 trial court verdict in the case. He had, however, remained in jail since he was also serving 10 years' imprisonment in the custodial death case of the victim's father and has not been granted bail in that case.
The rape case and other connected cases were transferred to Delhi from a trial court in Uttar Pradesh on the directions of the Supreme Court on August 1, 2019.
Sengar's appeal against his conviction in the case of the custodial death of the survivor's father is also pending, where he has sought suspension of sentence on the ground that he has already spent a substantial time in jail.
In its plea filed in the apex court, the CBI referred to its verdict in the L K Advani case in which it held that anyone who holds public office, like MPs or MLAs, would be deemed a "public servant".
It contended that the high court erred by declaring that Sengar, an MLA when the offence was committed, was not a "public servant" to be prosecuted under POCSO and granted him bail.
