Nomadic people throng Minister Somashekhar at Rajyotsava event in Mysuru for title deeds
Mysuru: Members of the nomadic communities flocked around Cooperation and District In-charge Minister S T Somashekhar during the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations here on Tuesday, demanding title deeds for houses and shouting slogans.
The 67th Kannada Rajyotsava program was organized by the district administration at outside the Kote Anjaneyaswamy Temple near the Mysore Palace.
The minister and the district authorities were taken aback as the nomadic community members flocked around the minister. Somashekhar, who hoisted the state flag and honoured the Kannada activists on the occasion, was moving to flag off the vehicle for the Mother India chariot (Bharatambe Ratha), said sources.
Suddenly, women, children and youngsters of the nomadic communities, who were standing among the audience for the Rajyotsava program, now reportedly came forth, led by Dalita Sangharsha Samiti district coordinator Choranahalli Shivanna. The entire group moved ahead to meet Somashekhar, but the minister was immediately surrounded by policemen in protection.
It is learned that the minister, troubled by the unexpected change in situation, departed from the venue for the Rajyotsava program.
Shivanna, addressing the gathering, clarified, “Being Kannadigas, we do not wish to disrupt the Rajyotsava program. We staged a protest the last 50 days continually outside the deputy commissioner’s office demanding title deeds for houses. District In-charge Minister S T Somashekhar completely sidelined our request and even ignored us through the entire period of protest. We wished to stage a black flag protest during the Dasara season, but the deputy commissioner and the police assured us that the issue would be resolved. It is already a month since the end of the festivities, but our problem remains unresolved. Which is why, we have approached Minister Somashekhar on this occasion.”
He reportedly warned, “The district administration would be responsible for any sort of mishap that might occur if our problem is not solved.”
The policemen took the protesters into custody. The District Armed Reserved Force carried away more than 50 such protesters in three vehicles to the grounds. Sources said that women and children too were thrust into the police vehicles commonly with men.
Bhagyamma, Kirangur Swamy, Shivaraju Arasinakere, Mahadeva, Anita, Rangaswamy and Mahesh were the other leaders in the protest on Tuesday.
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Cash-for-query: Delhi HC sets aside Lokpal order against Mahua Moitra
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court on Friday set aside an order of the Lokpal granting sanction to the CBI to file a chargesheet against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the alleged cash-for-query scam.
A bench of justices Anil Kshetarpal and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar, while pronouncing the order in Moitra's plea, said "The order is set aside. We have requested the Lokpal to accord consideration for grant of sanction under Section 20 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act in accordance with the relevant provisions within one month".
The cash-for-query scam pertains to the allegation that Moitra had asked questions in the House in exchange for cash and gifts from a businessman.
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Moitra's counsel had contended that there was clear infirmity in the procedure adopted by the Lokpal. He had referred to Section 20(7) of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act saying it demands that comments of public servants be obtained before granting sanction.
The plea was opposed by the CBI, which had argued that Moitra has no right to produce documents in the Lokpal's proceedings and she is only entitled to give comments and not even an oral hearing.
Moitra has also sought to restrain the CBI from taking any steps in furtherance of the sanction order, including but not limited to filing any chargesheet during the pendency of the present proceedings.
The CBI in July submitted its report to the Lokpal in connection with the alleged cash-for-query scam case involving Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani.
The agency had registered an FIR on March 21, 2024, against the two under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act on a reference from the Lokpal.
It was alleged that Moitra indulged in corrupt practices, including, but not limited to, taking bribes and other undue advantages from Hiranandani for "compromising her parliamentary privileges and causing national security threats by sharing her Lok Sabha login credentials."
The agency has submitted its findings in the case to the Lokpal, which will decide the further course of action in the case, according to officials.
