Separate state flag to be hoisted on December 10
Voice for development of 13 districts
Bengaluru, Dec 6: North Karnataka Action Committee state unit general secretary Nagesh Golashetty said that the Samiti would stage a protest by hoisting separate state flag during the Winter Session to be held in Belagavi from December 10.
Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, he said that hundreds of swamijis have warned the government on July 31 that they would hoist the separate flag for separate state and take charge of the state if the state government failed to fulfill their demand within stipulated time. There was a discrimination in all awards.
The state government has more concern toward Mekedatu project, but Mahadayi project was neglected. The government has spent crores of rupees for Dasara celebration, but the leaders from the south have been opposing to spend for Hampi Utsav. Unfortunately, the leaders from North Karnataka have failed to raise voice against this discrimination and they were cowards, he said.
For the development of 13 districts, North Karnataka should be separated. As the people from this region were deprived of power, the region was lagging behind in development. When hundreds of swamijis staged protest in front of the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, the state government has promised of shifting some offices and preparing a plan for the development within 15 days. But it has not taken any action so far. Instead, it has continued its discriminatory attitude, he alleged.
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Campaign Against Hate Speech calls for action against Chandrashekar Swamiji for hate speech
Bengaluru: Campaign Against Hate Speech, a collective of lawyers, activists, and concerned citizens, has urged Karnataka’s Home Minister, Shri Parameshwara G, and Director General of Police, Dr. Alok Mohan, to take legal action against Chandrashekar Swamiji, the seer of Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt. The demand follows an alleged hate speech made by the seer during a protest organized by the Bharatiya Kisan Union at Freedom Park on November 26, 2024.
The organization claimed that the speech was divisive and aimed at spreading communal hatred and enmity between communities. Chandrashekar Swamiji allegedly made inflammatory remarks, including false claims about the authority of the Waqf Board and a controversial suggestion that Muslims in India should be stripped of their voting rights. The speech, delivered to a large audience, has since been uploaded to YouTube by TV9 Kannada, amassing over 6,900 views.
The organization provided excerpts of the speech, which they say falsely accused the Waqf Board of arbitrarily taking over properties, including farmland, and asserted that minorities in Pakistan do not have voting rights. These remarks, they argued, not only mislead the public but also incite hostility against the Muslim community and misrepresent the functioning of the Waqf Board. The statement suggesting that Muslims should be denied voting rights was described as unconstitutional and harmful to the secular and democratic values of the country.
In their letter, the collective highlighted specific sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly the IPC) that they believe the speech violates. These include provisions against promoting enmity between communities, making assertions prejudicial to national integration, and spreading false or alarming information intended to incite hatred. They also pointed out that comments on the video supported the seer’s views, reflecting the potential for real-world consequences stemming from the speech.
While Chandrashekar Swamiji has since issued a written apology, Campaign Against Hate Speech argued that it is insufficient. The apology has not been widely circulated, while the original speech continues to be shared online, further amplifying its divisive message.
The organization has requested legal action against the seer and restrictions on the offensive video. They have also called for a broader public awareness campaign to educate people about the legal and social consequences of hate speech. Additionally, they suggested that the upcoming winter session of the Karnataka Assembly address the growing issue of hate speech comprehensively.
The letter underscored the importance of preserving Karnataka’s identity as a “garden of peace for all communities,” as envisioned by Rashtrakavi Kuvempu. Citing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of democracy as a mode of “associated living,” they stressed that such remarks not only threaten a specific community but also undermine the foundational values of the nation.
