Visit Andaman jail, know Savarkar's history: Minister Sunil Kumar to Siddaramaiah
Udupi/Karwar, Aug 19: BJP leaders continued to target Congress leader Siddaramaiah for his "Muslim area" remark and comments against V D Savarkar with Karnataka Energy Minister V Sunil Kumar on Friday urging the former chief minister to visit the cellular jail in Andaman and get to know the story of the Hindutva ideologue's contribution to the freedom struggle.
This statement comes at a time when activists of Hindu organisations and the BJP continued their protests against the former Chief Minister, and there are reports that he was shown black flag today during his visit to Chikkamagaluru.
"Savarkar is known as Veer Savarkar for his contributions to India's freedom struggle. Siddaramaiah is belittling Savarkar because the former does not know history completely. Had he known history fully, he wouldn't have spoken that way," Kumar said in Udupi.
"I urge him to visit the cellular jail in Andaman...if you see that jail, tears will well up in your eyes, you will understand the kind of struggle of Indians, the cruelty of the British. If you have time, visit the jail and then talk about Savarkar," he said, adding that "Savarkar is the symbol of nationalism".
The Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly on Tuesday, blaming the BJP for creating communal tension in the district headquarters town of Shivamogga on August 15, had raised questions on attempts to install Savarkar's photo in a Muslim-dominated area.
"They tried to put Savarkar's photo in a Muslim area. Let them put up whatever photo, no problem. But, why do that in a Muslim area? And, why did they say 'no' to Tipu Sultan's photo?" he had said.
Following the remarks, activists of the Hindu organisations and the BJP had begun protests against Siddaramaiah, and there were instances of eggs being hurled at his car and black flags waved during his visit to Kodagu on Thursday.
The protests were not instigated by someone, they were an outburst of public feeling, Kumar said adding: Today's youth are in no mood to accept Siddaramaiah's derogatory remarks against Savarkar.
"Siddaramaiah can't stand people with 'kumkum' on their forehead, he questions putting up of Savarkar's photo in Muslim area. He is known for his divisive nature and people are not willing to accept it, so there are protests," he said, however adding that his party would not support any violent means of protest.
Questioning Siddaramaiah's "Muslim area" remark, BJP national general secretary C T Ravi asked if such Muslim-dominated areas in the State are a part of Pakistan according to the Congress leader.
"The mentality that photo should not be put up in Muslim area is not in the interest of the country. Today, they question Savarkar's photo, tomorrow they will question the tricolour-hoisting in that area, then they will say the law of this land is not applicable in their area and 'Shariat' will be followed, then they will say they are part of Pakistan," he said in Karwar.
Such divisive ideas the Congress and Siddaramaiah are nurturing are dangerous to the country, Ravi added.
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HD Revanna gets interim bail in sexual harassment case
Bengaluru, May 16: A court here on Thursday granted interim bail to JD(S) MLA and former Karnataka Minister H D Revanna in a sexual harassment case.
The case of sexual harassment of a 47-year-old house help was registered against Revanna and his son and MP Prajwal Revanna at the Holenarsipur town police station in Hassan district on April 28.
Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27 and is still at large.
The complainant had claimed that the father-son duo had sexually abused her at the 66-year-old MLA's house.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) which is probing the alleged sexual abuse charges against Prajwal and related cases, had sought custody of the former minister.
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Revanna’s advocates sought anticipatory bail in the case. However, the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court (ACMM) heard the matter and gave interim relief to Revanna till Friday.
The SIT had sent two notices to Revanna, son of JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, and Prajwal to join the investigation, but both of them skipped it.
On Thursday Revanna applied for anticipatory bail and the SIT objected to this and sought his custody or that he be remanded in judicial custody. The court, after hearing both sides, decided to hear the matter again on Friday and till then gave relief to Revanna.
A Special Court for Elected Representatives on Monday granted bail to Revanna in case where he is accused of having kidnapped one of the women allegedly abused sexually by Prajwal, as seen in the leaked videos.
Revanna was then released from jail.
He had been arrested by the SIT on May 4 in that case.
The 33-year-old Prajwal is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women. The scandal has raised a political storm, with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaging in a slugfest.
He was BJP-JD(S) alliance's joint candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls in the first phase on April 26.
An Interpol Blue Corner Notice issued against Prajwal in an effort to bring him back to the country to face the law has not yet had the desired effect.
