Wrong of Chandrashekaranath Swami to make such statements, says DCM DK Shivakumar
Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has told the media that it was wrong of Vokkaliga pontiff Chandrashekaranath Swami to say that Muslims’ right to vote should be revoked in India.
While the pontiff has apologized for his statement that whipped up a controversy, a First Information Report (FIR) has been filed against him for making the statement, fuelling the controversy as political leaders have entered the fray in support of the senior seer.
Addressing reporters at the Vidhana Soudha recently, Shivakumar expressed happiness at the pontiff admitting his mistake in making such a statement and apologizing for hurting sentiments of the members of a religious community. “Swamiji has apologized for his statement and I am happy about this. We should not get involved in issues of caste and religion. Voting is the Constitutional right of every citizen in India, without any bias on any basis," he said.
Hitting back at Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly and senior BJP leader R Ashoka for his recent criticism of the Congress government for taking strict measures against the pontiff, Shivakumar said that the BJP leader was using the incident for his vested interest by fuelling tension between communities.
He pointed out that the government led by Janata Dal (Secular) too had taken legal action against Balagangadharanatha Swami, the late head of the Adichunchanagiri Mutt of the Vokkaligas, for violation of law during its tenure. “Former minister Channigappa had filed a case against Balagangadharanatha Swami, who was forced to appear in court for a couple of years before he was granted bail, although he was innocent. These facts are available in the records and irrefutable. Why did Ashoka not criticize the move taken by the JD(S) government then?” asked the Deputy CM, reminding the media, “Everyone is equal before the law.”
When asked to comment about the LoP’s warning that the Vokkaliga community will certainly avenge the insult to the pontiff, Shivakumar said that it was the BJP, especially Ashoka himself, who was fuelling the controversy by such declarations.
“He (Ashoka) has also said that I am using the community for my benefit, which is also not true. I have never done so with either Vokkaligas or other community people. It is true that I am a Vokkaliga by birth, but I respect all religions and communities equally. It is improper to comment on the rights of particular religions or communities when we belong to a republic and are bound by the rules in the Constitution,” the DCM opined.
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Punjab CM condemns attack on Sukhbir Badal, lauds cops for prompt action
Chandigarh (PTI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was fired at while performing 'sewa' outside the Golden Temple on Wednesday morning, and directed police to investigate the incident.
The chief minister also lauded the promptness of the Punjab Police in nabbing the attacker.
The man missed Badal as he was overpowered by police. The audacious attack was captured on cameras of media persons who had gathered outside the Sikh shrine to cover the second day of Badal's penance for "mistakes" committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.
"Punjab Police prevented a major incident from happening today. It is the result of the promptness of the Punjab Police that the conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis has failed," Mann said in a post on X.
"The police achieved great success by arresting the assailant on the spot with their promptness... I strongly condemn the attack on Sukhbir Badal ji. I have issued strict instructions to the police to immediately investigate the incident and submit a report," he added.
Police identified the shooter as Narain Singh Chaura, a resident of Dera Baba Nanak. After the attack, he was whisked away by security officials.
Television footage showed the shooter slowly walking towards Badal, who was sitting in a wheelchair due to a fractured leg, and pulling out a gun from his pocket. A police official in plainclothes standing near Badal quickly intervened and grabbed the attacker's hands. In the melee, a bullet hit the wall behind Badal, who escaped unhurt.
