Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President JP Nadda on Friday issued a statement expressing condemnation for the appalling incident involving a tribal woman who was paraded naked in Belagavi, Karnataka. Nadda strongly condemned the incident and attributed the rise in such heinous crimes, particularly against women, to the governance of the Congress party in the state.
According to Nadda, this incident highlights the irresponsible behavior of the Congress government in Karnataka when it comes to addressing and preventing such crimes. To delve into the matter further, Nadda has formed a five-member fact-finding committee that will visit the site of the incident and subsequently submit its report to the party's national president.
The committee comprises four Members of Parliament - Arpita Sarangi, Sunita Duggal, Locket Chatterjee, Ranjeeta Koli - and the party's national secretary, Dr. Asha Lakra.
Former Karnataka Minister and the party's national secretary, CT Ravi, shared the statement on social media. However, this move was met with criticism from netizens who questioned the selective outrage exhibited by Nadda and BJP leaders. Specifically, they pointed out the absence of similar statements or condemnations for a comparable incident in Manipur.
Netizens raised concerns whether the silence from BJP leaders was due to the victim's Christian identity or because the BJP was in power in Manipur. This led to accusations of selective condemnation and politicization of incidents based on political affiliations.
Critics also reminded Nadda and CT Ravi that the Congress government in Karnataka, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, took timely action and implemented measures following the incident. They contrasted this with the BJP's response during a similar incident in Manipur under its governance, where the party remained silent and inactive.
Furthermore, social media users questioned CT Ravi's delayed response to the incident, emphasizing that he only posted a tweet after the national president issued a statement, especially given Ravi's connection to Karnataka.
Our National President Shri @JPNadda Ji has strongly condemned the shocking incident of parading a naked Tribal Woman in Belagavi, Karnataka.
— C T Ravi 🇮🇳 ಸಿ ಟಿ ರವಿ (@CTRavi_BJP) December 15, 2023
Shri Nadda Ji has further constituted a five-member fact-finding committee to visit the incident site in CONgress ruled Karnataka and… pic.twitter.com/9Z9rHC7QBa
Very good why not manipur?
— mahanthesh (@mhntshs) December 15, 2023
Karnataka goverment leaded by siddaramaiha ji had taken immediate action according to law
— Vijay Kumar (@cvijaykumar349) December 15, 2023
Nadda ji it's a late reaction
ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರು ಮತ್ತು ವಿರೋಧ ಪಕ್ಷದ ನಾಯಕರು ಏನು ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ 🤦
— 🚩ವಿಘ್ನೇಶ್ವರ 🚩 🔥 ಸಭ್ಯಸ್ಥ 🔥 (@nanna_kannada) December 15, 2023
He didn't cry when women are being gang raped in Manipur.. oh wait because they were Christians.. is that why??
— Godseravana (@GodseRaavan) December 15, 2023
what abt manipur
— Tiger 3 (@tigerisback123) December 15, 2023
Manipur is burning since several months. Your Nadda won't raise his voice!. Karnataka where immediately Govt took appropriate action on the incident is problem for you.
— 🇮🇳 ವೆಂಕಟರಾಮು ವ /V VENKATARAMU (@vvenkataramu) December 15, 2023
We r all soooo blessed for being captive voters of bjp....after ur national prez raises an issue u folks wake up.namage bekittu idu.namma karma ashte
— Ashtweet (@Ashtweet13) December 15, 2023
Loafer Chi Thu Ravi..
— Vivek Harale (@viveksips) December 15, 2023
What was your party doing during Manipur & Ujjain incident.
Don't smoke weed & tweet..
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Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
