Tag: statements

Karnataka Muslim quota: Supreme Court frowns at poll statements

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday voiced displeasure over political statements being made about withdrawal of four per cent quota for Muslims in poll bound Karnataka, after it was told Union Home Minister Amit Shah was making public statements about the hugely contentious issue at the hustings.
Terming as “inappropriate” the political statements about the matter which is sub-judice, the apex court asserted “Some sanctity needs to be maintained”.
The withdrawal of four per cent reservation for Muslims and its reallocation between the politically influential Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities just before the assembly elections has become a hot button issue in the southern state.

“When the matter is pending before the court and there is court order on Karnataka Muslim quota, then there should not be any political statements on the issue. It is not appropriate. Some sanctity needs to be maintained,” a bench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah said.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for the petitioners who have challenged the scrapping of the Muslim quota by the state’s BJP government, said, “Every day the home minister is making statements in Karnataka that they have withdrawn the four per cent Muslim quota. Why should such statements be made?”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Karnataka government, said he is not aware of any such remarks being made. He, however, contended those criticising religion-based quota are not wrong.
“Solicitor General making a statement in the court is not a problem but someone saying anything on a sub-judice matter outside the court is not appropriate. In 1971, a West Bengal political leader was hauled up for contempt for holding a press conference defending a rationing order which was pending before the court,” Justice Joseph said.
“We understand and respect the sentiment of the court,” said Mehta but added as a counsel, “I am saying that any religion-based reservation is unconstitutional”.

Justice Nagarathna also expressed displeasure over statements being made outside the court on the quota issue.
The arguments turned bitter when Dave said statements proudly claiming credit for the withdrawal of Muslim quota were being made every day. An agitated Mehta urged the court to restrain the senior lawyer from making such statements without a context.
“This is the Supreme Court bench and don’t let it be turned into a fish market. This court has to restrain him (Dave) from making such statements. What they (Dave and others) are saying is without any context. They need to show what is the context, what is the content, and tenor of the statements. Let them file an application to this effect, we will file our reply,” he said.
Dave told the court he will file an application and bring it on record what kind of statements are being made.
Mehta said without any application nobody would know what statement has been attributed to him (the Union home minister).
“Please see this statement. The Union home minister said that four per cent reservation for Muslims was unconstitutional and BJP removed it. This amounts to contempt of court,” an angry Dave told the court.
As decibels rose, Justice Joseph asked Dave to not shout or make political statements in the court.
“We will not allow this court to become a political forum. We are not party to it. We cannot allow the issue to be politicised in this manner. We will adjourn the matter,” the bench asserted.
At this juncture, a lawyer appearing for the petitioners told the bench that the BJP has stated in its election manifesto it will do away with four per cent Muslim reservation if voted to power.
The enforcement of the government order on scrapping of the Muslim quota has been kept in abeyance by the Supreme Court.
Replying to the submission, Mehta insisted there is nothing wrong in such a manifesto and, in fact, every political party should include in their manifesto the promise that they will abolish religion-based reservation.
Advocate Ravi Kumar Varma, appearing for Central Muslim Association, made a prayer to restrain the press from publishing such speeches, a contention Mehta opposed, saying media cannot be censored like this.
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#Karnataka #Muslim #quota #Supreme #Court #frowns #poll #statements
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Delhi Police record statements of 7 women wrestlers in cases against WFI chief

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New Delhi: Delhi Police recorded the statements of seven women wrestlers in connection with the cases registered against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, officials said on Friday.
On April 28, Delhi Police registered two FIRs in connection with sexual harassment allegations levelled by the women wrestlers against Singh.
According to police, one of the cases against him was registered under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), and 354D (stalking), while the other was registered under section 10 of the POCSO Act.

An official said they have recorded the statements of the wrestlers and an investigation is underway.
The incidents mentioned in the FIRs allegedly took place between 2012 and 2022 at different places, including abroad.
The wrestlers have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23. A scuffle allegedly broke out between the wrestlers and some police personnel on Wednesday night.
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#Delhi #Police #record #statements #women #wrestlers #cases #WFI #chief
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 5, 2023
Kharge, Siddaramaiah’s statements offer BJP way out of Lingayat humiliation charge

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Bengaluru: As Karnataka inches closer to assembly elections, the BJP and the Congress campaigns are getting nastier as the BJP finds itself pushed into a corner over the way it treated prominent Lingayat leaders, and the Congress on the back-foot because of its leaders’ recent remarks.
The statements by leaders of the grand old party regarding ‘corrupt’ Lingayat chief ministers and comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a ‘poisonous snake’ (later withdrawn) have given the BJP much-needed ammunition to counter the narrative the Congress spun around former CM Jagadish Shettar and ex-Deputy CM Laxman Savadi, both prominent Lingayat leaders, who joined the Congress after quitting the BJP on being denied tickets.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has come down heavily on the Congress over remarks made by Opposition leader Siddaramaiah and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The BJP was waiting for a long time to attack Siddaramaiah as he is a known critic of the RSS and Hindutva.
Siddaramaiah is the only leader from the state to attack PM Modi, Amit Shah and, is still not targeted by any central agencies.
Kharge surprised everyone with his remarks of comparing PM Modi to a poisonous snake. Though he withdrew his statement and maintained that it was issued with reference to Hindutva ideology and the RSS agenda, the BJP got an opportunity to make din, and the humiliation of Lingayat leadership charge was put to back-burner.
While campaigning in Varuna constituency in Mysuru district, Siddaramaiah stated that Lingayat CMs indulged in corruption and destroyed the state.
Though Siddaramaiah clarified that his statement was meant only for current Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, a controversy was stirred.

Kharge, while addressing a public rally at Naregal town of Gajendragarh in Gadag district of Karnataka, stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is like a poisonous snake. Kharge further warned the crowd that if you taste any offers by snake (Modi), you will die.
He also said that the BJP should tell what is its contribution to the country.
“Not even the pet dog of their home had given its life to the country,” Kharge said.
Union Minister Amit Shah who has launched an aggressive campaign in Karnataka declared that attacks on PM Modi will only create ‘waves’ for him and help the BJP.
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani stated that the Congress is such a party, when an Adivasi woman was made candidate for the post of President, it humiliated her. It had made those who insult Hindu religion as star campaigners.
“Congress seeks support of SDPI, it talks of releasing PFI goons. Today, Congress leaders are again criticising PM Modi. Kharge saheb is older than me. This insecurity does not bring dignity to you,” she said.
V.P. Niranjan Aradhya, an activist and senior academician, told IANS that right from the beginning, “what we are claiming is that no issue concerning people is being discussed at all”.
“Only matters of caste, religion, pitting one community against another is happening.
“The twist in the tale is, so far the general feeling was BJP hated Muslims. Now, they are breaking communities. The attempt to create characters of Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda were created to pit Vokkaligas against Muslims, removal of quota of reservations for Muslims and pit them against Vokkaligas and Lingayats, this is very dirty politics,” Niranjan Aradhya said.
He further said: “Absolutely, there is no morality and value-based politics. Particularly talking about the Constitution and the Constitutional values, fundamental rights, issues are totally absent. With Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi’s exit, it is more or less proved that the BJP is a Brahminical party, completely controlled by the RSS.
“I think the people of Karnataka should think seriously. All these days, it has been about Hindus and Muslims. Not only this, they will not allow Hindus to live peacefully as well. People should think and go by the Constitution. Pluralism, multiculturalism, multilingualism and more than anything diversity are challenged and being erased. This is the right time to take a call,” Niranjan Aradhya added.
The Assembly election in Karnataka is scheduled to be held on May 10 and the result would be announced on May 13.
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#Kharge #Siddaramaiahs #statements #offer #BJP #Lingayat #humiliation #charge
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 30, 2023
American Airlines urination incident: Delhi Police to record witness statements

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New Delhi: Delhi Police will record statements of witnesses, including passengers and crew members, on the American Airlines flight on which an inebriated Indian student allegedly urinated while asleep in his seat and soiled a male co-passenger, officials said on Monday.
The alleged incident occurred on flight AA292 from New York, which landed at Delhi airport at 9.50 pm on Saturday.
Based on a complaint from the airline, a case was registered and, as part of their ongoing investigation, investigators will record statements of the witnesses, including the passengers and the crew members, on the flight, a senior Delhi Police official said.
The airline also submitted a complaint to Delhi Police, addressing the T-3, IGI Airport, SHO.
“….Upon aircraft arrival, purser informed that passenger was heavily intoxicated, was not adhering to crew instructions on board. He was repeatedly arguing with operating crew, was not willing to be seated and continuously endangering safety of crew and aircraft and after disturbing safety of fellow passengers, finally urinated on (the other) passenger…,” the complaint stated.
The airline mentioned that it had cancelled the student’s return ticket and barred him from future travel on its flights.
In a statement on Sunday, the airline had said that the flight was “met by local enforcement upon arrival in Delhi due to a disruptive customer” but did not provide specific details about the incident.
Delhi airport DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla had said a complaint of urination on a co-passenger was received from American Airlines against one person, who is a student in the US. The accused is a resident of Defence Colony in the national capital.

“We have registered a case under sections 510 (misconduct in public by a drunken person) and 294 (punishment for obscene acts or words in public) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 22 and 23 of the Civil Aviation Act. The accused joined the probe along with his father. He was released after interrogation. He has not been arrested in the case yet as further investigation in the matter is still underway,” he said.
The male victim was not keen on reporting the matter to the police after the student apologised to him as it might put his career in jeopardy, according to a source.
However, the airline took the matter seriously and reported it to the Air Traffic Control at the airport.
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#American #Airlines #urination #incident #Delhi #Police #record #witness #statements
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 6, 2023