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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Joshi demands withdrawal of decision on closure of Jan Aushadi centres in State
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi has said that the State government is closing down Jan Aushadi (generic medicine) centres on government hospital premises just because they have the portrait of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that the decision be rescinded immediately. Speaking to presspersons in Hubbalil on Monday, Mr. Joshi said that while the Health Minister has claimed that free medicine are being given in government hospitals, medicine for even blood pressure and diabetes are not being made available. 'There are around 10,000 Jan Aushadi centres across the country and nowhere they are being closed except in Karnataka. We will fight against it,' he said. The Union Minister said that minority appeasement has reached its pinnacle under the Congress rule in the State and the High Court has already rapped the State government on its knuckles for its decision to withdraw cases related to the Old Hubballi riots. 'While the State government has registered a case against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for hate speech, it has withdrawn cases against those who attacked a police station. This is a clear example of the Congress' appeasement politics,' he said. Mr. Joshi clarified that the BJP is not opposed to all Muslims. 'We only oppose Muslim fundamentalists, communal elements among them and terrorists. However, the appeasement politics of the Congress is affecting the security of the country and also of the State. Under Congress rule, Karnataka has become a safe haven for Muslim fundamentalists,' he said. Mr. Joshi said that while Pakistan has admitted to the fact that India destroyed its air bases in Operation Sindoor, the Congress leaders are asking for evidence. Despite India gaining a upperhand in the operation against terrorists, the Congress is not happy, he mocked. The Union Minister termed AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge's demand for a special parliamentary session to deliberate on Operation Sindoor as childish. 'Just because a special session is being convened in Pakistan on the issue, Congress leaders should not speak like spokespersons of Pakistan. Shortly, a parliamentary session will be convened and all issues will be deliberated upon,' he said. Replying to a query, the Union Minister said that the country has accepted the ideology of the RSS and the BJP, while rejecting the ideology of the Congress. Repeated attempts to launch Rahul Gandhi as a leader have failed and so has Rahul Gandhi, he said. Terming actor Kamal Haasan's statement on Kannada as wrong, Mr. Joshi said that Tamil, Telugu and Kannada are ancient languages and Kamal Haasan has spoken without any scientific basis and thereby created a rift. However, neither the Chief Minister nor the Deputy Chief Minister have condemned his remarks and Kannada activists should question Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar about it, he said.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Karnataka HC quashes state cabinet's decision to withdraw 43 criminal cases including Hubballi riots
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 29 (ANI): The Karnataka High Court on Thursday quashed the state cabinet's decision to withdraw 43 criminal cases, including those linked to the 2022 Old Hubballi riots. Advocate Girish Bhardwaj had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the legality of the government order issued in October 2024 to withdraw criminal cases in which former ministers, former MLAs and persons belonging to influential organisations were made accused. Karnataka High Court Chief Justice NV, who heard the arguments, a division bench comprising Justices Anjaria and Arvind has set aside the cabinet decision and issued the order. The petition mentioned that serious charges have been framed against some of the accused in these 43 cases, including the 2022 Hubballi riots case, in which a mob attacked and assaulted several police personnel over a controversial post on social media. The petitioner had argued that the government order of October 15, 2024, violated Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This provision specifically empowers only the prosecutor to initiate any action to withdraw the prosecution. Therefore, it was argued on behalf of the petitioner that the state cabinet does not have the power to direct the prosecutor to withdraw these criminal cases. Also, contrary to the opinion of the police and prosecution departments, which said that these criminal cases were not fit to be withdrawn, the petitioner had referred to the cabinet decision on which this order was based. The petitioner had pointed out that while the state government had withdrawn the criminal cases in 2020, the High Court had made it clear in 2022 that the withdrawal of cases against former and sitting MPs and MLAs would be governed by the judgment of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had said that criminal cases against former and sitting MPs and MLAs cannot be withdrawn without the permission of the respective High Courts. In this case, there were several accused, including Muslim leader Arif, who entered the old Hubballi police station and rioted. However, a decision was made during the cabinet meeting to withdraw the case of the accused. In the incident, stones were pelted, and police vehicles were damaged. In addition, four policemen were injured. On April 16, 2022, a riot broke out in front of the old Hubballi police station for sharing a photo of a Bhagwadhwa on a mosque on social media. Thousands of Muslims gathered in front of the police station and rioted. During this, stones were also pelted at the police station, hospital, temple, and houses. The police fired in the air to control the situation. In the wake of the riot, the police registered 12 cases and arrested 158 people. The social organization Anjuman-e-Islami had decided to fight the law on behalf of the accused arrested in the case. In December last year, the court had granted bail to 35 accused in the old Hubballi riots case. Earlier, 11 accused had been granted bail by the court. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had written to the government to drop the case. A case was registered against AIMIM leader Mohammed Arif and others. Arif and 138 others were charged with attempt to murder, rioting and other serious charges. (ANI)
India Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Unlawful: Karnataka High Court stops government order withdrawing criminal cases
The Karnataka High Court struck down the state government's October 2024 decision to withdraw 43 criminal cases, including those linked to the 2022 Old Hubballi riots. The cases involved activists from various organisations, politicians, and other influential High Court's ruling is deemed as a legal setback for the government, which ordered the withdrawal order on October 10. This decision was challenged through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Girish Bharadwaj, who questioned the legality of the division bench led by Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind admitted the PIL and expressed serious concerns over the government's action. In its ruling, the court declared the withdrawal order unlawful and also quashed the follow-up government notification dated October 15, verdict prevents the Karnataka government from proceeding with the withdrawal of these high-profile criminal opposition BJP had earlier criticised Karnataka's move to withdraw the Hubbali riots case, alleging that the Congress government is appeasing the Muslim Leader of Opposition Aravind Bellad slammed the decision, saying, 'These are the people who attacked the police station and the police. They tried to burn the police alive. But the Congress government, to appease the Muslim community and minority votes, is doing this. That is there in the Congress DNA.'Must Watch IN THIS STORY#Karnataka
