After massive protest in Ballari, FIR against BJP’s Somashekara Reddy for communal speech

Crime

Thousands protested in Ballari demanding that the BJP MLA be arrested for his speech.

Theja Ram

The Karnataka police on Saturday booked Ballari City MLA Somashekhara Reddy for promoting enmity between two religious groups after his communally-coloured speech made on Friday.  Thousands of protesters from the Muslim community assembled at Ballari’s City at around 11.30 am on Saturday and demanded that BJP MLA Somashekhara Reddy be arrested for his communally-charged speech.  Protesters shouted slogans against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register for Citizens (NRC) and called for immediate action against the legislator.  Over 100 police personnel were present at the protest for protection. While SP Babu tried to pacify the protesters and asked them to withdraw, the agitators put their foot down and said that they would disburse peacefully if action were taken against the MLA.  At around 3.30 pm, an FIR was registered at Ballari’s Gandhinagar Police Station against Somashekhara Reddy under section 153A(promoting enmity between two groups on the basis of religion), 295A (Punishment for deliberate and malicious acts that are intended to insult religious beliefs) and 505 B (making statement intended to cause fear, or alarm the public) of the IPC.  On Friday, the BJP had organized a pro-CAA public meeting in Ballari where MLA Somashekhara Reddy addressed a gathering of the party’s cadre. ““Bewakoofs (idiots) from Congress are lying to you,” he continued, “and you’re believing them and coming out onto the streets. Hey, we’re the 80%! You’re just 17%. If we turn against you what will your situation be?” he had said while referring to the Muslim community.  Somashekhara Reddy is the youngest brother in the Reddy brothers trio: Karunakara, Janardhan (the mining baron) and Somashekhara. In his speech on Friday, Somashekhara further insinuated that minorities need to ‘adapt’ if they wanted to live in India.   "Caution, tread with caution. This is our country. You have to live in our country. This is my country. My country,” Somashekhara orated to loud cheers, “If you want to live in this country… the Australian Prime Minister had given a statement once. You know what she said? “If you want to stay in this country, you have to live as per our customs. Caution. If you don’t, I will send you back to your country.” Make sure that you don’t bring such a situation in this country," he said. Read: ‘We’re 80%, you’re 17%’: Karnataka MLA ‘warns’ Muslims against anti-CAA protests    

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Documentary film 'Wild Karnataka' to release in theatres on Jan 17

Documentary

The documentary makers filmed over 400 hours of footage, spending more than 20,000 hours on the field.

TNM Staff

The documentary film Wild Karnataka will be released in theatres on January 17.  The documentary, which showcases the biodiversity of Karnataka, is narrated by Sir David Attenborough.  It was initially screened for a private audience in Bengaluru in March 2019 and will now be screened in 19 different cities through PVR cinemas. The documentary was made by filmmakers Amoghavarsha JS and Kalyan Varma along with forest officer Vijay Mohan Raj and naturalist Sarath Champati. The music for the documentary was composed by Ricky Kej, Grammy Award winning composer. Speaking to TNM, Amoghavarsha JS said, “I am sure the audience will definitely enjoy the film because it’s got David Attenborough and high quality music by Ricky and it's also about animals from India, which I think is very contextual; so we are hoping the audience will have a good experience.” The film has footage of dancing frogs, drone footage of elephants and footage taken underwater as well. The filming was done across many places in Karnataka including Koppal, Hampi, Siruguppa, Bhadra Tiger Reserve, Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, BRT, Nagarahole, Agumbe, Bhimgad and Daroji.  The documentary makers filmed over 400 hours of footage, spending more than 20,000 hours on the field collaborating with the Karnataka Forest Department.  In a coup, Sir David Attenborough was roped in as the narrator of the documentary. He has worked in a number of natural history films and has also narrated BBC's Planet Earth, a series spanning 11 episodes each of which focused on a different habitat on earth. 

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Karnataka govt mulls having common exam for Class 7 this year instead of boards

Education

The state government had in October 2019 announced that board exams would be held for Class 7 students from the 2019-2020 academic year.

Theja Ram

The Karnataka government is currently mulling over holding common exams for Class 7 students instead of board exams. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar, said that the proposal to hold public exams this year is not feasible but the Education department is currently looking at holding a common exam, where papers would be corrected at the school level.  "We will hold discussions with department officials and take a call in a day or two. We will not delay this any longer," Minister Suresh Kumar said.  Officials with the Primary and Secondary Education Department say that several complaints had come in from parents and educational institutes regarding the public exam for Class 7 students as the state government had not issued any government order or guidelines for the question paper patterns. "After several rounds of talks, a decision was made that we could introduce a common question paper for all Class 7 students and the papers would be corrected at school level unlike the Class 10 boards where corrections are done outside of the school. This was because there was very little time to decide the question paper pattern and it could be a bridge for students to know what a common exam at Class 7 level would be," the official said.  However, the department is currently reconsidering the proposal, sources said after the Karnataka State Child Protection Committee wrote to the department stating that it would put immense pressure on children. Several parents and activists too had approached the department and had expressed their disagreement with the proposal since the announcement was made in October last year.  "We are trying to reassure children and parents that no one will be failed in these exams and that it will be conducted on an experimental basis. But there are also concerns about whether this would go against existing laws like the RTE. We are consulting legal and subject-matter experts. The public exams would be conducted only if a government order is issued in this regard but that has not yet happened," the source said.  According to officials of the Karnataka Secondary Education and Examination Board, it is too late to prepare common question papers for Class 7 and that the department could do so only after a government order was issued. “We have been busy preparing for the Class 10 exams like every year. We did not receive any order to start formulating question papers. It is very unlikely that even a common exam would be held this year as it is too late. Schools have already started preparing for exams this year, which will be held in late February or early March,” the official said.     

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Congress seeks police action against BJP MLA Somasekhara Reddy for communal speech

Politics

In the letter submitted by Congress leaders, it was highlighted that through his speech, Somashekara Reddy threatened to disturb the peace and harmony prevailing in Ballari.

TNM Staff

A delegation of Karnataka Congress leaders filed a complaint against BJP MLA Somashekara Reddy for communal statements made during a rally in Ballari on Friday. Congress leaders including former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah met Neelamani Raju, Director General and Inspector General of Police, Karnataka to submit the complaint and called for suo motu case to be taken up against the MLA. While speaking at a rally in Ballari, Somashekara Reddy said, “Hey, we’re the 80% (Hindus)! You’re just 17% (Muslims). If we turn against you what will your situation be?” The statement was seen as a warning to Muslims to not participate in protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).  In the letter submitted by Congress leaders, it was highlighted that through his speech, Somashekara Reddy threatened to disturb the peace and harmony prevailing in Ballari. "By making a speech like this, it disturbs the harmony and goodwill of the people of Ballari. It sows the seeds of caste and religion and leads to conflict. Due to this statement by Somashekara Reddy, there is a chance that peace in Ballari will be disrupted. The speech made by him is in violation of the Indian Penal Code," reads the letter.  The Congress leaders urged the police to register a case against Somashekara Reddy. The letter was signed by Congress leaders Siddaramaiah, VS Ugrappa, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Eshwar Khandre, Basavaraj Hitnal among others.  Somashekara Reddy also confirmed the meaning of his statement to TNM. He said, “I have not stated anything against anybody. I just said we Hindus are 80% and if the 20% Muslim population damages our property, we cannot just stand by and watch.”.  Somashekhara Reddy is the youngest of the infamous Reddy brothers - Gali Janardhana, Karunakara and Somashekara. Janardhana Reddy is a former minister and the prime accused in the 2011 Ballari mining scam. Congress leader Ugrappa highlighted that recently UT Khader was booked by police in Mangaluru for an alleged provocativel speech. "Karnataka will burn if the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) 2019 is implemented,” Khader had reportedly said as per the complaint filed by Sandesh Kumar Shetty, district general secretary, Dakshina Kannada BJP Yuva Morcha, at the Mangaluru South (Pandeshwara) police station. Ugrappa urged the police to book Somashekara Reddy by taking suo motu cognisance. 

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Major protest against CAA, NRC held in Mangaluru, first one after Dec 19 violence

Protest

The protest was organised by the Sanyukta Nagarika Vedike at the KC Junction in Talapady amid heavy security deployment.

Prajwal Bhat

A major protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) was held in Mangaluru on Friday, two weeks after violence marred anti-CAA protests on December 19 2019. This is the first major protest after police firing in the city killed two people. The protest was organised by the Sanyukta Nagarika Vedike at the KC Junction in Talapady amid heavy security deployment. Those present at the protest said that they were opposed to the CAA, NRC and demanded justice for the victims of the police firing on December 19. No police permission was given to hold protests in the city for two weeks after the incident. 'The protest was organised to oppose the unconstitutional CAA, NRC, NPR, and to oppose the police action that killed two people in Mangaluru. We want a judicial enquiry to be conducted by a sitting High Court judge and we want justice to be done. We are not concerned about the compensation being denied but we want justice," Ashraf, a resident of KC Road in Mangaluru told TNM. Ashraf is also a member of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). During the protest, Gopal Menon, a documentary filmmaker, Sudheer Kumar, a lawyer and UT Khader, Mangaluru MLA of the Congress, addressed the gathering alongside others. Thousands of people gathered at the protest and according to Ashraf, it will only lead to more people turning up in protests planned in the next week.  "People were afraid to come to a protest because they were wary that the situation will turn violent again. There was also confusion over obtaining permission for the protest but we took responsibility for it and wanted to conduct the protest even if the crowd is less so that the idea is made clear to people. After the protest was held peacefully, people who did not attend this time said that they will turn up in future protests," Ashraf added. Further protests against the CAA and NRC are planned in Ullal on Sunday and in Derlakatte on January 12.  However, a peace protest scheduled to be held at Nehru Maidan in Mangaluru on Saturday was postponed after a request was made by Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai. The call for the peace protest was issued by the Muslim Central Committee of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. However, the Mangaluru City Police denied permission for the protest to be held and cited that the Nehru Maidan located at the centre of the city was not suitable for holding protests.  Police officials said that there were civil works taken up near the ground and essential services like hospitals and fire services were located in its vicinity.  The police said that a protest would "severely disrupt these highly essential services", in a statement issued to the press.  Mangaluru remained tense after the events of December 19. Police had barged into Highland Hospital and threw tear gas shells into the lobby. A veil of apprehension was cast among the people of Mangaluru, who were hesitant to hold protests even as police began issuing notices to protesters to appear for questioning. Read: Mangaluru police action excessive, targeted Muslims: Fact-finding report on Dec 19 events

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Modi, Amit Shah trying to curtail K'taka CM Yediyurappa's power: Siddaramaiah

Politics

“I feel that the news reports about the opposition to BS Yediyurappa to continue as the Chief Minister of Karnataka within the BJP’s state unit are true,” said Siddaramaiah.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa raised eyebrows after he openly stated on Thursday that the Centre had not given funds for flood relief in Karnataka, whilst sharing a stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reacting to Yediyurappa’s speech, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took a dig at PM Modi, stating that the BJP’s national leaders were trying to curtail BS Yediyurappa’s power. “I feel that the news reports, about the opposition to BS Yediyurappa to continue as the Chief Minister of Karnataka within the BJP’s state unit are true. Narendra Modi and Amit Shah may be planning to check Yediyurappa’s progress by making him look weak,” he told reporters on Friday. I feel that the news reports, about the opposition to @BSYBJP to continue as @CMofKarnataka within @BJP4Karnataka, are true.@narendramodi & @AmitShah duo may be planning to check @BSYBJP's progress by making him weak in front of the public.#PressMeet pic.twitter.com/lbKuAWo3Wb — Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 3, 2020 “The evidence for this conspiracy is the delay in releasing central government funds. The Centre delayed release of funds because its coffers were empty due to Narendra Modi government’s bad economic policies.  Siddaramaiah flayed Modi for making a “political speech” in front of “school children” at Siddaganga Mutt on Thursday, wondering why he had to speak against Congress and about Pakistan, CAA and NRC in front of them. “It was a dirty political speech, but Modi only thinks about politics,” he said. Siddaramaiah also called Yediyurappa a weak Chief Minister and also said that Prime Minister Modi was apathetic to the plight of the people of Karnataka. “I welcome the decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to have finally made up his mind to come to Karnataka. He is not limited to one party, but a representative of 130 crore people of this country. I hope he knows about this. Yediyurappa is a weak Chief Minister and despite his request, the PM did not even assure Yediyurappa that his appeal for a Rs 50,000 crore grant will be considered,” Siddaramaiah said.    

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130 pvt schools in K’taka to get notices for not implementing Kannada language rule

Education

The notices are also being sent as almost 30% of the schools did not attend the workshop organised by the government on Friday in this regard.

TNM Staff

Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Suresh Kumar on Friday said that around 130 private schools affiliated to various boards will receive notices for not implementing the compulsory Kannada language rule in their schools and for not attending the workshop organised by the government on Friday in this regard. The workshop was organised by the Department of Primary and Secondary Education and the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), Deccan Herald reported. The workshop was being conducted as the state government has started implementing the Compulsory Kannada Language Learning Act 2015, which came into force since the academic year of 2017. Several schools in Bengaluru North and South affiliated to the ICSE, CBSE and IGCSE, were invited for the workshop and 30% of the schools did not send representatives for the workshop, The Hindu reported. According to The Hindu, 510 schools had registered to attend this workshop and out of them only 380 sent either a teacher or principal to attend. Minister Suresh Kumar said that notices would be sent to schools that were absent for this workshop and fines would be imposed if the schools do not start following rules. Reports stated that 159 schools in Bengaluru have not implemented the rule that mandates children to learn Kannada language. “Some schools think that it is inferior to teach Kannada. I have observed during my visit that some schools have no Kannada teachers and there are those who are not qualified enough, and if they have everything, they have no timetable for Kannada. This attitude will not be tolerated by any government. It is a law of the land and it is the responsibility of each one to follow. Now, we are requesting the schools with love, but later, we will be forced to act according to the law,” Deccan Herald quoted Suresh Kumar as saying.  According to the DIPR officials, students who join Karnataka schools between classes 2 and 9 from other states can learn Kannada with class 1 textbooks irrespective of which class they are in. The board exams for these students would also be in sync with the textbook they learn from. Students can request separate question papers and circulars would be issued in this regard, TOI reported.    

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