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The political landscape in Karnataka has been marked by a heated exchange between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP over the issue of case withdrawals. The controversy stems from the Congress government's decision to withdraw a case related to rioting in Hubballi in 2022. The BJP, in turn, has accused the Congress of engaging in anti-national activities by dropping the case.
The Congress, seeking to defend its actions, has highlighted the fact that the BJP government itself had withdrawn 385 criminal cases during its tenure, including 182 related to communal strife and hate speech. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy provided a list of these withdrawn cases, arguing that the previous government had also withdrawn cases involving BJP ministers and MLAs. He further asserted that the Congress government is only withdrawing cases where innocent people were implicated, such as farmers who were booked for protests. The minister emphasized that cases handed over to central agencies cannot be withdrawn by the state government.
The BJP, however, remains adamant in its criticism, perceiving the Congress's decision to withdraw the Hubballi case as a deliberate attempt to undermine law and order and protect individuals involved in potentially dangerous activities. The party's Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, has written to the President and several Union ministers, urging them to intervene and force the state government to reconsider its decision. Narayanaswamy labeled the cabinet decision as an “organized anti-constitutional & anti-national crime.”
The case in question involves a mob attack on the Old Hubballi police station in 2022, sparked by the arrest of an individual accused of posting derogatory content about Muslims on social media. The BJP argues that the Congress's decision to withdraw this case sends a dangerous message of impunity to those engaging in hate speech and communal violence. The debate has further intensified, with both parties accusing each other of political maneuvering and seeking to score points ahead of upcoming elections.
The controversy surrounding the case withdrawal has highlighted the deep political divide in Karnataka and the conflicting priorities of the ruling and opposition parties. The Congress's justification of withdrawing cases involving innocent individuals stands in stark contrast to the BJP's concerns over potential threats to national security and law and order. The coming months will likely witness further exchanges between the two parties as they engage in a battle of narratives to gain public support ahead of the elections.