SHIVAMOGGA: Taking up the matter of the recent clash in parts of the state over portraits of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Tipu Sultan, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Tuesday held a meeting with Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar and other senior police officials in Shivamogga.
Jnanendra said that nobody should take the law into their hands at any cost. “We do not decide anything on the basis of religion. Peace must prevail in the state and we have to maintain law and order. We will hold a thorough investigation because such events should not happen here again. Following this particular case, four people have been arrested so far,” he added.
He took a dig at the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Siddaramaiah, over his comment on ‘Savarkar poster’ by saying, “He only loves vote and we love Savarakar. What does he know about Savarkar,” he questioned. “Savarkar fought for the freedom of the country, so what is wrong with installing his poster? His family was jailed for 12 years,” he said.
On August 15, the Shivamogga police imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 in parts of the district after a poster of Veer Savarkar was installed at Ameer Ahmed Circle on Independence Day. Tension arose after a group of Tipu Sultan’s followers tried to remove Savarkar’s flex. The situation remains tense.
In a similar case, the Bengaluru police have arrested three persons for allegedly tearing up images featuring freedom fighters put on display to celebrate the 75th Independence Day.
The arrests were made by the Halasuru Gate police station in Bengaluru where a case was filed on August 14 under the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act, 1971, and outraging of religious feelings (under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) over the alleged vandalism of a flex board image of Tipu Sultan put up on Nrupatunga Road near Hudson Circle, installed as part of the Congress ‘Freedom Walk’ programme on August 15. (ANI)