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Journalism of Courage
Karnataka Opposition leader R Ashok’s allegation that Congress leader Syed Nasir Hussain’s supporters chanted “Pakistan Zindabad” after his election to the Rajya Sabha and Home Minister G Parameshwara’s response to it led to protests and adjournment in the Assembly on Wednesday.
“The incident of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ sloganeering has created an atmosphere of fear in the state… If they raise such a slogan here (at the Vidhana Soudha), they will raise slogans in all streets of the state,” Ashok said soon after the House convened in the morning.
Despite the presence of a large number of police personnel and IAS and IPS officers, the people involved in the sloganeering were allowed to leave the Assembly premises, the BJP leader further alleged. “Who let them escape? Who arranged vehicles for them?” he asked.
The BJP leader went on to question the Congress’s decision to field Hussain in Tuesday’s elections.
As a few Congress MLAs objected saying that such slogans were not raised, Ashok demanded the government lodge a case against the media and himself if they were lying.
“This incident is an insult to Kannadigas. The government was irresponsible,” he said, demanding Chief Minister Siddaramaiah take moral responsibility for the alleged incident.
BJP MLA V Sunil Kumar demanded the government hand over the probe to the National Investigation Agency. “Recently, the government had invited Nitasha Kaul, who holds anti-India views, to a programme organised by the state government…,” he said, adding that the government’s stance had emboldened “these people to raise such slogans”.
Though Parameshwara said action would be taken if it is proved in a forensic science laboratory that the slogans had indeed been raised, BJP MLAs protested in the well of the House, following which the Assembly was adjourned.
Parameshwara said the incident should not have occurred. “There are two opinions about the sloganeering in the media. A suo motu case has been registered,” he said. “If they had raised slogans we won’t let them go scot-free. We will act against them as per law.”
For his part, Siddaramaiah also promised strict action if it is proved that such a slogan was raised.
Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala accused the BJP of “peddling their favourite set of lowly lies of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans”. He said the controversy stemmed from the BJP’s “extreme sense of exasperation” and “perverted mindset” against minorities, particularly Muslims.
“They are doing the same for Sikhs and Christians,” he said, adding that his party condemned the “sinister and malicious agenda”.
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