The Home Minister of Karnataka, G. Parameshwara on Monday defended the state government’s decision to withdraw cases related to the 2022 Hubballi riots, pointing out that even Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had withdrawn cases against himself in the past. This statement came in response to the BJP’s protest against the Karnataka government’s October 10 decision to drop charges against individuals involved in the Hubballi incident, where a mob attacked police officers with stones on April 16, 2022.
The Karnataka Cabinet, following a petition by Anjuman-e-Islam, decided to withdraw 43 cases, including the Hubballi case. Parameshwara explained that the withdrawal process follows legal protocols, and the final decision rests with the court. “If the court agrees, the cases will be withdrawn. If not, they will proceed,” he clarified. He emphasized that the decision was made within the legal framework and not arbitrarily.
Parameshwara further argued that the BJP had similarly withdrawn cases during its tenure in Karnataka and other states. He highlighted that Yogi Adityanath, while serving as Chief Minister, had dropped cases against himself. “So, whom are you accusing when the system allows this?” Parameshwara asked, criticizing the BJP for its stance.
He also clarified that the cases being withdrawn were not limited to any one community. “The 43 cases include instances involving farmers, students, and citizens from various protests. If they were all related to minorities, the BJP’s allegations might hold weight. But that’s not the case. We’re treating everyone equally,” he said.
When questioned about the possibility of withdrawing cases from the 2020 DJ Halli and KG Halli riots, Parameshwara said that the government would review those cases as well, following due procedure.
At the protest led by BJP leaders, including State President B.Y. Vijayendra and former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan, the party accused the Congress of engaging in “appeasement politics” by withdrawing cases related to serious offenses like attempted murder and inciting riots. Vijayendra claimed that the government was undermining public safety by encouraging wrongdoers through such actions.
In response to this criticism, Parameshwara reiterated that all cases were being reviewed through a proper legal process. He explained that petitions challenging the validity of cases were being examined by a subcommittee, and the decision to withdraw the cases, including the Hubballi incident, was made after thorough deliberation in the Cabinet.
He also responded to separate allegations concerning the Siddharth Trust land, stating that they had legally acquired it but decided to return it after facing accusations. “BJP sees everything through a biased lens, much like jaundice making everything appear yellow,” Parameshwara remarked.
Meanwhile, the BJP approached Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, seeking his intervention in the state government’s decision. The party leaders argued that the move was driven by “vote bank politics” to shore up Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s political support.
