Bengaluru: A circular sent to heads of police in all districts from the Director General & Inspector General of Police’s (DG&IGP’s) office, asking for their opinion on revoking cases against those from minority communities in incidents of communal clashes, has set off another round of political sparring between the BJP and the Congress.
The BJP called the circular yet another of the Congress government’s attempts at ‘minority appeasement’, while the Congress defended it saying it was mulling dropping cases against ‘innocent’ bystanders among not just the minority community but also in other clashes.
The government will soon take a decision on recalling cases registered during clashes and protests against innocent minorities, organisations and farmers, after discussions with the Home Department, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the government would not consider dropping cases against those involved in murder, attempt to murder or destruction of property.
However, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje tweeted on Friday, “CM Siddaramaiah, why are you not withdrawing cases of innocent Hindu youths? Why only minorities? I request all the police officers in the State; please don’t yield to vote bank politics of this government.”
The letter, addressed to Police Commissioners of Mangaluru and Belagavi, in addition to Police Superintendents of 21 districts, was first sent on January 2, 2018, following a reminder to the same on January 25.
