Following in the footsteps of Uttar Pradesh, the Karnataka government is now mulling making alleged rioters pay for the cost of damages to public property during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests.
On Thursday, State Revenue Minister R Ashoka told reporters that the state government would soon be making a decision to enact a legislation to seize the properties of those involved in the damage to public property. He said, “Everyone should abide by the law of the land. The way in which Uttar Pradesh government has decided to confiscate the properties of those involved in violence if such violence happens again here, we will also bring a similar rule in Karnataka also.”
Kannada & Culture and Tourism Minister CT Ravi who had earlier warned the protestors about a ‘Godhra-like situation’ if the patience of the ‘majority’ ran out, also called for the ‘protestors should pay’ model. “If protestors damage public property, they should be held liable for the same. It doesn’t matter which movement or political party the protestors represent. If the government also decides to move against those who provoke such incidents, then damage to public property during protests can be curbed,” the Deccan Herald reported him as saying.
Udupi-Chikkamaguluru MP Shobha Karandlaje also supported the government’s decision to take a leaf out of Uttar Pradesh’s book, saying the move would be an ‘effective method’ to curb violent protests.
The Karnataka government had announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs. 10 lakh each for the families of two people killed in the police firing – Abdul Jaleel and Naushin Kudroli, but withdrew it soon after. CM Yeddyurappa had then told reporters, “We have not decided yet to give the ex-gratia to the family members of those killed in the police firing because giving criminals ex-gratia is an unpardonable crime in itself. Earlier, the government had decided to give them compensation, but now we have withdrawn it.”
The police had found CCTV footage of the protest which showed masked men destroying the CCTV’s, blocking roads and police vans and pelting stones. According to the police around 2,000 people were found to be defying prohibitory orders, gathering near the police station, throwing stones and ignoring warnings, after which the police opened fire to disperse the crowd resulting in the death of Jaleel and Kudroli. The police filed a case against 29 people in the incident, in which the deceased, Jaleel and Kudroli are included.
In Uttar Pradesh, after clashes between police and the protestors, the government issued notices to several people alleging their role in ‘rioting’ and seeking recovery of the cost of damages to public assets. UP CM Yogi Adityanath said that the government would take ‘revenge’ by confiscating the properties of those who were found to be involved in the violence.
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